Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-13

at times was vigorous. and almost bit
ter. Half Il dozen times Speaker Clark
was forced to interrupt speakers to
restore order. Several times he threat
ened to clear the galleries unless the
disturbance subsidized.
The turmoil culminated in "a storm OF
kissing that greeted a speech By Rep
rcsentative Bowdle. of Ohio. opposing
the amendment. lie had remarked that
the women OF Washington are beauti-
full. but they have no interest in affairs
or state when Kisses Interrupted him.
Speaker Clark. after quiet had been
, restored, made Il final threat TO clear
the galleries unless order was pre-
served.
Opponents of the measure based
their opposition largely on the argu-
nent that for the Federal government
, to prescribe qualifications for suffrage
would be an unwarrantcd invasion Of
the right OF individual States to con-
troll their elections, ana upon the con-
tention that there was no adequate
! public demand" for the amendment.
Advocates of the amendment contend
| that the widespread demand for woman
suffrage. it's success In the States
where It has been tried and the prin-
| ciple of allowing the people to rule
! justified submission of the proposal to
the states for ratifca ton.
! Majority Leader Underwood opposed
the amendment. and Minority Leader
| Mann, announcing his Willingness to
trust the affairs Of the nation to the
management of it's women" supported
| it. Representative Underwood con-
tendde that the States should control
the right Of franchise. ana Representa-
Inn inI n.t hn ~ tr, ri
! of civilizations was toward Il more
| liberal distribution of the ballot.
Preceding the general debate, there
was debate of an hour and half on
| the rule to consider the resolution,
which was aopted by n rising vote of
| 200 TO 81.
SUPPORTERS OF EACH SIDE
! CHEER AS DEBATE; BEGINS
Debate on the amendment began at
! ! o'clock to the cheers of supporters
of both sides. packed in opposite gal
lerics. and II proved fully as spectacular
as that which attended the vote on the
! prohibition amendment somt time ago
| Representative Webb. OF North Caro-
| lima. leading off in opposition to the
amendment. sa i'd he believed that IL the
t question were voted on by the women
| OF the country, more than so per cent
would vote against suffrage. and that
| 80 per cent of the good mothers OF the
! country were opposed to it,
| Mr.. Webb charged that woman suf-
frage was more or less n fad.
These agitating woman suffragists
| want something to agitate about, and
II they should find nothing to agitate
about, they would be disappointed" he
! said. IF they can get II, they don't
wan; it; IL they can't get 1t. they'll
carry on agitation for 1t. I. for one
he concluded. shall vote against this
amendment to protect womankind
against itself"
Representatives Taylor. of Colorado
aud Mondell. coauthor Of the resolu-
| ton. advocated the amendment
The stupid and thrcadbare argu-
| ment that the exercise OF the elective
| franchise Will have an unfavorable ef-
| feet upon the character of women, eX-
pose them to undesirable contact, de.
| stroy the finer fibre of the sex and pu,
| in jeopardy their natural charm has
been utterly refuted by the experience
of every State and nation which has
| enfranchised its women" said Mr.
| Mondeli.
| Representatives Macdonald, OF Michi-
! gan: Brown of New York, and stevens
OF New Hampshire, spoke for the reso.
luton. and Representative Hardy. OF
! Texas. made vigorous speech agains,
it.
/ The amendment was supported by
/ Representatives Stevens and Bell who