Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-10-12
ANTI.SUFFRACE
PETITION TRIAL
IS UNDER WAY
Mrs. w. A. Smith Testifies as
to Organization and the
Work Done by that
Body.

The Nebraska Anti-Suffrage asso-
citation, against which suffragists
obtained a temporary order from
the district court at Lincoln prohib-
iting the secretary Of state placing
the woman suffrage referendum on
the official November ballot, are
presenting their side of the case be-
fore Special Examiner c. A. Emery
in the court house. The suffragistS
have alleged that signatures on the
petition were frauds and have al
ready had their hearing.
Mrs. William Archibald Smith,
l02 South Thirty-fifth' street, was
the first witness called by the de-
tense. She was the original secre-
tary of the Anti-Suffrage association
and now holds that position nom
inally.
Organization Explained.
She told of the organization Of
the association, which has more
than 1900 members. lin March, 1914,
after a petition for suffrage had
been secured and filed to submit to
the voters. The measure was de-
feated at the November, 1914, cleo
ton, and she told of the work Of the
ants in securing this defeat.
She said that the bill was again
introduced in 1917 in the legislature
and that she, Mrs. T. J. Mackay and
Mrs. Charles Elgutter, as members
of the executive committee, went to
Lincoln to fight its passage.
1--WE did not think that the legls-
lature would dare pass the bill, as it
was against the wishes of the voters.
but late in April, however" Mrs.
Smith testified, "the bill was taken
up in hurry and passed during the
last few days of the session.
Waits for Referendum.
"As the law provided that a refer
endum on this question would have
to be submitted within three months
our organization went ahead with
the work to secure the referendum"
She said that Mrs. l.. F. Crofoot
was empowered to take charge OF
the referendum, as chairman of the
executive committee, and that she
employed capable and efficient help
and that Attorney Haynes had
charge of the active circulation OF
the petitions for two weeks and that
then Attorney Jamison took over
the work until it was finished.
When asked if there was any COM
plant that the work was not being
properly done or that fraud had
been resorted to, Mrs. Smith said:
No Complaints.
There was never any such COM
plant. No incompetent or dishonest
circulators were employed and the
work was honestly and carefully car
ried on from beginning to end.
THE association" she added,
would not sponsor any movement
that would not carry the work out
in an honest and straightforward
manner"
On cross-examination Mrs. Smith
was asked by attorney for the suffra-
gists:
"You feel it is a patriotic duty to
be opposing one of President Will
sons war measures?"
I'VE feel it is just as patriotic to
oppose the woman suffrage as it is
for an advocate to promote it" Mrs.
Smith answered.
Wilson's Mind Flexible.
"You realize, don't you, that the
advocates are helping President Will
son to secure and put into law one
of President Wilson's war meas
ures?" she was again asked.
President Wilson changed his
mind once, he may change it again"
flung back Mrs. Smith.
Mrs. Smith said that about $4,000
was contributed toward defraying
the expense of circulating the petit
tions, but that none of the money
had come from saloon keepers or
ex-saloon keepers, as the suffrag-
lists had implied,
Plenty to Do.
do you know whether or not
there were any hired circulators
who secured signatures to the wo-
man suffrage petition in 1914"
Mrs. Smith was asked by the op-
posing lawyer.
They have a seat deal more
time to spend than we have" 81 e
replied.
"Hc is that?" she was asked.
Il don't know why it is, but we
seem to be busy all the time outside
of politics" she replied.
The work of establishing the -
lidity of signatures on the petitions
was then entered into. 1t is hoped
BY the ants that the hearing will
he finished in few DAVIS