The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-09

question, which. If carried, would have
shut OFF all debate Indignantly. Mr..
Montague, tho patron Of the amend
mcnts arose and said that he would
not even ask the distinguished mem
Der from King William to withdraw
the motion. ii, after the matter had
been "A special order for week Ii.
wished to prevent discussion" hut
h" would. he added. take uinbraSe at
1t. and so he believed would every
MAJ: in the House who believed In
fair play. The Willcroy motion was
defeated, no one, apparently. voting
for it.
Alden Bell offered an amendment,
which provided that women should
be given thee right to vote only OH
r'rttcrs affecting the taxation Of prop
ci;y ana affecting schools. Speaking
TO his amendment. he sad that 1t WAS
barbarism to tax women who own
property and not allow them to have a
voice in that taxation So. too. they
should have their say about the man
agemen, of schools. Perhaps tho
House would not 20 so far as TO ad-
nit women TO, entirely equal suffrage.
Speaker Byrd here vacated The
chair. Mr.. F'itzhugh occupying It for
tt time This caused some excitement
on the part OF those who thought; the
Speaker would take the floor for tho
Montague amendment.
Continuing. Mr.. Eel paid a glowing
AMI eloquent tribute TO women who
in all ages have had their part IN
ing the worlds battles. In war times.
lie said. the loom and the spindle
We're the artillery OF the reserve"
Montague Advocates. Suffrage.
Mr. Montague was the next speak
e. 10 RS hi tsn "a far
voting down the Willeroy motion, ana
said he was glad that the duties OF
the distinguished gentleman from
King William have required MIN TO
vacatc the chamber for the time
being
He realized. he said, that the Leg
islature. in busy session. would not
take time 10 listen to an extended
argument on any question Bu; those
VIII, ars behind the movement mad the
right 10 have this proposition brought
to the attention o: the General AS
sembly Many people believed that It
was but matter Of human Justice
10 admit women to the suffrage.
Mr. Montague reminded his hearers
Of the speech or Governor Wilson at
tho City Auditorium, when he said
that a new day had dawned, and that
times had changed, and n: read from
the Virginia I'LL Of Rights 10 show
that the people have an indisputahIc
right to change their laws to meet
existing conditions.
Il know" ne continued that this
House Is not going TO pass this amend
nent to-day, but ! am convinced that
Il majority Of mon on this floor reaiiy
believe that women are entitled to
this right Women now have Indirect
power, it is true. Why not give them
q Nd 81
it% upon them for It's use?"
Changing Conditions.
Within ffty years, ne said, there
has been more change In the position
OF women relating to public affairs
than In all the prior history of the
world combined He spoke of the
four states where women have equal
political rights. and of the night for II
made by John Stuart Mill in England
nearly fifty years ago
This movement, he pursued, is not
ts!at OF few women. Many leagues
have been organizcd organized labor
IL Virginia has 1t In its constitution.
the Farmers Union has just indorsed
IL
Instead Of this talk about putting
woman on pedestal, why not reco--
nizc her as an equal? Twenty wears
ago there We're no women stenogra-
piers in the Office buildings OF Rich
'nond: no women hooi1ii,cpcrs: none
o. the thousands now earning an hon
orab!c living In this city and stare
The demand for suffrage is as ius,
as anything else which lis evolved
from changing conditions of tho twcn-
ticth century.
The brotherhood of man is taupb,
from platforms and I'm lodge rooms
Inere can DO no such thing as long
as TO half the race we deny tho right
OF suffrage. Let us rise to-day allows
'he harrowness and prejudice and re,
out on 'ho hilltops and do Justice to
'nosc whom We say we honor above
all things else"
Mr.. Montague was loudly ,nn,.ra,a
as he took HIS seat
Love Opposes.
air. Love begged the House not TO
disgrace Virginia" BY approving the
amendment. If left TO the vot, Of ,hA
white women OF the State. he soid
the proposition would be defeated l6
TO !. Mr.. Bell had spoken with an
eiopncncc and tcrvor, in his opinion
worthy OF a better cause, ana his
amendment was but the sugar coating
over deadly poison Mr.. Live
aroused much laughter by his trIbut.
TO beautiful woman, and his gestures,
which indicated his Willingness 10
take her to his arms. He fel, sure
Lhat the men would not lower white
women by Putting them on level
with negro women ut the polls. God
forbid. he said, that we shall bayr
manly women and womanly men"
a thing may be logically right. and
yet not cHpedicnt, said Mr.. Banks.
There must be shown that there are
OBVIOUS reasons Tor an important
change. One argument against
woman suffrage he regarded as alb
Solutcly convincinS--that the female
sex is guided by emotions and this
submerses the justice in their make.
up
Mr.. Dreamer said he represented or
Ganized labor, which stands for equal
justice and no special privileges It
is the men. he said. who are respon.
sible for the conditions under which
women work side by side with men
In the avocations Of life, and which
has caused tho demand FIR anunI No..