Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-03-13
SUFFRAG|STS HERE
FOR CONVENTION
Continued from page One.)

l
the first school suffrage bill, which was
enacted in 1880 She told of the founding
of the first suffrage association by Mrs.
Gratia Davidson, of Newfane, in 1888, and
how in the first year 2lS members were
enrolled. From then on yearly con-
vention was held and each year plans
were made for introducing different
| suffrage bill in the House. During this
time different political parties and diff
/ ferent societies came out for equal suf-
frage. Some of these were the prohi-
bitfon party, the w. c. T. T.. and the
| Peacham Union.
| In 1896 Mrs. Parmelee said that the
| state press had with rare exceptions.
preserved absolute silence on the subject
Of suffrage but during that session they
| labored with wonderful fidelity to defeat
| the bill.
At the l4th annual convention at South
Royalton much JOY was expressed over
| the new local union organized at Bur-
| lington that year. 1t was said "The per-
sons composing this local of 10 members
are not likely to be inundated by oppo-
sition or retract from the position they
| have taken. Some of these members were
Mrs Marietta Taft, and her husband, the
late Chief Justice Il. S. Taft, Judge T. f.
| Wales, Mrs. NJ. l.. BENEDICT, Mrs. Bal
lard and Mrs Burnap About this time
the press became more favorable to the
| issue.
| In 1899 Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait ad-
| dressed the convention at Bellows Falls,
| where the newspapers said She is a
hard worker but not IA deep thinker-not
yet In 1903 the Democratic party in
| serted in their platform the following
| Nil Il
giving to women the right to vote on all
questions pertaining to taxing of prop
erty of which such women are the own
| ers."
In 1906 the cause of suffrage had become
strong enough to frighten the ants and
they sent woman from Boston to op-
pose it. In this session bill relating
to child labor was passed and another
providing for the appointment by the
governor of "A woman on the board OF
visitors to State institutions
1t was not. however, until 1910 that the
issue began to be treated seriously in
the House and then Representative Allen
| NJ. Fletcher. in the face of sneers from
| some who predicted that such action
would injure his prospects for becoming
governor, came out boldly for woman
suffrage.
During 1909, 1910 and 1911 the work of
| the association in the State was carried
| on by Mrs. Pierce, the president, and Mrs.
Parmelee. During this year a hearing
| was also given the cause and IT was
| treated with respect
In 1911 Miss l.. j. c. Daniels, of Grafton,
refused to pay her taxes. She Is a wom-
an of education refinement. influence and
| large wealth. She knew several voters
In her town had unpaid taxes covering
! a period Of years and decided to teach
| the off1cials a lesson. Papers were served
| upon her but with the aid e. her LAWYER
she was able to prove they 'ud do moth
| ing and so, though the officials though,
they would make an example of her, she
really made them look foolish
| The year 1914 was mentioned by Mrs
| Parmelee az especially noted for the par
| ticipation of women in actual politics
they attending the convention as regu-
| larry elected delegates and ajternates in
the Progressive party All political par
ties added suffrage planks to their plat
, forms that year
In 1916 Mrs. Gait spoke in Burlington
and prophesized that the women of the
| state would be voting in five Years The
| next year 1t was found necessary to en-
| pioy Il state organizer as the suffrage
| sentiment in the State had Increased sc
much and resolutions We're passed de-
ploring the militant methods of some
suffragists. In 1917 the Moore bill. which
gave tax paying women the right of town
and municipal suffrage, was passed.
| Mrs. Parmelee closed with an account
| of how women at the polls have shown
| that they do want to vote
WOMEN IN BURLINGTON POLITICS
Mrs. f. Fl. Read of Burlington gave
a talk on How the Vote Was Used
She told of the preparations in April
1917, when house house canvass
was made to see what women want ed
to vote and of the assistance given
those who desired it.
She told how the work was further
carried on in February. 1918. Those
who had not paid their taxes were no.
tilted. The taxpayers names were
taken from the grand list. Then the
city was organized for work Ward
committees were chosen to give heir
to all women who wished it and the
names were published with the ad-
dresses and telephone numbers so each
woman would know just to whom she
could turn if she wanted help of any
kind. Then the work of getting the
names on the check list was carried
on, the league helping the women all
1t could.
On election day the results were
gratifying. Fully SIS per cent. of the
women voted There were 1O56 on the
list and 900 voted. AS result Of thei,
vote the city went no license. Wher
they needed such help, women about
the city were taken to the polls in ma.
chimes, only having to state their neet
to the ward chairman.
In April, 1918, many more names were
added to the check list. There wa.
much enthusiasm shown and the vot,
of the women became something to b,
reckoned with by the candidates il
the field
the organization in the city was i'm
proved 30 everything would go smooth,
ly. 1t was difficult to decide for whom
TO vote so to help the women to know
the different candidates better a mas,
meeting was held at which the candi
dates for mayor and aldermen CAV,
the platforms on which they stood
This year there were twice as man,
taxpayers as before and most of then
came out to vote.
Mrs Read said that by the vote n
women it Is hoped to bring about n,
license, cleaner polling places and tn,
interest OF women In city affairs. Late
they can be placed on commissions. o.
on school boards, or possibly they cal
become aldermen. But the womei
should not go rapidly into Office. The,
ground.