Franchise Day

White Ribbon, Volume 20, Issue 7, 1 August 1948, Page 6

Franchise Day

As so man> Unions will have their September meetings before the “White Ribbon” for that month reaches them, we publish the following article from "The Union Signal” in the hope that it may be of service in making plans tor the “Franchise” meeting. The meeting should be regarded as special and important. Collection should be for N.Z. Fund. UNITED ACTION BY WOMEN COULD MAKE WAR IMPOSSIBLE The call for women to make politics their serious business spotlights tlm tragic failure of women to use the vote as they should. The role of women in politics is not a new thing in America; without the vote pioneer women accomplished more than women of today are doing with it. We need refresher courses in our early history to revive our faith in women and stir our courage into action. Perhaps the first woman politician was Margaret Brent of Maryland. Her kinsman, Leonard Calvert, first Governor of Maryland, appointed her guardian of his children and executor of his unique will (“Take all and pay all”). After his death the young colony was threatened with disaster. Calvert had hired soldiers from Virginia to defend the Maryland territory in a bitter boundary dispute. His death prevented his paying the soldiers whose demands grew more and more insistent. Mistress Brent appeased the men by acknowledging theft claims as just and sending to them what food she could from her own and the late Governor’s funds. The all that she took fell far short of paying completely, however, and the disrupted little colony was at the mercy of angrv, hungry soldiers. Margaret recognised the situation as a crisis. She knew that one more raid would mean destruction to the colony. Governor Green, Calvert’s successor, offered no help. Margaret thought her way through. She was executrix for Calvert and he had been administrator for Lord Baltimore. As yet no* one had been appointed in Calvert’s place If she could be made attorney for Lord Baltimore, she could use his funds The Assembly agreed that “the executrix of Leonard Calvert should be looked upon as his Lordship’s attorney," and thus Margaret paid the soldiers out of Lord Baltimore’s funds, and the colony was saved. Later in the same month, January 21, 1648—500 years ago—Margaret Brent, land-owner, lawyer, executrix, the woman who had saved the colony, appeared in court and “requested to have voice in the House and vote

September /.*

also.” While the Assembly expressed appreciation for her services, the Governor denied her the right to vote. After all. there were no women in the English Parliament. When word reached Lord Baltimore that Margaret had dipped into his funds, his wrath burst on her in full force. She was crushed with his ingratitude, but later heartened by one of the most magnificent demonstrations of chivalry and fair play recorded in the annals of politics. The story is best told in the words of the valiant Assembly: “As for Mistress Brent’s undertaking and meddling with your Lordship’s estate here . . . we do verily believe and in conscience report that it was better for the colony in her Hands than in any man’s else in the whole province after your brother’s death, for the soldiers would never have treated any other with the civility and respect” The Assembly must have been inspired with courage, for that bodv ventured a little advice to his Lordship: “We conceive . . . she rather deserves favour and thanks from your honour for her so much concurring to the public safety than to be justly liable to those bitter invectives you have been pleased to express against her.” “Women rush in where diplomats fear td tread and do a lot to make this world a better place to live in,” declared the late Dr. Mary Woolltv, former President of Mt. Holvoke College. Margaret Brent’s act of statesmanship illustrates woman’s spirit of daring that is a must in political life today. Long-drawn-out quibbling must *ive place to life-saving action. We need women in politics because tlirv are more willing *han men to take the all-important one step at a time. The loyalty of that early Assembly demonstrates how nobly men coonerate, once women take the lead. Years later, all over the country, men stood hv their women in the crusade against saloons and gambling houses. The absence of women in politics today is not the fault of men; women refuse to make the sacrifices required. They have lost faith in their own power and so do not stand together. Yet they outnumber men and thev live longer than men. Thev could draft and elect their own candidates without a single male vote. Women, united, could make war impossible. Rehabilitated with the courage and faith of the colonial women who helped to build America, women <..**" become—even in this late hour—such a power for peace that the forces of militarism cannot prevail against it. —From "Union Signal."