Chapter 11

WHY SHOULD WOMEN VOTE?

It is important that every woman who possesses the constitutional and statutory qualifications should exercise her right to vote; because it is only in this way that there can be a fair expression of the political sentiment of the qualified voters on any question.

Another reason is that the right to vote is not only a privilege but a duty that is imposed by law, and where one is entitled to exercise that privilege, the failure to so exercise it is a failure to perform a duty on the part of the voter.

Then, if only a small per cent of the women were to vote, and a large per cent of the men were to vote, it would always be problematical as to what effect the consensus of the women's opinion would have had in the result, if a full vote had been polled; and this questionable result of an election is one of the dangers incident to the exercise of the right of suffrage. If the women manifest anything approaching a unanimous desire to participate in the exercise of this governmental function, it will have the effect to increase the public confidence in this government and its institutions.

Men and women without regard to race, color or social condition, must take their turn exactly alike at the polling place. Each ballot has exactly the same weight in the election, and the ballot of the poorest man counts just as much as the ballot of the most influential citizen. The voting place is the leveling place, and when women realize that the exercise of suffrage gives not only the equal right to vote, but also allows equal expression of opinion, then the better purpose of woman suffrage will have been accomplished. This equality is not a condescension on the part of women, but it is the exercise of a right under the law, to call for the fair expression of opinion from all the people of every social and political standard, without reference to mental ability, social standing or business prominence. Therefore, it is the duty of every intelligent woman to vote and use her influence to get the women interested in voting and doing their part in keeping up the government. We know that the lower classes will all vote and many floaters will be found in such classes, so it behooves the intelligent women to do their part. The vote is the equal right of every one who is qualified under the law, and every qualified person has one vote, and that one vote from each one is the thing which the Constitution is most zealous to secure and safeguard.

We appeal to every intelligent woman of the United States and especially in Kentucky to take part in the coming campaign. Organize under competent leaders and let your organization extend into every precinct. See that the voters register on the first Tuesday in October, or the special registration days, then on 2nd day of November go to the polls and vote for President and Vice President of the United States.

Women as well as men in Kentucky can vote for President and Vice President if twenty-one years old and over, unless an alien, idiot or have committed some infamous crime. We have suffrage so far, whether we want it or not, and let us, as intelligent women, not forget the duty it carries with it. We love our government and the good things it gives, as schools, good roads, protection of life and property and the many other things. Should we not be willing to do our part to get these things, or must we be a sponger, a coward, or shirker and let our fellow man do all? Should we fail to vote and help maintain our government we certainly will come under one of these heads, that is if we are able to go to the polls and register and vote, and fail to do it. If you are absent from the county or state you can vote by mail. There is no way to escape our duty unless providentially hindered.

In Kentucky there are 1,201,185 voters, of which 663,454 are men and 537,731 are women. The white female voters are 477,731. The negro female voters are 60,000.

There are 13,225 foreign born white males of voting age, that have been naturalized.

Let us train ourselves for good citizenship and serve our nation, state, county, city and town in every way possible to make our government one of high ideals and the best in the world.

INDEX

A.

Page

Aliens, Definition of--to vote, 56

Aliens--may become citizens, 57

Amendments to Constitution, 10, 11, 13, 46

Amendment--extending suffrage, 12, 13

Ad Valorem--duty, 49

Acquisition of new territory, 51

Alaska, 51

Amendment to Kentucky Constitution, 10

Amendment, 18th and 19th, 11, 12

Amendment to change Superintendent of Public Instruction, 11

Amendment to change school funds of Kentucky, 11

Attorney General of U. S., 18

Agriculture, Secretary of, 18

B.

Bill of Rights, 11

Bill--reported favorably or unfavorably, 23

Bills passed in congress and State--how, 22, 23, 24

Bills, legislative--how enacted, 22, 23

Ballot--picture of, 42

Ballots--counted, 45, 46

C.

Citizenship, 7

Citizen--definition of, 7, 57

Classes of Citizens, 7

Civil rights, 7, 8

Constitution, 9

Charter, 9, 30

Constitution--amendment of, 10

Constitution--revision, 11

Constitution--supreme law, 13

Committee--work of, 15

Committee on Rules--Congress, 15

Cabinet, U. S.--appointment of, 18

Cabinet Officers--named, 18

Court of Appeals, 24

Circuit Court, 24

County Court, 26

Court of Justice of Peace, 26

County Government, 29

City Government, 30

City Council, 30

Commission form government, 30

Committee--national, 38

Convention--national, 37

Committee--county, 35

Convention--county, 35

Convention--state, 35

Convention--national, 37, 38, 39

Committee--credential, 37, 38

Convention--contested seats, 37, 38

Civil Service, 20

Congressional Districts, 14

Commander-in-Chief of National Army, 17

Commerce--secretary of, 18

Cities--classes of, 30

Committees--how formed, 33

Columbia, District of, 54

Commerce, 54, 55

Congressman--qualification, 14

Congressmen--number from Kentucky, 14

D.

