The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-28
The CAUSE OF WOMAN.
NEW HAMPSHIRE NAY GIVE
WOMEN FULL SUFFRAGE.
The Constitutional Convention Adopts IN
Amendment Making Them Voters
inc Longest Step Vet Taken In the
East for the Freedom OF women
influence OF the Grange In the Matter.

-Iue LOnBoSt step net Token IN inc
East for the Freedom OF women
Influence Of the Grange In the Matter.
From one point OF view the action taken
by tho New HAMPSHIRE Cor.-.itut ional Con-
vention last week in adopting an amend
ment comforting full suffrage on women
marks the most progressive step which
ever has been made on this question. The
advance movement heretofore has beon in
the Rocky Mountain States. and the OPP
position has cast great many sneers at the
wild and woolly West, and has rejoiced
to include woman suffrage in the many So
called heresies and radicalisms which have
found a congenial atmosphere in that free
and unit rammelled section of the country.
1T never will get foothold in the we'll
balanced and conservative East" they
ha We been wont to declare with great pride
and complacency. It was only year or
two ago that one of the greatest of political
mana gers asserted. Woman suffrage never
will come East Of the Mississippi River"
and within a month 1t was given to the
taxpaying women of New York The
weather conditions for woman suffra &c
have been getting more favorable for some
time. and il is going TO strike several diff
ferent localities in the near future
For the past year the National Suffrag &c
Association has been working quietly but
effectively in New Hampshire with view
to this approaching Constitute nal Con-
yention, and the national president, Mrs.
Chapman Gait. has visited the State several
times The convent ion took up the amend
ment Dec. H. under special order, and it
was vigorously debated for several hours.
Of Warmer ln laI h.,
Affirmative. opened his speech by saying
that he had fought all through the Civil
War to free the negroes. all through the
Spa nish American War to free the Cubans.
and he was now determined to fight until
women were freed from the bondage Of dis
franchisement. Later, a beardless youth,
Just old enough to serve as delegate. made a
violent speech against the measure be-
cause every ballot must represent bullet.
There never has been an ADLER or more
dignified debate on this subject. MIR.
Thompson stated that in one precinct where
he resided So out Of iOi homes are owned by
women to whom is allowed no voice in the
management Of municipal affairs, an in
justice which is a disgrace to those who
permit it. The speeches were entirely
free from the usual gush and fulsome COM
plments, but the demand was based on
the ground Of equity and right. many of
the men making their appeal in the name
of their mother. wife and daughters, and
the purity Of the home. A significant
feature of the opposition was the almost
total absence of the hackneyed statements
as to the degrading effects Of suffrage on
women. the destruction of the home. DC.
Mr.. Aldrch of Littleton, a Leading oppo-
nent. did say that he doubted il the world
would 60 on as well with the women at the
polls as in the home evidently thinking
that they would forsake the latter and take
up their permanent residence at the polls.
His wife and daughter did not want the
suffrage. therefore he was obliged to vote
mo-" Mr.. Folsom Of Dover stated that
his wife. his daughters. his daughter-in-
law and his mother -in-law asked him to
vote mo- on this question, but he should
vote yes. as he thought the electors should
have q chance to settle 1t. They who in
sist that the indirect influence Of women
is more powerful than the direct have here
a practical illustration. II women could
express themselves at the polls those Of one Of
these famile. would cast two votes in favor
Of the amendment, while those of the other
would cast five or more against it. but the
indirect influence in each case controlled
only one vote.
Mr.. Pillsbury OF Londonderry based his
objection on the ground that "the women
OF Colorado are tired of the suffrage He
was utterly unmoved by the fact that at
the last general election 81 per cent. of the
women Of the entire State cast their bal
lots. The argument Of the opponents
which had the most weight, and
threatened to defeat the measure, was
that the women Of New Hampshire did not
generally exercise the school suffrage
which they possessed. Finally the State
Superintendent OF Public Instruction arose
and proceeded to give the delegates a
thorcdgh roasting" He demanded to
know how many of them voted at school
elections, and II they were prepared to be
dsfranchised on account Of their failure,
and declared that when the vomen did
vote they voted right. This spiked that
particular gun.
The resolution to incorporate the amend
ment was finally adopted by viva voce
vote Of ISL to 1902 A roll call was demanded
which resulted in las yeas. 90 nays. the
usual slump of those who do not want to
90 on record A motion was at oncs made
FOR reconsideration because there we're
many absentees and the full convention
should have a chance to express itself
This gave the Opposluon, "nlci hau not
for a moment supposed 1t would carry, a
chance to work, of which they awaited
themselves to the utmost. The great
corporation which il said to be the domi-
nant influence in New Hampshire politics
left no stone unturned to defeat the meas
ure. having three attorneys on the ground
besides It's regular lobbyists. Why they
objected to the women of the State having
a voice in its politics can only I've a matter
OF surmise. Even their powerful influence
however, was not sufficient to overcome the
strong sentiment in favor OF the amend
ment. The final discussion took place a
week later, on Dec. 10. A magnificent
speech was made in the affirmative by Cor
don Woodbury., owner and editor of the
Manchester Union. the leading paper In the
State. He was strongly supported by
Delegates Lyford and Lamprey Of Concord,
Edgerly Of Somersw orth and others. The,
opposition had succeeeded in alternating
seven Of the supporters, while the suf-
fragists, without money CT votes to Offer.
had won three Of the former opponents.
The largest number Of delegates yet pres
ent was assembled. The vots on roll call
was announced to he 1877 yeas. l7S nays.
The friends think 1t should have been i8s
nays, but no official statement has yet been
made.
The Massachusetts, and New York Anti
Suffrage Association poured an avalanche
OF literature into the State. A striking
incident OF the discussion was that. although
u 4 49,. H.,