Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1944-11-10
Importance
Of Political
Thought
BY Eleanor Fowler
Secretary Treasurer

One of the very encouraging
developments in the election
campaign is the extent to which
women's organizations of the
most varied membership and
background have been emphas-
ing the importance of political
action. That used to be the spe-
cial role of the League of Wo-
men Voters. But this year the
General Federation of Women's
Clubs, The Business and Profes-
sional Women, the National
Council of Negro Women, the
National Council of Jewish Wo-
men, the American Association
of University WON n, the
Y. w. c. A. and many others
have been putting major en-
phasis on informed participation
in public life.
They've not only been doing
it individually, through their
own organization channels, but
they've acted jointly, too. More
than 20 national women's organ
izations including most of
those mentioned above, as we'll
as the Women's Auxiliaries of
the CIO, AFL and Railroad
Brotherhoods - joined in issu-
ing an eloquent appeal to all the
women of America to vote on
November 7.
The statement is partisan.
1t stresses the very special re-
sponsibility of women because of
the war situation and the dis
franchisement of millions of
servicemen. It concludes: "Vot-
ing this year may mean some in
convenience. Working women
may have to rearrange their
hours, housewives may have to
leave the baby with a neighbor,
many women may even have to
travel distances to get to the
polls. But if women realize that
the choice of leaders responsible
for guiding us to lasting inter
national peace and national
progress is up to them, they will
go to the polls no matter what
the. obstacles"
Many of these national wo-
mems organizations have always
had legislative program. Many
of them have legislative repre-
Sentatives in Washington who
work quietly on the Hill on is
sues affecting child welfare,
health and world peace. They
have coordinated their efforts
through the Women's Joint Con-
gressional Committee and they
have been a factor to reckon
with in Washington.
But it seems to me there is a
new tempo in their work this
year-and a readiness to work
with other organizations, pub
licly as well as quitely, which
holds the promise of rapid prog
gress towards the enactment of
the legislation we need to realize
the slogan of freedom from want
and freedom from fear which
we've been fighting for.
Women of all groups and eco
nomic levels have tremendous
bonds with each other. AS moth
ers they are concerned about the
welfare of their children-and
of each others children. Peace
in the world and security for the
family are their major goals.
Since they achieved the right
to vote in 1920, women have not
made full use of their strength.
On the whole they have been
considered a reactionary force
in our political life. Their ignor-
ance has been responsible.
This election campaign has
seen a new awakening of wo-
men to their responsibility in
our government, A real effort
has been made to bring the is
sues home to them. If we can go
on from here, with all the wo-
mems organizations of the coun-
try, as well as the labor move.
ment, mobilizing American wo-
men to use the tremendous
power which they hold through
their voting strength for build
ing a better life, we can expect
rapid progress.