The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-08
SUFFRAGE ORATORS HOLD
attention OF AUDIENCE
Many Converts Are Enrolled at
I. Booth on State Fair
Grounds.
BALTIMORE MINISTER SPEAKS
Says Woman Movement Is Logical
Part of Great Democratic Wave
Sweeping Over Entire Civilized
World-Confiden of Success.


Suffrage speakers held tho attention
OF large and enthusiastic audience
of fair visitors yesterday In series OF
addresses. Tho speaking took place
from the stand just outside the western
entrance to Industrial Hall. Those
making addresses were Mrs. Kate
Houghton Hepburn. president of the
Equal Suffrage League OF Connecticut;
Rev. John Roach Straton, of Baltimore;
Rev. John J. Wicker pastor of Leigh
Street Baptist Church; Howard Colvin,
secretary Of the Virginia Federation Of
Labor: Miss Marie Leahy. Mrs. c. ".
Meredith and Mrs. B. b. Valentine,
president Of the Equal Suffrage League
of Virginia.
Mrs. Hepburn stated in her address
that there were 100000 women earn
Ing their living In the United States
alone, and working under conditions
over which they have no control. This
condition, she said. was demanded by
the present social and industrial condi-
tons. and because they have no control
over their hours OF work, the young
womanhood of America is being de-
stroyed in an Industrial warfare. The
destruction of men and women by our
tndustr conditions. she asserted, was
as shocking as the destruction of men
In the European War.
BELIEVES WOMEN WILL
SOON HAVE BALLOT
II Is the opinion OF Mrs. Hepburn
that the women will soon have the bal
lot. She compared the attitude of the
Western man with the Eastern and
Southern men. The former. she said,
have trusted women sufficiently to per-
nit them TO exercise their own judy
ment. She called upon Virginia men
TO let the Virginia women do the same.
Howard Colvin told why the Virginia
Federation of Labor had endorsed equal
suffrage. In his work before the GEN
cral Assembly. said Ar. Colvin, he
found that IN such movements as hui
name legislation for shorter working
hours and child labor laws. the women
were the champions of the cause. Mr..
Colvin also called attention TO the po-
sitioE OF William Jennings Bryan. who
has placed himself In n position OF lead
ership In the woman suffrage move
nent. The mention of Mr. Bryan's
name brought lorg applause.
Rev. John Roach Straton made the
longest address on the program DR..
Straton Is pastor Of one. OF Baltimorc's
most prominent churches. and is wide.
ly Known as speaker OF note.
PART OF GREAT DEMOCRATIC
MOVEMENT OF TO-DAY
He said In part:
The woman movement 10 not an alb
normality. 1t has come about natural
ly and inevitably In the evolution of
human society. 1t Is a part OF the
great Democratic movement of to-day
which Is the dominant and leading
characteristic of the age In which we
live. The democratic Idea Is victorious
everywhere. 1t is under every throne
OF the Old World. It,has not only made
republics OF the United States, France,
Portugal and the countries of South
America. but Il has made constitutional
empires OF italy. Germany, Spain, Eng
iand, Austria. Russia. and even in re-
cent days of Turkey, Persia and China,
We see the victories of this democratic
movement in the freeing of the slaves,
the elevation OF the working classes.
the popular educational system and the
simpler literary ideals Of our times.
and it is inevitable that under the
changed conditions OF to-day, women.
representing over one half of the popu-
iatton OF the world, as class, should
nave become affected by this great
democratic movement
& DR.. Straton asserted that democracy
should be ruled by intelligence and vir-
tue. OF which women represent the
highest standard 1t Is -n1onstrous. he
said. that she should be classed with
minors, criminals and insane, when she
should through her enlightenment and
vast property interests. have her share
In the making Of laws and direction or
public affairs.
He pointed to the large property in
terests, of women as the unfairness of
taxation without representation. In
closing, he said:
There is but one thing that will
protect the working woman who has
been forced into business life by the
economic conditions OF o-day. and that
is to give her political value and a
part in the making of the laws that
control business. and thus determine
her wage"
Mr.. Wicker. Mrs. Meredith and Miss
Leahy spoke in the afternoon During
the day more than 100 new members
were enrolled.