Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-18
Jones Declares There Is No
Valid Excuse for
Delay.
MAKES STIRRING PLEA
FOR VOTES FOR WOMEN
Answers Arguments Against Idea.
Terms Fair Sex Equal
to Men.

to Men.
Senator Wesley L. Jones Of Wash
ington made a speech In the Senate
this afternoon demanding that the
Senate act at once on the proposed
constitutional amendment providing
that the right to vote shall not be de-
MED on account OF sex. The amend
nent was reported favorably to the
Senate in June. Senator Jones pointed
out that the Senate is not considering
any legislation at present and that
there is no reason why the amendment
should not be taken up.
mo one can say that there is no de-
mand for the passage OF this resolu-
| ton" said Senator Jones. Millions of
voters from the Pacific and Rocky
mountain states have asked for its pas
sage The states of the east and middle
west are agitated over it. and thousands
Of their citizens ask US to pass it. Po-
litical parties representing millions Of
male voters have declared in favor Of 1t
and farmer and labor organizations with
millions of members, have declared in
favor of it. Under these circumstances
we should pass this resolution whether
we believe in the merits of the PROPOSE
ton or not.
Would Heed Demands.
II believe that when there is a wide
spread and continued demand for such
a resolution We should submit the same,
and give the people an opportunity to say
In the method prescribed by the Consti-
tuition whether or not that instrument
shah be amended. It is a right that be-
| longs to the people, and any proposition
that will command the support Of three
fourths of the states can be safely in
corporated in the Constitution.
/ There can be no reason for not acting
on this resolution except that inertness
which characterizes a body like this when
| 1t does not desire to see any radical
| change made, and yet Is afraid to oppose
| 1t, and therefore compromises by doing
nothing. There is much complaint be-
| cause OF the difficulty Of amending the
| Constitution. and we ourselves are large
| ~ responsible for it. We should be more
| responsive to the demands of the people"
Senator Jones attacked vigorously the
many objections made to the amendment,
and to woman suffrage generally. He
said that there is really no substantial
objection to the passage of the amend
ment, because every objection that has
been urged can be urged with greater
| force against male suffrage
Like Fighting Windmills.
ct is like fighting windmills,' he de-
clared. ''One good woman opposing wom-
an suffrage says that she wants woman
| to be q good hOmemaker. good mother
and loyal and intelligent and active
| citizen. So do We and we want to give
| her the power to discharge the duty OF
| good citizenship and help her to make
| her own and other homes better and en-
able her to be a more efficient mother and
an example of inspiration to her chill
dren.''
Tracing the history of women. Sena-
tor Jones said that the progress OF wom-
be stopped than can the ebbing and flow
| ing Of the tides. He told Of the many
gains in woman's rights in the past,
and said that giving her the ballot Is
! he said, are 1.-The restoration by men OF
rights usurped by him in savagery and
barbarism." In most OF the states. he
said, women can now vote on some
Question Of Voting.
TT has been objected that many men
do not vote, and that many women would
not vote" he continued. This would be
a good argument for denying the right
to vote to some men. but 1t is no argu-
ment for denying to all women the power
| to DISCHARGE properly the duties Of citi-
| zenship / know that the Indifferent
voter is responsible for many Of the ills
of practical politics and ! would like to
see some way devised to punish all who
neglect this great civic duty. Any one
who neglects to vote on an election
should be disqualified from being can
didate for any office or subject to hne
| or some other penalty.
Senator Jones quoted figures in reply
to the objection that woman suffrage
| would increase the illiterate vote. He
declared that only a small proportion OF
educated women should not be deprived
| of the vote because Of a few ignorant
| ones.
In the last analysis" he continued,
"the argument against woman suffrage
| Is an argument for the restriction OF the
| right of suffrage for men as well as for
| women, and indicates that woman sur
frage would be good thing In order that
the Indifferent and undesirable voter
might be eliminated"
Fixes Blame for Conditions.
Senator Jones said that some oppose
woman suffrage because they do not want
the women to go to the polls on account
of unfit conditions and undesirable sur
roundings. If this objection has any force
at ALL he said, 1t shows that the male sex
is unfit to have charge OF government af-
fairs. II voting places are SO undesirable
that women should not go there. he added.
men are to blame Such conditions will
be changed, he said, when women vote.
Another objection" he continued. "is
that 1t will break down the home. This is
absolutely without foundation and Is con-
| trary to experience. AS q matter OF fact,
It STRENGTHENS home ties and makes more
Of q community Of interest between the
mother and SON, brother and sister and
husband and wife, and develops higher
citizenship and sweeter companionship
for all.
Would Not Hazard Chivalry.
"Will woman suffrage lessen mans
respect for and chivalry toward wom-
an? Not at all. 1t has not done so
when tried. and II 1t should do 1t. 1t
would be a reflection on the men and
not on the women. and would show
the necessity Of inculcating In men a
higher regard for the proper discharge
Of the duties and responsibilities of
citizenship. The man whose respect