The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-02-01
LIQUOR INTERESTS BEHIND
DEFEAT OF WOMEN
,csa.l.s.a from rag. o..l

Rankin, Reynolds, Russell, Stewart.
Taylor, Wheeler, Whelan, Wiiiouahby,
Woleott, Wood, Woodworth, Yeo,
Young, Speaker Baker.
OF these, Ashley, Copley, Flowers.
Leonard, Lord and ogg, are from
Wayne county.
The suffrage advocates say that
these WEIGHED" after promising 10
support the resolution:
verdier, Happier, Austin (Detroit),
CatIin, Decker, Dusenbury, Ewing,
Gansser, kalmbach, Haviland, Mckay,
Morford, Murphy, oppenborn, Sharp.
-Synonds, Unsoeld, Walker, Clark,
Holland, Woodruff (Wayne).
The galleries and the side aislas OF
the house chamber were crowded io-
an hour before the woman suffrage
resolution was taken up AT o'clock.
Many members OF Detroit womcn's
clubs, who had intended 10 come,
were prevented by street car
blockade in Detroit. which caused
mem TO miss their train. Besides The
four or five Detroit women who reach.
ed Lansing, there were representa-
ives OF clubs in Grand Rauds. Kala.
mazoo, Battle Creek, 81. Joseph, Sag
NAV, Bay city and a half dozen other
cities.
Speaker Baker called Rep. Clifton
j. Chambers, OF Ithica, as chairman
or the committee of the whole. and
he was welcomed with pounding upon
desks and cuspidors, while the mem
Ders OF the house began pulling at
cigars and pipes, which are banned
during the regular session. After the
hrst address, the chairman asked the
men to stop smoking out OF courtesy
TO the women guests, and most OF
them did so.
hep. Charles Flowers. of Detroit,
Chairman of the committee on con.
Stitutlonal revision and amendments,
opened the debate, speaking as fol-
lows:
Mr.. Chairman: 1t was my pleasure
two years ago TO urge upon the mem
bers OF this house an amendment TO
the labor law, fixing the hours of wo-
mans labor. which amendment pro-
hlpited the employment Of women and
children from more than 81 hours per
week and more than 10 hours In any
one day When the argument or that
question was before the committee on
labor, | was asked by certain repre-.
sentatives OF the Employers associa-
tionI whom \ represented In making
SO radical a demand, and my reply
was that | was here bearing with ma
silent commission from 20O.0 work
ing women or Michigan who had not
the right 10 vote and who did not be-
long To labor unions
The provision OF law upon that sub
lect had been reported from the com
mittee on labor at 90 hours per week,
and permitted the employment OF NO
men and children for IL hours a dsIy.
i was very much gratifisd at that time
to see this house. without a dissenting
vote, adopt the amendment that | had
proposed. and thus place upon the sta
tute books OF the great state OF Miehi-
gan the most progressive ard bcneh-
cent Legislation that at that time had
been adopted by any OF the states.
Since the passage OF that law the En-
ployers' association of this state made
an attack upon IL, claiming that IL was
not possible for women to earn sur
hcient TO keep their bodies and souls
together. unless they were permitted
TO work greater number OF hours
than 81. and claiming hat the law was
contrary TO the constitution OF the
United States. in that IL was an in
fringement OF the right Of contract.
but the supreme court OF this state
held that the law was CONSTITUTIONAL.
and that the protection OF the heath
OF women was one OF the nrSt duties
Of the state
At the outset of this discussion l
desire TO say that l ar, proud TO again
stand In this hall for the purpose OF
amendment TO the constitution grant
ing TO women absolute equal suffrage,
thus placing them upcr an equal foot
ing with men and making them part
OF the great body polite
This Is not proposition to confer
upon women the right OF SUFFRAGE II
they happen TO be fortunate enough
TO own property. thus placing the dol
lar. where unfortunately too many
place IT, above human liberty. but
proposition TO clothe women with all
tho rights to which ihey arc entitled
an part OF the great household OF A.
great sovereign state.
The motion that Is now before US,
Mr. Chairman. does not involve the
question Of granting by us, the peo-
pies representatives this right TO wo-
men but ~ involves the simple ques-
ton OF whether We are willing that
tho people themselves shall have the
for rhe first time In the
history of this state. OF saying wheth-
q. or no women snail vote, and Under
the strict rules OF parliamentary con
struction. the only question 20 which
should address myself Is tins ques-
ton, shall we. as the peoples repre-
sentatives, permit them TO vote upon
sion. 4 shall go further than that. ana
speak directly to the greater question
and give my reasons for supporting
the proposed amendment
I cannot. OF course. In tho limited /
time that is allowed TO me, give all She J
reasons for my belief. II | should un-
dertake TO 90 so | would exhaust my
strength and tax your patience. for In /
nv opinion there are q thousand rea- |
sons why the right Of suffrage should l
be granted 10 women, ard not one ]
why IL should be withheld. For 80
years 1 have been In favor OF this /
movement and during that time have
heard a few stock arguments against ,
Ia, none OF which should be deemed \
worthy of consideration by anyone \
TO be controlled by reason or (
guided by intelligence; and II during l
mis- discussion. IL discussion Is had 1
Ipon the question, any reasons are \
urged against the adoption of the 4
amendment I shall claim the right 10 4
answer them: but II Is not my purpose \
,ow TO forestall discussion and state
ne grounds OF the opposition. only so
Emphasize the reasons which present \
themselves TO my mind in favor OF the \
IL has been said in my hearing that
here has been no demand by the wo-
men OF the state for this amendment 4
,esgtons OF the constitutional convep-
ION in 1907. petitions for equal suffer \
re for prohibition. for direct legisla-
ION. and for the initiative and refer
,ndum were sent 10 the convention /
md the petitions for equal suffrage
contained more names than all the
,thers combined As a matter OF fsc: \
m those petitions more than $4,000 \
were represented.
The subject OF the absolute equality
" men. aff woTntn before the law has
been a subject Of thought by me from
nv youth In the country whore ] was
,orn on the banks of the Delaware.
We had little else To do during the
ong winter evenings but To- think.
30. al xs.IaF Inn "a IN ~