Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-04-22
Waterman, Mrs Perry Miles and Miss

Waterman. Mrs. Perry Miles and Miss
Susan Mott
The delegation was divided into two
sections. this being necessary both on ac
count of the size and to make il possible
for at least part of the women to get to
Montpelier and return the same day. The
visits to the Governor were therefore
timed for five o'clock in the afternoon
and eight o'clock in the evning. The two
sections were about equally divided as to
numbers, over four hundred In all maxi
ing the call upon the Governor. Those
comprising the afternoon delegation were
able to leave Montpelier on an early eve
ming train; those of the evening meeting
We're, for the most part, obliged to re-
main overnight, and these were enter
tanned by the local suffragists.
The delegations, led by the chairman
of ratification. Mrs. Olzendam, formed
single file, and marched up state street
to the capitol, arriving exactly on the
I minute for the interview with the Gov
ernor The women presented an imposing
spectacle as they moved up the main
street of the city. silently the women
marched up the steps of the capitol,
silently they entered the spacious room
reserved for the audience chamber, silent
ly they took their places in the space be-
fore the Governors chair,-and then the
silence was broken Mrs. Olzendam
opened the proceedings by addressing
Governor Clement. introducing the WON
en- as the representatives of the women
of the State. She stated briefly the rea-
son for the visit closing her remarks
with the quotation from the Constitution
of Vermont: Every person ought to OBJ
tain justice freely. and without being
obliged to purchase it; completely and
without denial; promptly and without
delay"
She was followed by Mrs f. H. Read
acting president of the State association
whose subject was "why We're Here "
| This was a witty and up-to-the-minute
little speech and made fine opening
for the speakers to follow The following
speakers then took up in the order
named, the objections that have beer
made to special session by the Gov
ernor, and disposed of them in a few
words:
Expense OF special session. and
Further Legislation" Mrs. II. l.. Bea
of Springfield.
Referendum" Mrs. Cheney. st. Johns
bury.
infringement of State Constitution.
Ann Batchelder. Woodstock.
Women don't want It," Mrs. Annette
Parmalee, Enosburg Falls.
The reasons why special session should
be called at once were taken up In tho at
ternoon and evening as follows:
eve want our representatives to rati
fy," Mrs, Mag l.. Powell, Burlington.
vermont tradition demands It," Mis-
Ethel Herman, st. Adams.
Public Opinion demands it," Mrs Rob
ert Twitchell. Bellows Falls.
Teachers want ratification" Miss Bes
sic B. Goodrich Johnson.
DISCRIMINATION against Vermont won
en- Mrs. w. L. Byrant, Springfield.
Not as a reward, but as an act of jus
tice," Miss Evelyn Fuller. Woodstock
Political expediency," Ann Batchelder
Woodstock.
THE Vermont idea" Miss Mabel South
wick, Burlington.
i THE men want it," Mrs George Cheney
! st. Johnsbury,
That's where Vermont comes in Mis-
Grace Clarke, Montpelier.
/ The closing speech was made by Mis-
, Edna Orvs Of Manchester who remnde
, Governor Clement that all the argument
, for suffrage had many times been made
but that they were summed up in tw
sentences written and spoken long age
the first from the Declaration of Indepent
ence, Governments derive their Just pow
ers from the consent of the governed,
and the words Of Abraham Lincoln. "tha
D government Of the people, by the peopl
for the people. shall not parish from tn
y earth"
In reply Governor Clement said thu
= he was very glad to see the women. b,
that there was nothing he cared to sa
at the present time. Briefly stated, Go'
o ernor Clements attitude seemed to
that he showed no sign of recedng fro
e his former position, that the entire que
o tion should be submitted to the people.
: In her speech on political Expediency
l' Miss Ann Batchelder reminded the Coz
: ernor that even If Vermont does NJ
+ ratify the amendment there are 1850. o
y. CONTINUED ON page four)