The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-02-03
WOMEN DO NOT WANT
THE RIGHT TO VOTE
II Was Asserted at Anti-Suhrage Meet
in the State House Last Evening
Mrs. A. ]. George Of Massa-
chusetts Spoke,

An anti-suffrage meeting was held at
the State House in Montpelier last even
ing, the chief speaker being Mrs. A. D.
George, secretary of the Massachusetts,
Society Opposed 10 Woman Suffrage
There was large attendance. Mrs.
Georges two main points were that
women do not want TO vote and that
where they had voted they had not inn
proved conditions. The methods OF the
sufragists in many legislative fights, she
asserted, did not augur well for the con-
dtions which would result when WON
en- got into politics in the future under
suffrage regime.
In showing that the majority Of WON
en- We're indifferent to women suffrage In
many states and under all circumstances,
Mrs. George laid il down as a general
proposition TO which all would agree
that it was great political evil of the
majority of the voters were Indifferent
as to their political obligation. When
men stay away from the polls IT. u
inevitably hindrance 10 good govern
ment. This opinion was quoted from the
San Francisco Chronicle, and she read
a clipping to the effect that no one de-
MES the ability Of women to vote, but
the question is "Do they want TOT" The
Chronicle concluded from California re-
suits that they did not.
She considered the history Of the
woman suffrage in states Of limited and
unlimited suffrage. Vermont's vote on
school questions was noted. Here WON.
en- with property qualification could
vote but have seldom exercised their
rights, In Massachusetts, they can vote
on school questions without any proper
| ty qualification, and of 100000 eligible
women in the last election in Boston,
1860 went TO the polls. The number
who have voted in Massachusetts, has
been smaller and smaller proportionate-
lily. In Brookline, for example, ls4 out
| of $500 is the record number of voters.
! As to the women who have municipal
suffrage in Illinois they have not bet
tered conditions for women, for children
or for good government. The sufiragists,
Mrs George reminded the legislators,
quote figures as to the number that vote
in Illinois. A good proportion of regis
tered women voters did vote, il ia true,
but very small proportion of them reg
| istered. The Chicago commission of cleo
tions said that smaller percentage OF
women registered in October than in the
previous March, and it was necessary
TO re-register in October in order to vote
in November Everything was done TO
bring out a big registration, but there
was 2S per cent decrease. Graham
TAYLOR, social worA " in Chicago in ex
horting the women, i'd: IF you don't
register, the cause Of woman suffrage
will be set back a generation" They did
not register and the women candidates
for municipal housekeeping positions"
the care OF the insane, almshouses. etc,
were defeated. And 50" said Mrs.
George, 81 claim that the cause of WON
an suffrage was set back generation
| In England they have had municipal
woman suffrage since the COS. Women
who are not otherwise represented may
vote in municipal elections. Yet the
militants have recently DESTROYED five
millions of dollars of property in their
effort 10 obtain parliamentary suffrage.
There fewer and fewer women are ex-
ercising their municipal franchise, and
fewer and fewer women are being elect
ed 10 the hoarls TO which they are eligi-
BILE. As the result of the mad pranks
of the militants neither men nor women
win vote for women in municipal cleo
lions.
Mrs. George compared laws in suffrage
and non-suffrage states 20 the disadvan
tage ~ the former. As for prohibition,
this movement got a long start, and
swept the nation before the suffrage
movement gained Roadway North Da-
kota. q prohibition state, recently turned
down woman suffrage And Montana
and Nevada, the "wettest' states, &C.
cepted Il.
The methods Of the women in the
legislatures does not give promise OF
better things, said Mrs. George. The
Illinois fight with the card index Of
the legislators and one affinity" assigned
to each lawmaker were touched upon,
also the blacklist" on which one Yer
mont senator appears. When the Dem
ocmts turned down suffrage in Congress,
the women conducted an anti-Democratie
campaign IN every congressional and
senatorial fight They did not show re-
suits. for all but one state 80 contested
showed increased Democratic maiorities.
Their methods, she said, were those OF
corrupt big business
Tbs cost Of woman suffrage was point
ed out BY Mrs George III u accom-
plished good things i would b. worth
/ the cost, but it doesn't As an exam
pie she cited Utah. state about equal
IN population 10 Vermont The last sen
atorial vote cost two and one-half
times A. much IN Utah a. IN Vermont.
With increased expenses and taxes tins
side Il important
Only the suIfIagists, Mr.. George as
serted. made TIE claim that anyone con.
riacrcd women a. inferior They are
SIMPLY fitted for different rcsponsibiii.
ties than the men.
1 Mrs Clarence Morgan presided AZ the
meeting. During the evening i was
anuounoed that over 22o0 names had
seen signed 20 4 petition which was nov
Is the hands Of senator Carver Of the
4 senate committee. Tlaese names arr
f from representative husiness men and
women Of voting age a large percent-
Z are a tire women ore uaEe-earuers.
A Speaker from New jersey.
TIE ssc0nd sr,eaker 81 the evening wss
Totu a Mathews. . New aer-ey lsgis.
lat0r. Hr touk f1r be subiect the fail