The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-06-10
RIDICULE VS.. RIGHT
New Haven Union.)

taunts and jeers will decide upon the
merits Of a cause regardless of the
ridicule of the jester who opposes 1t.
There is no doubt that the facet1ous
CD remarks belittling women made IN
the Connecticut House of representa-
tives yesterday had their influence on
many minds, especially those not yet
fully matured, or who lacked breadth
of view-mores the pity-sOme OF
these never will be broadminded or
liberal, which may not be their fault.
Yesterday in speaking on the bill for
equal suffrage, Representative Hutch
inson, of Essex, offered the following
amendment:
Nothing in this act shall excuse all
female voters in this State from as
Stunning all the duties Of male citizens
between the ages of Is to As, inclusive,
in case of war, invasion, or in the sup
preston of riots in this state, and
shall be subject to draft the same as
all male citizens of the state" There
was much applause and laughter fol-
lowing the reading of the amendment.
Representative Peck, of Hamden, ex-
pressed the hope that the amendment
would be incorporated in the bill. He
expressed the opinion that the gallan-
try of the men would prevent their
being pressed into service.
The amendment and it's accompany
ing consideration CD ELECTED applause
that would be merited if it followed
good joke in a vaudeville sketch.
Who were those who Oapplauded?
How many battle scars did those carry
who applauded this pleasantly? The
nearest the majority of these men had
ever been to war was drilling in some
local armory in some popular COM
pany.
The majority of our statesmen lose
sight of one fact, that the majority of
mothers, wives, sisters and sweet
hearts do not believe in war even for
men, and are working and praying for
the day when there shall be no more
wars nor rumorS of war" But if wo
men are taxed to support the military
and pay pensions to the veterans, and
be taxed to SUPPORT the widows of SOL
diers, in the name of justice all women
especially the widows of soldiers,
should be allowed to vote, because they
represent the defenders of their coun-
try. If physically they are unable to
bear arms, the mothers, and wives, and
sisters, and daughters of loyal men
should never be made the butt Of rid
icule in any legislative hall, nor in any
other place.
So it was gloriously encouraging
yesterday to find stalwart men come
out in defence of women's right to
vote.
Because many men do not nor will
not vote, it would not be right to de-
prive all other men of the franchise.
But because some women do not wish
to- vote, our legislators would deprive
ALI other women of that right. Is it
just?
Although the New Haven Woman's
Political Equality club lacked a de-
fender in their local representative,
who voted against the measure, there
were some magnificent advocates and
defenders of this cause. Among
those were Representative Sherman,
of West Hartford, who showed the po-
litical rights accorded women in Eng
land, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, New
Zealand, Wales and the Isle of Man.
For lack of argument his opponents
banged their desks and otherwise inter-
rupted his brilliant remarks. His tr1-
butte to Jane Adams, on whom Yale
had conferred a degree, and whom he
said, had done more good than ten
thousand men, was a beautiful and
well-merited tribute to a good woman.
Mr.. Sherman dwelt on the mighty
influences for the good Of the army
of teachers in Connecticut, and
throughout the states. He asked who
represented the seven million work
ing women in this country. He said
this subject of "women's right to vote
was like BanquOS ghoSl, IL Would Hot
down.
Representative Range, of Guilford,
was another brilliant and courageous
advocate of equal rights for all, re-
gardIess of sex. He said he knew
numberleSs men who were too angellc
to vote, and who go through life sing
ing This World is a Wilderness OF
Vice., but in spite of Representative
Chambers dread of the Socialistic in
tIn will
again and again in spite of the "Shoo!
Shoo," from the legislatures, and
eventually women will bring the ship
of state into a harbor of safety and
peace.
Senator Chandler Of Rocky Hill,
said only one woman in his place
wanted the ballot. One sensible VIC
man to redeem the reputation of
town is small and is entitled to the
badge of courage, Perhaps the other
ninety and nine went astray NO
correction. on this paraphrasing OF
Scripture is necessary. Mr.. Chandler
argument against woman suffrage was
that the good women would be
Obliged to vote whether they wanted
to or not" Mr.. Chandler should be re-
minded that all the good women are
not ants, the good as we'll as the
thinking women are for equal SUI
frage
Another objection of Representa-
tive Chandler was 1.-The tendency of
women to Socialism, Through per-
sonal experience or consideration has
it ever occurred to this young man
that the course of the Republican and
Democratic parties are driving women
into Socialism, as the only party whose
platform 10 political equality? Did 1t
ever occur to Mr.. Chandler that hu-
man nature is such that If one cannot
get that to which he is entitled In one
place, he will. seek it in another?
AS one of the advocates of Woman's
rights said yesterday, 1.-The Democrats
had better consider this question fav-
orably. Votes for women are coming
and the Democrats might need them. -
The only way to offset socialism
among women is for the other parties
to be just to women.
Mr. Bingham of Naugatuck was
another appreciated advocate for wo-
men. He showed in one small place
in this state where illiterate Poles
and Russians can vote but an edu-
and that only because she was a wo-
man. Yet women compete with men
in industries. That some women do
not want to vote is no reason for
refusing others.
Mr.. Peck of Redding said the
amendment was an insult to women
whom he said were educated. While
it is demanded that those who do vote
shall be able to read English, many
voters cannot read English. Exam
pies of the withdrawal of an unde-
sirable police official. in Seattle and
of the moral influence of women in