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Maryland State Archives Maryland Suffrage News Collection MSA SC 3286 msa_sc3286_scm7805-0057 Enlarge and print image (1M) |
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Maryland State Archives Maryland Suffrage News Collection MSA SC 3286 msa_sc3286_scm7805-0057 Enlarge and print image (1M) |
| 322 MARYLAND SUFFRAGE NEWS [January 9, 1915. by State. If it were not a matter of female suffrage, if it were a matter of any other thing connected with suffrage, I would hold the same opinion. It is a long-standing and deeply-matured conviction on my part, and, there- fore, I would be without excuse to my own constitutional principles if I lent my support to this very important movement for an amendment to the Con- stitution of the United States. Matter of Principle. "Frankly, I do not think this is the wise or the permanent way to build. I know that you perhaps unanimously disagree with me, but you will not think the less of me for being perfectly frank in the avowal of my own con- victions on that subject, and certainly that avowal represents no attitude of antagonism, but merely an attitude of principle. "I want to say again how much complimented I am by your call and also by the confidence that you have so generously expressed in me. I. hope that in some respects I may live to justify that confidence." Miss Hill, who followed the I'rcsident, declared that recalling what he had said in the campaign, she had always felt that he would make a splen- did suffrage speaker if he would only "see the light." "I can sec," laughed the President, "that I am not able to argue as well as you ladies." The extracts which Miss Hill read were as follows: "When women, who are in so many respects at the heart of life, begin to take an interest in politics, then you know that all lines of sympathy and intelligence and comprehension are going to be interlaced in a way in which they have never been interlaced before, so that our policy will be of the same pattern with our rights. "This, it seems to me, is devoutly to be wished. Praiae for Women in Politic*. "And so when the women come into politics, they come in to show us all those little contacts between life and politics, on account of which I, for myself, rejoice that they have come to our assistance; they will be as indis- pensable as they are delightful." The President replied that despite these extracts he did not believe that his present position was inconsistent. Dr. prances McGaskin, Senior Physician of the Woman's Medical Col- lege of Philadelphia, closed the hearing with a statement that there was little difference between the methods of gaining the vote by a Federal constitu- tional amendment and through amendments to the State conventions. Ulti- mately, she said, the State Legislatures had to pass on amendments. She read a telegram from a large number of women voters in Colorado asking that the President support the Uristow-Mondell amendment. As the women departed the President shook hands with each cordially and the delegation left amid smiles and expressions of gratification at the way they had been received. The Maryland Delegation. At 11 A. M. on January 6 the Maryland delegation, under the leader- ship of Mrs. Almira Sweeten, left the Liberty street terminal of the W., B. & A. Railway. On their arrival in Washington they went directly to the Public Library. Among those in the delegation were: Mrs. Summerfield Baldwin, Mrs. Evelyn Timanus, Mrs. M. H. Holton, Mrs. Sophie Rosett, Mrs. E. H. Tubman, Mrs. E. M. Chinnerworth, Mrs. Charles Heath, Miss Marguerite Soper, Mrs. Edna S. Latimer and Miss A. Lurman. Dr. Van Ga.ken and Mitt Paul Comment In commenting on the reply of the President to the deputation Dr. Frances Van Gasken, who was one of the three speakers to address the President, said: "The President's statement to our deputation was both inconsistent and illogical. Here is a man who goes to Congress and says •you must do this,' and it is done. He offers powerful aid to the movement in behalf of Philippine independence and in the next breath refuses to aid in accomplishing the enfranchisement of the women of America. If he had the conviction that woman suffrage was right and just he would aid us as no one else at the present moment could. This he has definitely declared he will never do." Miss Alice Paul, chairman of the Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage, commented as follows: "By refusing his support to the national suffrage amendment, which will be voted on in the House of Representa- tives next week, President Wilson, as leader of the Democratic party, has laid upon that party a very heavy burden. The Democratic party, through its control of all three branches of the Government, is responsible for the fate of the amendment next week. If the Democratic members of Congress make as bad a record for their party on this subject as