The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-03-15
WOMEN PLEAD
FOR RIGHT To
CAST BALLOTS

hearing was had today before the
special legislation committee Of the SEN
ate on the pending act 10 give women
tho right TO vote FOR presidential electors
The hearing was held in the big hearing
room next 10 the senate gallery.
The room was well filled with women
Interested in tho matter. many OF them
from out OF town. one OF the speakers
said that those who wero present were
but n small fraction OF those Interested
IN the movement and that II any one IN
terested could take the time 10 go
amongst the women I'm favor OF the pas
sage OF the act there would be an attend
ance from all over the state so large that
the room could not accommodate H.
Letters favoring the passage OF inc
measure were presented from Louis l..
Angel and from Mary A. Babcock OF
Phenix.
Mrs Jeanette s. French president OF
tho Rhode Island Woman Suffrage asso-
ciation. thanked the committee for grant
ing n hearing. She introduced Henry H.
Blackmar OF Boston, chairman OF the
presidential suffrage committee or the
National Woman Suffrage association.
There was plenty Of precedent for the
act he said. az in several states the saino
measure was In force. The effect OF the
measure he added, would be To douole
the strength OF the dominant party In
any state.
There IS a growing discomfort" he
said. with the Republican policy ana
Republican control. and r. Is not impos-
sible that the party may. as result, lose
the control Of the national Offices IN lsOs'
From tho day when Henry Il. Anthony
championed woman suffrage on the moor
OF the senate Rhode Island has ever
shown a sympathy for the movement
I'VE have In 20 states n partial sur
frage and would have It II the constitu-
tion permitted. The women OF 's~lorado
did not vote when they had partial suf-
frage but when full suffrage was ac-
corded them they took advantage OF their
opportunity We now have fun suffrage
I'm wyoming. Colorado Utah and Idaho.
We ask you 20 give 10 one-haf your citl-
zens. educated IN your midst their
rights"
Mrs. stearns. one OF the vice presi-
dents OF the Providence w {. l. u,
smoke I'm behalf OF the act. and short
addresses were made by n large number
~ other women prominent In the move
ment. Among them was Mrs. Frederick
Jackson. wife OF the lieutenant governor,
who although she took but two or three
minutes OF tho time OF the committee,
made a fervent plea for the cause OF
woman suffrage.
She said she could give a hearty amen
10 tho many remarks made by the speak
ers who had preceded her and hoped the
time was at hand when women would
be given the right 10 vote. as she could
see no valid reason why they should not.
Among the other speakers were MIS-.
Annie u. j. Hazard OF East Providence,
Mrs Anthony, president OF the Anthony
and Washington Woman Suffrage asso-
citation. Mrs. Abbie T. Chase. president
OF the Pawtucket Woman Suffrage asso-
citation. Mrs. Gladdng. Mrs. Aldrich OF
East Providence. Or. Hardman Of Paw
tucket. Miss May T.. olney Mrs Alexan-
der DR.. Yates of Pawtucket. Mrs. Jewett,
secretary Of the Woman Suffrage asso-
citation and a large number of others
All OF them gave their reasons why
they thought the act should be passed.
Miss Aldrich OF East Providence said
she had read the scripture through and
saw no reason in 10 Why man should
vote and a woman should not She had
found passage where II said the Lord
had given man dominion over all things,
but did not believe 10 could be properly
construed In this sense
DR.. Yates said that when she was In
college she had not been IN the habit OF
asking favors Of the men, but on the
contrary they had constantly been asking
farors OF her This made II seem odd
10 her 10 be obliged to appear before the
committee and ask them 10 give as a
favor what she believed belonged to her
as a right
Mrs. Annie r. J. Hazard OF East Provi-
dence spoke very briefly but to the point.
She said the women believed themselves
entitled TO the right OF voting and that
they expected the committee 10 make TO
the legislature a favorable report on the
measure now before IL. we shall look
to you, gentlemen. and look to you per
sonally" she said.