The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-05
State Society of Labor Takes
Advanced Stand.
By Overwhelming Vote Passes
Equal Suffrage Resolution.
HAVE LIVELY DEBATE
Railroad Question Also Stirt
Up Discussion.
Rev. Charles NJ. Sheldon De-
livers an Address.

The first display OF fireworks
since the opening of the tenth annual
convention of the state society of la
Dor andsindustry was pulled off during
the afternoon session Tuesday in a
general debate on resolutions Nos. IL
and 10. both relating to the emancipa-
ton Of women by extending to them
all the rights Of equal suffrage. If the
expressions of sentiment by the dele
gates participating in the discussion
may be taken as a criterion, the con-
vention is Overwhelmingly committed
to the cause Of the suffragists.
Drastic legislation affecting rail-
roads and calculated to reduce their
revenues also stirred UP considerable
feeling and developed the fact that
the railway employees of companies
operating lines in Kansas are gravely
apprehensive over the condition with
which they are now confronted and
feel that the worse Is yet to come. It
is certain that IL the legislature were
in session, or about the convene, the
legislative committee would have re-
ceived instructions to do things that
would have worked up some of the
solons who ina CINE that in making
the railroads toe the mark they are
earning the appreciation of their con-
stituents and the public generally.
Particularly startling was the asser-
ton that every train leaving Kansas
City carries two engineers, one Of
whom is doing duty as a fireman; that
the f1remen have been relegated to the
round house to serve as hostlers, that
the hostlers have become wipers, and
that the wipers have been thrown out
in the cold world to hunt for new
Jobs. Other statements regarding
reductions past and to come, to the
effect that every increase of wages
nf
ings and that the earnings of the
trainmen are less today than they
were year ago, furnished food for
reflection. Heavy reductions of forces
were cited and still heavier reductions
prophesied for the near future. and
the whole trend of the views of the
various speakers was an earnest plea
that the railroads be let alone, that
the legislators cease to harass them
further, for the sake Of the great army
of employers and for the welfare or
the state itself.
The suffrage question came up i'm
mediately after Mrs. Lila Day Monroe,
president of the Kansas Equal Suf-
frage association, had addressed the
convention on this subject. In order
to establish a'Ebo1fd AJiof sympathy be-.
tween herself and the delegates, she
began by saying that she was a work.
ing woman, having started in as a
school ma'arn in Indiana. She there
found that the male teacher got the
first chance in case Of vacancy, be-
cause he had a vote. 'That made a
suffragist of me- said Mrs. Monroe.
She reviewed the work done in the
past and the results accom- lished, In
cidental1y mentioning that in four
Observation-Disclosures Utah, Wyoming
and Colorado, equal suffrage is an ac-
complished fact
The reading of resolutions II and
IS having been called for, a motion
was made to adopt the favorable
recommendation Of the committee and
some time was consumed in explain-
ing the difference between a political
and an economic question.
1.-THE delegates evidently did not
consult their wives and mothers be-
fore they left home" suggested one
speaker, who declared that majority,
of the women of Kansas are opposed
to the suffrage proposition. 1T
would be better for us if there was
not a. woman in this country working"
he declared. 1.-THE mothers of this
state and of this county don't want
suffrage" .
"Why is it that so many Of our
wives and sisters are working today?
asked another, and answered his own
question. ct is because the men who
should support them don't do SO. The
men put in their time loahng on the
street corner and the women and chill
dren are driven to the factories. We
have stopped child labor now. but the
women still have to work. They have
no way to appeal for their rights: They
come to the legislature and the door Is
slammed in their faces and they are
told to go home and get dinner. There
is no redress for woman except to get
into politics"
HAS any delegate on the floor OF