New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-12-04
QUIZ SHAfROTH
Colorado's Governor asked
about WOmen VOters.

The Equal Franchise Society had what
its president. Mrs. Clarence Mackay. called
It's first birthday yesterday afternoon That
is. IL held it's first public meeting. and the
occasion Of its entrance into the world was
celebrated by an audience which hlled
nearly every seat in the Garden Theatre.
The speaker of the occasion was Governor
John F. Shafroth OF Colorado. but before
introducing him Mrs. Mackay said there
were some things she really must say
herself.
III is a great pleasure and honor" she
said. Ito welcome you TO our first public
meeting. the birthday Of our society.
Whether you are members or not. hope
that the purpose for which II stands is
real and living issue IN your lives l hope
that those Of you who are not members
will come again and that you will put your
whole strength into this movement. our
society will be what you make II. and
hope you win make IL an Outgrowing and
not an ingrowing one. Our opponents
maintain that our movement stands for
nti-womanhood. but that is not true. We
want to protect and preserve our tresides
by enforcing a uniform divorce law. We
, want TO shield and protect our children
These are our reasons for wanting the suf-
frage. Surely there is nothing unwomanly
about that"
Governor ShafrOth maintained that equal
suffrage had been an unqualified success in
Colorado. He said that the character Of
political conventions and OF polling places
had been totally changed by the partcipa-
ton OF women In politics. and that eau
cuses were sometimes mistaken by strangers
for social functions. Women had not abol-
ished corruption, he admitted. but he was
sure that their fOndness for scratching had
had an eIevating effect on the situation
He hasn't noticed any decline Of courtesy
in Colorado. nor can he see why politics
should be considered outside wOman's
sphere.
1t Is man who made woman's sphere"
he said, and usually he has made II the
minding OF the kitchen. Nevertheless. this
sphere is said 10 be natural II is said that
God has marked II out 50 plainly and clear
ly that no one should venture TO question IT,
But have heard Of this Interpretation Of
God in a good many things that afterward
turned out 10 be wrong I have heard
slavery called divine Institution. but now
the slaves are free, Just as women are free
in four OF our states and in many other
places DO you think God had nothing TO
do with that?'
After the lecture the audience was al
lowed TO ask questions. and took full ad-
vantage Of the privilege.
DO women vote as their husbands dO%'
some one wanted TO know.
on. no. was the laconic respOnse-
How about equal pay?" asked W. J.
Schiefelin.
We are tending that way" answered the
speaker. In the schools and the civil
Service women now get the same pay as
men when the service is Identical"
In response TO q question about the vote
of immoral women, the Governor admitted
that they do vote, though most unwilling
u. but he said they numbered only one
half Of per cent OF the female population,
and therefore could not be & menace.
Mrs. Mackay announced that the next
lecture would be given By Everett Colby
on December 16. Mrs. Everett Colby occu-
pied one Of the boxes. and other box hold
were Mrs. Egert0n Winthrop. Miss
Dorothy Whitney. Mrs. John Winters Bran
nan. Mrs. J. d. Prince and Mrs. Mackay.
who entertained in her box Mrs. Shafroth.
Mrs. Philip Lydig. Mrs. Robert Goelet and
Judge Peter T. Barlow