Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 237, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 October 1920 — WOMEN IN POLITICS [ARTICLE]

WOMEN IN POLITICS

By Mrs. Joseph B. Kealing.

On Thursday, Sept. 9, Candidate Cox, speaking at Butte, Mont., said, according to press reports: “Whereever you show me a radical movement, I will show you a government that has been unjust and oppressive.” One week . later, Thursday, Sept. 16. a deadly bomb, which the authorities agree was placed by radicals, caused the death of thirty-four American citizens in the heart of New York City. The entire nation was saddened, and while, of course, there is no direct connection between these two incidents., the question may well be asked by sober-minded Americans: “What should be our attitude toward radical movements?” To the genuine American there is but ohe answer, and that is that radicals who by force, plot against their government, can not be tolerated. It is too’much for some of us to believe, that a man who would make such a statement, could properly fill the highest and' most responsible position in our Federal government. Such statements as these are dangerous; and I can not think that the women of- our country can follow a leader who indulges in such unwise and unpatriotic comment. Reckless in Assertions. This declaration by Governor Cox is not unlike, other statements he has made during the campaign. His recklessness in assertion has caused him to talk freely about Republican finances. At one time he said the Republicans were to have a campaign fund of $15,000,000; he later raised' it to $30,000,000- and then subsequently said it was SB,000,000. The truth about the -whole matter is best expressed by the New York Times, a Democratic paper, which has 'been fighting the battles of the Democratic party, in its declaration that “Nobody believes that either the Republicans or the Democrats are going to make corrupt use of campaign funds this year; that is, that money is to be expended for the buying of votes.” \, The American people insist that their leader be a firm, wise leader, who has no .toleration for the enemies of his government; who is not given to reckless statements; and who, above all, is resolute and unafraid. ThU Is Harding’s Way. How different «from Governor Cox’s radical statement at Butte, Mont., is Senator Harding’s declaration in his speech of acceptance that “Whether enemies , threaten from without, or menace arise from within, there is some indefinable voice saying: ‘Have confidence in the republic! America will go on! Here is a temple of liberty no storms may shake, here are the altars of freedom no passion can destroy.” , . Candidate Cox’s statement must create dissatisfaction, discord and radicalism. Senator Harding’t statement gives the assurance of a leader Americans feel safe m follow-

<ing. • How <o capture the women s vote, in face of the well-known opposition of his party to the enfranchisement of women is one of Mr. Cox’s greatest problems. He is mistaken when he thinks himself capable of wooing the women s vote by such sentimentalities as the “He-kept-us-out-of-war” campaign of 1916. He Will find that women are thinking for themselves, and will vote their minds quite as conclusively as do the men. The Maine result shows a complete' upheaval in public sentiment and reveals the trend of public opinion. Notwithstanding the fact that a complete convass of the state of Maine was made by two members of Mr. Wilson’s cabinet, one of them Ms son-in-law; by Mr. Rooeevelt, the nominee for Vice «««: dent on the Democratic ticket, and by the ex-chairman of the Democratic national committee, in yinch they devoted their oratorical powers almost altogether to defense of the Wilson League of Nations, the verdict is clear. In one of Governor Cox’s Western speeches he said, “Thank God the women will vote this yqar,” but he had probably not heard the verdict of the women of Maine at that time. ; Back of the Main result, looms the fact that the country is determined to get ride of Democratic control and that Democrats in great numbers are ®misting the . Republicans in the process. . One of the fatal errors ofthe WT’A’lX* wi opposed to th. Wilson League of Natmns. With 50 per cent of their number the Wilson league as disclosed by the Senate vote, It would have been the part of wisdom to stand by this sac-

tion/andmake tiuiir a^ to the men and women voters issues. If the democrats of the Senate could not be swung over to the crate of the nation can not oe swung over. It is a house divided again* ita«U. and n*tter. .lulaws, instead of men, is about to come ipto tbs ewn. . ' American women are being asked in this campaign to vote far Mr. Cox because he is pledged to the Wilson League of Nations, and all that it stands far. They are tojd this covenant creates the, league of peace bf which good and great men

have dreamed throughout all the centuries. They are told & is a covenant of peace,- and will put an end to all war. Four years ago the. Democratic party asked fbr votes for the Democratic President because “he kept us out of war.” He got the votes, and five montW 7 Eater the United States entered the world war. It is only human /that We should recall this, now that he are asked once more to vote for a Democratic candidate because he will commit us to a .covenant that, he says, “wpL keep the world out of war?!