The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-02

am not thoroughly ld1nlllar with eco
nomic conditions in Virginia. think,
however, that economic conditions have
no relation to the question of sex Tho
same argument that would apply 10
votes for Virginia men must also APP
ply to votes for Virginia women"
Mrs. b. 3. Valentine, president o. the
Equal Suffrage League of yIVlrgi nia,
here FASTENED TO reassure Mr. Hutch
ison as TO virginias economic need
for suffrage. More than 10000 girls
and women, she said, are now at work
in the shops, offices and factories of the
state without voiSe in framing the
laws which establish the conditions OF
their toll
Asks Other Questions.
The representative from Chester
wanted TO know also what the cnfran-
chisinS of women in the South would
bring forth in the way of extending
the suffrage to negro women. He was
assured by both Mrs Laidlaw and Mrs.
Valentine that the doctrine OF white
supremacy would not be impaired.
Women are asking only for the suf-
frage on the same terms as il is ac-
corded TO men, they said. and the same
inhibitions that apply to negro suf-
fragc now would remain in force fter
women are given the vote
The delegate from Chester wanted
to know If the statement is true that
at q recent election in Denver the wo-
men voters of that city voted against
prohibition. Mrs. Valentine replied
with full history OF the case show
ing that vote for the prohibition can
didate at the particular election in
question would have meant also a vote
for franchise steal, and that the
women rightly sided with the clean
government party. leaving the Ques-
ton OF prohibition to be settled later.
No more champions appeared will
ing to brave the platform logic, and
the debate closed. Mr.. Hutchinson adj
United TO suffraEist ut the close of
the meeting that he felt moro kindly
disposed to the cause as the result
OF the encounter.
Predicts National victory.
In her address to the Equal Suni ire
League before the debate Mrs. L.. i'd
law dwelt chiefly upon the progress of
the woman suffrage movement, choos-
ing recital OF facts rather than ar
gument The proposition. she said,
was no longer academic and stands
in need of no proof
Within ten years at most, she said,
enough States will have enfranchiscd
their women to make possible the
adoption Of n constitutional amend
mcnt comforting the right to vote to
the women of those States that have
not seen the light. 1t would be a sad
thing. she said. for later generations
Of chivalrous Virginians to read in the
histories of the future that Virginia
and the rest of the thirteen original
colonies never willingly granted their
women the right OF suffrage.
For a brief period the speaker dwelt
upon the possibilities for good that
lay in the enfranchisng of women.
If Legislation is an attribute of big
M lNn n fl,a
peculiar claim TO share in its burdens,
since they are engaged in the biggest
business OF all-the rearing and train
ing of future Americans.
1T is not enough for woman to
have everything To say in the prepa-
ration OF the child for this world"
said Mrs. Laidlaw, 'and have nothing
To say about the preparation OF this
world for the reception OF the child
Defends Suffrage In England.
Mrs. b. Il. Valentine took up the
cudgcl for her much maligned sisters
in England. She deplored the militant
sutfraSism. OF a small body of English
women, which is reacting against the
cause represented by the great mass
OF English suffragists who. she said,
are pursuing their work in law
abiding, orderly fashion.
The publicity which is being given
to Mrs. Pankhurst and the acid squad
III London, thought Mrs. Valentine, Is
traceable to the fact that "the press
isn't interested in women who don't
40 strange things" II it were. she
said, they would tell OF the 500 Eng
fish suffrage societies that are doing
their work quietly and without vio-
lcnce.
James Lee Latdlaw, chairman of the
Mems Equal Suffrage League, or New
York City, opened the speechmaking
with an outline of tho suffrage move
mcnt among men. Tho movement. he
said, was attaching an Increasing mum
bcr OF thinking men throughout the
country, and was making strong head
way In his State. New York, he pre-
dicted. Will adopt the enfranchising
amendment In 1915.
On the platform with the speakers
were: Richard Evelyn Byrd, DIR. and
Mrs. Roy *. Flanagan. MIR. and Mrs.
s. w. Meek, E. X. Valentine. w. p.
DeSaussure, Miss Lucy Coleman. Miss
Mary Johnston. Mrs. Harvey Clarke
and Leonidas r. Whipple.