The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-03-19
WOMEN HAVE THEIR
 DAY AT CAPITOL
Great Demonstration in Favor of Votes for Women at Legis-
 lative Hearing
Special to The Farner.)


 Hartford, March 19-Probably the greatest gathering Of women that has ever been seen on Capitol HiIl throng- | ed the House and the corridors of the 1 Capitol, yesterday afternoon, when l there was huge demonstration in fa- vor of woman suffrage at the hearing l before joint session of the special l committee on Woman Suffrage and the committee on Constitutional Amend ment. Senator F. A. Johnson of | Montvi11e was chairman
 Mrs ATaude M. Hincks Of Bridgeport presided over the advocates of equal l suffrage, from the floor. and made an Introductory speech in her usual tell ing manner. She reminded the mem bers of the committee that suffrage for all men, which is now regarded as a matter of course, had been obtained only 68 years ago, while women have been consistently seeking the same privilege for A years
 The advocates of equal suffrage mar shaled at the suffrage headquarters in the city proper. moved with banners flying up the hill to the Capitol short two hundred strong swept in through the portals and up the marble stair cases to the doors Of the House chamber. The lower branch was in session. It soon adjourned, however. and members had to push their way through the crowd to make their exits.
 A clever turn had been played on the suffragists by those opposed to the movement The "antis'' had gathered earlier in the old Senate chamber on the same floor and as the procession with banners flying came up the stairs they were first in position. As the House chamber doors opened the 'antis'' rushed in and secured the front seats. The seats and standing nIfinI filled the aisIes and stood in a mass in front of the platform on which sat the committee. Some women even had places with the committee. The I crowd overhowed into the corridors. J Scores of women and men came but there was no chance for them to be | heard. The suffragists carried their l banners into the hall but as they ob- structed the view of many they were finally set up against the .panelling where they made an artistic decora- ton of purple and green. Most Of them wore armlets of purple While some had sashes bearing the words t'Votes for Women Mere man had little chance to see or hear "nat was going on. Here and there in the au- dience a man had seat, but members of the Legislature had to be content with a 1ook-tn from the corridor
 The hearing lasted three hours.
 Mrs. Carlos F. Stoddard, of New Haven. was introduced ais the mother of a number of beautiful children, and so had the right to speak as woman in the home. Mrs. Stoddard urged the committee to approach the question in a common sense way. She recalled the names of the women who in earlier years ruled despoti- cally and no man had vote. The ballot in the hands of woman, she de- cIared. was not contrary to the laws of nature, and custom and natural laws should not. be confused.
 One of the most forceful speakers was Miss Mayone Lewis, of Green wfch who spoke from the standpoint l of the school teacher. She claimed i that the schools are run too much 1 by politics; that the superintendent, I his position gained through political 1 influence, ruled despotica1ly in the schools, and the teacher must obey orders or else lose her ieb- The aim !