Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-09-05
Ballots for Both
in the
Pine Tree State

George Crosweli Cressey, Phi. D., D. D.,
pastor of the church Of the Redeemer,
Unitarian Congregational, Borough Of
Richmond. New York City, who has been
visiting relatives in Maine, his former
quarters. Saturday, to express his inter-
est in the Maine campaign and to offer
the statement, which is given herewith.
DR.. Cressey was former pastor Of the
Unitarian church, Bangor, and also of the
Unitarian churches in Salem, Mass,
Portland, Oregon, and London, England,
and has had excellent opportunity to OBJ
serve the result Of the ballot in the hands
of women. His statement follows:
The men of Maine. my native State,
are about to vote on an amend
There are natural Emergencies of opinion
but there are certain fundamental princi-
pies which no unprecedented mind can
ignore The primary question is. Is II
matter of justice and right? 1t is a.
common saying among the highly intelli-
gent who are. yet. rather neutral on the
question, that the arguments are all with
the sufra gists but are we ready?
IL a large number Of women are prop
erty owners. If a still larger number are
compelled to earn livelihood in occu-
pations similar 70 those of men. is there
any reason why they should not have a
share IN framing the laws by which these
matters are regulated7 More than this
shall woman care for her children in
the home then when they 60 forth into
the world have no voice in the institution
Of society. under whose influence the
nurtured life to a large extent inevitably
fallsp
Much is said by the anti-suffra gists
concerning the character Of the women
advocates of equal suffrage. The opinion
has been emphatically given that a large
proportion OF the leaders in the cause are
looking beyond suffrage to feminism. BY
what authority or proofs Is any such
statement made? have myself In my
seven years residence in London enjoyed
the acquaintance of many suffragists.
some Of whom are militant. Among
them was occasionally one who might be
called In our yankee slang, cranky; on the
other hand among them there were many
cultured, educated, noble women. not one
of whom I have known inclined TO fem
inism. "a word variedly defined and
loosely employed).
''In the state of New York the workers
In the suffrage cause whom I know are
domestic. self-sacrifcing, noble band Of
women: some Of them in my own COM
munity and church cannot be surpassed
in domestic fidelity. civic helpfulness. ana
patriotic spirit
1T is said again that all members Of
sociaiistic and other organization OF So
ciety are In favor OF suffrage. There Is
nothing easier for speaker than sweep
ing assertion nor more agreeable to the
nearer than exact statement But who
learned the views o. each one? OF what
significance that probably most Of them
sympath!ze with the efforts Of enancipa
ton? We have on high authority too
that the devils also believe and trem-
BILE But II is too late today for any
body to regard socialism with apprehen-
sion and fear, realizing as one does that
many methods are incorporated into the
sAcial economy Of almost every civilized
nation today. which a generation ago
would have been condemned as eocia1ie-
tic. I am no socialist but 1t is clearly ap-
parent that there Is safety in the free In
teraction OF social forces. No one should
be more thankful that the capitalist him
self that men OF perceptive mind and
sound heart have sought to counteract
the evil of entrenched and ruthless capt.
talism, which If left unchecked would
sooner or later precipitate a revolution IN
our nation in comparison with which all
previous calamity. all apprehended disas-
tiers, even those relative to equal suf-
frage, would be as the swaying branches
IN the northeast storm to the deaah
etrewn path Of the tornado.
Then an effort to deny hight by con-