Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-08
Special Assignment.

Smith of Hodgdon, Twitchell ,weloh, Wheeler
| Wildes.-lj.
Special Assignment.
| An act to confer the right of suffrage
on women in municipal elections
Mr.. Hamlin of Ellsworth said that he
rose in behalf of five members of the
judiciary committee who signed what is
known as report A, and l move that re-
port A be adopted by this House DIS the
report of the judiciary committee. Re
port A is the report in favor of granting
municipal suffrage to women, and this
report A is accompanied by bill for that
purpose. Report b is against the passage
of this bill, but as l have said rise to
move that report A be adopted by this
House as the report of the Judiciary COM
mittee
l desire now to say only word or two
to this House on this matter, and prom
Use you not to occupy your attention very
long. History shows us that in early
times the condition of woman was sub
stantially that of slave. Indeed, 81 G
was regarded as but little if any better
than mere merchandise. In later times,
under our common law her condition was
somewhat pitiable. Among other things,
personal identity; her ordinary personal
property became at once absolutely her
husbands S; her outstanding claims be.
came his as soon as he saw fit to reduce
them to possession, and if a child was
born to them her real estate became her
husbands for his life. She could make
no contract, she was not entitled to
her earnings and damages for personal
injuries to her could be claimed by her
husband. The children were at the will
of the father and the mother had practi-
cally no control over them in law. Step
by STEP Mr.. Speaker, and in the face of
most bitter opposition this statement of
affairs has been somewhat changed, and
we find, today, the condition of woman
very much improved. Under our law,
today, married woman can acquire
own and dispose of property, both real
and personal. She may engage in bust
ness. She may make contracts. She
may sue and be sued and enjoy great
many privileges which she conld not in
former days, and l am happy to say that
to this Legislature belongs the credit OF
having passed the laws which places the
mother on an almost equal footing, and l
believe, quite an equal footing with the
father in relation to the care and custody
of those children of tender years.
Now, Mr.. Speaker, woman comes here,
today, and asks the right of municipal
suffrage. The advocates of woman's
suffrage will say to you that suffrage is
natural right. Its opponents will say
to that it is not n right, but that it Is
simply a privilege bestowed by this Leg
islative body. Now, Mr.. Speaker, If suf
fragc be natural right, then say that
the same right which belongs to man
also belongs to woman. II it be simplya
privilege bestowed, then l say that the
same reason which asks or demands that
the right of suffrage be conferred upon
man also demands that it shall be granted
to woman. Woman is an intelligent hui
man being whose education will average
better than 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 pays
taxes on it. Her life, her liberty and her
property are as precious to her as mans
to him. Is it unnatural that she should
desire to be represented where laws are
made protecting her life and person and
relating to her personal freedom? ls.it
unnatural that she should desire to have
an equal voice with man inimaking and
eHlorciuS laws WHlcu alicCb Hcr proPoig'
For the property which she owns she Is
taxed precisely like men. If she is an in
telligent woman, not a pauper nor an
idiot, and has reached the age which 1t is
deemed advisable to require Of all voters
why should she not have voice in elect
ing those men who assess the taxes and In
electing the men who determine how the
money so raised shall be expended and
laid out?
When we say that this right, If 1t is
right, belongs to man, it belongs also
to woman, and when we say that II 1t is
a privilege bestowed upon man, the same
reason which demands 1t be bestowed
upon man demands also that it be be-
Continued on page q.