Evening journal., 1920-03-26
TART WIND.UP OF
DAY OF SPEECHES
Miss Bissell Takes Slap at
Mrs. Gait as Pacihst
During War
MRS. GAIT AND MISS
ROWE IN REBUTTAL
STAFF Correspondent.

utl curing the war anu dtlo hu4dihS
sailed on the ship OF fools" With this
anal hrust at suffrage leaders, Miss
Emily p. Blssell. OF Wilmington, who
was the last speaker IN rebuttal for the
antl-sflrag'sA closed al i.3O o'clock yes
/ terday afternoon what had been an all
hday hearing before the Legislature In
! Joint session against ratification OF the
suffrage amendment.
This attack by Miss Blssell on the
war reyord OF the sufiraglsis followed
the rebutial speech OF Mrs. Gait which
was considered by~hundreds who hoa.-.
I II as one OF the clearest, strongest and
most reasonable arguments for votes
/ for women ever heard IN Delaware.
II closed a day that was replete with
| thrills. At no time during the special
session had the pressure been so hard
and direct on members OF the Leglsla-
ture opposed 10 suffrage 10 turn In and
save the situation by voting for the
amendment. thereby making Delaware
| the State TO give the vote to every wo-
man OF the land quallned TO have II.
This was especially true as 10 the
Democrats. Senator McKellar, Demo
crat, OF Tennessee had made a direct
appeal 10 the Democratic members IN
his speech for suffrage 10 support thu
resolution as party men, Mrs. Bass. OF
Chicago, a member OF the women's
branch OF the Democratic National
Committee. ana Mrs. Frank Hiram Smell,
a personal representative OF Homer
Cummings, National Democratic char
man, made personal appeals 10 Repre-
/ sentative McNabb. minority floor leader
In the House, and other Democratic
members TO support ratification. At the
Z close OF the long hearing II was gener-
ally conceded that honors were with
/ the suffrsglsts. Whether they sue
ceeded In changing the situation or not,
/ Il Is a fact that they succeeded in max
ing an uncomfortable day for oppon-
ents
Previous 10 the speech in rebuttsi by
/ Mrs. Gait. Mrs Henry d. Thompson
! who presided while the sntis were pre-
I senting their arguments, announced
/ that Senator Josiah o. Wolcott had
sent word that he would say word on
the side OF the "antis." Senator VOL
colt. who had been In the State House
during the afternoon, was sent for but
failed 10 appear. After the hearing
Senator Wolcott stated that a mistake
had been made by some one. He said
4 he had not said he desired 10 speak and
had no intention OF speaking. Other
than this, Senator Wolcott had nc
statement 10 make in regard 10 the in.
cident.
Mrs. Gait was introduced by Mrs
Henry Rldgely. OF Dover, president o,
the Delaware Equal Suffrage Association
who told something OF the rapid CROWN
or that association I'm recent years.
Mrs. Gait said the only difference be-
tween the suffragists and the anti-suf-
fragists Is that the suffragisis see that
the future is going 10 be different from
the present. There is no quarrel be-
tween US. II Is a difference OF the oper-
alton OF the mind" she said. She paid
tribute TO the speech previously made
Dy Mrs. Florence Bayard Hllles for sur
irage and referred TO It as a speech
without law In It and unanswerabie.
"Ihe world is coming up 10 that speech
and so is Delaware" she added.
Lets talk politics. said Mrs. Cats.
4 am voter also" She referred 10
Chairman Cummings OF the Democratic
party and Chairman Hays OF the Re-
publican party as both being for the
suffrage amendment. "They are on the
job TO elect a President next fan "
she said ~No one knows who will
succeed. What do they see9 They see
the women will vote in 30 states
whether this amendment is ratified or
not. But there is no more chance OF
preventing ratification than there is of
The sun standing still in the heavens.
Delaware Is given the chance TO come
In. II you do, peace Will reign. Suf-
fragists and anti-suffragists will throw
away their red roses and their yellow
roses and Will work hand in hand for
the best interests OF all.
IF Delaware don't ratify, you can
not defeat II. It might delayed until
next January when half dozen other
state legislatures meet and one OF them
is sure to ratify. Are women in is
states TO be prevented the vote in 1920
when they are sure 10 get It In 1921
l say no."
Mrs. Gait said she was still working
for the Declaration OF independence.
"Go little ahead OF your constituents"
she advised. They Will soon homer
you because you happen TO have had
The vision" Mrs. Gait was given a
great ovation both when introduced
and at the conclusion OF her remarks.
Miss Charlotte Rowe. field secretary
OF the Association Opposed to suffrage.
followed Mrs. Gait in rebuttal. Miss
Rowe had also spoken for nearly an
hour against suffrage before Mrs. Gait
opcned her rebuttal argument.
In her direct argument Miss Rowe
appealed to the members of the Legls-
lature not to enforce suffrage on the
women OF the country. She referred
to the movement as feminism ard said
II was a direct blow al the unity OF
the family. She intimated that the
movement is supported largely by col
lege graduates and said figures show
that OF college graduates less than so
per cent. marry and that those that do
marry average less than one child 10
family. IF this had always been
followed" she said, most OF US would
not be here today"
III man is good enough 10 fight
for you. to die for you. he is good
enough 10 vote for you" she exclalm-
ed. Miss Rows referred to several
States where suffrage has been defeated
at the polls and afterwards ratified by
the legislature OF those states. III YOU
go against the people who have already
spoken, you are numbering Democ-
racy." she said.
Miss Rowe declared she had never
seen such a spirit OF independence in
any OF the many States where she has
campaigned as she has found IN Della
ware. She referred TO the members Of
A.. 81. tfdt,,,o,dov opdAxoft