New-York tribune., 1909-02-28
Amenities at Albany Hearing 8
Suffracists Agree That Legislators Were
Courteous Them-Eiave a Few Tart Things to
Say About One Another, However

The echoes of the clash Of arms which took place
al Albany last Thursday over the concurrent reso-
fulton OF Senator Hlll and AssemblyInan ToOmbs 20
remove the word male from the constitution
have not yet died away. Among suffragists and
ant-sUffragists il Is stf the topic OF CONVEX
sation. and The comments on both sides would
make interesting reading Il IL possible TO
publish them all The demonstration was by far
the largest Of the kind that A bany has ever seem
and both sides claim a victory
- thoroughly satisfied that our efforts were
in vain said Mrs Gilbert E. Jones. chairman
OF the executive committee Of the National League
Tor the Civic Education of Women. But / deplore
the fact that women have TO enter politics and
viii continue my educational work 10 keep them
ont OF il with more ardo- than ever.
Il never was such strong anti-suffragist as
when I came back from Albany The earinE
Of the most pathetic sights / witnessed
and nothing could have more strikngly illustrated
the unfitness Of women for PUBLIC life. TIE speak
eTs even the experienced ones showed that they
Of their element. Their voices didn't
carry, and they were nervous and restless. This
the both sides. But the 'antis'
ct least calm The suffragists would have made
a better Impression If they had exhibited less
emotion and Of their most experienced speak
ers who IS accustomed 10 going TO Washing
and appearing before all sorts OF bodies, even
lost her temper.
-'On the suffrage side. too, there seemed
a great lack Of strong. vigorous argument. This
largely due TO bad management Argument
representative speakers as possible might be pre-
scented. each limited four minutes, and
present argument of any weight in
-four minutes. This not fair TO the speakers.
and gave 3 staccaJo effect the suffrage
arguments shat wearisome when kept up for
hours
The Senator's" Mrs. Jones concluded, were
most cordial and courteous and thank them from
the bottom Of nay heart for their patience in listen
ing 10 all The talk on both sides
The state association opposed to woman suffrage
is equally sure OF victory
1T would be foolish 70 make any predictions
about the result Of the hearing said the secre-
tary. Mrs. George Phillips. but if the joint COM
snit-ee-the hearing before the joint judiciary
Committee Of the Senate and Assembly-received
the same impression that l did II viii report in
favor OF leaving the gvord male where it is
The most significant thing about the hearing to
lac the number Of women anti-suffragists who
came out for The sufragists expected to out
slIlsiicr and less surprised than dlsap-
pointed -llen they found that they didn't. This
simply confirms what we have always maintained
The ants don't want 20 cut publicly and
they wont come out unless they have 10, but when
they Sc the necessity Of il they viii be there.
1t seems 10 nle a most unfortunate thing that
on the other side there should have been evil
dence OF hysteria- The great work in which Mrs.
Florence kelley. secretary OF the National Con-
s.lers League. engaged cannot be furthered by
lblc abuse OF those associated with her that =
.'ork and th5se who admire and respect Mrs. |
Kelley il but lie matter Of regret that she
should have been moved 10 an expression OF such |
deep feeling"
the ballot 10 improve the condition of children in |
the factories, ana added, Shame those who do
not want itt'
y thought it very inappropriate. 100" continued
Mrs Phillips TO drag II the flags Of countries that
have woman suffrage. Mrs. Frederick Nathan |
did since conditions in those countries totally 1
different from ours.
Nothing could have been more courteous than |
our reception at the capital II was really very |
nice Of the Senator's and Assemby1nen 10 give up |
their seats 10 US. sit document cases and get |
cric1s Ia their necks II more than We had any /
right 10 expect. but another time they ought TO |
save themselves and from such q long hearing
L Is too much OF strain to listen TO speeches /
for four hours. and in this case much of what was /
said Federation.
Our opponents were also very courteous and 1 |
hope they feel as friendly as do to them"
THOUGHT SENATOR DAVIS PARTIAL.
The huge crowd and the expectation in the air /
were the first things that struck when entered
the Chamber said Mrs. Frederick Nathan vice
president Of the Equal Franchise League OF New !
York CITY Many people stood. packing the aisles
during the four hours OF the hearing There were
many more men than at last years hearing. show |
irg. thought the greater interest the Senators and
Assembynen are taking in the question"
Mrs. Nathan thought Senator Davis's manner OF 1
presiding showed conspicuous lack Of the qualities
judicial mind should possess. IF a woman gave
similar evidence OF the of maartiaty as pre-
siding officer, she said, people would say Doesn't
that prove that woman can't be fair?' The first
snti-sufrasist who read her paper in such low
tone that We, side. couldn't hear. Some OF
cried Louder for wanted to hear. Senator !
Davis raised his gavel and said that he did not /
wish the speaker be disturbed: that the com /
Inittee could hear. and that we, the suffragists
were net there TO be convinced. Yet when Mrs |
Lille Devereux Blake spoke the 'antis' interrupted
constantly with cries Of LOuderI' and Senator
Davis allowed them 10 do unrebuked. When
some Of the legislators whispered among them |
selves curing the reading Of a paper by an antr !
the chairman brought his gavel down and said he |
wanted the people 10 be quiet There was a good |
deal of talking while DR. Anna Shaw was summing
up for oCr side-so much that she ended her |
speech by saying that she was sorry she hadn't !
eeea interesting enough TO prevent the anti-suf-
fragists from continuing their conversation-hut |
Senator Davis made effort secure silence for |
- Shaw |
Mrs. nathan said the members CT the committee
lstsg}ed. however. very attentivey TO the argu-
Fsats Of the sufTragists. and when she disulayed
Ter little box Of the flags Of the countries where
wSlen have the ballot they were immensely inter-
ezted- y noticed. too she said that there were
none OF those jokes made in the lobbies and cor
r5dors abOvt the way suffragists dress-rhe /
3ekes OF which used TO hear so many Peonle |
KNOW new that woman be q suffraeist with |
out being freak You couldn't have told from
afe dress OF the women. which We're sufrag1sts
a-d which were ants They were equally well |