The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-06-21
i. !. i. = I. = = !. j. + + i = = 4. +
THE SUFFRAGE PLANK.

+ 'We recommend the extension !.
i Of franchise TO the women Of the +
= country by the states upon the i.
: same terms as TO men," \
:. = : : = > + = !. : : : : !. = X !.
1t was the above little plank that
inspired Gov Ferguson of Texas to
mount the platform in the Coliseum
and read minority report withhold
ing the partx support from the ladies'
who want the vote That the Demo-
cratic party should scorn the political
exigeneies Of the situation and defy
the IL western states in which women
vote was the burden OF his argument.
Sharing the same opinion With him
were C. L.. Bartlett Of Georgia,
Stephen B. Fleming Of Indiana and
"Jim" Nugent OF New Jersey, the old
time enemy Of President Wilson. This
trio signed the minority report with
the Texan
Lined up against Gov. Ferguson.
who acted as spokesman for the mi
norlty, were Senator Stone of Mis-
souri, Senator Pittman OF Nevada and
Senator Walsh of Montana
Senator Walsh did not mince mat
ters in his argument for the adoption
Of the suffrage plank. He stated plain
~ the adoption Of the plank was
necessary as matter Of political ex.
pediency, adding that the present
political situation in this country was
condition and not theory
The states in which women vote
control al votes in the electoral col
lege" he said, adding alenlneantly,
every political party has declared for
woman suffrage in some way or other.
Il becomes a simple question whether
you viii incur the enmity of these
women.
Nov, my friends. he continued,
as late as 1907 there were but two
states west Of the Missouri river that
returned Democratic senators and COW
we have IS OF them. The question is,
are you ready to surrender the Is
votes you have in the United States
senate and turn them over to your
political enemies?"
IN conclusion, Senator Walsh said
that he revealed no secret when be
sald President Wilson knew all about
the :. .hrage plaut.
DTne president believes It vital to
his success chat il stay in the plat
fsrnly he said. 4 ask you in all the
fervor Of my soul Eho is there wiser
or more patriotic than bel'
Following Senator Walsh's speech,
Gov. Ferguson was allowed five min
utes for rebuttal The vote was then
taken and his minority report voted
down. after which the original suf-
frsge plank, as approved BY the reso-
lutions committee was unanimously
adopted.
The\women Delegates.
The presenceNpf the is women dele
gates at the Democratic convention
not only added color to the affair, but
changed the views OF a number Of the
men delegates on the subject OF po
litical activity for women. For the
women delegates were a fine, whole
sone-looking lot and they fought just
as enthusiastically for the best inter
ests OF the party as the men.
Three OF them. Miss Mary E. Foy
OF California. Mrs. T. S. TalliaferrO
OF Wyoming. and Mrs. w. a. Harris
OF Kansas. spoke before the resolu-
tions committee in favor Of the suf-
frage plank which the National Amer
ican Woman Suffrage Association pre-
scented TO the convention.
one or the other delegates. Mrs.
Teresa r. Graham, Of Idaho. was non-
mated By the National Democratic
committee to be one OF the committee
that win notify vice-President Mar
shall Of dissemination.