Middletown transcript., 1914-10-24
SUFFRAGE NOTES OF INTEREST

SUFFRAGE NOTES OF INTEREST
eff the destruction of the Rokeby
Venus by suffragists was an outrage
what shall we call the destruction, not
only of great cathedrals in Europe, but
Of humble homes are well?"
"Who is militant now?" seems indeed
pertinent question. It is with pride
and qualification that Wilmington
Suffragists recall the resolution passed
at the meeting of May 26, 1913, "de.
ploring the use of violent methods in
attaining Equal Suffrage. because the
abolition of war-like methods as means
settling difficulties and securing rights
or privileges is cherished by women as
one of the most important results to be
brought about by Equal Suffrage.
Massachusetts is cited as a model
state which has reached its high place
without the help of women's VI tes. A
little investigation of this claim, will
put the matter in a new light to thought
full people.
Equal guardianship of parents over
their children prevails in Massachu
setts for example, but it took the wo-
men of that state 55 years to secure
this measure of justice which colorado
granted in one year after her wo-
,uen had the vote. "Whither", in the
words of Plato, "Does the argument
tend?"
Though every benefcient law for hu-
manity wece passed without the help
of equal suffrage, that fact would con-
stitute no sane reason against it. JUS
tiee, right and democracy are the issues
at stake. That certain desirable meas
ures are won without women's votes,
is aside from the issue. In this day and
generation, besides, up-to-date people
are fast abandoning ox-team methods
fer those of steam and electricity. Why
go to Philadelphia on foot or by sailing
vessel when you can go in half an hour
by rail?
Massachusetts is a splendid argument
for equal suffrage.
Colorado gave votes. to women in
1893. Since that time practically every
public man of Importance in the state
has placed himself on record as com
mending the measure, while, not
six persons of standing have been in
duced to assert over their own sigma
t. res that woman suffrage has brought
about one single evil, or even that it
has failed to effect improvement.
Owing to the fact that conditions are
more like those in the typical American
commonwealth than conditions in any
of the other states that nave enfran-
chised women-with the exception of
Washington and California, in which
the measure is too recent to have Weld
ed marked results, Colorado has been
chosen for most of the investigations
that have been made into the workings
of equal suffrage. The few unfavor-
able reports that have appeared-all,
it must be said, in publications of
known aHti-suffrage tendencies-have
called for the an avalanche of indignant
refutation from the most representa-
tive men of the state.
In 1898, as result of certain mis-
representations, a statement approving
equal suffrage was issued, signed by the
governor, three ex-governors, both
United States senators, two ex-senators,
both members of Congress, the chief
justice and two associate justices of
the Supreme Court, three judges of
the Court of Appeals, four judges of
the District Court, the secretary of
state, the state treasurer, the state
auditor, the attorney general, the may
or of Denver, the president of the
State University, the president of
Colorado College and the presidents and
officers of numerous women's clubs.
In 1899 the Colorado legislature pas
sed, by vote of 45 to in the House,
and 80 to l in the Senate, a resolu-
ton declaring that during the time that
equal suffrage had been in operation
women had used the vote as generally
as men, with the result that better
candidates have been selected for office.
election methods have been purified,
and the character of legislation i'm
proved, civic intelligence incre ased and
womanhood developed, and recommend
ing the adoption of the measure by all
the states and territories of the Union.