The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-09
Association With "Illiterates.
Minors and Felons" in State
hood Bill Not to Liking.
LETTERS FLOOD COMMITTEE.
One Appeal Cites the Golden Text
and Asks What the Men Would
Think if They Were Classi-
fed With Idiots.
rs Republic Rureau,


Washington, Dec. S-Protests by the
hundred from women OF the country have
poured into the members OF the Senate
Committee on Territories, protesting
against the use Of the word Sex IN the
Hamilton statehood bill. the connection
being such. n their estimation. as to hu-
initiate the wives and daughters Of the
land. They declare that the present text
classea the sex with illiterates, criminals
and insane persons.
Petitions and personal communications
Of varying description always are q part
OF the mail of a Congressman who Is iden-
tilted with a prominent and important
bill. In this case the one word sex
seems to have stirred up 4 correspondence
as big as that which accompanies a meas
urs dealing with the liquor traffic A
stack OF letters on the subject almost
foot high already are on file in the COM
mittee-rooms OF Senator Beveridse,
chairman OF the committee.
Thus has the sex been slandered- With
the cold precision OF q legislative docu-
uent = provision recites that the suffrage
shall no; be withheld on any score OF
tude, or on any account other than hit
eracy. minority. sex, conviction OF fel-
OILY, mental condition or OF residence
PASSAGE is OUTRAGEOUS"
The feminine students OF the statehood
bill do not talk OF the senatorial represen-
ts ton involved, OF what shall become Of
the judicial machinery, OF Of what is TO
be done IN behalf OF TIE schools; bat the
majority OF thcm have declared that The
above passage is "outT ageors"; that It
classes women with lliterates, minors
feions and idiots. one writer says: In
justice is therein threatened 10 our sis
ttrs. She continues: This would allow
these States 20 disfra nchise minors. crini-
mails. noares!dents. ignoranuses-and
women"
turtner. she argues that the pioneer
women VINO suffered and toi-ed as earnest
iy ard as successfully as their husbands
n behalf of the country's progress, ought
not 10 be treated in this more than as
courteous manner.
a prominent Michigan club woman uses
some~ hat hyEterical style. Do unto
Others she quotes. '.as you would they
should do unto you. Substitute the word
like es1Fs IT, HE eaor ena hat hat
would then arise wou-d simply raise the
earth Hoping that the honorable body of
which you are the honorable chairman
will never report such a travesty or hu-
man rights believing that the Senate of
the United States will not thereby lower
the status Of the sex. l am, etc
SeHetols oI lhe CoHEnlttee are or the
opinion that something can be done to
soften this passage OF the bill If not. Sem
ator Bailey can be relied upon to make a
party issue out OF the matter
The Senate Committee on Territories
VIII meet Saturday morning. After that
time probably definite information can be
had as TO the fate OF the measure. Only
general discussion OF the bill and its gem
eral provisions is planned for that date.
Hearings Will be deferred. No bill will be
reported out until after the holidays and,
II measure passes. it hardly can be be:
fore the closing days Of the session.