Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-06-17

ton of elections. We reaffirm the his
toric position of our party in this re-
gard and favor the continuance OF
that wise provision of the Federal
Constitution which vests in the sew
eral States of the Union the power
to prescribe the qualifications of their
electors"
Sees Blow at State Rights
Besides Governor Ferguson, the re-
port was signed by former Represen-
tative Bartlett of Georgia; James r.
Nugent, of New Jersey and stephen
B. Fleming, of Fort Wayne, Ind.
The burden of Governor Ferguson's
argument was that suffrage, being
purely a States right question: the
wording of the majority plank was
esumptuous recommendation to the
States on how to conduct their cleo
to-ates.
Anti-suffrage delegates on the floor
plied the Governor with questions
which brought out. in the answers,
fresh arguments against the admins
tration plank, and when Ferguson had
finished, the convention was in con-
fusion and the tone of the uproar in
the delegate sections was indicative OF
sympathy with the opponents of the
administration plank.
When Senator Stone took the speak
er's place to defend the plank, he was
bombarded with a running fire of
questions and argument from delegates
OF the floor which eventually eX-
hausted the time allotted to him
without permitting him to speak ten
successive minutes.
Pittman Womcn's Champion
Antisuffrage delegates loudly chal-
lenged his references to Fergusons
statement with cries of that's not
what he said" and that's not fair"
Many delegates openly took the
position that the question was becom-
ing much confused by the manner of
its presentation. Finally, Senator
Stone yelled to Senator Pittman of
Nevada, one of the suffrage cham
pions.
The crowd wanted to howl Pittman
down and cried vote, vote
Yes, l know you want to vote,
Pittman shouted at his opponents,
you'd rather do anything else than
hear the truth"
Are you men who are willing to
hear women denounced afraid to hear
a man say something in their behalf?
I want to appeal to you to give your
sisters and daughters and mothers the
right to vote"
What's that got to do with this?"
Chorused the delegates.
Finally. ignoring lesser outbreaks
and shouting above the din and con-
fusion, Pittman managed to get
through WIN MS Speetn.
He declared that some persons
would let the ignorant immigrant
vote, but not intelligent women,
which brought a roar or mixed cheers
ana Kisses Suffrage workers in the
balcony cheered wildly Jeers and
Kisses came from the delegates and
ahernates from several quarters of
the floor.
Are you men. who are willing to
hear women denounced, afraid to hear
n man say anything in their behalf?"
demanded Pittman again.
These gentlemen" Senator Pittman
continued, may not believe their
breinpower But I also know the
condition in the sweatshops of New
York and Chicago, where girls have
no fathers or brothers to vote for
them, and if this Democratic cOnven-
tior does not vote to give them the
right it is not the progressive conven-
tion people believe it to be-
The crowd was disposed to howl
Pittman down. and he got on with
difficulty. Finally Senator Williams,
in the chair, announced that the time
of Interruptions on the floor would not
be taken from the speakers.
Growls and groans came from sew
eral delegations as Senator Pittman
concluded.
Tells of Wilson'S Orders
H. an impassioned speech Senator
Walsh swept aside the smaller ques-
tlons which had been injected into the
fight. told the delegates that Presi-
dent Wilson knew the plank was in
the platform and considered It es-
scntial for party victory.
Whatever your opinions may be,
he said, we shall never he anything
but a discordant and divided party
unless we surrender some of our con-
NictiOnS to the wisdom of a majority.
Here you are confronted. as one of
our famous leaders said, with a con-
dition. not q theory The twelve
suffrage States represent ninety-one
votes in the electoral college. Every
political party has made this declara-
ton in some form or other. 1t becomes
q simple question of whether you will
incur the enmity of these women.
There is no possibility of losing
single vote If you adopt this majority
plan, because every other party has
dcnc the same.
Il ask YOU" he cried, "if you're go
ing to put a resolution in here that's
= lie. You can't adopt this minority
renort without stultfying yourselves"
Senator Walsh then explained that
the President knew about the suffrage
plank nd added:
He believes il vital to his success
that il stay there. | ask you with all
the fervor of my being who is there
who is wiser or more patriotic than
hc?"
While the fight had been going on.
a thunderstorm burst and when the
row on the convention floor was at its
height the storm reached it's climax.
Tho booming of the thunder mixed
with tie roaring shouts on the floor
and the clatter caused by the rain on