Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-05-02
MR.. C[APP SCORES
EXPORT|NGOF ARMS
Says Spirit of CommerciaIism
Will DeIav Cause of
Suffrage.
ADDRESSES SUFFRAGISTS
AT PUBLIC LIBRARY
Shameful. He Says. That Great
Moral Nation Like United States
Should Allow Weapon Selling.

Woman suffrage in the east is likely
to suffer from the reactionary period
through which rhe country is now
passing. declared Senator Moses II.
Clapp. addressing the suffrage day
meeting last night In the lecture hail
of the Public Library. II is shame
full state of reaction, he said. when a
great moral nation like the United
States sits idly by and allows tho eh
portation of weapons of warfare which
are used in the destruction of human
beings. The country IS in the throes
of commercialism. which may mean its
destruction. he said.
Senator Clapp was the principal
speaker at the meeting to celebrate
woman's suffrage day held under the
auspices of the District of columbia
State Equal Suffrage Association. Mrs.
Robert Nj. La Toilette also deliver, II
an address In support of woman SUI
frage, while other features Of the pro-
gram consisted of singing and dancing.
The great Increase i'll the moral well
fare which would come to the nation
by the adoption of woman suffrage
throughout the country was explained
at some length by Senator Clapp, who
declared that government of half of
the people by the other half was no
government at all.
The speaker declared there was much
talk of peace and peace conferences.
but said that never would there he
peace in this world until it is COM
posed of Christianized democracy.
One Reason for Government.
There's only one reason for gov
eminent, and that is there is force
in our midst that would prey upon So
an'sciety unless there WAS government
Government is for the accomplishment
of host of things that could not he
accomplished by the individual, and il
is for welfare. If government is for
welfare then tell me what there is in
woman's makeup that would make
her unfit to participate in the welfare
of the people
There is not an argument in favor
of equal suffrage that does not apply
to man. and there is not an argument
against equal suffrage that does not
apply to male suffrage. There's an ar
guinent used against woman suffrage
that the woman does not need the Vote
because her husband would vote for
her. But there are great mass Of
women who never get married. who
survive their husbands and some who
do not marry until late in life. This ar
gument of man against woman suf-
frage does not apply to very great
mass of American womanhood.
1T has been said that women are the
guardians of the home. Women are
more guardians of the home than man.
She must guard the home. but did you
ever ask yourself what woman must
guard against? 1t is not the cyclone
nor the earthquake. These are not the
things against which woman mus,
guard the home-it is the temptation
of society, and the only way to get this
protection is to put the ballot in the
hands of women. If you put one in
charge of treasure. then you must
give them the means to protect that
trea sure.
1T is proposed, then, to make woman
the guardian Of the home, and Yet they
want to keep from her the only weap-
on with which she can guard ii, and
that is the ballot"
Want One Atlantic State.
IF one Atlantic state gets equal SUI
frage this fall. it will not take long
for the other states. after viewing II at
close range. to follow and give suf-
frage to their women. But there should
not be too much enthusiasm for sue
cess at the coming elections. for the
country now is passing through a Sc
rious reactionary period-lt Is IN the
throes of commercalism. The spirit or
commercialism has throttled it-a
spirit of commercialism that forces a
great moral government and nation
like ours to sit silent and allow ths
%
with which to wreck the destruction 90
human souls in the great European
conflict 1t is a very serious matter
for \ nation that does not urlft a
hand anr say Stop to this spirit ~
commercial ism ~
Outlining the growth OF the woman
suffrage movement. Mrs. La Toilette de-
c1,raa that in none of the states where
enu.l suffrage now prevails IS there
-, . thing as rule "a. They 40
not hermit such archaic provisions Tor
school teachers in progressive states
where woman suffrage now preNaiiS-
she said. No., ,,,l-e
Mrs. Belva Lockwood also spoke
briefly. s ,,i,,, tho
singing of America" by a girls chorus
Miss Edna Ko,. mann sang a soio' ~.
COMMANDED by Miss Catherine SchuilH-
Owing to the limited space the dance.
..The Torch of Enlightenment,
Misses Mildred Anderson. kachei ~
and Dorothy Keen. could not be elreh;
and Miss Marthena BARRIE SUBSTITUTE"
the symbolic dance victory
Thu. meeting was concluded Win tlle
SINGING of an original suffrage hyhlii.
being a new version of The battle
HYMN of the Republic" said TO nave
been written yesterday AFTERNOON ior
fine occasion by Mrs. Carrie y. hen!'
president of the organization. Dr. en-
ION Power Clark led the audience IN
the singing of this song.