New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-15
1RGUMENTS OF THE ANTS.
ANOTHER HEARING BEFORE THE SUF-
FRAGE COMMITTEE AT ALBANY.
FRANCIS M SCOTT REGARDS THE PROPOSED
CHANGE As REvOLVT1ONARY-MR. HEW-
TITS OPINIONS


TITS OPINIONS.
Albany. June 1.-THE ant,-woman suffrlgists he'd
a hearing before the Suffrage Committee tonight.
The Assembly Chamber was filed wi;h throng Of
women both for and against suffrage. Near.y al
the women prominent In Albany society were pr q
cnt. well representatives from Syracuse. Kings
ton and Poughl;eepsIe.
Chairman Gooie,c announced that the Brooklyn
al. who had expected u be rcpres nted by Aus
tin Abbott were urab.e to take part IN the hearing.
lie caus,d 10 be read letter from Mr.. Abbott,
briefly giving his reasons for being opposed 10
woman suffrage.
The first speaker was Francis Vi. Scott. OF New
York. There had never been time he saII. within
tho mory o. his hearers when some women Of
active and restless minds had not clamored FOR the
suffrage This agitation had never been dangerous.
and he dd not think 1t was at all dangerous now
He hoped 10 show that the present movement was
supported by only an insignificant minority. The
sufra sists. who began their campaign al the time
the Convention met had secured the support Of
women who hal gained prominence BY discussing
public questions. who were known by reason Of
their husbands wealth. and OF the many who al
ways welcomed something advance Thus
the movement became soca; fad Al this stage
soma earnest women concluded that the CoHVe nt!on
ought TO be put in possession Of all possible infor-
nation IN order that the question might be decd d
fairly They made TO campaign AMI made no effort
10 impress TIE Convention with the weight Of
names attached to their petition. They received
the names of women only over twenty lone years of
age who were not aliens. The result exceeded their
most sanCuine expectations
Mrs jacob had SAID that the Convention had not
met to pass revolutionary measures. If 1t could be
shown thai this proposal revolutionary then it
was condemned on her own representation. The
granting OF woman sufrSse, he contended would
be revolutionary because It would give TO women
the power TO make laws which they are unable -
enforce. The first great objection 10 granting the
suffrage 70 functional, and not even
the Convention could remove it. They could not en-
force their Jaws, and they could not uphold their
Government. Nothing could be worse for a state
than the passage Of laws with 10 power behind
them 70 carry them into effect. Man had already
done everything that could be done 10 advance
women and TO ameliorate their condition They did
not need the ballot improve their present a.tua-
ton. II had been said that the ballot would I'M
prove ;hc condition Of women workers but the
country to-day filed with strikes. and every
one OF the strikers was voter.
II had been urged that women had AZ inherent
right - the ballot. As a matter OF Ia, noDody
had inheren; right 10 the ballot II ma Deeh
judged best for the welfare of the community to
give the right Of suffrage wholly 70 men. IL had
been suggested that IS women were equally han.e
TO taxation with men, 10 deny them the oaiIot was
advanced slch a proposition showed that they
were not ready foT the franchise. Taxation Nas
nowhere IN This country qua.inchi.on ior ", AE.
voters or not II had been said that woman SUI
fraSe at least would do no harm II must no. DE-
imdEne1
egual In Intelligence 10 the advocates who had APP
pearci before the committee There were women
inc - devote themselves TO the study 81 politics.
There also that larger class OF outcast women,
New-York c'l,y Those v no nnd read no papers
during the last few days must know TINT al. tn"'c
ballot improve city government? AS t. The prop,-
Sitl0n submit the question 10 the 'I". ne d!l
no, think IL was the function OF the Cpnv, alton 10
submit anything taat il vas not r'aiy 10 room
mend. With SO many important questions penIinE,
IL would be litfle less than "A crime 70 submit SDch
a question foreioomcd 20 defeat at the polls. Mr.
Greeley chairman OF the Suffrage COMMITTEE u
the last convention, who reported the proportion
The Rev Clarence \. Waworth. OF Albany. sad
that IN his opinion the sunrag" "ds ALREADY tc9
not be allowed to vote Feeling this he Gould not
favor doubling the vote ana it, consequences
mlttee - report an amendment UNITING lIf Hsn'
OF immigrants 20 participate in elections. His suS-
Matthew Hale. Of Albany. said that the women
opposed 10 suffrage represented al least L'JlNh
canvass of me state and had succeedel IN sstt.ns
10000 names Much mad been said about suHTlee
in Wyoming but Il should be renenberrd tnat ne
population was only as large as the population "i
Troy. MI Hale said that ne had been censurcd
for abiding the class OF bad women, OF H0ineA
who sci. themselves and would therefore sell their
votes The State very close, 50 close that the
manipulation Of this vote might decide the p0htca
future OF the State and Of the United States
The chairman read telegram from Utica pro-
testing against woman suffrage signed by many
women OF that city.
was unified for the ballot because she was In
fuenced by passion pity or prejudce; rather than
en- loved many privileges which they would forfeit y
the suffrage were granted them
Letter from ABrarn Hewitt. Of New York. against
the proposed amendment ana declaring that the
ma Orty OF women had no desire - vote. Ihc
sufragsts. IN his opinion, mad ihAed 10 make out