Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-08

gress printed for free distribution to any
person who may desire to have them, and
placed on one Of the tables at the door of
this church."
Miss Anthony remarked atIthe close of
the report that what she particularly OBJ
jected to was the fact that the "boy legis-
women like Mrs. Stanton, who might be
their grandmother. She announced that
Mrs. Bennett and her sister. Miss Clay of
Kentucky, were detained at home by the
serious illness Of their mother and she
thought 1t would be a courtesy to send
telegram Of sympathy. and 1t was so voted.
Tbs next paper was presented by Henry
Blackwell, husband Of the late Lucy Stone,
both Of whom have been pillars of the suf-
frage movement from its Inception, The
report follows:
Presidential Suffrage Report.
tfYour committee has little to report in
regard to the prosecution of woman's claim
for presidential suffrage, because few state
legislatures have held sessions during Che
past year. In Massachusetts,, where the
legislature holds annual sessions, the suf-
fragists every year include this claim in
their petitions, but 1t receives little at
tention and excites small comment Last
week at the annual hearing of the petition
ers before the committee on election laws
the claim was briefly presented, and it will
probably be included next week in a gem
eral leave to withdraw" In Rhode Island,
Maryland and New York the legislatures
are now in session, and in Rhode Island II
is probable the claim may be presented.
But 1t will doubtless be put aside because
party lines are so closely drawn, in view
of the approaching election, that neither
republicans nor democrats will be willing
to intrust the decision to a novel and I'M
tried electorate. Our only hope of success
will be at time when no national election
Is pending, and in some state where one
party is so overwhelmingly in the ascend
ant las in some of the southern states)
that there would be no reason to fear any
change of result from the women's vote.
In such state the vote would be valuable
mainly as demonstration that women will
vote as generally as men, under similar
circumstances.
yet, although with little hope of imrne-
date results, there is strong ground for
pressing this claim in all those states whose
constitutions are so restrictive that the leg
islature cannot confer upon women any
form of suffrage other than this one Such
is the case in Rhode Island, Pennsylvania,
Michigan and Indiana In those states
and some others, neither municipal suffrage,
nor school suffrage, nor any form of suf-
frage, except presidential suffrage, can be
conferred by the legislature. In such a
state the sole alternative is the submis-
sion of a woman suffrage constitutional
amendment to the voters. But to ask for
such submission in any state where public
sentiment is not already strongly in our
favor is to invite a costly and futile cam
L,
Therefore, in all such states, presidential
suffrage by act of legislature is the only
measure for which 1t is wise to circulate
petitions and to ask for legislative hear
ings. For the federal Constitution, the
supreme law of the land, provides that
each state shall appoint, in such manner
as the legislature thereof may direct the
presidential electors.
THE objection now most strongly urged
against women's claim to the ballot by
legislators is that. women do not want to
vote, and would not vote If enabled to do
So This is evidenced, it is said. by their
not having availed themselves of the right
to vote for school committees where that
right has been conferred.
This is doubtless true in. the case of both
women and men of voting as an abstract
in going once year to put printed slip
of paper into box. Women want to vote
exactly as men want to vote; no less no
more, no otherwise. Men, as a rule. will
not vote at special elections on a single
issue. For this reason it is favorite
scheme with politicians to submit questions
to a so-called referendum at a special cleo
ton. Thus, in Boston. some years ago, the
creation of i.ublic parks, involving a future
expenditure of millions of dollars annually,
was authorized at special election by only
one in twelve of the whole number of male
voters; eleven out of twelve either voting
against parks or not voting at all. Yet
WREN only one in twelve or one in twenty Of
the women Of Boston register and vote for
sch col committee, which is to women only
a special election on single issue. the fact
is paraded as an evidence that the great
body of women are opposed to suffrage
But it is a reE arkable fact that in every
one of the four states where women have
the full suffrage the women vote more gen.
orally than the men do. This has been true
for thirty years in Wyoming, for eight
years in Colorado. for several years in
Utah and Idaho. But these states are far
away, and the lesson is not needed. If ever
In state enabled
President and Vice President of the United
States. as they will do next November in
each OF the four states above named,
many women as men will vote, because the
question Is one of universal interest The
result would forever put an end to the prirl-
cipal objection of our opponents and insure
the speedy enfranchisement of the women
of that state.
Your committee therefore recommend as
the best possible form of agitation that
special effort be made next wear to secure
a hearing before every state legislature. on
petition or the National American Woman
Suffrage Association. seconded by the state
association, asking that women may be
enabled to vote in the presidential election
OF 1904 on an equality with men. The nov
city and audacity of the demand will create
widespread comment in the press and be
campaign of education at smaller cost of
money and labor than can otherwise be
attained
Employment of Women.
MIS-. cara BeW1ck Colby then made re-
Port on Industrial Problems Affecting Wo-
men and Children" In which various parties
who are charged with working against the
employment Of women in public business
came in for roasting. She showed that
the per cent of women employed in the de-
partments is smaller this year than for
many years previous.
Miss Shaw said that she thought the
time had come when women must protect
the men, the wage earners of the family.
She said that in Chicago men had prohib-
tied women from engaging in certain we'll
s;tlaried work, because, as they said, it was
most unhealthy. Now 1 protest against
this sacrifice on the part of men," said Miss
Shaw. If our men are to be the wage
earners of the family, 1 insist that their
health should be protected and they be kept
ir the very best physical condition to per-
form their labors properly
Last evening the executive committee
he preliminary meeting at the Riggs
house, at which final arrangements for the
convention were completed and other bust
ness transacted. Miss Susan B. Anthony,
the venerable president of the association,
who is now in her eightieth year. announ-
ced III a felicitous speech that she would
not be a candidate for reelection. but pre-
ferred that the association should select
some Younger person for the active duties