Evening star., 1922-04-30
Right Of Suffrage Involves
Duty to Discharge Function
NJ THOMAS n. MAHsHAIL.
Tes0er vles PrsslAent ok the
UA1teA otsto0.

NJ THOMAS n. MARsaALL.
Tssaer vles PrsslAent of the
UA1taA Stains.
= friend. Abe Martin. has,
. M Miss Fawn Lippincstt
V sravely inouiring ct 2
Meeting Of. the woman's
Club: NOW that we have suffrage.
. what shall we do next?" This is a
rare bit Of philosophy. revealing
the common attitude Of mind with
reference to change. When any
desired reform has been crystal
Used into law. we are prone to as
sumo elimination of our efforts In
that direction and to turn our at
tention to something new. By
many suffragists the right to vote
IL regarded - An end and not q
means for the accomplishment OF
an end. The agitation now going
on for another amendment Of the
Consultation to guarantee equal
rights to the sexes makes this
apparent s4.*
Suffrage is very much game,
and It does not appeal to the ordi-
nary voter with the same call as
bridge whist or golf. Yet there Is
q never-ending Erowl about the
condition Of public affairs. Both
mon and women. as they play the
ace or follow the bali. inveish
against the authorities. national or
local. Nothing IL right and no one
10 honest. The only purpose OF an
crooks and put In another set
The average citizen imagines him
self Immaculate. II the business
affairs Of the country were con-
dueted by him. all would be hon
Nesty and peace. II politics were
turned over to his management,
good government would every
where prevail But. alas. the eco.
nomic and political affairs OF
America are in the hands OF selfish
and corrupt men who do not con-
but for their own profit. Most OF
this ] take with q grain of salt.
II there be more than q modicum
Of truth in these doleful jere-
miades. man would do well to give
thought to remedies. But why
worry over political dishonesty
until We have used the means at
hand to eliminate 1t? Until We
take his medicine, we have no
right to proclaim the ignorance OF
the physician.
In a republic where every citi-
Gen over twenty-one years Of age
has his say ~ to the officials who
shall preside over him and the
laws that shall govern him. he can
have honest government II a ma.
5ority Of the people are honest.
And IL q majority Of the people
are dishonest. no plan can be de-
honest government can come to
pass. In our talk about the rule
Of the majority. we assume. with
out regard to fact, that each elec-
tion discloses the will Of the ma
1ority. This 10 true only IL those
who stayed away from the polls
can be truthfully said to have ST.
those who cast their ballots. Then,
Of course, this government is al
ways ruled by a majority.
I had supposed until few days
AGo that the election OF 1920 dis
closed a general revulsion Of pub
lilo sentiment against the demo-
cratic party. That may be admit
ted to be true only II majority
Of those who stayed at home on
election day can be assumed to
have voted the republican ticket.
There were In as20 $4,000 600 quail.
ified voters and there were cast
only 2e.000,000 votes. In other
wordA moro voters stayed at home
it By and large, not one-half Of
tho voters of America am.matively
expressed their opinion. In many
municipal elections relatively
fewer voters exercise their right
.holi nof bA m ,,neailant and un.