New-York tribune., 1909-01-16
MRS. MACKAY TALKS
MOTHERS VOTE NEEDED.
Society Turns Ont to Hear Her
Maiden .Speech-MrS. Morton
Joins Franchise League.

The luncheon given bv the Interurban Political
Equality Council the Hotel Astor yesterday IN
henor of Mrs. Clarence Mackay. Miss Ethel Arnold
and the Rev. Anna Howard Shaw broke all rec
ords the social side Of the suffrage movement
IN point OF mere numbers the function eclipsed
all previous given under suffrage auspices IN
New York Nearly FIVE hundred guests sat down 10
luncheon, and a hundred were turned away. A
score or more Of men also unique feature,
out most noteworthy OF all was the contingent
Of wealth an6 fashion-and the maiden speech OF
Mrs. Mackay- Gowned in golden chiffon velvet,
with q brown picture hat and magnificent pen
dsnt OF diamonds she sat the right hand Of Mrs
Carrie Chapman Gait president Of the council. and
the first speaker introduced After the luncheon
which included among other dainties a glace en-
haIIot box'-had been disposed Of Mrs. Mackay said
IN part:
7 am convinced that the country needs the wom-
ans vote. and I want 70 do what can to interest
the women Of our own state in a question SO i'm
portsnt TO the future quality IF our municipal AMI
state government. Government among men is really
IN its infancy. People make mistake in thinking
this world old cold We just beginning
Hitherto the function of government has been po-
fcs function. Man has been fighting and govern
ing animal. keeping away with club and spear other
fighting animals from his home. Little by little
raen have changed from government by brute force
- government by Wrought and morality. Little by
little the has allowed the good moral element
in him to take its place in government, but he has
always pers.sently kept the good moral element in
the race-namely, wonan-from having any place
N government Al all Inc process Dy WHICH man
has gradually allowed morality. decency and altru-
ism 10 share in the government has been slow and
reluctant.
'wonnen's influence has been felt in all the vari-
channels OF lives but she has been an in
huence without responsibility. and nation is the
better for what must be immoral factor in its
structure Influence without responsibility is i'm
moral By bringing the mothers vote into our po-
htieal life will enlist a progressive force full
OF promise for the future Of the state II is i'm
possible for the half 20 express the whole
The vote would open many posts in municipal
~ocFk which now closed only granted
favor 20 non-voters. Women can serve, and serve
we'll, school boards and tenement house com
nissioners and as factory inspectors. There is g
great deal OF municipal housekeeping 20 be done
which women can do far better than men. II seems
unreasonable assume that women woald stand
UP and demand the Offices for which they are
physically untitled. We know limitations each
of US, and only want To those tools which
are able 10 handle. Our country needs our
work. We reach out 70 the limits Of pos
sibilities and through labor. with leisure.
help enc state 10 be great beyond all others because
Il is using al its individuals. women with men.
alike
Miss Arnold declared that the luncheon marked
. z n epoch in the history Of the women of America
ana said that the suffrage movement here.
which she had been led to believe dead, was
the ''Iiveliest corpse" she had ever seen.
Even the anti-sufrragists,' said Miss Arnold.
so far I have been able to Judge by talking
The only difference Of opinion between the two
parties" she said. lis the expediency OF having
l. now or later believe II The parties could
Get together they would find common ground
Of meeting I that IL the suffragists are
open conviction the question Of Fastening
SLOWLY ! am myself that there is not
much &c be said for that point Of view, and am
sure that if the anti-sufragists could be made
10 see that the ballot would improve the lot Of
their telling sisters they would not wish TO delay
g moment in giving IL 10 them.
Mrs Shaw had also discovered that there is
NJ difference between a suffragist and anti
Nevertheless she proceeded 20 heap ridicule upon
satf" arguments.
Among those Mrs. Cats table. in addition 10
the guests Of honor, Clarence Mackay
Mrs r. Whitridge, Mrs Ella cTosstt, president
OF the New York State Woman Suffrage Associ-
alton, Miss Ethel Taylor. great-granddaughter of
Mrs John Stuart Mill, Mrs. Lille Devereux Blake
and Mrs. Charlotte Wiibour.
Mrs Paul Morton, who was 10 have entertained
2 party OF guests. was prevented by Illness from
being present, but when the suffra gists learned
tRat she had Joined Mrs. Mackay's Equal Fran
chise League they were consoled. Her table
taken by Mrs. Archer Huntington, who had as
Duer.
colonel George Harvey entertained Mrs. Fox
hall Keene, Mrs Robert Goelet, Mrs. ". X. Van
eIbilt. 5r.. and Mrs. Philip Lydig