Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-09-05
CONVENTION REPRESENTATIVE.

CONVENTION REPRESENTATIVE.
II doubt II there ever was a conven-
ton more really representative OF the
people. and with higher average OF In
dividual character among the representa-
tives than was the case with the pro-
gressive national convention at Chicago.
The spirit In which II met was a spirit
OF deep and genuine religious fervor
using the word religious In It's broadcast
and truest sense, spirit which found
expression In singing the noble Battle
Hymn Of the Republic" a hymn by the
way, which was written by woman.
Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, who as wife
and mother. ana in all relations Of both
public and private life was one Of the
best citizens this republic has ever
brought forth. am glad to say that
among the representatives in our con-
vention were a number of women; and
not only high In purpose, but in wis.,
dom. In character. in cool-headedness
and In farsighted understa nding of the
needs Of the nation, they stood on an
exactly equal footing with the men. Our
national committee will publish Jane
Addams's speech. ask you to read Il
for yourselves and then yourselves pass
Judgment on the good taste and Wis
dome Of the New York Times in de-
nouncing that speech. One Of the
memories of the convention which
shall always cherish is the fact that
Jane Adams seconded my nomination.
Il grew to believe In woman suffrage
not because Of associating with women
whose chief interests was III woman
suffrage. but because Of finding out that
the women from whom l received most
aid In endeavor1ng to grapple with the
social and industrial problems OF the day
wree themselves believers In woman
suffrage. For a long time have been
Interested In such questions as the better
ment Of the tenement house conditions,
the abolition Of sweat shop factories In
tenement houses, the betterment Of the
conditions Of work and life of working
girls In industry, the establishment of
children's courts, the establishment Of
Fairgrounds, the putting a stop to the
employment OF children In industry--and
dozens Of other like matters.
THOSE WHO HAVE AIDED.
Now the way I got into touch with
4
get hold Of some man or woman who
knew about It and could guide and in.
struct me and enable me to sec for my.
self what the facts were. The man to
whom I owe most In this matter 10 Jacob
Kiis. and l shall never forget all he did
for me during the time was police com
missioner. In exactly the same fashion ]
have profited by the teachings and ex
periences of Judge Ben Lindsay Of
Colorado Of Judge De Lacey Of Wash
ington, Of Charles Stezle, of Father
Curran. OF Homer Folks, Of Paul Kellogg
of Mannis, of Raymond Robbins. OF wey.
land Mccarthy and KinRsbury. Of many
many men connected with the work o.
organized charity or with private o.
religious charity. and of many, man,
clergymcn, priests and ra bbis. I canno
begin to enumerate all of them.
We'll. in precisely the same way grew
acquainted with women who were dom,
the same kind of work with Miss AID
dams, with Miss Keller, with Mrs. Kelly
with many others. talked with then
and worked with them just as I did witt
men. found that they had the same yea
and earnestness and judgment that TIT
men had. and differed among themselve
Just as the men did. also found that a
a result Of their actual experience the.
felt that working girls would be helped
by the suffrage just as the working mel
are helped. and that in our warfar
against certain dreadful evils of our so
cal life the help of the women would b.
desperately to pull the dangling form
to the trapeze. Finally the rop
swirled away from the lad and tn
tiny form dropped downward like
stone.
OF peculiar value. Very much OF what
learned to believe from them they wer
quite unconscious of having taught me
and It was this largely unconscious teach
ing of theirs and my study of what ha
been done In the States where suffrag
, exists that gradually turned me into
| believer that women should have tn
: same right to vote that men have. d
: not believe that there Is identity of funC
, lions between men and women. but I d
2 believe that there should be equality {
S rights. I see no reason why voting shoul
interfere with women's home life an
n more Than it interferes with the ever
e day work Of the man which enables hi,
to support the home"