The American Woman Prepares for the Elections

Do working women have time enough to exercise their political rights? This is the talk of the dean of Barnard College at Columbia University, on the occasion of the approaching elections.

"A woman fights madly and boldly when she sees danger closing in on her home and her children."

Politics, for woman, is a necessity and a principal task which she must not neglect. Woman cannot hold aloof from taking part in government so long as she enjoys the human rights that make of her an independent personality in her own right.

Dirt, disease, treachery — all these rob a man or a woman of reason once they invade the home of either. No sacrifice is too great, and no effort too large, when it comes to crushing these enemies that threaten the family's happiness. Our social development bears witness that when these enemies threaten our society, they threaten our private lives and shake our houses and our homes.

Woman has been, and still is, slow to accept a governmental task, and this because our country does not leave this matter to men alone, but entrusts it to men who are neither competent nor worthy to undertake it. "Politics is a dirty business" — a phrase mouthed by every individual in our society, so much so that most of the population refuse to vote, because our government, as they put it, is in chaos. Our failure to take part in any association, and to vote in the primaries, goes back to the nomination of machine politicians who know full well how to sing the praises of their cronies and their friends.

We witness all around us that the result of this negligence proceeds from ourselves: rulers who have no connection with governing enjoy all their rights, while other individuals, worthy of assuming the offices of government, are kept far removed from it. We have been heedless of correcting these errors; now, however, we must face these matters and do our utmost to set them right. We as women have political concerns which we are not quick to feel. Indeed, even the busiest of housewives have more time to spare for taking a hand in this matter than their husbands. Any woman can do whatever work she wishes while still setting aside the small pittance of her time for political work, if she feels that this matter is important to her. Then, too, as a sex we enjoy certain advantages that make us independent in ourselves when we vote. We are less attached than men to old habits, and it is easy for us to judge a candidate's views as they deserve, because we hope for no end to be gained from our siding with one faction or one candidate.

Some among us follow their husbands in voting; but we must scorn such women, and strive at the very least toward fighting these habits and forming an independent personality for ourselves. Certain ladies are beginning true work in the cause of this lofty aim of theirs. A man can consent to whatever he deems suited to his own interest; but a woman wrestles like the heroes when she feels that something threatens her home and her children. She cares for human values, and once she is conscious of the reality of her work, she fights for the homes of others as she fights for her own home. But a woman must join together what she deems important and the manner in which she will present herself, for this is the point on which we have been reproached from ancient times.

It is woman's habit to work without weariness or flagging; and now she must use her endurance and her patience in obtaining the final result, which comes down to solving the problems of her community. Who helps keep the work of the cities going? We can serve as much as lies within us if we take part in managing the houses of the villages and the suburbs. Attending various associations and hearing new proposals is the first step we take in this regard. We can, from our own home, get in touch with voters, men and women alike, by telephone; and gradually, with a single effort at a single time, we can come to know our own problems and the personalities of our country. We can come to understand the politics of our men, and attend most of the meetings they hold.

In glorious work such as this, done in all sincerity and devotion, lies the foundation of strong politics; and from here springs our power to create high ideals for government, wherever it may be and whenever it may be found.