unconserved, unutilized and
recklessly wasted. If a man wants reforms he goes armed with a
vote to the ballot box and even to the Legislature with that
power of the vote behind him; but if women want these things they
are asked to take the long, questionable, roundabout route of
personal influence, of petition, of indirection. Women have
accomplished a great deal in this way but it has required a long
time.... Take, for instance, one class of work--the establishment
of manual training, domestic science, open-air schools, school
gardens and playgrounds--all once just "women's notions" but now
established institutions. Women have had to found and finance and
demonstrate them before municipalities would have anything to do
with them, but when city or State adopts these institutions the
management is immediately and entirely taken out of the hands of
women and placed in the hands of men....

Among thinking women there is a growing consciousness of being
cut off, shut out from the civic life in which they have an equal
stake with men. We ask you to recognize that the time is here for
you to submit an amendment to the States for ratification which
will give women the influence and power of the suffrage.

In closing Dr. Shaw asked that her association might have some printed
copies for distribution and was assured that it might have fifteen or
twenty thousand if it desired them. She also urged that the committee
would report the resolution to the Senate for discussion and as a
third request said: "We are told that men are afraid to grant women
suffrage lest fearful results should come to the Government and to the
women. We have asked for years that Congress would appoint a committee
to investigate its practical working in the States where it
exists--there are now six of them--and we are entirely willing to risk
our case on that investigation. We feel that its results would be
such that we would not have to come here much longer and take up your
time with our arguments on the subject."

Franklin W. Collins of Nebraska spoke in opposition, presenting his
case in a series of over fifty questions but not attempting to answer
any of them. Among the questions were these: If woman by her ballot
should plunge the country into war, would she not be in honor bound to
fight by the side of man? Will the ballot in the hands of women pour
oil o