The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-01-05
Shall Women Vote on Local
Option Liquor Question?
,out state Library
DEBATED AT TGREATLENGTH
House Proceedings Were Followed by
Big Gallery and the Members Took
Just Long Enough to Get
Some NouTishment.

the Vermont House, when debate was
held on the bill giving women the right
to vote on the question of license or no.
license in the several cities and towns
Of the state. The debate attracted 4
crowd, which filed the galleries. and the
spicy speeches were followed with great
interest. So much had to be said pro
and con that the members had not con.
cluded at noon time and the talk was
resumed this afternoon.
Mr.. Bryant of Ludlow opened the
merry -go-round by proposing an amend
ment imposing property qualification
upon women who desire to vote. The
amendment was opposed by Mr. Amey
OF Brighton and Mr. Peck of Burlington
as superfluous, as under the present law
they maintained that women could nor
vote unless possessed Of property. Mr.,
Cory Of Montpelier also opposed the
amendment The amendment was lost.
Mr. Dartt OF Springfield made a strong
plea for the bill, and Mr., Maun of st,
Adams and Mr. Webster Of Swanton
made strong arguments against it. Mr..
Webster proposed an amendment, which
gives all women over q years who have
paid a poll tax the same right to vote
as men on all questions. IN effect, this
would give universal suffrage to women
In his remarks. Mr.. Webster stated
that letters had been circulated bv
Supt. Ferguson Of the Anti-Saloon
league, charging that members opposed
to the bill had come in contact with
the "slush" fund This Mr.. Webster
vigorously denied
Mr.. Amey Of Brighton opposed the
Webster amendment for the purpose Of
proposing further amendment, limit
ing the matters upon which women
could vote.
Mr. Hunt Of New Haven was of the
opinion that all these amendments were
offered for the ultimate purpose of de-
feating the bill. and he thought they
should all be voted down. Mr. Boyce
Of Waterbury favored the original bill
He was followed by Mr.. Williams Of
Peacham. who strongly favored the bin
as temperance measure
Next came Mr.. Hays Of Goshen, who
sand he had raised a family of nine
boys and had never voted for a license
measure. However. he took drink
when he wanted it and did not 90 be-
hind the door to do it, either He
thought the bill meant prohibition and
that meant going out behind the barn
to take a drink; so he was opposed TO
the bill
Mr.. Gatchell of Charleston and Mr..
Ives of Mt. Holly opposed the amend
ment and wanted the bill considered on
its original merits. Mr.. Ives made one
of his characteristieally humorous
speeches, and it was with difficulty that
the speaker controlled the laughter that
followed. Mr. Mattison Of Glastonbury
opposed the bill, and made a slip of the
tongue that created fresh wave Of
laughter. The House was in a mood
to seize upon most anything that could
afford an opportunity for laugh.
The previous question was moved at
this point by Mr.. Clark of Morristown,
and the Webster amendment was killed
BY an Overwhelming vote
Mr.. Amey OF Brighton next proposed
an amendment requiring women who
vote on this question to pay a poll tan.
He was in favor of the bill when women
were placed upon an equality with men
in regard to qualifications for voting.
Mr. Amey read letter to a member
from Supt. Ferguson of the Anti-SaIoou
league, stating that after the passing OF
the bill to a third reading he observed
the opposition, represented by Mr.. Web
ster Of Swanton and the saloonkeeper
from South Vernon meaning MIR. Alder
nj Ia.
feared that the "slush" fund of the
liquor dealers was being used to defeat
the bill
Mr.. Amey defended Mr. Webster from
the charge and delivered a scathiug ar
raignment of Supt. Ferguson. The re.
marks were endorsed by Mr.. Wright OF
The Amey amendment
was favored bv MIR. Schofeld and OPP
posed by Mr.. Burbank of Cabot. The
debate was still in progress when adj
oournment till this afternoon was taken.
New Bills in the House.
The following bills were introduced in
the House to-day:
From the committee on grand list,
eagalizing the quadrenRial appraisal and
grand list of Charleston for 1910.
From the committee on corporations,
in amendment of section 2 of No. 2s4
1f acts of 1904. An act to incorporate
.he Hartford Cemetery association.
From the joint committee on temper
lnce. An act to amend subdivision {
IF section SIPS Of the ?. s. as amended
1y section Of No. l2s of the acts Of
ZOOS. and sections 5l3l and 5l32 of the
P. s.. relating to fourth-elass licenses.
Fee 10 be $3.50. except for malt liquors
,nly, for which the fee shall be $500.
From the judiciary committee, in
amendment Of sections 3O79 and $3.50 of
he p. s.. relating to notice when libellee
s out of state.
From the committee on agriculture. to
tmend section Of an act entitled San
lct defining the duties OF the commits
,ioner Of agriculture. as relating 20
reameries. cheese factories. condesaries.
md receiving stations for milk and cream,
approved NOV. IL. l9l0.n
From joint committee on game and
isheries, 10 amend an act entitled. An
.ct to protect muskrats in Addison
ounty," relating 10 the penalty.
From the Judiciary committee, relating
o petition FOR a writ Of eertiorari
By Mr.. Stone Of Walliugford. in addi
ion 10 section of No. 305 Of the acts
Continued on eighth page)