, 1922-08-21
Women in Congress

SWELL no doubt, Is the suggestion
U-almost q demand-that hereafter the house of
representatives in congress shall be equally divided
between tn two sexes" states the Boston Transcript.
But it is equally without doubt that 1t is an i'll
conceived and most undesirable proposal. chat Is
not because of any opposition TO having women
elected to congress, nor because of any doubt of
there being enough women competent TO fill half
the places in the house. We should hate like every
thing TO think that there were not tens OF thousands
of women all over the country very much better
fitted in all respects to serve in congress than the
majority of the men who are now rafting around
the big dome. Nor is it because a 'ffty+hfty ratio
would mean too many women.
"The objection is to the election of even one
woman to congress just because she is a woman
There is precisely the same objection to electing a
man to congress Just because he is a man. If the
spirit of the nineteenth amendment is fully to pre-
vail, there should be in such matters no sex dis
elimination. Men and women alike are American
citizens, voters and potential legislators and execu-
tives in the public service. The question concern
ing a candidate should not relate to sex but to
fitness for the place. We should regret TO see
women voting for a woman candidate Just because
she was a woman, against a man candidate whom
they knew to be more competent. so we should re-
greet to see men voting for a man just because he
was n man, against a woman wnom Ihey kne" 10
be the Better candidate.
"There could scarcely be anything more perni-
cious, more calculated to make woman suffrage a
curse instead of a blessing, than a political or par
tiSan division OF the nation DetWeen III IWo eAe
Such a division could not possibly be upon any
legitimate issues of governmental policy, such as
those upon which Republicans and Democrats have
divided. AS American citizens, women are inter
ested in precisely the same principles and policies
of legislation and administration that men are. The
same considerations which impel some men to favor
protection and others free trade similarly impel
women to do the same, and so with every other pub
lie issue.
at is indeed to be doubted whether it is desir-
able for women to maintain permanently political
clubs and other such organizations separately from
men. 1t was inevitable that for a time such or
gnnizations should exist, carried over from those
which were formed during the suffrage campaign.
Perhaps they have thus far been useful for afford
ing women the instruction in political matters
which they are supposed-not altogether Justly-to
need more than men, 1t seems certain that in the
long run the best results will be attained In having
the two sexes act together in political discussions
and campaigns, Just as they must vote together at
the polls. There is all the more reason for that II,
as some contend, men and women regard public al
fairs from essentially different points OF view for
it will be to the advantage OF each sex to have the
benefit of the others opinions.
"a division of congress or Of parties on tho line
of sex would, in fine, be u most offensive and mis-
Ichievous form of class government, which ID OF all
things most obnoxious to the genius of the Ameri-
can republic. 1t is well for citizens to differ and
to divide into parties over questions of public pol
icy. 1t would be altogether evil for thrm to do SO
ON lines of class, of social rank, Of occupation or
residence, or of sex. We want no parties of rich
and poor, of urban and rural, or Of male and fe-
male: and of such unnatural and pernicious divi-
sions, the last.named would be the worst"