The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-23
wOMEN's ROLE IN POLITICS

President Coolidge recently urged the wo-
men voters of the country to enter more
completely into the exercise of their fran
chise. To be sure, that is good advice. 1t
does not appear, however, that women have
as yet exercised any specific influence in po-
litical affairs; except here and there in COM
munities where they have been especially
active and ably led. Perhaps in time they
may come to make themselves felt as a sepa-
rate factor. So far. they have merely di-
vided as men have divided on issues or can
didates. That beneficial result which many
hoped for has not made itself consistently
manifest. +
There is no doubt that the women as a
group desire to work to our political better
ment, but it is not always clear just how that
may be done. 1t might be done by greater
disregard of those party lines and affilia-
tions which have at times hampered good
government, although effective in forward
ing political ends. 1t might be done by a
concerted purpose among women, even
though divided by party lines, to demand
that the candidates put forward within the
respective parties shall be of the highest
order. 1t is in this respect that the men
have signally failed AS rule, the best
available men do not become candidates for
public office, whether local, state or national.
This is partly due to the fact that able men
find plenty of opportunity for the exercise
of their energy and intelligence outside of
political office. 1t is also partly due to
the fact that political organizations prefer
men who are not too independent and who
will never forget their political affiliations,
no matter how strongly the call of public
duty and conscience may counsel otherwise.
1t may be, therefore, that the women can
supply that patriotic impulse which purely
political organizations have usually lacked
It NAV be that women can exercise a strong
influence in improving the quality of candi-
dates. Too often the voters have only
choice as to the lesser of two or more evils,
instead of the choice as to the best possible
candidate This is because candidates are
as a rule either self-chosen or else chosen
for political reasons rather than for reasons
OF capacity 10 pcFIOFHl Lue uuIIeS VI thO VA
flee to which they aspire. To wait until the
time for coming forward as candidates is
elections is to wait too long The public
past before arousing public interest in
concern must manifest itself before the date
for qualification has passed
A wide opportunity for political and pub
lie service lies along the line of persuading
those of known capacity and a breadth of
vision to qualify for office and then to bring
to the support of such ones enough votes to
elect them. The exposure of graft and cor
ruption is sometimes necessary and life
saving performance, but it is always a dis
agreeable one and is usually deferred until
things have become very bad indeed. Be
sides, it goes counter to the wise old prin-
ciple that prevention is far better than cure.
Prevention begins at the other end, before
election-even before the period for qnalifi-,
cations has closed. Prevention begins with
some plan for bringing the right sort of can
didates into4he political arena. 1t may be
that is just he manner in which the. women
of the land may most tellingly and health
fully exert their political influence. .