Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-03-19
the 18th LEGISLATURE
fcontinued from Page Five)

I'LL VUU k6VUV60 VIII
CONTINUED from Page Fivs)
Alden) through the Chair whether
there is serious objection to author
!sing the county commissioners-not
ordering them, but authorizing them.
IL in their judgement it is good BUSH
ness, to lease or sell? Is there any
serious objection to that?
The SPEAKER: The gentleman
from Gorham, Mr.. Alden, may reply
through the Chair.
Mr.. ALDEN: I think we started to
amend the bill and somebody has
failed to do it; and, Mr.. Speaker.
think we had better not give them a
chance to sell 1t. ] move that the
bill be laid on the table until there
10 a chance to amend 1t.
Tho SPEAKER: The motion to lay
on the table takes precedence.
A viva voce vote being taken the
bill was tabled.
The Chair lays before the House.
Senate Document No. Is, majority
report. ought to pass. minority re-
port, ought not to pass. on bill. An
Act granting women. the fight to
vote. for presidential electors. tabled
BY Mr.. Mahsr Of Augusta, pending
aoceptance Of either report. Before
tho Chair ~reoogniSess the GENTLEMAN
upon. whose motion this <sWA0 placed
on th>Atable, ha.,Wtshes ato.2aeAE0. the
situat3on. to the.Houoe-as Sthey
mayyuuder8eandsWh A6efoeo z4hono.
Two. ,rspor1a come Tn. majority re-
port, signed Shy~eigAt .esouSht
to pass, and the minnffty report
signed by~twosmembars., oughesuot 20
passed 70 be enGxossed. without.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
with two Senate amendments At
tachsd, both ~ofs which were~FeJected
in the Senate, but theySeomeSbefore
the. House andscan.1be acted upon.
and. should propsrly rose.acted upon
by The house either 10y adoption or
by-re1ection: and without reading the
amendments in detail, unless some
body requests 1t. the Chair will
state that Senate Amendment B to
Senate Amendment A provides that
the bin b referred to q special cleo
ton ITO b held next September. Sem
ate Amendment A provides that o
special election be held on the bill
at tho regular State election in 1920.
Mr.. MAfHR Of Augusta: Mr..
Speaker. In order to get the proper
parliamentary status. move the
acceptance Of the majority report.
and state that I do that, intending to
address myself to what consider
the real subject matter in contro-
versy.
Thereupon the House voted to ac-
cept the majority report. ought to
pass, and the bill received its first
reading.
The SPEAKER: This brings the
matter up to the Senate amendment.
and the Chair recognises the gen.
tle:aon from Augusta, Mr.. Maher.
M. MAHER of Augusta: Mr..
Epeake: and gentlemen. to me there
appeals at this time as in any other
proposed legislation the first and
natural que:y-just what is sought
what is said-not the excuse. the ex-
tenuation. the suhterfuge. but the
heart Of the thinE--the real objec-
tive end. In pain wcrds-what does
this proposition mean?
Now l am neither so innocent nor
SO stupid as to accept or believe that
th:s means settlement Of the suffrage
question.
Ny observation o. the natural OPP
erations of men seeking a definite
goal. is, that failing to reach that
goal in one way they MOI infreaueatIy
attempt by change OF tactics to e.
feet their purpose. In other words
upon failure OF frontal attack. the
forces are rallied and what should
have been decisive is put again in
issue by flank movement. Precise
~ the situation now-unde. the
gu:ss Of appointing presidential ell
eetots--we are urged to adopt a
course whic!, must begat a sharp and
bitter contest.
To confer on women the right to
choose the chief executive Of this
mighty republic with it hundred n,il.
lien inhab.tants-and to refuse to
permit them to seiec. a representa-.
tive IN this body or first aeioctnnan
OF some town appeals to mo :s not
only inconsisteney-but rank alb
surdity.
This measure. call it what YOU Will.
veil 1t as :'ou may coace.e as a COM
promise or ~issLi.o by sov..st.y-mea1,a
the first de.iil.>c step taat Will never
halt this side OF full. complete and
equal Suffrage
10 you tank Tor an instant that given
the choi~e in the m.gpty contest tor q
President of the United States tnat the
women politicians won't see to il that
both political parties in that p.actics.
easeIhess Tor woes, when votes counl,
won We Dounu. committed, rlveted to
4 pledge tor tu4i suffrage?
1Aat premise no man whose opinion
Counts can successfully refute. Ii he
attempts :, / invite attention TO his
now recorded words as the years roll on.
Now what Is your duty and mine? |
submit taat under a representative form
OF government such as We enjoy We are
bound. fist % ascertain the mind ii
our electorate whose mouthpiece we
are, and not to experiment.; second to
reflect with as much exactitude as we
can that opinion-not to ignore same
third. to translate that opinion MT
positive enactments. So that We shall
really and truly function as represent
at.vcs of the people and not by indi-
vidual caprice, personal expectancy,
party tiuiuity or plain temerity through