The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-20

No fairer assemblage ever thronged
the hall and titled the galleries Of the
House of Delegates than that whicn
gathered there yesterday afternoon to
attend the public hearing before the
Committee on Privileges and Elections
Of the House OF Delegates on the
measures. which seek to bring about
the enactment OF amendments to the
Constitution of the State OF Virginia
which will give the women OF tins
State the right to vote on equal terms
with men
1t was truly historic OCCASION u
was the first time the law kers nf
Virginia had ever had Oil ciaiiy before
them the request CT the women OF the
State for the right OF sun age. No
one looking oser the assembled multi
tude OF ladies' would ever again De
willing to affirm that the mcsssnent
had NOT taken deep root tn Nirginta, or
that the ladies Interested In the great
question were not as womaniy. az
dieniaed, as cultured, and as refinea
US any In the old Commonwealth o.
Virginia.
snA9e Wiiiiaarr HI<sdk
n Judge Martin Williams presided
with dignity over the assem- hlaSe. oc-
cupyiny the speakers chair while the
COiHHIllEG was AaAAGA NAta5 ssA~
clerks platform. All the members
answered as the clerk called out
those names which are now familiar
in legislative circles--Williarns. Ba-
ker OF Chesterfield. Brown OF Dam
VILE, Stratton, Cox. Coleman or Nor
folk, Moncure, Oliver, White of AL
benarle. Lunsford. Milstead, Radford
and Land.
Mr. Williams asked II there was
any one present who was opposed to
the amendments who desired to be-
heard. No one responded. The an
ti-sufrragtsts were Got on hand Then
Mr.. Hill Montague. patron OF the
amendment bills. rose to say a few
preliminary words, amid great ap-
plause from his female constituents.
Mr.. Montague stated that he did not
desire to discuss the question at this
time. but that there were Others pres-
ent who would speak. and. reseryinY
the right to close the discussion. he
turned the matter of the speech
making over to Mrs. d. b. Valentine.
president Of the Equal Suffrage
League of Virginia. Before taking
his seat, however. Mr.. Montague said
that he recognized the fact that We
are making history or starting to
make history. This question u
brought before the oldest Commons
wealth in the nation officially for tho
first time today. and IT Is now before
our people to remain until finally set-
tied"
ciates," said he, "to treat the ques-
ton trivially and some as Joke. I
do not believe any member OF this
committee will approach the Ques-
ton trivtally or as joke. ] be-
.fevs the women behind tssiss .tcFe-s
ment have the right to be heard"
(Great applause.)
Mrs. Valentine Speaks.
Mrs. Valentine then addressed tho
committee. She said that the movo-
ment not only represented the Equal
Suffrage League OF Richmond. but
that auxiliaries were established In
many OF the towns and counties Of
the State. a number of which she
named. She directed the attention OF
the committee to the petition before
them Containing the names OF mnr9
than two thousand women OF Viz
ginia in every walk In life-all man.
ner Of women who are working for
| the uplift Of the city or State.
I'VE hold that as citizens we can.
not fulfil those obligations and re-
sponsibilities resting upon us. unless
we be given the power of the BALLOT
The women Of Virginia are ready
for the burdens. as we'll a. the prtY1a,
leges Of the ballot
Under the existing constitution
urged the speaker. We are placed IN
an insulting position. There II mo-
reason for DISTINGUISHING class Of
people unless they are morally Of
mentally deficient. BY Implication
the other of these classes. she do
ri