The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-03-09
BY United Press Wire.


Albany, N. Y, March 9.-Women
battled with women on the subject of
equal sufrrage at the hearing this
afternoon by the senate and essemb-
ly committee on the proposed consti-
tutional amendment which climates
the word "male' from the state
constitution where 1t applies to the
right of suffrage. Leading figures in
the state. national and international
suffragist mavement argued in fav.
or of the amendment while other
women of almost equl prominence,
fatty contradicted the arguments of
their sisters and insisted that they
did not want and should not be al
lowed to vote If they did desire It,
Unless the women of New York
are enfrancised soon, this state will
be left behind in the progress of
democracy" said Mrs Carrie Chap
man Gait, president of the Interna-
tional Woman Suffrage alliance and
chairman OF the woman suffrage
party of New York.
Already full woman suffrage pre-
walls over one-fifteenth of the earth's
area and the last ten years have
brought more substantial gains than
the five previous decades. Shall the
United States of America with its
sacred heritage of honorable tradi-
tions go to continental Europe for
lessons in free government? Why
should not New York lead Instead OF
bringing up the rear of the process
sion?
do you say that women do not
want It? How do you know? 1t Is not
fair, II Is not just that because all
women do not want to vote 1t should
be denied to those who do. To re-
quire that a majority of women make
an unmistakable demand for the bal
lot before It is granted would be tt
require of them what has neve
been expected of any class of meL
which has been elevated to citizenship
in this country"
The Rev. DR.. Anna Howard Shaw,
president of the National American
Woman Suffrage association, argued
that the attitude of legislators against
woman suffrage was merely n refusal
without reason. Demanding thai
reasons for such refusal should be
given, Sne SAID:
ut is the duty of a government
calling itself a republic when deny
ing any right or privilege to a class
of citizens to state its reasons. Thi
has been done in this government In
the case of every class of citizens saw
that of woman.
",The question to be decided nov
is how best to conserve the time, en-
ergy and ability of women, and how
best she may be enabled to protec
herself and her interests. To q be
lever In democracy there can be bu
one answer to these questions, ant
that is-by perfect equality of oppor
tunities, privileges and responsibilities
with me. The first symbol and sea
of equality is enfranchisement. W.
agree with President Taft, that ther'
Is no class of men, no matter how al
truistic. who can care for the inter
ests of another class as we'll 40 tina
class can care for ITSELF"
Mrs. Ella Hawley Crossett, presi
dent of the New York State Womal
Suffrage movement had been adopted
by a total of over 100000 persons II
New York state.
Mrs. Henry Willard, chairman o
the legislative committee of the Stat
Woman Suffrage association, Mrs. o
II. p. Belmont, Mr.. George Foste.
Peabody. president of the Mem
League and Woman Suffrage, ant
others followed with short speeches
In favor of suffrage.
Women representing the New Yoi.
State Association opposed to woman
suffrage were equally serious In thei
arguments before the commi tee. DE
sire 10 maintain the present positio
of women in the home. which the.
declared would be sacrificed by th'
ballot, marked their arguments.
More legislation is not what W.
need. but cultivated public opinion
which. shall insist upon the enforce
ment of the laws already made b.
you men," said Mrs Francis II
Scott, president OF the .Anti-Suffrag-