Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-01-11

concern ourselves with is what are We
going to do with 1t.
Representatives Treadway, Massa-
chusetts, and Powers. Kentucky, also
favored the amendment.
Representative Lufkin. Massachu-
sets. in his maiden speech in Congress.
states rights in his opposition to the
amendment Representative b u r
roughs, New Hampshire. spoke for the
amendment
Representative Heflin, Alabama,
begged Congress not to take away the
power of the states over a state ques-
ton He declared the people in the
South have problem Of suffrage to
work out that the other sections do
not.
Representative Decker, Missouri,
said that he, like Hefiin, believed IN
states rights but he believed in the
fundamental right of three-fourths OF
the states to decide this question IN
der the amendment
Meekers Parting Shot
Firing one of the final shots of the
opposition, Representative Meeker, Re
publican, of Missouri, deprecated talk
of political eXpediency. of the two
presidential candidates last year, he
said, Mr.. Hughes of New York, the
Republican candidate proposed Wom-
an suffrage amendment, and every SUI
frage state went against him. Presi-
dent Wilson, who was Democratic can
didate, passed out the work that he
kept the country out of war. If he had
depended on the suffrage vote. Ger
many, would be here today.
Mr. Meeker denounced the White
House picketing by Woman's Party
suffrasists. who, he said, broke into
Jail and did not want equal treatment
there and were lionized when they
came out. He was Missed from the gall
leries as he said They say they won't
raise babies if they can't have the
vote"
Representative Lunin of New York
resented tie suggestion that if every
thing depended on the suffrage states.
Germany would be at the nation s
doors. He said the women are loyal
and America would never win war
! in which the women We're not loyal.
| General debate was then closed and
the reading of the bill forthwith was
begun.
Early Action in Senate
Senator Jones Of New Mexico, chair
man of the Senate woman suffrage COM
lnittee, said today, however. that if the
resolution passed the House an effort
would be made to bring it up for consid-
Grafton in the Senate with the least pos
sble delay.
Representative Foster OF Illinois offered
the special rule fixing four hours for gen.
eral debate, with reading of the bill for
amendment to be not later than o'clock.
Representative Parker Of New Jersey,
Republican. opened the debate opposing
the amendment.
Representative Moon of Tennessee. DEM
ocrat. spoke against the resolution.
Representative jeanette Rankin Of Mon
tana spoke for it.
Every great woman who stands out IN
our history" she said, has asked the
government to permit women to serve
more effectively the national welfare. To-
day as never before the nation needs its
women"
Representative Raker, in charge of the
resolution, declared the amendment rank
ed in Importance with the Declaration OF
Independence.
Representative Gordon of Ohio denounc-
ed the amendment as an "impudent' re-
pudiatiol Of both the leading parties.
Representative Gray of New Jersey, OPP
posing the resolution, recalled that Miss
Rankin when Congress voted for war with
Germany said: Il love my country, but
| cannot vote for war"
How would you like to have Congress
made up of majority of women before
the war is over?" he demanded
For the anti-suffragists. Representative
Clark of Florida. Democrat. announced
he purposed offering an amendment pro-
Viding for conventions in the different
states for the express purpose Of passing
on the amendment.