The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-20
WOMEN D EMAND
EQUAL SUFFRAGE
Great Crowds Listen for
Hours to Pleas for
the Ballot.
WOULD INCREASE
LIQUOR LICENSE
Byrd Bill Makes Higher Rates
Legislature hears Lees Fare
well Address and Honors His
Memory-Anti- Gambling
Measure Debated in
House.

For the first time since John Smith
and his band set foot OH the soil OF a
nc" world there TO found a great Com
noh~calth, the women OF Virginia
came officially yesterday to the Cap'toi
OF the State. asking tor political priv
iieSes and responsibilities. In the most
conservative OF ali tho states. with It.
heritage from an ancient civilization
OF enduring institutions. was re- echoed
tno Hcnry cry for political freedom.
Whether the listener were for or
against woman suffrage. he could not
IAN 10 be impressed with the solemn.ty
OF INC moment nor could he help but
appreciate the possible Importance with
which the movement Is fraught The
sc"ter may not have remained to pray
nut ne LETT with no sneer on his face.
inc seriousness OF the occasion the
feeling that here might he an hour
10 make history FOR the Commonwealth
ana 10 mark the beginning OF an era,
Was in the air 1t was in the voice a,
Chairman Martin Williams. as he called
me Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tons OF tho House Of Delegates TO or
der; 1t was in the tone OF Hll Monta-
sue the patron OF the joint resolution
proposing tho amendments to the Con.
sutut!on. who has stakcd his political
nc upon the Issue; II was In the being
OF the women and the men who spoke.
Out to Win Fight.
ne meeting may have changed no
votes In the committee or In the Cen
eral neutrality-suspicious. did not. The
joint resolution may not be approved
probably VIII not But every one who
Sp0lic iterated and reitcratcd the cry
that lie or she had enlisted, not for the
iirst skirmish nor for the battle nor
Tor the campaign, but for the war, ana
mat !! denied at this time they will
Knock again and again and again at
ihe doors or the General Assembly un-
Vi they get what they seek.
Women who work. women who wr,ts
women who keep house. women who
have nothing else To do. and women
who have everything else TO do. plead
eh for the ballot. Men who believe
their cause is Just stood with them
MISS Mary Johnston and Mrs. Kate
Langley Bosher. whose names are
known throughout the Engiish-speak-
inS world. added their voices 10 the
proposition. Ministers OF the gospel
and representatives. OF laboring organ
iZatons helped.
Grandmother Speaks.
If mere male OF the species should
dare to draw a distinction in such a
gathering. he might award the palm
10 Mrs, John H. Lewis, OF Lynchburz
Eoast'ng OF ten grandchildren whose
future she is devoted 10. broad with
the tolerance Of years and the knowl-
enge OF human nature. her appeal wa:
az once touching and effective. She
reminded the men OF the women who
have mad" their sacrifices for them all
and, besides the sentiment, made a log
lea! argument for Legislation TO suit The
unfolding needs OF the people,. OF tb,s
age in giving to half tho people a:
Virginia the investment of politicai
liberty.
The committee heard all the argu-
Hents with patience. as did tho i'm
illensc crowd. probably the largest
which ever gathered in the hall Of the
House OF Delegates. Spaces in rear OF
seats. aislcs, galleries. were packed,
ind hundreds failed TO gain the desired
admission. Many stood throughout the
entire proceedings. The hour of 8
o'clock witnessed the hearing NOT
nearly concluded, and the committee
adjourned TO o'clock. 1t concluded
last night. The committee will take
up consideration OF the matter at lis
meeting Monday afternoon.
increnae Liquor Licenses.
The day was signalized by the intro.
ductlon by Speaker Richard Evelyn
Byrd of what is expected by some to
be the only legislation of the liouol
question ut this session. His bill. I'M
like that OF two years ago, when
amended tho Byrd bill of 1905 in many
important particulars. changes Il al
this time in only three places. The
State license for selling liquor Is dou
blcd-- from $3.50 to $4,000 The license
for selling by retail only Is raised from
$3.50 to $3.50, while for retail ana
shippers license it IS made Sl,T50. in
stead of $1,000. These large increuses
are, it Is claimed by the Speaker. ms.
titled because of the vast tertiary
reached By liquor sellers, especially BY
wholesalers and shippers. The amounts
may be cut in committee or in thu
House. but an increase Is regarded ma
probable.
The General Assembly. by joint reso-
luton. invited Governor Woodrow
Wilson. of New Jersey, to address II
when here to speak to the City Coun-
Gil. and a joint committee will be
named to make preparations for tbe
meeting.
The House of Delegates defeated the
bill emitting the widow, In the whole
value of property sold under deed OF
trust, to be paid out of the surplus
The plea was made that it was
further chance to eVade the payment
of Indebtedness.
BY rather small majority the
House passed II bill aimed g loan
agents, providing that they ~ not
recover by garntshment upo.3I judy
1nent when the rate of interest is
greater than per cent. 1t does not
apply to Judgments against realty or
personally aside from wages
LnWs Are Stringent.
Ninety-nine per cent OF the people
of Virginia would be In Jail II ali the
laws on the statute books were en-
forced according, to a statement made