Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-02-02

vies announced the subject of the
hearing and its rules.
Each side will be allowed one hour
and 60 minutes; the proponents will
open the case and continue for one
hour and is minutes. the remonstrants
will then be allowed one hour and 80
minutes and the proponents will have
Is minutes for rebuttaI," he stated.
The Proponents
Mrs. Deborah Knox Livingston of
Bangor in conducting the case for the
proponents of the measure, spoke
briefly in substance as follows:
Mrs. Deborah Knox Livingston
The question before you, gentlemen
Of the committee. is to decide whether
a resolve shall be submitted to the .peo-
pie which will give them an opportu-
nifty to decide at a future election
whether they will amend the constitu-
ton so as to give suffrage to women
on equal terms with men,
THE question is being threshed out
by the entire world. During the past
seven years II Parliaments have con-
sidered the extending Of suffrage to
women; in % countries some form of
woman suffrage Is enjoyed Eleven
states In the Union have given to wo-
men the right to vote on equal terms
with men. In two states. Illinois and
South Dakota. they enjoy Presidential
and municipal suffrage In some other
states they enjoy school suffrage
THE movement for woman suffrage is
backed by all uplift forces all great wo-
mans organizations except the organiza-
ton opposed to equal suffrage The or
CARNATIONS In favor of it include the
National Teachers Association, the Cen
'eral Federation of Women's Clubs, the
National w. c. r. u, the Mothers Coun-
Gil and others. The thoughtful working
women of the republic are with US.
shall present to the committee represent
atives of these organizations that have
mentioned within the State Of Maine to
speak in its behalf"
Mrs. BaIentine
Mrs. Arthur Reed Ealentine, president
of the Maine Woman Suffrage Associa-
ton and daughter of Thomas Bracket
Reed, was introduced as the first speak
herring TO the principles of her distin-
guished father. She said
Gentlemen of the Judiciary Committee
We are here today on behalf Of the Equal
Suffrage Referendum.
This meeting before your committee seems
to be entirely unnecessary because the Repub-
lean party has pledged itself in its State plat
form to secure an Equal Suffrage referendum
from the Legislature now In session. Two
thirds of the members of this Legislature are
Republicans, large number of Democrats
are also pledged to vote for our resolution. We
all know that In these days platform pledges
cannot he broken The voters are in closer
'"''"' 9TH their representatives than they for.
ga tfNt- follow their every move
II pledge were made merely to catch votes
and to be broken later on the party making
Giit -@.i,As Il would lose votes
II seems superfuous, however, for me to
take up time saying this because there does
not seem to be the slightest disposition on the
part OF members of this body to ignore any of
their pledges. The voters Of Maine are not
eiectlng men OF that calibre to represent them.
ASIDE from the obligation imposed by your
State platform, Republicans and Democrats
alike are bound by their national platforms
Both OF these have endorsed the principle of
Equal Suffrage
Ano' gentlemen, you must also be bound by
your own individual convictions that our de.
mand is just
Some OF you have stated that you were in
FAVOR OF submission but were not radical
enough to favor Equal Suffrage.
1here is nothing radical about Equal Suf-
mage. We are not asking you to be radical
but to be consistent, and consistency is a mas
culine virtue.
we are asking you to put into practice in
TINS state .he principles on which this govern
ment was rounded. and which are not new S.
al. You cannot deny us the vote without