The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-05-10
WATCH US CROW
ISANTIS' SLOGAN
Mrs. ]. M. Stoddard Tells Of
First Convention Opposed
to Suffrage.
CLAIM 10000 MEMBERS
Harrisburg. Pa. Session Addressed by
Speakers Who Upset Arguments
of Votes for Women.


after, and Harrisburg was not in the
least disturbed in its daily routine or
trafYic by the women who came end went.
1t was not an event for Harrisburg. but
1t was an epoch in anti-suffragism. and
that convention was the bugle call which
announced to the country that the antis
are in the race for American womanhood.
Mrs. Arthur NJ Dodge. president of the
national association. presided. owing to
the enforced absence Of Mrs. Horace
Brock. president Of the Pennsylvania
State Association. Nearly every phase
of the anti-suffrage work was expressed
Splendid reports from Massachusetts,.
Virginia Maryland. New Jersey, District
of Columbia, and different counties and
districts throughout Pennsylvania were
given. showing the rapid development Of
branch organizations which are constant
ly being formed.
All Kinds Are Joining.
Indifferent women are daily joining the
anti-suffrage ranks. One very pertinent
illustration was cited by Mrs. Oliphant.
of New Jersey. After some time was
spent by New Jersey headquarters to
start an association at Perth Amboy, at
least six women were persuaded to hold
a parlor meeting. They called together
thirty-four women friends who were in
gist. Speakers were sent down to ad-
dress them. The result was that the
thirty-four who were on the fence en-
rolled as members. and the two suffra-
gists were converted, and they are grow
ing daily In the work.
Mrs. David Kirk. Of Pittsburgh, gave
a most excellent talk on study classes.
which are becoming a potent factor in
the education OF women on the question
of suffrage. Mrs. Kirk has a class of
about 800 women, and she considers II
the very best way to inform women on
this issue Of the day. All kinds of data
are discussed and the very best authori-
ties on both sides are consulted and an
alyzed. The women are taught how to
express their ideas and suggestions in
the best possible way. even to good artic-
ulation. Mrs. Frank Goodwin. Of New
York also gave a resume Of the study
classes there. and reports were read Of
the Massachusetts, work along these lines.
One Of the most interesting talks was
given by Mrs. Louis Piollet, a farmers
daughter and a farmers wife. The
oranges are the progressive centers
lily obtain everything and more than the
suffragists say the ballot will give. Her
viewpoint in regard to representation
was splendid, and put to shame the lack
Of confidence which the suffragist dis
plays at every turn. In her remarks she
asks the suffragist why she will let his
boy or husband go to war to defend his
country and his family at the risk Of his
life, and have perfect faith in whatever
he may do. but refuse to trust him with
the ballot. Is she so afraid of the son
whom she herself has trained to manhood
that he will fail her and be unwilling to
protect her interests when it comes to
voting?
Evening Session.
The evening was devoted to addresses,
which were enthusiastically received by
a most attentive audience Of men and
women. Miss Emmeline Pitt. editor Of
the National Metal Trades Review and
former secretary Of the Iron City Gen.
trail Trades Council Of Pittsburg, dis
cussed the attitude of the wage-earning
woman toward equal suffrage. In Allie
gheny County among ass working wom-
en-, only IS. she found, were suffragists.
and II of those socialists.
Miss Pitt has been associated with the
wage-earning woman for twelve years.
and has found through her personal asso-
citation and investigation Of them and
their work that the majority of them do
not want the ballot. and It would be the
greatest injustice to thrust this extra
burden into their already seriously oc-
cupied lives. Pennsylvania has over
100000 more population than six Of the
Western woman suffrage States: sixty
six counties. comprising forty-one dis
tricts, thickly populated industrial CEN
tiers Because suffrage has brought no
extreme disaster in a Western State with
a population no larger than that of the
District Of Columbia is no reason that
it will work in State like Pennsylvania,
filed with an alien people living in con-
gested communities and engaged in in
dustrial service.
The horrible and most regrettable con-
ditions which have developed in Colo
RADIO at the present time are illustrations
Of how futile and helpless the vote Is in
the hands Of women or men either In
avoiding or settling such an emergency.
The women of Colorado offered to send
LOO women to Mexico. Is it not a pa
thetic example Of mistaken duty?
Mrs Frank Goodwin talked most con-
vincingly on general topics pertaining to
the issue. She dwelt upon the world
wide movement of the women. The wom-
en- Of foreign countries are struggling to
obtain what we have had for years,
against which no organized opposition
has ever been made. The Persian women
are crying for education, the Chinese
women for religious freedom. the women
of India for sanitation and health.
How About Australia
As for the countries that women vote
in, what do We hear from Australia, the
triumphant card Of the suffragists? This:
The vote Of the working woman In Aus
tralia is being handled corruptly by the
bosses. Bossism for Australia What
from New Zealand? The government Is
embodied socialism. II the English news
papers are to be believed, New Zealand
is one of the most corrupt celebrates in
the world. and Mr.. Paul, minister OF
Justice, says: ''The problem Is not an
easy one nor Is It a small one. A large
proportion of the native-born population
is yearly going to prison"
Women are not allowed to vote In Ice
land until forty years Of age. Political
affairs have been far from improved by
1t in Finland. Note how the industrial
doors have been opened to women with
ports received was from the men Of the