The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-06-07
REPUBLICANS
WILDLY CHEER
West virginians Are Sway.
ed by Eloquence of a
Woman.

The greatest reception ever given
woman or cause in West Virginia
was accorded to Mrs. Antoinette Funk
Of Illinois and the cause OF equal suf
frage by the recent Republican state
convention In Wheeling. At the re.
quest OF the West Virginia Equal Suf
trage Association the convention &C.
corded Mrs. Funk the privilege of the
platform for 80 minutes. She talked
for Just &c minutes and at her con.
clusion she received an ovation sci.
dom equalled. The chairman stated
that II vote had been called record
ing tho convention in favor Of the
equal suffrage amendment 1t would
have carried overwhelmingly.
Mrs. Funk said In part:
How do you Eastern men feel
about equal suffrage? Do you realize
that Woodrow Wilson was elected by
a little over 100000 votes and that
the women Of the West are holding
the balance OF power?
EDO you know that Illinois leads in
the voting Of this country? That we
have crowded the great Empire state
into second place and the great Key
stone state into third place? It is the
women voting that has brought about
this change. The women are not afraid
to trust the men In the affairs Of state.
We know they will handle the affairs
Of the country nobly and well, but
there are SO many things in which
women are deeply interested by an in.
herent' right that the men apparently
overlook. and 1t is to take care OF
these things that we ask the vote. But
women's places are in the home, the
antis say. We admit that, but. listen.
men-how much easier would 1t be
for the woman to take care Of her
home, improve Its surroundings, en-.
large It and care for her children II
she had the right to say what laws
shall be made dealing directly with
the home.
There are many children who are
born into the world who do not have
the care OF loving mothers as they
should have. Schools have been build.
cd for their care and their education,
but do the men take the care they
should Of these little folks? They do
the best they can, but their time Is too
much taken up to look after the hu-
manitarian side Of life as much as
they should. and the things that lie
dearest to their hearts. Men, to help
these poor souls and to further the
cause Of humanity. Is one Of the rea-
sons why women want to vote. Surely
you will not deny her the right to take
care Of her own children--to teach the
blind, the deaf and the dumb.
1.-THE boards Of health were original
ly composed OF women until, the Of.
does were filed by vote and Of course
she was left out Let me carry you
back to the state Of Illinois for q time
and pardon my personal illusions. Ny
mother and the other mothers Of my
home town after Il had been rayaged
with disease, decided to try and find
the cause and to exterminate It. They
organized, they went to work. the gar
bage was carried from the doorsteps
to the rear lots and buried. The com.
bustible waste matter was burned.
The water supply was purged Of any
contamination, and the diseases which
had threatened their children became
lesser as the work Of their hands pro.
crossed. But & change was made.
Women lost their power and apparent.
" their right to care for their homes,
and their children. The work which
the mothers had been satisfied to do