The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-01-23
RIGHTS Of WOMAN
HURLED INTO FRAY
IN LIQUOR FIGHT

II Is pretty generally known in the
committee rooms at the House Of Rep
resentatives that Joseph Cannon,
Speaker Of the House. cherishes the de
fusion that lie could give cards and
spades to the men who made the book
on parliamentary procedure.
Perhaps It IS well for the peace Of
mind Of tie Gar Of the House
that the discussion Of his candidacy
for the Presidency was so engross-
ing this morning that he could not ind
time 10 journey down 10 the District
building. Had he done so his we'll
known gaIlantry would have compelled
him TO surrender and place upon the
brow Of woman a crown 10 Indicate 10
the entire world that the feminine pnpu-
latiOn in Washington is composed Of
women who are pariiamentarians.
About 600 citizens went 20 the district
building under the impression that the
Commissioners would give public hear
ing on the question as 10 whether liquor
should be sold in the District Of Co
umbia. some of these citizens and par
ticUlsrly those who do not wish 10 eN-
PeTience the discomfort Of carrying a
miniature distilIery in a back pocket
were .primed with carefully prepared ar
gUIaeuts intended 20 show the horrible
plight Of states where prohlbltory laws
exist
When Commissioner Macfarland called
the meeting TO order these selt-ap-
pointed guardians Of the thirst OF their
fellOW-citizens elbOwed their way 10 the
front ready 20 get into the fray. They
got &C the front, but they did not get
into the fray-nOt for some little time.
Outraged WomanhOOd.
Mrs. Z. NJ. GeHett, representing the
Equal Suffrage Association, was the
/ cause Of the delay. The Cyestion be-
fore the house when she arose to her
feet was prohibition. The question be-
| fore the house a moment after she got
on her feet was suffrage for outraged
/ wUmanhOod: the right Of woman TO vote
/ as well as man
How did she do it? Well, there is a
! clause IN one Of the bills now pending
| before the House, in which its sponsor
was careless enough to state that mere
man should decide whether or not liquor
! should be sold in Washington. Mrs,
/ Gellett frankly admitted that she was
| not vitality interested IN the question q
| prohibitiOn-at least she did not propose
I
! That bill. however, mentioned voting
| as we'll as liquor. and she proposed tC
| assert her rights in behalf Of the women
| who are|Eot granted the privilege OF
/ the ballot.
! Mrs. GellCtt had launched into a dis
| CUssIOn or wOman's ability to grasp pO
J li.ical questions before Commissioner
[ NJ Mcfarland realized that the sufTrag ette!
| had slipped into the debate Some ont
raised point OF order but the Com
missioner could not see his way cleal
TO sustain it. When Mrs. Gellett HAD
concluded she was followed by dTs
Jessie Waite Wright, president Of tn,
Equal Suffrage Association. Mrs
Wright's speech was not extempOran
eous. She read it from delicately tintet
note paper
History was quoted to prove the as
I seTtiOn that woman should be Above
to vote. Some Of the sentences in tn
speech sounded awfuIly familiar Fo
% instance
Taxation without representation (
tyranny"
The speech was not very long. Neithe