The Portland daily press., 1873-10-24
Woman Suffrage.

At the recent meeting of the Woman Sur
frage Association in New York, letters were
read from George William Curtis VIM. Lloyd
Garrison, L. Maria Child, Elizabeth Stuart
Phelps, Louisa M. Alcott and many others
whose names are well known throughout the
country The following letter from George
Clifford Esq. Corresponding Secretary of the
Maine Woman Suffrage Association was read
and is published in the Woman's Journal:
To Co.. r. W. Higginson, Chairman of the
american Woman Suffrage association.
The Maine Woman Suffrage Association, or
ganized at Augusta on the 10Th and 30th of last
January, owes its existence, in great degree
to the persevering and wonderfully effective la
bors of Mrs Margaret w. Campbell Assisted
by her husband, she began in October, 1872 to
speak in the towns and cities of this State
Hundreds of witnesses attest the fact that
where she succeeded in obtaining fair hear
ing lively interest was excited, especially
among the women to whom she appealed
There are several towns of considerable siz,
where she left substantial unapimity in favor of
a really democratic franchise. Accordingly,
after the meeting of the Legislature in January,
the times were ripe for the organization of
permanent soc ETY. under whose direction the
work might be continued. A Convention was
called with this purpose in view, which was very
largely attended. A State Society was organ
lied, auxiliary to the American Woman Suf-
frage Association. Lucy Stone, Julia Ward
Howe, Margaret w. Campbell, Miss Eastman,
Joshua Nye, W.. 2. Whitehouse Rev. Mr.
Adams aad Rev. MIR. Kinds were the princi-
pal speakers. A VARIETY of causes have some
what impaired the usefulness and activity of
the Association, and it has not given so much
practical aid in promoting the growth of right
popular feeling as was expected But it serves
for a beginning. Under its auspices Mrs.
Campbell was heard by the Judiciary Commit
tee of the Legislature, on the subject of re-
solve in favor of striking the word male" from
the Constitution.
The committee was largely made up of con-
servative lawyers, and q majority reported ad-
versely. But minority, consisting of Mr..
Dingley. Governor-elect of Maine, Senator
Chaplin and Mr.. Titcomb of Augusta, re-
ported the resolve, and their report was substi-
tuted for that of the majority in the House by
vote of 81 to 80, and in the Senate by vote
of Is to 10. But being afterwards put on its
passage the resolve was defeated, a two-th irds
vote being required to submit to the people
proposed change in the Constitution. But on
the decisive vote it barely failed of a majority
i'll each House.
Mrs, Campbell resumed her labors in the
State some weeks ago, meeting with very graf
flying success, though uuhappily forced to rely
largely on her own energy and perseverance in
all her movements.
l believe there is no field in which the friends
of Woman Suffrage can work with so reasona-
Bile probability of immediate success as
Maine. Though the lack of prominent and
energetic leaders gives the appearance of apa-
thy, yet the masses of the people are widely
indoctrinated with liberal opinions. The fact
that nearly one-half the members of two sue
cessive Maine Legislatures have voted for
Woman Suffrage shows how strong hold
the reform movement has quietly obtained.
There is no doubt but that if the American
Association would consent to concentrate, to
some degree, its efforts ON this field, with a
definite purpose TO have the experiment tried
in one State at an early day, the women of
Maine would vote for electors of President
and Vice President in 1876 even if the power
to vote at State elections were not at once con-
ferred. For the Legislature may clothe women
with the power to vote for President by sim
pie majority vote, no amendment of the Con-
stitution being required.
GEORGE CLIFFORD