Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1917-01-26
Miss Josephine Miller
Shows Death Rate in New
leland Only 2 to 1000.
WOMAN SUFFRAGE
NOW A CERTAINTY
Wen and Women Speakers mt Suffrage
Meeting Last Evening Predict That
Better Laws and Conditions
will Come With Suffrage.

Every chair was occupied in the
spacious assembly hall Of the cham
Der of commerce last night, by men
and women who had gathered to hear
a number of talks on the woman SUI
fragc question. and there was not only
the most gratifying interest shown,
hut unexpected enthusiasm on the
part of many of the leaders in serious
affairs in Pine Bluff.
There were not very many men in
attendance. this being due to the fact
that other important meetings were
being held elsewhere at the same
time, but those men who were present
evinccd great interest and made plain
their most friendly feeling for the
campaign to grant the right of suf-
frage to the women.
Miss Josephine Miller, of Little
Rodk, the charming and energetic ma
tional organizer for the National
American Woman's Suffrage associa-
ton was the principal speaker, and
she had no difficulty whatever in hold
ing the close attention IF her auditors
from the beginning of her talk until
it's conclusion. At times she brought
smiles and laughter with some sally,
but she devoted nearly all her re-
marks to statements Of what has been
accomplished elsewhere by the women
campaigners, and what it is hoped and
planned and confidently expected will
be done in the very near future.
Mrs. Cora e. Gillespie, president
of the Pine Bluff Equal Suffrage
~ ~
during the meeting. Attorney T. G..
Parham introduced Miss Miller with a
few remarks in which he stated that
he is firmly in favor Of equal suf-
frage, although he admitted that four
or five years ago, if asked how he
stood on the question. he would have
announced his opposition to such a
movement. Attorney Sam Levine
dropped into the meeting after a pre-
vious meeting and made short talk,
making the statement that he has ear
nestly and conscientiOusly studied the
matter and is firmly convinced women
should have the right Of suffrage. and
this is the psychological time for the
women to make concerted and united
effort to get it.
Miss Miller's Talk.
Miss Miller made strong point,
during her talk. when she stated that
two very important results to be OBJ
tanned from the war in Europe will be
the changed status of women in the
world, and prohibition. She aroused
enthusiasm again when she stated
flatly that universal peace can be had
only when all the women Of the world
are given a voice in the governments
under which they live.
Miss Miller effectively cOmbatted
the assertion that suffrage will cause
omen to lose their femininity. their
womanliness, and will break UP the
home, by saying that the women of
New Zealand have been voting for
20 years, and the death rate of babies
there is in 1000 whereas in the
United States the death rate Of babies
is 16S in the 1000.
'"This does not indicate that the
women of New Zealand are neglect
ing their homes. or their babies" she
said.
In Wyoming, the first state in this
country to grant the ballot to women,
there are one-third less divorces, pro-
portionately, than in any other state,
declared Miss Miller, in further ans
wer to the assertion that homes will
be broken up by granting the ballot
to women.
And then she added that there are
only two states in the union which
have no state debt, these being Kan
sas and Wyoming, and both of these
states allow the women to vote.
Poll Tax VS. Dog Tax.
Miss Miller said she knows man
who is opposed to woman suffrage
because, he says, he will have to pay
/ poll tax for his wife and daughters.
"Yet that same man keeps nine
hound dogs, and each year pays the
tax on each one of thenl," she said.
J The National American Woman's
Suffrage association is endeavoring
to obtain the ballot for women by
two methods, state action and federal
constitutional amendment, said the
speaker. At this time, efforts are be-
| ing centered on the federal amend
ment, as probably the quickest meth
Hod. However. the work in the indi-
vidual states is not being allowed tn
lapse, and each day almost gains are
being recorded everywhere for the
movement.
Another Meeting Today.
| Miss Miller will hold another meet
ling today at 3 o'clock at the assembly
| CONTINUED on page five.)