The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-10

wv JONAH suffrage. in my view.
M Is not so much a political
question as moral ques-
ton" said A. Mitchell Pal
mer. Representative in Congress from
Pennsylvania
In conservative Pennsylvania the
movement to give women the right to
vote has come to the front only with
in . very short time But II is max
ing rapid Roadway. The gentler sex
has taken the matter up with great en-.
thusiasm, and the support given to the
cause by Congressman Palmer has won
for him much petticoat popularity.
II come Of Quaker stock" Mr.. Pal
mer went on. My people came to this
country with William Penn. This
means that there runs in my veins the
blood of those who We're pioneers in
advocating equal rights for women.
''The Qual<ers we're first in America
TO give women equal rights with men
in respect Of education. They gave
equal rights to women in the church.
Of the Society of Friends. 1t was they
who established the first coeducational
institution Of learning on this continent,
which received students OF both sexes on
equal terms. l refer to Swarthmore
College.
1T is the most natural thing in the
world that !, having been born a Qua
ker and being myself a graduate of
Swarthmore College, should be in favor
OF granting equal rights to women in
the management of public affairs. The
Quakers were the pioneers in every
movement which has had to do with
guaranteeing to women the enjoyment
and exercise Of equal rights with men.
u believe that, fundamentally. nearly
all of the questions that come up in
state government are moral questions,
and not political, nor economic. Women
are the great moral force In every COM
munity: they are on the right side OF
every moral question and OF every
question of morals.
II should be in favor. therefore. or a
proposition to amend the Constitution
Of the United States in such way as
10 provide for equal suffrage IN all the
states Of the Union were II not that
such "a plan is impracticable at the
nresent time. 1t could not go through.
Many of the States would refuse TO m
dorse il, especially those OF the south'
where there are other problems tha'
complicate II, most importantly '"e
negro.
INV notion is that the practical thing
nr,Nyidinp for
,aforendum on the subject in each State
when "A certain percentage OF tne 'o'e'9
,hall demand il. The voters Of the IN
dlvidual States will thus have an OPP
nortunity to say yes or no to the propo-
sitlon.
"With this idea in view, ! offered the
other day in the House the following
Joint resolution, proposing an amend
ment to the Constitution Of the United
States:
"Whenever any number Of l, gal vot-
org Of any State to number exceeding
per cent. Of the number Of legal voters
voting at the last preceding general elec-
ton held in such state. shall petition
for the submission TO the legal voters
Of such State the question whether
women shall have equal rights with men
IN respect to vo'iug AT all elections to he
held in such state, such question shall
be 30 submitted, And IT, upon such sub
mission, a majority of the legal voters
of the state voting on the question shall
vote in fay or Of granting to women such
equal rights. the same shah thcreupon
he deemed established, anything in the
Constitution or laws ~ such State tc
\ the contrary nOtWithstand,ng.'
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