The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-04
Senate and House Commit
tees Hear Question Dis
cussed by Women.
SENATOR OWENS FOR
UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE
AT Conclusion Of the Hearing Mrs
Upton Urged That Committees
Report Either Favorably or
Unfavorably on Question,
So That Matter Might
Be Discussed On Floor.
wv WASHINGTON. D. c., March a.
N/ The advocates OF female suf-
!" frage were to-day given their

wv WASHINGTON. D. c., March a.
AA The advocates OF female suf-
wv frage were to-day given their
annual opportunity to pre-
sent pleas to Congress, the presenta.
ton to the Senate being made before
the Committee on Womans Suffrage,
and to the House before the judiciary
Committee. Senator Clay, of Georgia,
presided over the Senate committee,
and the Rev. Anna Shaw, as the pres
ident Of the National Female Suffrage
Association. introduced the speakers,
the first Of whom was Mrs. Belva Lock-
wood, who has the distinction of being
the only woman who ever made the
race for the presidency. Mrs. Lock-
wood expressed confidence in the sup
port of her cause by the committee.
Mrs. Fannie Fernald. president of the
Maine Woman's Suffrage Association.
government which controls every In
terest we hold dear
The House hearing was presided
over by Chairman jenkins. OF the Ju-
dietary Committee. and was in charge
of Mrs. Harriet Taylor Upton. of Ohio.
The speakers before the House COM
mittee were Miss Emma Gillette. OF
Washington: Mrs. Chapman Gait, Of
New York: Mrs. Richard w. Fitzgerald,
of Massachusetts,: Senator Owens. of
Oklahoma: Mrs. Emma Funk, OF Mary
land: Mrs Mary e. Craigie, OF New
York; Mrs. Ida Porter Boyer. of Penn
sylvania, and Miss Kate Gordon, Of
Louisiana
Male RIff-Rnff.
Mrs. Gait showed that the condi-
ton of the women in foreign coun-
tries, and even in Great Britain, where
such agitation of woman suffrage was
now going on. was better than in the
United States. She claimed that the
male rff-rafs OF foreign countries
who emIgrated to these shores, after
a year or two of residence. was given
the ballot and allowed TO vote on
questions vitality affecting women.
Still woman herself is denied the right
to ballot.
Most OF the speakers claimed that
woman should be given the ballot as a
matter of right. They pointed out that
her education was equal and in great
many cases superior to that OF man;
claimed that to her was intrusted the
training of the future voters of the
country, and contended that II she was
competent to raise her sons so that they
might become good citizens. she GER
tainly was competent to be given the
right OF ballot.
1t was claimed by Miss Gordon that
had it not been for machine policies"
Louisiana would have declared In ia
vor of woman suffrage.
Mrs. Craigie advanced the claim that
the action of the States in disfranchts-
ing woman was unconstitutional. The
original Constitution. she said. made
no restriction as between the sexes.
Influence OF Motherhood.
Mrs. Boyer spoke OF the influence
Of motherhood upon the future votes.
She was interrupted by Mr.. Alexander,
of New York. who said that his mother
had died forty-three years ago. and
that the principles she taught her son
had been voted by that son for the
past forty years.
IF every one" replied Mrs Boyer
had had the surroundings, the envir-
onment and the ability of your mothers
son. this room would be filled will,
, Senator'S"
The address of Senator Owens was
Continued on Eight PaEe0