The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-30
BALLOT FOR WOMEN.
The Matter Being Considered by
Leading Men in south Carolina.

The Matter Being Considered by
Leading Men in south Carolina.
Columbia, S. c.. March 2s.-Haif a dozen
years ago to have asked the question.
Shall South Carolina women voter"
would have been sufficient to gain for one
the reputation Of crank or a freak but
to-day the question has assumed a living
and active interest. It is not probable in
deed, that woman suffrage is a reality of
the immediate future, because the majori-
ty Of the women themselves are as yet op-
posed to it perhaps, but II is receiving Sc
rious thought from public men, especially
with regard to its bearing on the problem
of negro majorities. Senator Tillman was
recently reported as in favor Of putting
the ballot into the hands OF women who
can read and write and it was said that he
argued that it would then be possible TO
disfranchise a large proportion of the
negro vote by an educational qualification
without the states suffering a cutting
down of its representation In congress-
When during the session of 1893 Gen.
Robert r. Hemphill of AbbeVille intro
duced in the state senate a bill providing
for a constitutional amendment giving
women the ballot the proposition was re-
"
the vote was taken it developed surprising
strength. Since then such papers as the
Abbeville Medium, the Florence Times and
the Sumter Freeman, all, of them influen-
tial county weeklies, have openly espoused
the cause and numbers of others give It a
mild encouragement. while the Columbia
State, leading daily, has not been I'M
friendly TO it.
The approach of the constitutional con-
vention has infused new interest in the
subject and the South Carolina EQUAL
Rights Association, of which Mrs. V. d.
Young of Fairfax. S. c., is president, has
perfected arrangements TO have il thor
oughly discussed throughout the state.
Mrs. Young is the pioneer of the move
ment in the state and is a woman of tai
ent, having written several novels of note
Mrs. Young says that the National
Woman's Suffrage Association will send
Miss Elizabeth Yates of Maine to make a
canvas of the state. Miss Yates was form
erly a missionary to China and is said to
be a woman of charming personality and
an attractive and magnetic speaker. She
thoroughly understands southern condi-
tions and win advocate female suffrage
with an educational qualification.
Miss Helen Morris Lewis of Asheville.
n c. has already made several speeches
and is expected to be active in the cam
paign. Miss Lewis is a native of Charles
ton and is a member of one of the old
South Carolina families.
Another speaker will be Miss Laura
Clay of Louisville, Ky, who has the rem
utation of being fervid and stirring ora
tor The campaign will begin in April
and Miss Yates will speak first in the
northern counties. Mrs. Young expects
to accompany her to several of her ap
pointments.
Mrs. Young says that the Equal Rights
Association now numbers l25 active work
ing members and that in Beaufort, Fair
FAX, Greepville, Columbia Lexington and
Abbeville are considerable groups of
woman suffragists, while there are smaller
groups in many towns and cities She
says that the movement is rapidly gaining
strength, and that frequent additions are
made to the association by letter.
The constitutional convention will be
asked says Mrs. Young. ITO allow women
TO vote, coupling the provision with an ed
ucational qualification or If not that
property qualification" While IL is not
likely that this request will be acceded to
1t is believed that the convention will
leave the matter open to future legislation
by the general assembly. making the ex-
tension of the suffrage to women possible
without constitutional amendment.