Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1922-08-02
THE WOMAN VOTE

One of the factors to be reckoned
with in the coming election is the
woman vote. The last years check
list in Orleans county gave the-num-
Der of the two sexes exercising the
right of suffrage in round numbers
as 4,800 men and 2,400 women. That
is, nearly twice as many men as wonl-
en- went to, the polls with their bal
lots.
Now that is not because the men
outnumber the women two to one in
this county. Without doubt it means
that something like two or three
thousand women did not consider
their citizenship of enough impor-
lance to take the trouble of going to
the polls when they had the oppor-
tunity.
For at least generation there has
been a strenuous fight throughout the
nation in the interest of equal suf-
frage. Like all reforms and cam
paign ran the entire gamut from ri
bald ridicule to forensic criticism, but
despite all arguments against it, like
a rising tide it has swept away all
opposition and has become consti-
tutioral enactment. The women have
come into their own.
Now, the question is, what are they
going to do with it? Having won
the battle are they going to sulk. in
the tents hereafter and permit the
men to settle questions of vital inter-
est, educational, political, economi-
cal and whatnot, as they have done
in the past, OF are they going to take
a hand in the settlement of these
matters which concern men and wom-
en- alike.
Now that citizenship has been con-
ferred upon the female sex, to refuse
to cast an intelligent ballot is to
shirk a solemn obliga lion and actual
ly to cast vote against the govern
mem of the republic.
For, be it known, that if intelligent,
high-rninded, thoughtful women alb
sent themselves from the election
booths, another class of women will
not be trouOled w any scrupies.
A woman who fails to vote for any
reason really casts two votes against
the republic, her own, and the ballot
of the one who takes the wrong side
of the question. For a failure to
vote weakens the government by that
much and makes counter ballot hit
popular suffrage a stronger blow.
The Rutland county women are to
be congratulated for their vigorous
campaign of education along this
line. 4 Led by some enthusiastic Bran
don women they have already had
both the gubernatorial candidates be-
fore them, to whom they have put
some important queries and they are
earnestly studying questions of state
craft in order that they cast an in
telligent ballot.
What has been done there, could as
well be done in every county in the
state. There is no earthly reason
why twice as many men as women
should cast a ballot in this county.
The questions at issue concern both
sexes equally. There is no intelligent
woman who cannot understand the
problems of state as they relate to
the home, the school, the open coun-
try roads and the city streets.
Our advice to the woman voter is,
get posted. Read the newspapers.
Discuss the political issues. Hear all
sides of the matters concerning which
action must be taken at the POLLS
Do not longer permit the male sex
to do your suffrage thinking for you.
Have minds of your own, as you have
Ballots of your own and accept all
the responsibilities of citizenship, cor
daily, sincerely and partriotically.