The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-12

ment of that heaven setn mission she
Yields in her hand a scepter more pot
ent for good or evil than the combined
verdict of all the ballot boxes OF her
Al this poin Johnson of Decatur
broke in with one of his innocent, child
like questions.
DO understand the gentleman from
Ellsworth to say that women should be
classed along with the other domestic
animals?" he inquired.
No. sir. 1 said no such thing re-
piled O'Donnell. and I resent the ins1n-
uatiOn that did say it."
JOhnsOn's question provoked consider
able laughter and applause among the
suffragists. and then it had died away
DR. ODonnell continued;
You tell me that If we extend the
franchise to woman she will purify pol-
tics. She does purify politics, but she Is
not compelled to indulge in the mael-
StrOm of political life to do so, eHnel-
The fame of domestic love and influence
that should burn bright on the altar Oh
every home is a heavenly incense
poured forth to purify all walks of life,
political and all.
The voice of the children that gather
around q mothers knee and lisp their
childish prattle at her feet Is sWeeteI
greeted a victorious politician and the
triumphant blare which burst forth
from a victorious political band wagon
is as sounding brass. tink1ing cymbal
: anu LI1E IICSL Id6IlllAC III GOiliDdL ISOA Will
the glorious symphony of grand refrain
that pleads for a woman's kingdom,
Home. Sweet Home.
DR.. Hutcheson of Pratt then spoke iii
favor Of the bin. Il ave no studied
piece of oratory." he aid, but I wish to
favor this bill. Mrs. Suratt and Charles
Guiteau died in the same way fol
the same great crime. but there was this
great difference between them: he
helped 10 make the laws which executed
him, while she had no voice in them.
1 do not think women should be limited
to presidential suffrage alone. but /
favor this measure because it is d step
ping stone to wider suffrage for them
Then John nya Adams of Butler
took the floor and flooded the house with
OratOry in opposition to the bill. He
made the longest speech of the debate
He said:
7 know it has been said that it
would be a chiVaIrous act on the part
of the men of Kansas to confer upon
the women Of Kansas the presidential
suffrage. I am disinclined,s therefore. to
inveigh against this bill in any way that
may seem -discourteous or offensive. I
am opposed to the bill. however. for sew
eral reasons. The first and greatest rea-
son is, I do not believe that the majority
of the women Of Kansas desire the right
Of suffrage or would exercise it freely
were il conferred uD0n them I have
been importuped to support the bin. I
must confess. by many elegant, comp
Iished and DISTINGUISHED ladies of kan
HdSs out, on the oIQef nand / have been
informed by d much greater number
that they do not desire the right of suf-
frage. and that in their opinion the vast
majority Of the ladies Of Kansas do not
desire it. Tt would, therefore. not be an
act of chivalry to confer upon the good
women of Kansas a privilege which the
great majority of them have not sought
and do not at this time desire.
Il do not believe the men want to give
the right to vote. either. The men know
Of the corruption and evil there is IN
politics and they do not want their
wives and mothers and sisters contami-
mated by it. We have been told that
women would reform politics. I wish
that they could do so. but I must con
fess that 7 receive the statement with
a great deal of incredulity. You hav4
heard Of pure young girls marrying
drunkards to reform them. and you
know how such things generally turn
out. Women couldn't reform politics
any more than they could reform the
They cannot purify it any more than
performance by obtaining seats on the
front row
Il am against this bill Furthermore
ly this is a government by the people,
political parties. The ballot is only the
away down in the ward or township
caucus OF primary. There may be some
women who have no families or who
have erVants to attend tc their house
. hold duties who would have time to at