South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-04-23
Woman Candidate for Seat
OF John Sharpe Williams

- ~
queer twist OF political fate a south
ern woman. a Mississippian may be
the first Of here recently enfranchis-
cd sex 20 win a seat In the United
States senate-queer because the
state OF Mississippi was one OF the
bltterest In the fight against the con
stitutiOnal amendment giving the
ballot TO the women Of the nation
Miss Belle Kearney, Of Flora, near
here. nationally known v. c. T. l..
lecturer and world traveller. is in the
race to succeed Senator John Sharp
Williams when ne retires I'm 1928.
and keen political Observers here say
her chances for victory are excep-
uOnally good.
The women Of the state. it is be-
Aeved, viii line up almost solidIy be-
hind Miss kearuey. Although slow
az first to take advantage Of the bal
lot reports received here show that
the women throughout the state are
registering fast
Masculine elements in the state
repeatedly have sought % force the
withdrawal OF Miss Kearney from
the senate race. but all of these ef-
forts have met with defiance ON the
part of the champion Of Women s
rights" She says the fight she has
waged 10 gain state and national
prohibition and 70 win the ballot for
women have been too long and Bit
ter for her now to retire just because
"mere man." who she says. has
been in the habit Of eliminating or
effacing women" wishes IL.
Miss Kearney started her active
campaign for a senate seat as soon
as it was established that Senator
John Sharp Williams would not seek
reelection. and with a platform that
IS brief and TO the point she is stump
ing every county in the common
wealth in the interests Of her race.
Here is her platform;
Disarmament and entry Of the
United states into the League of Ma
tons
Legislation toward making the
United States a nation Of home own
ers rather than that Of renters.
Strict enforcement Of the Vol
1NNeLA III OAAADAA-OA tAAAOAAtllltllL act.
Protective legislation for women
in industry.
Restricted immigration.
Legislation to enforce social NOR
ality.
Advocacy of 81 federal department
Of education with a secretary in the
cabinet.
"A more vigorous child welfare
and public health policy.
Reduced taxation, federal aid for
farmers, progressive labor leeisla-
ton"
Miss Kearney declares her political
enemies already are busy, and have
sent out reports that she Is an artist
To combat this report she is prOduo-
ing a statement by Rev. l.. l.. Rob
erts, formerly of Flora but now OF
Columbus, explaining that Miss
Kearney withdrew from the Metho-
dist church because she could not
! reconcile certain doctrines.
Opposing Miss Kearney in the con
/ test for senatorial honors are two
/ men, Hubert stephens, who repre-
+ scented Mississippi i'm the lower
/ branch OF congress for many years
I and James X Nardaman. formel
| senator and political figure in tn,
state for the past 90 years
stephens, in his public speeches
| is pleading that the factional line,
be dropped in this campaign. He II
I going out on his record as a publ,
/ servant in congress and as a simon
pure" democrat.
/ Nardaman, reported i'm poor health
[ has been content thus far TO wage
his campaign through the column.
/ Of his weekly magazine here "Varda-
mans Weekly" He has, made very
few speeches.
Like stephens. Nardaman also i,
standing behind his public record
and criucizes Woodrow Wilson fol
his war record. Vardaman vas on,
of the "Wilful Twelve" Senators.
Miss Kearney started her publ,
/ career as a school teacher. but early
! turned 10 uplift work, becoming on,
! of the best lecturers and organizer.
/ for the Woman's Christian Temper
! ance Mon. She always was an ar
dent suffrage worker.
/ During the recent confice i'm Eur
/ ope in which the United states wa!
! involved Miss Kearney went Il
/ France at her own expense and en-
/ gagged in relief work
She has opened headquarters her,
I with Mrs. John Clark. one Of he
close friends and wife of an Eas
! AIlssippi attorney. as campaign man