Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-15

SPRINGFIELD. ILL. June IA
Newly enfranchised women of Illinois,
400 strong, led by Mrs. Grace Wilbur
Trout, Mrs Medill Mccormick, Mrs.
Sherman NJ. Booth and Mrs. Antoi-
nette Funk. the quartet who fought
the suffrage bill successfully through
the General Assembly to victory, as
sembled at the Leland Hotel to listen
to speeches of commentator and
announcement from Governor Ed
,-ward r. Dunno, Lieutenant Governor
Barratt O'Hara. Speaker William Nc
Kinley. Senator Hugh 5. Magill, who
introduced the suffrage bill in the
Senate, and nearly a dozen other WELL
wizhers.
Mrs. Trout acted as chairman Of
the meeting. In ner opening remarks
Mrs. Trout declared that the opening
wedge to a glorious future, in which
members of the Legislature will vote
according to dictates Of conscience in
stead Of by reason Of political infiu-
ence, is embodied in the Magill bill.
All Bitterness Forgotten.
I'VE harbor no III feeling against
the men who fought our bill in the
Legislature" said Mrs. Trout. They
fought us fairly, and now that we
have won, clearly and honestly, as
women always fight their battles, all
the bitterness of the actual struggle
will be forgotten and we will enter
into the business of politics with men
as our new partners"
Governor Dunno appeared at the
doorway as Mrs. Trout ceased, and
the audience rose to a woman as he
passed ahead to the speakers table.
II was several moments before the
applause had quoted enough to allow
the Governors voice to be heard.
For several months" the Governor
began. "the women Of this State
through their able representatives
Mrs. Trout. Mrs. Mccormick, Mrs.
Funk and Mrs. Booth. have fought for
a bill in which the Legislature Is
asked to commemorate the semi-cen-
tennial of a great einancipatory move
ment by which 100000 slaves were
freed, by granting to the women OF.
its state a simple justice-the right
to share IN the government to which
they paid supporting taxes.
Governor Promises Aid.
, Il intend to help them in holding to
the advantage gained by the passage
OF the MagiH bill ] found, many
years ago. in the fight for proper tax
alton of the corporations in Chicago
that the most potent influence came.
CITY That turned my mind toward
suffrage. These women who have
framped the corridors of the Legis-
lature for weary months in their fight
for the ballot displayed a keen, rea-
soning intelligence that removed from
my mind any lingering doubt of their
fitness to vote. They convinced the
Republicans. Democrats, Socialists.
Progressives. all, because their story
was straightforward and their plea
vas just.
While their sisters across the wa
ter burned pillaged and excited the
contempt Of man. these women Of I'LL
nois. by sane methods, secured a
victory utterly impossible of attain
ment by the methods Of those sisters
across the waters.
81 --sn help these women all I can
and I want them 10 think of the Chief
Executive as a total friend
Wilson Wires Congratulations.
kilograms of Congratulation poured
in uDon the meeting from sympathiz-
ers in every part of this country and
even from England. Following Gov
ernor DUNES address Mrs. Trout
turned the sheaf Of kilograms over
20 MdilI Mccormick, who read them
10 the meeting. Each met with a
hurst ii applause. Among the mes
sages were the following.
woodrow Wilson, Washington:
Regret that lack of time be-
tween receipt of invitation and
the date Of meeting prevent my
attendance. HeaTtiest congratu-
IatiOus on your victory.
William ]. Bryan, Washington:
\ Regret that state business pre-