The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-06-05
WOMAN RIGHTS I'M ASTORIA.

SUIT people VINO nave not heretofore
favored Woman Suffrage now see that
whisky can never be successfully fought,
until women can make their influence
felt at the polls. Three brave, true
hearted women, Mrs. w. w. Parker.
Mrs. Warren and Mrs. Welch, lately
circulated remonstrance against re-
newing the license of two of the whisky
sellers of the town. They eanvassed the
place most thoroughly, and even went
out into the country to obtain names on
the remonstrance. or course, these did
not count, but the moral effect was great
on the community, and the Temperance
question has been discussed as never
before in this whisky-eursed town. The
City Council is controlled by the liquor
interest, several OF its numbers being sa-
loon-keepers, and so, when the petitions
and remonstrances were presented, it
tried TO ignore the latter, though they
had The most names attached. Efforts
were actually made to grant the licenses
in spite of the plain facts in the case.
One Of the Councilmen, however, q
staunch Temperance man, Mr.. w. w.
Parker, stood by the ship manfully, and
prevented the Council from making it.
self the laughing-stoek it would other
wise have been. Space forbids de-
tailed account of the proceedings; suffice
1t tosay that the Council adjourned with
out definite action, and when it again
met, the dispensers OF liquid fire and
death had secured enough names of
good men and true" in addition what
they previously had, to out-number the
remonstrance; so of course the licenses
were renewed, and the City Council
could once more breathe freely as it took
its regular refreshments, and congratu-
lated itself on the brilliant victory it
had achieved over three women who
had gone out Of their "spere."
But in spite of this temporary defeat
We feel that the Temperance cause has
made great advance; and of course, as
truth Arrays profits by discussion and
agitation, SO must error Arrays lose.
Well, the truth has been pretty plainly
manifested, that wOman's vaunte intel
ligence, strong as it really is, and exerted
publicly As it has been here for Tenn
perance, cannot accomplish its mission
till the fetters that trammel her are re-
moved, and her hands are left free to
cast her ballot for reforms that men ad-
NIT themselves powerIess to procure
alone
These ladies have shown the people
that they can be and hare been as en-
tirely womanly while canvassing the
town for signatures to a remonstrance
against license, as they could ever be in
the privacy of their own homes. Will
not this fact go far TO destroy in this
community the absurd idea that women
will be contaminated" by voting?
Is it any more trying to ones moral
character to 90 with husband, father,
brother or friend to the polls, deposit q
ballot and return home, than it is to go,
as these faithful laborers did, iOithoot any
such escort and interview all the men in
the corporation?
Well, you will see that the call for q
Woman Suffrage meeting could not
have been issued here at a more oppor-
tune time to excite public interest and
command respect.
At the preliminary meeting, on May
lst, Col. Taylor, the Vice President of the
State Association for this county, stated
the object of the meeting, read the cir
culars sent him by the officers of the
State Society and recommended the for
nation of County Society. He
warmly endorsed the doctrine of Equal
Rights and spoke eneouragingly of the
prospects in the near future.
Rev. w. a. Tenney made an excellent
address in favor of the cause, giving in
his adhesion to it because he believed
I it necessary to the salvation of the eoun-
try, and stated that he had been con-
verted by the noble stand of women on
/ Temperance.
question were made by Mrs. Tenney, Mr..
| Parker, Mr.. Powers and the writer.
! All necessary business was transacted
and the meeting adjurned to meet on
I the Sth inst, at which time the Com
mittee on Constitution and Bylaws
made its report, and the organization
was completed.
/ enclose the report of that meeting
which was written for and published in
the AstOridn.
Not wishing TO occupy space unneces-
sarily, have omitted mere minutes o.
business proceedings, and all of the Con-
stitution but its distinctive features
also bylaws, etc.
Our meetings will be held the frs
Friday evening in every month, and W.
expect to have literary and musical ex
ercises and make our meetings as inter
esting and useful as possible.
Hope our friends will arrange to b.
with us when they come down t
breathe the free air Of the oeean-espe
cially do we hope to see our leader, an'
hear her stirring voice.
Yours for the cause,
NJ. SHANE SMITH,
Corresponding Secretary.
.