Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-03-05

woman Suffrage association, urged that
TX the committee would not report tine
proposed amendment 1t should report an
amendment to allow the suffrage question
to be decided by referendum in the var
ious states, instead of by the legislatures.
Mrs Benedict Mrs. Beard, Mrs. Glen
dover Evans of Boston. and DIR. Cora
Smith King, for the congressional union,
declared that the time had come TO make
the suffrage question one of political
expedlency.
1T is because I have the interests OF
this administration at heart" said Mrs.
Evans, that | hope the democratic ma
jority in the House will see its way clear
to reconsider what after all was a some
what unconsidered action of the demo-
cratic caucus"
Mrs. Evans and Mrs. Benedict warned
the democrats not to dodge the issue
| and declared that action on the suffrage
question must be taken at this session
of Congress.
MARCH 4, 1917, JUDGMENT DAY.
Gentlemen" said Mrs. Beard, you
cannot answer us by shaking In our faces
| that tatterdemalion of a states right
scarecrow and then expect us not to read
the newspapers when you repudiate your
platform and violate the express States
rights matter of presidential primary.
You cannot tell us that the platform will
| not allow this suffrage discussion be-
| cause 1t is silent but will permit the re-
peal of the canal tolls exception, which 1t
| expressly forbids. 1t Is Understanding
our resources to suppose that we cannot
put these facts into the hands of l5,cO0
600 voters, including over three million
free women. The political party, which
will enter into possession of the federal
government on March 4, 1917, will believe
that woman suffrage is a matter of ma
tional concern and trauscendent national
Importance"
The representatives Of the National
! Woman Suffrage association disclamed
participation in the political warning of
the Congregational union, and for some
| time the committee room was in con-
fusion with half a dozen women trying
TO explain things. At times during the
hearing the spectators who crowded the
room gave vent to their feelings. Rep
| resentative Tienin of Alabama who spoke
against suffrage, was frequently Missed.
Mrs Arthur NJ. Dodge, president of the
National Association Opposed to Woman
Suffrage, conducted the opposition to the
amendment NJ q. Henry White OF Bos'
ton declared that woman has succeeded
in getting all of her legal rights with
out the ballot, and that the ballot was
unnecessary.
" ORKERS DON'T NEED BALLOT
THE wise State recognizes that woman
must he preserved for the work she only
can do for the state" said Miss Alice
II. Chittenden of New York. when {
woman attempts to fight with th'
woapons of men she is playing losint
game"
Miss Margery Dorman Of the Wag
Farmers Anti-SuffraEe League of New
York said that working women did no
need the ballot. She said that women il
the labor world We're "transitory and ac
cidental" and oould not have the expert
ence necessary to cope with government
problems.
\ During the debate in the Senate, Sen
ator Clapp declared that all the siniste
influences of the country We're lined II
, against woman suffrage He said he re
q GREETED that good people, in opposing sui
o frage, allowed themselvese to be used a
va mark for these evil influences.
6, Senator Bryan of Florida made the frs
extended speech against the amendmen
= He contendei first Of all that the State
E should be allowed to deal with the ques
ton saying that California had no NOR
!, right to say whether the negro wome
. of Florida should vote than Florida ha
to say that the Japanese should vote
" California.