The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-05-03
SUFFRAGISTS
TO HOLD OPEN
MEETING FRIDAY
Addresses by Two Men of
Prominence on "VOtes
For Women

The Bridgeport Equal Franchise
league will hold another free public
meeting, Friday May 5, at $3.50 o'clock.
at the Board of Trade rooms, in the
Newfield building. 1888 Main street.
Three prominent women will speak on
''Votes for Women" Mrs william r.
Hopson of Bridgeport will have MUM
cipal Suffrage" as her topic. Mrs.
Porritt of Hartford and Miss Lewis
of Greenwich will explain why Equal
Franchise will benefit women Miss
Lewis is one of the staff of teachers
in Rosemary Hall, Greenwich. Mrs.
Porritt gave one of the ablest speeches
of the afternoon at the recent hearing
in Hartford. In a personal interview
with Farmer representative, men,
Der of the Bridgeport Equal Franchise
league said: The more one reads and
hears on this great question the more
one becomes convinced that women
must work earnestly to secure the
ballot. The vote is modern protection
and form of protection which every
women needs. Recently, Mrs S. H.
Barney of Rhode Island, who is much
beloved for her prison work in con-
nection with the w. c. T. U. was ask
ed why she believed in votes for wom-
en- and she answered: I believe the
ballot in Women's hands could lift
the questions of prison reform in
Guiding allied subjects, out of Politics,
and place them in line with advanc-
ed thoughts and the golden rule
methods
Rhode Island women have memoir
les along the lines of seeking better
protection for women and children. 1t
took years of patient and persistent
effort to secure the appointment of the
hrst police matron, also to secure the
State Home and School.
The plea for a woman physician to
care for all women and girls in our
State institutions still waits upon
manhood suffrage and perhaps will
wait until woman comes into her own.
When 1 reached New Zealand in my
worlds tour, I said, Now, women
one Of my first efforts must be to
help you in securing at least one po-
lice matron, and 1 recall their vote Of
have them in all our cities. Have
them! I exclaimed! Why you write
me three years ago that I must not
press the question, for officials assur-
ed you it was not practicable.
"Oh, we'll, Mrs. Barney, we had not
the franchise then. We went with Pc
tition and prayers, but it was USE
less; this time we went with ballot
in our hands and it did not take many
words to make it practicable This
certainly gives very good illustration
of the power Of the ballot, continued
the member of the league. The
Bridgeport Equal Franchise league is
extremely anxious to have it fully I'M
derstood that all men and women are
asked to join. New members may
give their names at the public meet
ing, Friday afternoon. or at any
other time may send them to the Re-
cording Secretary. Mrs. Sanford Stod-
dard, 35 Milne st.
There are two classes Of members
active and associate. The active mem
bers pay an initiation fee of So but
no further dues. The associate MEM
bers pay no initiation fee and no dues.
Both membership are increasing very
rapidly-every day, new names are
received and it is hoped that before
many months have passed the league
will be thousands strong