The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-01-14
ELLIOTT MAKES
MAIDEN SPEECH
FOR SUFFRAGE
Elliott Had Mild Tilt With
New York Man Regarding
Fitness of Women.
BY w. r. PoUNDsToNE


WASHINGTON, Jan. 14.-Rep. Rich
ard n. Elliott, of the Sixth Indiana
District, made his maiden" speech In
the House last Thursday. when he
spoke III favor of the adoption of the
amendment to the constitution grant
ing suffrage to women. His brief ad.
dress aaa we'll received both by the
House members and by the crowded
galleries.
Rep. Elliott took e. prominent part IN
the fight for the adoption Of the votes
for women" amendment. He Is mem
Der Of the recently created committee
on woInan's suffrage of the lower
house. and in that capacity took ad.
vantage of every opportunity to cham.
pion the cause Of suffrage.
Il am In favor Of this resolution.
am In favor Of granting suffrage to all
American women, Mr.. Elliott said In
addressing the House during the de.
bate on the suffrage amendment. Miss
Jeanette Rankin of Montana, the
only woman member Of the House,
was one OF the floor leaders for the
suffrage advocates and she had yielded
three minutes OF The time allotted to
her, to Mr. Elliott.
II believe the time has come when
the efforts of the noble women Of this
country are going TO be crowned with
success, and that they have arrived at
the brow Of the hill from which they
can see Jerusalem and the temple
walls" continued Mr.. Elliott amidst
applause.
Indiana Unanimous
II come from q state whose delega-
ton In Congress. am proud to say, Is
practically unanimous on this propo.
sition Of woman suffrage" added Mr.
Elliott. When the vote was taken at
the close of the session Indiana's dele
CATION was unanimous in it's support
of the amendment, all of the states
thirteen votes beinS cast for IT,"
In concluding his address Mr.. Elliott
said:
Indiana is divided state politi
cally, but ! desire to state in justice
TO the members of Congress from that
state that | believe the opinions OF
none of them have been changed on
this question by the miraculous con-
version Of the president to this cause
! have no criticism to make OF the
president for coming out for woman
suffrage. ] am glad that he IS stand.
ing with me on that proposition.
hope that his conversion will be like
that of ST. Paul, and that he will be
come a master worker In the vine
yards of the Lord for this issue"
1T has been suggested that the 80 or
80 men who framed the Constitution
of the United States possessed all the
wisdom in the world. l will grant that
these men were noble, that they were
wise. but you must remember that at
the time these men made the Constitu-
ton none of them had ever seen a
cook stove. none of them had ever
seen a telephone, a telegraph, an auto
mobile, or any of the modern things
which we have in this day. These
men were all right in legislation and
in the making of constitutions for their
time, but we are living in progress
i've age. When politicians stand still
very often these great questions get
beyond them, which this issue seems
TO have done"
Has Mild Tilt.
Suffrage leaders who attended the
hearings on the suffrage amendment
before the suffrage committee of the
House were amused over tilt be-
tNCCh ISNtiCtt WIcCici VI view
York. chairman of the American Con-
stitutional League. and Representative
Elliott. Wheeler is opposed to votes
for women. He informed the commit
tee that women were physically unfit
TO stand the strain of participating in
political campaigns and in exercising
the right of franchise. "Thev cannot
stand the nervous strain that ours
can" said Wheeler
"Do you think the work around the
polls is any harder on woman than
working for the same length of time
over washtub. making living for
the family?" INQUIRED Mr. Elliott.
"t certainly do think it is a great
deal more of strain on their nervous
or~a nization." Wheeler replied.
"Have YOU ever talked to any won.
~ to find out what she thought about
H." asked Representative Elliott.
'T have" replied Wheeler.
Then your experience is. from what
YOU have heard. that women would
rather wash clothes than vote." cues
toned Mr. Elliott.
~ think they would a great deal
rather wash" was the reply. The big
crowd Of women in the committee
1anphaI beortity