The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-05-12
NEGRO WOMAN
QUESTION IS A
MERE BUGABOO
THAT IS TERM USED BY FLORIDA
WOMEN IN AGAIN PRESENTING
THEIR CAUSE TO GOVERNOR,
WHOSE INFLUENCE THEY ARE
DESTROYS OF OBTAINING.
BY FRANK L. HUFFAkER

Tallahassee, May 1.-THE dele
cation Of prominent Florida women
here in the interest of woman suffrage
had an audience with Governor Park
Trammell late Friday afternoon and
presented to him a strong letter ask
ing him that he use his influence in
behalf Of having the absorbing cues
ton submitted to a vote of the people
Governor TrammeH mas made no
formal reply to the letter yet, nor is
MS attitude on the subject of full
suffrage known to the writer. 1t is
understood, however, that the young
governor looks with favor upon the
movement except for the fact that ne
gro women would have the privilege Of
voting. The suffrage champions how
ever, declare the negro woman aues-
ton is a mere "bugaboo," and that
it can be handled just as the negro
man question has been handled. 1.-The
negro woman can be eliminated as the
negro men have been, and their vote
would be cleaner than that of the ne
gro men, said one of the ladies' The
delegation expressed appreciation Of
the manner in which they were receiv-
by the governor.
LETTER TO TRAMMELL.
In their letter to Governor Tram
NELL the ladies declare that regardless
Of what his attitude or their attitude
on woman suffrage may be, 1t is
nothing but just that the people Of
Florida be allowed to vote on the sub
ject. They call attention to the fact
that he is an avowed champion Of tho
initiative and referendum, and as
such should aid them in having their
cause submitted to the people.
The letter follows:
Tallahassee, Fla, May 9, 1913.
Dear Governor:
Approaching the fact that your ex-
cellent message urges the enactment
Of many good and progressive laws,
and particularly approaching your
plea that the women of Florida should
be allowed to serve on school boards,
we, officers and members Of the Flor
ida Equal Franchise League, wish to
urge you to use your good influence in
having submitted to the people Of
Florida a constitutional amendment
permitting the women of our state to
vote.
You stand out boldly for the initia- |
tive and referendum, which appear to |
meet with the approval of millions |
nowadays This being the case, do |
you not think that it is but just that |
the citizens of Florida should have |
the privilege of voting for and against |
civilized world is now interested? The |
women vote in New Zealand, the best |
governed country IN the world and they /
have brought betterment to each of /
our states in which they have been
given the right of franchise. Is 1t not |
natural to believe, therefore, that par
ticipation of the women of Florida In
elections of Importance would have
the same effect in this state?
Regardless of what your personal |
attitude may be with reference to the
granting of full suffrage rights to
and regardless of what our at
titude may be thereon, does it not
to you as being absolutely Just
and progressively democratic to allow
the people to vote on the proposftion?i
If so, will you not address a brief
message to the senate in which a
suffrage amendment is pending asking
that the people be allowed to express
on the subject? And will
you not, in case the necessary three
ffths vote is recorded in the senate,
express yourself similarly to the house
of representatives.
We are perfectly willing to allow
the majority of Florida citizens to de-
eide on the question of equal suff-
rage and do not think any opponent
Of equal suffrage has the right to re-
fuse our plea for a statewide vote on
the subject.
With our best wishes for a success
.ul administration and hoping for the
influence of Your Excellency in the
work in which we are so deeply inter
ssted, we beg to subscribe ourselves.
Most respectfully,
Florida Equal Franchise League,
Mrs. Florence NJ. Cooley, Mrs. Bes-
sic [. Sanderson, Mrs. Louise Locke,
Mrs. Lee Kirby Smith, Miss Frances
Anderson.
Hon. Park Tramme11 Governor of
Florida, Tallahassee, Florida.