Smyrna times., 1918-07-03
DELAWARE STATE WOMEN
APPEAL FOR THE BALLOT
DISCUSS QUESTION WITH U. S.
SENATOR JOSIAH o. WOLCOTT
Senator WoIcott Declares Equal Suf-
frage Matter Entirely for the State
to Decide and Gives Reasons

TrdRe NStl6T lOt tttC OtotG
to Decide and Gives Reasons
United States Senator Josiah o.
Wolcott gave hearing on the suffrage
question to an assembly of women at
Wilmington Delaware recently. About
sixty women were present, represent
ing women's organizations of Will
mingtnn, New Castle and Newark.
Senator Salisbury had also been in
vited to attend the meeting, but sent
word that he would not be able to
come. Mrs. w. K. DUPONT asked the
Junior senator what impressions had
been made upon him by such meet
ings.
Meaning, am going to vote for
the federal suffrage amendment next
week 2" rejoined the senator, amid
general laughter.
Mrs. DUPONT explained that she
meant whether his ideas as to suffrage
had Undergone any notifications.
Thereupon Senator Wnlcott stated his
views, saying:
"I think view the suffrage ques-
tion at a different angle from any
woman present. I do not view it as
matter of abstract right or justice.
l don't think that anybody, man or
woman, has inherent right to vote.
l think that it is matter of State
expediency and l don't mean party
politics by that; a matter of what will
give the State the best government.
think it is very material to know,
when any group of people ask for
franchise, just how interested that
group is. 1t would be utterly foolish
to grant the vote to 10000 people
when only half of them, and those
including the worst element, will
vote. The question is, how extensive
is the demand on the part of women
for the vote. -
Mrs. DUPONT said she thought the
worst element had not done so badly
with the vote up-to-date and ever
with the female worst element to hell
she did not think the government il
any danger.
Mrs. Harry Haywood in reply t.
1 the Senator's quoted objections tina
! the uneducated colored women woult
be an i'll influence if frsnchised, salt
] that politicians had told her the col
] ored women could not be swung sol
I idly as the colored male vote ha,
Z been. A great many of the colore
4 women worked in the kitchens of ed
I ucated white women and would b
! influenced by them.
q Senator Wolcott corrected state
8 ment that he had said the women o
Delaware, as a majority. were op
] posed to the vote, by saying he ha
said the women of this State wer
Indifferent, as a majority, as I
whether they were given the vote.
Mrs. Ball who presided, told th
= senator that hastily and only pal
3 TALLY circulated petition, asking ths
D the Delaware senators vote for tE
y Federal suffrage amendment had n
z ceived 3, 722 signatures, 2,668 {
) women, and 1, ,504 of men, exclusiV
x of 10. 900 persons represented by II
2 Central Labor Union, endorsement {
. the constitutional amendment fl
= women suffrage. A number of wome
= testified that few persons approacht
: had refused to sign the petition, bV
= that shortness of time had prevent'
9 its wide circulation. Every adult res
: dent of Camden signed except tV
q men who had not bought Liberty bond
z Laurel and Harrington had few E
. fusals.
z Mrs. M. P. Phillips, of New Castl
= Mrs. Martha Cranston for many yea
: president of the state suffragist
= Miss Emily Warrell. Rabbi Swire
9 Mrs. George Dorsey were amo