The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-10-10
THE SENATE DEBATE


On the AQm isslOn OF Ine VI
Wyoming Into the Union.
Editor WomdR's Column. Morning Gail:
In the Woman's Column last week l pre-
scented the mt st important features of the
debate in the House of Representatives on
the subject of the admission of the Territory
of Wyoming into the Union, with a con-
stitution permitting women to vote. This
week present some Of the debate In the
Senate In after-days these utterances Will
be of political value.
Senator Vest Of Missouri said:
shall never vote 10 admit into The Union any
STATE that adopts woman suffrage. In my judg-
'ment woman suffrage is antagonistic 10 the
spirit, to he Institutions of the people OF The
United States
Senator Platt of Connecticut said:
II is question which these men and these
women in wyoming have Ilght 10 determine
Of Tie United States stand here and say to that
Territory, wheie Tie women have enjoyed tie
ignl vi voting ioT twenty yedIs-and no rises TO
eaiusay IL or 10 say they have not exercised that
Fight wisely-wby should We stand here aud say
Keep out Of the Union. We Will let no conI-
munlty, no Territory IN here That does not de-
pr i've lis women of The right which they have for
twenty years enjoyed while In territorial con
dlliOn?"
Senator Jones Of Arkansas opposed the pas
sage OF the Till, and asserted that the cpnsti-
tuition OF Wyoming had been adopted too
hastily.
Senator Stewart said:
II il was postponed any length Of time, we
should have a constitution pIeseuted in the same
form So lar as The constitution IS concerned, IL
Is republican In form aud good constitution,
ana it cannot be successfully criticized.
Senator Reagan of Texas said:
Mr.. President, sentimenlalIsn may do for some
things, but in the practical Affairs Of This world.
as lie Almighty has made 1t and as mankind has
respected 1t until the wisdom OF these latter
years. IL las been found that The happiness OF
ali, the welfare OF all, was best consulted and
best promoted by the women workIIg In theil
sphere and the men VOL KING IN their sphere
Senator Blair Of New Hampshire said
May | ask the Senator question?
Mr. Rragan-CeriaDy.
Mr. BlaiI-IO long is IL since men began to
| ole iii Tins world generally, and how long have
| they been voting in this Countrywide English
speaking race or the human race--aDd how much
| voting have The most OF men done, nOtwtbstand-
| ing what God intended them for, according 10
the Senator?
Mr. Reagan-J have read some ancient history,
| Mr. President, perhaps not as much as The
| Senator from New Hampshire, aud L have read
how men voted In SOFT of way away back In
| tie lime OF Greece and Rome. There are some
| places III tie world. WHERE re maps, they DO not
| vote yet, or vote but little, as III mouarches;
but | do not understand that, because men vote,
| therefore women must vote.
Eut that, l submit TO tie Senator from New
HampshTe does not meet Tie question which
| am presenting, that lie good OF society, the
happiness OF The family, The welfare oil The
| country, depend upon The preservation of the
| family Organization, depend upon women re-
naming III the place that God made for them.
ana upon men performing Tie duties and accept
| Ing the responsibilities that their nature and
| condition impose upon them.
nir. BIar-Does the Senator hold that the
privilege OF vollng or The exercise OF that lrivl-
lege by men or by women las much to do with
| the family organization? Does lie think that II
men vote aud women also vote 1t VIII destroy
| the family Organization? II SO, would ask the
Senator low IL happens that Tie family Is an in.
stlutlOn cOeVal with Tie commencement VI So
| ciety, aud that probably, taking the human race
together from the beginning down. not one man
IN five hundred has ever exercised the right OF
suffrage, and not one IN fYe thousand Tor that
matter?
Mr.. Reagan-I am well aware, and l say 1t
| with no dlsTespect 10 the Senator from New
Hampshire, that lie has great respect for short
haired women and loDg-haiied men. / cannot
| say that have that respect for them at ALL
am trying 10 argue the question upon phlloSophi-
| cal grounds.
The great masses OF the people have none OF
| the aspirations and expectations of those who
| hold The Offices and administer The Government.
| Their question Is a question OF good government,
Of cheap government, OF Just government, on
| principles which should peipe'uate that good
| government and promote and preserve and per-
| peluae the well-belDg Of society.
Mr.. Sanders OF M0ntana-l should like to ask
| the Senator from Texas question. Ought not
the law 10 be The expression OF The intellectual
| and moral sense OF The people? Question num-
Der tw0-ls the statement that Governments
derive Their just powers from the consent OF the
governed " true or false?
Mr.. Reagan-Mr. President, II we're to answer
the abstract questions presented by the Senator
from Montana as abstracty as they are asked,
the Senate would not be much wiser or much
better satisfied than 1t is now.
Senators Morgan of Alabama, Gray of Del
aware and Others spoke again st the bill; Sem
aiors Platt OF Connecticut, Spooner Of Wis
cOnsin and others in its favor. Senator Platt
summed up the situation as follows:
Woman suffrage has existed in Wyoming for
twenty years. 1t has not been repealed and has
proved satisfactory to The people OF that Terri
tory, so much so that they have Incorporated IL