The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-30
LEI WOMEN VOTE
 IN ELECTION ON
 COMMISSION BILL
Miss Freeman Thinks the Women Entitled to Same Privilege Accorded
 Ensley

The city commissioners In setting precedent in Ensey by which they per mitted women to vote their choice of sev- eral candidates for membership on the board of education. have got themselves into trouble.
 Yesterday, Miss Nell Freeman demanded of the commissioners the right to vote in the election next month In which the is- sue will be- among other things, the de- termination of the number of commission CTS which in the future shall govern Bir- mingham
 Miss Freeman takes the ground that in- asmuch as the election will not be legal election. other than legalized voters should clares that if the commissioners condone their action relative to the Ensley case by declaration to the end that the point at issue there was educational, they must remember that one of the points at issue next month will be education. She refers to the fact that the fve-commissioner bill now pending before the legislature pro- vides in one of it's sections for the cleo ton by the new commission of a new l board of education.
 l Miss Freeman's letter follows: Equal Suffrage Demanded
 To the Commissioners of Birmingham: Tn allowing the women of Ensley to vote for the election of a member of the board of education, and in placing the woman so elected upon the school board, the commission has put itself on record as favoring a government of the people. for the people and by the people, Another 1 opportunity for the exhibition of this | chivalrous and laudable spirit of fair play now presents itself
 The commission seeks an expression from the people as to their choice of a form of municipal government It has therefore called an election for the pur- pose O. ascertaining such sentiment. l "The election of a member of the board | of education is a vital matter, but Of vastly more far-reaching importance Is an election to determine the form of our local government.
 "The women of Birmingham are gov erned sc< the men of Birmingham are gov erned Thousands of women of Birming- ham are earning their livelihoods as men are earning theirs. The women of Bir- mingham pay taxes 8 do the men of Bir- ! mingham
 | | init that women should be allowed to vote in the coming election.
 | If the women of Ensley are qualified to vote, should not all of the women of Greater Birmingham be accorded thai same recognition?
 ''ls not a woman appointed on the boa I'd of education by the city commission cap able of casting an intelligent ballot in ar election to determine how Birmingham shall be governed?
 The Educational Issue
 "The five-commissioner bill provides thai a new board of education shall be selected by such five commissioners. This involves a liz question of educational importance Hence, in this Instance, the commission. CTS cannot take the position that they favor suffrage for Birmingham's womer only as pertains to school matters. The coming election is a school matter Since the proposed election is not g legal election, but merely straw vot. linstigated by the commission without lega authority, and since its sole purpose i, to ascertain the sentiment of the com munlty surely the commission will not at | tempt to restrict the vote in this ilega election to only legally qualified electors Such a paradox would be unconscionable The casting of illegal votes can in no wa, invalidate the election, since 1t has n, SuSStSlioI oI Ndluily tO StdHQ on, ana Il not binding upon anybody. So why not ad vertise the fact that the election will b free for all? Invite everybody to come Tn regardless of sex, dermal complexion, pol tax receipts and like unfair restriction imposed by law.
 This would only make the result of tn election all the more convincing, becaus 1t would perforce be recognized as a req expression from all of the people, which alas. cannot always be said of legal cleo tions.
 You now have an opportunity to prov the genuineness of your sense of fair ness. There are no legal barriers to tn exercise of justice in this instance. respectfully request that the women o Birmingham be invited to cast their vote with the men in the coming election.
 "I might suggest that in being extra gen CT ous in these little extraordinary .extr, legal elections the commissioners ar holding these days, they would possibl thereby receive a few extra votes whic would tend to mitigate the danger of thei own political extradition. Yours yer truly. NELL FREEMAN
 '1115 Sycamore Street.
 Birmingham, May 29, 1915'