The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-12-04

steamer Daisy Ainsworth, described in
former letter. Four p. NJ. and we were
once more at home among our loved
ones.
Thanksgiving dinner! Oh, what a
treat Friends from San Francisco
helped US all to enjoy it.
Time flew on the wings of the wind.
Only one short night at home. Eight
o'clock on the following morning, and
ourself and aye assoeiaten went aboard
the steamer Shoshone, bound forthe his
toric shades Of old Yamhill.
Captain Miller very kindly brought us
up from Dayton to Lafayette, making
an extra trip for the purpose the first
instance on record of steamer being
proffered, free Of charge, to take women to
a Suffrage Convention. Verify the world
moveth.
Evening session well attended, but
stormy. The representative from YAM
hill who had said in the Legislature
that the leaders of the Suffrage Move
ment were all women of bad character,
and that the women of Lafayette who
wanted to vote were not first-class
women, bitterly denied his own words,
and interrupted us furiously with the
LIE. After we had finished our story,
giving the ladies faithful account Of
the way they had been misrepresented
in the Legislature by the mems Repre-
sentative, we yielded the floor, the Presi-
dent stating that any one desiring to dis
euss this question in polite and respect
ful manner had opportunity. Hoodlums
called for Bradshaw, the ex-Represen-
tative aforesaid. That sex-protector,
who thinks 'women have nothing to
complain of" you know, mounted the
rostrum and declared that we had lied
when we said that a rising vote was
taken upon admitting US to the floor OF
the Lower House as reporter. Presi-
dent called him to order in vain. He
pounded the desk, roared and beloved
like an infuriated bovine, and attacked
our reputation in most shameful man
ner. He declared that the vote upon
tion by striking out the word "male,m
was lost by a vote of l3 to AZ. Mrs.
COburn ventured to correct him, stat
I ing that the vote stood 27 to to SO. He
denied it again. Well publish the ayes
and noes on that next week. He de-
elared that he did not say before Com
mittee Of the Whole, as we had asserted,
that the women of Lafayette who wanted
/ to vote were not first-class women.
President interrupted him-or tried to-
saying that he had said the same in sub
stance in that very hall in 4 suffrage
meeting on a former occasion. Again
he beloved, and Mrs. Coburn moved TO
adjourn. Seconded the motion. Before
the motion was put, we begged permis-
sion to make the closing speech, in
which we promised to substantiate every
word that we had uttered. Couldn't
stoop to that woman-protector's level,
and didn't propose to try to. Meeting
adjourned till Saturday evening. Large
audience. Subject of lecture, "Why
should Woman have the Ballot ?' Pre-
faced lecture by saying that Mrs. COburn,
having for long years overtaxed her
strength in this swoman-protectingc couu-
try in her efforts to work against the
fearful odds which good woman must
encounter in supporting a fatherless
family, had suddenly become PROSTATE
with congestion of the lungs. That she
had said TO US that day, that she should be
glad to be able to say to the audience,
that the strongest proof of woman's need
of the ballot which she had yet seen, was
the fact that upon the previous evening
a,man had risen in a woman's Conven-
tion, and openly and wantonly attacked
the character and reputation of a lady
who had been for nearly quarter Of
century a wife and mother In their
midst. This lady's husband and large
family of intelligent children, and her !
happy home alike bore witness to her !
loyal wifehOod and abiding care for her
loved ones. And, though every "wom- |
an-protector'' i'm the hall knew that lady |
well, and knew that no reproach could |
possibly attach to her, not one of them |
had dared attempt to aveDge the insult. !
The people were pale with intensity of
feeling. Never have we seen q more |
sympathetic audience.
On Sunday evening, being still a So
journer in the village, We again met q
large assembly; subject this time,
"Woman and the Ribie.n
Tonight we are to speak at Dayton,
and tomorrow, Mrs. Coburn being sick,
we are to hasten home to try to fill our
place and hers. A. J. d.
Lafayette, November 80, 1874.