The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1916-09-07
PRESIDENT GAIT
ADDRESSES SUFS
Head of National Woman's Suffrage
Association Speaks.
(By Associated Press.)

addresses, chief of which was that of
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait, president
Cd the association.
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait, Presi-
dent of the National American Wom-
ans Suffrage Association, in her ad-
dress before the annual convention of
the Association here today, pictured
the suffrage movement as having
reached crisis, which means that
'The Woman's Hour Has Struck"
Earnestly, she exhorted the women
not to lose heart, but to recognize the
present opportunity which "if seized
with vigor, enthusiasm and will,
means the final victory Of our great
cause in the very near future"
She said, in part:
"The great war will bring untold
changes in it's wake; it presages a
total change in the status of women
In Europe, from the Polar Circle to
the Aegean Sea, women have risen and
taken the places made vacant by men,
ard in so doing they have grown in
self-respect and in the esteem of their
respective nations. Indeed, Europe is
realizing as it never did before, that
women are holding together the civ
ilization for which men are fighting
A great searchlight has been thrown
upon the business of nation building
and it has been demonstrated in every
European land that it is a partner
ship with equal but different respon-
sibilities resting upon the two part
ners.
"The war will soon end and the ar,
mics will return to their native lands.
To many family, the men will never
come back. The husband who re-
turns to, many wife will eat nc
bread the rest Of his life save of her
earning.
"What then, will happen after the
var? Will the widows left with lam
lies to support cheerfully leave their
well-paid posts for these commanding
lower wages? Not without protest!
The economic axiom, denied and evad-
ed for centuries will be iemblazoned on
every factory, counting house and
shop; Equal pay for equal work.; and
common justice will slowly but surely
enforce that law. The European wom-
an has risen. She may not realize it
yet,, but the woman Edoor-mat' in
every land has unconsciously become
'door-jam.' She will have become
accustomed to her new dignity by the
time the men come home. She will
wonder how she ever could have been
content lying across the threshold
now that she discovers the upright
lamb gives so much broader and more
normal vision of things.
"In Great Britain, which was the
storm center of the suffrage move
ment for some years before the war
hundreds of bitter, active opponents
have confessed their conversion to
woman suffrage on account of the
war services of women. Already
three great provinces of Canada
Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan
have given universal suffrage to theil
women in sheer generous appreciation
of their war work. Even Mr.. AS
quith, world renowned for his immov
able opposition to the Parliamentary
suffrage for British women, has giver
evidence of a change of view. Somt
months ago, he announced his amaze
ment at the utterly unexpected skill
strength and resource developed b!
the women and his gratitude for thei
loyalty and devotion. A public state
ment issued by Mr.. Asquith in Aug
ust, was couched in such terms as Il
be interpreted by many as a pledg
to include women in the next election
bill.
"The significance Of the change'
status Of European women has no
been lost upon the men and women o
) our land; our own people are not S
. unlearned in history, nor so lackini
in National pride that they will alloy
the Republic to lag behind the Empire
presided over by the descendant 0
George the Third If they posses
the patriotism and the sense Of ns
tionality which should be the inher
/ tance Of an American, they will nc
wait until the war is ended, but wi
/ boldly lead in the inevitable march {
!: democracy, our own American spe
ialty.
I "As the most adamantine rock Civ,
way under the constant dripping
I water, so the opposition to WON'T
8 suffrage in our own country has slo,
I ly disintegrated before the increasi'
I strength Of the movement,
! "The edifice of wor&n's liber
I nears completion. 2" our heat
! tantalizinglv the roof
4 our oiiH, That ic n