Evening star., 1944-07-28

the politicians in both parties are
pushing women to the front at both
the national headquarters and in
their national conventions more
conspicuously than before.
One of the main speeches for the
Republicans at Chicago was made
by a woman-Representative Clare
Luce-and there were more than
200 women delegates.
At the Democratic Convention
there were speeches by two women
both proteges of Mrs. Roosevelt
and the claim was that 300 of the
1,lOO delegates we're women. And
both conventions adopted the equal
rights for women amendment plank.
Under these conditions it is nat
ural enough that there should be
considerable speculation as to what
will affect the "women's vote which
way the "women's vote" will be cast
and what are the issues this time
which will sway the women. With
women voters now exceeding the
men by so wide margin, it is easy
to dilate long and learnedly upon
this subject ano to make a number
of interesting and plausible de-
ductions.
Do Not Vote as Women.
The trouble is that those engaged
In these speculations nearly all ap-
pear to ignore the big basic fact
that there is no such thing as
"women's vote" never has been and
In all probability never will be.
Women vote, but they do not vote
as women and no really informed
politician thinks they do.
The size of the womens vote has
nothing to do with it. Women got
the vote in 1920 and they were
completely entitled to it. There
never was a sound argument as to
their right to vote. The real argu-
ment was as to what they would DO
with the vote after they got it
In the days when the suffrage
campaign was being Waged, it was
contended that if the women We're
given the vote they would purify
politics, lift the politician to a
higher plane and raise the stand
ards of public life not only in The
national Government but rarticu-
larly in State and city adminis5ra-
ton.
In the "a years since women be-
gan to vote (and in every one of
those years the number who regis
tered and voted has increased, not
one of those things has happened.
On the contrary, it has been very
firmly established that women do
not vote as q sex or class or
group.
In these "a years, the League of
Women Voters, which is the sound
est and best of women's political
organizations has done a great zeal
to interest and educate women along
political lines and 20 inspire their
active interest and participation in
politics.
Nevertheless, it still remains true
that the great bulk of women (and
this includes those of the highest
intelligence as well as the Iowest
vote the way the male heads of
their families do If they have no
husbands, they are Influenced by un-
cles, or brothers, or lovers. OF
course, there are many exceptions
to this rule, but none the less 1t is
the rule.
Instructive Tendency.
And it is entirely natural. 1t does
not argue any inability of women
voters to think for themselves. 1t
does not mean they are less intel
ligent or understanding than men
1t is partly due to the instructive
tendency of the female to rely upon
the male and partly to the habit of
women, for generations, to regard
politics and public affairs as the
exclusive business of men.
1t will take good many years
still before they fully can overcome
the instinct or break themselves of
the habit. Maybe they never will.
At any rate, though they ere now
In the clear majority and are hold
Ing more Offices and getting a
greater play from the politicians
than before. they have not swung
any elections yet. Nor will they
swing this one. They will vote in
this erection as they voted before
to wit, largely as the men vote.
No better Illustration of this habit
Is to be found than in the Negro
vote. When, in 1886, that vote was
captured by Mr.. and Mrs. Roose-