The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-09-07
Votes for Women Movement Now at Point of Universal Success Through Results of World War, She Says.

National American Woman's Suffrage Association, in her address before the annual convention of the Association here to-day pictured the suffrage movement as having reached a crisis which means that "The Women's Hour Has Struck!' Earnestly, she ex- horted the women not to lose heart but to recognize the present opportunity which Eff seized with, vigor, enthu- sse sm and will, means the final vic- tory of our great cause in the very near future."
 She said, in part:
 ''The great war will bring untold changes in its wake; it presages to- tai change in the status of women. In Europe from the Polar Circle to the Aegean Sea women have risen and ta- ken the places made vacant by men, and 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 civilization for which men are fight ing. A great searchlight has been thrown upon the business of nation- building and ith as been demonstrated in every European land that it is a partnership with equal but different | responsibilities resting upon the two partners.
 '"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 a wife will eat no bread the rest of his life save of her earn ing.
 What then will happen after the war? Will the widows left with fam lilies to support cheerfully leave their | well-paid posts for those command ing lower wages? Not without pro- test! The economic axiom, denied and evaded for centuries will be em- blazoned on every factory, counting house and shop; Equal pay for equal work and common justice will slowly but surely enforce that law. The European woman has risen. She may not realize it yet but the woman 'door-mat' in every land has uncon- sciously became a '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 discov- CTS the upright jam gives so much broader and more normal vision of things.
 Tn 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 their women in sheer generous appreciation of their war work. Even MT. Asquith, world renowned for his immovable opposi- ton to the Parliamentary suffrage for British women, has given evidence of a change of view. Some months ago, he announced his amazement at the utterly unexpected skill, strength and resource developed by the women anG his gratitude for their loyalty and de- votion. A public statement issued by MT. Asquith in August. was couched in such terms as to be interpreted by many as pledge to include women in the next election bill.
 '"The significance of the changed status of European women has not been lost upon the men and women of our land; our own people are not so unlearned in history, nor so lacking in National pride that they will allow the Republic to lag long behind the Empire, presided over by the descen- dant of George the Third. If they p0ssess the patriotism ad the sense of nationality which should be the in- heritance of an American, they will not wait until the war is ended but will boldly lead in the inevitable march of democracy, our own Ameri- can speciality.
 "As the most adamantine rock gives way under the constant dripping of water. so the opposition to woman suffrage in our own country has slow ly disintegrated before the increasing strength of our movement
 '"The edifice of woman's liberty hears completion. Over our heads. tantalizing near, hangs the roof of our edifice-the vote. What is our duty? Shall we spend time in admiring the cap-stones and cornice? Shall we la
 ment the tragedies which accompan
 jed the laying of the cornerstones? Or. shall we, like the builders of old, chant, 'Ho! all hands, all hands, ,heave to! all hands, heave to!' and while we chant, grasp the overhanging roof and with a long pull, strong pull and pull altogether, fix it in place for ever more?
 ''Let us then take measure of our strength. Our cause has won the en- dorsement of all political parties; ev- cry candidate for the presidency is a suffragist. It has won the endorse ment of most churches; it has won the hearty approval of all great or
 ganizations of women. It has won the support of all reform movements; it has won the progressives of every variety. The majority of the press in
 most States Is with us. Great men
 in every political party. church and
 movement are with us. The names
 of the greatest men and women of art.
 science, literature. philosophy, reform,
 religion and politics are on our lists.
 we have not won the Deactionar-
 ies of any party, church or society
 and we never will. From the begin | ming of things, there have been antis.
 Before the vote is won, there must
 and will be a gigantic final conflict be-
 tween the forces of progress. right
 eousness and democracy and the for l ceS of ignorance evil and reaction