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


men or all men were Joined together IN
anything unitedly that marked for pro-
gress. hope that you will report that
this resolve ought to pass"
1t was announced by Mrs. Livingston
that Mrs. Althea G. Quimby Of North
Turner. president of the Maine Women's
Christian Temperance Union. was unable
to be present on account of sickness in
her family. Mrs. A. A. Walsh Of Gar
diner, one Of the vice presidents Of the
organization. was introduced to speak in
behalf of the Maine W. c. T. U.
Mrs. A. A. Walsh
Mrs. Walsh spoke briefly but impress
sively. illustrating her remarks by call
ing the attention of the committee to
packets of cards upon table In front
Of her representing 5000 people who had
signed these cards expressing their be-
lief in the ballot for women and declar-
Ing their right to vote on equal terms
with men. She said that these cards
were signed by ministers of the gospel,
physicians. authors, college professors,
Christian workers and people from al
most every walk of life
She said that the liquor and vice inter
ests were opposed to equal suffrage be-
cause they realized that women were op-
posed to evil efforts and stood for the
better protection Of the women,
Taxation without representation is
i will leave you gentlemen Of the
committee 10 finish the sentence" she
said amid laughter and applause.
Mrs. George F. French
The next speaker was Mrs. George
T, French Of Portland. representing the
State Federation Of Women's Clubs.
She said that over $500 Maine women,
banded together for self improvement
had gone on record in favor of politi-
cal equality for women. In the coun-
try the National Federation of
Women's Clubs. 100000 strong, two
years ago at their biennial gave en-
dorsement to either state or federal
law that would give women equal SUI
frage with men.
Boys and girls at school pursue the
same courses of study but when they
become of age the law has said to the
brother. you are sovereign and to the
sister you are subject 1t is to change
this that | desire the ballot. Men say
that the place of women is in the home
but in these days of progress the home
has come to have larger meaning and
to include the entire community"
Mrs. Florence Brooks Whitehouse
Mrs. Florence Brooks Whitehouse,
president of the State Referendum
League, was then called upon. She
said:
In 1885, at the first legislative council after
Wyoming became a territory, bill was passed
by the legislature enfranchising women upon
the same terms as men, and equal rights" was
accepted as their state sale. In 1890, when
Wyoming asked to enter the Union, she was
told that if she would come in without her
women, she would be accepted. Wyoming
sent back to Washing ton a reply which has
burned It's golden message across the pages Of
history: I'VE will stay out Of the Union one
hundred years, but will not come in with.
out our women" Thus Wyoming was the first
state and alasl the only state-to Join chivary
with justice toward women.
"Since Wyoming gave women equal rights
with men, ten other states have given them full
suffrage. and two-Illinois and. very
them presidential and municipal suf-
frage. Today more than half the
territory Of the United States is suffrage
territory but it has been won at frightful cost
Woman's suffrage is wOmans battle and has
been won largely through the self-sacrifce and
toll Of women To be sure, there have been
men with a vision who like Glad
stone, when the fight for suffrage
for the working men of Engla Id
was at it's height, declared his belief
in the broad principle of all classes being
represented at the polls" yet till now the
struggle of freedom for women has been a
struggle waged largely by women, and has
been won with greater difficulty than men have
undergone in the winning Of their political
freedom.
But today thousands of men are standing
with us, shoulder to shoulder, making our
struggle their struggle. In the last campaigns
in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and
New Jersey more than q million men voted for
woman suffrage. Five times as many men as
make up the United States army registered
their approval of equal rights for women. A
change Of one vote in twelve would have
changed the result In those states. More than
600 societies. representing both men and won.
en-, have declared for woman suffrage,
including the NationaI Grange. the
National Federation of Labor. the
Nation woman's Trade Union League,
the National w. G. T. u. and the
National Federation Of Woman's Clubs. Men
and women everywhere are banding themselves
together to win suffrage for women, and Mr.
Gibson Gardner of the Associated Press, said in
| Washington the other day; Whereas, three
years ago, women's suffrage were two words
never used in my copy, today there are no two
words in the English language I use so much.
For the first time in history, five great po
litcal parties endorsed woman suffrage In
their national platforms, and for the first time
in history woman suffrage became ar
issue In a great national campaign
! IN the presidential campaign, 81 cleo
toraI votes came from the suffrage
states. and the balance Of power swung
ives. Of the Mississippi river. approximately
! 900 600 women voted in the last election
Some Of you were peeved at the way they voted
but that is rot the point. You may or may
not like the way they did it, but you must &C
! cept the fact that they voted. and that
hereafter at every election In the United
! States womens' votes will be deternin.
| ing factor.
| In Washington the politicians are
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