Pocahontas star herald., 1923-11-16
Palace Drug Store
THE REXALL STORE
Phone No. 80.
Suffrage Incomplete

We are just beginning to reap only
n part of the benefits following the en-
actment and enforcement of our great
suffrage laws. An ideal in social. COM
mercial and governmental life to be
sure has been set up but as yet there
is only a very gradual advance toward
its realization. The attainment posi-
BILE and so desirable is still ahead Of
us. But the value of that standard
cannot be estimated. 1t Ou.stretches
and outmeasures all ordinary esti-
mates. But to know the full value Of
suffrage 1t is essential that its applica-
tion be made under all conditions and
among all classes. 1t has passed the
experimental stage, the masses already
know enough of the advantages accru-
ing from suffrage. but like all great re
forms it advances slowly and not by
leaps and bounds. Its ramifications
are so many and so great that its pro-
gress will necessarily be delayed. The
quality of the race and the sexes rem
der the movement complex and intri-
cate bu. none the less important for
that reason. Custom and prejudice, to
be sure. have rendered them unequal.
situation which will require decades
to remedy. One has been enriched at
the expense of another until conditions
have obtained the most deplOrable and
unfortunate. But such social NAL
formation need not always prevail.
Counter influences have been inaugur-
ated and should always be maintained
looking to the eradication of inequali-
ties until In every department of life
opportunities are not kept from some
and then granted others through sinis-
ter mercenary motive. There is great
joy in justice-yes, joy to those at
tempting to execute II and joy to those
who receive it. And in the long. event
full march of civilization that is notice
ably true. All are blessed even in the
honest attempts to secure justice for
all. None are impoverished by such
attempts but there will inevitably fol-
low glad enrichment. Suffrage is
complete only when justice, that great
leveler of human conditions, wields un-
disputed sway. But suffrage Is
growth. II develOpes with the increase
of enlightment aud civilization. And
the stages of that growth are very
marked, they stand out as epOchs In
history. In race and sex the great
movement has been conspicuous until
It may he concluded that il has come to
stay. Retrogression Is scarcely dis
cernable but ON the other hand, pro
gress marks the path of its history.
There have been days when it seemed
to he at standstill but that was only
seeming standstill. Never could it
be- reasonably claimed that among all
the nations no advances were made.
And the influence of one nation upon
another in that regard has contributed
to progress. With the growth Of in
ternationalism the justice Of universal.
equal suffrage has come to the front
among great. vitalizing reforms A.
tempts to build national prosperity up
on the ruin aud the wreck of injustices
have proven sad and signal failures
they have followed each other In quick
succession only to meet with disaster.
II remains now tO he seen what eX.ent
will we MS a people be- true to the stan
dard the ideal Of suffrage which we
have at last erected. for like all wise
movements there must he the tearing
down Of timeworu customs aud pre-
iudiccs. WIN the cos. Of such radical
change be gladly paidY In business,
social and church life will the expense
of such transformation be chcerfully
met? II is apparent that opposition
now is not 50 open and defiant as in
former years but victories are yet to
be victories involving the devo-
tion and even self-sacrifce of advo
ca,es-and which if not rendered will
certainly occasion postponement and