The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-16
WHY SUFFRAGE IS
NOW EXPED|ENT
Shapiro Lectures Before
Suffrage Association
REPLIES TO HEFLIN
Challenges Heflin to Point to Amy of
His Legislation Which Has Pro-
NOTED Welfare of Ala
bama Women
REPLIES TO HEFLIN

Declaring that the battle for equal
suffrage is the battle for democracy
and that equal suffrage is expedient
because justice demands 1t, Isadore
Shapiro. the well known attorney,
forcefully and eloquently presented the
cause of equal suffrage at a meeting
of the Birmingham Equal Suffrage as
sociation held last night at the Cable
Shelby Burton hall.
The meeting was well attended, quite
a number of men being present. The
regular business of the association had
been dispensed with in order to devote
the evening to the address of Mr..
Shapiro. The speaker made a deep inn
preston on the large audience, which
followed every word that fell from
his lips with keen interest and while
not demonstrative frequently applauded
the sentiments and logic of the speaker.
Mrs. oscar Hundley president of the
association, presided over the meeting
and introduced the speaker.
She prefaced her remarks by express
Ing her pleasure and appreciation of
the many who were present and in
vited them to Visit the headquarters of
the equal suffrage association at the
conclusion of the speaking. Mrs. Humid
ley said in part:
Ladies and gentlemen: Throughout
the country where there is an effort
made by women to obtain equal suf-
frage, we find two of the obstacles
which confront the movement are the
old theory of government and the old
theory of woman's place in the gov
ernment. The old theory of government
dr1 IL fl,ff nd
something that made laws. that con-
trolled, that commanded, and there we
find a lack OF desire that woman should
be allowed a position where she might
control or command or govern.
New Theory in Democracy
1.-The new theory of government,
which is democracy, Is that government
Is service and certainly woman is never
so fully in her sphere as when serving.
AS soon as We get this new view of
government-that of service-incorpor-
ated in our minds. it will do much to
alter the objection to giving women
the ballet We say the test of readi :
ness Is opportunity. Readiness for ac-
tivity. individual or social, cannot be
reached until 1t is given the oppor-
tunity. When We see a large group Of
our fellow beings striving intelligent
ly and earnestly for a chance to take
of thousands of women who seek the
ballot and when they recognize it is
an obligation rather than a privilege
we might safely assume a readiness
for that responsibility
MANY people say it is right, but
is it expedient? l am sure that Mr..
Shapiro will convince you that it is.
Ladies and gentlemen, l take great
pleasure in introducing Mr.. Shapiro
who Will address you on the expediency
of womans suffrage.
Mr.. Shapiro Speaks
MIR. Shapiro said in part:
"Since the divine decree. Let there
be light, to the present time, civiliza-
tion has advanced with cyelonie rapid
ity. Primitive man has developed into
a human machine capable of infinite
possibilities and his genius is typilied
more forcibly every day. We have be-
come better acquainted with the Sc
crets of nature and have discovered her
prowess. Changing conditions require
the application of new devices Equal
suffrage is expedient because democ-
racy demands it,
There never existed a more fa1la-
cious notion than the one that equal
suffrage is pink tea affair inaugur-
ated and fostered by cluster of freaks
and idlers The movement itself is
democratic and its aim is democracy.
To give all of legal age the right to
participate in government and thereby