The Washington herald., 1912-01-26
California Scion Says Equal
Suffrage Would Purify
Corrupt in Politics.
"DENIED IT TOO LONG"
Senator Speaks Before Stanton Suf-
frage Club at the Public Ii
brary-Mrs. Wiley Presides.

Expressing his belier tnat the ballot
in the hands OF the women would benetit
the entire country. Senator John Dovney
Works. Of California, in an address last
night in the lecture hall OF the Public
Library, before the Stanton Suffrage
Club. declared that woman suffrage alone
is able to purify the corrupt politics OF
the land. Senator Works said that the
women Of the country should advocate
equal suffrage not as a privilege and
not as a right, but as a sacred duty TO
herself and the nation.
Woman suffrage" said Senator
Works has been opposed by some per-
sons on the ground that the polling places
are usually unfit places for women 10
gather. II the polling places are inde-
cent. whose fault is IL? II Is the fault
OF the men. 1t is only proof that We
need the help OF woman TO purify our
politics and make the polling places what
they ought 20 be. This has been Illus
trated in California, where. at the recent
elections. the women were shown the
greatest respect and consideration. There
was perfect order at the various polling
places.
Plea for Equal Rights.
The people Of the State have the right
to govern the State. Women form an i'm
portsnt part of the State and should.
therefore. be given equal rights with the
men. The powers which are opposing
woman suffrage are the powers which are
opposing all OF the great reforms.
The great questions OF the day are not
those of politics. but those OF morals.
The great problems are such as the child
labor movement. the woman labor move
nd ha
When such questions arise. they always
have the support OF the women. That is
why the saloon interests are opposed TO
woman suffrage. That is why all evil In
stitutions are opposing the great move
ment
1T is said by those opposed TO woman
suffrage that the women will not take
an interest in public matters and will not
exercise the privilege Of voting. The
greatest peril of the country to-day is in
difference on the part OF the voter. We
think that II We get out 50 per cent of
the registered voters to the polls we are
doing we'll Surely the women can and
will do better than this. But II some of
the women do not vote-lf they are too
good or II they are too busy-there is
nothing to compel them to exercise their
privilege. But why should The woman
who is too busy or too good prevent the
other women from voting?'
Il hope the time is coming and COM
ing soon when women the country over
will be enfranchised," said Senator
Works. They have been denied it too
Iung. think the day is not far OF
when We shall have equal suffrage
throughout the country
Works Is HeckIed.
Following the address the Senator Of
fered TO answer any questions which
woman asked how the woman would be
abLa to enforce the measures which she
would vote upon the statute books.
"Why, women can't fight and serve
in the capacity of soldiers and police
men," said the woman.
Now, I'm not so certain about that"
replied Senator Works, but granting the
assumption, there is no need OF fighting
10 enforce the law. The day has come
when disputes may be settled by means
other than that of the sword. We have
courts. The day Of war is past"
Senator" asked a young man, would
you run for Congress against a woman
candidate?'
Il certainly would" answered the Sen
ator, calmly and deliberately. ANY
woman in the State Of California has a
perfect right TO run against me"
Mrs. Belva A Lockwood, wOman-suf-
frage advocate. read a proposed amend
ment to the. Constitution recently intro
duced by Representative Berger giving
to women throughout the country the
privilege Of voting. The amendment is
worded exactly like the sixteenth amend
ment with the exception that ION Ac-
count Of sex is substituted for the
phrase "on account OF race, color, or
previous condition OF servitude.'
Mrs. Jennie /. Munroe, an ardent ad-
vocate Of woman suffrage, OF Virginia,
spoke briefly on the relation Of taxation
TO equal suffrage. Mrs. Harvey W.
Wiley. wife of the chief chemist of the
Department of Agriculture and president
OF the club. presided. The other officers
Of the organization are Miss Florence
Etheridge, vice president; Mrs. William
q. Stuart. treasurer and Miss Emily C.
Carr, secretary.