Franklin D. Roosevelt- "The Great Communicator"

The Master Speech Files, 1898, 1910-1945

Series 1: Franklin D. Roosevelt's Political Ascension

File No. 190

1920 October 1

Lexington, KY - Campaign Speech

lLU'llC'l'S JT.OI& OK • .!CI' OY' ROll , l , !l ,J!00811T&L'l! Lm:UIGTOI, XY ., Oat . l ,l98)

All I han travelled in tlMI paat tow woolta in 8tataa

wbte• up ~o tho preaon~ 70ar bavo not bad auffrate , it Ia 1ntaroat­

tns to noto tho way in Whloh bot h ... and ~.aan are raapoa4ln« to

tho rat1t1oat1on of tho 19th a.onGmont. In aomo looal1t1ol tho

lntoJ"Oit of tho -• 1a oloarlJ urltol. '1'ho7 are atU.,ina poll tloal

quoatlona with oven more araor an(lntol~igonoe than tho a._r&«•

among tho man. In other plaooa thOro aoeme to be eSther a laolt of

intorolt or, at looat, a tooliDS that t here 1a no partioular roaeon

tor •~roialng the r1~bt. to vote now that it baa oome.

1 want to draw a parallel between our Oovernmont and a

-11 o01111110rotal OOI!Ipalll'• If tho 41rootora at tbat IIIDall OOIIJ>41ll'

pay no attention to Ua atfdn and tail ann to .atton4 tho 010etlugo

ot tho Board ot ntrootora, 1t loavea tbo affatra of tho oompanJ open

to all lt1nda of abuoo at tho banda of anJ unaoro~uloue off1oer Who

ohooHa to taka ad-...ntaco of tho l&el< of Sntoroat on the part of tho

D1reo1ora. So wlth the Oovornmont of tba United 8tataa. ~lootion

~7 !a but a .. ot1ag - a hugo body of 4irootoro, oallod votora ,

dotoralno What aholl be tho pol1oy of their oonoorn t or a oortain

period t n \he toturo.

Jameo Dryae, the to•oua .~gliah hiotorlan, once 1414 to

••: 'The ohief danger tn tho tre~ndoue silo of tho UD1ted State•

ona the vaatnoea of ita population h that 1.ho .illeotorate -7 taka

leeo and leoa 1ntaroat in the way tho attatr• of t.he Oountq are run,

That will mean control by eelflah lntoreete &nd LDevlteblo eaploit­

atlon of the Country. !be b1S pr1no1plel and po io1ee au.t, f or

t he aafot7 of ~ Country , reet on tho oxpreaaion of public opinion,'

That 1• partioularly true of tho Eleotion 1.hte year. 4

nat n"WIIber of oitho11a - tba -n-of tho Count17, have ha~ t'lle

.. 2

away from ~e polle will apell danger. :apeoially i e thia true

i:t onl7 a porti on of the WOIMn' a vote, which bae been organised aloq

partiBAII linee, goee to tha pol1e and the res t of the women remain

l 11ka to think tbe adnnt or women at the beUot box will

briq to u a Tel'J high aoral and right-tbink1q outlook in our public

lire. !he7 have it in their power tbia year to do much to el1a1uate

mere p8rtiaanahip f or tbe aake of party, and to inatil in ita place a

national point or view which will oak• iteel:t felt throughout the

Oount~y. Politiolano on both &idee have talked about the ooneervatiam

of woaen. Tbia l do not believe . I am tiraly of the opinion that

they are progroea1ve , nnd that the7 will not be willing to revert to

narrowneae and out-worn dootrinee. feel very oartain that even more

than the men, the womon o:t the United Btatoa will look at public

queationa from a broador utandpolnt, and that they will bring baok

into our public life the tundomental morAl and apiritunl principle&

which .. need eo much.

l want to emphasize two polnte: Pirat , that it ia a groat

priTilega to have a vote - n privilege which men in m&nJ Countrlae

hava gone to war to obtain - a privilege even for whioh we :tought the

ar of \he Revolution, but it is not only a privilege , it ie a

dui7 anl an obl1gation to tho State and Hatton. soma Countriae have

even gone 11.0 :tar ae to make voting obl1gatoq or to plaoa o haaV7 fine

•pon \hoea Who failed to taka part in tho aotlve oitizenehip of their

! atian. ne have never done that beoauae a large proportion o:t our

ElaO<torate hae in the paet oarried out 1 te duty.

It ought not to be neoaaaary to u.rge the WOOlen of thie

CoUDtt;y to go to the polla thie 7ear, but beoauee f or aany of them it

3

ia a new thing, it 1a naoaaaary to OQll their attention to their

duty. It would, f or 1natanoa , be bi~hly wrong and thoroughly dangaroua

to hnYa only women in t he ol\1aa go to the polla l ! ~heir a tetar•

from tho oountry diatriota remained abaant. That would be a one-aided

•xprooaton of opinion. • omon nhould YOta whether thoy 11Ye itt a

orowaa4 oi ty diatriot or on a remota /arm. lt i a , after all, not

oat1ng muoh of our oitisana that they should taka a faw minutaa, or

eYan a few hours off onoo a year in order to yota. They muat rema•bar

thAt they reooiYa protaot1on, and law and ordor throUGh the 1netrumenta

of their goYernment. ~1ey ahould ramcmbor that a ~ovarnment 1a no

bettor and no worao t han the Yotor c w1ah lt t o be. I hope, thereforo ,

that when the Totou aro oountod on llovombar ena it will be f ound

that at l aoat as l&rfa a proportion of women who are ont1tlod toYOta

haTe oaat t heir ballotll Qa in the oat/e• o~ tho men.

