Evening journal., 1915-09-25
Suffrage Cause
Wins IN Debate

That woman should be given tho
right to vote was the decision Of the
judges of the suffrage debate held in
McCabe NJ. f. Church. corner Twenty
second and Boulevard last night The
debate. which was held under the
auspices of the Baraca Glass of Nc
Cabe Church. attracted a large and
enthusiastic audience.
With such speakers as Mrs. Flor !
ence Bayard Hilles. State chairman
Of the Congressional Union to up
hold the affirmative side. and Miss
Emily P. Bissell. one OF the most |
prominent anti-suffragists in the |
State; to uphold the negative side.
the debate from start TO finish was |
keen and especially interesting.
The arguments on both sides were 1
so strong, logical and intelligently |
put that when It came time for the
judges 10 make the decision they
found their task very difficult one.
and the audience was forced TO wait
twenty minutes before DR.. Charles A.
Wagner. State Commissioner OF Edu-
cation, who was one of the judges,
took the platform and announced
that the affirmative side had won. In
making known the decision, Dr. Wag-
ner said that the task had been a diff
! icult one, as the arguments on both
sides were so equally balanced and
logical that Il was finally decided that
the affirmative side put up the better
argument. In addition to the Judges
decision concerning the debate,
standing vote on the subject was
taken. All suffragsts IN the audi
1 ence were asked to stand, following
which the anti-suffraglsts were re-
quested to arise Il was seen that
there were more suffraglsts IN the
audience than there we're "antis"
The meeting was opened by the sing
ing Of "Onwhrd Christian Soldiers"
William p. White directed the singing
The invocation was made by the Rev J.
r. Stonesifer. The Rev. DR.. J. W. Easley
introduced the speakers.
Mrs. hlilles spoke first. When she
arose to speak she was given an ovation
| Mrs Hilles began her arguments by call
ing attention 10 what she regarded as
the injustice of forcing thirty millions Of
people of this country to live under laws
in the making of which they have no
voice
ADO you call this democracy" asked
Mrs. IIilles, that permits such an un-
just thing to exist? We hear a great
deal Of talk about indirect influence. To
me that argument is loathsome. for YOU
can't do anything indirectly. To ac-
complish anything. we must do il d..
rectly and no other way"
Next taking up the anti's argument
that "Women's Place is in the Home"
Mrs. Hilles said:
"Yes. certainly woman's place is in
the home. No one realizes the truth
of that statement more than suffra-
gists do. But there was a time when
woman was more occupied in her home
and when she was not educated: but
times have changed. Numerous indus
trial inventions and progressive edu-
cation have changed that Eighty
FIVE per cent of the teachers in our
public schools are women. So let me
ASK you. is It logical that a Olsen
franchised class should be making
citizens?"
( When Miss Bissell arose to speak
her many friends gave her an ovation
The first point that Miss Bissel
! brought out was that though the SUI
fraeists had been trying for sixty
z years to convince man that woman
E wants the vote. they have not as yet
succeeded in convincing woman thai
{ she wants IT,
e Nobody" said Miss Bissell. mot
e even the most ardent and mistaken
S apostle of suffrage. has ever claimed
e that the majority of our sex wished
y to vote.
}, Woman suffrage in the wesi has
i never raised wages, given equal sal.
p aries provided jobs for working wo.
J. men. done away with white slavery
r and vice. given better working hours
for women or done any Of the things
It claims any more than male suff.
rage has done. Is there any law il
Delaware with respect to women thai
needs a change? Suffrage does no
I build up anything for women"
!. At the conclusion Of the addresse.
? few words were spoken by william
r T. Morris, the teacher of the Bibl,
n class.
e The judges Of the debate were Cliff
(. ord ]. Scott. superintendent of pub
i schools; Dr. Charles A. Wagner. Stat
commissioner of education. and thr
j. Rev. DR.. J. r. Stonesifer