s of woman suffrage if it were
granted. The opponents had their theories and they stated the
evils they believed would follow. The theory of one person is as
good as that of another until it has been put to the test, but
after that both sides must lay aside all theory and stand or fall
upon facts. In four States women have the full suffrage. For more
than thirty years they have been exercising it in Wyoming equally
with men; in Colorado for nine years and in Utah and Idaho for
six years. We do believe that from six to thirty years is long
enough time to measure its effect. What we would like better than
anything else is that Congress should appoint a committee of
investigation, and that such a committee should investigate the
result of woman suffrage in the States where it has already been
granted.... So sure are we its report would be favorable that we
are perfectly willing to stake our future on it. While we do not
claim that only good would come from woman suffrage, we do
believe that among all the people of a community or of a nation
there are more good men and women than there are bad men and
women, and that when we unite the good men and good women they
will be able to carry measures for the general welfare and we
will have better laws and conditions.

* * * * *

At the hearing before the House Judiciary Committee, Representative
John J. Jenkins, in the chair, expressed regret that George W. Ray of
New York, the chairman, was unavoidably absent and said: "He is very
much in sympathy with what the ladies desire to say this morning--much
more so than the present occupant of the chair." Mrs. Carrie Chapman
Catt, president of the National American Suffrage Association, who had
charge of the hearing, said: "Mr. Chairman, we have just been holding
an International Woman Suffrage Conference in the city of Washington,
eight nations having sent official delegates from woman suffrage
organizations, and several others have cooperated through
correspondence, and we have invited representatives of these nations
to come to you this morning and present some facts concerning the
practical operation of suffrage in countries other than our own. Our
first speaker will be Miss Vida Goldstein of Australia." Miss
Goldstein gave in substance the address which will be found in the
report of the Senate heari