The age-herald., 1901-07-04
The Women of Huntsville Have Taken the Iniatiative. Some of the Principles
 They Are Advocating
BY ANNIE KENpRIcK WALKER.

The women of Huntsville in their peti- tion to the constitutional convention me morializing that body to incorporate in the Constitution for the State of Ala bama a provision for woman suffrage, have taken the initiative in reform to which Alabama women have hitherto been apparently indifferent, this indiffer- ence to be judged by the desultory and spasmodic discussions of the subject which indicated a lack of interest in the suffrage question. But when the women of the State who are recognized leaders in the work for it's educational advance ment and who exert so broad an influence upon those measures affecting the prog ress of the State that these women have remained silent upon a question that so vitally concerned them and and have d. rected their efforts towards hurrying about certain reforms that called for legislative action. the argument can no longer be used that they are indifferent to the unequal suffrage laws simply be- cause they have not expressed theme1ves as advocates of woman's suffrage Neither can the absence of leadership be  lence which seems to have been con- strued into indifference.
 But from whatever principle the women of the State have been actuated in their attitude towards the suffrage question he present interest that is being aken by many of the most representative Alabama women indicates that they have long recognized the just principles that should be the basis of government; for the pres ent position assumed by these women, their active interest in the subject could not have been suddenly created. The principles for which they now contend em- body the same line of argument that has always been the strong plea of those who favored suffrage, and their protest against the taxation of women and their property without giving them a voice in elections affecting their taxations is a protest that should find recognition. The women of Huntsville have placed themselves on record as desiring for their State broad and just government, and have emphasiz- ed their interest in the States welfare by urging that the new constitution author ize he women of the State to vote on ques- tions affecting education.
 Their petition presented by Mir. Craig according to the official record of the proceedings of the convention, was the cause of a somewhat undignified and un- called for action on the part of MT. Greer, one of the delegates from Calhoun. the occasion affording MT. Craig another op- portunity to emphasize his courageous attitude to Alabama women. The official report of the petition as presented by MT. Craig and the subsequent action taken is as follows
 To the Constitutional Convention of the | State of Alabama:
 Gentlemen: The undersigned women, | tax payers of Madison county, Alabama, respectfully petition and memorialize your honorable body to incorporate in the Constitution for the State of Ala bama, which you are now formulating, a provision for woman suffrage, or at least a provision authorizing all women who are residents of the State of Alabama, and who are tax payers or property own CTS therein, to vote on all questions af- fecting their property or the taxation thereof, and on all questions affecting education.
 We base this request and petition upon the time honored principle that taxa tion without representation Is unjust, and that governments derive their just power from the consent of the govern ed" We maintain that these just prin- ciples are as applicable to the taxation of the property of women as of men. and to the government of women as of men. We protest that the taxation of women and their property without giving them a voice in elections affecting their taxa tion, Is unfair and denial of their just Il. VI x.nl,A 4l~oA e government are only just which are de- rived from the consent of the governed, and that the consent of women of Ala bama to government affecting their rights and property can only be obtained by giving them the right of suffrage.
 Respectfully submitted
 Virginia Clay Glopton, Celeste c. Clay, Virg E. Adams, Mary F.. Robertson, Lau- ra M. Hewlett Laura B. Rowe, Sarah J. Peevey. Mrs. Ben P. Hunt Ellelee Chapman Humes, Mary Cumming. Bet tie Davis, Mary Dowd. Mary H. Dowd. M. L. McGee, Mrs. Kate Milligan, Mrs. Carrie H. Martin, Mrs. c Clanton, Mrs Henry Bradford. Mrs. Vassar l.. Allen M- W. Wales, M. c. Veele, A. B. Robert son, V. Blackwell V. H. Bradford D. K Carr, Mary Carr, A. c. Taylor, Alberta Taylor.
 MT. Greer (Calhoun)-I move that the convention vote the gentleman rom Dal- las vote of thanks If he will not intro- duce any more resolutions upon that sub ject.
 MT. Craig-That petition comes here from the ladies of Huntsville from the county of Madison, and was presented to the convention in very respectful man. ner, and l cannot see why gentlemen should throw any discredit upon the la dies of Madison county. or upon the wo- men generally In the State of Alabama They are ladies of this State, many of them widows with little children to sup port, whose property is taxed. They have a mere pittance to support those children
 MT. Greer-I rise to point of order.
 The President-The gentleman will state the point of order.
 MT. Greer-There is. nothing before the convention.
 The President-The point of order is well taken. Does the gentleman from Dallas (Mr. Criag) desire the petition re- ferred to the Committee on Suffrage?
 Mir. Craig-Yes. sir
 The President-The petition will be re- ferred.
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