U,0,tAC1';.. J'!lOlr OJ !C C Ru!l . ' • l o!IOv;;&T&L? T~YlHO~ I , rr. , Oot. l , ltl)

.U 1 b&'l'o tra'rollo4 ln ·•~ paat tow .,,.on ln lliatea

tMob 11p to tllo proaon\ 1•n oo'I'O not lwil tufthf;o, u h lnte:r.et•

ina to no\o tbo wa, ln wllloh both •n ona ·-n are. nopo041D« to

tho rotl!loatSon of tho 19th amonam.ut. 1n aomo looAllttoe tho

lntnoGt of tbo _, Ja oloarl ;y ~:~ub4. ':be7 a ra atuqtq pollUoal.

quo11Uone wltb non .. ~r• ardor on llltellSpooo than the an r&IJ•

omollll tho 11011. In other p:looea \hera ••- to be aJtlulr a lack of

lntanta\ or, at 1aaa t , a hoUne that t ore 1D no partlolllar naa011

for oxaroJaln tho r1g t to Yota aow tha1 it baa ooo. .

1 .ent to draw a parallel batwean our Covernment an4 'a

-u o01180ro1ul OOI\Jpe.ll7• 1t 11M 41roo\ora of that -u OOIII,Pe117

pa7 no attention to 1 to aft ire and b11l non t.o atton4 \bo IHOU nc:o

of t.ha Board of ,lraotol'a, 111 laoYOa tbe affatra ot the ooapan;y open

to aU kln4a of abuoa at tho ~48 of •!11 Wl801'UJ)ul.OWI of'ficor who

ohooaee to tao M'I'IUI1.<\p ot tho laok of Jnt.enat on tha 1161'\ of \be

' lrn oro. Jo wH.h the COYOn-nt of the \Jn.1ta4 ~t~>tea . ~looUon

.AI le Lut a Mot1q - a huca bOd¥ of <llrootora, t allocl. 'I'Otol'a,

doter Ina' •btl' Rh3ll ba \ho 1'olioy ot thoir oonoarn· t or a oor\&1D

perlo4 in the tut1tn.

JAQDa »ryoo, \he taaoat .ncllah blatorlan, ouoo SQlA to

••• ''l'ho ohlot dll.ll, or ln the tro"'ID4oua G1Je ot tho lin1\acl f:\ataa

and the 'l'aat.no .. of lta )IOJ>Illatlon Sa that \be .oilao1.orate IU)' 1.at:e

laee &Dd 1o .. tnteroat ln th" •;r tlw atfaJra ot tho C011nt17 aN run.

fb&t will moan control by ooltlab lntoroate ADd inoTltablo oaploi\-

rho bts prtnoiploa an4 p~ iol oa ~uat. t or

t ba safety ot our Countrv, :re•t 011 the uproaaio• ot publlo oplrtto.o.

Tbat 1a ~artloolarl, traa ot tba .l ootton lh1o ;roar, I

-•t nwabar of ottlHna - tlw ..,.n of the cou.nt.17, hAve haa t.llo

\

• away from the polle will apall 'Aanser. ;aptotally l a thta tru.

tr on17 a portlon of tbe wo.en 'a .ute , whiob baa b an orsonlaad al.mr

parttN.n Unea, goea t.o tl~e polla llud the n at of .. n. WO<Deo reuln

awccy . l like to think the advent of w~o a t tbl bMllot box will

brlna to ua o ve17 blgb aonl and r1gh'""thlnk1ug outlook 111 our publ1o

life. 'l'ho7 baYe 1 t 1n their poll'lr thio year to do woh to oll.m1D&\e

more p rtlaanahtp f or tho a&te of par\y , and to 1nat11 in ita plaoe a

national point ot Tiew whtoh will uke U.oelt tdt tbroughcmt the

Country . ulHlotana on both aldoa bavo talked obout the ooUM"at1•

of -.n. 'l'h111 1 do not bel1aYe. • I 111:1 flm.l¥ of tho op1n101'l \bat

~he,- are procreaal'la, and that tlul;v will not bo will1l:l8 to ronrt to

• narrowneoa and out-worn 4ootr1net . ·l fool T0%7 carteln tbot avon IliOn

t ban the men, tbo woaan of tho Cnited 8tat~e will look at pullio

queetlona frOlll a broudor aton4po1nt, and that the) will brlns haok

into our publ1o 11 fe t he hl!du ental 1110ral. and aplrl tl&lll. prlnoiplea

wblob we need eo auob.

l wont to eaphaatze tao po1nta: t irtt, that tt la a ureot

pr1'11lege t o haTe a TOte - a prlvtleB• wh1oh men ln ma~ Cowntr1oe

h~~ r.one to ""r tu obtain • a prtYllege even for whloh we fought 'he

ar of tbe r~volutton. but 1~ 1a not only a pr1v11as u, it 1e o

duty and cm obUtatlon to tho !Jtate o.nd !lotion. <>Ollie c.ou.ntriea baTe

even ~na ao f4r aa to lllllko wUna obl1satoJ7 or to plaoo a. hoaT;J tine

apon thoce who t a 1le4 to take part i n tho uot1Ye oltlsenablp of 'heir

nation. o have neTer dono tba~ beabu.L• a l ara• proportion of our

Eleotomte Mil i n the rut oarr1e4 out 11.0 duty.

