Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1916-06-01
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
Extracts from Speeches In the
Mouse of REPRESENTATIVES.

large a proportion of women vote
in the state of Colorado as men,
and they vote fully as intelli-
gently.
The present world movement
for the acknowledgment of wo-
men shows that under the influ-
encc of advanced civilization the
nations of the earth are becom-
ing ready for universal suffrage
and the conception of society
which il implies. Fcminism is a
world movement. II is part Of
the eternal forward march of the
human race toward a genuine de-
mocracy. The whole history of
the development of civilization is
merely the story of broadening the
channel of human liberty and OPP
portunity. All over the world wo-
man is doing and thinking more
effectively than ever before.
The women of this nation have
little by little been taking more
interest in public affairs, been
reading more and becoming more
Intelligent and better posted, and
each day is assisting a little more
than the day before in solving the
great problems that are today af-
fecting the world TO say that
she is going to take a backward
step is TO brand ones self as an
imbecile.
The enfranchisement of women
is a constructive measure. II is
the next logical step in the polit-
ical evolution of this country. No
opportunity should ever in our
country be closed to any human
being who has the capacity to
work therein. 1t is disgrace 10
this country and to this cnlight-
cned century TO longer dsfran-
chise the patriotic and intelligent
womanhood of this republic.
glory in the fact that they
have enough zeal and patriotism
to trample under foot the sncers
of some of the members of both
sexes and to carry on their mag
niflcent work to victory. The
world has never enfranchised as
patriotic a class of people as the
American women are TODAY. Pa
triotism is not confined To the
male sex. Let us be hig enough.
broad minded enough. humane
enough and honest enough tn
treat the women of our country
as fairly as they are being treated
in China. Let us be men enough
to give women a square deal. Let
us show to the world that we be-
lieve in the Declaration of indie
pendence. Let us evolve our male
nligarchy into twentieth
tury democracy.
Ordinarily the light comes from
the east, but in the matter of the
enYranchisement of the best half
Of humanity am proud to say the
light is coming from the west.
Eastward the woman's star of en-
plre takes its way.
There is no moro pos sihilitv
OF the right of equal suffrage he
ing taken from the women of any
state that has tried it than there
Is OF returning to negro slavery
nthis country One is lust cx-
actly as likely as the other. The
human race is not going back
ward.
Mr.. Frank Mnndcll of Wyoming
says: Twenty four years of po-
lltlcal experience. eighteen as the
only representative of the people
OF suffrage state on the floor
OF this house, qualities mo. I be-
lleve. TO speak UNDERSTANDINGS
OF the effects Of woman suffrage
We have not solved all the prob
lens OF government in Wyoming.
We do not claim to have become
perfect in legislation or ADMINS
tratlon, but out experience has at
least demonstrated beyond con-
troversy how utterly without
foundation are each and all of the
stock arguments against the ex-
ercise of the elective franchise
by women.
We are and have been, of the
frontier, and some of our com |
munities and people have been
considered by the hvpercritica to
be a little rough and rcady-al- |
most wild and woody but i'm that
fOrty-tiNe years no woman. to nv
knowledge. has ever been ANNOYED
or insulted or received any but
the most courteous treatment in
tho discharge of her political
duties. (Applause.) If there
have ever been any family dis
agreements over politics they
nave never reached the public ear. /
II any woman has neglected her
family Dame Gossip has not re-
ported it. In grace and charm, in
devotion to duty, no woman on
earth excels those of that COM
monwealth where for two gener-
atoms women have voted reg
ularly.
Test Of citizenship.