The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-04-08
Equal SUFFRAGE

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Continued from page one.l
to be OF greater worth and more serv-
ice in your country's welfare?
/ wish that I might catch the feet
ing thoughts as they come trooping
in and marshal them before you in
explanation of the meaning OF this
moment. :.
A mt so full of import and 80
rich in promise.
But lam here to welcome you to
this city and to voice the hospitality
which Fairmont is always delighted
to show. / need not a that you
are welcome, o can feel 1t in the
air, you can scent 1t in the breeze
and feel It in the many acts of kind
nesses n adorable respect with
which Fairmont is went to pay to
womanhood. I count it great honor,
as mayor of this city to be present
with you on this occasion and to
participate in the launching of a cam
vancement of political freedom.
Gradually the mountain of opposi-
ton ts wearing away, the sands Of
dtsapproral of your claims are run
ming out Without militant tactics
or apparent coercive measures, you
ave won your first important battle,
in the submission, by an overwhelm-
ing majority, of the suffrage amend
meut. and today you meet in this fair
city to give direction and purpose and
momentum to the movement for
woman's suffrage IN this state.
l congratulate you. / congratulate
you, that o have chosen this city
as the place from which to launch
your campaign.
Fairmont, that ever stands, in her
gates, to give welcome and god-speeu,
greets you with her sweetest smiles,
and today and during our conference
here.
Fairmont Is for woman's suffrage.
I would not presume to say what her
position will be on election day, blu
well begun Is half won, and surmise
that when you hear from Fairmont
after the election that you will no
be disappointed.
I am glad on behalf of Fairmont
that you have brought you confer.
ence to this Queen of the upper Mon
ongahela. 1t Is only another expires.
sion OF confidence In the broad and
liberal sentiments that have ever
characterized this city.
1t is not 90 long s when the idea
of ONE voting was obnoxious to a
great many people. l confess to some
such feeling myself. / had been look.
ing at this question through an old
pair of glasses, ! was inoculated with
the conviction that woman's sphere
or hemisphere, was in the home and
that destruction threatened If she
should be permitted to stray there
from.
The predjudices which have dis
honored your sex are yielding to the
influence of truth.
We no longer dread that the culture
Of science and literature and govern
ment, will foster masculine boldness
or destroy that purity and domestic
devotion which is YOU mantle and
our strength.
New are con5tantly being
opened for your employment without
sacrifice of your dignity or modesty.
New fields of endeavor are opening
before you, wherein your exertions
are demonstrating a capability here
tofore unknown.
In the science of city planning women
have shown pre-eminent ability.
In the science of sanitation and the
art of city cleanliness and adornment,
women are taking advanced steps.
Man OF longer hopes to compete
with women in sociological problems,
and they are his rivals or allies in
nearly e department of knowl-
edge.
Some women nave been pre-eminent
In every age and have left their i'm.
press upon every step in human
achievement.
We have women in this city who
as nurses are bringing to the sick
and afflicted the balm of restored
health. Teachers who are moulding
the minds of our youths SO that they
may grasp the real meaning OF life
and of citizenship. We have hun
dreds of women who are loyal to civ.
ic. state and national affairs and who
in the homes. the schools and the
churches are teaching by precept and
example the Hottest standards OF hui
mainly.
Shall we withhold from them equal
rights in affairs OF government II
they desire it?
What is true OF Fairmont is also
true of every other locality in West
Virginia. All communities have
their Deborahs and their Marthas.
What you have coveted o shall
enjoy. A woman usually gets what
she wants. You might as we'll try to
dam the oceans tide as to stem the
tide for woman's suffrage in this
state.
But I would not nave you think. as
some of. you may. that the vote Will
be a panacea for all your domestic
m social ills.
II you expect the ballot to bring
you s~urcease. OF sorrows and mitiga-
tion OF woes, you are doomed to dis
appointment. The ballot will bring
only added responsibility, and in the
hands of your noblest, an additional
means to aid In the publication of
morals and the upbuilding of society.
But the casting of the ballot is large
ly perfunctory IL you will make your
influence felt. you must follow up
your ballot with demands for action,
for civic purity and righteousness.
You must get behind your ballot