The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-18
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AND WO.
MAN SUFFRAGE.
Published by Request OF the American
Woman Suffrage Assocation.l

Published by Request OF the American
Woman Suffrage Assocation.l
We are On the Threshold of a presi-
DENTAL campaign. The results of that
campaign will affect equally the interests
OF the women and the men of the nation.
and yet, by an absurd restriction, women
are allowed no voice in the choice of the
candidates. Should the next president be
genuine and earnest advocate OF the en-
franchisement of women, and have the
courage CT his convictions. We would nave
every reason to hope that during his ad-
ministration our cause would be won. In
any event the utmost Importance at
taches to the views of the men who are
prominently talked of as the possible nom
inees of the two great parties, for the
highest office In the gift Of the (men)
people.
Hon. Thomas Bracket Reed, of Maine,
stands first on the list Of Republican can
didates. and he is the man. above all
others, whom the women of the country
can heartily approve. Able, witty and
gifted with remarkable power; of honest
life, he Is personally acceptable. but above
anything else, he is a fearless and out
spoken advocate of woman suffrage. In
1881, during the sessions of the National
association, hearing was given by
the judiciary Committee of the house
OF representatives to the advocates
of the sixteenth amendment to the
national constitution, extending the
right of suffrage to womenA A
majority of the committee reported ad-
versely to the claim, but Mr.. Reed pre-
pared a minority report in favor, which
was signed by himself and three other
members of the committee. In this re-
port Mr.. Reed argued ably for woman
suffrage. closing with these words: I'VE
believe. then, that every reason which
In this country bestows the ballot on man
is equally applicable to the proposition
to bestow the ballot upon woman, that.
In our Judgment, there Is no foundation
for the fear that woman will thereby be-
come Indifferent to the duties she has
hitherto performed No other candidate
of either party has put forth such an EN-
phatic utterance as this.
Hon. William Mckinley. ex-governor of
Ohio, is a man of noble character and uf
unimpeachable integrity. but, in his vari-
Gus gubernatorial messages to the pco-
pie of his state. he did not recommend the
enfranchisement of the women, who have
done so much to make the commonwealth
great and prosperous. Hon. Levi =. Nor
ton, at present governor of New York,
has long record as vice-president, as
congressman, as ambassador, and now as
governor, but he has never once in his
long career uttered a word in favor Of
our cause; on the contrary, he has shown
remarkable skill in avoiding all attempts
to commit him on this question. During
his residence in Albany, the ''antis" have
been welcome NiSltOrS at the executive
mansion, and some of the most prominent
Of our opponents are intimate friends of
his daughters.
Il II Il -
OF the Democratic candidates, Hon.
David Bennett Hill, senator from New
York, is said to be a believer In woman
suffrage although he has not yet ex-
pressed himself publicly on the question.
In the gubernatorial campaign of 1894
he made speech in Brooklyn in which
he welcomed the presence of ladies' and
spoke of their power In politics, and in an
address, he advocated the higher educa.
tion Of women and Indirectly their en-
franchisement He was also the first gov-
ernor to appoint a woman as notary pub
| lie. Hon. Arthur p. German, senator from
Maryland has been grimly silent on our
question, and Is supposed to be radically
| opposed. Hon. John G. Carlisle, of Ken
| lucky, secretary Of the treasury, has said
no good word for the freedom Of the wo-
men Of the nation. All the world knows
how much he owes to his gifted and devot-
ed wife. who has proved her ability as
| both domestic and a political counselor
The women who believe in liberty, which.
| ever party they prefer, should use their
influence In that party only for the nomi-
| nation of men who favor their emancipa-
| tiOn.-Lillie Devereux Blake.
| lSenator Quay is an advocate Of woman
suffrage.-EditQr Tribune.l