Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1895-03-14
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
Bill Passes the Representative
Hamlin's Speech.

WOMEN pdsseu tLe lAoH9e i'ts'
by a vote of 70 to 81.
The matter was specially assigned for
the House were filled with those inter
estcd in the discussion. 1t Was almost a
rendition of the crush of "Woman's
day
When the measure received the hand
some majority it did, there was an all
around exchange of congratulations
among the ladies, who could not say too
many words OF compliment and praise
for the members W no advocated he cause
Principal among these was Representa-
tive Hamlin, who came out boldly as
champion of womanklnd. His speech on
the floor of the House was as follows:
rise in behalf of five members of the
judiciary committee who signed what Is
known as report \, ana | move that re-
port \ be adopted by this House as the
report of the judiciary committee. Re-
port j. the report i'll favor OF granting
municipal suffrage to women, and this
report \ Is accompanied by bill for that
purpose. Report b il against the passage
of this bill, but as | have said, rise to
move that report be adopted by TINS
House n the report OF the judiciary COM
mittee.
desire now to say only word or two
To his House on this matter, and prom
ise YOU not to occupy your attention very
long. History shows Us that IN early
times he condition of woman WAS sub
stantiallv that OF slave. Indeed, she Was
regarded as but little if any better than
mere mere handIse. In later times, under
common law her condition was somewhat
pit ia BILE. Among other things, upon her
marriage she practically lost her personal
identity; her ordinary personal property
became at once absolutely her husbands;
her outstanding claims became his as
soon as he saw tit to reduce hem to pos
session, and if q child was born to them
her real estate became her nus islands for
his life. She could make no contract, she
was not entitled to her earnings, and
damages for personal injuries to her could
bv claimed by her husband. The children
were at the will OF the father and the
mother had practically no control over
them i'll law.
Step by step, Mr.. Speaker, and in the
face OF most bitter opposition this state
meut of affairs has been someW hat
changed. ana ,ye find today, the condition
OF woman very much improved. Under
our IHW, today, married woman can aC-
quirt, own and dispose of property, both
real and personal she may engage
+ in business. She may make contracts.
She may sue and be sued, and en-
jov great many privileges which she
could not in former days. and | am happy
to say that TO this legislature belongs the
credit of having passed the laws hlCh
places the mother on an almost equal
footing and | believe quite an equal
footing, with the father III relation TO the
care ana custody of those children OF
tender wears.
Now. Mr.. speaker, woman comes here,
TODAY and asks the right OF municipal
suffrage. The advocates of Womans
suffrage " iii say to You hat suffrage Is a
natural right Its opponents Will say to
that il j. not right. but that II Is simply
privilege bestowed by this legislative
body
Now Mr.. Speaker, il suffrage be a
natural right, then | say that the same
right " hich belongs to man also belongs
TO woman. II it be simply n privilege
bestowed, then say that ihe same reason
which asks or demands that the right of
suffrage Ice conferred upon man also de-
mancs hat it shall be granted 10 woman.
Woman is an intelligent human being
whose education Will average better han
that of man, because statistics show that
she goes to school longer She subjects
herself to the government of our laws;
she possesses property and paws taxes on
if. Her life, der liberty and her property
areas precious to her as a man to him.
Is il unnatural that she should desire to
he r.nr.s.nted here laws are made
protecting her life and person and re-
tating TO her personal freedom? l. il UNI
natural that She should desire to have an
e0nal voice with man in making and en-
forcing laws which affect her property?
For The property which .he owns She i
taxed precisely like men. II she Is an in
tellipent woman not a =pauper nor an
idiof, and has reached the age which ii i,
deemed advisable to require Of all voters,
why should she not have a voice IN elect
ING those men who asses. he. taxes and in
eIecting the men VINO determine how the
money so raised shall be expended and
laid out?
" hen we say that this right. If il j. a
rigb+ belongs 10 man il h.loup. also
to woman, and when we say that If it j.
a privilege bestowed upon man. the same
reason Which demands ii be bestowed
unOn man demands nlso that il be be