The Washington times., 1911-04-26
WOMAN SUFFRAGE
IS DEBATED BEFORE
CHURCH CONGRESS
Women Vigorously Argue
Both Sides of the
Question.
MRS. J. L. LAIDLAW
ASKS FOR BALLOT
Declares in No Country Are Wo-
men Such Toys as in This
Country.

days session of the twenty ninth church
congress, in Continental Memorial Hall,
this morning.
When Mrs. James L. Laidlow, of NeE
York, said Women have proved them
selves faithful enough over a few
things TO be made rulers over many"
Miss Agnes Irwin, of Philadelphia, a
granddaughte of Benjamin Franklin,
answered her by saying: What they
ask for is genuine political power. They
ask not for reform. but for revolu-
ton"
The Rt. Rev. Alfred Harding, bishop
of Washington, presided over the meet
ing, and on the platform with him were
many distinguished church dignitaries
from all parts of tine United States.
Practically every seat in the auditori
Um was filled with men and women
anxious to hear the discussion of the
woman suffrage question this morning
the first time the subject has ever been
considered by an Episcopal conference.
Suffrage Movement Here.
The subject was Woman Suffrage as
Affecting Our Religious and Education
al Institutions" but the speakers con-
fined themselves practically to a geV
eral discussion of the suffrage move
ment I'm this country.
These, then, are the SUBJECTS for our
serious consideration said Mrs. Laid
low:
Motherhood. as affecting the home.
''Women's influence in the church and
school
Sunshine and fresh air. as affecting
every human being.
"These subjects all leave little to I've
esid, except the obvious. I do not want
TO stand before YOU simply and say.
why, the effect will be good Have
Lot the women of the aid societies of
the churches proved this in hundred
efficient ways" Have they not proved
faithful enough over A Few things to
be rulers over many.
Men and women. l have come today,
as any suffragiSt comes when she gets
an opportunity to speak. hoping to
make some converts in this distinguish
ed body % our great ideal of complete
democracy. When ! see the splendid
work that is being done by the Church
of England League for Woman Suf-
Jrage, I wonder If American
churches arc not behind our English
Deeds not words, has become the
slogan of the modern votes for women
campaign?
City Is Woman's House"
kansas has had woman suffrage iE
the local municipal elections for the last
tWenty-four years. 1t is always the
communities that nave woman suffrage
that want more of ii. | know that
womans sphere is the home. But the
city is her house, and city government
should simply be a matter of good
housekeeping"
In concluding, Mrs, Laidlaw said: "In
40 country in the world are women
such toys on one hand and such
drudges on the other as in our own
United States
Speaking against the suffrage move
ment, Miss Irwin said:
For me the strong argument against
the admission of women to political
power is that il is a revolution. 1t is
not only that my generation has been
brought up to believe that Wisdom
slowly broadens down from precedent
TO precedent; 1T is not only because !
a revolution, even a bIoodleSs one, is
20 be dreaded in itself, and in the coun-
Ter revolution that must follow; it is
because the principles involved lie az
the very foundations of our civilization.
Il dread reVlution. because history
teaches us that revolutions are danger
Gus; that counter revolution is in
evitable, and that this revolution would
he accompanied by confusion, and would |
probably lead through a period of an
archy to socialism or despotism. This
Is what forsee in every revolution, but |
81 is the unforeseen that is TO be most |
dreaded
Fears General 0verturn.
I'm any case, our system of govern
fnent, in which Loyalty believe, would !
be overthrow. 1t may be destroyed, |
] know that we have already. without |
revolution accomplished MANY of the
reforms asked by women, and | believe /
that the reform now needed could be
easily accomplished with no danger but |
the danger of delay. I believe that |
socialism IS more iminent danger than |
despotism, and that the socialist and |
suffrage movebent are closely related.
women have not lost any of their
political rights: they never had them
under the law we inherited. So far,
think the men have done very well in
the interests of justice. What would
do more to make this country the
laughing stock Of other nations than
10 give the women the ballot and find
they were not ready for it or incapable
of carrying out the duties of equal
suffrage
Following Miss Irwin's remarks, the
Rev. Henry S. Nash, of the Theological
School, of Cambridge, Mass, spoke in
favor of suffrage. and the Rev. Joseph
~ Blanchard, of Madison, n. j.. spoke
against the movement.
This evening The Seat Of Authority
in Church Government" will be dis
cussed.
Taft Talks on Churches.
Following communion services in st.
Johns Church yesterday morning, and
receptions at the White House and the
congress was formally opened with an
address by President Taft in Continental
Memorial Hall last night.
IT am here" said the President, Ito
welcome you because yours IS con-
gress of a church of God, and l con-
ceive it to be the duty of the Chief
Magistrate of this nation TO welcome
and express sympathy with every one
Of the churches. without which we could
have no government and no civilization
worth the having.
There is an impression sometimes
that because we have no state church
the attitude of the Government is in
some way hostile to the churches. l
think this prevails among foreigners.
but il calls for no explanation from u.s.
We know We have no state church. be-
cause all churches that are working for
the uplifting of man and the spirit are
state churches, within the protection,
but not within the guidance or control,
of the Government"
{ An attack on Roman Catholicism. fol-
lowed the Presidents speech. The Very
Rev Seldom P. Delany, dean of All
Saints Cathedral, Milwaukee. read
paper on The Value Of Protsstanttsm." |