The Washington herald., 1915-01-13

thick Lawrence. of London. Dr. Shaw
was applauded as she took her seat.
Fifty or more members spoke on the
resolution. In the main those who op-
posed equal suffrage based their argu-
ments on the doctrine that this is
question for treatment only by the
States. They also insisted that the de-
mand for the reform came from a mi
nority OF women. and that the great
majority had 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, and that as civiliza-
tiOn advanced the demand for the priv
ilege was bound to become irresistible.
81 realize that there are strong and
powerful arguments on both sides Of
the question of woman suffrage and still
stronger arguments on the subject of
national suffrage, but the tendency OF
the world everywhere is toward enlarg-
ing the grant of power to those who
shall control the destination of the ma
ton" said Representative Mann, the
Republican leader.
NO one denies the Intellectual power
of women TO make the proper use Of suf-
fraEe. I believe the time has come in
this country when We must safely say
to those who are in intimate relation
with US all through life. that we ask
you to help us I'm the management of the
affairs of this nation. in the hope that we
may make progress still greater in the
future than we have in the past. in the
belief that granting responsibility Will
bring new considerations to the great
problems which We have to meet
Il feel that We are warranted in trust
ing in the good wife's judgment Of the
other half of humanity, in a management
of the affairs of the country.
Interferes with state Rights.
Leader Underwood opposed Federal suf-
frage on the ground that it would inter
fere with the rights of the States
The question that confronts the House
TODAY is the greatest question that this
body can consider" said Mr.. Underwood.
1T is asserted by those who advocate
the right OF the women Of this country
to vote that it is a right on their part,
and yet this morning I have listened
to gentlemen argue who come here from
States that deny that right to their own
women or who come here from States
that but grudgingly 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 so?
81 deny that the exercise Of the fran
chise is a universal right. To exercise
the franchise in this American repub-
lie is the highest privilege that can be
granted. It is no more the right to ex-
ercise the franchise than II is right
possessed by man or woman to hold Of
flee. And even those States where the
women have been given the right of fran
chise. they themselves deny the franchise
is a right and not a privilege.
"As the floor leader of the majority
of this House on this occasion I have a
right to speak for my party. The Demo-
cratic party has not been silent on this
question. It has not attempted to say
what should be done IN California, or in
New York, or in Alabama 1t has not
said that the women OF any State in the
Union should not have the right to ex-
ercise the high privilege OF the franchise,
but it has said that under our Consti-
tuition, our laws, in view of the history
Of our republic, that this question must
be settled by the individual States and
not by the national government.
This right of suffrage is going to move
Just as fast as the conditions Of the peo-
pie who seek this privilege warrant them
in exercising II. II you try to drive 1t
faster than that you but court disaster
and the wreck and ruin of some portions
Of the country.
Arguments All Refuted.
In the principal speech for suffrage Rep
resentative Mondell, OF Wyoming, author
of the resolution, said:
I'VE are told in high and influential
quarters that this Is a question for the
States and not for the nation. That
seems to be the favorite pretext just now
for the sidetracklng of great questions.
THE stupid and threadbare argument
that the exercise of the elective franchise
will have an unfavorable effect upon the
character of women, expose them to un-
desirable contact destroy the finer fiber
of the sex. and put in jeopardy their nat
ural charm has been utterly refuted by
the experience OF every State and nation
which has enfranchised its women. II
political methods anywhere are brutaliz-
ing and communicating, they ought to be
remedied in the interest of all the people,
and the most effective remedy Is to be
found in the enfranchisement OF women"
Representative Hulings, OF Pennsyl-
vania. Progressive, made a spirited
speech in support of equal suffrage.
Representative Dies. of Texas, was
opposed to equal suffrage. II am op-
posed to this resolution because / do
not want Montana and Colorado to
have IL in their power to cram woman
suffrage down the throats Of the people
of Texas" exclaimed Dies. II am op-
posed to II because II would thrust the
ballot into the hands OF millions OF
negro women in the South. and force
unsought political burdens upon NIL