Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-12-10
GOV, STUART IS
N0N-CoM|Ml7T
Receives Women Delegates
Graciously, But Makes
No Promises
ENTERED CoLLoQUY
Assures Delegation. However That
He Will Sign Suffrage Amendment
If Adopted.

He Will Sign Suffrage AineIoi'f"'
If Adopted.
Richmond, Dec. 10-That suffrage
9 live issue in Virginia and Will
,e one of the most important IS
iues before the State Legislature
his winter was the claim made when
he first suffrage convention ever
cid in Richmond opened its first ses-
ion Yesterday at the Jefferson Hotel.
Perhaps the most notable event Oh
he day was the visit Of delegation
q the Governor in the afternoon, to
SIX him to give his Endorsement TO
the suffrage amendment to be
ubmitted to the coming Genera! AS
.embly.
At 4:3O o'clock, after the after
Don business session, the entire con-
ention, marched two and two and
,caring suffrage badges walked down
rankin Street from the Jefferson
the Capitol. Mrs. B. B. Valentine
he State president, headed the col
mn. bearing yellow "Fotes for
Women" banner in her hand. The
elegation. nearly 200 in number, FL
I'd the Governors Office to overflow
ny.
Before Introducing the speakers,
Irs. Valentine said: I'VE women
rom al! over the State Of Virginia,
ave come to ask you to incorporate
\ your message to the Legislature
, recommendation that that body
hall pass an act enabling the citizens
4 yn;i.3i;t to 1ote Gr. .:i:le n eess'
O the State constitution cnfranchis-
ne women"
The first speaker was Mrs. John
I. Lewis, of Lyncihurg. who sad:
Your ExcelIency. you are q Demo
rat. representing the principles OF
quality and upholding the rights OF
he people. We are half OF the people
We are interested in the Constltu-
on; we pay taxes, teach, work ana
trivc to be good citizens; 100000
VI us in this State are laboring wo-
men. 5000 are teachers, $4,000 are
voting age, AS such we feel that
It is our right to have voice nfthc
government under which we live"
Miss Mary Johnston, the novelist
poke in behalf of Bath County.
"The majority fthe voters in the
ounty l represent are in favor OF
yoman suffrage. We are only asking
! hat: democracy be adhered to-. We
,elieve that our State: which strug-
lied to, establish the: principle of ::"nc
axation without representation,
| hould extend that principle to in
!! :lude: all the people" - :.
|, Miss Roberta Wexford, who repre-
!: sented, ,Albemarle County. pleaded
8j.hat women be allowed to serve thu
country in a fuller sense. Miss Elle1
/ Robinson, from Hampton, announced
hat the peninsula had SIS member:
|, Of suffrage leagues, and 1,700 sig
.ners of the suffrage petition. Miss P
Anderson, of; Lexington, called atten
! ton to the fact that over half of thu
desirable properties in her town i
owned by women. who do not ever
have vote on a matter so vital t
their interests as bond issue.
Mrs. w. w. King, from Staunton
scored point. She began by say
ing 81 come from stronghold of de
mocracy."
The Governor interrupted her t.
| say, "Not very recent one,' allud
ing to the recent Republican victor
in tAat district.
"You have anticipated what I wa
going to say" answered the suffra
gist quickly. 81 was going to sugges
that perhaps the reason for demo
cracy's defeat there has been the fail
ure of, its advocates to advance tn
principles of democracy in their full
est sense"
/ Other speakers were Mrs. Sail!
Nelson Robins, representing Rich
4 mond; Mrs. r. N. Crawford, repr.
sening Williamsburg; Miss Elizabet
/ Cooke, of Norfolk; Miss Terry, O