The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-11-05
WoMAN's WORK
In the Legislature, and What some of
Our Prominent Legislators Say of
Them


The active interest taken by women
in the affairs of legislation has been
constantly increasing for a num0er of
wears, until to day women are an i'm
p~ortant factor in the passage of all
bills relating to humanitarian and
moral principles, in fact all bills affect
ing the we'll being of the people.
Senator Clarence LezOw, chairman
of the committee of Legislature says OF
woman's work in the legislature: The
impression made on me by those wo,
men who appeared before the judlct
Eary and finance committees, Of which
1 was a member, was in the highest
degree favorable. They impressed me
with the conviction that they had
carefully considered the subjects with
reference to which they spoke, and
they submitted their ideas in a con
densed and logical form that contrast
ed very favorably with the methods
adopted by male speakers before sim
liar committees. I may say that the
1 SOLlOLC 6CLglL14CAI OAAAOAS
the committees referred to, was that
some of the most logical and convlnc
ing arguments made during the last
session of the legislature were made
by women This was a matter OF gen
eral comment at the time"
Senator Edmond O'Connor, presi-
dent pro tenn and Republican leader
on the floor of the last Senate says:
: 1t was my opinion, and 1 know it
the opinion of every other member of
the committee, that the women who
appeared before us Unnecessarily sur
passed their male adversaries in force
of argument and condensed and lucid
statement of fact. The best arguments
made before us were made by women
and their superiority was 80 marked,
that it was a subject of frequent dis
cussiOn by my associates l want to
congratulate the women of this State
on the splendid record made by their
representatives. In mental calibre,
grasp of public questions and ability
to deal with the science of govern
ment, the women of our State have no
superiors. l say this after six years
service in the Senate, during which
time l had many opportunities to OBJ
serve the intelligent manner in which
they always presented their views
never from the standpoint of expedi-
ency, but always based on some prin
ciples of morality and Justice"
The stor! is told of a public hear
ing upon a bill which would naturally
not be considered of special interest
to women, after several arguments
had been presented on both sides an
elderly man, evidently a farmer in
his best Sunday clothes arose
and said he was greatly interested in
the bill, but was not accustomed to
making speeches, and if the chairman
would allow him to do SO he would like
to read what he had o say. The chair
man of course consented, and the old
gentleman took from his pocket neat,
white paper pad, tied with ribbon and
began to read. The manuscript con
tanned some pretty sharp hits at the
opposition and some one of the other
side interrupted him, begging permits
sion to ask a question. 1t was granted
and he said: Mr.. -, did you
write that paper2" Mr.. - replied
with great dignity, Il did not" "Well,
then, will you tell this committee who
did write itG" Certainly, sir, my Wife
WrOte it,"
The effect of the colloquy was mar
velous and as the gentleman proceeded
the argument seemed to have great
weight with the committee.
With such testimony as the above
from legislators in high standing and
in a position to judge intelligently of
the work done by women and their
ability to deal with questions of i'm
portance to the we'll being of humanity,
how long before the men of this coun-
try will see the expediency, as we'll as
the justice, of giving to women the
fright to use their influence in every
wav possible2-Einora Nj. Babcock. in
Saturday Critic.
TO MAKE A HOME OUT OF A
HOUSEHOLD.
Is it not the motive ectuating the
majority Of mankind that makes up
daily living the desire for individual
gain7 By this is not meant desire after
material gains only, for desire" is a
most expansive term and includes far