lt o~~ght not to be neoeoearJ~ to urco tho w-n or thlt

Countr, to go to tha »Olll th1e 7ear, but beoauae for .. ~ of them it

ft -

1a a MW thl !ll, it. 1a oooaaaar, l.o o,.ll tbdr auontlon to \llotr

AntJ • It "olllt. , tor tnatanoo , be ht•hl7 wron11 an4 thorourhl7 dant:or ov.a

to hnTe only •o~ea l n tho oltl oa £0 to tho pella ff thei r a1atera

fTo12 \he oo..uatr;y 41Urlot.a ~·oQ111.1e4 abNnt. That uld be a one- eida4

.xpraoaton of o~1nlon . o:>On r.t>ould TO\o whether tr.u:v lin lli a

orow4o~ o1t7 41atrlot or on b remotu In~ . It la, afiar all, not

aaklrllt v.uh or ~IU" u1 U•ana that tl,.:t ellould tbllo a row l!li nntoa, or

oYen a few hours off onoo a :v~ar in ordnr to Tote. That nuot romember

thAt ~hoy roco1TO proteotlon , and law and or4~r throuch the lnat rwoenta

OTar·.aent la na better and no oraa than the vot•ro wl oh lt to be. J hope, therefore,

tha i when th• yo tea aro nountp4 on I oTe~l·or tnd 1t will lro foUllll

thai at le3.0t &U lllX"i'O 4. •rG,>OrtiOD Of W0'100 libO are 0 titlOd tO TOtO

han oaal. their \rallota oa ln the oafeo or tho nan.

UT:lAC'l':. lf<OII • .4C'! c~ RO:t , f , O, l!008!T&L'1'

L»llnGTOI, T.Y ., Oot. l ,ll£)

Aa l h4~• tra~ollod 1n tho paat tow wooka in Sta~a

which up ~o ~he prooon\ JO&r ha~o not bad auftra«e, it la lntoroat­

ing to note tho WS¥ in Wbioh both .. n an~ women are reopood1ns to

tho ratif1oat1on of tho 19th aaen4alont . .1n eocao loo&11Uoe the

lntoNat of the -n h olllarl l' ~~;U"II:e4. 'l'bol' are at~1118 poHtloal

quoetlone w1 tb •~•n • ore ardor ar(l'sntollipnoo than the aftr&«o

omens tho v•n• In other plaoaa tblro aoema t o ba eSther a laok of

intaroat or, at loaet. a foaling that t oro ia no partioular raaaon

for oxeroialng tho r1gbt to vote now that it baa oome.

1 want to draw a p81'8llel betwen our Covol'tlr18Dt and a

8111511 o-:-oSal oompaQ1• If tho !'J reotors of that emall oo:>~parq

pa;y no attention to 1 ta aft· ira &lid .tall enn to a t toni! tho maeU nee

of tho Joar4 of Piraotora, i t loavaa the aft81ra ot tha company opon

to all kinde o~ abuae at ~. hando of ·~ anacrupuJ.oua offioor who

ohooeoa to take &dvanta~ of tho laolt of loteraat on tho pO.rt of tho

- 1roo• ora. :Jo wit.h tho Oovorn:nont of tho UnHad :lt&taa. .;looUon

Da7 te but a ~otlng - a hue• •o«J of direotore, called ~otero ,

datanc1no whnt eholl be tho polto;y ot · tboSr oonoorn for a cor\8111

par1o4 l n thO fUture ,

Jamoo Jlr7oe, i.be fwaou ,naliah h1etor1an, onoe aa14 to

ee : ' The oh1of danf;Or tn the trOIHDdOIUI alae of ~he Un1 ted &tatoo

and \he vaatnoal ot ita population So tbat \ho Rleoi.orate ~ i.&ko

leal and loOB 111tare11t in the ftJ the nffalre of the Countey are run,

'!'bat Will lH&n COI!trol bJ oelfleh intereata an4 lnevUablo OX»loit­

atl on of tho Co~tey. The Ills pr1no1])lol and po 1o1oa a u\, tor

\Ill{, ' t he aatetl' of QDr Coontr,J , root on tho oxproao1on of public optnioa!

!bAt la part.loularly true of the ~leot1on thlo year . A

I

away troa the polll wtll , apell danger. :epao1ally l a thia true

lt only a portion of the woNan'a TOte , wh1ob baa been organised &loot

part1eGD linea, goea to the polla ould the :raat ot the -.n HM1n

·~· l 111ca to think 1Jia a.tvent of wcrnen a t: t:.brl ballot box will

bring to ua a very high moral aDd right-thinking out:loolt in our public

life, They have i t 1n their power t bi a year to do muoh to olia1D&t.

mare p~rtteanahip t or the aake of party, and to 1natll in ita pl aoa a

national point ot view which will make itself felt tbrougha.t tha

Country. Politio lane on both aidoa havo tolltod about tbe oonaervat1aa

ot woman. Tb1a 1 do not baltave. I em f irmly o~ tho opinion that

thay aro progroeaive, and that they wi ll not bo willing to ravort to

narrowness and out-worn dootr!nea. feol vory oor tain tha t even more

than tho a.n, the women of tbo United 8tetoa will look at public

queationa froM a broo4or utan4po1nt , And t hat thay will brlng book

into our publi o lito the tund&mantal moral and aplritual prinoiplaa

which .a need 80 a uoh.

