Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-02-22
MAINE LEGISLATURE


" would have been ashamed OF myself"
ALaughter.) Gentlemen members OF
khis honorable body, II had not been
wearing this cloth, and also member
,of this honorable House, would have
}been tempted to have told that gentle
Imam and his hackers to go to Billy Sun
Nays hell. ! am ashamed OF any Dem
bocrat in the State Of Maine, or in the
Sgreat United States that would attempt
10 gain his poin by force. by threat,
ior by intimidation. Gentlemen, we will
mot be intimidated; we will not be CO.
leresd: we will not be moved. We will
stand and ! will tell you now friends.
land gentlemen Of the minority-my
brothers OF the Democratic party-why
did not and why cannot follow the
gentleman from Bangor (Mr. Murray,
The leader Of the minority on this floor.
in 4 hurst Of confidence the other
morning. out here in the cloak room,
he told me in the presence of several
other gentlemen that he probably
would go to hell. do not want to ar
gue over that question II he is headed
that way; certainly am going in an
other direction. U.aughter) wish to
say. gentlemen and ladies, that while
everyone has a right, free choice to
chose their road. their pathway, and
their future destination and final rest
irg place. they have not got right to
drag others along with them and
here and now say with Ell! III lorce
ard power ri 20 years devotion to De-
:rocracy. that the Democrat" party OF
Nia.nc shall not be dragged down to
tho plane. Talk about dragging down
womanhood, friends,
There is also another class | find in
opposition TO this equal suffrage with
men composed Of party wreckers and
pledge breakers. You do not have to
go back very far gentlemen. in the
years. perhaps to 1910 or 1909, when in
the national halls of Congress we had
great fight on to restore rule to the
people, led by that gallant insurgent
in the Senato-DOlliver-o whose
heart was run the machine that crush
ed out his ambition and broke his
proud spirit, and by Victor Murdoch
in the House. and when they had an
opportunity TO down that little clique
that works in the dark halls and lob
bies of Congress- % Democrats led by
the gentleman from New York, Mr..
Fitzgerald broke over their party
pledge repudiated Democracy, desert
ed Champ Clark and supported the Re
publican Speaker, Cannon: and | was
not surprised, friends. when | looked
over the records of the vote on the in
dependence of the Philippines bill to
grant according to the pledges of our
Democratic national platforms for
1900. 1904 1908 and again in 1912. in
dependence TO those F'ilipinOs on the
In thai 81 f.
ell i, to the Cubans, also to find that
when that came up for settlement so
other Democrats. led by the same F'itz-
gerald OF New York, broke over their
party pledge and platform and again
voted against redeeming that pledge.
Friends members of the minority, and
men and women OF Maine. here gath
cred and assembled and out in every
farm house and in every valley and
village: remember the pledge breakers
tho party breakers. | said in my state
ment last Wednesday that ! believed
that ! represented the leaders of this
STATE and OF this nation in the Demo-
cratic party when | declared that they
were not opposed TO referendum of
this equal suffrage matter. ] hold in
my hand IA telegram dated,
w NOn, ~ Low 'N', GU
L. 1917.
"Nis. Catherine Reed Balientinc.
Portland. Maine.
Hope that present Legislature will
pass resolution allowing the people of
Maine TO vote upon amendment to the
Constitution which will provide suf-
frage for women. II is Democratic to
allow the people at all times to express
their opinion upon any measure. | ia
vor the granting suffrage to women
and hope the resolution will he adopt
ed.
"tSirned)
"CHAKI.ES +. JOHNSON,
limited states senate"
Applause)
Now. gentlemen, they ask me to
choose between following Senator
Johnson who stands true 10 his par
ty's pledge ard platform. and Woodrow
Wilson. the President of this republic,
who left the Capitol and went to New
Jersey. his adopted state. and voted
for woman's suffrage. They ask me to
choose between those men and some
gentlemen from Bangor. Gentlemen,
d. not take my democracy from that
sweet smelling emporium of Maine.
daughter repudate the leadership
and say il is un-demoCratic and I'M
American.
No. friends, there is another class in
opposition to this bill who are honest.
] have no quarrel with those fair
members who are opposed to suffrage.
My own sister that taught me from
little boy as school-marm down
yonder In the old Kentucky home. my
Nrrt school teacher. is opposed to wo-
mems sufrraC e. She is opposed also to
her brother taking any active inter
est In politics. and when they nominat-
cd me last summer. she said, you had
better keer out OF politics because it
~ n dirty pool" I wrote back after
election and said. politics may have
been n dirty pool here in Maine. hut
n has all been cleaned out and the
mud has been thrown on me-" Laugh
tcr).
Now friends. those who honestly OPP
pose suffrage have one great argument
and you have heard it here on this
foor--that We are facing war and that
the burdens OF war will be borne by
men: that they will march out to the
sound of trumpet. the call Of the cor
n 10