The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-19
VOTES FOR WOMEN
NO NEW WRINKLE
Virginia Suffragists Desired
Franchise Eighty-Four Years
Ago.
LEAGUE OPENS NEW SEASON
Miss Frayser Tells How Women
Have Helped in Many
States.
LEAGUE OPENS NEW SEASON

Evidence. In the form Of clipping
from the Richmond Inquirer OF 1929, to
disprove the gibe that the votes for
women movement in Virginia is n new
wrinkle for the entertainment of un-
employed social ladies. was produced
at reception last night in the Equal
Suffrage League headquarters upon the
occasion of the opening Of the fall
campaign.
The demand for equal suffrage in
Virginia is no new thing" said Miss
Mary Il. Frayser. OF South Carolina.
speaking to the large gathering. This
clipping shows that eighty-four years
ego. In 1929. the women OF this State
petitioned the Virginia Convention for
tho right to exercise the voting fran
Chise"
The new State headquarters of the
league were formally opened last night
The small auditorium in tho CONNER
c!al Building, on Second Street be-
tween Broad and Grace, was crowded
with men and women. and there were
enough people unable to gain admit
| lance to the hall TO hold an overflow
meeting In the next room. Violin and
piano selections occupied place on
the program of the evening. and re-
freShments were served. Many names
were signed to the petition which is
10 be handed to the next General AS
srmbly.
To Wnr on Legislature.
For several months the suffrage
hosts have rested on their arms: last
night the banners sere shaken out
anew. the battle cry sounded. and the
forces assembled 10 do battle against
opponents in the Virginia Legislature
and the Society for the Prevention OF
Equal Suffrage next January Out Of
the calm came the prophecy that the
fight for the female suffrage amend
ment will be warmer than ever before
Following short Introductory ad-
dress by Mrs. r. b. Valentine. presi-
dent of the league, Miss Frayser was
introduced. She rdiculed the idea
that woman will lose any of her wo-
manliness in taking up political rights
and az for the assertion that women
were mentally unht TO exercise the
franchise, she produced statistics TO
prove that moro men than women are
iiliterate in the United States.
Suffrage Stimulates Duty.
The effect of allowing women to
mark the ballot has been found in
equal suffrage states. 10 be stimulat-
ing to the sense OF political duty OF
the men," said Miss Frayser. Know
ing that the women will vote, the men
feel that they should exercise their
franchise. You often hear the asser-
ton that IN suffrage States women
fail TO use the vote after Il has been
given them. That is totally incorrect
The facts prove that in States
where women are eligible TO vote from
20 to % per cent OF the women excr-
else that right, as against from 90 10
80 per cent OF the men. Public house
keeping has improved where woman
has been allowed to have a hand In
the government Our so-called repre-
sentative government can never be
truly representative while one half the
adult population has no voice .n the
government.
Mans fight Tedious.
Men won the right TO vote by a
long drawn fight. One hundred years
ago few men In the United States had
the voting franchise. Woman has
won the moral right to vote by the
change in social and economic con-
ditions y century ago each home
was unit in the community. produc-
ing the vast bulk OF its necessities
within itself. with woman as 4 IL
recting power. That kind OF work has
been taken out OF the home by the
evolution OF manufacturing, and
woman has had to follow Into the
factories and sweatshops. The $780,
600 women now working in factories
and sweatshops have no voice in the
molding OF laws to govern the con-
ditions under which they shall labor"
1t was announced by Mrs Valen-
tine that the Equal Suffrage booth at
the State Fair this year will be To-
Gated in the Administration Building.
The league will hold a fair on the
second Tuesday OF November to raise
money for the cause.