! wnn t to emphaaiae two pointe: 11rat, that it 18 a groat

privilege t o hnva a vote - a privilege which men in m&DJ Couotriel

have r ona to war to obtain - a privilage oven tor wb1oh we tought .the

~or of tho Revolution, but lt ie not only a priv1lagu , it 18 ~

duty and an obl1sat1on t o the ~toto and Ration . So~ Countries b&ve

aven sone eo tar au to meko votins obligatory or to pl ace ~ ho&T7 tina

upon those who fallo4 t o tako part to the aotiva oit1aeneh1p of their

llation. o hava never done that beoauca a larga proportion of our

&leatora te hae in the raat oarried out 1t8 duty ,

It ought not to be neoneury to urge the women of thJe

Country to go to the polle thia yanr, but beoauRe t or .. oy of thee it

-· ll -

ia a new thl D&, it ia nooeaaory to o~ll their attention to their

aut7 . It would, !or 1natanoa, be Mthl;v wrong and thorouehl7 d&D68!'01lA

to bnva only ~•n in tho o1t1ao ~o 1o \be polla 1f their a1atara

hom the oollntry 41otriota n1101naO abeent. TbOt 10uld be a ona- alde4

o~on cho~\4 vote woathar tno;v 11.- 111 a

orowdod olty 41atriot or on a remote fara . lt ia, attar all, not

aalcltJI '111lOh of Ollr olthana tMt tllAI7 ahou.ld take a few e1nutaa, or

evan a few hours off onoo a :vear in order to vote. Thoy muot rom.-bar

that they rocoivo proteotlon, on4 law a nd order throuch the 1natr~nta of thoir sovernment. 1hey nhoul~ ramombor that a Covan,aent 1a no

bettor and no worao thnn the votoro wt ob it t o be. l hope , therefore,

that when thu votan nro counted on llovoml>er ena 1t will bo f ound

tbAt at l•~•t aa large o proportion of women who are ont1tlo4 to vote

have oaat their ballots oa in the oa~ae of tho man.

Ja'l' C'l':l !1: W , c nvll . l'. 1, .O~V&L1' 'Ul:Clli<;'NI0 Q ,, Ootol, lt2 )

' • 1 ba'N tranllod 111 tobe (.oUt. :r .. w..oka tn &tawa

wl'liob ap to the l)HIIIItlt o:ou hne aot b/14 81<1'tl'lllo, u Ia tat.Yeat•

1118 to no~ tbQ • :; in 11b1oh both •n ond ,,_a Ol'o n 1)01141Dif ~

~ rotltloatlon of the lOth

lnw'Nat ot tho _,n s. 01oor11 Dllrh4. ''bar a l'o atWJ.i'taa pollUoal.

queatlou.a wUll llftn ro ard01' an 1tltoU1pooo thllll the awnp

01:10111 the Delio ln otllel' plao.e "•~'• IIO«lll h bo o1 tller a l..,k of

tntonn or, a\ len~~t , • ~ol1flG that t. aYe 111 no panlolllar n u on

fO't' OAI'Oial l)f: tho 1'1(;'!1t. to YOW DOW that i1. baa OO.o

l W>:mto \o 4.1'aW a J,IIU'Oillel "-t-n our wOVOZ'Zr.IIIDt IUI4 a

-u o-rold Clonpall7• lf tha 4lln)Ot<Jl'a o-r th! t. BQDU o<XIl)Oil;v

~no auont1on to ito ~t ln .tn4 r..u o·nm to att.ona tho aeotl~a

ot tile !oa'r'd of ·h'Ootora, it loa.,.o tile af1'atn ;,1 tho oOCipatl;i' opea

to aU tlnda of abUH at tho banda of an~ WllloropUloue o:rftcor 1llhO

ohoOIIOo to taka aavan~ of tbe laolt of lnt.oroat. OL tl1.e pc1rt of $llo

1roo on. uo ttltll the Go~t. of t.il8 :J4J to4 ~t.wa . :lootlon

&J Ia 'Lo.t a uOCill(! • a hU&O '110<7 or <UrootoH, e&Uod •otel'IJ,

llo ter lne 'llf>nt ~~hell be \llo l>Oltoy of tll01&' ooooorn :tvr a oortalll

p41l'10ll Sn 'U>I i'llt1U'Oo

J-11 l r)'oe , the fo:aoua "l:].illh ll1ot.or1.tn, .moo aa14 to

.. : ' 'l'be ohiof ~r 1n the t rOt:IOD40IIJI otw of ~llo l'n1 W4 C:t.o.toa

0114 the "N8tnooo or ita .1-0 lil.otion So tha' t.ne i>Uotora~ 1111;1 1.ah

leN lln4 leo• tntanot ln t.h'l wo;r tile IU'tatre of ille Count!') o.ro run.

~'bc.t Will aeon con\rol 'b. ll•lfloh 1nte:roatll 4D4 1noTS tshlo OJIJ)lo1 ~

otlon o'! tllll r.ountq. lbe b1& l)r tnot ploa ao4 1 J tol .. o IIWit, t or

Ule aatat.;, of our CoWitq, Hot. on thO OltlJINH10II Gf p'llbl1o o:;~inton.