Duty as a citizen, 56, 57

Democracy, 9

Departments of State, 21

Democratic party, 32

Democratic convention, 37, 38

Democratic State Central Committee, 33, 34

Democratic State Executive Committee, 34

District Judges of U. S., 17

Direct tax, 49

E.

Executive Department--national, 17, 18

Elections, 44

Elections--laws of, 44, 45

Electioneering--forbidden, 45

Election--polls open and closed, 45

Electors--President and Vice President, 47

Excise Tax, 49

Exports, 49

Exchange of Ratification, 19

Executive Department of State, 28

F.

Federal Constitution, 13

Federal or National Government, 14

Federal Courts--kinds, 17

Franchise Tax, 50

Fee, 51

Foreign Voters, 62

Foundation of Government, 10

Foreign Commerce, 55

G.

Government, 8, 9

Government--derivation of, 9

Government--kinds of, 14

Government--branches of, 14

Grand Jury, 41

Governor--duties of, salary, etc., 24, 28

Government--county, 29

Government--town, 29

Government--city, 30

Government--state, 21

Government--national, 14

Grand Juries, 27

General Assembly--convenes, when and where, 21

Guam and Samoan Islands, 54

Government--helped, four ways, 58, 59

H.

Hawaii, 51

I.

Impeachment, 15

Inauguration of President, Vice President, 48

Indirect Tax, 49

Import Duties, 49

Income Tax, 50

Inheritance Tax, 50

Initiative, 53

Interior--Secretary of, 18

Indian Tribes, 55

J.

Judicial Department--Federal, 16

Judicial Department--State, 24

Justices of Peace Court, 26

Juries, 27

Judges of Court of Appeals--qualification and salary, 24

Judges of Supreme Court of United States--appointment and salary--term of office, 17

K.

Kentucky Legislature, 21

Kinds of Government, 14

L.

Legislative Department--National and State, 14, 21, 22

Legislative Department--National, 14

Law making power, 21, 22, 50

License, 51

League of Nations, 19

Lieutenant Governor, 22

Labor--Secretary of, 18

M.

Mayor--chief executive--city, 30

N.

Naturalized citizen, 7

Native born citizen, 7

Nominations, 43

Naturalized--kind of persons, 56

Naturalized--manner of, 56

National convention, 38

National convention--rules of, 38

Negro female voters--number of, 62

Navy--Secretary of, 18

National parks, 55

O.

Organization, 31, 59

Organization--definition of, 31

P.

Political rights, 8

Platform, 38, 39

Polls open, 40, 45

Primary election, 43

Ports of entry, 49

Poll tax, 50

Property tax, 50

Property exempt from taxation, 50

Possessions, 51

Philippines, 52

Philippines--how governed, 52

Philippine commissioners, 52

Philippines--Provinces, 52

Porto Rico, 52

Parties, 8

President concerning treaties, power, etc., 19

Postmaster General, 18

Police court, 27

Petit jury, 27

Preamble, 10

President, U. S.--qualifications, salary, etc., 17

President--term of office, salary, 17

President of U. S.--duties of, 17

President--pro tem. Senate, 22

Police court, 27

Party organization, 31

Political parties--origin of, 31

Parties--two principal, 31, 32

Party--oldest, 32

Party--ballot, picture of, 42

Primaries, 43

Poll tax, 50

Philippines--how governed, 52

Porto Rico--how governed, 52

Panama Canal Zone, 54

President and Vice President inaugurated, 48

Principal parties in United States, 8

Q.

Qualification of voters, 44

R.

Republic, 9

Revision of National Constitution and State, 11, 21

Representatives--how proportioned, 14

Representatives in Congress--qualification of, 14

Revenue--raising of, 15

Republican party, 32

Republican State Central Committee, 34, 35

Registration, 40

Real estate, 50

Referendum, 53

Representatives in State, 21

Registration--special, 41

Rules of importance in Democratic convention, 38

Restoration of citizenship, 46

S.

Senators, U. S.--number of, 15

Senators, U. S.--how elected, 15

Senators--qualification of, 16

Sessions of Congress, 16

Supreme Court of U. S., 16

Salaries of Judges, Supreme Court, 17

Supreme Judges--retirement, 17

State government, 21

State Constitution, 21

State government--departments of, 21

State Senator--qualification, salary, etc., 22

State Senate--presiding officer of, 22

State courts, 24, 25, 26

Supreme Court of the State, 16, 17

State officials, 28

Special registration, 41

Specific duties, 49

State Representative--qualification, salary, etc., 22

Secretary of United States--duties of, 18

Senate--duties of, 22

T.

Town government, 29

Taxation, 49

Treaties, 19

U.

Unit rule, 38

United States--a democracy and republic, 9

United States Senate, 15

United States Senators--qualification of, 16

United States as a society, 58

V.

Vice President, U. S.--qualification and salary, 18

Veto--power of President, 24

Voters--qualification of, 44

Voting--manner of, 44, 45, 46

Vote--challenged, 45

Voting--by mail, 46

Voters--duty as citizen, 56

Vote necessary to ratify a treaty, 19

W.

Women as voters, 60, 61, 62

Women voters in United States, 8

Women voters in Kentucky--white, 62

Women voters in Kentucky--colored, 62

War--Secretary of, 18