The morning journal-courier., 1908-02-20
WOMEN AT ALBANY Governor Hughes Tells Suffra- gists Much Gan be Said
 on Both Sides.
MANY SPEAK IN OPPOSITION
Governor Declares Women Will Get What They Want When They
 Agree What it is.

Albany, N T., Feb. 19.-Women for and against the question crowded the legislative corridors to-day to attend the hearing by joint committees of the assembly and senate on the proposed constitutional amendment, which would strike the limiting word male from the constitutional provision regarding the right to vote.
 The suffragists by no means had it all their own way, for a strong dele gation of the sex from all parts of the state was present in opposition to the woman suffrage proposition. Later in the afternoon the women of both sides crowded the executive chamber to present their arguments to Governor Hughes
 The speakers for the proposed amend ment included Mrs. Mary E. Craigie' Brooklyn; pr. Lavina R. Davis, Onei- da: Mrs. Maud s. Nathan, New York; Mrs Harriet Stanton Blatch, New York, and Mrs. Henry Willard, New York.
 Mrs. Arthur M. Dodge, of New York conducted the hearing for the opposi- ton and introduced Mrs. Francis M Scott, of New York, Mrs. Richard k Noye, Jr., of New York, and Mrs. W w Crannell, of Albany, read short papers and were followed by Miss Ade- line Knapp, who spoke.
 Governor Hughes, after deVotlng one hour to hearing arguments, said that ,, mn which ne was charged with any official responsi- bility, being a proposed amendment to the constitution, which does not re- quire the governors signature. lie said in part:
 q believe most heartily in the i'm portance of having every question of this sort fully debated-debated as you have debated it-in a calm and reason able manner: so that from the con flicting views that are presented, the truth may emerge and be appreciated For whatever is right, as l say, Tn re- gard to such a matter, whether we agree with it at this time. or do mol agree with it at this time, whatever < right will eventually appear to be rlsh' and In this country of intelligence where so much effort is devoted to the ascertainment of conditions, and to the Improvement of conditions, will be ul- tlmately established
 Now I am not going to express any opinion upon this subject at this time further than to make the practlca statement that I firmly believe that the decision of this matter will ultimateiy rest with the women themselves, What the women in this state really Wani and I do not mean by that a numerica majority. but I mean the force of opih- ion among the intelligent women oi the state, who will form the public z opinion of women with regard to thi' question-that whatever the women II that sense really want they will have That demand on the part of women vii be in the course of time irresistible ant the question is simply what do th' women want? For tie men, the voter of the state. who will pass upon thi. subject when it Is presented vii eventually, in my judgment, act in ac cordance with the demand which they feel actually exists on the part of thos, who will be affected by the change.
 In the hearing before the joint leg islative committees on judiciary th' arguments were practically the same a' those which have been presented fol several years past. The supporters o the bill argued in favor of giving thf women voice in elections and abol ishng taxation without representa- ton. while those opposed contendeC that there was no great demand fol woman suffrage and that woman hal sufficient duties already without bur dening her with those of politics.