"!"'' 1a part1o111ar1., t.ruo ot 1.bo .:'loouon t.lllo ;roar . A

n of tho t olUitr"J, hAve hA4 tho

2

D"'l:f i'TO!rl ~ » Oll .. will. apoll a&ngU• ·apulally U \biD t:rua

Sf ol'lf a por~lOn ~ 1.be -n•a ~w. wbiob haD b an orgc.rt1U4 al..,.,_ ~han l lnee, goea to ~he poll8 ad ~ noa~ of ~ wooeo r-in

a"fQ7. l UP ~o \l\Snlt \be acl'flUI~ of wo ~11 a\ 'be 'ba..lO\ bOJt will

br\1'13 to u a wr.v h1Sh eoral and risM-tbink11'1& ootlooiL tn ov.r pv.bllO

lito. l'bo)' bon 1 t in their poliOT tbiD year to 4.0 •uoh \o al1a1DaW

mere p rtteanell!p •or V1.a oak• or par\1, c.rt<> to lna·ul ln tta plao• a

national point of vtew whioh w!U 111111ta it.oolf felt tlbro118hout l.be

cout~t.ry. ol!l.lola!UI on both e14oa ha..-e tDl.koA u.llov.t t11.a oon .. naUIIB

of IIOMD• l'hifl l do no t bello.,.• I am ftml)' o~ tho opinion that

the;r I\TO proereeo1n , oud tha~ \hoy 11111 no' be w1ll1DS to re.,.rt to

narro1meDII on4 -ou~worn Aoot71ne8• l fool vor1 o•ruin that. ann cora

th.Cln the MD, t.l\o -on of the t:nttaol S\atf>ll will loolt at. pu.llic

,uaet.tona tr~ a b~dor atcndpolnt, ~4 t.h&t tho wlll brlna baok

into our publ1o life tha tandacnntal moTRl &n4 apir1tao1 prinoi plaB

.mtoh .,. l)eaft 110 a®h•

priTUagt to l:I4VO a -.oto • a priT1lBI!O which Mn ln IDTIJ ountrioB

ba.,. one to wn.r to ol!tain • a pri•H•g• .... ~n tor tllh1oh '"' fought 1.ha

!lr of 1.llo volu.t1on, but 11. U not onl7 a prlvllego , l t 18 a

Au\)' ,end an obU e;auon to tho GI.AW and liat.ion . wQQe ~:ountr1•• hAve

• .,.~:~ ..one ao tar •• to 110ko wttns obl18•t.or:t or to place o. hoaY7 tine

upon thoce ~o f tilloA to ~· ~rt 1n t.bo aotiYa cit1aenah1P of tha1r

Jatlon . • baYG neTaT ~on• t.bDt baoau'o a to.rst proportion of our

r.tootoTAto baa in the pa~~t oarr1a d out ltB 4u.\7. 1\ ought not to be MUDDII&:t.l' to urea the ,._n of tbia

Countey to ,.o to the poll• thia 7••~. but. beoauae tor •ey of the• it

3 -

ia a new thSn&, it Sa naoeaaur;y to oall tbelr attenUon to thelr

Out;v . It would , t or ln&tatloe, be h1fbl7 wronc and tbol'ou~hl7 d&)l!el'01la

to ~v• only ~·~~ tn tho oltlea o to \ he volla 1! their alatora

1"1'011 the oountrJ dla\rlo\a r-1oe4 abaant. That c:oul4 be a oM-1114&4

.-preoalon of opinion .

orow4od olty 4latrlot or on n rocoto tar=. lt 1a, aftdT a\1 , not

aalc lop: '!tUOh of oar oltt,..na ~hot the::/' ahonl4 tbu a few clnuteu, or

ovon a few l\01ll"a off onoo n ;rear in or4el' to vote. 'i'bo;v •ont romember

thnt ~he:7 roao1vo protection, an4 low ond or4or tbroueh tbn 1natrumenta

of their rOTerrment. :rl1e7 ~;hoold rKOmbur t'htlt • ,over~<men~ 1a no

bettor and no ;ororue than tbe votorll wUh it \o bo . l hope , therefore ,

t'htlt trl\en the votoe 11ro oom,tc4 on lloTellll•or r.nt\ 1 t will l1o found

tba\ at 1eaat au larr• a p roportion of w~n who ero ontitlod to vote

hava oaat thotr ballot.& oe in the catjll• ot t.hc 1110n .

u•r;ucr .. :"'lu.\t &. ~c) 011 ll JU , I', .RO~Y!lL'I' T~ l~OTOJ, IJ ,, O.tol, ltl)

r.a l haft tranlle4 1n \l.oe put to• "oota In SkWtl

wllloh •JI to LM pre•n1; rou ban not haO. eu:ttftl(e , U 1a la .. nat­

ins io noto tho wa, 1n 'lb1oh both •n and •-II an roapoa41~ to

tba ratlt1oatlon of tho lOth amondMent. ln a~ loo&lltloo ~be

interoat ot tho -n 1a o1oul 7 !llll'lto4. Tbe7 are atlld)l1q poliUoal

qweotlono with o?on mora ardor an 1ntell1eonoo ~ tho a._ra«o

u all(l tho non , ln other ploooa there oo.-.u~ to hO oJ «bar a l ilOk of

tntorftO\ or, a\ loaat, a teali~ that t ore Sa no por\loular roaaoe

tor onrol&ltl!!: tho rte">t to YOW DOw that it baa ooM.

