Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-07-24
Ballots for Both
Pine Tree State
FROM
DIR. CROSWELL

Anti-suffrage speakers frequently as
sert or intimate that equal suffrage al
ways tends to work harm, giving as basis
for this assertion that the denizens OF the
slums and red light districts uniformly
conditions, and. practically to woman,
use their ballots while the so called higher
class women, as body, fail to use the
right of franchise.
From my personal knowledge of voting
conditions in Southern California during
a period Of four years, out Of which time
I exercised the full rights and duties OF
citizenship for two and a half years. I
feel that this assertion is not only false
but entirely reversed as to the facts. The
percentage of voting women among the
ignorant and depraved was less rather
than more. while the very vicious woman
working women and those Of humble
status in life threw as consistent a vote
against the saloon, brothel and white
slave traffic as their better fortuned sis
tiers of the wealthy section, and with bet
ter understanding, for from the lessenng
Of such home and property destroying
agencies their own miserable surroundings
became more decent and tolerable.
| That the women's vote has worked for
good is positively shown by the large
amount of progressive legislation enacte /
durin gthe past half dozen years in Cali
fornia. i. e., the eight-hour law for work
ment housing conditions; and what is
probably the most far-reaching force in
cleaning the city, the bill for tagging and
listing all buildings with the name of the
owner. This forced many a man who was
posing as a Y. NJ. G. A. worker, and
philanthropist. to show Bis colors and
ended HIS giving aims from money gained
from rum interests and houses of i'll fame.
It is also claimed that women do not un-
derstand and are not interested in public
questions. From my experience equal
franchise is one Of the best mental slim
ulants and heart tonics possible to adj
minister.
For several years I was a member Of
the Evening City Club, an organization Of
professional men and women, which met
once each week for supper together
directly after office hours. At each meet
Ing some person who knew thoroughly
some phase of national, state or city
problems was the guest of the club and
presented the facts relative to that parti-
cular matter This was followed by a
period Of open debate. Generally both
sides Of the question would be presented.
In this way the club members got a lib
eral education along live issues of political
problems and were we'll qualified to go
out and cast an intelligent vote. All sorts
Of questions from the Owens river aque-
duct. and the third rail system for street
cars, to model tenement houses, recrea-
ton centers. prison reform and juevnile
courts were discussed before lis. Such
people as Dr. Dana Bartlett, Judge Ben
Lindsey. Jane Adams. the chief of po-
lice, and city and state heads Of the school
systems talked to us.
Who can say these are not subjects
women are interested in. or that they are
not better food for mind. heart and soul
to feed upon than bridge whist. neighhor-
hood scandals and fashions?
(Signed) MARY S. CROSWELL.
Pennington, Me.