Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-05-12
INDIFFERENT MAN
FOE To SUFFRAGE
G. Middleton, Playwright, Tells
Summit Diners His Disinter-
est Makes Him Dangerous.
Especial to the Evening start


SUMMIT, May 12.-Members of the
local Equal Suffrage League are
elated over the impetus given their
cause at their banquet in Association
Hall last night. The affair was ar
ranged as a tri-county suffrage BAN
quet, representatives of the organiza-
tions in Morris, Union and Essex
counties and their friends being pres
ent to the number of about $50. Ad-
dresses were made by George Middle
ton, playwright; Mrs. Middleton, Miss
Fola LaFollette, daughter of the SEN
ator from Wisconsin, and Miss Louise
Connolly, formerly superintendent Of
schools here.
Mr. Middleton said he believes the
greatest force against woman suf-
frage at the present time to be the
Indifferent man. This type of man,
the speaker said, is lacking in civic
pride and rarely bears any civic re-
sponsibility, therefore, he does not
understand why women should want
the privilege of the ballot
This man." said Mr.. Middleton,
regards the vote for women as
something in the nature of a new
ts
IL all the women want it, why I
suppose it's all right. But he for
gets that no new movement. has ever
been led by the majority, nor has
there ever been any big legislation
which has been entirely unanimous.
You are now asking society to carry
on it's back the load of Indifferent
men who, because in many cases
they are careless about their own
privilege of voting, cannot see why
women should trouble themselves
about the ballot. The attitude should
not be whether many women or all
women want the vote, but if one
woman desires that privilege she
should have 1t. When we convince
enough men that women are entitled
to suffrage then, and not until then.
will the privilege be granted" said
the speaker. Two other types of
men whom women suffragists must
win over to their cause, in Mr.. Mid
dleton's opinion, are the conservative
man, he who would restriet the right
to vote to those having property and
education, and the sentimentalist,
who believes women would be de-
based by participation in politics. The
former is, in her own mind, at least
qualified to vote, while the latter
considers himself the sturdy oak and
the woman the clinging vine. Then
there Is the dominant man to COM
bat, Mr.. Middleton said, he who con-
siders himself the head of the fam
lily because the family is unit and
he must necessarily be the unit.
Mrs. Middleton's Views.
The fact that forty-six and one
tenth of the women of New Jersey
are breadwinners skaters the classi-
fcation of woman as a clinging vine,
Mrs. Middleton, who was the second
speaker, believed, and she declared
that every woman should bear her
share of civic responsibility in COM
munity affairs and should and must
have a say in shaping these affairs.
Despite the pleadings of millions of
women throughout the country for a
national child labor law, the speaker
said the big interests seem to have
more potential influence with our
representatives who sit in Congress
than all of our glorious women
which we hear our sentimental men
pirate about so eloquently on Fourth
of July, and no national child labor
bill can be secured"
Miss Connolly spoke in a humorous
way, and her remarks kept the audi
ence in high spirit. Mrs. p. r. Mac
Nellie, president of the local league,
presided. The committee which had
charge of the banquet was composed
of Mrs. Michael O'Shaughnessy, of
Short Hills; DIR. Harriet Burnet, Fill
more Condict, Mrs. Francis L. Hyde,
Of Plainfield; Mrs. Hurlbut, Norris
town; Professor Edwin L. carp, Mad
ison; Caroline B. Alexander, Hobo
ken; Henry B. Twombly and Mrs.
MaeNeille