Omaha daily bee., 1914-09-19
WORKING AGAINST SUFFRAGE
Brogan Explains Influences Seeking
to Stop Women's Votes.
STEP IN PROGRESS OF TINE
Speaker Declares that Equal bal
IOtinE Rights IL Development
of New Era NecessItated
by Conditions.
-EP IN PROGRESS OF TINE

Two influences are relied upon to op.
crate against the equas suffrage amend
ment this fall, according to Francis A.
Brogan, who gave a talk before the
Equal Franchise society Thursday
afternoon at the home OF Mrs. Clement
Chase, "one influence is the dissent
nation of the impression that the bust
ness prosperity of Omaha will suffer
from the granting of equal suffrage to
women, and the other is the influence
of the foreign voter" said Mr., Brogan.
THE same argument that Omaha would
suffer was brought to bear prior 10 toe
passing of the s o'clock closing law and
business men said that it was going to
put the hotels OF Omaha out of business.
raised s., 100000 to build one of the finest
hotels in the Missouri Valley"
The speaker said that It was questions
like these which widened the breach be
tween the state and it's metropolis. IF
omaha's prosperity has any direct con-
nection with state politics. its welfare
would be better promoted by policy
which oultivates harmony between the
city and the state. rather than the too
frequent suggestion OF antagonism."
Mr. Brogan warned the women that
powerful interests were at work to thwart
the suffrage movement. Political So
cial and financial pressure is being
brought to bear TO bar the door OF the
voting booth to women of Nebraska. The
politician who e-Souses the cause of sur
frage must expect a vendetta which will
pursue him whenever he enters public
life and the banker. merchant and pro-
fessional man must expect an attack
upon his deposits his trade and his
clientele. We have in Nebraska an or
Ranzation which takes no political va
cation. In my observation of quarter
OF a century, no chief magistrate of this
city has ever been elected over the veto
OF this powerful interest. The time Is
ripe to end this condition before we
stand disgraced by II. The traffic that
has made Milwaukee famous should not
be allowed to make the politics of Ne
braska Infamous. Whatever the women
OF Nebraska may do when they get the
vote. / believe there is enough manhood
TO defy this power and crush 1t II
necessary"
The speaker stated that universal sui
frage was only a development OF the
times and that In the olden days. when
kings were allpowerful the unfitness OF
the masses 20 rule themselves by the bal
lot was argued with even greater elo'
| quence than the late lamented manifesto
I OF the anti-suffragists. There is only one
I cure for the evils of democracy and that
I is more democracy" he said,
/ The first militant suffragists in Eng
/ land fIourished in the days OF King JohT
ana gained their suffrage at Runnymede
according TO the speaker Not bS
smashing pictures in the royal gallery
! but by threatening the royal person, die
/ they obtain a voice In the affairs o.
government
The late General Charles F, MandersoT
and General Estabrook were pioneers n
the suffrage movement and advocated
equal suffrage at the framing OF thu
state constitution, forty-three years ago
according TO Mr.. BTogan-