Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-23
A THIRD PARTY" OF WOMEN
HAS NO CHANCE OF SUCCESS
New Voters Are Bound to Act Through
the Old Parties, as They Have
Done In Pennsylvania

t"e via Tarties, ds Ihey nave
Done In Pennsylvania
| MO REASON was assigned by President
" Harding for his decision TO remain away
from the dedication of the headquarters of
the National Womsn's Party in Washing.
ton on Sunday.
II may well bc. however. that he had de.
cided after accepting the invitation to he
present that it would be incxpedient for the
official head of the Republican Party to give
his blessing TO another party.
In his letter Of regret he expressed his
qualification that the women had been en-
franchiSed and his hope that the larger OPP
portunity for American womanhood will be
marked by the highest ideals. lofty patriot
ism, noble inspirations and great good to onr
common country"
The leaders of this Womans Party are
committed TO the proposition that no party
In which men are influential can be trusted
70 do anything for the women. One of them
said on Sunday that "the Woman's Party
recognizes that the position Of women
throughout the world Is an inferior one, and
In most countries a degraded one. and that
the organized effort Of women themselves Is
necessary to raise them from this position"
And Mrs. o. II. =. Belmont. the recognized
head of the party. declared that It was en-
tering on its work with determination TO
come before the governing powers rs dicta-
tors, not as hcggars.
1t is unfortunate that these women have
not Informed themselves little more COM
petely about the nature of American po.
lltical institutions and have not thought II
little more deeply about he fate of class
movements in the United States.
The Womans Party is frankly party
founded on the theory of sex hostility. 1t
arrays the women against the men. II as
surnes in spite of much evidence to the con-
trary that Legislatures made up of men cam
not be trusted 70 pass laws for the protec-
ton OF women.
As matter of fact, the constitutional
amendment enfranchising women was ratified
by Legislatures elected by men and com.
posed OF men. If there had been any dis.
position 70 be unjust 70 women the amend
lnent would never have been ratified. Still
further. many States have laws regulating
the hours Of labor of women and children,
passed in response 10 definite public scnti.
ment and passed. too, by Legislatures COM
posed of men. Further laws may be neces-
Sary before the rights Of women are wholly
recognized but there is no reason to believe
that they will not be passed as their need
becomes apparent. The laws will be framed.
too. by intelligent women acting with in.
tell!gent men through either the Republican
or the Democratic Party. whichever happens
10 be in power AT the time
But when Mrs. Belmont talks about the
women going before the governing powers
as dictators not as beggars. she shows
woeful ignorance of the nature of the gov
erning powers in the United States The
school children are taught that this IS a
government of the people and that the people
through their elected representatives decide
what laws shall be passed. The women
themselves are part of the governing power
now that they have the vote.
Dictation is out of place IN democracy.
Before any law can be passed a majority Of
the people must he persuaded that it is a
good law. II may be- that the WOmans
Party thinks that il can dictate TO the Re.
publican party or TO the Democratic Party.
What the Democratic Party supports is de-
cided by its members. both men and women.
And what the Republican Party viii sup
port is decided in the same way.
We have JUST had an illustration Of the
way IL works In this STATE, where the Re-
publican women in large numbers decided
that they did not want TO vote for Alter, II
candidate for the gOvernorship who had been
selected By three or four men without con-
sutation with them or with any one else.
They went 10 the polls at the primary elec-
tion and voted for PinchOt and voted in suf-
fcient numbers 10 bring about his nomina-
ton. The Republican women Of Pennsy-
yau!a would smile deriSivelv at any one who
told th-m thnt they occupy an inferior post.
ton.
The theory that woman can hold the bal
ance of power between the two parties ls at
tractiye TO many. Men have held the same
theory. but they have never been able to ap.
ply it In practice. The number Of men so
judlcially minded that they can keep aioof
from partisan contests and so politically in
fsrested thai they have definite desires on
public issues has seldom been large enough
10 fleet an election. There IS 10 reason
for believing that the women are so cOnsti-
tuted thar they can do in This direction what
the men have been unable TO do.
Women with sense tor the actualties
will act through and with one Of the existing
parties made up of men and women alike.
They know that as fast they develop
political capacity they Will be admitted 10
the councils Of these parties, and they know
too. that the test of their capacities will he
the same as that which is applied to the
men.
TO demand that a woman be elected 10
Office merely because she Is a woman is as
preposterous as 10 demand that woman
shall be allowed TO run locomotive drawing