Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-21

He declared that woman suffrage does
not tend to break up the home NO such
case ever was pointed to in Idaho, he
said.
Society as a whole has the right to call
upon woman to assume the duty of the
franchise, Mr.. French said, If society
considered that women should take part
in political affairs.
Z Mrs. SewelIs Protest.
Mrs. May Wright sewer of Indiana
protested against the great waste OF
which the country is guilty by the dis
REIMBURSEMENT of one-half of its citizens
she said that she was a teacher and that
the educa ton of the citizen of the coun-
try was placed in the hands OF women
What an anomaly she said.
She declared that enfranchised woman
teachers would be in better position 10
teach the young in regard to economic
and political questions. She caiied al
tention to the fact that one-hali oi '; ne
millions spent for free public schools IN
this country went to educate girls ana
women, and yet the women have no VOTE
and cannot make return to the country
for their education.
Mrs Sewell said that there was no rea-
son to believe that less respect would be
given women by men If women were per-
rnitted to vote. and in consequence they
would have more power. She said that in
inject for her sex since the women had
xhc ballot. She said she had found the
conversation at afternoon teas much
Improved and more intellectual in Cali
1orna
: Speaks of Practical Results.
. Senator Poindexter of Washington
testified to practical results of woman
kuffrage in his own state. He said the
anti-suffragists and speakers before
the committee had given the best evil
dence that women We're intellectually
&ell qualified to receive the franchise
fIe was surprised to hear them say that
&omen should take no part in the dis
eussion and settlement of pubic ques-
tons,
THE anti-suffragists would debar
themselves from the consideration OF
fhe question of woman suffrage IT they
Carried out this method of reasoning
10 it's ultimate conclusion, said Sena-
tor PoindeXter. "Of course. ] do not
believe that they should be debarred
trom this discussion"
He contended that women showed mucf
interest in voting. notwithstanding the
charges that they have failed TO exercise
abe right of franchise in states where
fhey are allowed to vote.
No reliable figures have been gathered
Showing what proportion of the women
vote he declared. land the figures pre-
scented by the anti-suffragistS are abso-
lute1y incorrect
Senator PoindeXter referred to a state
ment by Abra ham Lincoln. who said that
the civil was not being waged to give
freedom to those negroes who did not
want freedom.
This fight for womans suffrage is not
being waged for the women who do not
want the ballot" said Senator PoindeX-
ter. but for those who do.
He deprecated the fact that the sex
question had been brought into the con-
frp nv no isl
There is no question of changing the
sex relation i'm this fight for woman SUI
frage,' he said.
Compliments Feminine Sex.
The senator declared that women were
superior to men i'm many ways, and should
be given the ballot
Inc anti-suffra gists did not argue
SO much against woman suffrage as
against all suffrage. continued Sena-
tor Poindexter. Time and time again
it was argued that the right to vote
was not the important thing. but the
work which is being done by commits
sions of which women were members.
The very life of these commissions is
dependent upon the right of suffrage.
Even if I were in favor of limited
suffrage. it does not follow that the limi-
tation should be along the lines of SEX,
said Senator PoindeXter. Perhaps such
u limitation should he along the lines OF
education. property or some other quail
ftcation. but certainly the fact of sex
alone should not be considered in sum-
ming up the qualifications
He said stress was laid upon the TACT
that partial suffrage. as i'll school cleo
tons. had had good results.
why should not full suffrage for wom-
en- then, be benefit the country he
asked why cannot the women solve
Of obi at
questions of child labor, the hours OF
labor, and working conditions for the
state, as we'll as solve school questions in
their home towns?
He declared the only logical conclusion
of the long struggle by which woman
has changed from mere chattel of man
to his equal before the law was the
granting of political rights.
Senator PoindeXter spoke of the women
voters of his state.
There are just as many children in
Washington as there were before the
women had the vote, he said, The wom-
en- have just much time ~ give to
their homes as before. None of the dam
gers which have been predicted by the
anti-suffragists has materialized in
Washington.
He declared that the question of woman
suffrage was just as much national
question as was the question of slavery
and that he thought the national govern
ment should act upon it.
Points Answered by Mrs. Colby.
Mrs. Clara B. Colby declared that the
only point made by the anti suffra gists
at their hearing was that the states would
consider the passage OF a resolution for
Roman suffrage by the federal Congress
would be resented by the states. She
denied this and said ii was strange that
the Pacific coast states have been men-
toned as among those that would OPP
pose a constitutional amendment for
woman suffrage, when, AS a matter OF
fact. these states have themselves grant