The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-03-01
woMAEs CLAIM TO THE BALLOT
EioquentIy Presented to Maine Law
Makers by Ex-Governor Roble.
The Question Brings Other Able
Speakers to the Front,
Then the House settles the Matter
for the Present.
Especial to the Press.

AUGUSTA, Feb. 2S.-The women were Il
no wise discouraged by the interruption o
the tramps in the House yesterday; bu
were on hand early this morning again
They were not disappointed. Woman Sui
frage had the right of way and took it. Th
debate was long and intesting The veteran
Robie was first In the arena, and next, cage
to cross swords with him. was the youthful
but we'll equipped Hovey of Pitt field. Their
there was DR.. Grindle of Mt. Desert, fresl
from the fray of the lobster fight, and Hal
G. Burleigh. yet wearing laurels won In tn,
tramp war of yesterday. The veteran Tai
bot, who used to raise his voice In favor o
the women's cause when he thought 1t wa
right, now opposed, because he thought 1
was wrong. The bill minority report) wa
as follows
Every female citizen of this State Of the age o
II years and upwards who can read tie Constitu
tion OF this State and write her own name, ex
cepting paupers, persons under guardianship aDt
lished in this State for the term Of three month,
next preceding the exercise OF the right hereby
conferred, may vote In the election of all town o
city officers and In all the affairs thereof In the
established, subject TO the same provisions anC
restrictions as TO registration or otherwise, al
affect the rights of male voters at such elections
Ex-Governor Robbie spoke first, being list
ened to with the earnest attention Of the
whole House:
Gov. Robie said he could see no ear thly OF
heavenly reason why John and Sarah and
their daughters should not 60 to the polls
TO vote for pure men, education, temperance
ton OF the State aud nation. The perseyer-
ance of uninterested parties after repeated
defeats, he thought, was conclusive argu-
ment that woman suffrage rests not only
upon firm belief that 1t is a sacred right
and privilege, but upon the sincere prayers
and expectations Of its advocates that a
great wrong may and will be remedied. He
appeared as the representative Of defeated
party. but for that reason 1t was none the
less resolute, brave and determined. Its
enort must sooner or later end In the final
triumph Of its principles.
1t Is too late in the day to call woman suf-
frage cranky movement when it has enlisted
the favorable judgement Of such eminent,
conservative men as Abraham Lincoln, Chief
Justice Chase, john G. Whittier, Charles
Sumner, Henry Wilson. Senators George
John D.. Long Of Massachusetts,
Representatives Thomas B. Reed and
Nelson Dingley, Jr., and Judge William w.
Virgin OF Maine; and such eminent women
as Margaret Fuller, Harriet Beecher Stowe,
Lucy Stone. Clara Barton. and thousands Of
Just such men and women representing every
profession and pursuit of life.
The legislature had before IL the petition
OF 10000 citizens of the State for women suf-
FRANCE. Over half Of our citizens were dis
franchised because they were women and is
there any reason In the laws Of creation and
birth that there should be such discrimina-
tion and inequalitys
Mr.. Robie did not believe woman was the
inferior OF man and he reviewed the pages of
history where women had acted prominent
parts, and referred to many prominent
women, extoiling them and their deeds. The
most brilliant governments in England and
Europe had been under the reigns of Queens.
III supreme royal power can be vested in
woman and the ballot given to woman in a
monarchical government, why should q
Democratic and Republican form of govern
ment suffer by granting similar privileges?
The effect of the ballot in those nations.
States and communities where it had been
given to women had much to do with the ar
gument in favor of its general use. Woman
suffrage Is not of recent origin. Woman had
the right to vote In New Jersey at all the
She voted there for the adoption of the con-
stitution and fer George Washington, John
Adams aud Thomas jefferson for President.
Ine political CANVASS OF 1900 wac very bitter
in the State of New Jersey deposited her
vote. Our country's flag was the original de
vice and work of woman, Mrs. Betsy
Ross, and the members of the Grand Army
Of the Republic should not forget this.
Speaking about women as politicians Mr..
Robie thought woman would not attract
any more attention by going to the polls and
casting her vote than by appearing at the
windows Of residences and waving flags and
handkerchiefs as political professions passed.
He denied that women did not have the
qualifications to vote. When we do not give
side Of the foreigner. the insane the idiot
and the pauper as far as suffrage is concern
ed.
In Wyoming. where women had full suf-
frage, Governor Warren said he had vet to
hear of the first instance of domestic discord
good in the territory. After its is wears trial.
Il continued to be productive of good and NOT
evil.
Mr.. Robbie referred TO his connection with
the great national Organization the Grange.
For the past fourteen wears he had watched
ganfzation. where she stood on an eonality
with man. and he was nrord that tha
farmers of the country the eonsarva-
tive element Of the yoxeTnmant had
set so noble an example. and recog-
nized lust equality of the sexes. The
order had estabIfshedithe ruIa ~ ennitv and
incnicafed a nroner annrac;etions nS the
ability and snhere of wpren and ,ona ~
suits had followed its logical conc1veions
In the front. on every field of moral, inreilec.
tuul and social endeayor. bv innnmerable
deeds of noble conflict, woman has won
equS. ,,d dohoiS ~, H;'. w 1n anu esta9hsnea ana
her right to inst recnpn;ton anu az c;t;nansbsn
and equality, which selfish rule and might
nave heretofore prevented. Intelligence is
has iiftsd womon q fron, ,bs f,aaso ,.;aht =
barbarism.
The speaker argued that there should be
c,os;nS nS bo s.d M.nou' representation ana In
Ours is said to be government of the peo-
pie, for the people and by the people; but it
seems 70 me tnat more properly 1t Is a class
fbe sax EngIand bos renos;zaS los snG seA anu Uy
woman suffrage for Is wears. Parliament
has extended the same TO- Scotland. 1t exists
T ~ Moya oGoua, new Brnnswiek and parts OF
0srn ond Aa,a unon ,rna asaiy, Aus.1ats, . nun
sonaa soIn, H. "ra nra 90 ~. sno IoiiTs ~
tor;as IN tha Irni.ed Stot o.a.oJ auu loIai
sither in lsrger or i;n,i;d melu daaro wo,en n,,a
ei.ner s,.e ia ~ AIser OF limited degree nave
s,, Oeen - a,,omu " eA9tcise tne sacred Ilgn. oI
s~taSsds ouar on araa 30 nSn oon oio rnsns ~
sssIa. 20 ,ho yor,dss taru;. aa'o0vsoov squaao
400 0oo ooo ~ naonls hnt tbara ~ o,e me,
:. 49,. ,vo,na, 20 is whoi,u onsiaua on9 .pos
raIatss ~ tha r;o bt of smffrsge si is as as
Tsiates 70 t4e rigns 9i hg sumfhage. IL Is NOT
Myomhg Kansas MasSacnIse! as or even
Lexas, pu. am sorry W say IL Is the state
OF Maine.
Mr.. Robie's peroration was received with
loud applause.
Mr. Hovav ~ pittsfa,d one of the yo,no,
mi' no'oy '. .''1rou, onV ~ suo youns.
est members OF the house, followed one OF
the oldest In discussing the question that
was mucb older than the speaker. Mr.
was inucn oluei 'san ~. VI ,ss p ns ~. o.n..
dovey SAID tnat unuer INC laws VI the otate
and NATHAN yoman had step by SteD acouirpd