The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-02-07
ELOQUENcE IN THE STATE HOUSE.
mrs. Blackwell and Prof. caruth
Speak for Woman Suffrage.
Thomas L. Talbot, ESQ.,, Presents
the Remonstrants' Case.
Bishop HeaIy, Or. Whitaker and 9th
ers Talk of the Reform School.
Especial to the Press !

In strife that called spectators from along
the entire coast. In the Senate chamber,
where the Reform School committee sat;
were gathered prominent Catholic and Pro-
testant clergy to join in the issue over the
question of religious worship at State in
stitution; while in Representatives Hall,
greatest and most interesting assemblage OF
all. were gathered the woman suffragists
and their opponents. There Lucy Stone
Blackwell was the central figure, little,
happy looking woman, whose snow white
cap and kerchlef carried with them the air
of goodness and benevolence that usually
pertains to the grandmothers OF this land
But when she would glance now and then
over thellarge assemblage of women gathered
in the large hall there sparkled out from be-
meath, her expression of benevolent a CLINT
OF determination that revealed the spirit of
the agitator. Mr.. II. B. Blackwell, her hus-
band, venerable looking man with hair and
beard as snow white as his wife's cap and
kerchief sat not far away.
There We're present Mrs. l.. M. N. Stevens
| and large delegation of members of the
| W. G. L. u, and other women interested la
the question:.
The Suffrage Hearing.
The Judiciary committee came to order at
about O'Clock. Representatives Hall being
about filled with an audience composed al
most exclusively of women, who had come
together to listen to the long-awaited hear
ing on the question of municipal suffrage.
Rev. Henry Blanchard, president of the
Maine Woman Suffrage Association, opened
the hearing. He came from Portland, " here
| he said, there were 100 petitioners for mu-
nicipal suffrage for women. Mr.. Blanchard
4 made very eloquent opening speech, laying
down In logical order the arguments in favor
| of the measure. In concluding, Mr.. Ban-
chard asked that 10 case. the committee
| should report a bill that they would put in
an educational qualification,
Mr.. Blanchard then said 1t was his pleas
| ant duty to introduce Lucy Stone, whose
persuasive voice had converted him to woln-
| an suffrage twenty five years ago.
AT this point Senator Libby asked Mr..
Blanchard question about the constitution
ality OF municipal suffrage bills:
Mr.. Blanchard referred Mr.. Libby to Mr..
ii. B. Blackwell, who replied at length up
on this branch of the question, in which he
is thoroughly Informed.
Lucy Stone Blackwell then stepped for
ward to the committee table.
MRS. BLACKwELL's REMARKS.
You will remember, she said, that we are
bringing to your attention a very old ques-
ton. Speaking of some of the objections to
the proposition, she spoke first of the argu-
ment that women would neglect their proper
duties Those urging this argument must
remember that in every woman's heart there
was that eternal law that binds the mother
TO her children, and TO every woman this
law would remain higher and stronger than
any attractions of politics or demands of the
Sfatn Hhn bar IL frat lxyr far r~f.
to the example of the women of Cheyenne,
who defended the sacredness of the Sabbath
with their ballots by electing city govern
ment that shut up the stores and saloons, but
who did not leave their houses to vote until
their household work was done on the day of
election. There in Cheyenne that day
the men who stood for law and order went
to the women and plead with them that they
would vote. The argument that women
wou d be degraded reminded Mrs. Blsckwell
of the story of the small boy who, seeing his
sister eating an apple, told her that apples
gave people cholera, and that she had better
give the apple to him. Shn gave the apple to
him, and he began to eat it. Then she asked
cholera. "Oh. no" be. replied. "boys don't
have cholera" Now the men said that the
women would be polluted in the dirty pool
of politics. And probably when the men
proaeh the throne on high they will say in
excuse: 1--WE have corrupted in these things
because we were men and could not keep out
of them"
Mrs Blackwell declared that as practical
voters the women in cases where they had
had the opportunity, were found to equal the
men. In Wyoming they had never separ-
ated on party lines, but bad voted for what
they considered right and useful. And they
would do this everywhere, Mrs. Blackwell
declared.
PROFESSOR cARRUTH's REMARKS.
Professor Carruth. of Kansas State Univer-
sity, was introduced. He said he came to
bear testimony rather than to advocate any
reform. In 1867 the Legislature of Kansas
passed law giving women municipal suf-
frage. The first election occurred inI April,
1887. All the officers of the Kansas NUM-
cipalties with two exceptions, were then
chosen. The total vote of Kansas was TO-
900 men and 10000 women. The women at
tended the caucuses in great many cases,
thereby contributing greatly to the order Of
of those assemblages which we're as orderly
as lectures. In but few cases did the women
hold separate caucuses. The candidates
nominated throughout the State that year
were of higher class than ever before nom-
mated in Kansas. The candidates were dis
cussed freely by the women. In the town
where Prof. Carruth lived the women held a
meeting to which they summoned the two
candidates for mayor to meet them. There
the women put to them list OF questions,
such as:
"Wll you, If elected, do all you can to
close the saloons and gambling houses?"
These questions rather embarrassed the
candidates, but they were obliged to answer
yes or no.
When election day came the women were
at the polls distributing ballots and serving
tea and coffee. Loafers, tobacco smoke and
bad language were banished.
AS to the argument tnat bad women will
vote and the good women stay away. Prof.
Carruth said that in~the whole State OF Kan
sas there were buttwo towns, Wichita and
Leavenworth, in which 1t was reported that
| bad woman voted. In Wichita sixty bad
women were reported to have voted, and in
Leayenworth thirty But the good women
voted in great numbers, and they voted on
the right side, for good order, for cleanliness
and for prudent government.
Against the argument that women would
not be treated respectfully at the polls, Prof.
Carruth said that the experience OF Kansas
| perfectly answered 1t. There was not case
where woman was disrespectfully treated.
Chairman Heath asked how many women
voted Ia 1888.
Prof. Carruth replied that the election Of
1888 was much less important and only
about 10000 men voted and $1,000 women. In
Kansas the municipal officers with two ex-
ceptions, were elected in 1887 for two years,
leaving only two members of the school
board to be chosen in 1888.
III answer to other questions, Prof Car
ruth said that in two towns women were
elected mayors. They filed their positions
admirably, cleaning up the towns, putting
down sidewalks, etc. In several places
women were elected on the town councils.
1t is only in the municipalities of Kansas
places of about 800 population or over
that the right of suffrage is extended to
women The women very generally attend
ed the preliminary caucuses: but he had
heard of but one or two cases where sepa-
rate caucuses were held by the women. Par
ty lines are more or less closely drawn In
Kansas municipal elections. The women
very rarely attended the Democratic caucus
es. When they did attend they went TO Re-
publican or Independent caucuses. There
was no doubt that party conditions were
changed thereby and the Republicans were
more than usually successful. The RepuD-
licans of the State, of all classes, Delleve
that the voting of the women has decidedly
strengthened the Republican party OF the
State. The law giving women the Suffrage
in Kansas was passed on almost square par
| ty lines. There were but six Republicans
| who voted against the bill, Shd but few
| Democrats who voted for it. The women
| did not Usually vote certain way because
the husbands did but they generally voted tor
the best men. The newspapers reported
that in IL towns the women generally voted
| as their husbands did and in is they did not
40 so. Other places were not reported In
| this respect.
'How did your wife vote, Mr.. Caruth,
asked one of the committee.
She voted as did" he replied and then
| there was nlnch Iauohfar. hut he added