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

men and women-who appeared here
and asked us for the privilege Of vot-
ing upon this question. To my mind.
it matters not that there was perhaps
an equal number Of women and Of men
who were opposed to it at that time.
There certainly is demand throughout
the State of Maine that this question
be submitted to the voters There are
thousands-and l say it without exag-
geration-there are thousands of men
and women whoHave come before us by
petition and asked us to present this to
the voters at the coming September
election.
| do not think Mr.. Speaker and gem
! tlenen of the House, that this is q .hay-
~ measure. and / do not appeal to the
members of this House. on party. lines.
1t is true that the Republican National
Platform. as well as our State Repub-
lican Platform. endorsed the question of
w"men's suffrage. On the other hand,
the Democratic National Platform en-
dorsed it in terms fully as strong as
those in the Republican Platform. and if
/ our Democratic friends in Maine have
not seen fit to add their endorsement
to that of their National leaders, it
merely shows that for the time being
they are a little behind and are not
quite ready to follow the able leader
ship of those in Washington
We must face this question fairly and
squarely. We must decide it on it's
merits. There are, l believe, men in
this body who perhaps are conscen-
tiously opposed to womens suffrage but
they cannot be conscientiously opposed
to a proper reference of this question
to the voters of this State I know of
/ such men, but they are, many of them
fully as earnest and fully as anxious
that this question be submitted
do not propose to speak upon the
main question of whether or not it is
advisable to adopt the suffrage amend
ment, but | do urge upon the mem
bers of this House, of both parties
freed absolutely from party lines, that
they allow their fellow citizens in the
! state of Maine to settle this question
! for themselves.
| do not see what purpose will be ac-
complished by the defeat of this meas
ure 1t would simply prolong the ag1-
/ ration and discussion. We have not
! the right as members Of this House tc
refuse this question. and the sooner il
is settled. in my opinion. the better IL
will be for the entire State of Maine.
Finally. there is but one court which
! will finally settle this question, and that
is the court of last resort. There is but
one bar before which it's merits can be
, pleaded. and that is before the elector-
/ ate of the State of Maine
Mr.. Speaker. after the discussion has
taken place and the question is before
us, l shall move that when the vote Is
taken. it be taken by yeas and nays.
Mr.. BERRY Of Waterville: Mr.
Speaker and gentlemen Of the House,
feel that ] would be remiss in my duty
to my constituency and to the grand ant
noble womanhood of Maine in all the
houses over the hills and through the
valleys throughout the State if did not
rise at this time and speak a word IL
behalf and protest against anything that
Will tend to lower that grand standing
TO which womanhood has attained hant
in hand with civilization along dowr
through the years. / protest against
the passage of this resolve.
Would that | had the eloquence and
the power at my command possessed
by the gentleman from Portland, who
/ rs educated and scholar of the Eng
fish language. which I am not, but
hope that you will bear with me while
] speak Of a few Of the things which
concern this bill.
I have been pleased this morning to
notice the means and the methods
used to carry forward this resolve. We
have our first practical lesson this
morning. There is a divided woman
L.. IL
part on that side Of the hall. You dc
not generally find men there, but you
find women in those places.
I also have in my hand copy Of the
Daily Kennebec Journal. AS many OF
the gentlemen Of this House are aware
there is a very good pipe called the
Three b. see that they have usurp-
ed the trademark. using the names OF
Baxter. PuSsabarger and Brewster, and
I have only thought how nice it would
he if we could have a new trademark
and add one more B-Berry. Cn:orcu-
nately gentlemen Of the House, that
cannot be.
also find on my desk this morning
p little pamphlet entitled. This Little
pook Contains Every Reason Why
Women Should Not Vote" We open
the book and find blank pages within
II is ONLY another samnle of what many
of Won have seen. and. I might almost
say. of tho detesta bic and cheap polf-
tics practice7 in this State. Gentlemen
tNat little book carries no more weight
with it than In this time of crisis and
noril to this nation does the hecl1lina
OF orr Presdent--vour President and
my Presidential President that this
. House backed up in his attitude the
other dav.
Now the question we have before us
today is the resolve proposing the
amendment to the Constitution grant
ing suffrage to women on equal terms
with men. This question is capable OF
division. ard I want to agree with the
gentleman from Portland (Mr. Baxter)
that this is not political question
Gentlemen. you are here and by your
caths OF office want you all to take
notice that you say, II will faithfully
discharge to the best Of my ability the
duties incumbent upon me-" What are
those duties. gentlemen? In any duty
incumbent upon you. you should have
a sane reasoning power and use it like
wise. You should be careful in the eX-
80