The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-02
MONTANA
FIGHT FOR EQUALITY
Strong Array of suffragists Plead
Before the Legislative Com
mittees at Helena.
IF Women Can Purify Montana
Politics, Give Them a Chance"
Says Heron.
Special to The Journal.

Helena, Mont, Feb. 2.-The feature Of
both branches of the legislature last week
was the woman suffrage hearings. Meas
ures are pending in both houses granting
the franchise to women and have been adj
vanced to the printing stage. That they
will prevail, however, is regarded as
doubtful.
. Nevertheless. the women are putting up
a courageous fight and announced at both
meetings that they would never give up
until they achieved their aim.
l. For an hour and a half Thursday, the
senate judiciary committee listened to
their arguments The committee met in
the senate chamber and the capacity of
floor and galleries were taxed to their
capacity.
Mrs. T. J. Walsh of Helena. Mrs. Gail
Laughlin, national organizer Mrs. H. E.
| Reeder Mrs. George Matheson NJ. M.
Dean, Mrs. George w. Tower, M. P. Hag-
gerty and Sam Heron delivered ad-
dresses, some pathetci, some pleading,
Others threatening and others seeking
justice.
Mrs. Reeder stated that the movement
was born on the same theory that the
lforefathers resolved upon Independence
taxation without Representations she
! showed that in the city of Helena women
paid one-third Of the taxes.
Heron based his argument upon the
publication idea. He said the politics OF
/ Idaho had been purified by the women
| voters, who only two years ago turned
down an administration whose conduct q
several charitable institutions had Y not
= been exactly right.
s"If@women can purify Montana politics
for heavens. sake, give them, a chance
he said, and the sentiment was loudly
cheered.
; Haggerty, as a representative of thu
, Butte labor unions, demanded that the!
! l>1 civ t1,n fro, ia
!; tives. "Women who do mems work
:, should receive the same pay. Wome1
l years ago were not taken into the labo
unions, but now they are received in vel
come. If they do not receive the sam
pay as men. the pay Of the latter mus
come down. he said.
# Referring to bad women voting, he sal
!. bad men voted and nothing was saio
women are the equal of men in ever
E respect and should be given the sam
right at the polls" he continued.
e The house judiciary committee also CAV
: the suffragists hearing in the hous
y chamber, and this meeting, too, wa
!, packed. The same ground was gone owe
: and the bill was treated In the sam
l. manner as by the senate, being ordere
;, printed. -.,.,.
The principal legislation by the sena1
last week was the new game law. IN
. measure was prepared by joint comm
tee of the house and senate ana the sta
game warden and has the commemorate
of large majority of the sportsmen, r.
stricting as it does the open season on 6
al species Of grouse, fight birds and fu
I'd bearing animals to September. Octob
of and November. 1t also imposes a. licen
I'd on non resident hunters and provides f
ct licensed guides, who are required to
In: I~licensed by the game warden s'-.'-
TX The senate cleared it's calendar by i
LIZ al, 10 which
vides for two free scholarships at t
j. state university for each county. with t
he understanding that a new bill will
1T drafted giving the scholars the option
tie attending either the school OF mines, t
lis agricultural college, the state norm
he school, or the university. The new b
he will also provide that the scholars to