Norwich bulletin., 1912-10-23

Interesting talks in behalf of the suffragette movement were given by Mrs. M. Toscah Bennett of Hartford and Miss Emily Pierson of Cromwell before a good sized audience at the Norwich club Tuesday afternoon, un- der the auspices of the Norwich Equal Franchise league. The president of the league, Mrs. William A. Norton, presided, and introduced Mrs. Bennett as the first speaker.
 There are. said Mrs. Bennett, real reasons for this great suffrage move ment, which is taking place not only in Connecticut and the United States but in the whole world. The position of woman in the home has changed greatly in the past fifty years; we live under very different conditions of home life The large body of women working away in their homes today do not realize why the home life is not the same as it used to be. Now, the industries of the home are controlled by the government and the real home has gone out. These women are not all. There are six million women working away in mills and various other industries. many at less than living wage.
 The work of the women in the big industries can be controlled as is mans labor, by the action of proper laws. It is a big. difficult problem for the women to secure these laws, as she is powerless, her only hope lying in her ability to urge the man to push proper legislation. In New York they have secured some very good laws to protect the women, but the laws are not enforced; the executives don't have time to look out for the women. Personal Responsibility on All. Certain projects should interest ev- cry woman and all shall feel the per- l sonal responsibility and duty towards social service. Those of the leisure class should put much more time into l it than those who have fewer hours to | themselves In seeking reform, the first | step must be franchise for women. There is no reform that won't come easier and quicker with the mass of 1 the women's vote behind it. The wo- men who have the least time are the ones who need the reforms the most. There are women working in vile and horrible places. under the worst of conditions. The only possible way of controlling the conditions under which these women must labor is by the bal lot.
 i Must Get the Ballot.
 | There is something for each one to-
 
 day and whatever one takes up should | be done with the feeling of responsi- bility. The woman who goes before the legislators today is disregarded, 1 because she has no power over them. l No matter what form of social service you take up. you can't do anything without the ballot; and the ballot you must get from the men. They must | give the vote to the women when they
 realize that these votes are essential
 to the carrying out of any great reform. !. | Enemies of Woman Suffrage.
 The most energetic enemies of wo- man suffrage are the liquor dealers and employers of cheap labor, child labor. The very fact of this opposi-
 ton is proof of the value of the
 equal franchise, since these forces
 of evil fear the vote in the hands o1
 the woman. In not all places where there is equal suffrage have the towns
 gone dry" but in practically every place there are better laws regulating
 the liquor traffic which tend to re-
 duee it's evil influence. Why do the