Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-03-06
final WORD FOR
WOMAN SUFFRAGE
Yesterdays Hearing Closed The
Case of the Votes For
Woman Hosts
SENATOR SHAFfR0IH SPOKE
Colorado Senator Tells of Great Changes
Il Mrs Roberts and Mrs Hooker
Also Heard
SENATOR SHAFtROIH SPOKE

Minus their principal speaker, Sen
| ator Borah, of Idaho. but with two
prominent orators, the suffragists
closed their campaign of meetings in
favor of the Presidential and other
suffrage bills yesterday afternoon in
the House of Delegates Chamber Al
the last moment word was received
from Senator Borah regretting his in
ability to keep the engagement
Following yesterdays hearing it is
expected that all of the suffrage bills
will be reported in the House today
and probably be made the special or
der for some future date.
The first speaker was Mrs. Robert
Baker, of Washington, chairman OF
the press committee of the National
Woman Suffrage Association. She
is one of the ''immortals" who suf-
fered Imprisonment for picketing the
White House. She made a plea for
votes for women in order, she said
that women may participate in the
making of laws of such vital import
ance to them.
The next speaker was Senator j. F.
ShaffrOth, Democrat, of Colorado He
told of the operations of woman suf-
frage in Colorado, where women have
been voting for 25 years.
Mr., Norris, Republican leader of
the House, presided.
Mrs. Baker said: I'VE protest
against laws which are enacted with
out our consent, but which affect us
as much as they do men. AS President
Wilson has remarked, we are fight
ing for that which concerns our well
fare most. There are two ways by
which women can secure the right
to vote, through State Legislatures
and for national suffrage.
81 object to a referendum because
of the enormous number of men we
have in America. 1t is not a con-
tinuous merry -go-round. 1t is a
dreary-go-round.
eve are told it is not constitu-
tional to amend the Constitution.
That is absurd. You men in Mary
land think you have a serious prob
lem here in the additions to the col
ored vote. If / thought that this ele-
ment would embarrass woman suf-
frage ! would not favor the amend
ment"
Senator Shaffroth said:
1--WE are today witnessing great
changes in legislative bodies all over
the world. We have seen an uprising
of the people. We have seen them
knocking at the doors of legislative
halls. The just powers of government
are derived from the consent of the
governed. Why should l, as a man,
have right to govern myself and
another? This is usurpation of pow
er. Why should | have the power to
make laws for my mother and for
my wife? This evolution that is going
on is a recognition of all classes to
participate actively in government.
There is no discrimination in govern
ment until we come to women. We
have seen the law abolished by which
all property of the wife went to the
husband We have seen the law of
primogeniture go by the board. In
stead we see fathers provide in their
wills more literally for their daugh-
ters.''
Mrs. Hooker followed with a brief
address. She said Maryland women
are today asking for suffrage for the
same reasons which prompted Mar
garet Brent to fight for freedom in
Maryland