The Portland daily press., 1893-03-22
THE WOMEN
Are Refused Municipal Suffrage by
the House,
BUT THE TRIUMPH OF THEIR ENE.
MIES is A CADMEAN VICTORY.
The Vote ON the Bill is Close-More or
Less Eloquent Pleas Made For and
Against the Measure.

The Vote on the Bill Is C1ose-More
Less Eloquent Pleas Made For and
Against the Measure.
Especial to the Press.)
AUGUSTA, March 21. This was
''ladies' day. in the House and the ladies
came within ten votes of carrying the
day too. Some time ago, the Judiciary
committee made two reports upon the
subject of the granting of the right of
municipal suffrage to women. The ma
jority report was adverse but the minori-
ty reported bill to carry out the wishes
of the women who early in the season so
well presented their case before the
Judiciary committee. Today there was
an interesting debate on the matter and
it is compliment to the ladies that SO
many of the participants in the debate
apparently in their speeches voiced the
opinions of their wives On the subject.
References to what :" known rs the visit
of the white caps at the Augusta House
made consid rable merriment. On that
occasion Number of gentlemen in full
dress as to mats, all who had them wear
ing spring beavers, an otherwise in ne il
gee costume, after promenade concert
are said to have danced the Virgi,ia ia
Reel in the small hours of the nj sht.
although ON this occasion they would
scarcely be called the still, small houls.
Many ladies were present this morning
and helped swell the applause with
which the speeches were received. The
cause of the women was ably cham
pioned.
Mr. Sprague of Monson, was the first
speaker. He said he did not believe
women were any longer in the position
of bondage which they had formerly oc-
cupied. But he did not believe that they
should be deprived of the right of suf
frage for the reasons SO generally urged
by the opponents of the measure. 1t
was said that man being stronger than
woman, should have the exclusive right
of suffrage. But Mr.. Sprague did not
believe that the fact that woman could
not go into the lumber camps or assist in
log driving, should bar her out of the
privilege Of voting. Neither did he believe
his friend from Deering Mr.. Woodbury.
who was disturbed the other night when
Mr.. Sprague and others made mascu-
line pandemonium of the Augusta House
and when the ladies who were trying to
sleep were probably uttering feminine
curses-would object to the granting of
female suffrage because women did not
care to participate in those pleasures.
As to the assertion that men should
alone exercise the right of suffrage be-
cause women could not bear arms, Mr..
Sprague quoted figures to show that out
of one thousand lawyers and physicians
examined for fitness, as to military SER
|. IL f<,.x
fed.
Mr. Sprague said that while the two
bills which had been pgssed for the pur-
pose of helping to purify the politics of
two of the cities of the state were under
discussion, there was running in his mind
the remark made by one of the ladies
who argued this question before the ju-
dietary committee. She has said that
woman was known to be good house
keeper, and had asked why women
should not be allowed to help in the po-
litical house cleaning which she believed
to be necessary.
Mr.. Sprague did not endorse all that
was said by the Woman's Christian Tenn
perance Union. He did not believe that
women, for instance, could settle this
rum question with which men had been
struggling for forty years and which was
now in chaos. But he believed, never
theless, that women should be allowed to
exercise the right of assisting in these
matters. 1t was said that women did
not generally come and ask for this right
Mr.. Sprague maintained that While at
certain times men went on their knees
before women, he did not
come and beg for their righ.~. That wa
tbo 1,1oao of Mr.. SrlrQ
closed with an earnest appeal that the
legislature grant to women the privilege
of the suffrage, not as favor, but as
right.
Mr.. Pratt Of Turner. opposed the bill.
He was willing to grant the suffrage to
women when there was a general de-
mand for it, but doubted if the present
demand represented the desire of wom-
anly women. He also wanted to know
why it was proposed to give municipal
suffrage only. Why, if this was to be
done at all, shouldn't women be granted
the right of universal suffrage.
Mr.. Roberts of Norway, came gallant
ly to the assistance Of the ladies. He
believed that this was one of the import
ant questions of the session; that it |
would be far reaching in it's effects and |
that it would result in great good. He
maintained That this question had Deen
long before the people. For years it had
been discussed by the young men and
the young women in their debating soci-
eties and lyceums. The gentleman who |
had last spoken had seemed to base his |
opposition largely on divine right, on |
the assertion that the power of suffrage |
was the right of men because of physi- |
cal superiority. There was in this
House a gentleman who had served in
many sessions, and had served with
honor. Yet it would not be claimed that |
he exercised the right Of suffrage be-
cause he could go into the
army and carry musket. 1t
was intellectual power which
should be the qualification. Mr.. Roberts
referred to the work done by women for
charitable purposes, for the uplifting of |
the suffering and for the alleviation of
the burdens of the poor. He referred
also to the part taken by women in the
order of the Patrons of Husbandry and
said he was surprised to find his fliend
rom Turner, member of that body, in
opposition to the bill, He appealed for
he passage of this measure.
Of ichop co;1@,f !,