St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-16
Those who voted in the negative were
WOMEN TO VOTE.
Complete Franchise Proposed by
constitutional Amendment.

Complete Franchise Proposed by
Constitutional Amendment.
Shall women vote at municipal eec-
tions and hold city and village offices?
Senator Smith, from the committee on
Judiciary, reported back substitute for
his original bill relating to woman suf-
frage. The substitute provides for a
submission to the people the question of
women voting for and holding munic-
ipal offices as a constitutional amend
ment to the article prohibiting special
legislation passed at the last election.
The senate went into committee OF
the whole on the bill as special order,
and Senator J. ID. Smith moved to rec
ommend the passage of the substitute
bill, and Senator Lienau moved to
amend by recommending that the
bill be printed without losing
its place on general orders.
Senator Smith cOmbatted this motion
and proceeded to deliver his set speech
on the merits of the bill, and it devel-
oped that county officers and members
of the legislature had been included
in the provisions of the bill. The
speaker insisted that when women, who
occupy a place i'll the houses, the
schools and the churches, ask for a priv
ilege like the one under consideration,
there should be no hesitation. The por-
tion of the measure relating to the edu-
catiOnal QualiticatiOn-that women must
be able to read the constitution before
enjoying franchise priYileges-waS ac-
centuated by
The Champion
of the revolution iD the political system
of the state.
Senator Mayo asked that the bill be
continued for one week, and then enter
ed upon an eloquent and earnest argu-
ment. He pronounced the bill wrong
in its inception and wrong in philo-
sophical sense. The relations of life and
the relations of domestic economy and
social science are all arrayed against
the spirit and tenor Of the bill. and
therefore he pleaded that he be given
time-One Week-tO prepare himself for
a more comprehensive discussion.
Senator Donnelly was opposed to the
motion and in favor of the object aimed
at in the bill, although he was not eX-
actiy in sympathy of either bill. He
favored an amendment that would
strike out the word male in the conSti-
tuition. The Sage became reminiscent
for time, and, in reciting some of the
prejudices of the people that had been
battled down, he said that the time was
when in the heat of a political excite
ment in the South.a galaxy of old maids.
not very attractive, would be placed in
a wagon placarded, 'Save US from
negro husbands!" and parade the
streets.
They were in no danger from negro
husbands" exclaimed the Sage. I'm
IL Il Nf
| husbands at ALL" An eloquent tribute
was paid to the talents. to the mOtherly
attributes and educational instincts of
women, and the senator announced that
he wanted to introduce a resolution re-
| ferring the bill back to the judiciary
| committee with the instruction that a
| bill be reported to the senate providing
an amendment to the constitution Strik-
! ing out the word male, and also to strike
out section providing that women
may vote IN educational politics. Mr..
! Donneily made a great effort, and mar
rated historical incidents marking the
progress of the human race from the
prevalence of the GOthS to the present
| time. Woman's Christianity and wom-
ans charity, womaD's nobler natures
were touched upon. When the attempt
was first made to give the right of suf-
frage to the black men the propagates
of the movement were met with the
declaration that the negroes did not
want the right.
at was only the ripple that preceded
| the prov of progress" said the Sage.
He asserted that all women are natur-
ally pure and good, and none fell who
we're not broken down by the DONNA
ton of men.
Will Kill Vice.
"What will be harmed if we give the
women the right to vote? Vice! That
is ALL" exclaimed the senator.
Senator Leavitt sent up an amend.
ment embodying the idea advanced by
| Senator DOnnelGy, striking out the word
"male" in the constitution, and Senator
! Leavitt urged that If the bill is sent tc
the judiciary committee, the amend
| ment also be sent. Senator Mayo called
| for his amendment, but Chairman
| Hompe declared it out of order, for the
reason that the bill may be amended in
the committee. Mr.. DOnnelly withdrew
his motion and seconded Mr.. Leavitt'E
amendment. Senator j. d. Smith was
willing to accept the amendment, but
he had thought that it was safer to pro
ceed slowly, step by step. One step wa:
made when women were given the right
to vote in educational politics.
Senator Mayo here made an extensive
written speech, which he pronounced
devoid of sentimentality, but fruitful o1
practical sense. The sphere of the
mother was emphasized and this wa:
fortified bv the social functions of WON
en-. Mr.. Mayo had been waited upon b.
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