The Penn's Grove record., 1911-06-02
uOuAE's SUFFRAGE.
Jennie Sailors Graduation Essay

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ancient Rome had its suffragists. The
subject has been discussed by Cornelius
Agrippi, Ruscelli, and Anthony Glib
son, all men who lived in the sixteenth
century. At the time Of the French
Revolution, Rose Lacombe, an actress,
was leader of a mob which gathered at
Paris to fight for woman's rights. She
can well be called the originator of this
movement, for she founded n OF the
clubs which caused SO much destruc-
ton during the revolution. Rose La
conbe was succeeded by Marie Olym-
phe de Gauger. Mile. Gauger was un-
successful and was finally beheaded.
The next leader was Throigne Meri-
court, a very wealthy woman.
At the close of the revolution the
clubs were dissolved. The movement
then arose in England, where Mary
Wollstonecraft was the leader. She
wanted co.education, equality of wages
for men and women, and admission of
women to all professions. Miss Vol.
stonecraft lost her influence and was
succeeded by Frances Wright, who first
introduced the subject into America.
Miss Wright founded a colony of
blacks and'whites neal Memphis, Ten.
nessee, and wanted equal social rela-
lions. Failing in this, she began lee
turing and writing on women's rights
In some of her writings she attacked
religion with such severity that she
was barred from many of the cities.
other leaders who followed her were
Abigail Adams, Ernstine Roso and
Margaret Fuller. Equal suffrage Was
not the sole ambition Of these leaders;
they wanted better education for women
and better protection of their rights.
The first woman's suffrage cOnven-
ton met at Seneca Falls, July 10, 1848.
The leaders were Mrs. Elizabeth Cady
Stanton, Lucretia Mott, and Martha
c. Wright. Two years later a second
convention was held. After that a
convention met annually until the Civil
War. The National Women's Suffrage
Association was organized in 1859. 1t
met every winter in Washington until
1890, when the club was united with
the American Woman's Suffrage Asso-
citation.
The suffrage movement is gaining in
America. Although its progress is
slow, it is sure. Some Of the editors OF
the daily papers, who would not give
space 10 the movement a short time
ago, are eagerly seeking information
regarding the subject. The editors
realize the movement is one Of the mos
important of the day, and that its dis
cussion will increase the circulation Of
their paper.
About half a century ago, or earlier
perhaps, women were not allowed to
vote anywhere. Kentucky was the first
to give widows the right of school vote,
Later Ontario gave both married and
single women school suffrage. Kansas
and Iowa gave municipal suffrage to
women. In 1887 the women of Mon
tana, who paid taxes, were allowed to
vote on any question Of taxation. Full
suffrage was granted Colorado in 1893;
Utah and Idaho in 1896. Wyoming
also has given full suffrage to women.
Slowly and surely people are beginning
to feel the Importance of the subject.
Some of our wealthiest women who
at one time were noted for their extrav.
agance, are deyoting their time to the
suffrage cause. Mrs. Clarence Mackay
and Mrs. o. H. Belmont, both wealthy
society women OF New York, are inter-
ested in the subject. Mrs. Mackay Or
ganized the Equal Franchise Society
iu 1908. Its purposes vas to aid the
welfare of women, secure honesty in
governmental affairs and to elect the
best men to Office. Mrs. Ida Harper
Mrs. Harriet Batch, a daughter of
Eliza G. Stanton, Colonel Harvey, edi-
tor of Harper's Weekly, and other
prominent people are members
Women have not been voting In the
United States more than eighteen years
but during that time there have been
many improvements in laws and poll.
tics. The improvements are shown by
some of the laws in Colorado which
have been ipassed. A State Home for
Dependent Children has been estab-
lished, laws making the mother joint
guardian with the father over children;
laws providing homes for feeble-mind-
ed; laws compelling children between
the ages of eight and sixteen to attend
school; and laws providing that a child
under fourteen years of age shall not
be employed in any mine, mill or fac
tory. Other similar laws improving the
conditions Of the working class have
been passed.
In Utah WON emf votes have been a
great aid in the passage of a law secur-
ing higher wages for teachers and in
creasing the number of free scholar
ships in the State Normal.
The majority of people are opposed
to equal suffrage without any definite
reason. Prof. B. F. Bovine says: II
know of many prejudices against
woman suffrage. but Of nothing which
deserves to be called a reason"
There are many reasons why women
should vote. They would reform poll
tics in many ways. AS a rule the
moral standard Of women is higher than
that of men, and thus women would