The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-11
SUFFRAGE IDEA
NOT ACAOE MIC
Problem of Enfranchisement of
Women, Says Miss Clay, Has
Entered Active Politics.
BALLOT WILL NOT DEGRADE
Polling Places Respectable as
Post-Ofices, Says Miss
Mary Johnston.

The question OF equal suffrage for
comen has passed out of the limits OF
academic discussion into those or pIa' .
tical politics." said Miss Laura Gay, OF
Kentucky, last night, opening her al
dress before the Equal Suffrage LeaS ue
of Virginia and large audience OF
honmembers at the Jefferson Hotel
auditorium.
since nature has endowed men Win
the qualities which make them the
leaders of the race. men have come liito
their heritage OF political hberty prlo'
10 women. but women must share IT in
due time if the principle OF a govern
mcnt deriving its just powers from the
governed is true. for all true princi-
pies unite and do not separate the TWO
halves of humanity.
Woman suffrage is not revolution
it is only an evolution in the appllca-
ton Of the elemental principles OF
democratic government written INTO
the American Constitution. Woman
suffracists add nothing 10 them. ana
they admit Of nothing 10 be subtracted
from them on account Of seN.
Hands IL to Sentime ntaiists.
With TN, foregoing as her theme.
Miss Clay made out d strong argument
for her cause. She handled political
mess that attested close study. and
never failed to turn them TO account.
Her talk was frequently Interrupted by
applause. Miss Clay. be il said in
passing. comes by her political lean
inss. in part at least. by heredity. Her
father. Cassius Clay, Of Kentucky. was
a former amba ssador TO Russia.
The speaker cOmmiseratcd sarcas-
ticslly with the men and women who
fear that the exercise Of suffrage VIII
have 4 coarseninG influence upon wo-
men. She herded them into one gen
oral class, labeled "sentimentalists.
and suggested that they ponder over
the fact that 100000 women and girls
to-day work side by side with men in
the factory, office and shop. without
apparent i'll effects from contact with
the coarser sex. 1t is strange. she
thought. that a few hours contact at
the polls in the course Of a year. should
be considered so deadly.
Miss CLAW brought Taught when she
pictured the CONSERVATION o: thos.
antisuffraSists who want 70 know what
viii become OF the baby when mamma
goes out to vote. She suggested that
il might be left in care of che same
person who looks out for it when
mamma goes 10 the theatre. FAILING
that. she thought. baby might even b.
trundled along TO the voting booth IL
a baby carriage and be turned over
to the guardianship OF ono Of the car
didates during the few minutes re
quired to east the ballot.
The popularity OF rOmens clurs
everywhere. argued Miss Clay. is only
a manifestation of the desire OF wo-
r.en for a greater share in government.
These clubs she said. are attempting
TO do indirectly what women ought 10
be able TO do directly with the ballot.
Active participation in the life about
her. she said ought TO be and Is the
ideal OF every woman who is doins
something besides trying TO improve
her knowledge of ancient history.
Answers objections
Miss Mary Johnston undertook TO re
flute the stock arguments which are
brought against woman suffrage by It's
opponents She did it with the eifee-
tiveuess with which she writes her
novels. She took them al in their or
der-"it Will not work" 'it Will work
badly" 1T is a change" our fore
fathers didn't have It," indirect in
nueDce" 'chivalry." 'it isn't our
spbere" women are too sentimental
FOR public affairs" all women do not
want it," women cannot Highland
when she got through with them they
hung their faces In shame. That's the
way il looked. any way.
Polling places are as respectable as
post offices" said Miss Johnston. nail
Ing the bad influence argument fne
contention that women cannot hSht
and ought therefore be denied TIE
right to vote was q cowards arS1-
ment. she said. for more women an
nuallv lay down their lives in SivinS
, life than do men in dealing death
Mrs p. y. Valentine presided over
I the meeting and presented the speak
.rs. She made a strong appeal Tor
recruits to the cause and called upon
Virginia women TO j)ln the league
woTkin., for their cnfranchiseI0@n and
welfare. John :. MuRce, OF the Men
Equal suffrage League. made an al
I-aI FOR funds with which to carry on
the work and took occasion to deny
the report that the Equal suffrage
League OF Virginia is being supported
by money sent down from the North.
All Of IT, he said. comes from Virginia
On the platform with the speakers
were W. l. dcSsussurc. :. W Meek Il
II. Meade. Dr Roy n. Flanagan. Mrs
G. V. Meredith. Mrs Kate Langley
Boshcr. y. y. Valentine. Mrs. .. Hsr-
Vev Clarke nd l. r. Whippic.