Evening star., 1936-09-06

ue1, tne 1886 preSlQenLlal elec-
Il ton will be decided. Yet you
find the feminine voter, aside from
hoping to get a personal glimpse of
the candidates, going about her busi-
ness without much thought of politics.
For the women are more interested in
what the drought will Go to the cost
Of foodstuffs. They are worried about
having to spend more on their table.
At the same time they will tell you
that the Clinton County farmer will
get good price for his corn. This
section, in spite of the drought, has
fair corn crop. a big hay crop and an
excellent small grain crop.
It is amazing how the town women
keep in touch with crop conditions in
their county. They seem to feel
vaguely that in some ways the town is
unimportant, that it is the land which
makes the region what it is.
They recognize that when the farm
er has money. Clinton, the trading
prosperous. With a deep religious
fervor a Clinton housewife exclaimed:
I'VE are blessed, for this is one of the
most fertile agricultural sections in
the country. Why if Wyoming cow
was put out to Craze in one of our
pastures she would die of indigestion,
not being used to such rich diet"
HOWEVER, Nine. Clinton enjoys
living in town, and goes about her
business without much thought to
farm problems. politics or civic well
fare. She loves her family and her
home and has very little appreciation
| for those women who want things
changed. The so-called restless women
of the city who are looking toward
civic improvements grow indignant
when they dicuss the activities of
their sisters. did you ever see a
draber place than this?" young So
cial worker demanded. "No wonder
our girls go to Washington for jobs
and hate to come back here. This
place is the nearest thing to Sinclair
Lewis Main Street The women get
sore at me and tell me that they have
a number of good clubs, all active.
But what do they accomplish? Well,
here is an example of the way our club
women work.
I'VE got up petition to further
the Block printing bill which the
women throughout the country are
striving to put through Congress. A
law like that will be of particular
value In this small city where the
number of movie houses is very
limited. Then along comes picture
producer and speaks before our clubs
against this bill. Now everybody
knows that part of the bill is to force
the movie producers to change their
methods of distribution. They con-
troll the market and make picture
houses buy what they give them ire
spective of whether the film is good
or bad. And what do our women do!
They listen to the producer, like him
personally and tear up the petition. -
Everywhere you hear the cry, that
in spite of the great changes, economic
and cultural, through the States,
Clinton women still hold to the small
town ways.
A few miles over the iowa country
side and an entirely different note is
sounded. Clinton becomes "the city"
But the farm women do not aspire to
change their toll for city conveniences.
"City life is nice, but the farm life
Is fuller" they say.
The women. many worn and shape
less, want the vigor that belongs to
these prairies. The older ones go to
town seldom, and then it's generally
to q picture show.
II would rather stay on the farm. ="
explained grandma, who refused to
rush her chores to accompany the
children to the o'clock church
supper.
"Stay here and eat with me-" she
invited. what will I do there? AL
the activities are for the city women
with whom I haven't thing in COM
mon. Why I would not waste my
time playing bridge. I would rather
read the newspaper or good book. Z"
HOWEVER the younger women are
participating actively in all sorts
of community work. Through the
churches and clubs they are now
working to abolish the r. o. T. G.
from the schools. They are also
studying the question of safety in the
home, so as to eliminate those hazards
which cause many accidents among
| the farm women.
The farmers wife Is most ambitious
for her family. She studies what the
Government and the farm organiza-
tions will do toward bettering their
conditions. She reads her husbands s
Congressional Record so she can keep
track Of her Congressmans attitude.
Today she is demanding rural electri-
fcation for the home and farm. For
fofI y,,ou houo olacfriritu oy,d