New-York tribune., 1909-07-27
BEGINS CAMPAIGN
Lr. De5cey Speaks for Mrs. Mack
ay's Society at Columbia.

The first gun Of the campaign to be waged
from now on by the Equal Franchise Society
was fired at Columbia University yesterday after
noon. A Columbia professor. John Dewey. OF the
department of psychology, talked on suffrage. and
Mrs Clarence Mackay. president of the Equal
Franchise Society, introduced him. The lecture
the first of series be given Monday
afternoons at Hamilton Hall under the auspices
Of the society. and to judge by the number OF
summer school students who attended with their
notebooks and pencils the series Is going to be
popular.
Mrs Mackay said the society would rather take
it's initial step inside those walls than in any
other place We want 10 reach all elements.
she said. but particularly those who will con-
slider the suffrage question seriously and earnestly
These Monday lectures are be educational in
character. and they will deal largely with the
suffrage in relation working women
DR.. Dewey paid a gentle tribute to the anti
suffragists and their theory that its only neces
sary to mention anything that's wrong TO some
gallant and chivalrous and he will set il
right. The arguments OF the feminine 'antis'
aren't used by the who want to keep women
from voting the speaker added. The
very glad to have these with them, but
they don't their arguments because. knowing
something of politics and present conditions they
know they absurd"
Stanley Hall and his theory that bows are being
femnized by teachers occupied part Of
Dr. Dewey's talk OF course" he said, "ths dis
tinguished president Of Clark University and an
authority on chile culture IS entitled TO speak OF
the young men with whom he comes IN contact,
but for my part I haven't any nnollycoddles
from the public schools The BOYS who come here
might have little OF the feminine quality
without injuring them az all I confess there are
some things in Or. Halls contentious that can
not understand cannot why " contact with
study and the higher education makes a woman
masculine her influence when she becomes
teacher should be make the boys ererlinate
weaklings"
Nevertheless Dr. Dewey sail there was some
reason for the dissatisfaction that exists with
schools Of to-day Our women teachers" he said
ARE shut from that participation in public
affairs which would At them 20 give the best sort
OF practical instruction I don't see how
expect teachers in their schools. mothers in
their homes. to be wide awake to present needs
and present conditions they would be If they
were citizens We all need the vote-and the
women who trying to keep other women from
having IL need IL Of II.
Conditions change rapidly and ideas don't keep
pace with them The arguments against woman
suffrage inherited from the DAYS when the
province Of government was very different. There
may historic reasons why women shouldn't vote.
because they can't fght-though. by the way.
women take important part in nurses.
etc But the days when governments existed for
defence are gone. Government problems now
human. domestic Take New York What dues-
tons most discussed in relation TO the coming
elections7 Transportation. taxation. the police.
I tenement house laws pure food and air. II women
I were denied the right 70 real estate and the
privilege of paving taxes IL might be reasonable
10 say they mustn't vote about it. but they aren't
refused those privileges. nor are they forbidden 70
ride In the subway. even stand up IN the cars
/ and hang a strap. and vet they barred from
voting the transportation question.
With the problems Of national poIittcs-the tariff
the relation Of capital and labor and on-women
have as much 20 do as men. / think DR.. Dewey
added that II the government were being formed
now. and any suggested the basis
voting qualification, he would be greeted with
much laughter the first advocates Of 'Tomen's
rights endured a generation ago"