New-York tribune., 1909-05-15
HOW TOGET THE BALLOT
Mr. BlackzceU Tells WOmen to Use
English Methods.

Henry Stone Blackwell. who. with his wife, Lucy
Stone Blackwell. helped 10 organize the Brooklyn
Equal Rights Association forty years ago. told
the members of that organization at their anniver-
sary luncheon at the Hotel Mohawk. in Brooklyn.
yesterday. that Of American sufragfsts would
adopt the English method of questioning every
candidate for Office and opposing those who oppose
woman suffrage they would have the ballot In
twelve months
'Three-fourths of the members of the House OF
Commons are pledged to suffrage" he said.
That is why Mr.. Asquith won't let it come TO a
vote; when 1t comes to vote IT viii pass. We
have forty-six paraments TO carry. but there are
women enough in this country who want woman
suffrage to do it. Your parliament is in Albany.
and when every in this state who wants
the ballot viii question each candidate. Are you
in favor Of sufrage? and will put her
strength against him If he declines pledge him
seIf-why, in twelve months you will have the
Governor, you will have a Legislature that will
give you the vote"
Mr.. Blackwell said 1t was great mistake to sup
pose that women had power. Why" he said
they have so much power that the government IS
afraid to put tariff gloves and stockings.
When women get as much interested in the ballot
they are IN millinery they will gain what they
want in that, too"
Mr.. Blackwell. picturesque figure with his white
hair, told stories OF past struggles for equal
rights for negroes and for women that interested
the audience deeply. But when. coming to the
present again, he declared that women should have
the vote because women are less quarrelsorne
than men," for some reason other ripple OF
laughter arose in the room
Another veteran suffragist at the luncheon was
Mrs. Anna c. Field. IN whose parlors the Brook
lyn Equal Rights Association was organized Mrs.
Field who IS past the fourscore mark. also formed
the Brooklyn Woman's Club, which antedated the
other by a few months Mrs Mary H Lones.
president of the Equal Rights Association, in her
address OF welcome described the horror with
which Mrs. Fields neighbors forty years ago re-
ceived her suggestion that the form little
club. a club a place where went TO
smoke and drink" said Mrs. Loines. The mere
thought Of it shocked them However the club
formed"
Professor Charles Zueblin aroused great uerri-
ment by applying the method Of higher criticism
which. he said, was merely reading between the
Iines-to the description Of a virtuous woman in
Proverbs XXI Tt is curious" he said that
while It is not necessary or possible for women
now TO do the things that women did the world
founds its ideal upon her still The attitude toward
men changes; the altitude toward women remains
the same Professor Zueblin said he had been
able to discover only two arguments against woman
suffrage. The first is that they don't know
enough haven't enough experience in the practical
affairs OF life: the second is that they know too
much. have too many activities. and don't need
the ballot Then the speaker read some argu-
nents for woman suffrage CLEANED from the
writings Of the "antis.' beginning with Mrs Hum
phry Ward. who spent a few minutes IN this
country. and has since written book based on her
experiences here"