Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-13
MAYOR ENDORSES
EQUAL SUFFRAGE
UNE0UIy0CALLY IN FAVOR OF
POLITICAL EQUALITY
SENATOR LA TOILETTE ARRIVES
TOO LATE TO SPEAK
Mr.. Alexander Says Women Are of
lnquirng Mind and Competent
to Exercise Privilege of
the Ballot

II am unequivocally in favor of po-
litical equality irrespective of the
sexes" said Mayor George Alexander
in a short address to the members of
the Political Equality league, in the
parlors of the Hayward hotel, yesterday
afternoon. The mayor had taken a
few minutes off from his duties at
the city hall in order to comply with
the urgent request of the league, ana
make a short address. Immediately
after he had delivered his address,
which was impromptu, the mayor
asked to be excused in order that he
could get back to his office.
There is a great deal of agitation
in all parts of the United states and
England just at present" said the
mayor relative to equal suffrage. l
believe that the agitation for suffrage
will in time bring the same results
that the agitation for suffrage viii in
time bring the same results that the
agitation for good government has
brought. 1t seems right to a thinking
man that the women should have the
right to vote. In Colorado, Wyoming,
Utah and Idaho the ballot has been
given women, and If l am not mis-
taken, politics have been purified
greatly in those states since the
women were given the right to vote.
MANY men will tell you that women
me that is a rather selfish view TO take
of the situation. Women pay taxes,
are subject to the law and fill many
of the positions to better advantage
than men. Why should women not
have the right to select the men who
make the laws and fix the tax rates?
The home may be the sphere or
woman's life, but it should not pre-
vent her from taking an interest in
the events Of the day. and certainly
electing officers to govern cities,
states and the nation, are large events
of the day. I only wish 1 had the
power to give women the right of
franchise. l would do it in short or
der.
Public officials are sometimes criti
cised for not enforcing laws. Some
times it is impossible to enforce every
law. There is a great deal of bluff
legislation-that is legislation which is
made with no idea of Its being en-
forced. The time will come when that
will be minimized, but believe it will
be hastened when women are voters.
enforce it in letter and spirit. That
"Women are of an inquiring mind.
They want to know the reason for
everything. They have prevented much
vicious legislation-in fact they have
accomplished more in this direction
than men. How much greater would
be their results If they were given the
ballot is merely a matter of con-
lecture.
"I believe we now have in Los An
geles officers fit and capable to adj
minister the affairs of the city. This
is so in all branches Of the city gov
ernment, to a greater or less extent
Personally, 1 point to my record in
office It was this which caused the
people to select me as a candidate to
succeed myself. and it is this record
which I believe will gain me a re-
election. I am not a politician. I try
to me mayor to the best of my ability.
If the people want me they will elect
me. If not, I shall be satisfied with
the results"
After the mayor had concluded he
was given a rising vote of thanks. and
another rising vote of Endorsement,
both of his conduct as mayor and for
his reelection to the office.
Edmund Norton spoke later on "Sin-
gle Tax" Senator LaFolette was un-
able to speak to the league, as his
train was too late in arriving TO per-
NIT of his making an address to the
Friday Morning club and to the
league
A committee was named TO draft
resolutions and to prepare plans for
change in the factory inspection and
child labor laws. The Political Equality
league desires to have at least one
woman named as a factory inspector
and desires to have all children hold
ing working permits compelled to at
tend school while the working permits
are not actually in use.