Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1922-08-11
DON'T DRIVE THE WOMEN AWAY.

At the time this article is written
thr primary election is on and the
Voters are registering their choice
OF candidates for the various Of
fees. The result OF their vote, there
fore. is not known. So this is writ
ten not for the purpose Of discus
NinG the personality OF any par.icu-
lar candidate Cr the candidacy of
any one individual. but To call the
attention Of the Democratic male
voters who believe in the principles
OF the Democratic party and want
|" see them triumph to the fact tha,
the only chance thc party has TO
succeed in this State. or in tie coun-
try ut large. is through the a>sis-
lance and support Of the Democrat
&c women. The playing Of good pol
ltiCS then would mean WELCOMING
women voters into things political
rather than diSCouraging them. Wo-
men will be more Independent in
their voting than men. They will
support Democratic candidates even
though they have been reared in Re
publican families provided they be-
ilcvr there is 4 better candidate on
the Democratic ticket or that the
Democratic party cspouscS the
things in which they believe: but
II the men who vote the Democratic
ticket stand around, rs some of
~,
during the past few weeks. and not
only discourage womcn's taking
an interest in voting but actually
rail against it and them. how are we
TO interest the Democratic women
and induce them to so to the polls
and support the party and its cam
dldatcS i'll the general elections, to
say nothing of pcrsuading Republi-
can women to vote with us?
1t may be that many men are
conscientious in this attitude, others
do it because they think it makes
them distinctive and still others
through sheer obStinacy, but do they
appreciate the incalcuIable injury
they are doing to the party in whose
principles they sincerely believe?
Whatever the cause of their attitude
Is not important. The thing we de-
plore is the effect and result.
Inc writer has no quarrel with
democratic voters who will not
support woman if they honestly
believe she is not capable candi-
date. but II is distressing there are
those SO prejudice as to refuse TO
support her merely because She is
4 woman. May we call attention to
the fact that any woman over the
average age of twcntN-onc is just as
muct citizen as the oldest male
voter and has jus! rs much right to
run for oiliCc--in fact, it would seem
more II equity we're to prevail, for
men have held all the Offices through
all the years That have passed. And.
too. We have had so much Of the
professional politicians as candi-
dates ii is refreshing TO have Il
candidate occasionally who is not
ed because of their principles, as
well as their ability, merit. honesty
and sincerity and not from the
standpoint Of sex.
When this appears the primary
will be over. The men Of whom we
have spoken want their party to
win and its principles written and
rctaicd i'll the laws and policies of
the Government. but what is the eff
feet of their attitude. They have
discouraged their wives. mothers
and sisters from studying public
questions. from registering as Dem
ocratic voters and from exercising
llr right of suffrage at the primary
election. Whether or moi that att
tudc is continued until the general
election. harm has already been
done and only these men can undo
it even in part.