Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-02-19

A Mother
Tells How It
Was Reduced in
Her Home.

me cause that aDDealS to the moral
sentiments of man and you will find
woman eNcelling him in speaking and
in leading moral sentiment. 1t is wo-
man, in all of these great principles
that is making New England what it is
today; and by their grand achieve
ments and noble examples we expect
to keep New England in the front
ranks as long as time shall last.
Mr.. President, We must not for get
that we are all born free and equal. We
must not forget that in our country
ttoWns, and | apprehend in your cities
you object to giving the ballot to the
intelligent and educated woman of this
country and of this State in municipal
affairs. Why, let me say to you,-and
blush to say it, but say it boldly
that in the good old State of Maine,
even without thel influence of women
that there at least tenth of the
voters of the State of Maine who are
debauched by selling their votes. Do
you think Mr.. President, that one
tenth of the women OF Maine would be?
1t is a great issue. What shall be done
by the people of the State of Maine,-
by the voters of Maine, selling their
otes,-that heritage which every hon
orable man deems his greatest heritage
and legacy. No matter how poor a
man may be,-no matter what his con-
aition in life,-there is one legacy more
precious,--nore valuable than silver or
gold, and that is the manhood of a
voter; and when he debaucheS that
manhood, and sells his birth-right for
a mess of potage, that man ought not
to vote; but still you say the woman
shall not go to the municipal elections
with her grand, purifying influence up
on the masses there ACKNOWLEDGMENT
you say they shall not have right to
deposit their ballot. [ say to YOU that
there is something that has got to be
done in the State of Maine,-and not
only in the State of Maine, but in New
being debauched as it is today. l know
something about it. 1t is a serious
question that confronts the American
people today,-the right to deposit your
ballot untrammelled. I can imagine
the woman OF this country going to our
town meetings. Many of you who live
n the cities do not appreciate what the
town meeting is. We have hundreds of
voters coming there, and they are not
always of the quiet kind. l would like
to see the educated woman of the
State of Maine,-of course there are
abandoned women, as well as aban-
doned men,-let me say to you that to
one abandoned woman there are ten
abandoned men; and | apprehend that
when you find an abandoned woman
she can trace her abandonment to a
nan, and not to ierself,-i will risk it
in my town. I will risk it in this city
that every woman who goes to the
polls will purify the atmosphere, and
make men more sedate, sober and gem
tie. Put, you say, does she understand
about this thing? How many men that
go to your town meetings, understand:
You and ! know that a few leaders
dominate the affairs in town meetings;
and that a majority of the voters, or q
great many of them cannot read or
write. They have voted away your
money and my money. Why, they
say, not hut q few of the women are
taxpayers. Let me say to you If you
Will look at the statistics there are mil
lions of dollars of property owned by
the women of the State of Maine who
pay taxes. A woman pays say 5000 or
800 in taxes: and you say she shall not
nave the right to say how that money
shall be expended. Is it fair? Is it
just? Is it equitable between man and
woman? | say not. / was opposed to
putting any conditions in the bill |
believe they should all have a right to
vote. To educate, to refine, to lift up
should be the slogan of all good-mind-
ed women in this country. | have no
fear, Mr.. President, that if you give
to them the right to say, but what they
will, examine the questions that come
before the meeting as well as the ma
jority Of men.
Women to vote! Whyt Some of my
brothers say they have not the capac-
ity Let me refer you to the great
problems of life. Is there business
man in the State of Maine who finding
his business perplexing him,-who is
put to his wits end as to what course
to pursue, that he does not go to his
wife and lay the matter before her? In
my experience, nine time out of ten,
she solves the problem for him. All,
You little know how many times Wo-
men have moulded the financial affairs
Of men. They are moulding them to-
day. [ could cite instance after in
stance where the woman of the house
hold is the financial agent OF The
family. Why? Because she is more
capable of managing the financial af-
fairs of the housllold. Why, in
Heavens name, hasn't she, a right to
go to the polls and vote how the money
She pays out in taxes shall be expend-
Sd? l admire the woman of the state
[pf Maine / guess l might be univer-S
ISal, and say,-of everywhere; but tined
|5voman of today is one thing,-the wo-
man of the future is not to be doll, a
bauble or plaything. The woman OF
the future is to be woman willing to
take up the great Responsiveness OF
life. The woman of the future is not
only content to dress IN satifs;
but she is content she mas,
in the emergency, solved the
great problems of life. Many ana many
a woman, when the husband mas passed
to the great Beyond, over the rlVer' mas
taken up the trend of life and shown by
her capacity and intelligence that she IS
able to solve the great problems OF me
Thousands yes millions OF instances OF