Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-05-20

hall on Wednesday evening, where she
spoke under the auspices of the Nor
wieh League Opposed to Equal Suf-
frage In an illuminating way, she
discussed the arguments, pro and con,
on the question Of women voting,
speaking for about an hour. AT the
end of that time, 1t was evident that
she was much in favor with her au-
dience that seemed content to hear
her further, but she devoted the rest
Of the time to answering few ques-
tions that were asked in response to
her offer to make reply to any that
might he presented.
Miss Dorman was introduced by Mrs.
Eben Learned, president of the Nor
witch league, as one to whom much of
the success of the work this year,
both nationally and in the state, has
been due. With the president and the
speaker upon the platform were seat
ed one of the vice presidents of the
league, Mrs. Frank l. Royce, and the
treasurer, Mrs. Archibald Mitchell, Jr.
A big American flag hung from the
wall behind the desk and another was
draped along the front of the desk.
while q handsome basket of red pom
pies proclaimed the colors of the anti
suffraeists cnd baskets of white flow
ers were also arranged in the decora-
lions.
Convert From Suffrage.
Miss Dorman averred at the out
set of her talk that she was convert
from the suffrage to the anti-suffrage
cause her enlightenment having come
when she had been compelled to get
out into the business world to earn
her own living. In this respect OF
having gone over from suffrage to an
ti-suffrage she stood with Gladstone
and Herbert Spencer who like some
of the other biggest people in the
world had come to change their point
of view upon this subject
She discussed protective laws for
women workers and said that the only
woman who fought the nine hour day
in Connecticut was a suffragist. For
the sake of getting the vote, this Wo-
man was willing to sacrifice all the
protective legislation that other Wo-
men were striving for.
In fact Miss Dorman claimed, eV-
cry labor law that protects man pro-
tects woman also. and the real plea for
special privilege for women in employ
ment is on the ground of the good o.
the race because of the fact that
every woman is either a potential or
an active mother.
Suffrage Not Wanted by Majority.
Taking up the question of proper
ton of women asking for suffrage,
Miss Dorman said that the question
had been agitated for IS years and
that now the equal suffrage league an
nounces that they have 200, 900 mem
bers. But there are A million females
in the United States and until the suf-
fragists can show that at least fifty
frage, they are undemocratic for they
want the wishes of the minority to
prevail. True it is that the 200, 900
are accountable for a good deal of
noise, but it is not noise that con-
stitutes numbers.
Economy and Efficiency.
At no time more than now have
economy and efficiency been needed
in government more than now, but
Colorado has the highest tax rate, in
California the rate has increased
amazingly, and in New York the tax
rate is going up.
Miss Dorman discussed the increas
ed expense if you double the num-
Der of people. who are to vote and
declare that if you vote for woman
suffrage you must be prepared to pay
the cost. What we want is the best
possible result from the least posi-
BILE expenditure but woman suffrage
violates the basic principal of econ
ony by sending two people to do
class, state or nation gain by this :?
The suffragist gives US no practical
reason why we should double the vote.
Denver Women Neglect Voting.
AS an indication of how women fol-
low up their privilege of voting, Miss
Dorman read the following newspaper
clipping from Denver, referring to the
election held there on Tuesday:
The lightest suffrage vote ever polled
in Denver was cast in today'S munich
pal election, when voters adopted the
home rule amendment, making Denver
wet" and which will result in endless
court litigation. A violent snowstorm
kept a large percentage of voters from
the polls, but even the most ardent
Suffragists acknowledged the weather
was not the cause.
"Tll tell you what's the matter"
said Mrs. Martha ]. Cranmer, member
of the state board of pardons and
suffrage pioneer in Colorado. Most of
the women have become disguised and
and all the women in Denver will quit
voting. The women have shown they
can't stand together. They have divid-
ed into factions and spend their time
knitting one another. I shall never vote
again. Suffrage is a failure. The facts
speak for themselves"
Suffragists inconsistent.
The speaker charged that women are
inconsistent from the fact that they
make men the trustees of their funds,
but when it comes to spending their
country's money they want to have
say about that, although they have lit
tie practical experience in business,
and only one woman in five is engaged
in gainful occupation which would
give her any sort of practical expert
ence in business.
Better World by Education.
The suffragists think that what we
want to make the world better are
better laws, but the anti thinks it is
too late to begin to reform by law with
the grown-ups. The way to prepare
for a better world is through the chill
dren, by education, religion and
through the home, the three places
where woman's influence is most ex-
erted. Every great man who ever lived
bore testimony to the worth of his
home, his early education and his
moral training, and not to the laws.
Where these three things have failed
it is women who have failed.
1t is a case of deciding where you
want to use the energy of the two
sexes, and in the division of human
labor the man should carry the public
responsibilities. If the women vote,
the man may be disfranchised by his
life's partner. if she happens to vote on
the other side, but the bachelor has no
one directly to negative his vote in
the same way. AS an illustration of
sending two people to do the same