Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-08-07

was an opportunity Tor them TO contrib
ute to Mr.. McGillicuddy's defeat next
September, they would not hesitate about
entering the lists against him. But If
they felt sure he would win anyhow,
they would prefer not to make a fight in
his district. However, they are inquir-
ing about Maine by Congressional dis
tricts, seeking to know what manner of
men the various Congressional candi-
dates are, who are of the better types
and all that The ladies may decide to
bear hand in Maine against certain
candidates on the plea that it is in the
| interest of good government, by which
| course they would also bring woman suf-
| frage to the favorable attention of the
voters
Massachusetts. as is generally known,
| has had experience with woman suf-
| fragists in former campaigns. Maine has
had less experience in that line. Woman
suffrage has not made much headway
in New England generally, although it
has some distinguished converts. Senator
Burleigh of Maine, for example, an
nounced when he was elected, that he
favored votes for women. But the ac-
tivities of the women with reference to
Maine will be extended to other states
which vote in November. One branch of
the Massachusetts legislature has voted
to submit an equal suffrage amendment
and the women regard that as distinct
advance in New England. There is a
similar status in New York, New Jersey.
and Pennsylvania, which is cited as
showing that the cause is advancing de-
cidedly in the East.
The propaganda, issuing from Wash
ington at this season of the year, in
cludes much material from the National
American Woman Suffrage Association.
Indeed they are doing more to enlist the
interest of the voters, possibly, than the
Republican Congressional committee or
the Democratic Congressional committee,
or either of the national committees.
They are waging red hot campaigns for
woman suffrage in seven states this au-
tunn-Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North
Dakota, Montana, Nevada and South
Dakota. The women of each of these
states, of course, are looking after Their
own campaigns but the help from Wash
ington is not to be despised. The Women
are working also from here, on the same
principle that Democrats, Republicans
have political bureaus at the national
capital.
The women are making much of
Speaker Champ Clarks declaration to an
equal suffrage delegation not long ago,
that lit will come as surely as the
morning sun will rise tomorrow" And
| in that connection it is noteworthy that
Mr.. Clark spoke out as he did, because
the women of Missouri are very aggres-
sively lighting for voting privileges and
| will have some influence in the size of
his majority for reelection in November
1t will not be forgotten that Secretary of
! State Bryan came out in no uncertain
terms recently for woman suffrage in
Nebraska, which will probably do the
Democratic party no harm in Nebraska
at this stage. The Speaker and the Sec
rotary of State, as possible presidential
nominees, are presumably not overlook
ing the advantage of having women vot-
ers with them.
The ladies are even claiming that the
electoral college may be controlled bv
equal suffrage states in 1916. They fig
ure 1T out SO that this claim looks fairly
plausible. The 10 states where women
~" taoNC poiipl hiSHtSs command a total
of 81 votes in thes electoral college. These
10 states and their votes are: Arizona. 8:
California, 10; Colorado 6; Idaho. 4; Illi-
nois, 20; Kansas. 10; Oregon, 81 Utah. A;
Washington, Z, and Wyoming, g. The
states that vote on Woman suffrage this
autumn and their representation in the
electoral college are: Ohio, "a; Missouri.
Is; Nebraska. s; the Dakotas, 10; Mon
tana, 4, and Nevada, 3. That makes the
total of 81. The Ohio women call spec-
ial attention to the fact that Thursday
last petition of 10000 signatures was
filed at Columbus for a suffrage amend
ment. 1t is said TO be the largest initla-
tive petition ever filed. 1t assures an
other opportunity for the Ohio voters in
November to pass upon the woman suf-
| frage question.
The fight for equal suffrage will be re-
newed next winter before the legislatures
of numerous states