Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-10-21
OLYMPIA. SATURDAY MORNING. OCT. q. 1871.
Woman Suffrage.

Miss Susan y. Anthony, the renowned
advocate of universal suffrage and Tenn
perancc reform, lectured in Olympia Hall
on Tuesday evening upon the one great
object of her life the enfranchiscmcnt Of
women. We had found high opinion of
the ability of the lady, and he- remarkable
talent as public speaker, and our expecta.
tons have been more than realized. She
presents her arguments in graceful and
elegant language, her illustrations are
ample and well chosen, and the nearer is
irresistably drawn to the conclusions which
she seeks to inculcate She cited the in
adequacy Of the wages and salaries paid to
women, as n result of her disfranchise-
ment, and illustrated by die history of the
Trades Unions, and the I" strikes" which
result when capital bears with too remorse-
less tread upon labor. Those inaugu-
rated by men had generally been sue
ccssful, for men with their votes were
enabled to control the politicians and the
politicians, by the same means could con-
troll the capitalists. With women, how
ever the case was different When they
required an increase of the miserable pit
lance which constitutes " woman's wages"
or reduction Of the number of hours
constituting days labor, they were met
with q prompt refusal and experience had
proven that "strikes" were Of no avail,
for without the potent charm of the bal
lot, the employers found but little opposi-
ton to their plan of starring the en-
ployers into compliance with the old
rates; or probably, further reduction, or
still more oncrous burdens were imposed,
to punish such presumption. la the
higher branches of labor, requiring special
knowledge or skill, the salaries paid to
men was always higher than those paid to
women for the same services, performed
with equal precision and fidelity. She
cited an instance in which the authorities
of one of our metropolitan cities adyer-
tised for principals for the common schools,
n response to which several applications
were made by women, who were refused
the positions although amply qualified to
discharge the duties, simply because they
were women; and another instance where
10 the salaries Of number Of lady teachers
were reduced, though already lower than
those of the male teachers, to increase the
salaries of the men. She likewise related,
an amusing incident in which the person
authorized to pass upon the qualifications
Of teachers had to employ lady school
teacher to examine applicants, and signed
Ais,name with an X when the certificate
was written out by his assistant. But it
excited no comment, for the authority was
held by man, even if he did avail him
self Of the use of woman's brains to extri-
cate himself from dilemma. He could
vote, aud exercise influence at ward meet
ings, and this covered all the defects of
intellect or education. She referred to
the condition of the negro before the bal
lot was given to him, as the most univer-
sally centcmned and despised Of all races
or coS6itions of men, and noted how plant
had become the hinges of the knee of the
politicians now, whenever Sambo asserted
his rights" 1t could have but this
effect If given to the women. While il
might not be required by those surrounded
by all the luxuries of wealth, or those who
have never known want through the exer
tions aud earnings of fathers, husbands OF
brothers, it was essential as the life blood
to these who labor early and late for thei1
daily sbread.
There is no denying the sound logic o
these arguments. They appeal to a sens'
Of right and justice which cannot b,
longer denied. In expressing this opinio,
and it is no new position for US
we are aware VIC invite criticism, but W,
have resolved to meet and answer all ar
guments against the proposition with can