Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-06-24

"Hey-ho, the coming rulers or
America
At the corner of Third and Wal
nut streets shortly before noon to-
day a concourse of mere men saw
the approach of the suffragtst ad-
vance guard, jazzing up the street in
motorcars gayly festooned, bound
for the Capitol, their countenances
grim and confident as that of Phil
Sheridan after his long ride to Win
chester.
They're going to handle Uncle
Sam from now on" shouted one
man, waving pretzel; an 1 don't
care much either way, because l
amt married"
AS an advance guard reached the
Capitol word quickly passed that
high noon was the moment when
Pennsylvania would ratify the Fed
eral constitution amendment for all
women to vote in Pennsylvania, and
a multitude gathered.
Picturesque Figures There
Some of the most picturesque fig
ures ever assembled at the ancient
Capitol were on view, among them
a short, thick man from Wilkes
Barre, who was instantly dubbed
The Bird of Paradise" He turned
out. to be Paddy" Ryan, guest of
Richard Powell, repres sentative from
Luzerne county.
One of the most conspicuous fig
ures in the great chamber was Miss
Eliza ID. Armstrong, of Pittsburgh.
Il represent the silent majority of
women who oppose suffrage for the
SEX" she spoke earnestly to a Tele-
graph representative, and her re-
marks were carefully noted by the
determined members of the two
great activities responsible for put
ting the movement over in this
State, namely, the National Wom-
ans Suffrage Party and the Penn
sylvania Womans Suffrage Associa-
ton.
Effort Like Epidemic
Pretty nearly all my life have
opposed this effort" explained Miss
Armstrong, for it came back, from
time to time. like an epidemic" Miss
Armstrong will be chief speaker in
New York on Thursday when the
anti-suffragists make their last de-
termined stand against the Federal
amendment
What is your main cause for op-
position?" was asked.
1T is the mothers duty to bear
children and take care of them"
she instantly replied. "I do not mean
TO say that a mother must stay at
nome all the time: but she can find
plenty of useful occupation in
church. charity and civic work. This
country is better off when filled with
conservative women who take in
telligent interest in government and
progress, but who do not ignore
their family duties
Politics DuIIs Refinement
Politics takes away a woman's
refinement, Just as it does for men.
can see the effect after only a
few months in the grind. American
men have been able to run our gov
ernment successfully. 1t requires
force to back up laws; when women
employ force they subtract from
their natural feminine nature. FL
nally there is no record of the
States which have suffrage accom-
plishing much. New York would
have revoked her law had the Fed
eral government not suddenly taken
up the idea
While Miss Armstrong was ex-
pressing her views the huge cham
Der filed rapidly and the most in
tense interest was manifested by
all to hear the final decision, and it
was, indeed, a different viewpoint
which was presented by Mrs. Will
fred Lewis, chairman of the ratifi-
cation committee in the National
'Woman's Party.
Gives Reason For Vote
Why do we demand the vote?"
her very enlightened features fash
ed with a challenge.
Why. because we are human.
Our move represents real democ-
racy, and not sex-autocracy. If a lot
OF women decline to vote what of
it? 1t is the same situation with
many men who take no interest in
pubic affairs"
Have the women in the many
States which have adopted suffra ge
proved that the system is good ?"
was asked her.
well, one little thing we did was
to make the L. s. Senate RepubIi-
can. When Senator Shafroth. Dem
ocrat, refused to sanction suffrage
our organization conducted a cam
paign against him and we were
successful in electing a Republican
in his place who changes the bal
ance of power at Washington"
How Women Will HeIp
How will women voting help the
nation?"
They will achieve much for
woman's trade unions, for child la
bor; women who want the suffrage
are intelligent enough to cooperate
with men,"
DO you suppose the wife will have
to vote as her husband orders?"
Not by a big sight. l could tell
you of many of my friends who are