The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1894-06-22

suffrage met in the Convention
hall Wednesday afternoon. A num-
Der of other members Of the Con-
vention were present, as well as
several outsiders. The women who
favored the suffrage had special
invitation extended them to attend
the meeting and give their views
about it. The following women
accepted the Invitation:
Mrs. w. W. Hall, Mrs. J. NJ.
Whitney, Mrs. W. F. Frear, Mrs
Widdi6eld, Mrs. s. A. McWayne,
Mrs. r. J. Greene, Mrs. Vim. Hop
per, Mrs. Peter High, Mrs. F. C.
Lowrey, Mrs. Edwards Moore, Mrs.
E. W. Jordan, Mrs. o. H. Gulick,
Miss Cornwell, Miss Chamberlain,
Miss Castle.
Mr.. Wilder opened the discus
sion by saying that the committee
would be glad to hear anything
that the women had to say in refer
ence to their petition. The petition
was read by the secretary.
Mrs. DR.. Whitney said she sup
posed they were asked there in or
der to present their case. Their
intention, when preparing the petit
ton, was not to get numbers, but
names Of influence. The objections
to granting the suffrage can be put
under two heads-whst the result
has been, and what it may be.
Wyoming has had the suffrage for
twenty-five years. When the bill
was first introduced into the Legis-
lature there, it was done more as a
joke than anything else, and it was
not expected to pass; but, much to
the surprise of the introducers, it
did pass, and the women accepted
it. Today it is an established fact.
As to the result of women sitting
on juries, the speaker read an ex-
tract from the New York Indepen-
dent, giving an account Of the
early days of Wyoming, when the
lawless community was nearly
broken up by placing women on
juries. Colorado has recently
granted the suffrage to women,
and certainly, if it had worked an
evil in Wyoming. the sister State
would not have granted it She
said it had been decided not to ask
for the suffrage at once, but only
that the new constitution be so
framed as to make it possible in !
the future without an amendment. |
Mrs. W. ". Hall said the first |
reason that they asked for suffrage |
was that it was the right princi-
pie. Taxation without representa-
ton was as wrong for women as
for men. The suffrage is inevita-
bic, sooner or later, and it should
have earnest consideration from
all.
Mrs. Frear said mona Of them
came here with brand new acquire
ments, as the question, though
new in this country, is an old
matter in other places. The world
is growing away from the idea of
placing the suffrage question on
sex lines only. Because human
being happens to be born woman,
is no reason why she should be ex-
eluded from the polls. Mrs. Frear
asked for objections, as she knew
there were several members Of the
committee who were against the
movement.
Minister Damon said that if all
the women who asked for the fran
chise were Of the same class as
this committee, there would be no
trouble. But he would like to ask
the women to explain what women
were to vote and under what quail
icstionE ?
Mrs. Whitney said they did not
ask, at present, the same voting
privileges as men.
Minister Smith said there were
many men who would be glad to
be free from the surprising drudge
of politics, and he confessed that it
surprised him to see women want
to get into it. He thought the
power exercised by women out of
politics was greater than they can
ever exercise in politics. If women
had to Erestle with politics he
Wolld be sorry for them. Ifwomen
will take politics in hand and at
tend to the mems duties, be, for one
would be glad to give them up.
Mrs. Hall said that Mr.. Smith
was the only man in the hall who
would be willing to give up his
rights. :.
Judge Robertson said that poll
tics were so corrupt that he would
be very sorry to zee women mix
mn NTH them. He did not think