Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-04-15
SAYS LEGISLATORS
WERE NOT POLITE
Mrs. Feickert, Suffrage Leader
Declares They Didn't Even
Offer Seats.
Especial to the Evening start


900 monthly, Mrs. Edward c. Feiclx-
ert, of Plainfleld, in an address be.
fore O gathering Of local women here
yesterday saw only success for the
movement at the election In 1916.
However, Mrs. Feickert took. oc-
casion to say that those who are OPP
1 posed to the vote for women and who
| believe that If the proposition is de-
feated at the polls next year the
agitation for equal suffrage will be
squelched permanently, are all wrong,
for, should the antis win out through
the referendum, the president OF the
| State organization declared, defeat
| will only spur the advocates of the
proposition on to greater efforts to
gain the prestige in 1920.
Through legislation sponsored by
| Senator Rathbun, of Morris county,
/ Mrs. Feickert said, If the woman suf-
| frage plan is defeated next year the
question cannot be submitted TO a
vote of the citizens again until 1920.
! For their opposition to legislation
providing for the submission of the
I question to the voters next year, As
semblymen Griffin and Leonard and
| former Assemblyman Mclaughlin, of
Union county, as well as Senator
| Nichols, of Cumberland county, We're
censured by Mrs. Feickert.
In relating her experience in ad-
| vocating legislation favorable to the
| suffrage cause, the president of the
! State organization told of the recep-
ton of herself and Mrs. champlin L.
Riley, president of the Plainfield Suf-
frage Association, in Trenton by the
Union county assemblymen last year
/! On one occasion Mrs. Felchert said
| she and Mrs. Riley had waited in the
State House long time to gain an
audience with Assemblymen Griffin
and Leonard, and when finally the in
terview was granted, Assemblynan
Griffin told the suffrage organization
officials that one reaoan why he did
not favor woman suffrage was that
he feared women wouldn't be treated
politely at the polls.
"Snce we had been left standing
for hours hanging on railing in the
House of Assembly without being
offered seat, l confess 1 wasn't
quite sure that we would be treated
politely at the polls, but realized
that IL we had controlled votes at
that time, we wouldn't be forced to
stand" said Mrs. Feickert.
On another occasion, the speaker
said, the efforts of herself and other
women to speak with the Union
county assemb,ymen proved unaVail-
ing, because these members insisted
that they must remain in their seats
to vote on an important bill. THAT
bill" said Mrs. Feickert, I'VE learned
was the bill requiring the licensing of
cats, and i suppose the Union county
delegation just said among them
selves. we have no time for those
other cats "
Assem- blyman Griffin was charged
by the speaker with having stated
that he opposed the referendum be-
cause few voters took the trouble to
inform themselves on the question
voted on, and therefore the PROPOSE
ton submitted is usually carried.
Despite this declaration Mr.. Griffin
was a most energetic supporter of
the referendum on the jury reform
bill, Mrs. Feickert asserted
From majority of LAO which he
received in 1912, Assemblyman Leon
ard was elected last year by only
seventy votes over his opponent, the
speaker said. While the Union county
women advocates of equal suffrage
did not assume the credit for Mr..
Leonard's decreased vote, the assem-
blyman charged his cutting to their
influence, said Mrs. Feichert.
sufrragists Won't Oppose MARITIME.
Published announcements that the
suffragists will oppose United States
Senator James E. MARITIME in 1916 the
State president declared to be I'M
founded. The Senator is privileged
to entertain his individual opinion,
and anyway women will have vote
in 1915, Mrs. Feickert believed. In
Assemblyman Leonards case, he had
announced that he would oppose the
n1y,,,r
declared, and, therefore, the suffra-
gists of this county are justified in
seeking to defeat him for office. owe
shall never oppose any man unless
he opposes US" said Mrs. Feickert
1--WE have friends in every party
Woman suffrage doesn't mean women
against men. 1t Is a movement of
women and progressive men against
old-line political workers, standpat-
ters and conditions. My grandfather
didn't vote for Lincoln, SO I don't
have to vote the Republican ticket,
as I've heard some men say. / might
vote the Democratic ticket this yeab
the Republican ticket the following
wear. but 1t will be the calibre of the
! candidates, not the party emblem,
| that will influence me-" the speaker
| declared.
"a Lot of Old Maids
In paying her respects to Senator
Nichols, Mrs. Feickert quoted him as
saving in a speech in the Senate
AGAINST woman suffrage that these
| women who want the vote are lot
of old maids who want to rule men
whom they cannot capture"
"Of the lis women present on that
occasion who advocated equal rights
for women there were just 112 mar
rled and three SINGLE said the suf-
| frage leader.
| SENATE Nichols, who isn't In the
Senate any more, / am glad to say, :
| the speaker continued, appeared
very solicitous about conserving the
health of the mothers and future
mothers of our race, bnt he wasn't
an much concerned about the health
OF the girl and women workers in the
South eJrsey canneries when he vot-
ed against the ten-hour workday law
| for these women.
Union County Assemblyman Dob
bins was commended for his action
in voting for the referendum, because
il was plank of the Democratic
platform last year, and though Mr..
| Dobbins has not as vet announced
his attitude on the suffrage question,
Mrs. Feickert said she felt that he
would be with the cause soon, and
she expressed the hope that he would
be again elected to the Assembly,
Senate or some other office.
As to the argument that many OF
the polling places are not Mt for
| women to visit, Mrs. Fe'ekert said