The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-13
FEMALE SUFFRAGE
Continued from First r-aee.)

seats an one section. of the hblic
gallery. In another section sat mem
hers of the Congressional Union for
WOmans Suffrage, an organization
that has been active in pushing the
question into partisan politics, and
members of the National Association
of Woman's Suffrage were scattered
through all the galleries
\ driving rainstorm failed to dis
courage record breaking crowd.
First arrivals appeared about 8
O'Clock and waited patiently for the
galleries to he thrown open an hour
or so later. When the women dotted
their ratnCoats the yellow and purple
banners and sashes of the suffragists
were disclosed, filling the galleries
with a warm wave OF color. one
whole section of the public gallery
was occupied by women wearing
broad SATIN sashes. These were mem
bers Of the Congressional Union.
Suffrage Leaders.
CphsWcuops among those in the
Speakers gallery were DR., Anna How
ard shaw, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait.
Mrs. q. H. T.. Belmont and Mrs. Pc
thick Lawrence. of London. DIR. Shaw
was applau1ed as she took her seat
The proceedings started off tamely
Everybody present knew the Mondell
resolution was marked for defeat. and
acc )rdiuGly those who took part in
the debate seemed to go about their
tasks rather perfunctorily.
Fifty or more members spoke on
the resolution In the main those who
opposed equal suffrage based their
arguments on the doctrine that this
is a question for treatment only by
the states They also insisted that
the demand for reform came from a
minority of women and that the great
ma iority found no way TO voice their
opposition. Those who spoke for
equal suffrage insisted that the right
TO vote could not In justice be denied
to women ana that as civilization ad-
vanced the demand for the privilege
was bound 10 become Irresistible.
Manu- Eayors Resolution.
- realize that thevs are strong and
powerful arguments on both sides of
the question of woman suffrage and
still stronger arguments on the sub
ject of national suffrage, but the ten
dency Of the world everywhere is to-
those who shall control the destnies
of the nation" said Representative
Mann The uneducated, the poor
the serfs, the slaves, haye been edn-
cateo to the power of helping In gov
eminent. We may stem the current
for the IN 3ment, but civilization s
progress develops unerringly the logic
OF granting suffrage to all capable OF
making good use Of It,
mo one denies the intellectual pow
er of women to make proper use of
suffrage. ! believe the time has come
in this country when we must safely
say to those who are in intimate re-
lations with us all through life, we
ask you 10 htip us in the management
OF the affairs of this nation In the
hop" that We may progress still
greater in the future than we have
in the past. IN the belief that grant
ing responsibility will bring new con-
slderations TO the great problems
which We have to meet
tuderwoG In Opposition.
Leader Underwood opposed federal
suffrage on the ground that il would
interfere with the rights of the states.
The question that confonts the
House today is the greatest. question
that this body can sonsider." he said.
at is asserted by those who advo-
cate the right OF the women of this
country 80 vote, that II is right on
their part. and yet. this morning /
have listened To gentlemen argue who
come here from States that deny that
right Ia their own women or who
come here from states that but
srudsingly have given "a part of the
franchise to women of their own
States.
DO they represent the sentiment
Of their own people who have the
power to act and who have refused TO
do 500 deny that the exercise of
he franchise is a universal right. To
exercise the franchise In this repub-
lie IN the highest privilege that can be
granted 1t is no more the right to
exercise the franchise than 1t Is q
right possessed by men or women to
hold Office and even those States
where the women have been given the
right of franchis, they themselves
deny the franchise is right and not a
privilege.
Says He Speaks for Party.
"As the floor leader Of the majority
of this house on this occasion ! nave
a right to speak for my party This
Democratic party has not been silent
on this question. II has not attempt
ed To say what should be done in
California or in New York or in Ala
bama. II has not been said that wo-
men OF any State In the Union should
have tAe right to exercise the high
privilege Of the franchise, but II has
been said that under our constitution,
In view of the history OF our republic,