Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-25
"SUFFS" AND "ANTIS" MEET
Continued from page !

President Pro TEN Short of the Senate
presided.
MRS. HrII.Es SPEAKS.
Mrs. Florence Bayard Hilles, who
opened tho meeting, said this Is = great
moment for the United States and Della
ware. II Is part of the evolution oil
democracy. II you go back, she said, we
began by saying: "We, the people" not
eve. the men" The Constitution of the
United States, she said, says all persons
born in the United States are citizens. she
said there liz an interstate discrimination
against women Some States permit them
to vote. while some including Delaware,
disfranchise them. A DISTINGUISHED man
is disgraced. Women are just as response
bio to the government as men. She De-
lieved womans great function ~ TO give
life, and her great duty is to conserve u.
There is nothing from the cradle 10 the
grave that is not affected by legislation.
Therefore, women should have something
To say how the laws shall be made and
enforced.
Referring to the schools, she said most
of the teachers are women, which
makes a DISTINGUISHED class teaching
| franchisesi Glars
She told of womcn's part in the war
and said America is the only country IN
! the war that has not given women their
! part IN the government. II some don
want to take part IN government, they
are free not TO do It; but there are many
who wish to do so, and If there ~ only one
who SO desires she should have the right.
| Applause The responsibility is already
| the wornen's but they have no means TO
go to the polls and tell how the laws s1aii
| be made or enforced.
Ferninism is the fullest opportunity Tor
woman to develop. The trained nurse
represents fernnism, rs does also the
woman educator, the woman doctor, ana
women i'm other professions. lettering 10
wornen's clubs, she said the dire predic-
tions concerning them had not come true.
Most women in those clubs are anti
suffragists.
Nobody she said, is any protder than
she Ia bc a De4awarean, but II the state
says il is too small to take its part m the
nation. she cannot stand for that. Al
ready 81 States have ratified. This shows
their faith in it, There hasn't been state
that has tried suffrage that has not has
tened to ratlfy the Federal Amendment.
The Federal Amendment has done good
thing. II has made the people think m
terms Of the country rather than IN terms
Of the State
, II the Constitution Of Delaware had
been amended to permit women to vote,
| she could be satisfied the proper thing Tor
) the men Of Delaware IS 70 make thelr
women citizens Of the United States.
She spoke of naturalization by the
, federal Judges. who thereby make foreign
ers citizens of the State as we'll as Of the
United States The war, she SAID, was a
war for democracy Shall that war have
! been waged in vain2 She thought u
would II the women were not franchised.
She said If the legislators could realize
: the educational and ennobling influence Of
4 suffrage they would not hesitate to give
{ wopen the vote. II has brought her into
o touch with many people all over the
i United States She did not believe there
i is such thing as an ignorant vote.
Q What we want TO get at IS the corrupt
vote. IL frequently ~ the educated crook
n that is responsible for the corrupt vote
d What do the men OF Delaware think o
their women that they regard them AZ Z
4 menace? They arr law-abidlng pay thei
II taxrs. hut have no voice IN the govern
g tnent She told Of her own experience
e She owns her farm and pays all the taxes
4 At times collectors Of taxes there hav'
L not been able TO write her name correct
!. ". She could not vote To change TIN
n condition, but the ignorant man had th'
2. | vote that she is denied.
J. Men have put Just laws on the statut
Il books. but when laws apply TO worier
1T the women's view should be obtained.
Ne She told Of the predIcamant OF Amen
Is can women who marry alens, oecomln
n aliens TO the country they love best
70 Women NAV want 10 hold office, but the
k can't do so unless YOU elect them 20 offier
r There never has been a divorce IN an
ID suffrage State because of differences
re political opinion There Is more divorce
he non-suffrage States than In suffrage state
The question of suffrage has pzAss.e
bevond debate 1t Is a political situation
In the name of the women OF Delaware,
IN the name of the s,IfTragists OF Delaware an
70 70 the United States. | want 70 make IN
W appeal to YOU The women 5 hight hs
II. been a bloodless resolution Win YOU c
IL this act OF justice? believe as Delawa
l. men you will.
n SENATOR M'KELLAR OPENS
ms United States Senator Kenneth VI
te kellar. Democrat, of Tennessee was ol
of the most effective speakers on behalf
of suffrage before joint session
he "Why are we here" he asked. 'Th
ty Is a national question, and there IS
attempt to meddle in local affairs II
es reason why | was selected from the sou
he as a Senator is because | favor Equ
.Ic Suffrage. | am from suffrage state
at What are the reasons for sufrag
es They are, first, to correct the wrong th
ed ory of taxation without Representative
mt second, admit to participation In makil
It's laws. now enacted by men, which aife
he women; third, to prevent discriminate
ul in favor of men. Then, fourth, suffra
.rs will educate women In the countrys
N fairs. in which women have the same CO
Germ as men 1t will make them bctt
70 wives and mothers.
to What are the objections to suffrae
ss- That it will make women unwomanl
Die that women are already represented; th
to bad women viii vote and good wom
of will not: that Negro women viii vote
ge the detriment of the country; that 1t
ty matter each State should decide
itself
He denied the soundness of the {
jections, all of which, he said, had be
disproved by its operation in Tenness
IA when it works to the ratification of
and for the benefit of all.
Delaware women" he continued, ::
ph AS much entitled to vote as the women
Ky any other State.
a ''Now, gentlemen of the House,