1 waa\ to 4rftw a parallel bo\ .. o~ our Oovornmont ana a

-..U c-rolltl C~DIIJ• U tile dirootoro Of 1ihatl ~1 0GIIp41V

Pill' no atwntioD to 1\a aft ira and tnU non to att.eD4 the -unaa

or t hO lloarll ot llt rootou, 1t l aona thO affatro ot tho oOIIpiiJV opoa

to all ll:inda ot abttao a t tho Ut>da ot an7 1Ul&OJ'UP1110UII offloor who

oboOMa to take aanntaeo of tho laok of ln\ol'oat on tho port. of \lie

~lroo• arlo Jo wHh tt.o CoYOrllmont of thO Unt to4 8tatoa. ~leotlo:n

~)' to bqt a IMOtliiCJ - ft httra bOdy ot Urootora , calla4. Yoion,

4otenol uo tlhl1 i nholl bo tho polio:y of tho1 r oonoorn t or a oor \4111

por1o4 in iha :tutnre .

J-o tr7oo, tho twaoua :1\~lioh nletoor1an, onoo ea14 io

•ot ' Tho ohlor 4&tlpr ln the trotliCirhloua oilo l)f ~ tint t.od '1.6-t.oa

ODd the TUtno .. of ita po~>~untlon la tba~ tho :loo1.orato 1111;1 1.alto

loeo and loeo i nt.oroat ln tb~ wo.y tho nfta1ro of tho Coun1.J!7 an :nm.

That Will maan control bf aolfia~ lntoroate and 1ne•1~a~lo ~101\-

a tion ot tho Coun tey. Tho b1S pr1no1ploa ao4 1 , 1o1ua 11110t, for

tho eatot:~~ or ov Countr¥, 'l'OIIt on tho OXJ)NeoiOJI of sn'lblto opJnton.

!bat to parttoalarly true of tho loo\1on ~h1 n year. A

nat IIWIIbor of oHhon11 - tohe -~~ ot' tho CoulltJT, llllw ha4 ._,... '

~iee ortendet to them tor the t irst time. F0r them to rema111

I

• ..., r .... \loa •.U• wtll .,.u .._.,, aepeal•117 h We \rile

tr eallr a ,.nlN ot \loa - · • "'-• •tall 11u ,. • .., ari*JI1 .. 4 al_, panlNII lt••• -· w ua pella anti. I.IIAI ... t at 1M -a r-ial

an,r , 1 Uta te \Milk \ba .adnoDt of •-• at tile INlllal llez wlll

brllll te • a fti"J' liSp .. J'Dl 11114 rlflb\-- thllll<llll! ouUoot 111 nr publlo

llte, 1'lle7 .beft 1\ ln \belr powr 'hla 7ear t o olo woh to ollatoa\a

un 1" rUMDIIhip tor - eate of JMl1'\J, uti. to 1netU 111 lta plt.M a

nat1~ pout of win wh1ah will •ta u .. u hU throqhooat tile

Couau,. Polltlolaaa 011 hath aUaa llaft toltaol about U.. OODMrnU•

ot -~· Thta 1 t1.a not ballaft , I ""' tlral7 o-r tho opinion tllat

hel "fOJ7 oartaln tJw"' 1'90D a oTe

than the .. n, tile -~~ of tba Unlta4 S\atoa will loot at put>l1o

~·••tt- tNal a loroaAar atMtl.pelnt, anti. t hat the7 wlll br1111! baol<

Ia to ou.r publlo 11 fa the tlzndaMn\al mora l and apiri t11Al prlnolploa

wb.loh w need eo nu.ob.

! Wllnt to ea;>haelu t wo pointe• Ph·at, tlwt u 1a a gnat

prlY'llega to 114Ye a Yoto - ll prhllefle wbloh MD ln UIIY Countrloa

haft gone to """ t o obtain - a prhllese ann t or Pblolt we tougM tile

ar of l.he &nolutton, but u Sa oot onlJ a prhneso , it 1a a

4u~ •ntl. an oblltatlon to the ~tate an4 R•Uon. . ome COuntrlel han

nan ron• ao tar ae to 110.1<a nU111 obllsatai'J' or to pl a oe n lloaY)' fin•

-.pon tlloae Who f•ll•4 t o take part lo tile aotlft out .. nalllp of \loalr

la,lon . fie have nttTer d.one 1.hat. beaall.M a lar .. propor\lon of ovz

Eleoto:ra\e 11&11 In the r aat 84U'r1e4 out lte '"'7•

a 01lflht no\ to be n ....... J'J' to u e• \he · -n of tllle

CoiiDtrJ to ro to the polle thle Jll&r, but baoaue for .. IQI of \he" it

- 3 -to ®ll 'tbe1T o~'Ce'C\Ion to t;bolr

ror tn.etancu . be hlfhl;r wror:r """ tlL01'0tt hl7 daogerov.a

to ""'" on\;.r _ .... ., In tuo ol tlua ro Lo \he poll• J f t""lr eleton

fro-> tho ooWl~l""J 41etr1oto r.,.,..1oo4 1\boeDt . fh&\ oou\d I.e o --•14o4

CJ?tprGrOlOQ Of OitlniOD• ()":\\n •. tAL YOt e W~..Ott"AI' \ Oj' lJW lD 8

orowdod oltl Atet rlot or on u ·8T'loto rn.no . lt le, aft~r all , not

nuk1Dt: uoh of our ol t trans thDt the:t ohoul4 \$lto • , few l!llnutoe, or

o.an a to hWJ'O off onoo a JD&r 1.n orduT to wte. i'hO)I oWl\ romember

t.hat tha raooh'o protaoUon, onll laW end or4or throUP:h tbo lnet ,....n\8

of \bolr t<m~r ... ot. !~'tel ~buul4 .._ ......... thA\ • c.o ... r .aant 1• 00

bet~r a.n4 no worwo t!lN> t.ha •ot rc wloh 1t to be. l hope , thorafoN,

that -~~ U>u wtue aro counted o• 01' In rll4 1t "111 l.o found

_tha~ a t l o:>ot ao :Loroo a pr<ll>Ortton or -n .. 11o ore oatHlo4 to wte

haYe oao~ th011' ballotc oo in the oat ao of \ho •n•

/ .IUIWl'l'll J'nOII Sl'JXCB 01' ROI,.P,ll,IIOOS&V.&L! IJU:IIOfOI, D, • Oo\ol,ltl)

