Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-09-03

opened by piano solo by Miss Mar
JoFle Bates followed by a solo. Shu-
man The Grenadiers," by Guy w.
Johnson aid two solos, Macharonis
Ave Maria" and Mendelssohn's The
Lord Is Mindful of His own" bv Miss
georgia Fales who needs no introduce
'ioh TO Waterville audiences and who
sang With wonderful sweetness and
expression
MI. Clair called the attention of the
audience to the meeting of Mrs. Gait
and Mrs. Livingston to be held Fri.
day evening, and that of Daniel Pol
ing, associate president of the Chris
uan Endeavor, who will speak first on
the square Saturday evening and then
IN the Baptist church. Everybody is
welcome to attend such meetings.
Before introducing the speaker of
the afternoon, Mr. Clair spoke on the
subject and gave his views in a very
concise and interesting manner. II
have wrestled with this question and
at times have thought that I opposed
1t but after giving intelligent thought
to each of my obligations l can see no
reason why the women should not be
given the right to vote. My first OBJ
lection was the picketers at the White
House. l thought that at the time
when we were at war that any hind
rance to the workings Of the govern
m"nt was unpatriotic if not traitorous
but after carefully considering the
matter l came to the conclusion that
because some few women are foolish
I l7at &c, IL, rs~.l,x 49,
vast number of women should be kept
from them.
Then l thought of our woman cong
ressman. lut came to the conclusion
that if we were to eliminate the wom-
en- because they We're not physically
fit, 1t would mean that a great many
men would also have to be eliminated,
but while our boys are away, we who
cannot go must stay at home and
carry on the government, and / can
not see one logical reason why the
women should not have the vote. If
intelligence is a standard for voting,
surely the women are as intelligent as
the men and their minds are just as
active as ours and when they say that
women will not inform themselves on
the matters of government, they must
remember that men do not inform
themselves on those matters but vote
as their neighbors or their fathers be-
fore them have voted, and that if the
women had the opportunity to vote
upon a question they would be much
more likely to look into the matter and
cast an intelligent ballot than many
men," In reply to the belief that wom-
en- would not go to the polls. Mr. Clair
expressed the belief that they would
vote and without the persuasion of
money, liquor or the necessity of be-
ing carried to the polls in an automo-
bile. which custom often prevails now.
The women will no more neglect their
homes by going to the polls once or twice
year than they will to go to church, to
their clubs. Our government stands for
all that it highest and best in civilization
and morality. What can there be about
by those opposed? Instead, it will bring
to the State a largely increased incor-
ruptable vote which will help US to solve
some of the many difficult problems of
the government.
Miss MacAIarney Speaks
Mr.. Clair then introduced Miss Emma
MacAlarney. national counselor of the
speaker of the afternoon. Miss MacAlar-
ney has a wonderfully attractive person
ality. a beautiful speaking voice, and a
thorough knowledge of and belief in her
subject. She was frequently interrupted
by applause. but spoke with much ease
and charm. She has travelled extensive
ly throughout the country and has seen
the workings OF the movement in suffrage
states and gave her hearers a strong and
clear conception of the question.
There is nothing new or experimental
in the question of suffrage. On asking the
men to vote yes on this subject in No
something that has never been tried be-
fore. We have the actual experience and
results where it has been tried to show
that It is good. but those who listen to
the chance chatter of someone who
knows nothing about the question are
INSTRUCTED and 60 away feeling opposed
to IT. am here to tell you not that this
is coming, It has come. The only ques-
lions for Maine is how much longer you
are going to wait before you wake up to
the situation.
"In 1,4a the first conference was held
and since that time progress though
steady and consistent has been naturally
slow, naturally slow because every re-
form or forward movement of necessity
moves slowly. This first suffrage conven-
tion was held in New York in 1S49. They
did not call the subject equal Suffrage.
they called it equal rights, but that group
of men and women were the first suffrage
The first step was for prop
ertv rights. At that time married wo-
man had no rights to property Whatever
tho only way A woman could control her
nroner.v was to remain single. Later the
laws were changed and I do not believe
there are many women who would like to
go hack to the laws of 1saa.
THE second right they asked for
was the rights of equal education, an
o,nortunity to use the gray matter
God gave them and colleges and In
stitutions have been opened to them.
They had much opposition in those
DAYS. and while it has been long
way since 1S49, we have had hafd