, 1922-09-06
Join and Take Part

WHEN WOMEN attained suffrage. it was the
W advice of Mrs. Gait that they should go into
the party of their choice and be active in it, hav.
ing an influence ON its policies-otherwise what
was the use of the ballot? They had "indirect
influence" before, and If they were TO stay out
side of the parties, they might as we'll not have
the vote.
As individuals. we have a certain influence-not
very much among more than one hundred million
people-but, joining with others, moving in the
same direction we are going, We are a force which
Is not only the sum of the force of the individuals
in il, but the group gains 4 certain additional mo-
mentum of its own.
Do you remember the Roman story of the bundle
of sticks? IT was easy 20 break one alone but, bound
together, they could not be broken.
Women's clubs discovered long ago that If one
individual should suggest to the mayor that she
would like a drinking fountain on the corner. she
would be ignored. but if the club appointed a com
mittee to interview him on the subject, it would
bring results.
So it is with a political party. Speaking for
many, its voice is powerful. If the party is in au-
thcrity. its voice is all-powerful, Tor the political
party in power is, for the time being, the govern
ment.
You belong either to the governing class or the
governed class. You take your choice since the
ballot is open to every adult citizen. It is told of
Roosevelt, when a youth, that he suggested one
evening going to Il meeting of the ward politicians.
Certain of his family demonstrated with him, say
ing, "They are a low class of persons, saloon keep
,ers and ignorant men" "Then," replied the young
Roosevelt, cit is all the more necessary that I go
They are the governing class for they are CONTROL.
ing politics. We who stay away permit them TO
govern. I intend TO belong to the governing Glass;
In one of the immense national parks it was
noticed that there were nc pedestrians, although
walking was not forbidden, but afoot one would
never get very far on the long stretches of winding
road. With the vast complexities and problems of
our country, one-man effort is negligible. To get
anywhere we must annex ourselves to modern, or
ganized methods. That is a very easy thing to do.
There is nothing exclusive about a political party.
On the contrary it is continually bidding for
workers.
At this period, the Republican party is especially
amenable to the efforts of women. Any earnest
woman who wants to make her ballot of real use
for the betterment of her home, her community and
her nation; and who has a high altruistic purpose
to serve her generation. will find a responsive field
for her activities in the Republican party. The
Republican party gave the ballot to women. 1t has
already placed women in office in towns, states
and nation. 1t nominated and elected the two only
women who have thus far been members of the
congress.
In the present campaign. It has on its tickets. IN
localities where there is a chance of election, more
women candidates than all the other parties put
together.
oother parties have nominated women candi
dates where there is no possible chance of election
that is no compliment to the sex, but rather shift
ing on them something which nobody wants.
If a woman wishes TO accomplish anything pol
itically she stands a splendid chance of doing it in
the Republican party much better than anywhere
else.