Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 92, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1915 — PUT ON THE SOET PEDAL. [ARTICLE]

PUT ON THE SOET PEDAL.

Tin: state senate Saturday passed by a vote ,of 37 to 3 a limited woman s suffrage act, and the question of whether the women will be allowed to vote or riot is now up to trie lower house of the legislature. The bill as passed grants suffrage to the women to vote for all public offices e.'veept constitutional offices, mnd provides for registration, etc., same as for male voters. Separate ballot boxes and ballots must be provided for the women, and While the vote is added to that of the male voters lof the offices for which the women are entiteld to vote, their vote must be counted and reported separately to the canvassing boards. The expense of providing additional ballot boxes and separate ballots, etc., will be very heavy, should this bill become a law. it would permit women to vote for presidential electors, judges of the appellate court, reporter of the supreme court, attorney gengral, state geologist, judges of the superior, criminal, probate and juvenile courts, members of the county council and all township offices except justice of peace and constable. In brief, they are’ allowed to vote tor all statutory offices, This does not include the -circuit judge or county offices proper.

'•l- io tiivo Tor tin nieri. an la;. - man to put on peel 1 1. and let the president do the talking. There is grave concern lest the United States become involved in the European "war. But it must"not be- ii' mortal man and honorable means can prevent. < England seems determined to starve out Germany, even* to the depriving of women and children of the necessary food to sustain life. This may be in accordance with the rules of warfare, but it is not in accord with tjie laws of humanity. Helpless women and children! Germany, in retaliation, says merchant ships must not enter English waters, and warms neutral countries that their vessels are in danger of hieing sunk by Teutonic submarines. Germany, apparently, would alsu starve England its innocent women and children-! This, too, may be considered a justifiable act of war, but the element of humanity is lacking—quite dead: ' Thb United States is a neutral country, favoring neither side to the controversy, and. with food in plenty for the hungry ip all lands. British merchant ships are using the American flag in an effort |o escape the hostile craft of the enemy.

The Kaiser instructs his submarine commanders to sink British merchant vessels approaching the English coast, and Warns America that its ships of commerce are in danger o! being destroyed. ‘ ' •- if either country, in pursuance of its announced policy, destroys an American ship sailing under the A ’!?cri(;an flag,: then that act becomes one of war against the Ittited States, ms piracy, on the high seas. And there lit lies the extreme gravity of the situation. President Wilson and his ad vis; rs arc straining evc-ry nerve in an ef'c.rt to avoid the danger of a clash, : ' c . the peopie of this country , can Aa-sf; assist theiny by refraining iron, ■a;:-an disc ■ ’sic,ns of the war, and by retaining their native coolness and calmness in the face of danger. Hot beaded denunciations and vitriolic discussions will only serve to ag gravate an already delicate situation. Let ‘Europe fight its own battles. Our business is to attend strigtly to our own affairs—and to furnish food P>r the starving millions when the inevitable time is at hand. , The president is speaking softly—but to the point—and he should not be embarrassed; by the flames of racial strife. Put on the soft pedal, brother—the soft pedal.