South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-11-06
DAVN OF NER Err

The effort OF ORGANIZED power and political ma
ehiney TO prevent the election OF Esther OKeefe
congress has failed
Unless every indication be misleading this coura-
geous young woman. urging only a return OF rover
70 the hands of the people and away from the con-
troll OF privileged interests asking no quarter because
OF her sex and only demanding that she be judged by
her principles and her ability VIII represent this dis
trict in the congress
Make no mistake about the motive behind this
fight I. was no love for Hickey nor any special
desire for his presence. The forces which fought
for him battling nuify the full effect OF the
Nineteenth Amendment which gave equality Of suf-
frage rights 70 woman
The old groups that have operated government in
behalf Of the privileged few saw a menace in this
woman who had equipped herself by education.
training and study for the task Of service.
They were quite tolerant when occasional acci-
dents Of politics two other women 10 congress
They did not fear these women. But they are ter
rfied by the vision Of entering the national
councils who is equipped by knowledge by study and
BY training match wits who dedicated to the
for which women have hitherto only pleaded.
They look upon her coming the dawn OF day
when perhaps other Of ability and of lead
ership will be there expose The old tricks by which
legislation has been denied the people and by which
the common good has been subverted for the inter-
ests OF the few.
The great tribute has been paid 10 Miss O'Keefe
that upon her has been conferred the strongest at
tack Of those who remain in politics through serv-
ice TO privilege.
is in this district that the strongest artillery of
the Old Guard has been centered.
Do believe that the selection OF this city as the
only place visited by vice-Pres't Coolidge was a
pleasing tribute to the greatness OF South Bend In
ether states he sent 70 the largest centers Of
population. The logical place in Indiana the
capital OF the state but word had gone out to the
nation this district thrown off the shackles
OF traditional discrimination thought wen of the
young women who heralds the day in politics
Therefore it was here that Coolidge spoke
Do you believe that Sen. Watson and Gov MORAY
sent through this district the hunt for votes
for Beverldge
You know that this was not the purpose but that
they came when the reports went out that Miss
O'Keefe was swaytng tremendous audiences in every
city by patriotism. her keen comments, her
strong personalty-and the effort centered here
to defeat her.
Many other districts might be in much greater
danger than the which gave Hickey a majority
OF 21.O0o two years ago.
The fight against her has been waged from every
side The bringing the big suns to shell her forts
was only part Of the campaign It began in wills
peIs- L'SiF @pP14 10 PleJUu-Oe 04id' SO"lu O9 I'S
ed has been raised. Every appeal TO old thought TO
old customs to old hates racial. religious and
hatreds have been injected into the campaign.
Against those insidious attacks she has presented
herself Her pleas have been unanswerable. Her
promise of real service have contrasted strongly with
the votes given by Hickey to the forces and inter-
osts which manipulate legislation.
Her sincerity her patriotism. the inheritance Of
generations soldiers who have fought every
war from the Revolution to the World War. has
lifted her addresses to lofty levels Of idealism-
That plea has won. II the voters at the polls to-
morrow register their opposition 20 unfairness, their
approval of better day and better things in gov
eminent.