All I baM tranlled in the put taw n ote ln 8\e\ea

whiob up to \ho preoaDt year baTe not bad auttraso, tt ia 1Dtoroat•

iDS to note the -Y ln whioh both ... n and • -D are roapoDUDS to

tho ratitloation ot tho lgth ... D ... nt. In oo.a loaalitlaa tho

lnt.nat of t~ wo..a! ia olearl7 aarke4. !be7 are •tUAJlpe po11\1oal

quaatlona with aTon • ora ardor ~lntolliganaa \haft tho aTOra,a

uons tho aoon . In other plaoao \bare ..... to ba ol thor a lack ot

lntoroat or, at loaat, a toollns that t horo 1u no parttoular roaaon

tor ezerotaing the right to Toto now that it baa o ....

I want to draw a parallel ~twoan our OoTornmant and a

... 11 oommero1al oompaft¥. It the 41reotora ot that omall ·~~

pa7 no attontioD to 1b affairs and fail ann t o attaD4 tha MBtiDSD

of tho Board of lllrootora, 1 t loaTOa tba atfalra of tho o011pa~ opeD

to all k1nda of abuoa at the honda of any unaorupuloue ot floar who

ohooHB to taka adTantago of tha laok of lntoreot on the pnrt of tho

llireot ora. So with tho Oo?ernmont of tho United Stataa. Elaot1on

Day ia but a meeting • a huge body of direotora, called Totora,

datermtno what shell be the polloy of their oonoorn for a oartaln

period in tho futuro.

James Dryco , tho fomoue F.ngliah hla\ortan, once oald to

.. , ' Tho ohiaf danger in the tromondoua alao of the Unltod States

and the Taatneee of ita popul a tion is that the F~actorato aay taka

1011 and leaK intoreat in the way the oftalra oi the Country are run,

That will moan cont rol by ael flah 1ntoroato and ineTitablo .xplo1t­

at1on ot the Co~ry. fbo big pr1nolplaa and pol 1ol ea mDBt, f or 1

tho oafoty of oar Country, reet on the nxpreosion of publ1o o~lnion .

That 1a partioularl7 true of tho El eotion th1e Jear. A

T&et number of o1t1•eba • 'ho women of tho Country, haTe ha4 the

tranohlae extended to \hom tor the first time. For them to remain

I

••1 :h-oa the polla will epoll l.allflor. .Eopeoiall7 1a th1a tru

it ollly a portion of the women 'a TOte, wblob bao b .. D orgnnlsetl al.ODf

partlaon llnoa, gooa to the pollo a n4 tbe noot ot tba women reulD

&ft7. I lito to think tho ad ... nt of women d tba ballot box will

briag to v.a a ney high moral &Dd rigbt-th1nt1ag ou.Uoot ill our pablio

lito. Tbo;y hnn it in their p ower thio ;roar to to auoh to ol1a1nato

11oro part1nnah1p tor tho oato at part7, and to inatll ill Ua plaoo a

national point o! v1ow whi ch wl ll D&to ltoolf toU throqboat tba

Co11Dtr;y. Poll Uoi o.no on both oidoo baTO tal. tad about the oonoonat1a

of -n. '!'hia I do not boliovo. I am tiral;y of tho opinion that

tbo;y aro progrooaivo, and that tbay will not bo willing to rnort to

narrowneaa and out-worn dootrinee. :feel Tlry oerta1n \ha'\ IYIJ1 a ore

than tho .. n, tho wo11an of tho United Statoe will loot at publio

qaoat1ono fro11 a broader atandpoint, and that thay will bring baot

into oar publio lifo tho f11Dd011ontel moral and opiri tnlll prinoiploa

whioh we nee4 oo muob •

.l wnnt to omphaaize t \'lo pointe : fl. Tat, ·that it 1a a e:reat

pr1T11ege to hAve a vote • A .Pr1T1lese whioh men in UDJ Countriea

ban gono to war t o ob t a in - a pr1T1logo onn for whioh wo foqbt tho

War of the Revolut ion, li11t 11. 1e not onl;r a prl'Yileso , it 11 a

duty and an obl1gGt1on to t he Bt t;te and Hatlon. Soma Countrioa ban

non gono ao far aa to mnke voting obligatory or to pla oe " heavy fi110

upon thooo who f& llod t o take pa;rt in tbo aotlvo oitlsonohip of tbo1r

Jlatlon. We have neYer dono thtlt because a lara• proportion of our

&lootorate baa in the paot oarr1o4 out its dllty,

It oqbt not to "'- nocosM r;y to urgo tho WOIHD of tbia

Country to go to tho polls thio year, but booauoo for .. D)' of tboa 1\

- 15 -

1a a new tb1ft8 , 1 t 11 neoeea&'Q' to onll thei r att ention to their

dutJ. lt would , f or 1netanoe, be hl ghl7 wrong aild thoro~hly 4anseroua

to ho..-e only women in tho o1t1ea go t.o the poll & l :t thetr alotora

:rrom the oountrJ 4.1a t r1ote reiDD1ne4 abee nt . That would be a one- aided

oxpreceion of opinion. woman ehould vote Yhether t hoJ 11.,. i n a

orowc1od olty diet~J.ot or on n remota farm . It ia , after all , not

aut::lng >11UOh of our cl t i Ktns that t he;y should W.k.e a f ew mi nute a , or

