Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-04-14
WOMEN MUST
SECURE FACTS
Stump Speakers Too often
Haze Personal Interests
in Their Minds.
BY FRANCES GoRpoN DENNY.

BY FRANCES GORDON DENNY.
A distinguished foreigner once said
that Americans depend to, much on ora
public offices are filed by men who can
make speeches rather than by men of
judgment and ability.
The criticism of foreigners is not al
ways palatable to US, but we can learn 4
something from it, and it Is worth while :
to ask ourselves to what extent we are
taking the say-so of others on matters
OF public importance instead of seeking
information at first hand.
Just what is the basis o, our opinions
especially our political opinions? Do
We accept them ready made from the
lips of professional propagandists? Do
we let them accumulate haphazard in a
clutter of campaign slogans and political
gossip? Or do we arrive at our con-
illusions by intelligent reading, investi-
cation and comparison of ideas? These
are questions Of special interest to wom-
en- since they have acquired the response
bility Of the ballot.
1t is long time since Goldsmith wrote
the lines
'For just experience shows on every
soil
1ndL CuOS6 VINO IQiQE muSL govern
those who toll"
Things have moved forward a little
since then; the toiler is doing some
thinking for himself and his influence
weighs heavily on the body polite But
he is and always will be the one most ex-
plotted by oratorical spellbinders. Per
haps women, as class, are regarded as
next in line. And this not so much be-
cause they are considered mentally in
ferior as because of their inexperience,
their apathy and the susceptibility of
their sentiments.
The excuse for the avalanche of oratory
that is the outstanding feature Of every
campaign has always been that it is de-
signed to give information to those who
have ont time or opportunity to investi-
gate for themselves. That would be all
very well If the speakers confined them
selves to really giving out information
impartially and without political bias
But when we remember that the one pun
pose Of the campaign orator is to put
this party, and generally himself, into
power, and that he must present only the
things that may tend to that end, the
chances are that If we follow his lead too
implicitly we shall be voting his opinion
and not our own,
One Of the arguments most emphasized
in favor Of woman suffrage was that
women would bring new phase Of pub
lie conscience into politics; that they
would not be Influenced by the dema-
goguery that entered so largely into the
conduct Of affairs by men alone. 1t is as
yet too early to say TO what extent this
leaven is working. But of one thing
we may be sure: its effect will be negli-
gible is women are content to follow
along in the beaten path laid out for
them by partisan politicians. No con-
science, either public or private. is to be
developed by passively accepting the die
tum Of mere vote catchers.
In these days of newspapers and peri
odicals we may all learn at first hand the
history that parties and candidates are
making for themselves from day to daq
It may not be as interesting reading as
some other things, but the responsibility
is on US. We asked for it. We got what
we asked for. We must make good.