The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-05-27


Spoke in Milford Friday Night.
The subject of universal suf-
frage, to give the woman the right to
stood 1t is not a struggle between
men and women. 1t is not a ques-
ton of sex, but of right. We can
never have pure democracy until
women have been given the ballot"
said Miss Lydia Stokes Adams, ad-
dressing a good-sized audience in the
High school auditorium Thursday
night. Miss Adams has been prom
inent worker for the cause of woman
suffrage in the state for many years
and is devoting her time to organ
izing suffragette societies through
out the state, although as she said,
I'VE think we will get our bill
through anyway, but we want So
cieties in every county so that the
constituents of the men in Harris
burg may feel sure that they are
acting in good faith in voting for the
| measure"
1t was a fairly representative
| gathering that greeted Miss Adams
! Thursday night, Notwithstanding the
fact that it has always been general
ly supposed that Wayne county, and
especially Honesdale contained very
| few "suffragettes." AS Miss Adams
explained the claims of women and
championed the cause, there was
much enthusiasm shown. Miss
Adams did not mention the suffrage
movement in England and the meth
DDS that are being used there to gain
the ballot. The leaders of the move
ment in this country are not militant
and in this respect they can be COM
plimented.
Some of the causes of the promi-
nence of the movement in Pennsyl-
vania," said Miss Adams, "are first,
that the gates of higher education
have been opened to women. They
are now found in all walks of life in
competition with men and earning
their own living in the professions
and industry of the world. The
second cause that has led up to this
movement is the industrial revolu-
ton that we have passed through.
!, Women suffrage is not new thing.
1t has a natural growth with the de-
, velopment of ideals and morals.
, From the time, not so very many
! years ago, when woman was consid
! cred the property of her husband,
: and she could not own property of
her own or even call her children
) her own, down to the present day
when the laws of most states have
/ changed all these things. We do not
say that we want the ballot in order
4 to make the government better, but
S we believe that it is our right. Bet
ter government will inevitably come
with universal suffrage. Women
have always worked and never shirk-
ed. They want to share in the duty
III Nf
: They do not wish to be classed as
= = minors or idiots or imbeciles to
- whom the government refuse the
. right to vote. Women are capable
:, of doing the things man does if they
' are given the privilege of representa-
= tion so that they may learn.
- "The vote is necessary to the
:. working woman. She must be able
: Il to protect herself in her work. 1t is
: necessary to the women in the
- home. Formerly the food and cloth
q ing were prepared in the home, now
l. by the inventions of men they are
70 prepared outside the home.
- Women are what is called the
- neglected factor Their point O.
,e view is not represented in govern
: ment. The vote is the tool, and WI
! must get that before we can ad
u, vance in science and civic develop
y ment. Taxation without represen
tation is tyranny This is as true t.
- the women of to-day as it was to tn
S men of yesterday. At that time tn
VI man represented the women but tn
- laws have undergone a process o
ie evolution due in a large degree t
40 the efforts of the pioneer suffragists
- To-day women have more individua
rights and should be represented b
the ballot. They pay a large pc
r. cent. of the taxes, therefore it is uI
be Just that we should be classed wit
C. aliens and minors. The principle c
70 democracy is based on the fact tha
IT. all just governments derived thei
- powers by the consent of the govern
ed. If this is true then we have n
N democracy. Women must have tn
opportunity to give their consent
be governed"
In summing up, Miss Adams sal
that the object of the movement
to raise the status of women. 1t
not primarily to improve govern
ment. 1t is non-partisan and fire.
from all affiliations.
Mrs. Chapman, of Scranton, W;
introduced by Miss Adams. Mr.
We Chapman is not a speaker, but q
lr- organizer ana she TAXED OF poss
BILE organization for Honesdale an
lS Wayne county. The fifth division i
wv cludes Wayne county and she
~ chairman of this division. She e
pressed her willingness to come
Honesdale at any time and help O
e ganize a society here.
Vi 1t is thought that a society W
of be started here in the near fuure.
an Miss Adams sopped in Honesda
on her way from Montrose to M
ed ford, at the invitation of Mrs. Ain
ire Dix. She spoke in Milford Frid
night.