Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-27
SUFFRAGISTS ON TOUR
ADVANCE THE CAUSE
Leaders of Movement in Favor Of
Votes for Women Make a Decided
Impression in Seventh Ward.

The FIRST step to ascertain how the citizens
of Philadelphia, north, east south. west and
TO the uttermost limits, stand on the subjec,
of suffrage was made yesterday afternoon.
Freighted with begulllng smiles and much
literature, Miss Anna b. Lewis and Dr. Eleanor
NJ. Hlestand Moore, leaders OF the 6th district,
invaded the 7th Ward. From door to door they
stepped bllthely, asking the astonished house
holders Just where they stood on this all-lni-
portant question.
Some OF them didn't stand Metsmorphlcaily
they lay down fiat and refused to answer. But
the majority had very decided opinions which
they did not hesitate to express with the vigor
OF absolute conviction
one OF the first houses at which the suffragists
called that of the proprietress of board
Ing house in the 900 block Spruce street.
"Sunrage?' she said, coming downstairs inn
mediately when her callers were announcedi
well. guess do believe In It, Look at mer'
She seemed to have stepped from whitewash
vat. A large apron enveloped her person, and
from head to foot she was spashed with white
liquid.
Valiant Worker for the Cause
"Gvo Just been doing little pastering and
lathing" she explained, though this were
the most natural occupation In the world for
pairing and seldom have to call a man for
assistance. Naturally, ] do get much time
for outside work for the cause but I am
proud to say that of the 90 men who board in
my house, rye made suffraglsts out OF rs OF
them and have hopes for the other four. One
is in-and-out anti and call him the
villain but you just give time and I'll
havo him around to my way Of thinking in
time"
Encouraged, the sufrragists proceeded around
to Clinton street. where they got UP against an
mpasslve butler of the typical stage variety.
When Doctor Moore explained her mission and
asked 20 the mistress of the house, dis
approval Of ladies who concern themselves with
politics written all the naughty gem
teman's countenance Even the back of his
superior broadcloth jacket seemed to bristls
with indignation at the fact of having to bear
the message upstairs.
MADAME says" he replied superciliously.
when he returned that Mr. smith-Jones him
self does not vote, and therefore, she cannot
be expected to be interested in the matter
The suffragsts agreed with madame. but by
way of spreading the propaganda, left several
little yellow slips for the signature Of madame
and her Indifferent husband.
Object Lesson by Negro Woman
From the butlered precincts of the ward the
suffragists wended their way to the vicinity Of
Rodman and Sth streets, where Italians, Rus
SLAMS and negroes discuss the questions of the
day in neighbory fashion from the vantage
point of their adjoining doorsteps.
Virtually all of the negro women expressed
the opinion that ballots should be left to the
men" When Miss Lewis suggested to of
them that she talk the matter over with her
husband the woman rolled her eyes in terror
tsur.t "
she asked apprehensIvey; "Lordy, ladies; he
shore would beat me up If I'd menshion the
matter to him"
Doctor Moore considered this a ripe time to
interpose that If of political i'm
portance, there might be less beating up"
and the woman was left pondering
tho matter.
a suffrage barber was discovered South
9TH street. He was just in the act of removing
the hrsute adornment from the chin of a lath-
cred victim when the visiting ladies put the
matter up to him.
Gallantry in Barber Shop
Certainly believe in suffrage" he said en-
phatically; the whole business OF this country
is founded on the principle of women first, and
don't SEQ why they shouldn't be the first at
the polls too. I'd step aside for lady voter
any day.
The man In the chair spluttered 1t was plain
to see he was "ant" But Miss Lewis
stepped up swcetly and offered him little slip
to sign He seemed the verge OF soapy
argument. However, one look at the razor OF
the barber, poised in the air, decided him. and
discretion being the better part of valor, he
perjured himself without murmur.
In the block taking in eth. sth, Rodman and
South streets, virtually nine out of every ten
men questioned declared themselves In favor
OF equal suffrage, and the women about
equally divided pros and "antis," Without
ception, however. the women who helped in the
shops were always in favor of voting.
Having distributed what looked like several
tons of literature, the suffragists desisted from
the first days canvass at 4 o'clock.
"If we haven't done anything else" COM
mented Doctor Lewis, we've at least called
the attention of some of these people to the
hat Ts no