Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-06-20
SUFFRAGE FOR WOMEN
Henry B. Blackwell Urges That
Ballot Be Given Them.
Says They Are Less Be1ligerent Than
Men, More Chastc, More Econom-
icaI and More Law Abiding
Convention in Session.

L he LorO annual convention Oh the YER
mont Womar's Suffrage association
opened Thursday night in the w. C. T. L.
Temple. In the absence of James l1utchn-
son of Randolph, president Of the assoca-
ton. Miss Mary y. Chase, president of
the New Hampshire w. s. A., presided.
Prayer was offered by the Rev. o. NJ.
Owen Of this city and vocal solo was
rendered by Miss Mamie Holmes.
Addresses of welcome were given by
Mayor w. j. Bigelow and the Rev. c. j.
Staples. pastor OF the Unitarian Church.
Mayor Bigelow in the couse of his re-
marks said that the need of the public
is for the enforcement of present laws,
rather than for the enactment of new
ones If the ballot would make woman
more lovely and lovabe and greater
power in the homo, the church and the
community, he thought it would not be
denied
The Rev. Mr.. Staples, who was called
upon to extend a welcome in behalf of
the churches. said he felt a little strange
to be called upon to welcome the con-
ventlon in behalf of tie churches, since
he was in way rega rded as a hereto
and even denied membership in a popular
orga nization which has been the most
talked of local body during the past Is
or 20 days. He said perhaps he would
| refuse to represent anybody but himself.
He paid an eloquent tribute TO the late
Mary A. Llvermore. whom he knew per-
sonally, and spoke eloquently Of the
| mission OF clear headed, large hearted,
! actively vital women. In the kingdom OF
thought said he there is no man, no
woman. only soul
| The Rev. Verdi II. Mack Of Gaysvile
| spoke briefly in response to the greet
ings extended and Mrs z. y. Lund Of
| Burlington extended greetings in behalf
| Of the State w. c. T. L. and allied
| bodies.
| The presiding officer announced that
Representative II. H. Shaw Of Marlboro.
who was to speak on The Municipal
Suffrage Bill in the Vermont Legisla-
| ture," was unable to be present burt sent
a letter of regret. which was read to the
assemhlage. After a solo by Miss Agnes
NJ Dooley. with violin oblgato by Miss
! Helen Cobb Miss Chase introduced the
venerable Henrv B. Blackwell Of Bos-
| ton as the principal speaker Of the even
| ing. Mr.. Blackwell is an earnest and I'M
pressive speaker and held closely the at
tention of his auditors as he told in
simple words of the movement for the
recognition of women. in wch he has
borne such conspicuous part In the
past three score years.
Below the speakers desk was ramed
portrait OF the late Lucy Stone, the gift
! to the Vermont Woman's Suffrage as
ISOLATION of Mr. Blackwell
Woman suffrage, said Mr.. Blackwell,
is simply the expression Of an intelligent
opinion on questions Of public concern.
| He reviewed the question of women s
rights and spoke Of the hard struggle in
| Massa chusetts which eliminated in a
| State law giving the mother equal rights
| with the father in the care and control
of minor children He pleaded earnestly
for absolute equality of the sexes in the
home and in the state.
Everywhere said he. the beginning Of
law has been despotism. and from
despotism society progressed to govern
ment by aristocracy. The latter form was
dominant until the discovery of America
The speaker then outlined the growth OF
representative government in this coun-
try up to the time of the revolution.
To deny suffrage to women is to repudi te
the principle OF the declaration OF
independence that all governments
derive their just powers from the consen,
OF the governed. II We oppose suffra &c
for women We say in effect that the
men who fought the American Revolution
were wrong and that the Tories were
right.
This government is an aristocracy o
sex rather than a democracy. We wan
absolute democracy so that all wht
OH IN ma v
ing; that all who pay taxes SHOULD
have a voice in the expenditure OF tn
money thus paid. Now the question II
whether this country needs the womel
as voters. Every class that has vote
makes itself felt in government. Two
thirds of our expenses are war ex
penses-for wars mainly unnecessar.
and wicked. That is because we hav
a male government. Women as voter
would bring the home and its prin
ciplcs into government
Women are less belligerent and NOR
temperate than men. They are ais,
more chaste, more economical ant
more law abiding. Less than one tent
OF the criminal class are women. Gov
ernments are made TO protect the live
of men and women against the wicked
/, II you want the practical application
of the Christian religion in the affair
of government you must give the bal
lot to women.
In conclusion Mr.. Blackwell urge,
his hearers to see that no man shall
be elected a State senator or represen
tative unless he has given his pledg
to support a measure for woman suf
I rage. united effort should be di
| rected to obtain from the Legislator
full municipal suffrage and presidential
suffrage.
The benediction was pronounced b.
the Rev. Mr.. Owen.