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

powers from the consent Of the governed or
denying that government Of the people, by the
people and for the people" must include rs,
unless you decline to admit that we are people.
In Maine, men either live up to the Declare
ton Of Independence and the Gettysburg Ora
ton, or they leave it out of their rhetorical
flights altogether.
This Suffrage question has been agitated for
nearly 20 years. With nearly half Of the
United States Equal Suffrage territory. as well
as much of Canada and many other foreign
countries. Equal Suffrage cannot be regarded
as a radical measure in any sense Of the word.
No well-informed body Of men can doubt
that Equal Suffrage has been eminently sue
cessful in the west. AS native Of Maine and
therefore entitled to your confidence, should
like to give my testimony but cannot 60 into de.
tails because our time is limited.
When I went to California to live, I was .
suffragist and worked for 1t simply because /
am an American and believe in government by
the consent Of the governed / was satisfied to
rest my claims on that ground alone for 1t is
sufficient When women were enfranehised in
1911. I did not expect any immediate results,
good or bad; but have lived there most Of the
time for the last six years, and seen California
make a wonderful record in progressive Iegis-
laton which has not merely been passed but
enforced. large proportion of this legisla.
ton was initiated by women; and women and
the state have both been benefited by the
change.
What is true of California is equally true
OF the other suffrage states according TO the
testimony of those who have lived in them.
We have all been urged TO Stick to facts be-
cause you are not sentimental body of men
and You want to be sure about some very prac.
teal aspects Of the question. You want to
know whether women actually use The vote in
the suffrage states; whether the inhabitants Of
those states are really pleased with the change;
and how much MORE i is going to cost.
AS to the first point i is difficult TO rive
figures for women voters apart from men yot-
ers. because Except in lllinoisl the votes are
not separately tabu!ated but the vote in a state
before and after tells the tale. In the follow.
ing states there are more men than women.
Kansas election OF 1912, 365.444 men
voted; election Of 1914, 6302Q6 men and
women voted
oregon election Of 1912, 137,o4o mon yot.
ed; election Of 1914, 2l0566 men and women
voted
California election Of 1910. 385,71a men
voted election Of 1918. 92G. $50 men and won.
en- voted.
Washington election of 1905, 1914 men
voted election OF 1914, 34a,279 men and
women voted
This seems to prove that women do vote
where they have that right
is to The second point; whether the people
in the suffrage states are satisfied. The only
s.
nents were able to find who were not satisfied
with the results OF Equal Suffrage are men and
women who have been thoroughly discredited
in their own states or who are thoroughly reac-
tionary along all lines.
Let me say of California.
vast number of people in California who
were formerly opposed to suffrage now favor
it. The suffrage amendment in 1911 carried
only by small majority. An initiative peti.
ton was started to repeal it at the election OF
November, 1912. There were more than l..
500, 900 men and women Of voting age in Cali.
fornia, yet it was found impossible to secure
the $4,000 signatures needed to resubmit the
question.
AS to the third point, the expense Involved.
The state treastrers Of every suffrage state
have declared that woman suffrage has not ap.
preciably increased election expenses. Denver
last year. recorded the lowest per capita cost
of voting (14c) Of the larger cities of the Uni.
ted States. In Cheyenne, Wyoming voting
costs 10c per capita, d less sam than in any
city of its size. In the same year New York
! paid nc per capita and Chicago sc, but for
the five cents which Chicago paid more than
New York, Chicago voted men and women the
largest number Of voters ever voting in any city
IN America. The cost per voter in New York
is $3.50, in Chicago only SIC.
Since women had the vote in California one
legislature passed more constructive legislation
than had beer passed in the previous decade.
At the same time, though these laws necessi
tated new government activities, government
expenses increased at q per cent lower rate
than In the previous fve.year period.
The tax rate Of the equal suffrage state,
shines by comparison with that of male suffrage
states. California has no state tax Five
equal suffrage states have rates of between 81 20
ana Sd-34 per $1,000. Only four states have
rate as high as $500 or over. Two have
$500. With The male suffrage states the case
is lar otherwise; exactly half have rate Of
$500 and over. Ten male suffrage states show
tax rates In the teens, the twenties and the
thirties.
Governor johnson Of California saws. ''rhere
is every reason to regard equal suffrage as hsv.
ing justified itself in California. The women
nave proved themselves great force for good
government Their understanding of politics
IS surprisingly keen. On every occasion when
they have thus far exercised the franchise
they have proved themselves intelligent voters
IN several particular instances the women have
waged battles in this State in behalf Of de.
cency and good government that challenge the
hlghest regard for them as voting citizens"
vi course you law makers Of Maine cannot
tnink that Maine women are less fit to vote
than western women or that we are fit to vote
IN some states and not in others. You cannot
consider it fair that I. for example. who have
voted IN California. should In my native state
be placed in the humble category of Inmates
and idiots.
80 lar Maine has been progressive state
name was the pioneer in state prohibition
NAME was the first state east Of the Mississinn;
10 ADOPT the initiative and the referendum Wa
nave difect primaries. 81 hour law work
men compensation and all the rest, but miles,
Maine is forward looking enough to give reore.
sen'a5ion to women her present and future
hlAlofy VIII be unworthy OF her past history
We who are here today, represen. a ma.
Jorlty OF the women of Maine, and that major.
!ty is demanding the sacred and inalienah,s
right of the franchise / hava ba.,3 :. an,