The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-10

IOkyt UuL Wdut CO dhhCiO " StSb~ things which for a century have been proven to be good, and which have giv- en us such . high civilization as we have in Alabama. There Is no neces- sity for a change. Then. sir. If, we are going to make this change, why don't the argument hold good that It shall become universal. and 1t will just as sure as we adhere to this. Some of these delegates, before they so to their graves, will see universal woman suf- frage in Alabama, but the best women will not go to the polls and vote. am persuaded, sir, that l have the honor to have a wife of that class. and own some property and she owns little, and venture the assertion that If there was an election held today In Mont gomery to issue bonds. and 1t was her privilege to go and vote she would not go step. (Applause).
 It is a mistake that gentlemen are committing. l tell you, the old beaten path that Is known to be good, had better not be departed from. unless you are very sure 1t is wise and aDso- iutely necessary. I could say a great deal more, MT. President, but Will not trespass upon the time of the Conven- ton.
 MT. ONeal-will the gentleman al- low a suggestion? You spoke of Wyo- ming. I want to read a passage here from MT. Bryce's American Common wealth, As respects the suffrage Tn Wyoming, the evidence I have collect ed privately is conflicting. One or the most trustworthy authorities writes to me as follows: After the first excite- me 1t Is over, 1t is impossible to get re- sp< ctable women out to vote, except every two or three years .on some pure ly emotional question, like prohibition or other temperance legislation.
 MT. Oates-I will state in reply tp that, during my service in Congress. and after that State was admitted with woman's suffrage, at the hotel where | lived. I met and knew very well the wife of the delegate from that Terri tory, an intelligent woman, and Tn conversation with her she told me that that was the truth; that great many of the best women did not 8 to the pons at all Why, woman lends her innu- ence and it controls largely the action of men in elections anyway, and that Ia as far as she sought to participate. She Is above 1t. It Is not in her sphere at all. Women are not subject to draft: they are not taken TOT sol diers That is outside Of their sphere, Let them be queens In the nousehoio' where they can disseminate these sooo. noble. patriotic lessons. want 10 say one more word as to vour remark apout Wyoming. In the new State of Wash inrton they had and tried female suf- fraQe for many years. and round at last that only the most inferior class or women went to the polls and voted, and 1t was so embarrassing that N was finally abolished and there Is no such thing there now.
 MT. Rogers--Is 1t your opinion that one- -fortieth or one-fiftieth Of the wo- men of Alabama want this.
 MT. Oates--I do not think they do and if they had the privilege they would not go to the polls and vote.
 MT. Hefiin (Chambers)I simply want to enter my protest against the section that was passed on yesterday. I favor a reconsideration. l do not see any good reason why the woman having five hundred dollars worth of property should vote, and the women with four hundred and seventy-five dollars worth. living side by side with the woman with five hundred dollars, should be disfranchised.
 Mir. CunninEham-Can you see any difference, wny a white man and a ne- gro owning lhl ee hundred dollars worth of property should be permitted to vote and one owning two hundred and nine ty-five cannot.
 MT. Hefiin-The gentleman has raised a question here that is in our suffrage plan. It Is one of the plans, but there are others and through the gateway of the others we expect the white man to pass. I speak for the women of Alabama who do not want this right to vote. The gentleman has in his ol1 nn mole-hills to the stars in his debate this morning, and had his argument ground into powder by the eloquent gentleman from Walker. He now favors allowing a negro woman owning five hundred dollars worth of property. living across the street from the proudest and most virtuous white woman in Alabama. who owns only four hundred and seventy five dollars the right to vote. to walk by her door, as she sits out on the ve- randa, dlsfranchised. and as this ne- gro woman that holds her certificate for five hundred dollars she walks up and has a voice in the laws of that city.
 MT. Cunningham-Does not the gen. tleman advocate a proposition that the voter, negro voter. and every negro who can read and write and who has paid HIS pOl ldA Sdh pONSb ANSA hAS VANS" five hundred dollars of taxation.
 MT. Hefiin (Chambers)- so.
 MT. ( CLnnlngham-1t works both ways then doesn't 1t?
 MT. Hefiin 0CShambers)-No sir.
 Mir. Colcman-Do not those votes re- fer to the politics of the State and have nothing to do with special cleo tons?
 MT. Heflin (chambers)-Yes sir. reg ular elections.
 MT. Malone-Is not that because men are forced to do it?
 MT. Hefiin (Chamhers)-We are driv- en into that. Who is It among the wo- men of Alabama that are clAmoring for the right to vote?
 Mir. Pearos--Nons of them.
 MT. Hefiin (Chambersl-Ars our wo- men and wives and mothers asking for the right to vote? say in defense of the womanhood of Alabama that they do not want the right to vote. (Applauee.) There are a few cranks strolling over the State, and in other States. advocating woman suffrage among the women. I am sorry to see 1t in Alabama. and there are few cranks among the men.
 MT Cofer-I am one of them.
 MT. Hehin-I was rot going to name my distinguished friend. but he pleads guilty to the charge. and I let him stand convicted. Now, Mir President, woman in Alabama who has not five hundred dollars worth of property, it matters not how lofty the path of virtue and moral rectitude may be