Indiana daily times., 1922-01-25
Women AnsWer
Mrs. Hnrding's
Party Appeal
Three Discuss Plea From
Standpoint of Women
Voters League.

TDITOR'S NOTE-The following ar
ticIes by Miss Alma Sickler, president Of
the League of Women Voters; Miss Ger
trude McHugh, secretary of the DEM
ocratie State committee, and Miss Katrina
Fertig, secretary of the Indianapolis
W0man,e Republican Club, are in answer
to Mrs. Harding's appeal to the Wom-
ems National Republican Club for party
loyalty, for which she has been critised
by members of the National League OF
Women VOters.l
The theory of the League Of Women
Voters is the ideal voter should be, first
of all, an American. and afterward a Re
publican or a Democrat There are,
even In practical politics, a great many
times when the voter should consider
primarily not what is good for the party
of his choice, but what is good for the
country which we all love. The League
of Women Voters has no candidate for
Office, no machine which 1t needs or de-
sires to put Into power, or to keep there,
no az to grind, no selfish political am
billions to further. Why should unset
fish and distinterested participation In
politics be regarded as pullic menace,
when selfish and self seeking participa-
tion is not7 The only banner under
which the League of Women Voters ls
organized Is the American flag. II is a
nonpartisan banner Does Mr.. Adams Of
the Republican national committee mean
it when he speaks Of our pale banner
of nonpartisanship?" We have not been
taught to think In that way Of the Amer
lean flag.
ALMA sICKLER,
= President League of Women Voters.
The Democratic party always has been
indy to the League of Women Voters.
81 ne members of that organization will
Aoccasion to investigate the records
Il kiu find abundant evidence OF the
Illness of that statement.
The Democratic party takes the posi-
tion unless its principles and achieve
nents are not of themselves sufficient to
attract the women voters, then purely
partisan appeals and attachments Will
prove only Of temporary advantage.
There must be something wrong with
a political party which attempts to dis
courage Independent political thought
We need more Of 1t. The day has passed
when men and women inherit their pol
ftics. In all good conscience they should
today Le able to assign reasons for their
political affiliations.
Suffrage Is a new responsibility for
the women Of the United States and they
should be encouraged in their independ-
ent clubs and societies and leagues
where the underlying principles OF the
different political parties are discussed
and compared 1t is only within such
organizations the women will get an
ADEQUATE and unbiased understanding OF
all political parties.
IN sd 6Va ms 81
kion to such helpful organizations as the
League Of Women Voters is founded In
selfishness and blind partisanship. we
note with regret many prominent women
Of the Republican party are still bitterly
opposing the league. Such women are
not thinking. They have not yet appre-
ciated the significance Of equal Suffrage
Men voters have long been guilty OF po-
utical lapses. In large numbers, they
have voted and been voted without CIV
ing thought to the significance Of the bal
lot. Such organizations as the League OF
Women Voters viii prevent women from
falling into the same bad habit.
GERTRUDE TANNING MHUGH,
Secretary Democratic State Committee
The women Of the Republican party DO
not decry the League Of Women Voters
as is being attributed to them. Many Of
the most prominent women members OF
the party are most active in the league
and are endeavoring to advance its In
terests as an educational factor in the
life of today, which is one of the league
claims for its existence.
It is true, however. many Republican
women believe an adherence to party
principles, and entering party ranks will
tend more toward bringing about results
desired by women than activity in any
non-partisan body could possibly bring
about
It is within the party women must do
their work If the good they hope to
achieve by their vote is accomplished.
A constant effort, If need be, to learn
and know the inner workings Of the
body to which they have pledged al
iegiance should be their first aim. An
effort to receive recognition In party
control through undivided interest in the
narty of their choice will bring them to
the front as loyalists, not only to their
uarty. but to their Nation which the
party serves.
The fact Mrs Harding appeals to the
women Of the Republican party to pledge
allegiance to party principles, and stay
within the field, does not carry with 1t
that an attack is made upon the League
of Women Voters, or its members The
leageu itself has advocated, from its In
ceptton, that women enter the party OF
their choice.
A prominent Republican woman advo-
Gates staying with the party and work
ing from the inside She recommends
that women be the pudding stick" with
in the party to stir it up. 1t is generally
believed only through party, which al
ready is an organized force, can women
hope to bring about the things for which
American womanhood stands.
KATRINA FERTIG,
Secretary, indianapolis Woman's Repub-
lican Club.