The Washington times., 1912-03-13
Brilliantly Clad
Women Address
Pleas to Senators

A brilliant gathering of women that
packed one of the large halls in the
Senate Office Building was assembled
this morning to urge on the Senate
Woman Suffrage Committee, of which
Senator Overman is chairman, an
amendment to the Constitution which
shall give women the right TO the ballot.
In the audience were leaders of the
woman suffrage movement from all
parts of the Union. Many suffragists
from this city We're among those as
semblcd.
1t was dismal, rainy morning. but
this fact did not prevent fine millinery
and handsome raiment from being
brought forth for the occasion to fortify
the suffrage arguments.
Mrs. Berger Makes Plea.
The pleas in behalf of suffrage for
women before the Senate Committee
were made without reference to the par
tisan views of the speakers. For in
stance, one of those conspicuous at the
hearing was Mrs. Victor Berger. wife
of the Socialist member Of the House
from Wisconsin, and one of the most
forceful speakers was Mrs Elsie Cole
Philips, of Milwaukee, who accompanied
Mrs. Berger, and who is a leading So
cialist orator and worker, as well as
Miss Caroline Lowe, OF Chicago
me committee was vastly entertain
ed by Miss Leonora O'ReilIy, of New
York, young woman worker from that
city. Miss O'ReilIy handed it to the
committee straight" She said she had
begun working at the age of thirteen.
Il don't want to play any bluff game
on you" she said. I'VE working Wom-
en- have got to have the ballot.
you want the country to get rich.
but you don't know that the riches of
the nation are it's people. This country
has grown rich. but it has grown
mighty rotten. Excuse my English, but
It's perfectly proper"
Speaking of the willingness of the
men to vote for the women, she said:
Its a principle that to let anybody do
something for you is to let them do
YOU"
Il want to give it to you straight"
declared Miss O'Reily, as she proceed
ed to picture the political predicament
of the country. You men have got us
into a devil of mess, but we're willing
to come in and help You clean house"
Rev. Anna II. Shaw, president of the
National Woman Suffrage Association
had charge of the meeting and mar
shaled the speakers, pr. Shaw, who
House and Senate committee for 10,
these many years, did not speak at
great length herself. In opening the
meeting, she made a brief speech to the
of women to the ballot.
DR.. Shaw introduced Mrs. Susan
Walker Fitzgerald, of Boston, daughter
OF Admiral Walker corresponding secre-
tary of the Massachusetts Association of
SuffragiStS and recording secretary OF
the National Woman Suffrage ASsoCa-
tion. as the first speaker. Mrs. Fftzger-
aid appeared here two years ago in be-
half of suffrage.
Government and Home.
"Under modern social ad industrial
conditions" said Mrs. Fitzgerald the
Government touches the home closely.
Women can no longer influence the
home as they should unless they control
the Government and exert control over
the officials of the Government through
the ballot. The home in the old days
could provide everything that was nee
essaTy to the maintenance of the fam
lily. Now, that is impossible. We have
to buy outside: The only way to be able
to guarantee the quality of what We buy
Is through legislation"
Hence, Mrs. Fitzgerald argued it was
vital to the home that woman have
through the ballot, voice in legisla-
ton.
Mrs Fitzgerald declared that all the
New England suffragists expect that
the New Hampshire constitutional con-
clare for votes for women, and that
the male voters in New hampshire will
ratify this at the polls.
"Although a twO-thirds majority of
popular vote is required in New Hamp-
shire" said Mrs. FITZGERALD, the out
look Is that sufficient number Of votes
will be secured. Ten years ago the
New hampshire constitutional COnven-
ton declared for equal suffrage, but
the necessary two-thrds majority was
not secured when it was submitted to
the polls.
Bay State Situation.
tin Massachusetts we face a difficult
proposition. 1t is necessary for a con-