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


last Legislature adjourned it had
on equal suffrage? The answer was
overwhelmingly against.
There was waged Il political cam
paign in September last-onc of the
results Of which is YOU and | are
here with duties to perform.
Prior to that campaign there was a
State convention in Portland-not
thinly attended-but the greatest
popular convention in years There
was attempted as you know to in
sert a plank in the platform for suf-
frage. The attempt failed-the is
sue was considered scttled-for one
campaign at least. They had their
day in court and lost.
Suffrage was not an issue in the
last election.
We are here instructed by our con-
stituency by it's vote on suffrage. 1t
is not merely venturesomc-not sim
ply daring-but plainly impudcnt to
demand that we disregard that vote.
What man among us would dare
thwart the will of Maine on any
other vital issue? What magic or
necessary changes the attitude on
this seductive subject?
Gentlemen. let us with that calm
| which COMFORTS with character meet
this question with candor. considcra-
| ton and courage.
Let US say here and now VIC will
not assume or presume to take this
| on faith which Scripture defines as
| the substance of things to be hoped
! for. the evidence of which appears
! not" :
| Let us. refusing to be cajolcd by
fattery or confused by the cross-cur-
rents of criticism, so act that no tree
man can question and no fair woman
complain.
Gentlemen. [ don't ask any man to
be bound by the vote at the special
election as held. but | do ask every
man in order that orderly govern
/ ment shall not seem a mockery, that
yon do not disregard that vote. And
! while not bound by that vote YOU
| pass this measure yet out of regard
for that vote YOU accept d referendum
amendment.
/ Gentlemen one further thought ap-
pcals to mc-perhaps it will To YOU.
| When the President Of these United
| States asked Congress to declare
! existing a state Of war and thus gave
! answer to the impudet,t challenge of
Germany. and this nation wlIled that
: henceforth ii should be known of all
men that the blood of peasant was
as good az tho blood of a prince and
that no government whatever its
EFFICIENCY could wantonly shed the
blood OF an American free man with
out instantly answering to every
American freeman. here in Maine We
felt the thrill and throD ct eternal
! issues--and from our sea washed
head lands and our cloud-swept high
/ lands and sun-kissed lowlands there
! sprang valiant host OF the best
there was among you-thcS" ladS
went over the salt partitions ct ocean
! to the fields of Franco. and Flanders
and Belgium and Germany that TINS
state as they knew it and as YOU
YOU know it. might continue some
of these boys are now coming home
. want those boys to nave Tn" chance
as they have. God knows. earned the
right 10 a voice and a vote on TINS
issue.
| In behalf Of tho great wonanhood
Of Maine opposed to suffrage
| In behalf OF the vast diSlnterested
! and masking women OF Majne--
| In behalf of the 5000 men Of
| Maine who voted NO on Septem-
Ter 10. 1917
| In behalf of simple justice and
! fair. square deal I appeal FOR
chance for the voters TO say what
! their will is-and then let that VIII
| be done. prolonged applauscp-
Mr.. BANTER Of Portland; Mr..
| speaker, such brief remarks as ! shall
! ad :ress to the members OF this House
! will lie has I'd solely upon my ,oHVlc-
! tons: and it is on that ground that !
appeal 40 the members of this House
10 support this equal suffrage meas
u,e Having definite, positive ConVic-
f, ton, as have. upon this important
question. and knowing that many mem
bcrs of this House have equally def
mite and positive convictions. .realiz:
that no amount of logi'. elcquence ~
argument. and no aues ions of eSped.-
, ency. can change our opinions. Thos-
OF Us who believe in suffrage believe
! that women nave just as much riSn-
! to vote as men. and that the duty ~
! assume their fun and complete share
| in our government rests upon them just
AS strongly as il does upon men. The C
are many men in this House who have
, definite and positive convictions agains:
woman's suffrage. and l cannot hope
to move them by my arguments. 1t -
useless to argue long question )
! this sort. with which we are all 81
| familiar, and the only ground on which
! l can appeal to you. gentlemen. is to
! appeal to your sense of justice and
/ your sense of fair play. 1t seems -
| me that the issue is Clear-cut and VIC
! defined and that the object ons which
| the gentlemen who oppose this meas
ure make are made to confuse and %
delay a decision upon this question
| Our shoulders gentlemen. are brcai
| We are sent here as representa- YES Of
these at home. but | cannot escape the
argument that, even though we may
come from communities in this state
that arc opposed tn woman's suffrage
ii any of us have strong. firm convir-
lions in favor CT it our convicti.ns MUS.
govern our actions. Ii it were not so
we would be placed in the unfortunate
position Of voting against our Convic-
lions and simply registering the wishes
Of tho:e who sent us here. On ques
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