Evening journal., 1914-01-30
THE EVENING JOURNAL FRIDAY. JANUARY 80. 1914

been 50 completely absorbed by the
various pcasurcs before Congress
and By the multitude of calls for
assistance and information On the
part of my constituents, hat
must confess frankly to have given
little on mo- consideration to the
question ct woman suffrage.
As Congress deals directly with
this question in the territories only.
and as the States prescribe ;hc
qualifications oi their electors,
have thought she state Legislatures
would initiatc the consideration of
tines, mattcrs.
Am / to understand that Your
committee advocates the extension
of the right al suffrage tn every
woman in Delaware, colored as well
as white. who has attained the
necessary age; or does your com
mittec favor the imposition of
educational OF property qualiica-
tions TO women voteIsl
"On the 2d OF February. 1910, Mis-
Mary r. de You. corresponding sec
rotary OF the Delaware Equal SUI
frage Association. wrote as follows
At a recent meeting of the state
Executive Committee of the
Delaware Equal Suffrage AssOcia-
ton. your reply to our presidents
letter of inquiry concerning your
position on the question of wom-
an suffrage was read, and as sec
retary. was instructed TO eX-
press to you the society's appre-
citation of your attitude on the
subject.
You ask II our association ad-
yOcates the extension of the right
OF suffrage TO colored as we'll as
To- white women of the necessary
age. or whether it fayors the inn
position of educational or prop
erty qualifications to women
voters.
Our reply-that We ask for the
extension OF the franchise 10 all
women on exactly the same terms
as to all men. whatever these
may be.-will hardly occasion
surprise, when YOU remember that
our country prides itself ON being
democracy" a government OF
the people. by the people, and
for the people-not a part of the
people, but the whole Of the pco-
pie.
As regards the qualification OF
education. that of the young coll
ored women OF Delaware Is better
provided for than that Of the
young white women. since no
state college exists for them at
Dover OF elsewhere.
"On the assumption that the ass
citation still stands by the sentimen
expressed IN Miss dc Vou's letter,
win call your attention TO the IA
that under our present constitution
system the voters elect represent
tives whom they believe TO be hone
+ and competent, leaving Il 20 them
consider. discuss. and enact a
/ legislation that may seem 20 be
I Quired. subject. of course. to exec
I tive veto Determined efforts, no
{ ever, are being made 20 change q
} form OF government for one unc
/ which each individual voter may
rectly express his opinions az
polls on all questions OF a polite
! or economic nature, and If such
system is 10 be established, Il
more important than ever before n
/ the standard OF voters. so far as
/ telligence is concerned, bo as high
possible.
"The Census reports for II
show that the number of women
this country who have reached
age of 20 years. is 24Al7,Oll.
which 2.346.720 are lliterates. Th'
exists today a strong feeling agai
the admission OF illiterate foreign
into the limited States. because IL
thought that they will not make
pabie voters. and an act was pas
during tho last Congress 10 excl
them from the country. Althot
this measure did not become a Il
having been vetoed bv the Preside
il is to be brought up again In
present Congress.
"lf emigrants are 10 be eNclut
from this country on the ground q
they will not make capable voters
reason of illiteracy. is IL logical @
consistent TO extend the right
suffrage 10 two million Hitter
women now IN the county?
"If you do not propose TO prescr
any limitations with respect to
male voters. the granting of sutira
to women would simply mean at b
no Improvement in the average
telligence OF our electors, and mil
make conditions worse, II the e'