Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-15


court Gov Harmon said. II have
yet to talk over the subject with 9TH
er members of the committee. / sup
pose we Will call 4 meeting and map
oat limo 10 pursue.
Following adjournment. the COVER
nors attended an exhibition Of the
United States Volunteer Life Savers
Mrs Samuel iiciiaer of New York en-
tertained number Of the governors
and their wives ut tea this afternoon
Governor Fess OF Massachusetts left
tonight for Boston.
Spring Lake, n. j.. Sept. 1.-THE
battle for the ballot was today taken
TO the floor of the governors confer
Kence here today. Twenty-eight gov
errors, among several champions OF
the cause from the West. assembled
half an hour earlier than usual. The
convention hall was crowded to its
capacity by the wives, daughters and
friends of the governors and women
who had come many miles, in some
cases, to help The cause with their
presence and applause.
Mrs. j. w Brannan of the Woman's
Political Union of New York. present
ed to The governors book. showing
che said. The strange confusion Of
wcman's status in the different states.
Il appeal te you governors To give
the thought Of your minds and the
feeling OF your hearts to this ques-
ton she said There are only five
states where your wives. daughters
and sisters have the privilege they
want 20 serve our country. How ear
you, gentlemen, expect the women of
these dlsfranchiscd states to rest sat
isiied and content under this diserim-
ination?
There is but ono moro appeal to make"
Mrs. Bfannan concluded. "and that il 10
n higher bar We appeal to the God OF
our country 10 befriend us. for our cause
is jnst."
Mrs Ahram Van Wrinkle of Newark
y. l. head of q New Jersey organiza-
ton. followed Mrs. Brannan.
Mrs. Van Wrinkle read petition to tho
governors. Representing the militant
wing of the party, she demanded that
each state executive. including Governor
Woodrow Wilson. come into the open
with his views and I'm the light of pit
Hess publicity alh.n himself With one side
or the other of tbs question"
I'VE pqint 10 the gross inequality OF
woman before the law with respect to
property Fights in our own state. We
have protested In vain against the con-
tinuance of this injustice
THE responsibility for the welfare OF
the child is peculiarly ours. We desire
To have the responsibility in fun meas
urc. The people of your states have rec
ogniaed the justice of the appeal which
We now make. We ask you to aid us In
the matter we have suggested in seear-
ing the privileges which have been ac-
corded the women Of other states"
No formal action was taken and
Mrs. Van Wrinkle sat down amid ap-
plause. Gov. Shanoth of Colorado then
announeed that Or. Anna Shaw, pres
ident of the National Woman's Suf-
frage Association. had been detained
and probably would not reach Spring
Lake in time TO address the gather
ing. The conference then began it's
regular routine of scheduled business.
Nerada's divorce laws need revision
and Improvement. according To her
governor, TaslSer l.. Oddie who is i'll
with appendicitis and unable 10 attend
the meeting but who sent & telegram.
Governor Herbert S. Hadley If Mis-
souri, spoke.
Later DIR. Shaw arrived and was
roundly applauded when she was in
troduced. She referred to Governor
Woodrow Wilson's reference to Eng
land. as the strongest of governments
and explained her strength by the
statement that England referred her
problems to the people.
What are the purposes OF govern
ment??' she asked. They are three
fold. the protection of person and
property; the administration of JUS
tice and development of society. Now
ii cannot be said none of these three
things concerns women. at least since
the supreme court has decided that
" have souls and are persons.
The government has right, we
women admit. TO require certain quail
flcations for citizenship and yet re-
tain its Democratic form. But how,
in the name of Democracy and justice,
can il make sex n qualification?
The Democratic government which
does so is no longer Democratic
government but becomes utterly dess-
potic.
Yet men who complain that women
have invaded your realm do well TO re-
member you have not been content to
leave us at our spinning wheels but
have taken from us one by one the
rights and the duties of the home. The
state has taken from the mother the
right to educate her children, to doctor
it and in some instances to say when
and where it shall labor and even to
say what food the child shall have.
How can women have a voice nov in