Los Angeles herald., 1908-12-25
WOMEN ASSERT
RIGHT TO VOTE
FRIDAY MORNING CLUB ACTS
AS HOSTESS
TENDERS LUNCHEON TO STATE
LEGISLATORS
Speakers Ask That Amendment to
Constitution Be Drawn and Rep
sentatlves Work to Secure
Its Passage

luncneon tendered Dy the pubic aIIa1r5
committee of the Friday Morning club
yesterday afternoon in the Woman's
club house to state senators and repre-
sentatives.
| Every senator and representative
from Southern California was invited,
and the women represented the leading
| women's clubs of Los Angeles. The
| club house was tastily decorated in
| pine boughs.
The object of the meeting was to
bring to the notice of the Legislators
from this section of the country the
desire and demand of the women of
Los Angeles and vicinity for the right
to vote. In their various addresses the
representatives. of the women's clubs
of this city present at the luncheon yes
| terday argued the cause of woman's
suffrage, presented evidence to prove
that the women of the state of Califor-
mia and of the United States are ready
and anxious for the ballot and urged
on the southern representatives to the
state legislature the need of drawing
up and presenting a bill which would
provide for equal suffrage.
| Not only was the right of women to
vote urged upon the representatives in
the legislature, but the need of the in
huence of women in the politics of the
state was emphasized, along with
many other reasons.
Mrs Charles Farwell Edison, chair
man Of the committee, presided and
introduced the various speakers. The
principal address of the occasion was
read by Mrs. Anon Moore who asked
that some one of the men present draw
up an amendment to the state consti-
tuition providing for eqUal suffrage and
representation of women in California
and that the southern representatives
| in the legislature work to secure the
passage of the bill when presented.
New Zealand Cited
Mrs. Moore told of the good resulting
| from woman's suffrage in New Zea-
land, and urged that American women
were even better fitted for the ballot
than those of New Zealand. The speak
er cited the example of states where
women already have a limited suffrage
to show that they voted right when
given the chance. "Mr. Shaw appealed
to the college men to save the country"
said Mrs. Moore. why not give the
women of America chance to save
the country?"
In order to show the legislators pres
ent the wide scope of the movement
for the right of women to participate
in the political affairs of the state
Mrs Moore reminded them that the
WOIfltH pICSCiil 6PlGoCAALCN VI IAiiNN
tions which in turn represented an
aggregate of nearly $4,000 people.
Mrs. r. L. Craig, prominent busi-
ness woman and club worker of Los
Angeles, spoke briefly on the need of
the ballot for women and the effect
which their vote would have on busi-
ness conditions of the country.
Mrs. r. J. Waters, president of the
District Federation of Women's Clubs,
contributed to the general argument
in favor of women's right to vote. She
dwelt with special emphasis on the
ability of women to assume the respon-
sibility of citizenship. "If any man
present insists on the Biblical proverb
that woman is side product of man
we will not argue the question with
him." said the speaker But we do
uphold the ability of the side product
to take up the responsibilities of gov
ernment."
The next speaker was Mrs. DR..
Dorothea Moore, who spoke in fluent
and interesting manner on the desire
of present day woman for broader
sphere of activity. women long for
expression just as men do" said DR.
Moore. "They want to try what the
world is like. Under existing arrange
ments she may experiment only within
limited sphere. Woman is more COM
plex now than she used to be, and
she is not so easily satisfied. 1t is
great thing to have responsibility, and
women long for more responsibility;
Mrs. Shelley Tolhurst, president of'the
Friday Morning club, told of the rea-
sons why women of various classes
want the ballot. "Women of property
and wealth." said Mrs. Tolhurst, want
the ballot in order to protect their
holdings. Working women want it in
order to regulate child labor and the
hours Of women in shop and factory
and to secure equal economic opportu-
nifty for women in competition with
men.
PoWerIess in Struggle
Between these two classes stands
the great majority of women, the
mothers and wives This large class
demands the ballot in order that it
may improve social conditions and the
world into which it must turn it's chill
dren. At the present time women are
struggling against diverse economic
conditions which they have no power
to change or improve.
"When women themselves decide
thew want the ballot they will get it.
We women of Southern California want
it and we are seeking for way to
show you Legislators of the state that
we are ready for the ballot and want
it. That is why we have invited you
here today to tell you that We want
to vote
In response to the addresses from
the club women and speaking for the
legislators present Senator II. M. Hurd
of this city thanked the ladies for
their kind entertainment and eX-
pressed the desire of the southern rep
resentatiVes to comply with their
wishes as far as possible.
1--WE have" said Senator Hurd, to
legislate for all classes that make up
society in this state. We have to leg
islate for the higher classes and the
people of the highest order of intelll-
gence, such as Is represented here IN
fhis meeting, But we also have to
legislate for ignorant people, for the
Japanese who come to this country,
for the Chinese, for the negro and
every other element.
"Women have not yet learned 20
work together as men have. That is no
fault of their own, but is due to lack
of experience. For example, can nave
a hot set-to on the floor of the senate
with a man whom am opposing on
given bill at issue. On the following
day L can get together, shoulder TO
shoulder. with that same man anu
work with him harmoniously on some
other issue on which we agree. Women
have not learned to do that. They
would become angry with an adversary
who opposed them and would have
nothing to do with her any more"
Fashionable Children
Ethel-why don't you bring your dollie over
to my house some day, to play with my dollie'
Fya-I wouldn't darel Your dolle, under
.ta.a hos had naeff-YOuIrers Statesman.