Thirty-Third Day Morning Session
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THIRTY-THIRD DAY MORNING SESSION. only twelve of those states which have not some form of equal SUffrage, and with your indulgence I WEDNESDAY, March 6, 1912. would like to name just a few of those states so that The Convention met pursuant to adjournment, was we can get some sort of an idea of the suffrage they called to order by the president and opened with prayer have in the respective states of the Union. by the Rev. Washington Gladden, of Columbus, Ohio. In 1838 Kentucky gave equal suffrage to widows and The journal of yesterday was read and approved. children of school age; Kansas gave school suffrage; vVyoming, full suffrage; Michigan, school suffrage; Col Mr. LA}\1PSON: I move that two thousand extra orado and a great number of states, along in the seven copies of Proposal No. 151 by Mr. Anderson, as amend ties and eighties, gave school suffrage. Then a good ed, be ordered printed. many of the rest of the states have municipal suffrage The motion was carried. and suffrage extended to tax-paying women. Mr. PRESIDENT: The question before the house I shall not take the time of the Convention to read all is Proposal No. 91, relating to equal suffrage. The sec of these, but out of the forty-eight states there are only retary will read the proposal. twelve which have not some kind of woman's suffrage. The proposal was read the second time. So you see in this country that in the last eighty years The PRESIDENT: The question is on the adoption this cause of democracy - the rights of the people of the proposal and the gentleman from Trumbull [Mr. has been growing, and men who believe in democracy, KILPATRICK] has the floor. men who have in their hearts true democracy, are be :Mr. KILPATRICK: I want to call your attention ginning to see it is not a democracy in which we are liv first, gentlemen, to the provisions of this Proposal ing if we disfranchise one-half of the people. No. 91. Friends, it is our duty, if we believe in government The section of the constitution which is desired to be by the people and of the people and for the people, changed is article V, section 1. We leave out of that to give women the right of suffrage. We. have section just two words, "white male." \Vhat we are six states in the United States in which women asking in this proposal, gentlemen, is this, that the prop have full suffrage. The last state was that great osition be submitted to the electors of this state whether <Jemocratic state of California, which went forward or not they are in favor of equal suffrage - whether or with so many things which are progressive and which not they are in favor of all of the people of this state are truly democratic. California gave a large major exercising the right to vote, and have something to say ity for equal suffrage. Oh, friends, if you men who are about the government under which they live. I want to sitting in this Convention could only see what it means repeat, the only thing we are seeking here is that this to this state, what it means to the cause of democracy proposition shall be submitted to the electors of the state in every other state, what it means to the cause of de - that is, to strike out these two words from the present mocrac~ in the United States, if this state of Ohio, our article and section, "white male." own state, could only be one of the leaders, if not the I assume, and I have the right to assume from what leader, in this section of the country in giving the women has transpired in this Convention hall since we have con the right of franchise you would not hesitate to create vened, that every member of this Convention is abso right here in the center of the United States a democ lutely sincere. We may differ as to our views on prop racy in very truth. Before I go further I want, if I may, ositions. \Ve have differed as to our ideas in regard to to call your attention to what some of the great men and certain propositions which have come up for discussion. some of the great women, the men and women who were But every man here is sincere. I am going to start, truly great and valuable to humanity, have had to say in friends, with that premise - that we are all sincere. regard to this proposition: This question which we are going- to discuss this morn ing is a question which is fundamental so far as demo I'm in perfect harmony with the declaration of cratic government is concerned. To me, being a dem the American Federation of Labor, which has in ocratic democrat, this proposal is one of the greatest dorsed the demand that women be given the right propositions that has come before this Convention for to vote; that is, a suffrage equal to that now en consideration. Because it is fundamental- it takes up joyed by man. the rights of the people, the rights of all of the people of It's a sure thing that any adult who is amena this great state - this question of woman's suffrage in ble to the laws of the country should have a voice one sense is a new question so far as our state history in the making of those laws, under which he or is concerned. But in the United States this question she is governed. I have always stood for the has been up in some form for the past eighty years. I square deal, and that's the only square thing on am not going to tire the members of this Convention by the woman suffrage question as I see i1.-John giving lengthy statistics on this question, but I want to },1itchell, ex-president United Mine Workers of call your attention particularly to some things which men America. who are considering this proposition ought to know if they are not aware of them already. Now, friends, I want to call your attention especially We have forty-eight states in this Union and there are to the statement which lam about to read. The state 600 l\1arch 6, 1912. PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES 601 Woman's Suffrage. of Ohio has produced some truly great men. There I may with your indulgence give you a little idea of have been in this state some great democrats - demo what sort of a man he is by giving a few lines written cratic democrats - but there is one man who in my by him and which are very apropos of the subject under ,estimation stands head and shoulders above them all; one discussion: man who in time to come we will look upon and to whom we shall point our children as being one of the greatest Once, in a world that has gone down to dust pioneers of democracy in this state; a man who was I began to build a place by the sea, ' White pillared, in a garden full of fountains. called away early in his life; that man who did more to The mock-birds in the tall magnolias sang; free the American city than any other man because he And down all ways the Graces and the Joys has placed in our own state a city on the hill which Went ever beckoning with wreathing arms, throws its light out to every municipality in this country The chisels and the hammers of the men Were singing merrily among the stone~, ,and all countries - that man and that great democrat And tower and gable arose against the sky. was Tom L. Johnson, of Cleveland. ,I want to read to you what he says in regard to ,this important proposi A thousand friends, tion. I might say further in this connection that it has All hastening to make ready for the feast, Felt their light bodies whirling in the ball; been my privilege to talk with him personally in regard Were jesting and roaring at the tables spread to these things, and whenever it came to a question of After the masquerade; were sleeping high democracy Tom Johnson was always favorable to de In perfumed chambers under the quiet stars; mocracy. Now listen, friends: When lo! a voice came crying through my heart; "Leave all thou hast, and come and follow Me. After all democracy is not a matter of sex, any Then all at once the hammers and the tongues more than it is a matter of race, color or previ Grew still around me, and the multitude- ous conditions, but a matter of people. The more The endless multitude that ache in chains perfect the recognition of the common rights of That we may have our laughter and and our wine all people, the more perfect and the more just the Rose spectral and dark to pass before my face. I saw the labor-ruined forms of men; . democracy. A truly enlightened and democratic Faces of women worn with many tears form of government would of course recognize Faces of little children old in youth. the equal rights of women. I left the towers to crumble in the rain, Father Scully says: And waste upon the winds; myoid-time friends The opposition to female suffrage is a matter Flung back their fleering laughter after me.