The Washington times., 1902-02-19
BEFORE THE HOUSE COMMITTEE.
Mrs. Gait Makes Brilliant Speech Adj
vOcnting the Cauxc.

vOcatinE the Cause.
The president of the National Woman.
Suffrage Organization. Mrs. Carrie Chap
man Gait, accompanied by about 100 dele
gates. appeared yesterday morning be-
fore the House Judiciary Committee ant
pieadingly appealed for the appointment
of a Congressional committee to investi-
gate wOman's suffrage in every phase oil
its workings in the four States in which
it is in effect in this country.
The basis of the hearing was a House
joint resolution, which proposes ar
amendment to the Constitution to confer
on women the right of suffrage. The
hearing began at 10 O'Clock and lasted
about two hours. AS a result of the ap-
peal of the delegates the committee order
ed favorable report on a resolution to
print 10000 copies of the report of the
hearing, half of which is to be turned
over to Mrs. Gait in franked envelopes
and the remainder to be used by the COM
mittce.
The scene in the committee room was
an unusual one. and the remarks of the
sufIragists. especially those of Mrs. Car
RE Chapman Gait, made a deep impress
sion upon the members of the commit
tee.
Miss Vida Goldstein. of Australia. was
the first speaker. She told of the wo-
mans suffrage movement there. and of
the beneficial results which had been pro-
duced by it,
Miss Goldstein was followed by Miss
Emma Eyald. of Sweden, and Mrs. Drew
son, OF Norway, who told of equal suf-
frage in those two countries
Mrs. Campbell, daughter of the Gov
ernor of Wyoming, enlightened the COM
mittee upon the success of woman's suf-
frage in that State.
Prof. Theodocia Ammons of Colorado
said that in that State the women did
take an interest in the elections. and did
vote which refuted the assertion that wo-
men did not take advantage of the right
bestowed upon them. She denied that
the home was broken up By the entrance
CT women into the political arena.
Has Elevated Politics.
Mrs. Ida VI. Weaver, bright and Vi
vacious little woman of Boise. Idaho. said
that woman's suffrage in that State had
elevated the standard of politics When
convention was held, she said, the cues
ton asked was:
rs he such man as will command the
votes of the women ?"
They realized if he was not that he
could not be elected, the speaker said.
Three women had been elected to the
Legislature, and they had even sat on
juries in Wyoming.
She said she voted not because she had
the right, but because it was her duty.
Mrs. Cats Brilliant Speech.
Mrs. Gait made a brilliant speech in
advocacy of her cause She declared that
a question of politics was behind the
denial of the right of suffrage to women.
She said when the right of suffrage was
denied the right of liberty was aIienated
by tyrannical power. Mrs Gait said she
would not ask for a favorable report on
the suffrage resolution, but rather that
the committee recommend to the House
the appointment of a commission to in
vestigate woman's suffrage in the -four
states where it is allowed
Congress, she said, had appointed all
sorts of commissions to go everywhere
ana investigate all things, and in Justice
She only asked an investigation of the
cause which she represented
III suffrage was a right, she asked whv
II should be denied to women: IL a priyi-
!ege,- why was she deprived of enjoying it:
II responsibility, why was it not i'm
posed upon her. and if duty. by what
right was she exempted from hearing II