New-York tribune., 1901-01-12
EQUAL SUFFRAGE DEBATE.
BALLOT FOR WOMEN ADVANCED AT
THE LEAGUE FOR POLITICAL
EDUCATION MEETING

The country is suffering from 100 much freedom
woman's duty 10 humanity cannot be discharged
without the ballot.
the ennobling privilege of protecting her
These were the arguments triumphantly produced
by the speakers at the debate yesterday at the
League for Political Education. The subject an
nounced was, should men and women be on a po-
litical equality in the State Of NewYork? and the
suffragists sent their heaviest ammunition in the
form Of Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait, president Of
the National Woman Suffrage Association. Miss
Adele Fielde the presiding officer said in her intro
ducton that she had written the officers of the
Anti-Suffrage Association asking them TO send or
suggest a person capable Of presenting their side
OF the question, the league wishes always TO have
both sides considered. The anti-suffragists. how
ever declined 10 present any argument so the de-
fence Of their case was left 10 volunteers.
Mrs Gait opened the debate with the argument
that the right is the evolution OF long con-
tinued struggle for freedom, and that women by be-
ing debarred from 1t the only class OF society
refused a share in the progress Of the ages:
Mrs Lillian W Belts spoke IN reply, & oagio 6bf ga1e
10 extension Of the suffrage upon the GROUND thaI
i is ALREADY - TOO 2 free ana m hat ong eHg gdget f and
morally and financially responsible men voted there
would be no need for Nomans help IN puFdy1i1s RI @
politics. she said adding: If the ballot be eX-
tended TO all women as II Is 70 an men, II iei
one Of the arguments adduced by Mrs. Belts was
always @ Vote as her father husband brother tod
her 70 under penalty OF raefi 9ae exam1Ie Of
woman's failure TO vote, where she had the power
on the vital question Of schools
one of the audience was encouraged by Mrs.
Bettss example, say something Tor the anu
suffrage side, and remarked that the great I'M, I'M
T)rovenent in the condition of women in the last
half century gained without vote because
II was seen by that such changes were needed.
She argued that if women waited until what tney
asked came as "a free gift from men all would
he harmony but if they insisted on having thlhGS'
.secrarching and snarlng and discord' must pre-
vail The speaker tried to train Mrs. Catts own
guns upon her by saying: If women have all the
advantages granted by the first speaker. why
should she want TO and incur the risk OF being
hlrdened by the OF officer ReferrlTg Ieel-
inglv TO the car grievance. she said that ten
wears ago Il would have been possible 10 mo a
dozen men seated in and women standing
up This she attributed solely 10 WoHans lncreass
ing demands for independence The very 1act OF
his protection being needed and expected ennoD!es
man" she said, ''and he is deprived OF that m
spiratfon by the woman who proclaims that she IS
able to take of herself"
Mrs Gait had the usual privilege OF answering
her opponents and said that one trial OF debate
IS the necessity answering refutations OF argu-
rnents that one had not advanced. She remarked
that II seemed hardly fair TO ask women to foreeo
their demands for fair treatment IN order that some
other women might have seat in a car TO the
implied arguments that women ought not 10 laDor,
she said, There is but one reply: They must"
When the vote taken IL STOOD % IN the
affirmative to in the negative