Evening journal., 1913-02-27
WOMEN ASK
LEGISLATURE
FOR BALLOT
Big Delegation Given Hearing
In Behalf Of Reinhardt
Suffrage Bill
DR.. ANNA H. SHAW'S
APPEAL TO SOLONS

many years that has come to the Leg
islature to urge passage of certain /
legislation was the delegation that |
crowded the House chamber yesterday
afternoon, when a hearing was given !
in behalf Of Seator Reinhardts meas
ure to amend the Constitution by giv-
ing the right to vote to women. The
delegation numbering more than two
hundred women from many towns of
the state, including an outpouring OF
Wilmington and Dover women. filled all
the available space in the House cham
Der. Many Of the members gave up
their seats to the women. To ad dto
the attendance many Of the girls from
the Dover public school made their
way into the legislative hall, following
flag raising ceremonies outside, in
which they participated.
For an hour the women we're given
an opportunity to voice their reasons
why they desired the ballot TO be
upon the same voting plane as the
men. The principal speaker was the
Rev. DR.. Anna II. Shaw. Of Philadel-
phia, president of the National Equal
Suffrage Association and famed as a
Methodist Episcopal minister. At the
conclusion Of the hearing the suffra-
gists thanked the legislators for the
courteous hearing and the legislators
thanked the suffragists for their inter-
esting presentation Of their cause.
President Pro Tenn Marshall presided
over the joint hearing Following GUS
tom Senator Reinhardt had the time
for the hearing limited to one hour.
Mrs. Winfield S. Quigley held the
watch on the speakers.
Mrs. CranstOn As Leader.
Mrs. Martha S. Cranston was intro
duced as head of the delegation. She
said the women came not asking for
an appropriation, but for liberty, "the
same kind of liberty that our fore
fathers asked of England" She said
that several speakers would speak for
three minutes and DR.. Anna II. Shaw
would be the principal speaker, she
being president of the National Suf-
frage Association.
Miss Mary H. Askew Mather, of
Wilmington was introduced as the
first speaker eve come not militant
and not partisan" she said, I'VE have
been studying carefully the condi-
tions of our city and State, so we may
be ready when the ballot comes to
us, which we are sure will come.
When this Legislature and the next
Legislature pass this bill / believe You
will take il as matter of course that
we will vote"
Mrs. Hayward's Words.
Mrs Harry Hayward introduced as
a representative of the Grange, said
She would not undertake the ordeal Of
appearing to speak as she was in be-
half of any one body. "I come to
you as a wife and a mother" she
said, "for / see certain dangers con-
fronting us" Mrs. Hayward told OF
what other States have done in the
way of giving votes TO women, and
she said that the women merely ask.
ed for an opportunity to share the re-
sponsibilites. 81 do not think any Of
us will lose our characters by going
TO the polls to VOTE" said Mrs. Hay
ward. Our hardest work Is in this
preliminary campaign to get the right
to vote"
Mrs. Horace Marvin, of near Dover,
the next speaker, said she had lived
in Colorado for many years before
coming to Dover, and voted there fire.
quently before removing to Delaware.
She said her daughter had voted for
sixteen years in Colorado before
coming to Delaware. Mrs. Marvin
laughingly told of her troubles in get
ting to Dover with an old mule haul
ing their carriage. HE moved so
slowly that if he colided with a tree
he would not have been hurt she
said.
DR.. Reed Aids Cause.
The Rev. Dr. George Edward Reed
pastor Of Grace M. f. Church, VIII
mington. said he would be "the only
representative Of the weaker seA
address you this afternoon"
Equal suffrage needs no extended
argument at this stage of development
of the suffrage movement" said Dr.
Reed. The argument is all in. The
only question now is that Of ex-
pediency-is IL expedient 10 grant
the right of suffrage to the women Of
the State.
Suffrage is no longer an expert
ment. II is tried successfully in nine
great States of the Union and many
countries, and | doubt whether any oi
you have heard of any disastrous re.
suits in any State or Country in the
civic or home life following the in.
PRODUCTION of equal suffrage.
Why should Delaware drag behind
in the march of progress? While
there are some women who do moi
care for the ballot, you can't find one
Of the women in the great social vel.
fare work. in the settlement work. IN
the slums and against the drink tTaf.
fic. who Is not an advocate OF and in.
sistent upon equal suffrage"
Dr. Shaw's Address.
Or. Anna Howard Shaw. the prin-
cipal speaker. said she knew OF M
more appropriate time for the hearins
than following the flag raising upor
the State House 81 was interested II
the speech OF the Governor when hs
said the flag stood for liberty she
said and | wondered whether II stands
for liberty when the women of the
land are not permitted to vote
"The women of this land have the
same liberty now they had before the
Revolutionary days.
when the Governor said the stars
and Stripes we're first unfurled in bat
tie in Delaware | felt like adding 'anC
made by woman-Betsy Ross
Referring to the Governor as Hil
Excellency. DR.. Shaw observed, 1--WE
are not used to that yet. but will b'
after awhile" She read the Consti
tuition Of Delaware and said th'
women were not asking that idiots
Insane persons and psrpers anf
criminals be eliminated. but that thu
word female" be included in thu
Constitution.
The only persons incapactate,
from voting is us she said 'Whii'