Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-14
Ballots for Both
in The
Pine rec State

Mrs. Katherine Reed Balentine Of
Portland. president Of the Maine Equal
Suffrage Association. was most hap
PLY introduced by B. NJ. Bates. agent
Of the Lewiston Bleachery and Dye
Works, when she was the guest Of
honor at a recent suffrage tea in the
Bates home.
Mr.. Bates asked the privilege Of quot
ing briefly from DR.. Anna H. Howard
Shaw's book, "A Pioneer, a portion OF
which was particularly significant upon
this occasion. He then read the follow
ing:
The last few days Of the California
campaign were extremely interesting
and one Of the important events was
that the Hon. Thomas B. Reed, speak
er in the House of Representatives for
the first time declared himself publicly
in favor of suffrage. Mr.. Reed often
had expressed himself privately in IA
vor of the cause. But he had never
made a public statement for US.
"At Oakland one day the indefatig-
able and irresistible Aunt Susan An
thony caught him off his guard, by per-
suading his daughter, Kitty Reed, to
ask him to say just word in favor OF
the equal suffrage amendment. When
he arose We did not know whether he
had promised what she had asked and
as his speech progressed our hearts
sank lower and lower, for all he said
was remote from the cause; but he
ended with these words
IAN amendment to the California
constitution is pending, granting sur
frage to women. The women Of Cali
fornia ought to have suffrage. The
men of California ought to give it to
them and the next speaker, DR.. Shaw,
| will tell you why
Applying this quotation to Maine, in
, presenting Mrs. Balentine, the daugh-
ter of the late Thomas B. Reed, Mr..
| Rates said, THE women of Maine ought
to have suffrage. The men of Maine
| ought to give it to them and the next
speaker. Mrs. Katherine Reed Balen-
tine, will tell you why"
| Maine suffrasists are gratified at the
| resolutions in favor of the ballot for
women passed within week by the
Maine Universalists in annual meet
ing, and also by the Maine Federation
Of Labor, at its annual session.
The Brunswick Record is running a
straw vote contest on the suffrage
question, showing the interest among
| Brunswick and Topsham women. Dur
ing the last week so per cent of the
vote has been YES. Commenting upon
| the situation the Record says that the
percentage of NO votes is as large in
Brunswick as in any section of the
State and that reports from different
sections of Maine reveal the fact that
in some towns there is absolutely no
opposition and that victory at the polls
on Sept. 10 is regarded as a certainty.
ut is our country as well as yours"
say the men who desire the ballot, to
the men who have it. Give us the
vote that we may support the country
most effectively in both war and peace.
To defend the nation all its resources
are reeded. Women must be modified
equally with men. AS measure Of
preparedness give the women the vote.
England has had to do it. The new
franchise bill will give the vote to six
million women. Canada has done 1t.
Since the war began Ave big Canadian
provinces have given the women the
vote. France is going to do it. The
Chamber of Deputies has announced
that the municipal vote will be given
at once to women. Denmark did it in
1915; when threatened by war she gave
the vote to women. Russia is basing
her new government on universal suf-
frage. The United States has begun.
Since January 1917. North Dakota,
Ohio. Indiana, Rhode Island, Michigan
and Nebraska have added to the twelve
woman suffrage states by giving the
Presidential vote to women. Arkansas
has broken the ranks Of the solid south
and given primary suffrage. Don't
wait for the tragedies of war to prove
that the country belongs to both men
and women"
Mrs. Julia F. Wells Of Kennebunk-
port, superintendent Of the medal con-
test work of the Maine w. C. T. u.
says
1T was in 1s- IN South Boston,
Mass. Our w. c. r. u, had voted to
have our women distribute the NO
ballot in every precinct in our ward:
1t was before the day of the Austria
liam ballot. and the voting places were
not desirable places to spend the day
in. I shall always think that women
voting cleaned up the voting places
When l went home, and told them of
what we had voted, my husband OBJ
jected to my going. A friend was stop
ping with me. and she said. II your
daughter Gs years Of agep can go with
me. I will take your place. and they
vert. On election day sat at the win
dow sewing. with my baby in her
cradle close by. Directly in front OF
our house there was a large force OF
workmen working on the water main
A look into their faces showed plainly
that they were born across the water
and not realizing the value of their
vote. many would sell their vote for a
drink. Both political parties came and
carried them to their respective voting
places until almost every one Of them
had voted. Until then had never de-
sired to vote on anything but the
school and liquor questions. Looking
into my baby's face I looked ahead to
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