The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-30
Such . Change Of Tactics!

Editor of The Richmond Nirginiau.
Sir--To a sufrragist, who heard the addresses
| made Wednesday evening In the Jefferson hotel
auditorium. by Miss BisseIl and Miss Bronson,
several points made clear
First that the association of women opposed
to equal suffrage had at length gotten out
side the sphere OF home In their approval and
endorsation of public speakers who voiced their
arguments from a public platform. under the
auspices Of the association and their represent
tatves. Judge George l.. Christian. Mr. F.. v.
Valentine Hon. John Rutherford and Colonel
Eugene Masse. 1t was a relief to think that
the restriction of the home within four walls
had at length been broken down. and that here
after the Ants" with the approval OF their
representatives. might be considered to have
discarded the private for the public forum. in
the deliverancs of their opinions.
In the second place the ANTS" showed their
discrimination by endorsing not public speak
ers alone. but trained speakers. They had EVIL
IDENTIFY decided that public speaking was a legit-
innate and rahlcs accomplishment for wom-
an TO possess, and that training heightened
the accomplishment, as rendering the speaker
/ quicker and reader In argument. so, that, here
after. training for platform speaking among e
ginia women must be considered correct, ~
an advisable method of procedure. For has il
not the sanction OF the association of women
opposed to equal suffrage and their representa-
ttves. Miss Bronson and Miss Btssen being both
train speakers?
Again. q point most clearly insisted upon by
both OF these speakers was that women as u
cess should acquant themselves thoroughly
with The pubic questions OF The day. In brief
then the '.Antis'' and their Representatives
stand committed to the advocacy OF public
speaking; of training for public speaking, and
to the study of public questions of interest
and these constitute politics--for Virginia wom-
Ell
But this is not all. Miss Bronson and Miss
Bissel assumed that a mere acquaintance with
questions OF public interest--or politics~-was
not suff cient or efYectual 1t was most impor-
tant that legislation on these questions should
be secured by women through the indirect
methods of influencing legislators yuigariy
known as--lobbying.
II seemed to me. suffragist, that might
we'll exelaim with Cicero: Where In the world
am l. and In what city of the world?'
went over in my mind what the anti-suffrage
speakers had said--and their statements were
approved by applause from the association of
women opposed to equal suffrage and their rep
resentatives. l then checked off on my fingers
what all Of 1t meant. l summed up In this
light. what the anti-suffragists considered
proper for Richmond and Virginia women to nc
and to do in favor of their own especial move
n,ent. and this was my reckoning
L. Public speaking.
2 Training for public speaking
g. The study of public questions of the Fay.
T. The securing of legislation on these ques
tionf.
g. The indirect influence. or the lobbying In
behalf OF legislation.
Surely thought the "Antis' and their rep
re<entafives have indeed Abandoned their home
rrint OF view. ard are camping out ON the
lines indicates their going--whithers Their
program of requirements Ia so extended that
the establishment of COLLEGE for anti -suffra re
instruction NAV be next step in their nd
vance Who knows?
ALICE OVERLY TAYLOR