Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-06-15
THE ANTlSUFFRAGISTS.
Their Reasons Fer Denying Woman's Priv
ilcge to Vote.

ALBANY, June l5-The committee on
suffrage gave public hearing in the as
scmbly chamber to those opposed to ex-
tending the right of suffrage to women.
Mr. Goodell, chairman of the committee,
presided. The attendance was very large,
tWO-thirdS of those present being women.
1t was an intelligent and cultured audi
ence.
Tho meeting was called to order by
Chairman GoodCll He stated that he r.
GREETED to announce that he had been i'll
formed by the ladies committee of the
city Of Brooklyn that that city would not
be represented at the meeting owing to
the unavoidable absence of Austin Abbott.
A letter from Mr.. Abbott was read, in
which he expressed his sentiments in op.
position to the Woman's suffrage move
ment.
Chairman Goodell introduced the Hon.
Francis NJ. Scott of New York as the first
speaker of the evening, Mr., Scott said
that those present were there TO protest
against dangerous and pernicious ex-
pertinent of legislation, which he deemed
the movement i'll favor of female suffrage
to be. Mr.. Scott reviewed the steps taken
in this state by those opposed to the move
mcnt and to the aggressivencss of its
promoters and advocates. He said tho
simply that men, who for timc immcmo-
rial had governed, shall abdicate their
privilege in favor of women, retaining to
themselves the right and power of enforc-
ing the laws. 1t is an established theory
that this is government of force and q
government not founded ON the power of
force is noncntity. Men are entitled to
vote because they can fight. Women arc
not entitled to vote because they cannot
fight" Sensation
The Rev Chancellor Walworth objected
to extending the franchise on the ground
that it is now extended too far. 1t ought
instead to be abridged. He was no be-
liever in universal suffrage. There are too
many men in this country who ought not
to have the right to vote. Having these
convictions, he could not therefore advo-
cate u scheme that would double the num-
Der of voters in the country.
The Hon. Matthew Hale quoted statis-
tics similar to those of Mr.. Scott and call
ed attention to the danger which would
result in enfranchising over 100, 900 wom-
en- in this state whose vocation in life is
only to sell themselves. The state was
very close politically, and women who
would sell themselves would sell their
votes and thus possess the balance of pow
er of the state and be able to overcome the
Nol0c VI diA eic Soou aHu NIrluOuS WOIleu
in the state. No state like the state of
New York had yet tried the experiment,
and until it had no man or woman could
say that it would result in good for man.
kind.
Mr.. J. Newton Fiero was the last speak
er. He said tho extension of the right of
suffrage to women was an experiment. In
the teeth of the experience of ages. Wom-
on were untitled by education and envi-
ronment to exercise the right of suffrage
and too susceptible to prejudice and sem
timent to justly discriminate between
questions of personal, social and political
Importance.
Mr.. Scott read letter from the Hon
Abram s. Hewitt of Now York express
ing his views on the subject under discus
q;