Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-12

! when the Justice of our whole economic
structure is being questioned. and de-
mocraCy Itself is on trial we need TO
utilize every moral factor or force
which can maize for civic Righteousness
and the common good. Such q force is
! woman with the ballot. What she has
achieved without il is only a demon
stratiOn Of what her increased value
and efficiency would be with it In the
contest for the common welfare in the
/ political arena of the future we must
not only accept her as a voluntary ally,
but in the name of the Commonwealth
we are entitled TO draft and enlist eli
her potentialities for good We be
lieve she should and will respond TO
. The call, grasp her opportunity, rise
to her responsibility and play the
greater and not the lesser part.
There is a special reason which ap-
peals TO me why the State Of Maine and
our eastern states should no longer
postpone action on this matter. Il is
fact shown by the United States cen
sus that the suffrage states, which are
at present all located west OF the Mis-
sissippi are, owing 10 immigration and
other causes, increasing their popula-
?
the non suffrage states Of the East. The
twelve suffrage states now have 81
electoral votes, thus controlling one
fifth OF the electoral votes for Presi-
dent and one sixth Of the members
elected to Congress. Grover Cleveland
was elected by { majority of only 81
electoral votes. For every increase Of
10000 in population as shown by the
:
a state is entitled to one new congress-
man and one new electoral vote. The
| addition of new suffrage states in the
! West and increase Of population may
give them the control of the Electoral
College and Of Congress after the CEN
sus Of 1920. In this control Of the coun-
ellis of the nation through Congress
and the electoral votes for President,
the women Of the West will be permit
ed 10 participate while our own moth
ers. sisters and daughters Of the State
Of Maine, and of the East. will be
wholly denied THAI privilege. Therefore
l say that in order that our women of
Maine may have equal opportunity and
3 fair deal with the women Of the
West. we should not delay their en-
reimbursement for 3 single year.
But this is NOT all. There is
stronger reason still why we should act
now il this; mater. DO you realize
that women now have some direct
rights OF political representation, either
complete or partial in nearly all civ
ilized countries, among which are Eng
land. France. Germany, Russia, Nor
way and sweden. Finland, Australia,
New Zealand, Bohemia. and even parts
Of India. South Africa and China? Do
you realize that each Of the early SUI
, frace states has cOunSelled its neigh
Dor until there are now l. states hav-
iGS full equal suffrage DO you realize
that Maine is the only state in New
England which does not grant direct
political rights in some form to wo-
men? DO YOU realize that within the
last TWO months the legislatures OF
" est Virginia and Tennessee and Ar
kansas have voted to submit the SUI
frage amendment TO the people. and ii
mas been reported favorably by the ju-
dietary committee OF the Texas legis-
latuTe' Il has passed the House unan-
imously and IS about TO pass the Sen
ate in New Jersey; has passed both
houses in the state of New York: has
passed the Senate in Massachusetts for
sthe second time with only three votes
against ii, and is admittedly for the
second time 10 pass the House for sub
mission to the people. One by one the
leaves are falling and soon Maine will
be the last leaf on the tree. having for
company only the benighted countries
Of spain, Portugal Bulgaria, Servia
and Understandable conpanionship
for our commonwealth.
We submit then under these circum-
stances TO delay action on this import
ant measure longer would be to leave
Maine disgracefully in the rear Our
vatchword should be DO it for Maine,
and do il now" II is admitted on every
side that eniIal suffrage is hound to