Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-16
SAYS WOMEN ARE
CHAT7ELS OF MEN
Speaker Tells Plain Truths to
Suffragettes at Votes
for Women Club

The progress of women, the personal
responsibility they are commencing to
feel in public life, and the important
position to which they are attaining,
was well demonstrated last night at
the regular meeting of the Votes for
Women club. Not only did the club
women listen to an enthusiastic ad-
dress upon Woman of the Past, Pres
ent and Future" but they took ac-
tive part in a discussion concerning
the Californian recognition of Mexi-
co.'s Independence day celebration" :"
and also displayed pronounced inter-
est in the public veal to the extent
Of commencing the attitude of the
Los Angeles daily papers in bringing
the attraction of the state to the at
tention of eastern readers, thus stimu-
lating passenger traffic toward Call
fornia.
The discussion concerning the pub
lie recognition of Mexico's centenary
through the teachers of the public
schools stirred some members of the
club to Indignation, and one of the
speakers inveighed violently against
the motherhood which could consent
to having childish ears hear any word
which sounded praise of President
Diax. No formal motion of opposi-
ton was registered by the club, how
ever, although there were marked evil
dences of that splendid diplomacy
which happily has pulled this club
through many other threatening crises.
DIR. WILLIAMS TALKS
DR.. Williams, candidate for congress
on the Socialist ticket, presented not
only his individual views upon the
rights and privileges of women, but the
views to which his party stands COM
mitted and which are actively advo-
Gated by it's members.
Beginning with the very earliest
times the speaker discoursed of poly
andry, polygamy and monogamy. "And
do you believe that it was the further
civilization of man which caused this
present system?" he asked. "Do you
believe that it was through any re-
Iigious conviction or awakening 1t
was not? 1t was caused purely by
economic conditions. When men be-
gan to realize their property rights,
they began to desire also that what
was theirs should go to their heirs"
This was the speakers explanation
of the present marriage laws and he
denied Indignantly that either church
or state now allowed woman any
rights or privileges.
"The marriage laws of the world
make you a chattel; the church has
been content to leave you in that po-
sition," he said "Do not make votes
the end of your ambition, make them
merely the beginning. Demand econo-
mic freedom. Love alone should be
the inspiration for union. Love alone
should be the incentive for choosing
a husband. Only the complete econo-
mic freedom of women can lift her to
this level"
LONDON POSTERS SHOWN
This subject was further discussed
by the speaker who said: "Why
should you be subsermient. to a man
lust because he is the father of your
child? You should be so enshrouded
with freedom that you could bequeath
to your progeny the heritage of a free
woman"
DR.. williams announced his deter
mination, If elected, to introduce a bill
which should endow women with econ
omic freedom, and later explained this
to mean not only political freedom,
but immunity from the competitive
system which now threatens her eff
forts, and reduces the financial and
social returns to which her womanhood
entities her.
Mrs. Alice Park of Palo Alto, chair
man of the state literature commit
tee. was present and exhibited a num-
Der of the effective posters which Lon
don suffragettes use in their work.
She also cautioned all speakers re-
garding the phrase '"rhe People VIII
Vote"
'"The people do not vote" she said.
''They are not allowed that privilege.