Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-03-19

no human being will much longer be
denied full and complete citizenship on
account of sex alone When l think
of the part played by the women Vi
this country. and by the women OF
Maine during the recent dar. and when
l think of the sacrifices many of them
made. and of the far greater sacrifices
many of them-in fact, all of them
were prepared to make in order thai
the highest ideals of this country nigh.
endure-when l think of those things, l
should think and expect that every man
would welcome woman in full and equal
partnership in the affairs Of govern
ment. 1t is only in that manner THAI
we can express our real and sincere
appreciation and our absolute conf
dence in them.
The gentleman who preceded me. AMI
to whose eloquent remarks l listene',
in rapt attention. made the statemen;
that this was but an entering wedge,
and those of US who favor this bill &C
cept the challenge with all that it i'm
plies This is but the first step. gen
tlemen. toward the complete emancipa-
you vote upon this question bear that
in mind. We do not seek to confuse
the issue or in any way belittie il in
your minds. II you believe that woman
is entitled to a place by the side e
man. in fair wea Their or in foul and
whether the path to be trod together
be one of roses or of thisties. vote to-
dav according to your convictions. Civ,
women such suffrage as is in your
power here today 10 give them Mr.
Speaker, hope that the amendment
will not prevail Applause>
Mr.. MAHER: Mr.. Speaker. my at
tentlon is called to the fact that
did not make n motion. thought
had. | wish to move. Mr.. Speaker.
that amendment b be adopted J
wish, just for minute. if | may, TO
refer I" the convincing and eloquent
arguments Of my esteemed friend.
the representative from Portland
(Mr. BaXter). He is mistaken. | sail
nothing about any entering wedge. 1
expressly anticipated it by saving
that without doubt that this was n
definite. deliberate step that wound
never stop. lie stated at the outset,
or very near the outset, that il was
matter of deep conviction. and then
as he moved on in his remarks We
stated that it was inevitable. / Ear
his deep conviction results from his
opinion that it. is inevitable. But, gen
tlemcn. with reference to the ve,y-
discourteous thought he expressed
which !. as an opponent Of suffrage.
shall resent-when ne attempted 10
compare the womanhood of Maine,
per argument. with the black man
Of the south-as an opponent of this
measure. resent il. applause /
will cali the gentleman's attention 10
this-wlth his wide learning and en-
tensive observation. has he ever
known. or does any man know. of any
group Of men who ever. anywhere
Under the sun. resented or refused
Anticipation upon their own part in
the affairs OF the government. When
Lord John Russell urged universal
suffrage for Englishmen. did you fad
his reform bill opposed by English
men-objectins 10 this privilege for
an Englishman? When Daniel O'Con-
nell Numbered at Parliament for tho
any protest from the proposed par
tic.pantso When the founders OF mis-
government of ours were seeking -
bring order from chaos and give to
the world what we hope is an etc.
nal chart Of frcedom-do you lear,
that there was any anti-suffrase So
oieties among the men:
Why. l have heard of Daughters Of
the American Revolution of Colonial
Danes and Colonial Sons. but I have
Yet ~ see the Senealog!c al recor Is
numbered by any account of desce nd
ants of colonial remonstrants agains:
their right to take part in the affairs
of government. You nave the an,
maly here, sir. which you cannot e.
cape. of an American unit, certainly
Of equal probity. surely as influential.
fully as disnterested. and am goIr.
to say numerically equal. to the
ladies who want suffrage. who IRE
demonstrating against it. and that Is
the fa!iacy that should be answered.
Mr.. HIECKLEY Of South Portland:
Mr.. Speaker. I did not intend to PR
ticipate in this debate. but feel it is
only proper. and my duty. to say
word. | shall be very brief. IfIf,lt
my duty toward the ladies. a some
men apparent do the past week l
would have paid a bachelors income
tax.
II is true that the women are not
on a parity with the black men of
the south. 1t is nevertheless tru.
that the conditions of master ard
slave between men and women exists
in the state Of Maine today zap
plause) and it is only a question o<
degree. The chief sat in his wihwam
and smoked his pipe. and the women
titled the soil and harvested the corn:
and between that condition and the
condition in this state today ii is
mostly question Of degree The
gentleman from Augusta (Mr Maher)
reviewed to some extent the lezisla-
pointed with pride to the fact that we
lad given woman inc right to oNn
property. l say. men. when YOU
speak Of the inherent right, and when
you speak of the natural right. md
when you argue that this is only
privilege that is bein- discussed 20
day-that woman has jut as natural
and just as inherent a right 10 vote
in the state of Maine today as man
has. (ADplause.l The only reason.
Mr.. Speaker and gentlemen Of this
House. that men have the :..ht 10
vote and have that natural and III
hcVent right. is because thew were
strong enough to take It, and for no