The Irish standard., 1900-12-08

owns gas works that supply 81 200
private consumers at 64 cents a thou
sand feet, light $4,000 public lamps
free and earn above all expenses more
than half million dollars year Bel
fast makes a net profit of S35O,OOO a
year out of municipal gas at 66 cents
thousand. In Birmingham municipal
gas is 53 cents a thousand. This pays
good interest on the investment, ere
ates a sinking fund. lights streets and
public buildings and after all is done
pays a net revenue of $3.50, 900 a year
into the city treasury. What better
examples do you want?
| cannot refrain from saying some
thing. collectively, of course, sahout
your American women. There is moth
ing like them in the world that 1 have
ever seen. In our cities the men are
subjects for general admiration in
their sprightliness. dash, vigor, and
generally wcll-groomcd appearance.
In America it is the women. | have
been astonished ut the intelligent in
terest they take in public affairs, not
only in their own country, but all over
the world. Naturally great many of
them have asked me about the results
Of our Irish local government act of
1898, which gives woman suffrage
equal with men on all questions upon
which the Irish people vote except
that Of sending representatives to the
British house of commons.
or course [ am an advocate of wO-
mems suffrage. Why not? The inter-
est that it gives to women in municipal
government is in itself an educating
force. 1t is in sympathy with the
spirit of the age, which is enlargement
and not restriction. What woman
lacks in logic she supplies in intuition.
What she lacks in strength of mind
she makes up in fincsse and delicacy.
Capable, honest and intelligent wo-
men, united for the humiliation of
wrong, are a tremendous power in
politics. In the progress Of civiliza-
tion woman's power and capabilities
are becoming more manifest. 1t is
high time we break away from the
barbarism that makes women intellect
ual interiors. Are we told that the
polling booth is not fit place for
women? Then 1 say it is the duty
Of man to make it a fit place for her.
The admission that it is not so is in
itself a disgrace.
In Dublin, previous to the local gov
ernmcnt act, we had about 5000 vot~
ers, none Of whom were women. Now
our voters list is about $4,000, Of
whom at least $4,000 are women. Their
votes have helped to secure the elec-
ton of candidates pledged to social
reforms. Our elections. since they
were given the power of voting, have
been orderly and we'll conducted. Not
the slightest disorder took place at any
booth.
But the new privileges of women
are not confined to the franchise. They
may be elected to the city councils,
rural councils and boards of poor law
guardians. Mrs Maurice Dockrcll.
wife of Il Dublin merchant. was elect
ed Il councillor of the district of Black
rock. and on the first meeting of the
council she was unanimously elected
dep".y chairman. In TcmplemorG
Mrs. Brackcn. II graduate of the
Royal University of Ireland was
elected chairman.
have yet to learn that either of
these women suffered loss of dignity
or domcsticity from assuming public
deputy chairman. In Templcmore
community is better because they have
done so. For the sake Of the many
charming women l have met here /
should like to see America take a leaf
from our book