Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1912-03-21
ONLY Congressman Ar
guing For 1t Was
Victor Berger

ANIMAL hearing on woman sullfake
,.tore Congress. Since 1859 progress
T.. women have travelled miles to
washington to take part In the an
mail nlea for the right Of suffrage
~ half of the race. Invariably the
=. nomhers of the committee In charge
- the suffrage bills pay polite but
mt serious attention to the argu-
ments OF the speakers. But the 1912
hearing was different Socialism was
in the air.
what percentage of suffragists
.,e socialists?" asked Martin Little
Inn member of the House Judiciary
committee, apparently impressed
with the Sociallstic argument for
suffrage made by Mrs. Elsie Cole
Phillips, OF Milwaukee.
a cannot give you the exact per-
ceptage. 1t is small" replied Mrs.
cole But can give you the per-
csptage Of the Socialists who are suf-
tragists."
Littleton smiled. He knew the So
cslists were a unit for equal political
rgAts Tor the sexes. Said Littleton:
OR the first time / pause serious
" IN the question of woman suffrage.
am amazed at the Identity OF the
.rguments made for Socialism and
suffrage"
Ms liza Hustled Harper. of New
FORK then tried to explain the sitn-
Aton SO that a Democrat like Little
ton would not take offense at the
soclalIstlc" suffrage propaganda.
The reason Socialism ia so much
.ds1tiied with suffrage Ii because
r.e Socialist party is the onl ypoliti-
cal party In this country that has
openly endorsed our movement" she
said. III the old parties would also
come out for suffrage they would
also get credit"
The House eharing was before the
Judiciary Committee and was under
the direction of Jane Adams OF Chi
cago. Socialist Congressman Berger
was unale to attend the hearing as
the NATIONAL Executive Committee Of
the Socialist Party, of which ne IL q
memer, was at that time meeting IN
Chicago Mrs. Phillips read . state.
ment tromBerger efore the Commit
tee Caroline A. Lowe. National
WOman's Correspondent Of the Social
st party, also addressed the commit
too Of 9th Houses.
Woman suffrage is q necessity,
9th from a political and an economic
standpoint" Berger declared In his
statement. Women are q part Of
the demos-of the people. They are
the other half. We can never have
democratic rule until we let the WON
en- vote. We can never have real
freedom until the women are Tree.
To quote the immortal Lincoln on
slavery, we can not endure as 9 ma
ton. half free and half unfree."
Declaring that she spoke in behalf
Of 100000 wage-earning women IN
the United tSates, Miss Lowe made
an eloquent plea for equal suffrage.
The need Of the allot for the wage
earning woman ia a vital one. No
plea can be made that we have the
Protection OF the home or are repre-
sented by our fathers or brothers.
Telling Of young girl fainting N
Chicago department store as 3 re-
suit Of the rush and strain OF Satur.
DAY shaping and long hours, she
asked Of the committee:
Does the young woman In Marshal
Fields need her voice In making the
law that sets the hours and condt
ions Of labor?
Has the young girl whose scalr
was torn from her head at the Law
renee mill any need Of a law demand
ing that safety appliances be placed
upon all dangerous machinery
Have the five thousand WORKING
girls who are forced. into lives q
shame in Chicago each month nc
need Of voice in a government tina
should protect them from this ~
worse than deathf"
She concluded with this franl
statement:
We do not come before you T
Deg Of you the granting Of any e
Vor We present to you . gloriou
opportunity to place yourself abreas
'OI the current Of this great revolt
a0nary mavement. You can refus
:" accept this opportunity. and 70
may for moment delay the moyt
aent Btu you win be IS the o.
woman With her tiny broom who q