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


aid to the many deserving institutions
within its borders. do not believe that
they would receive more from the State
if the women had the ballot. Maine leg
islators, like those in other male suffrage
states, have not been backward in enact
ing social welfare laws. On the contra
ry, the states where the women do not
vote have been the first to enact such
laws.
But after all that is said here today,
we have to come back to that all impor-
! tant question: Do the majority of the
women of Maine want the ballot? If they
do not-and no one has been able to prove
that they do-why go to all this expense
of submitting the case to the electorate
until it is reasonably certain the greater
number Of the women desire it? Some of
the men who think of voting for suf-
frage may say: 1T won't make much
difference. anyway. We might as well
let them have it" But in answer to this
rather weak argument, it might be stated
that it will make difference. 1t will
add enormously to the cost of the next
State election. If you do not believe
this ask the secretary of state.
Who will pay the increased taxes that
will! be necessary because of this? The
men pay the poll taxes. Shall the wo-
men also pay poll taxes If they are grant
ed new responsibility in the way of vot-
ing? If they are not to pay poll taxes
when given the ballot, where is the
equality? Men are obliged to- support
their wives. Do the women propose to
r;orh 49, hav
1t is we'll to look at this matter from
business standpoint as well as senti-
mental one. We should not permit our
selves to be carried away by high sound
ing appeals that have little foundation
in fact Whenever a suffrage advocate,
be that advocate man or woman, arise
and says that he or she speaks for the
homes of Maine. for it's mothers and the
little children ] always feel like remind
ing him that there are some of us who
have in years past been doing something
beside speak for the homes and those VIII,
make them the bits of heaven on earth
that they are.
The men of Maine have not been
recreant to their duty They may not
! have moved with the swiftness that
/
necessary, but l challenge any state
ment that we have not made progress
in the State of Maine. We have not
had the Women'S votes to force us to
action, but we have had their appeals
and their petitions to inspire us. We
have had our partisan fights on this
hoor-we men of Maine-but as Re-
pubIicans and Democrats. we have
done our best to make it a better State
to live in, and l ask where the women
of Maine have drawn any broad in
dictment against the men of Maine for
their failure with respect to reforms.
| think they are still willing to trust
us to make the laws of Maine; trust
other men to choose the lawmakers.
Mr.. ALLAN of Portland: Mr.. Speak
er, l move the previous question.
The SPEAKER: The gentleman
from Portland, Mr.. Allan, moves for
the previous question. AS many as are
in favor OF that question will rise.
A sufficient number having arisen
the previous question was ordered.
The SPEAKER: The question be-
fore the House now is, shall the main
question be put. All those in favor will
say, yes.
MIR. BANTER of Portland: Mr..
Speaker, / move that when the vote is
taken, 1T be taken by the yeas and
nays.
The SPEAKER: The question before
the House is on the final passage Of this
resolve proposing an amendment to the
constitution giving political rights to
women upon equal terms with men. The
gentleman from Portland, Mr.. Baxter
moves that the vote be taken by the
yeas and nays. The resolve calls for
tWo-thrds vote to insure its passage. The
Chair wishes to state to the House that
member may change his vote on roll
call or on a division of the House at
any time before the vote is declared by
the Chair Several members have asked
the Chair about that point. If any mem
Der should vote no on this resolve ana
before the vote was declared wish to
change his vote and vote yes. by ad-
dressing the Chair and making his wishes
known his vote will be changed: or, if
any member voted yes and wanted to
vote no. the same process would fol-
low. The clerk will call the roll of mem
bers alphabetically and as many are
in favor Of the passage of this resolve
will say yes when their names are called:
those opposed to its passage will say no.
YEA-Albert. Alden, Allan of Portland,
Allen Of Sanford. Ames, Anderson. An
. dSews of Norway. Andrews of Warren
Averill. Babb. Barnes Baxter, Boman of
Vinalhaven. Bonney, Bowman of Detroit.
Boynton, Bracket. Bragdon. Brewster,
Brown, Burbank. Bussabarger. Buzzell
Gates. Chaplin of Bridgeton. Chaplin of
South Portland, Charles. Clark of Har-
rison. Clarke of Randolph Clason Glenn
ent, Clifford. Coffin, Cole of Eliot. Cole OF
Etna. Conary Corliss Crediford Cum
mings. Cushman, Daigle of New Canada,
Daigle of Wallagrass Day. Dearth, Dow.
Dutton, Eaton. Ellis of Gardiner, Ellis
of York, Harrington. Fletcher. Flint,
Gannett. Garcelon, Greenlaw, Quincy,
Hall, Hammond, Harmon. Harris. Hart,
HILL Holbrook. Holley. Holt Of Goulds-
boro, Holt of Skowhegan. Hooper. How
ard, Hunt. Hutchins. Jenkins, Jennings.
Jordan of Baleyville. Jordan of Cum
berland, Lawrence. Leavitt. Lenfest.
Lewis. Libby. Longley, T.yford, McNally.
Merrill. Messer Morrison, Newcomb,
Nicholas, Packard of Newburg Pattee.
Pendexter. Phillips Powers. Purington
Ranney, Richards. Rowe. Ryder. Sawyer
of Madison. sisson, Snow of Mars Hill,
Speirs Stearns, Stanley. Stubs, Tate,
Turner, futile, Wagg. Washburn, Watts,
WEIGH. Williams. Wilson-112.