Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-03-18

atty in the State men representing
every condition Of life in the State. and
Knowing this, / say that the women of
Maine are like the wives and mothers
OF the members OF this Legislature.
Now don't misunderstood me I am
speaking of the average woman. the
everyday woman who makes the home
ana helps to do the business and carry
on the great work of the State There
are exceptions among the women as
among the men; ] am not speaking
of the exceptions. There are a few
women among us whose life work is
almost done, some whom wealth and
influence and power have sheltered,
protected and cared for, a few who
know nothing of the trials and fierce
battles that are fought in daily life
and who declare they do not want
the ballot. they do ros need the ballot
and that they are against tire ballot be-
ing given their sister women. We can
easily understand these women. honest
and sincere. who from their environ
ment and from pleasant homes, Surround
ed by wealth and luxury. protected from
the rough winds of life do not feel the
want Of the ballot, and therefore Go not
desire it There will be less OF these in
the future, Slowly but surely they Will
DRIFT away from their prejudices. and
when woman has the ballot in Maine,
they will be its most enthusiastic de-
voices. There are but a few of these
women in Maine, they are an exception
they Will soon be memory. The women
Of Maine are not 70 be judged by what
is known as the abnormal or freak.
,sa,-z tn, 10
to show that woman is human and not
divine
AT the suffrage hearing in the Hall Of
Representatives n few weeks ago the
anti-suflrAgists produced as Their
spokesman 4 young woman from New
Jersey and since she spoke here, the
New Jersey legislature has submitted
suffrage 30 its people. but While here she
entertained the men Of the legislature. a
least, with acrobatic facts OF oratory.
We all Love TO attend an old fashioned
circus where an agile woman makes
flying leaps from one trapeZe 10 another
in mid lair. or swings by her tec5h
man much larger than herself and on
the bareback horse going at full speed
makes flying jumps through the hoops
or over the banner. and we all enjoy II,
and the men, at least, at the hearing Ell
joyed the feats OF this young lady from
New Jersey when she vaulted from mis-
statement &c mis- statement and took
wonderful flights of fancy and performed
great wonders in avoiding facts. and
still she was entertaining. She was SIM
ply professional. 1t was her business
10 travel from state to state and APP
pear before legislators and entertain
them, and her life is the same as the
| lady in circus, both are professionals,
, and Vet neither OF these represent the
women of Maine.
III MANY states there has been a great
influx OF foreign immigration, sometimes
much Of the undesirable sort, and the
true American mas been burdened and
! obscured by the foreign element. Such
has not been the history of Maine. Less
than four per cent OF our population is
Of that undesirable character. Maine
has been settled by the best blood in all
the world.
Two hundred and seventy three wears
( ago last December a snip from the old
world landed her passengers upon the
bleak shores Of New England. In that
party were forty-one men and sixty wo-
/ Iilc!' IttSt were tIlIdI Az IllLt!ilSSlitt,
equal in knowledge, equal almost in ply
steal endurance, equal in all that made
up the Pilgrim Fathers and Mothers. To-
gether they labored III the fields. TO-
sether they labored in the home, togeth-
G. they labored in the church. and in
The state and together they cleared the
forests. conquered the wilds and made
great the beautiful New England. y
larae Proportion Of cur inhabitants
are their descendants, and all over
Maine today are scattered the daush-
ters Of the Pilgrim Mothers, and
about tho same proportion today as
then, sixty women TO forty men. Then
fr I'M old Ireland. England and Scotland
came hardy people, who settled many
Of the wilds Of Maine and made for
themselves homes and raised up grand
and noble families. Then from Canada
came the English colonists, who had
hran born in England and sought the
Old state Of Maine as pioneers, and have
been with US ever since. Along tho
beautiful rivers OF our Northland near
the great s.. JOAN and 8roos;ook cane
tile children from the land OF F.vangelinc.
the French Canadians. VINO have made
for themselves homes il that beautiful
Country. many uf therl have sought en-
ployiHcMt 10 WhicG they were adapted
in the great cities. such as Lewiston
a,d 6iddefo,d, where men ana women
work side by side at the loom, and make
the home together, This is the ances-
try of the women Of Maine. and TO bet
ter can he found any where, no puTer
blood since the days Of Eden.
l want you TO come little closer ia
this woman of Maine. She is not only
we'll bred. but she is intellectual.
Her mother endured many priVations.
she was almost a slave in the house
hold, she was deprived OF the schools
and colleges. but her daughter is not
/ 50. She has risen from the lapStol.c.
She has contested successfully with the
male and in all the halls Of education
she has outstriprod the youth, tine boy
and the man. She has filled orr high
schools or academies. Two thirds OF
our graduates are women. She has
made great advances in literature and
learning. and she has become the
teacher Of today. | went down the
other day into the Office Of the Super
intendent of Education, and l found
facts that startled me. In the whole
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