Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-06-06
The white woman's Franchise Assesia-

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TBKlR PLATpoRN-ANtNArKp DaecceesoH
Yesterday afternoon q meeting was hs..a a
the Counca Chamber, City Hall, Sor The Dur.
pose Of forming White Woman's Franchise
Association. The hour announced for the
present. M. Dr. Vary a % eo% sns,e
ny with an elderly LADY, whe stated that she
was somewhat OF an old fogy and had come to
o.n n MIS- MT Anna Denton nj m ss swho wa:
Woodwardis hall q few months sines,) q Don.
der lady Of IS or % summers, dressed in
black, and weighing nearly two hundred, who
looked as if she might hold her own q the
polls; Mrs. VIM. p. Parselio, another middle
aged lady, who appeared 70 BE- a close Observer
and two reporters. Mrs. DR.. Walker was I'D vo-
porters took the ground that the ladies shoald
keep ont Of politics and not 70 into a mob
ON election days, and IL the ladies
exercise the right of taking the place OF men in
the army, and Lot lie around hospitals but 20
TO the 'front.' Mrs. DR.. Walker answered that
fought in the late war valiantiy, and some who
had given up their lives for their country. The
reporter answered that he knew of some, but
ne DID not Know Why they did not 60 ia the
proper attire OF their sex; TO which Mrs. Walk
er responded that woman should dress in gar.
ments suited to the occu patton she was en-
gagged IN, and male garments suited the SOL
diers life best The reporter remar ked that a
woman should not 90 into such crowd As was
present al the polls on election day and ta ke
their places IN the line with colored men, to
which remark the old lady rho had come in To
learn. replied that che would sooner be behind
one Of these than beside a man who drank
whisky, at which point the reporter found il
hausted energies
Just before six o'clock Airs. Julia A. Archi-
bald Holmes appeared. IN company with her
brother. Mr.. Archibald, and Professor Wilcox
made bis appearance about the same time
Hon. Amasa Cobb, DIR. Wright, j. H. Crane.
Mrs. Josephine Gnffing, Mrs. Dr. Lockwood
nee McNall, and about DOZEN others. also ap-
peared before the close of the meeting.
At O'Clock, Mrs. DIR. Crldge proposed that
Mrs. DR.. Walker take the char, which motion
was carried. Mrs. DIR. Walker, who by this
time had dotted her hat, walked quietly up to
the CLERKS desk and 1t was noticed that she
wore black CATERS and pantaloons, (cut tight
kneed black dress extending to about the knee,
ana silk coat trimmed with Jet ornaments, and
over her hair she wore a black velvet ribbons
with an ornament in the centre. Mrs. Cridge
was elected secretary The Chair stated that
the intention OF the meeting was TO organize a
white woman's franchise association, and to
work for the franchise until eyery white
woman who could read a ballot and write her
name should have the right now extended to
all male citizens. She supposed that il would
be proper TO organize permanent ASSOCIATION
The following committee was appointed to
nominate permanent officers Mrs. Lansing,
Mrs. Anna ID. Cridge and Mr. A. Cridge After
consultation. the committee reported the fol-
lowing list; which was adopted :-President
ms. DIT, Mary Walker; Vice Presidents, Mrs
Mayor Wallach, Mrs. Mayor Bowen, Mrs. Sen:
ator Patterson, Mrs. Capt. Moore; Secretaries,
Miss A. Mentree, Miss Jenny Foster, Miss
Conneliy; Business Committee. Mrs. Larner,
Mrs. II. Sanders, Mrs. T.. T. Adams, Mrs Dean,
Mrs Richards, Miss NJ. E. CT. Christian Miss
Kate Crossman. Mrs. Bradley.
The Chair expressed the wish that COM
mittee be appointed to draft rules and regula-
tons and a motion to thar effect having been
Carried, MT. CrIdge was appointed Mr. C. ex.
pressed desire 70 decline, and the Chair ex.
pressed the hope that he would not do so, even
II he did not have the honor Of being lady:
and Mr. u. acquiesced.
After an internissisn Of some minutes, Mr.
Cridge reported the following:
I. The society to be known as the White Wo
man Intelligent Franchise Association.
= The OBJECT Is to extend the right of suf-
frage TO such white women Of the District of
Columbia as can read and write.
3. Each member engages to endeayor to Sc
cure this object through legislative enactment
on the ground that a difference does not imply
superiority or InferlorIty, and that as a matter
Of fact white women now excluded from the
night OF suffrage, average at least as much IN
Ieilgrnee as those by whom it is exercised.
No action was taken on the report, but il was
understood that 1t would be the basis of tn.
constitution of the Association.
The following resolutions We're read and the
char IN vited discussion thereon
RssOire5- That 70 deny to white women the
night OF suffrage is most positively and pracu-
cally 10 assert that white women are interior
ResIred. That the District of Columbia.
small and compact, having but one controlling
legislative authority, is most suitable for the
experiment OF doing tardy justice To woman
An elderly lady asked what was the object of
conferring suffrage on white ladies; why not
include the colored Mrs. Holmes remarked
that she belonged TO q universal suffrage asso-
cstion. and she would like TO know il the RESI-
buttons as read could be sustained by argu-
ment. Professor Wilcox said that he Endorsed
every word of the resolutions. Those that
believe in womans rights are regarded in the
same light a. the few followers of Calhoun,
who were looked on as dreamers: but the time
would come when public sentiment would
Change. The present position of woman was a
great blot OH the civilization of the country
He wanted 10 see women enjoying every right,
including that of suffrage He was certain
women could use the ballot discreetly
and she certainly could vote more inteIii-
gently than the hundreds who lately voted
lere without being able TO read their tickets
Mrs. Holmes endorsed the rema ks of Prof
WILCOX, and favored an educational qusIifica-
ton. but would like TO have the word "white'
stricken ont of the resolutions.
Mrs. Cridge warmly advocated the rights of
white women, and after this freedom had been
attained, II would b. time enough to advocate
the rights Of the colored women TO vote White
women are superior In education and equal in
inteilect TO me colored man, and should have
the same rights. lApplause.l
Mrs. DIR. Mary Walker called the Secretary
TO take the chair, and said she did not come 20
the meeting TO make 4 speech, but her blood
boiled when she heard men talk about the in .e.
riority OF women. When they hung Mrs Sur
ratt IT was triumph for American woman.
They treated her as responsible being Mary
Harris and Dan Sickies were treat ted lust aIIk-
because they killed bad men. Were they not
ashamed of the position in which they placed
womenl Not week had passed since clerk
on 7th street beat his wife, and she has no r.
dress: and in certain States a man can pest his
wife If the whip is under certain diameter and
ne does not give more than a certain number
OF stripes. She had found the tyranny of man
over woman In the departments. and was told
by some that they dare not attend one of these
meetings. for fear they would be dismissed She
believed that there were too many voting now:
but women should vote. and all voters should
have the educational qualification. In Algiers
women voted, and on educational questions in
Kansas. She condemned the system of allow
ing men, who she said were only one remove
above idiots, to 90 to the polls and deposit their
votes, as they did here on Monday, alongside of
the noblest men.
Action on the resolution was postponed, and
the meeting adjourned.
POLICE ITEMs.-Ann Miller, arres ted by OFF.
GER Miller, OF the seventh precinct, was before
Justice Harper yesterday, charged with being