The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-18

De made Dy adopting c0nSCructlOh pOi- icy obstructive of Birmingham's logical expansion. That by all means should be guarded against.
 WHEREIN WOMEN ARE PRACTICAL
 Undoubtedly there has been no na- tional election in the United States in the past twenty-five years which could not have been swung to the opposite re- suit by the stay-at-home vote of the de- feated party. Because this is true there is practical significance to be attached to the determination of two thousand women's Democratic clubs in this coun- try to do all in their power to bring out the full voting strength of the Demo- cratic party next November. It is not too much to estimate the potential vote increase due to this effort, properly and effectively directed, at not less than million ballots. A million ballots might easily spell all the difference between victory and defeat for the Democratic party. If the efforts of the women are adequately supplemented by similar ef- forts on the part of male organizations not directly concerned in politics, it is very likely that the average voter will either have to go to the polls or else give mighty good excuse for not doing so.
 The role that women shall play in the government of this country has not yet been determined. That it is a role in some important respects different from that played by men is confidently antic- ipated. Unless they do assume such a role their entrance into the political field would be to intensity conditions al- ready existing rather than to constitute characteristic impress. It, will take years of preparation and organization before the, women reach the zenith of their political influence. Those who have already pronounced woman suf- frage as negligible factor are merely speaking prematurely. There are already signs which should apprise political ob- servers that the women are developing a political and distinct strength which must ultimately be taken into the reckoning. It is believed that women have it within both their power and their ambition to bring about visible and permanent bet terment, not only in politics, but in gov ernment. Their first activities will be more in the nature of finding themselves and testing their strength. At first, that activity will be displayed along lines al- ready laid down by male politicians. Eventually, we shall see what we shall see.
 Practical politics for professional poll ticians lies along the line of keeping the popular vote down to minimum, so that it will be easier to control majority for whatever political purpose is in focus. But practical politics from the disinter- ested' standpoint of the public welfare counsels that the vote be as heavy as possible insprder that the will of the majority may be unequivocally recorded. It is hoped and believed by those who supported woman suffrage and who have confidence4ain the good intentions of women that the women will array them selves unequivocally on the side of the public welfare. This does not mean that women shall always be on the same side of every public question. That would-he unreasonable and undesirable. There are all shades of opinion with respect to pub lie policies. But there can be no honest divergence of view on the fundamental questions of the public welfare and the protection of the general welfare against the injurious ambitions of privilege.
 In order to accomplish a program in the public behalf, it is first necessary to get the public concerned in its own be- half. The most convincing evidence of that concern is that the majority of the people shall exercise the priceless priv ilege of the ballot in every election when the choice of public officials or the de- cision as to fundamental questions is at issue. Therefore, the women are in- spired with much wisdom when they per ceive that their first logical step is the arousing of the American people to the importance of voting. Having success fully persuaded the reluctant voter to do his duty, the women may then proceed with much confidence to the next num- Der on their program, which should be something of deep significance to the