Imperial Valley press., 1934-10-25
CANDIDATES BEFORE WOMEN

If candidates for office in Imperial
county show more than their usual rest
lessness and activity today, there is good
reason for it. because tonight they are
to be guests of the club women of Imper-
lal Valley at dinner in CaleXico.
But they are something more than
mere dinner guests. In fact they are
more or less ION the spot before criti-
cal audience, that is fair, but which will
weigh them on true values, determined
in great measure by the appearance of
the candidates, their records, and that
indefinable something that is generally
known as woman's intuition.
Only two of the candidates-thoSe
seeking congressional office-will ad-
dress the women tonight. The others
will be present as atmosphere" during
dinner, except that they will be present
ed to their hosts. Later there will be
an opportunity for individual discussion
between candidates and their hostesses.
1t is, or rather it should be, crafty
ing to all good citizens to find women
taking such an interest in political af-
fairs. Tonight's gathering is not the
first instance of such interest. Recent
ly group of church women met in this
city to discuss good citizenship and how
women may assist in encouraging and
developing it.
Candidates who may be in fear and
trembling that it will be counted against
them if they pick up the wrong fork or
use "aint" where "aint'' shouldn't be
used, are making unnecessary trouble for
themselves. Their hostesses may notice
such things and would not be women if
they did not.
But these women base their judgment
on things much more substantial than
social etiquette. They know the true
values in a candidate for political office
the same as they know them in sizing up
a mans character. The candidate who
tries to put something over on them will
be making big mistake. Better to fall
down on the social graces and be ION
the square" when discussing his candi-
dacy than to be perfect in the former
instance and try to slip something over
in the latter.
Although they do not hold down the
curbstones and street corners with politi-
cal discussions as men do, women these
days know their politics. They read,
listen to the radio and discuss political
affairs. They may not follow the mas
culine line of political debate, but they
don't get very far away from funda-
mentals.
The old argument that woman's place
is in the home and that she has no place
in politics, has been knocked into
cooked hat Woman has a most defin-
ite place in political affairs, whether or
not she seeks public office. We men
haven't done such a hot job politically.
We can look back through the years and
if we are honest searchers, see where we
have swallowed plenty of humbug and
political knavery. The advent of wom-
en- into politics has improved conditions
and the improvement is growing.
There may come time when, thanks
to women's influence, we will select all
our political officials on merit and ability,
instead of because they are good fell
lows" or are fright" They should be so
selected and men alone are to blame if
they are not. 1t is too much to hope for
an immediate reformation, but woman's
interest in political affairs is the open
irg wedge and the best hope for ultimate
decency aid common sense in choosing
our public officials.
Come on out, you respectable Demo-