Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-08-02
HUGHES TELLS WOMEN
THEIR VICTORY IS SURE
[Continued From First Page1

honor and the importance of its main
tenance to our proper preparation and
our security; and, further, to that
organization in our life in all its activ-
tiles which will give us an America
going forward to meet the responsible
tiles which are sure to be upon us
after this war is over.
IT note that you represent a very
strong feeling with regard to our re-
lation to American rights in connection
with that war-to our relation to the
maintenance of American rights in
connection with Mexico. We do not
wish in this country to be brought
into unnecessary conflict. There is
not the slightest danger of that in a
just, firm and consistent American
policy.
Weighed and Found Wanting
"It is very difficult to satisfy our
friends on the other side. If you say
that the Administration has been weak
and vaccillating, they reply: That is
an old story'-they knew that before
If you say they have been lacking
in firmness and consistency, they say
we are going to be firm and con-
sistent now. We are looking to the
future, and we are going to turn over
a new leaf
Now, my friends, this is the reck-
oning time. We are all stockholders
in great corporation and the bal
ance sheet is presented in order that
we may know what kind of admins
tration of our affairs we have had
We look over that balance sheet and
we. find serious debit balance, and
we do not trust the administrations
that have brought it about
There is an incurable defect of
character in the Administration with
respect to the weakness and vacilla-
ton which have characterized it, and
we cannot expect improvement from
that source. We can judge by what
has been done and by what has not
been done; and we are here together
under circumstances, very unexpected
to me, to see If we cannot have a gen.
uine revival of American sentiment so
that we may face the world erect and
prepared.
II explained last night my position
with regard to a very important sub
ject in which many of you, if not all
of you, are deeply interested; 1 refer
TO woman suffrage; and as I then said
l have come to the conviction that
the granting of a vote to women is in
evitable
Il base that conclusion upon a con-
sheraton of our economic conditions.
Women Bound to Get Vote
There may be those who disagree
with this view; but confess 1 do not
understand how any candid mind can
examine the tendencies of our life and
reach a conclusion that permanently
votes will be denied to women. /
think 1t is impossible.
That being my conviction, depre-
cate most deeply sex organizations.
based upon sex and not upon the gen
eral obligations of citizenship borne
by all. l view with a great deal of
misgiving continuation of the agi-
tatlon, which I am sure will grow
more and more intense as this move
ment meets determined opposition.
Il speak with reference to the Am
erica of the future, and the great i'm
portance that in our preparedness we
should deal with real political issues
and not have our political life side
tracked by a great and determined
movement made by determined oppo-
sltlon, with regard to the composition
or our electorate. That is a matter
that is fundamental We must start
with our electorate and then discuss
the matters with respect to which
they are to act according to their con-
victions. And so 1 want to see wo-
men, II they are to have the vote. as
l believe they ought to, come in as
citizens with men. %