Show JO The Dangerous Dames By Frederic J. J Haskin Are women a political menace This Is the latest grave and I important im important im- im n- n question to be thrust upon the unsuspecting nation by the governor governor governor gov gov- of New York Governor Miller Miller Miller Mil Mil- ler not only thinks they are are but he has the rare courage to tell them so His recent charge to that effect was leveled specifically at the New York State League of Women Voters but Inasmuch as there Is a similar feminine In every state he has succeeded In placing about two million women voters on the defensive defensive defensive de de- de- de The menacing thing about the women In the opinion of the governor governor governor gov gov- and other male political leaders leaders lead lead- ers ers Is that they insist upon maIntaining maintaining maintaining main maIn- these independent no parti san feminine leagues as political In Instruments In- In instead of casting their individual lots with the two great American political parties In other words they are working for the things they want as a sex rather than as individuals The League of Women Voters replies replies re re- re- re plies to this that it Is the only way they can an make their votes coun count t. t So far the ballot has availed the tho women wom- wom en n nothing Woman suffrage tOlla today Js is as ag Gilbert Keith Chesterton quaintly puts It It a legal fiction Women are affiliated In fairly large numbers with both the Democratic and Republican parties but they have as yet absolutely no party power That may be developed In time but meanwhile they think some other means must be used to achieve women's rights The long fight for suffrage taught the women the value of a nonpartisan san organization For years Individual individual Indi indi- Individual vidual women worked for suffrage through the two political parties without making the slightest Im Im- They might have been boen so working yet had the Prohibitionists not come along and shown them a better expedient The Prohibitionists Prohibition Prohibition- thrust the eighteenth amenDment amendment amendment amend amenD- ment through congress by organising ing large and powerful nonpartisan political forces In every state When a political candidate announced himself In favor of prohibition they helped to elect him and when he declared declared de do- dared himself against It It they helped helped helped help help- ed to defeat him Tho The party did not count he lie alone was held hold ble After Atter watching the ef efficiency clency of this method for a short time the women decided to Imitate It They too too built up powerful organizations in each state and thus suffrage was forced Into the constitution only a I trifle behind prohibition I The Trouble has J Just st Begun But having gained tho the ballot the women realized that their fight for women's rights was still In Its infancy in- in In j fancy and they were unwilling to toj I demobilize an organization which I had proved so valuable an aid to victory In every ery state therefore I the woman suffrage association was merely changed Into the state league of women voters and the national association became the National League of or Women Voters retaining a headquarters In Washington The league represents the conservative conservative conservative conser conser- wing of wom woman woman n suffrage It has no connection with the National Womans Woman's party containing the more radical feminists which recently held its convention in Washington but both organizations are working for the same things What are these things things these these so- so called women's rights whIch rIghts which as yet have not been taken up ul by the Republican Republican Republican Re Re- publican and Democratic parties Equal opportunity with men the protection of children and the promotion promotion promotion pro pro- motion of education are the princIpal principal principal pal ones Th The Tho women are solidly behind behind behind be be- hind such legislation as the Shep- Shep Towner pard-Towner maternity and In Infancy Infancy infancy In- In fancy bill now before the United States congress for example and likewise the Kenyon-Fess Kenyon bill containing containing containing con con- a large appropriation for forthe forthe forthe the teaching of ot home economics They want better salaries paid to school teachers medical examinations examinations examinations examina examina- for all aU school children and the provision of hot lunches In every public school The League of Women Wom Wom- en Voters Is In favor of or laws protecting protecting protecting pro pro- women and children In In In- In It Is constantly working for tor better and cheaper food supply It has started a widespread campaign for the unification of laws In all states especially laws relating ot of marriage and divorce The chief function of the league Is the promotion of political tion It conducts classes In American American Ameri Ameri- can citizenship in election laws and methods and In special laws concernIng concerning concerning con con- women Mass meetings are constantly held under Its auspices for tor the nonpartisan discussion of pro oro proposed posed legislation and other matters of public Interest Are these activities a a menace In answer to the governors governor's charge the New York League of Women Voters submitted submitted the following embarras- embarras lag ing questions 4 Hecklin Heckling rg r g ff tire t tho le G Governor r t t The chief work of or the League of Women Voters Is educating voters especially women Does not the Republican Re Re- publican party want an Intelligent electorate We believe that voters should study the public questions In an u un ur unprejudiced prejudiced way Therefore we offer of or- offer fer a nonpartisan platform for their discussion in which we welcome welcom both Republican and Democratic speakers Does the Republican party prefer that the voters should accept a partisan view without knowing knowIng knowIng know- know Ing anything about the subject We Insist that public office should be given to the man who will wll best serve the public and not in payment payment payment pay pay- ment for party service We bell believe ve that true economy will result when public office Is regarded not as party spoils bUtI buts but s public trust Does the Republican party disagree with this We believe that unthinking submission submission submission sub sub- mission mission to the dictates of the small groups which habitually control our dominant parties would be a menace menace menace men men- ace to our country's future Does this belief preclude our working with the Republican party You deny our right to work as a group outside of the political party party par par- party ty for political measures and you say that all nonpartisan groups which seek to affect legislation and the choice of candidates are a menace menace menace men men- meni i ace to the welfare of the country Do you include in this such groups as the State Ch Charities Aid Ald the Dairymen's Dairymen's Dairymen's Dairy Dairy- mens men's League the Grange the the Citizens Citizens' Citizens Citizens' Citizens Citizens' Citi Citi- zens' zens Union the Bar association n the American Legion Legon and the Manufacturers Manufacturer's Manufactures Manufacture's Manu Manu- facture's association Or are we a menace only because we wo are women women women wom wom- en S Si far the governor has made no reply to these interrogations But Dut the machinery of the Republican part has been set in motion against the eague in all parts of tho the state Parts office Is being denied to women women wom worn en vho vito are members of the league Republican officials s are seizing evey opportunity to prevent women from fron joining the organization r Fir r r from being discouraging however this campaign Is proving hl highly beneficial to the league Itha It has haM simply served to change the tho lukewarm and hearted half among its own ranks into ardent defenders an and to attract thousands of new members to Its banner After Arter all a governor makes au are excellent press agent mused a New NewYork NewYork NewYork York woman voter the other morning morning morn morn- ing as she checked a long list of new subscriptions If this rush rush of new members keeps up the next you know we will be presenting him with a loving cup |