The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-26
Women Are FIocking to Wash
ingtOn for Recognition.
Storm Capitol in Favor of Suf-
frage Amendment.
SAY THEY SPEND THE MONEY
Therefore Think They Should
Have a Tariff Word.
Largest Gathering of PrOmf-
nent Women i'm Years.

Washington, April 26.-Suffragists
for the second time in a week today
stormed the capitol to argue why wo-
man should have the ballot and be ad-
mitted to suffrage on the same plane
as men through the adoption of a con-
stitutional amendment. In approach
ing the senate committee the suffra-
giSts had brought along some of their
heaviest artillery.
Among those present to plead for
equal suffrage was Mrs. Anna Howard
Shaw, president of the National Amer
lean Woman Suffrage association. She
was ably seconded by Miss Helen Var
rick Boswell, president of the Wo-
mans National Republican association,
Mrs. Harvey Wiley, wife of the pure
food advocate; Mrs VIM. Kent, wife
of the representative from California
and several others.
Two senators, Shaffroth of Colo
RADIO, and Brady of Idaho, and the
wives of two members of the upper
house of congress also were ready to
advance arguments for the cause"
The women were Mrs. Robert La Fol-
Iette and Mrs. Sutherland of Utah.
Representative Bryan of Washington
state, also was among the pleaderS.
Mrs La Toilette argued that woman
were as vitality interested in tariff leg
islation as the men and declared that
every important piece of legislation be-
fore congress in the last IS years had
IF the tariff in any way affects the
price we pay for what we wear and
eat, If the combinations have anything
to do with the high cost of living wo-
men should understand about it, said
Mrs LaFollette. IF the price of the
great staples like beef, sugar, oil, cot
ton. woolens, are fixed by monopoly,
if the tariff affects the cost of chill
dren's food, and clothes the only radi-
cal way TO right the wrong is through
national legislation.
Women do the buying. Ninety per
cert of ten billion dollars paid out an
nually in the United States for food
clothing, shelter, is spent by women"
Mrs. LaFollette said she was not
one of those who believed that equal
suffrage would bring about any imme-
date radical changes, and declared
that the real issue in the suffrage
struggle was whether it was in the
interest of home and society which she
maintained it was. Miss Helen Var
rick Boswell argued that a federal law
would be the quickest and surest way
to procure equal suffrage and Mrs.
William Kent said that women suffrage
had worked we'll in California.
DIR. Shaw Flags "Antis.''
DR.. Shaw made the concluding ar
gument I'VE are not afraid of the
body of ladies who are going up and
down the land opposing suffrage" said
she. They are just enough in numb Der
so that by holding out their skirts they
can make a screen for the men oper-
ating dens of vice and iniquity and
prostitution to hide behind. In every
state where women now vote suffrage
was opposed by the forces of evil for
they know that we propose to make
this country a place of safety where
parents can send their daughters to
school in the morning and feel they
will return and where man need not
fear to send his little girl on an errand
through city streets.
I'VE will come again and again and
again. Our children will come and our
grandchildren will come until this is a
democracy IN fact"
Clifford Pinchot made a brief speech.
"Of course we all know that equal
suffrage is coming; the only question
is in what FORM he concluded.