OTID a few boura off once a. J e&r in. order to vote. They ouot remeaber

that they receive prot.ot1on, and l aw and. oraor tbrOU&h the lnetl"UIMnta

of tbetr s oTerr.ent . '!'hoy should remombur t hat a CoY,rnment 11 uo

better a nA no worse than the vot oro wl eh 1 t to be. I hope , therefore,

tbat when tho 1'otoa aro oountod on floTember 2nd 1 t .,fil l be foun4.

t hat at leaat ae lare:e a prop ortion o~ womon who are enU tlad t o 'YO"tl

ha'Yo oa•t their ballot& o.e in the oafs• of tho mon .

a

·~ tra. U.. pella •Ul apeU taapr. ~apeolall,y 11 W a tftiOI

if on~ a porUOA of tba -.n•a YOM, llbtoh baa b eon 01'8Ud~ all ..

panl Mil u-. goea to tilo J>alla aa& t.M Rat or the -• -sa

·~· l liJDI to WnJt 1ha aawat of •-n a\ tM llalln llea wU1

br1116 to • a ftr; hl&h •nl u4 rllfht-th1nk1aa ooUMk la 111r pollllo

llfa . Tbej' hAft u 111 their powr t hll )'HI' \0 ao ~~A&oh to oU.a•te

1111n p rUamlblp for the Hb or part;,, · oud to lna\11 1A 1\e pl•• a

natlonal poLut of Tl" whlob lf iU Dllka 1toolf' :rou ~t tile

Count.ey . <OllUolGM ou both a14oa lmw ~lu4 about ,... --tl•

of -n. ~la l 4o uot bellnoe. I 11111 1'1~ o1! t.ho Opinion tllat

\heJ are prognteoift, 81!4 that the:/ will not be w1U1116 to -n te

narro.»n· aD4 out-worn dootrlo... l hol nr;, oartain tho\ llftD 110ft

than tiMI ••· the -n of \he l:nitaa 8\at.a will look at pl&lllo

quoatlona ~ a l~dor aton4polnt, ~n4 \hAt the¥ wtll brlae baok

into 0\ll' public lifo tho fundaMental ~orAl and aptrlt~ pr1no1Dl ..

'llfllOh ft uoo4 ao auoh.

! .ant to o~pbaatao tno rolnto: Elrat, that it la a araat

prlTUago to hnTO a TOte - a pr1T1losv •h1ch -.on lu IIMLIV co~mtrtea

ha.,. one to tra.r t '> ol.to1n - a prlTllaga oven for whioh wo touaht the

ar of tho volutson, but it ia not onl7 a pr1Tlloso , lt ia •

duQ> and on obl1nt1on to the 5tnto and ua.tion. woXM t.o\mtriaa hAft

aftn IJODII ao :t'ar aa to Mko wtln!' oblisat.oey or to plaoa c boe.Y7 tina

upon \hoGe WbO fallo4 to ta~o part iu tho aotiTa o1\1 .. nah1p of \hair

na•l" ' • hA ... Mftr <lono tbnt beaau: o a lara• proportion of our

Eleoten.te baa 111 tbo' f'A*\ oarrh4 out 1t.e du~.

lt oa.,rht no\ to be neon.,r_, \0 u~;-o tl'l• ,_n ot thia

Count17 to 80 to the polla \hh ~ar, bu' baooua for -~ of \bet~ U

- I! -

1• a mw th1118, 1\ la neooa8Ar;t w OAll tbelr a ttanUon to U.olr

411\1• lt ,.olllt, ror lnate•oo, be hl~ht7 wrOIIJ and ~llorollf'bl;r 4&Jl«aro••

to blln Olll:T WO'UD In tt.o oUl .. II~ I.e tha polla I f tl .. lr ala tore

frOOI the ooun'tr;r 4Utr1ota re•lned ab .. nt. 11\at 10uU be a one- aided

oxpnanolon o::r op1f\10n. 'tO"On nbou '' voto r.rho't.her tn.u.t lift 1n a

orQlftlod o1t:t u.a\rlot or on a nmot.o .taJ'II . It te. af l.ur Ul, not.

a uk log "'""h of oaT ol \l,.ne thnt t.be:l ehoutd take • rn mlau~••· or

enn a f .. hO'O.J'G off o.l1041 a JO&T in ordol" to 'tote . ~•j ou.ot ro_.\Jer

thnt uw: ...,ooln pTOwot1on, an4 law and ordn tbrourh \bo tnatTWMnta

o:r tbelr r onr,..lft. :tbe7 ohollld r...ombur tbat a uon11..,.nt sa no

be't\or an4 1\Q 1t0J"M t.hAn the voit.:> rO .r1oh lt to be. I hopo , t.hore.tore ,

that. ~•~" tl'o 't'Ot.cte aro oounto4 on OT~l·•r Cnd 1 t will ,,. ,~oun4.

t hat at tuot au 14~ a propor\ton of -n wbo are out1Ue4 to yota

'ha'Y• oat•~ their bollota ll• 1D the ea1ao of t!\o n~n .