The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-03-27
SUFFRAG|STS BRING
THEIR HANDBILLS TO
MEETING OF ANTS
Protest of Mrs. Goodwin
Unheeded by Ballot
Seekers.

Orange, purple, yellow and blue hand
bills led last night to the first collision
between the woman's suffrage and the
anti-suffrage forces of the District suf-
fragists handing the bills out with a
smile to the hundred or more persons
who heard Miss Emily Bissell. of Will
mington, Del, and Miss Minnie Bronson,
of New York and Washington, give rea-
sons why they are opposed to the eX-
tension of the franchise to women, in
u meeting at the Public Library.
When news of what was going on at
the door reached Mrs. Frank Goodwin,
who presided, she FASTENED to the door
to demonstrate. Her protest against
the further distribution of the bills was
unavailing and every person who
emerged from the door found himself
carrying away a variegated collection of
pro-suffrage literature. Mrs. Goodwin
protested that the anti-suffrage forces
had not acted in this way at suffrage
meetings, but this argument did not
diminish the activities or the bill dis
tributers. whose dodger bore in large
type, women are citizens Votes for
women" and other legends.
Attacks Mormonism.
This feature of the meeting had been
preceded only a few minutes before by
an attack on Mormonism by Mrs. Good
win.
1.-THE Mormon holds his church above
his government" she said. There is
growing a great Mormon power. 1 wish
some one would tell me why this power
is greatest in suffrage States and In
contiguous States. In suffrage States
this destestable alliance of church and
state is striking its deepest roots"
Miss Emily Bissel asserted that the
lack of the right to vote was genuine
asset to women who seek to accomplish
things governmentally. The motive
force in great part of public enter
the like is woman, she declared. Women
lend city much of its public con-
science. This is true, she believed, be-
cause woman may make a fight for
reform without having motives ques-
toned. A man may be charged with
playing for office or popularity;
woman is disinterested.
While introducing Miss Bronson. Mrs.
Goodwin gave the audience some figures
she had collected.
There are 1900 women in suffrage
associations; there are only 1900 in
terested enough to pay dues. The suf-
fragists claim that 3, 600, 900 women are
interested in their movement: the last
census of the United States shows that
there are 100000 females in the United
States'
The laws for the protection of women
are better in non-suffrage than in suf-
frage States" declared Miss Bronson.
She asserted that in England the sTf-
frage movement had really retarded the
effort 10 get remedial legislation for
women.
Mission of Women.
She divided society into four groups,
public-spirited men and women and in
different or vicious men and women.
las conditions are now, the public
spirited woman can join forces with
the public spirited man in defeating the
Indifferent or vicious man. The indif-
ferent woman does not count If
women are permitted to vote the influ-
enCe Of every public spirited woman 8
vote can be offset by the vote of an
Indifferent or vicious female voter"
The extension of the ballot to women.
In increasing the ignorant vote, would
be a step backward. she thought
"Suffragists are nowhere more I'M
trustworthy than in their assertions
that low wages for women would cease
II they had the ballot; men, who have
the ballot, also work for low wages
Existing laws are better for women
than for men: women are better pro-
tected than are men. and there Is no
reason to believe that the ballot will
accomplish in the hands of women what
1t has failed to accomplish in the
hands of men.
1T should also be remembered that a
constitutional amendment for suffrage
would be practically irrevocable, be-
cause 1t carries with 1t the force to
keep 1t active. Therein it differs from
nearly every other kind of constitu-
tional amendment"