WOMEN IN AMERICA

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2730, 27 March 1916, Page 3

WOMEN IN AMERICA

SUFFRAGE, CLUBS, AND OTHER MATTERS. _ Last evening, in the Alexandra Hall, 111' Abel Smith Street", a lecture was given by Miss Jeanetto Rankin upon women's suffrage .111 America. Mrs. Wonnldson presided, and introduced tho -.jioafcer to her audience. Miss Rankin, in the course of her address, outlined briefly the history of the gaining of the francliiso in those States of America which now possess it, and of tho way in which the movement first originated. Out of the treatment which was accorded to two notable American women who had gone to England to attond a conference which was held in connection with the abolition of. slavery grew the determination to fight for the emancipation of women instead of th? emancipation of the blacks, 'and on their return to America these two at once began to organise a movement that has so far won the franchise for women in eleven States in America, and is still fighting oh with the determination to win in evory one. Miss Rankin ' emphasised tho fact that it was not only .necessary for women to vote, but it was as much necessary that they should understand why they wero voting, and what they were voting for.

Miss Rankin pointed out that in tlio course of'their suffrage fight in America women had learnt many things of inestimable, value. They''had learnt to. know women, and strange though it might seem, till then women really knew very little of cacli other, of the lives that thoso around them led, of their, aspirations, their work,and their aims. They had also learned the women's point of view, for up till then they had been content to takn tlie man's. They had also learnt to Know men for what they were, certainly not angels, nor yot tlie reverse, but beings who were very human iu their virtues and their failings. In learning to know men they had also learnt how to co-operate with them. With the women's' movement was interwoven the matter of religion, for women in Amer-ica-were beginning to question a religion that had been handed down by men, and that according to their interpretation had made them out to bo such evil beings. She was very proud to think that Amnrica had produced such a woman as Mrs. Eddy. Miss Rankin proceeded to outline the great part that was played in America by the women's clubs which were scattered everywhere throughout tlio States,' To the women in the home they represented the pnrt that was played in the life of the girl by her colleges. They met the needs of women in practically every department of life. They had their civic, their musical, their drama< tic, their domestic departments. Once ft week would meet and go over all the work of the different departments, and then another evening gave public meetings at which everyone was free to, attend. Lectures were given, and the foremost questions of t.ho day, the civio needs of the city or town in which they lived, and every other matter of moment was dealt with. In this Way' women were kept in touch with one another to a wonderful degree! The power of these women's clubs in the suffrage movement had been immense, aim Miss Rankin detailed various ways in which their activities had been of great weight in governmental .natters.

Miss Rankin also spoke of what might be called tho inauguration • of scientific charity in America. Schools had been established to train social workers, and specially fit them to copa. with all social endeavours. This was a movement had met with much, success._ Miss Rankin also spoke very! interestingly of Jane Addams, and of. her great work for humanity. ( .At the end of her address, Miss Ran.kin said that she thought women in New Zealand had perhaps, for their own good, been given the vote too easily. . Thoy had not had to fight for it, and they were, so far as she had seen,' rather given to accepting views with- 1 out questioning them.