Arizona republican., 1913-08-08
CARL HAYDEN
 ON SUFFRAGE
Arizona $ Representative Shows Congress Why Ad- mission of Women to the Polls Lends to Conscr- VatiSm of Government

the women of the nation to enjoy equal privileges with those of Arizona. Ia speaking upon a bill before the house | ito protect the rights of women citi- zcns of the United States to register and vote for the members of the house of representatives" Mr. Hayden gave history of the equal suffrage move mcnt in this state and he presented an argument of which his colleagues had not heard. MT, Hayden said:
 Mr Chairman, an oqual-suffrage amendment to the constitution of Ari- zona was adopted at the last general election held in November, 1912. Not much history has been made since that time. Women have voted in one city election in the state of Arizona. and I am proud to say that all except ono candidate on the democratic ticket were elected CAppIauseD The agita- tion for equal suffrage in Arizona has been in progress for number of years. one territorial legislature passed d law granting equal suffrage to women, but it was vetoed by the governor, a federal appointcc.
 When our state was admitted into the union the suffrage question was of
 
 convention. AS you know. we adopted d very progressive constitution, but knowing that it would be subjected to much criticism and meet with great ob- jcction in Washington. it was thought to be the wiser course by the cOnSti- tutionaI convention not to grant cqUad suffrage We were more anxious for admission into the union than for any thing else. The convention did, how cvcr provide an easy method of amendment. Under the Arizona con stitution amendments may be submit ted to the people by d majority vote If each house of the legislature. or. in the event that tho legislature fails tQ act, an amendment can be initiated by the people on q petition signed by 15 per cent of the qualified electors.
 The first state legislature of Arizona in it's wisdom declined to submit an cquaI-suffracc mcndment to the pco- pie. Imemdiately after the legislature adjourned those interested in the cause of equal suffrage in our state began the circulation of initiative petitions They had no great difficulty in obtain ing the required number of signatures which were filed with the secretary of state, and the amendment was submit- ted to the people. Our law requires aH political parties to meet in the stata capitol on the same day and prepare their platforms. All of the parties an nounccd themselves in favor of equal suffrage. therefore it was d nonparti- san issue at the last election When the votes were counted. it was found that the amendment had carried by more than to 1. which illustrates the great
 
 CApplausc.)
 The first Arizona state legislature is composed of an exceptional body of men-broad minded, honest. and anx- ious to execute tho will of the people am certain that they were sincere in the belief that the people of our state did not desire to have an equal-Suf- frage amendment submitted. The vote proves that they were honestly mistak- en, that the people did wish to have this amendment submitted and. having the power through the initiative and referendum. it was submitted If more states would make their constitutions easy of amendment by means of the initiative and referendum I am sure that the progress of equal suffrage would be much greater than it has been, because this method could be re- sorted to in many cases where the leg islature refuses to submit amendments. CAppIauseD
 In travelling over the state during the campaign we heard all of the old-time arguments in favor of equal suffrage. but there was one argument made in Arizona that was new to me I heari it so often made by so many different people that I am satisfied it had great weight in carrying the amendment. [ have mentioned this argument to a number of congressman in Washington, and apparently none of them had heard of it before.
 According to the last census the pop ulatiOn of Arizona consisted of about 60 per cent men and 10 per cent women. Of the men about 47 per cent were married and of the women about 65 per cent were married. The argument was made that the adoption of wo- mans suffrage was not a radical meas ure, that it was conservative in its tendency, for the reason that it would double the vote of the people of Arizo- na who were married, who have homes. who have property. and who. for all of these reasons, have d vital interest in the prosperity of the country. It is the single man who travels about from place to place, who is not a property owner, and who has no family ties: he is the man who is inclined to be radi- cal; he is willing to urge changes in the law and even in the form of onlr government. It is the young unmar- ried man who goes to war, the young man who faVorS agitation and who seeks new enterprises The man of family is inclined to be conservative This is true in matters of Legislation just as it is in war or business.
 I am reminded of the lines from Kip ling in one of his poems about the war in South Africa.