The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-04-02
LYNN WILSON'S ARGUMENT IN
FAVOR OF EQUAL FRANCHISE
Bridgeport Representative Presents Reasons Why The Voters
Should Pass on The Question Whether Women Should
Have The Ballot
Special to The Farmer)

Hartford, April 2-Below will be
found the text of the address delivered
in the House today by Representative
Lynn w. Wilson of Bridgeport in
| favor of the plan proposing to give
the electorate chance to pass upon
| the question of extending the fran
chise to women in Connecticut. Mr..
Wilson'S speech was the principal one
| delivered in behalf of the cause OF
women suffrage and throughout he
was frequently interrupted by ap-
| p1ause.
Mr.. Wilson said:
Mr.. Speaker: This message which
has been unfavorabIy reported by the
house committee on constitutional
amendments proposes to eliminate the
word male from the qualification for
voters and this if accomplished, would
admit women to ballot upon the same
terms and conditions as men are now
admitted.
This change requires q. constitutional
amendment, and the constitution can
not be amended except this measure
be passed now by majority of this
house, and two years hence by two
thirds of both houses, and then by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the
males of Connecticut voting upon it.
Therefore, Mr.. Speaker, the question
before us is not whether woman shall
be admitted to the ballot upon the
same terms as men, but whether or
IL
people who are represented by the
male voters, shall be enabled to vote
whether the ballot shall be conferred
upon women.
It will therefore be beside the ques-
ton to discuss at length the merits of
the contention that women should be
admitted to the full franchise. That is
not for us to say 1t is for the men
of Connecticut to say, at the ballot
box.
For myself, am profoundly con-
WINGED that women ought to have the
ballot. Nay, am CONVINCED that they
will have the ballot, sooner or. later,
and probably sooner. say to you
that in my opinion nothing is more
certain than that the denocracies of
the future, in this country and abroad
will consist of all the people of vot-
ing age, both men and women. He
is poor observer Of contemporary
events who can reach any other con-
clusion-
For my part say that would not
deny the ballot to any woman who
wants it, and who is able to meet the
qualifications which are imposed on
any man who wants it. If there are
women who do not want the ballot,
well and good. They need not vote.
There are men who do not want to
vote and they do not have to vote.
But if there are women who want to
in Gods name, let them SO vote.
The question before this House is
then, simply this question. Are we
willing, in due season, that the peo-
pie of Connecticut, that the male vot-
ers at the ballot box should decide?
propose to make an affirmative
case in favor Of such a determination.
and I claim that there is the power
in US, but no moral equitable right
to refuse to send this matter to the
people.
so further, L assert, Mr. Speak
err, that If this house shall refuse to
submit this question, the report Of the
committee Notwithstanding, that it
will be guilty of gross contempt of
public demand, and will be guilty of
reca1citrance and disobedience to the
plain command of the people of this
state, and will as well be arraying it
self against the broad world tendency
of this nation and of all the nations.
assert and I shall attempt to show
that the people of the United States
are everywhere indicating that they
believe women should vote 1
assert and I shall attempt to show
that the people of this state, a major
ity of the voting people, have issued
a mandate that they want women to
vote
that one of the great, parties in this.
house, the Democratic party, has
agreed as a party that the women
ought to vote, and has promised as
a party, that it will do its best to
procure them the ballot, and that two
other parties have promised the same
promise.
But, since you as representatives
of the people, have no duty except to
know the will of the people and do it,
it will be entirely sufficient to cause
the rejection of this report if it is
eral demand for the submission of this
question to the master, the sovereign
people.
We have nine equal suffrage states.
Wyoming gave women full suffrage in
1859.
no and Utah in 1895; Washington in
1910; California, in 1911; Kansas, Ore
gon and Arizona, in 1872
The legislatures of the following
states have this year passed measures
for the submission of equal suffrage
amendments to the electors, to wit,
New York, Nevada, Montana, New
Jersey, Michigan and South Dakota.
1t will be seen that more than a
third of the people of the nation have
indicated either by the adoption of a
votes for women amendment or by the
of their legislatures to initiate
such an amendment, their purpose to
admit women to the ballot.
maintain that no intelligent man
can consider the course of this move
rnent during the last two or three
years, and reach any other conclusion
that that women are to take their
places in this country as an integral
part of the people, with full share
in the duties that appertain to the
franchise.
1t is merely a question as to wheth-
er this house will array itself with
progress, or against it. The stars in
their courses fought against Sisera, but
Sisera did not know that he was stu
pidly fighting against the stars.
For my part I will not leave it a
heritage to my children or to my sue
cessors through them, that their an
cestor stood at the door of a great