The morning times., 1896-03-23
GIRLS BETTER EDUCATED
Mrs. Thompson's Startling Asser-
tion to the Senate Committee.
AS an Argument for Suffrage She
Proved They Led the Boys in
Higher Knowledge.

The report Of the hearing given by the
Senate Committee on Woman Suffrage
to a delegation OF Iades, representing
a large proportion of the States and Terri
tories. has gust been printed as a document,
and contains "a stenogra phic account of
the proceedings.
The remarks made by Mrs. Ellen Powell
Thompson, OF the District OF Columbia,
contain some interesting statistics as %
the greater degree OF education in this city
among girls as against boys, and are as
follows:
Il 60 not think that it is necessary for
me to say one Word in advocacy OF the
abstract OF woman's right toan equal
share with men in the exercise OF the power
or suffrage in this government | have
never met a reasoning, thinking man who
denies it as an abstract principle. But
abstract justice and political practice
are not always expressions or one and the
same thing-I suppose never viii be
so practically the granting or not grant
ing the right of suffrage to a diS1ranChised
class must turn upon the question as TO
whether the giving OF the ballot 10 the
dsfranchised class will add to the power,
the strength tie stability OF the govern
ment, and the protection and freedom
OF the governed.
And the vital part of this question TO be
to- be-franchised class is sufficiently in
telligent, sufficiently qualified by an I'M
derstanding of the principles OF demo
cratic form of government, and has a suf
fiCient love for and devotion to the Sc
principles for an intelligent, judiciouS
and patriotic exercise OF this right of suf-
frage.
Now, 1 have never heard even the most
| prejudced, bigoted opponent OF woman
| suffrage deny the love and devotion Of
| the women or this land TO their country;
| or, in other words, their patriotism. SO
| | think | can assume that for granted.
| Then. as to their intelligence and under
| standing OF the principles OF our govern
| ment. Intelligence and understanding OF
these principles, | think all will admit,
are the results of education and expert
| ence.
Now, women have not had so very
| much experience in government ma tiers,
| I will concede; nor is il easy to under
| stand how they can have until they arc
| tried. We cannot swim without water
| TO swim in. nor demonstrate ability in
| political affairs with out opportunities
TO act in political matters. Nor has such
an abSurdity as demonstrated ability in
| something class has never had an oppor-
| tunity to do been called for whenever the
| right of suffrage has been granted to a
| disfranChsed class IN this country. But
wherever full suffrage has been given to
| women. as in wyoming, Colorado. and
| Utah, or municipal or school suffrage,
! as in some other States, | believe the
power has been wisely, judiciously, pa
| triotically exerCi sed for good government
good morals. justice, and human rights
'Then comes the understanding OF the
| principles Sofourgoyernmen ntderiyed fromed-
| acatiun. And here l wish TO call attention
to the fact that the average degree of edu-
a. yfNln fort MT
greater among girls than among boys. The
figures are startling.
I'm Washington three-fifths of the pu-
pills in the higher grades taboye the SEVENTH
are girls two-fifths boys; and in other towns
and cities only one-fnurth, and in some cases,
one-fifth are boys. In these higher grades.
the grades where civil government. the Goa
stitution OF the United States and the phil
osophy of history are taught. are mostly
girls. believe the argument Of educa-
tional training aud fitting is all on the side
of the women. In the country schools, the
common peoples colleges the proportion
OF girls attending is fully as preponder-
ating. And it is this better-trained, longer
trained class OF American citizens that is
asking for suffrage today. That il can
and has exercised wide beneficial influence
in political affairs some recent elections
| show.
There are two ways by which the right
of suffrage can be granted: One by the
States directly. as has been done in three
states: the other by an amendment to ouI
Constitution, proposed by Congress and
ratified by the states The association
which | represent. the District OF Colum
bia Woman Suffra ge Association, com
posed of women and men from many States
Of the Union. believes that the latter is
the true, the better way. 1t believes that
principle as fundamental, as vitality
funHamental TO the principles OF a demo
cratic government as equal suffrage fol
all. regardless of sex, should be enunciateC
in our organic law, and they ask its enact
nlent at your hands" ="