The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-20

IRIS. John Rn,ch's recent attack or
s11xaan suffrage IN one OF the Five
Il ncte Talks ~ National Leaders
~ called forth a reply from Mrs. Ids
3 Missed uarl 3r. the New \ ork suffrage
3Adey, in the following interesting
1oeter to editors Of international News
Narv!ce- newspa pefs
BIT IDA Hustled HARPER
sNEdrtorial Chairman. Leslie Suffrage
BGreau-)
e Dear Sir---As woman suffrage Is q
live subject Just now. we truS, that
you may find space for comment or
1he article by Mrs John BalCh, pres!'
dent of the MassaC husetfs Ant-Suf-
yrAge association, under the heading
lsssWherever We WORK We Win,
which was intended to show that the
many suffrage victories Of recent
years were entirely due 10 the fact
that there was little II any organ
tEe9 opposition. This, she says
scarcely existed prior to 1912 be
cause OF the feeling that anything 50
obviously faliarious as woman suf-
(rage could not grow. that the com
mon sense OF the people would pre-
vent its further extension without
any organized movement 10 combat Il.
From 1895 to 1910 no state was added
10 the suffrage column
The student of history viii find
that during those fourteen wears 10
moral or ethical questions Of any
nature scored victory The govern
ment of the United states was entire
-fy OF a business or C01Guerctat char
ac1er. High tariff was at food tide.
The greatest trusts" or combinations
OF capital spranE Ep and hourished
that ever have been known The poo
PIC had become Indifferent or dis
couraEed and the party machines
ruled with a strong hand The SUI
fragists themselves were not wei or
Eanized and had very little money 70
carry on thei- ra-k
- Daring ;hesa fourteen Hears amend
ments for full suffrage were sub
mitted in only three states-Or-gon
Soutt, bnkot1 +r1t w st1JrrE III r
were defeated IN all receiving prac-
fically no. ass stance from any poiti-
cal y, parry, ~ 49,. .,...,,. .,.,.-..,, -.
nUverhent IN congress took place
which. although directed against the
Actocratic domination Of the speaker
ROOF spread throughout tho western
part Of the cnAntry- Is -rEXalt If 1he
aeonle against the conditions de
Fcribed above This was first mads
rlanifest in the state ~ Washington
4, various kinds of advanced legsla.
AA5n. and its leaders believing thai
ynesc could not become permaucn'
without the political support OF won
IN. had an amendment submitted ant
used their influence for it's acceptance
bv the voters II was not carried
with small percentage Of the vot
ErK participating" a & Mrs Balch says
but in a large vote with a majority q
tz.62s in favor. IN some counties two
10 one, and IN others three TO one
This "insurgent" movement at once
became very strong in California un
aer the leadership Of Governor Hiram
johnson. and the legislature sub
nitted a number ~ progre ssiye meas
Hres. woman suffrage among them. J
large vote was cast on all Of them
And tho one for suffrage was more bit
f~Tly contested than any other. on
M 24S4sT votes Il received a major
fty Of nearly $500 principally from
Southern California and the countr'
districts, San Francisco and Oakian,
giving a big majority against IL
fS Mrs Balch says: "Tn 1912 with a
sseqnaI display Of Indifference. Oregon
Ariyona and Kansas became doubl
vsS suffrage statts With these gain
came the realization that we wer
allowing suffrage to win by default
Far from a display OF indifference
..sxhere was a spirited campaign in 81
-@Of these states and large vote tn
aAmendmerf carried in Kansas bv
majority Of over 1f 6nA. in Oregon y
,nAarlv Z, 600 a.sd 81 Arizona II re
.ueived a "rnsfaritH in ererr 9courtv y
1.-The state ri5a womRn's AntI-Suf