has the President, that party can no longer hope to receive the support of self-respecting women." THE EQUAL SUFFRAGE LEAGUE OF MARYLAND This folgmn la footrlbotod l»r thr Prm Committee of the Eqael Saffrae* l.riiHar of Baltimore. All eommaaleatloeo ahuuld bo Boot lo too Leesae eredqaartere, 1VT Browo Arcade. IT will be interesting to watch during the next few years the effect of suffrage on the various organizations of women. It will, in all likeli- hood, modify in a great degree many civic and other societies, and, one might suppose, the existence of others would become superfluous. But at the present they appear, in California at least, to have been recognized by the politicians as effective machinery for campaign work, and their support has been solicited on many occasions. The Friday Morning Club of Los Angeles has been addressed by the three candidates for the Senate, the democratic, republican and progressive, and gave help, as a club,to the pas- sage of some of the amendments voted on at the last election. Campaign speakers were sent down to San Francisco to address the Civic League, another large women's organization, urging the members to defeat one of the candidates for the District Court of Appeals. The advertising and arrangements of all the local meetings was put into the hands of the league. The Woman's City Club chose its speakers, for weeks before the election, from candidates for office and speakers for the various amendments. At- tempts to get the Federation of Women's Clubs to endorse candidates were unsuccessful, but political discussions were frequently held. The interest of the women in the political issues is very keen. Study classes are held before elections and a more careful preparation made for intelligent voting than ever thought of by the men. It may be because they are "new brooms" and want to "sweep clean," but surely, while it lasts, it can work for nothing but good. And hard study must have been necessary for the last election. There were 48 amendments, and many of these were not easy of apprehension. A pamphlet of 107 pages of closely-printed matter was sent to every voter for enlightenment, and many of these club women studied the book from cover to cover, and probably had a very good understanding of the ballot when they came to the polls to cast their vote. It is also interesting to note that the anti-suffragists almost invariably join this army of active, intelligent voters. The least valuable acquisition to the electorate being the indifferent woman who has taken no side in the suffrage question, and who sees no reason for broadening her field of activity. In speaking of the volunteer work of the last campaign, and espe- cially of the work of the women, one of the campaign chairmen said it had been more effective than the paid work of any previous campaign, and quite reconciled the committee to the fact that their campaign fund could not be raised. Perhaps the paid worker is not all that could be desired. One woman voter when she reached the polls saw a man whom she knew work- ing for Governor Johnson's opponent. When she expressed her surprise, he said: "Don't worry, I voted for Johnson early this morning, and those 'wet' workers over there, they all voted 'dry' an hour ago." Illinois Wet* Still Seek to Have Supreme Court Find Woman Suffrage Act Invalid. The wets of Illinois are still hoping to find a legal flaw in the Woman Suffrage Act. There is a reason. The women voted dry in the proportion of three to one in the local-option election in that State. The Woman Suffrage Act was declared valid by the Supreme Court. The wets later were refused a rehearing in the case. But still unsatisfied, a Taylorville blind pig case has been started on its way to the Supreme Court with a view of having the Woman Suffrage Act declared invalid. The wets are expressing the hope that a change of the personnel of the court within the next year may bring a reversal of the ruling on the act.— American Issue, January 2. Proposed Amendment to Massachusetts Constitution Meeting With Opposition. There seems to be some hitch in the proposed suffrage amendment to amendments of the Constitution of the State of Massachusetts. The con- sensus of opinion of both men and women interested in the cause of woman suffrage is that the proposed amendment will allow women to vote only at State elections and for officers prescribed in the amendment. If this is true, women will not be allowed to vote for municipal offcers, with the single exception of that for school committee. If women will be denied the right of suffrage at municipal elections, one of the most impor- tant privileges of the ballot will be taken from them. The act authorizing the amending of the third amendment to the. Con- stitution was passed by the last Legislature and will come up at that'xt session. w HELP THE CAUSE----Mention lh< M.ryl.nd Si fTr.«e Newi When P.troni.inf Our Adnrtiim. |