Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-11-03
IN SESSION..
CONTINUED from page ID

clearly in what good government con-
sists. and the proper methods to Sc
cure it, than l could possibly hope tc
do
When American citizenship shall
have reached its highest development
the duty of voting will no longer be
a careless. perfunctory. ill-studied and
hastily performed act.
There will be preparatory ceremony
in which the citizen will stand before
his fellow man and, with uplifted
hand. solemnly affirm that In exercls-
ing the high duties devolving upon him
as voter. he has studied with dill
gence the issues presented for de-
c1sion; has made careful inquiry con-
corning the integrity and administra-
tive abilities of the candidates in nom-
| nation; will cast his vote without
prejudice, without personal bias, with
out influence by money or promise OF
any personal advantage. direct or in
direct: will. in casting his vote, have
regard solely and entirely to the bene-
MT OF the country at large If the vote
De national, or if local. with references
10 the good of the community. Event.
uslly the voter will come to recognize
that a failure to fulfill his duty earnest
ly. thoroughly. and with highest integ-
| rlty, should expose him to the con.
tempt of his fellow citizens. and should
disfranchise him from the exercise of
the high privilege of vOting-and he
Will understand that corrupt voting
brings in it's train wars, panics, loss
| OF income nd cnffarine in q \
| ways.
If. after solemnly making this af-
| firmative in the presence of his fell
low citizens, the voter proceeds to the
| secrecy of the voting booth, who
| doubts that he will not. in nine cases
out of ten. act differently from the
| careless, thOughtless. ill-judging, sell
flsh or corrupt man who. today, retards
| by MS vote the destiny of our repub-
| lie?
Within the past 90 years. corruption
| az the polls has increased with ra-
pldlty that appalls those who have
read the history of the republics of
| Rome and Greece.
Something must be done to Rescue the
average citizen from his indifference to
l
his vote. Men must be educated sys-
tematically through village societies. and
| ABOVE all, the public schools must take up
| the training of the child to the Importance
| ol the junction which he will some DAY
exercise as citizen. Penalties for brib-
cry at the polls are already severe But
| III every town there must be a society
| whose business ii is to pursue the briber
| ana me oribed until the doors of the pen
| ittnlary close upon them And the only
| legal excuse for absence from the polls
| should be certificate of ill-health or
| certified absence from the country Hith-
eric We nave neither educated our school
| children in the duties they will sometime
| exercise as voters, nor surrounded the
| voters themselves with such safegua rds
| as VIII elevate them to comprehension
or the high responsibility entrusted to
them And if it continues to go uncheck-
td. bribery at the polls will overthrow
the republic.
II may tie asked what effect this pre-.
paratory instruction will have upon the
| question OF woman suffrage. To my mino
II these theories could be enforced. there
would be such wholesale disfranchise-
| ment of voters that only those who are
fair-minded. honorable and progressive
| would be left.
This would naturally result in a choice
OF clean candidates for office who would
| not De sWayed by selfish or personal mo-
| tlNes, and who would give to every on
| ward movement the benefit of their intiu-
| ence and vote.
| ''NANsS, AO"tNcI, tIdt We dS women
nave a part to perform for if we desire
to see laws enacted for our protection
we must take an active interest in the
men chosen by their constituents to make
| those laws. I have been told by tho9a
who know the situation, that the women
Of this State can 50 influence some no
aucaI matters, II they will make the
be elected to the Legislature; and after
all. in the final analysis 1t Is the votes
at the capital which count. for no form
or suffrage. however small or large, can
be secured without first securing the con-
| sent OF the majority of our senators and
| representatives.
! This then is my word of recommends
| tlon Tor the coming year viz: To so ident-
| ify oursel Ives with movement for good
| government that our opposition can never
| Tor a moment be doubted Shall we not
IN an our deliberations make this issue a
| prominent one. believing that in so doing
| we are accomplishing as much for the
| enfranchisement for the women of Maine
| as in any other way.
| TIE women of this State are beginning
to awaken to the fact that if they want
laws enacted for their protection they
4 must take an active interest in the men
clan has friends and enemies. and there
l are weak places in every public man
| career If the women of each county in
| the State and each states In the Union
| would concentrate their strength and in
luence to help elect good men who would
vote for suffrage. and to defeat the men
| opposed, We would soon become powerful
| enough to receive recognition from ev-
| cry political party. 1t requires coura ge
/ to light without weapons and alone. but
think our liberty is worth the struggle
| The age of sentiment is past for our
movement: we must face hard, cold DO
| litical facts and learn to fight fire with
| lire: My experience has been that women
Will learn more Of political scheming in
their struggle for the ballot than they
Will ever have use for after they OBJ
| tain it.
We are neither discouraged nor dis
heartened: We will never give up. The
suffra gists vocabulary.
Miss Anne Burgess of Portland report
| ed as recording secretary, that the first
important business following the last con-
vention was the incorporation of the as
ISOLATION. After reviewing the years
work Miss Burgess concluded by saving
| Now at the close of this year We are
looking forward to the coming year of
activity more firm than ever in the
thought that We are working in order to
| establish Justice
The treasurer, Dr. Emily n. Titus of
Portland, reported the total receipts for
the year $500 and the disbursements 1859
other reports showed a satisfactory con-
ditlon of affairs Mrs. Annie X FeruaIC
| OF Old Orchard. superintendent of the de-
partnent of literature. reported that 5000,
pieces Of literature have beech distributed
MIS-. Sarah A. Colburn of Portland. for
the department of enrolment reported 23S,
enrolled cards cjrou1a I0S5 ,ot,,..