The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-12

Again, in the twelfth verse:
salute the beloved Persis which la
bored much in the Lord
$50 you see, Paul had a high regard
for the work of certain women and
there is really no Scriptural reason
why women should not preach If they
are called to the work.
And when did you begin to make
your affiliations with suffrage?
asked.
For many years 1 have been in
terested in the question:" said Mrs
Crane. To-day more than ever I am
wearing my Votes for Women but
ton while | am in Alabama in COM
pliment to the suffragists here. At
home it is not necessary since our VIC
tore recently"
Are YOU Socialist In any sense oil
the word?" I asked.
"Only as applied to adult suffrage
without regard to SEX" was the reply.
II don't believe that women will be as
partisan as men when they have the
vote. I don't believe they will follow
rarty lines as closely as the men
Socialists, Democrats-what you will
but when the time comes for a great
issue to be decided 1 believe they will
Unite. regardless of party lines and
cast their vote as they did out in Col
orado In the election of Judge Lindsay
and out in Seattle. when they wanted
to get rid of a corrupt Mayor"
do you believe that when women
get the vote that IL will have any eff
feet upon the Marriage and Divorce
lRws?" / asked.
zone of the first things that women
should secure" said Mrs. Crane, in
answer to my question, is uniform
marriage and divorce law throughout
the country. I approve thoroughly of
railroads being regulated by Interstate
laws. but not marriage or divorce"
Taking calm. unprejudiced view
do you think the majority of women
want the voter" I asked.
Il can certainly answer for Michi-
gan" said Mrs. Crane. As a matter
of fact many women have not had the
experience which enables them to sec
the connection between the vote and
their traditional duties as housekeep-
ers and mothers. AS soon as 1t is
properly presented to them they say:
why / didn't know that Suffrage
was anything like that, OF course ]
want the vote.''
DO you think, as many do. that the
vote of women will at once turn our
country into a little Heaven here be-
low-or what?" I asked.
mot at ALL said Mrs. Crane. IT do
not know what will happen. I only
know things will be better. Just how
much better depends entirely upon the
degree OF public spirit of women"
Mrs Poyser," suggested, "our
shrewd friend of George Elliot's won
derful Imagination. uttered a sound
philosophy as well as biologic truth
which might hold good in these days
of Mendelian theories. when she said:
I'm not denying that the women
are foolish. but God Almighty made
them to match the men'--eh?"
Mrs Crane laughingly replied:
II shan't say anything against the
men, at least not against the Michi-
gan men. They've been too good to
us, and l hope your Alabama men will
be just as generous. They've given us
the vote and the vital point of the whole
matter of Suffrage is just this: AS soon
las women can vote, the officeholders
and candidates viii become sensitive
to their opinions Women 90 not have
to hold offices to get things. office
holders will cast about for every issue
that will appeal to women and get
their vote. We don't have to have
women governors. commissioners, Pres
lidents-but VOTERS Women are not
office seekers. and never will be-"
Referring to the recent situation in
Birmingham when there was a possible
vacancy on the board of education, IL
was related to Mrs. Crane how a WON
an was wanted to fill the vacancy and
how under the laws Of Alabama none
but qualified elector was eligible to
such position, which of course pre-
cluded woman serving. also that moi
the highest tax paying, best educated
or most public spirited woman in the
state was permitted the vote, the laws
being such that it would require Leg
islative Enactment to make it other
wise
Mrs. Crane expressed great surprise
at such conditions and observed:
That puts Alabama on the Suffrage
Black List I regret to say. 1 am as
tonished to know that you have nc
School Suffrage here; no suffrage you
might say of any sort. Why for years
We have had School Suffrage in Michi-
gan and for four years we have had
Tax Paying Suffrage on Bond Issues
ETC.. and now, as I've said repeatedly
he have full Suffrage. at least think
that our victory means another break
In the solid ranks of conservatism, and
feel sure it will go far toward help
ing things in that territory"