Los Angeles herald., 1909-01-29
FOR
WOMEN DENIED
BY LAWMAKERS
ASSEMBLY DEFEATS BILL TO
FRANCHISE FAIR SEX
LEADERS OF MOVEMENT DO NOT
FEEL DISCOURAGED
state Chairman for Suffragettes De-
clares League Has Won Victory
and More Than Ever Will
Fight 49,
Especial to The Herald

Especial to The HERALD
q ACRAMENTO, Jan. 2S.-"We do
N not admit defeat-in fact. we feel
~ that we won great victory to-
day, said Mrs. Lillian Harris Coffin
state chairman of the Woman's Suf-
frage league, tonight.
I'VE mustered thirty-nine votes for
the Woman's suffrage constitutional
amendment with two absent, who
would have been for US, to thirty-seyen
against us, thus giving US q majority
in the assembly. We are more de-
termined than ever to push our fight
and believe that as a result of today's
battle we have gained thousands of
converts
The amendment that Grove L. john
son proposed to submit to the voters
at the next election, enfranchising the
women, was defeated in the assembly
only after the most stubborn strug-
gle of the session.
Roll was called short time before 4
o. clock this afternoon. From II O'Clock
until that hour, with the exception of
snort recess, the champions of the
fair sex used every argument in their
power TO swing the necessary two
thlrds vote to carry the measure. and
their opponents answered with equally
vigorous arguments.
ihNNlSC AIl TSESOndIILl6S
Many personalities were indulged in
by both sides, and the women. who
crowded the galleries, hung over the
ratings in breathless interest as the
DEBATE developed into whirlVind of
contention, aSSemblymen asking and
giving answers to questions out of
order, arising to questions Of per
sonal privilege, to deny allegations or
TO apologize for words hastily spoken.
7 Tn17T
measure, in his opening address de-
clared he was opposed to womans suf-
rage, but he did think the many wo-
men who were advocating it were en-
titled to have it submitted to a vote of
the people. He did not believe the
legislature should deny the people the
right to pass upon the question, and
he defed the Democrats to go back
upon the plank in their state platform
that committed them to the submis-
sion of such an amendment. He said
in part:
1--WE are not discussing this from q
sentimental point of view 1t is mere
ly an effort to apply the principle that
the people should rule. There are 5OO.-
600 women in the state. Why should
we attempt to decide whether or not
they should have the ballot? Should
we make the laws for them against
their will? Should we compel one-half
of the people to submit to the rule Of
the other half?''
Against Measure
George NJ Perine of San Francisco
was the first to voice the sentiments
of the opposition. His speech was
brief.
Il am against this measure because
1 do not believe that our wives, our
mothers and our sisters wish, nor
should they have, the privilege of rub
bing elbows at the polls with depraved
women and dope fiends. 1t is the duty
of all men to protect their women from
such influences. Manly men will not
make it possible for their daughters to
stand shoulder to shoulder at the bal
Let box with fallen women"
Preston of Ukiah, q Democrat, op-
posed the amendment in an eloquent
address, during which he heard from 2
letter he had received he said, from
an aged woman from Oakland, declar-
ing that the place of the woman was
at home.
''+1ill the bill and send them home
was the way the letter concluded.
Roll call resulted as follows:
Ayes-Barndollar Bohnett, Butler,
Callan, Cattell, Coghlan, Cogswell, Col
lum, Coster, Cronin, Drew, Gibbon,
Gillis, Hayes, Hewitt, Hinkle, Holm
quist, Hawkins, Johnson Of Sacramen-
to; Johnson of San Diego; Johnson of
Placer; Juillard, Kehoe, Maher, Mel
rose, MendenhalL Otis, O'Neil, Polsley,
Pulcifer, SackettS Silver, Stuckenbruck.
Teller, Weber, Wheelan, Wilson,
Wyllie, Young-39.
Nays-Baxter, Beardslee, Beatty, Be
ban, Collier, Cullen, Dean, Feeley,
Flaville, Fleisher, Flint, Gerdes,
Greer, Griffiths, Harmon, Hanlon,
Hans, Hawk, Johnson, of Contra Co.'S
ia; Leeds, Lightner, McCauley, Me-
Clellan, McManus, Moore, Moot, Mel
son, Odom, Preston, Pugh, Rech, Ruth
erford, Schmitt, Transue, Wagner,
Whitney, Speaker Stanton-37.
Absent-Black, Irwin, Perine, Wyatt
Wyatt has not been present this ses-
sion.
Mrs. Coffin called meeting of the
women tonight to discuss plans for the
future. Most Of them will leave for
their homes tomorrow.
Women Pack Galleries
When Grove L. Johnson of Sacra-
mento arose in the assembly this morn
ing to speak for his woman suffrage
constitutional amendment the galleries
were packed with women. Mrs. Lillian
Harris Coffin, chairman Of the state
central committee of the Equal Suf-
frage league, and a large number Of
members of the league were eager
auditors. Mr.. Johnson in opening said
it was not proper, in considering a con-
stitutional amendment, to discuss the
merits of the woman suffrage question.
He would vote for any such measure,
he said, because he could trust any
question with the people.
George NJ. Perine of San Francisco
made a brief address against the
amendment. He said:
1--WE are all interested in preserving
the sweetness and purity of our moth
ers, wives and sisters, and am against
this movement because in going to the
polls those whom we must cherish in
our home would be compelled to rub
elbows with dope fiends and persons of
low character"
Johnston Of Contra Costa spoke vigor-
ously in opposition to the measure,
pointing to the alleged failure Of
woman suffrage in Colorado as evil
dence that it would not be good for
California.
Drew of Fresno eSpoused the cause of
the women, declaring the adoption of
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