The Washington herald., 1913-09-05
SUFFRAGE FOR
DISTRICT URGED
Senator Poindexter Makes an
Eloquent Plea in Favor Of
SeIf-GoveFnment.
CONDITIONS ARE SCORED
Mrs. Jessie Hardy Stubs, Another
Speaker at Ingram Church Meeting,
Discusses Votes for Women.

Making a strong ana eloquent pea lot
self-government for the District and
pledging himself to do everything in his
power to obtain for the residents Of the
District the right of suffrage, Senator
Poindexte- of Washington discussed
woman suffrage under the auspices of
the Study Club in Economics at Ingram
Memorial Church last night He said
the men and women OF Washington
ought to have a voice in the city admin
Istration and that their interests should
be looked after in Congress by a dele
gate. Senator Poindexter pointed to this
condition, where 10000 persons are dis
!ranchised, as an anomaly in the politi-
:al history of enlightened nations.
The only reason We haven't suf-
frage," said the speaker, lis because
we have not outgrown medieval con-
ditions; We have not far enough ad-
vanced in the science of government.
Most of our most influential statesmen,
powerful financiers, and lawmakers
Can learn a lesson in this respect from
the Typographical Union, which admits
women to full membership, with equal
rights and pay with men. Man, by
virtue OF his physical superiority over
woman, has assumed the position OF the
lord of the house and the nation, while
the woman remained his slave"
Senator Poindexter spoke in place of
Representative ]. A. Falconer, who was
prevented from being present.
Speech of Mrs. StuBbs.
Mrs. Jessie Hardy Stubbs in her ad-
dress on woman suffrage, declared that
1t would be impossible in future for any
man TO run for President of the United
States unless the platform he stands on
contains a plank favoring suffrage for
women. She designated Senator Root of
New York as a deadly enemy of the
suffrage movement, and read an ex-
tract from one Of his universal peace
speeches, using its argument in favor
of the suffrage cause. Mrs. Stubbs de-
clared that the women would not at once
take possession of all public off1ces and
oust the men when they have votes.
She said that there seemed to be a gen.
eral impression among men to that
effect
The woman of the twentieth century
is equally as well educated as her
brother" continued Mrs. Stubbs, land
she is therefore entitled to suffrage. The
women of today are conversant with
questions of public interest and are ask
from men and always will be. They are
not one bit better than the men, but
they do not want to be placed on a
pedestal where they cannot serve the
world. The cIinging vine idea does not
in the least appeal 10 me. 1t is ridiculous
TO apply the sta ndard or 100 years ago TO
the woman Of today. The women of to-
day are not at home, but they are out
working"
Politics Can BE Clean.
Referring to Senator Cillman's speech
on woman suffrage and his opposition TO
It. Mrs. Stubbs said that there is no
reason why politics should be dirty CT
flthys In Greece the most noble sons Of
noble parents specialized in politics
which is the science of government, and
which ought TO be clean and which will
be clean when man and woman work to-
Cether. Wumans place is where her work |
is in this twentieth century.
4 have heard men on Capitol Hill
argue that woman's place is the home. |
and yet there is a large army of women |
employed by the government, and almost !
every Senator and Representative has a !
woman stenographer. Men still are in |
th- kindergarten of self-government, and
women want to join them. Isn't il re- |
markable that our government is turned /
over to our young men when they reach |
the age of twenty-one without having |
had any instruction in the science of |
government or Civic5?"
Mrs. Stubbs urged that this study be |
taken UP in every public school in the !!
United States. il order to fit men and |
women to perform their duties as citi- |
zens Of this country in q manner most !
beneficial TO the country. A discussion |
followed the addresses.