New-York tribune., 1909-02-25
.SUFFR4GTSTS and ".fNTIS'
ATTEND HERRING.
HIlS-To0mbS Resolution, Proposing
amendment to Constitution, Dis
cussed- d-Botk Sides Claim Taft
IRx Telegraph to The Tribune. !

current resolution Of senator Hill ana Assem-
blyrnan Toombs to the word male
from the constitution. Delegations of the suf-
ragists and the "antis' arrived in Albany at
noon, each occupying a special attached TO
the fast mail AS a matter of precauton the
railroad officials separated the two cars 10y
regular passenger coach. There were nearly
two hundred in the two parties. and when they
arrived at the Capitol they found hundreds of
other women had come from Albany and neigh
boring cities
United States Senator-e!ect Elihu Root. whose
wife is one OF the vice presidents Of the New
York state Association Opposed to Woman Suf-
frage dropped in az the hearing and stood for a
time listening TO the arguments of the anti
suffragists
The Assembly chamber where the hearing
was held before the joint Senate and Assembly
Judiciary committees. was packed full of femi-
rinity. all in its best attire, fuller even than
when the school teachers were conducting their
campaign. On the floor women occupied nearly
every seat back Of the seats in which sat the
members of the committees. Women crowded
the standing room in the rear of the chamber
and they thronged the galleries. The millinery
was elaborate, and dressnlakers could have re
oeived almost good an idea of the latest
styles as by attending a fashionable wedding.
And the applause-a mere man would hesitate
10 indicate which side had the stronger arms.
Senator Davis chairman of the Senate Judici-
ary Committee in arranging for the hearing
was careful TO have the ''antis' on one side OF
the chamber and the sufragists on the other
and Bernard ]. Haggerty, sergeant-at-a1rns' as
the women entered had hard time in finding
their proper seats.
The first two hours Of the hearing were given
up 10 the anti-suffragists- Mrs. Arthur Dodge,
chairman Of the society opposed to woman sur
frage introduced the speakers In the arsu-
follo bOrb claimed Justice
Brewer. of the United States Supreme Court,
and President-elect Taft as their champions
With versatility both sides interpreted recent
decision Of Justice Brewer to fit their own views,
and because az -Taft's position on the sub
jeet an incident occurred that not on the
programme Assernblyman Toombs, in opening
the argument for the suffragists. told the COM
rnittees that If they would report the resolution
they would give a moral uplift to the Empire
State.
DISPUTE OVER MR.. TAFT.
IF a man with the judicial mind Of William
Howard Taft" he said. will come out for
woman suffrage, there ought 10 be some argu-
rnent in it for this committee
Does the gentleman know when MT Iaft
said thar interrupted a vivacious woman on
the side Of the antis- He did no express views
of that nature when I was talking with him,
snyway."
To prevent anything that looked like hot argu-
Inent Senator Davis raped for order. saying;
Mr. Taft's position can have no bearing on the
committee. We all love him
Another difference of opinion occurred on the
value of womar's suffrage to the four states of
the Union which have adopted it-Colorado,
w,-oming Utah and Idaho. The ''antis de-
clare7 that these states had gained nothing,
morally industraly in any other way
through giving women the right to vote, and
put the retention of woman's suffrage III tifese
states 11p 70 the influence Of Mormons-
Miss Mar Dean Adams. investigator Of the
New York state Commission Of immigration
told Of the evils that would result if the mass
OF foreign born women who she said are 6ckle
superstitious and irresponsible, were allowed 10
vote
These women she said, would be quick to
take advantage of the commercial value of a
vote It has been said that most of them would
sell their vote for a pound Of macaronl-
That's better Than selling it for quart OF
p-hisEe-" audibIy Whispered the Rev Anna
Howard Shaw one Of the leaders Of the suf-
fragists Mrs. Shaw also audbly took excep~
ton 10 the remark CT Miss Adams that small
woman-s club recently required twelve hours TO
elect officers.
When Mrs Julian Heath, secretary of the
National League for the Civic Education OF
Women. arose to speak she gracefully preceded
her remarks by bowiag TO both sides of the
House. saving: Gentlemen my opponents. my
friends"
WHY we're your friends. also" interrupted
Mrs. Shaw.
After recognizing the friendship of her op-
ponents Mrs Heath read paper the gist OF
which was TO show that women had done moth
ing where the chance had been given them. and
that therefore nothing could be expected OF
them were the chance given them in this state
JUDGE LINDSAY'S WORDS QUOTED
In sunport of her assertion that in Colorado
one Of she four states in which women vote on
"a equalftv with men, equal suffrage had ac-
conpgished little Mrs. Heath quoted the fol
lowing statement from Judge Lindsay, OF that
state who as the head Of its Juvenile court
was elected to that Office the women's can
didage:
eau't say that the womens vote has helped
things much in Colorado. Both the pohtlcsl
parties Of the state have been and Sun are uhder
the absolute domination OF the pupIlc 9.
.cornorarfons Now this Is point that l want
You 10 MAX. cieA- 1 have found that women
in oolltics are no better and no worse than men,
Don't forget that when question nafToWs
itself down 10 the bread lire, TO sensh INTERESTS
both sexes follow the same line OF actlon-lheE
look ont for No I II a woman wants 10 get
political job sheH STAND Il iof nileuss - ,i,ir
when I was running for office practically as
tie zxofnens candidate. there WAS certain
leader in the woman suiIIase ii1s -, ,; = ~. ~
gaze her support my opponent, the machihes 5
candidate fo- the simple reason that she was
afraid ef losing political gob that she helo
Under the circumstances dlah I eApect hsr 70 10
DO anything else. any more uiah "ouiu nave
expected il of man
ITO sum up" said the speaker. 1T is the be-
lief Of those who oppose this measure that the
Continued on second