Thomson takes stand in favor of resolution

Washington, D.C., May 30, 1914.
To the People of the Tenth Congressional District:
The Resolution, recently reported by teh judiciary committee and now pending before the House, which proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the United States extending the right of suffrage to women, reads as follows:
"Resolved, That the following article be proposed to the legislatures of the several states as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which, when ratified by three-fourths of said legislatures, shall be valid as part of said constitution, namely:
"Sec. 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.
"Sec. 2. Congress shall have power, by appropriate legislation, to enforce the provisions of this article."

Will vote for resolution
I shall vote for this resolution. When one reaches his majority and comes to the time when the rights of citizenship may be had, there is not one sound reason that I have ever heard advanced why the question or the extent of those rights should depend upon the sex of the individual. The real question is not why should women have the ballot. The questions is why should she not have it.
Think of the great n umber of women who earn their own living and the many who possess property. There is as much taxation without representation in denying them the ballot as there ws in the tyranny against which the Boston Tea Party was directed in the dawn of our nation's history
The business of government is very closely related to the business of earning a living and woman has the same right to a voice in the former as she has to participate in the latter.
Woman herself is not the only beneficiary of the granting of suffrage to her. Woman suffrage leads to the free discussion of public questions in the home and results in an increased interest in public affairs on the part of the men of the family, and consequently raises the general level of intelligence on such matters. Many of the issues settled at the ballot box today involve moral questions. American womanhood will be found on the right side of every moral question.

Sets forth reasons
If I had no other reason for favoring woman suffrage, I would be inclined to that position because of some of the forces that fight it so bitterly. Although it is true that some good people are opposed to it, it is also true that all elements that live on vice and graft and crookedness are against granting women the right to vote. It seems to me that should be sufficient reason why every one who stands against those things should be in favor of giving that right to them.
One of the best arguements in favor of granting thr right of suffrage to women is to be found in the testimony of men who come from states where the women have been voting for years. One of my colleagues in the house who comes from such a state, in speaking on this question recently, said, "While our experience has proven how ridiculous are the usual arguments against woman suffrage, it has also demonstrated the advantages and benefits which accrue to the community from and through the influence of women in elections. Our polling places have been entirely free from scenes of disorder. The standard of candidates and officials has been high. Our legislation has been advanced. The influence of women voters in the enforcement of law has been most marked and beneficial."

Success in Colorado
In the same connection another member of the house, made the following statement: "Out in Colorado we have learned that whenever we are battling for a good cause we may appeal to the women voters with confidence that their response will be prompt, vigorous and intelligent. The people of our state are so well pleased with the workings of equal suffrage that a proposition to deprive our women of the ballot could not secure five percent of the popular vote."
What better proof of the pudding can there be than the eating of it?
At the municipal election held in Chicago last month, our Illinois women demonstrated that they will vote if given the chance and vote intelligently, as was particularly demonstrated in the vote of the women on the little ballot propositions. I could go on and cite other reasons why I feel I should vote for the resolution in question and I know of none to the contrary.