Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-07
WOMEN STAND BY.
BALDWIN THREAT
Make Quick Reply to His
Query as to Responsible
ity for Report
TO WORK FOR HIS DEFEAT
BIZ a std6 Correspondent
HARRISBURG. Inne Z

creaker Richard j. BALDWIN, OF the House
- Representatives, today answered the
threat of the sufragists 10 ueieat him at
" nsxt election, with a simple query as
tne n.tbor their threat was official or not.
Wnr1au,in has sent to the Pennsylvania
..,."aan,s suffrage Association a letter, in
Ns,oh he asked for an answer TO this ques-
W. He received a prompt reply in which
.Sa suffragists amplhed their reasons for
us unnosing him for reelection to the House
N Representatives
The letters follow:
MEDIA, Pa, May 81, 1917.
,,,or,an Suffrage Association,
9ol Arcade Building,
Harrisburg, Pa.
1odies-I am in receipt of a communi-
..tjon without signature purporting to
go from your association, a copy of
which inclose
Would YOU kindly let me know whether
,n,s Is official or whether you know who
the author or sender was?
Thanking you for past courtesies, beg
N remain, very truly yours,
REPLY OF WOMEN
The reply follows:
HARRISBURG, Pa, June s, 1917.
uon Richard j. Baldwin, Speaker of the
House of Representatives,, the Capitol,
Harrisburg, Pa:
Nv Dear Mr. Baldwin--In reply to
,our letter of May 81, l beg to inform
you that the Pennsylvania Woman Suf-
frase Association maintains a publicity
dsnartment and that the paper TO which
YOU refer was sent to you by that de-
partment
Further, permit me to say that the
sntire question of woman suffrage, as
n relates to the House of Representatives
Of Pennsylvania is a very simple one, in
the opinion Of our association. We con-
slider YOU, in your capacity as Speaker
of the House. and the members thereof,
IN their capacity as representatives, as
elected to give heed and attention to
letters, petitions and memorials ema-
Mating from the people, or any group of
oitbzens Of the Commonwealth and fur
Their to give fair treatment and consid-
Grafton to all bills or resolutions trans
mitted through and introduced for the
people, or any group Of persons, by a
member of the House
The provisions Of the State and Fed
sral Constitutions, as you know, declare
that all power is inherent in the people
and that all free governments are found
ed on their authority and instituted for
their peace safety and happiness, and
that, for the advancement of these ends
they (the people) have at all times an
inalienable and indefeasible right to
alter, reform or abolish their government
in such manner as they may think proper.
Under these constitutional provisions
defining the rights of the people, we have
addressed communications in various
FORMS and petitions and addresses signed
by many citizens, to yourself, as Speaker,
and to the members of the House of Rep
resentatves In connection with two suf.
frage bills.
ri ha of
tives the Speaker and the members there
OF not in their private capacities, but as
public officeholders and, as public office
holders, what are frequently described as
servants of the people," to whom the
citizens have the additional constitutional
right to apply to those invested with
the powers of government for the redress
OF grievances and other purposes by pe-
ttlon, address or remonstrance."
As 1 said before, in our opinion, tho
whole question of suffrage, in so far as it
relates to the House of Representatives,
is simple one. We have asked for that
which has been granted to women citizens
OF various other States by the Legislatures
thereof and in asking were supported, as
you Know, by many citizens and organiza-
lions through addresses and petitions.
WE'RE DENIED RIGHTS
First. We were denied the privilege Of
having constitutional suffrage submitted
TO the voters Of the State, and, second,
were denied, 1t seems, a vote upon pres-
Dental suffrage by the members of the
House; but we note in the Legislative
journal Of May %, in the vote of fifty or
more other bills, certain members re-
ported to us as having been absent are
recorded as voting fifty or more times,
which seems to show that all bills do not
receive the same treatment at the hands
tlOS4 TnGnnncih1a ~ flna
vote.
We have addressed you fearlessly as
speaker and we have addressed the men,
oers of the House fearlessly as repre-
sehtatives, and we have stated that we
believe we must defeat a certain element
IN the House and certain elements in
power throughout the State before, be-
cause OF the treatment we have received
IN the Legislature and the tactics there
IN employed, we can be successful in our
;ustihable efforts to secure the full privi-
ieges of citizens
Relative to our statements that we must
oeteat certain elements or certain office
seekers, representing or endorsed by
tnose elements, we know that there are
no persons and no powers which can
Seny us these rights, and we will en-
ueaVor, as we have stated previously, to
JON az elements opposing those opposed
70 u.s. whenever and wherever it may be
our privilege.
Ihs PAPER to which you refer in your
Ietter VI May 31st, as having been re-
SeNed by you, was given to the press and
mas beer printed
Hoping this communication complies
with your request of May 31st beg to
remain Very truly yours,
LUCY X MILLER.
MRS. j. o. Miller, first vice president,
Fennsylvania Woman Suffrage Association