The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-01-05
OBSERVATIONS OF A WORKER.

1.-THE following communication addressed to
the YamhiII County Woman Suffrage Assoeia-
tion at its recent meeting by Mrs. ]. DevOre
Johnson, OF Oregon City, should have appeared
| several weeks ago, but was unfortunately mis-
laid.-ED.l
I have only at this late date found
myself honored by your communica-
tion of the 18th ult., which has followed
my various addresses during prolonged
absence from home. 1 confess myself
f1attered by your invitation to aid our
common cause, and consider myself
bound to respond, though the measure
of my help must necessarily be small.
am prevented from being with you
at your meeting chiefly by prior and
important engagement to meet the
Board of Managers of the Oregon State
Agricultural Society at Salem. Idoubt
not that you rejoice to note that the Of
ficers of that society begin to value the
services Of women. From this time
henceforward the. ladies of Oregon will
play an important part in the conduct
of the State Fair-an institution which
may be so managed as to conduce to
great public benefit. Allow me to
call your attention to Article III.
of the constitution of the above
named society. 1t provides in Sec
tion I. that "any person resident of
this State, of the age of fifteen years."
shall be eligible for membership. This
provision ought to admit women to the
society. Several officers of the society
have urged me to join, though whether
advisedly or not, am unable to say. 1
shall test the matter in the meeting just
at hand. If am accepted as member,
I shall take pleasure in informing you.
And 1 should then urge your lady men,
bers to obtain membership in the Agri-
cultural Society at the next fair. Such
a measure, 1 firmly believe, would re-
dound greatly to the credit of the State
by securing for its advancement the ad-
vantage of much talent and judgment
that is now unavailable. I am con-
WINGED, moreover, that such a step
would advance the interests of women
as such. Everything that makes their
value to the State apparent increases the
prospect of their proper consideration,
socially, politically, and every way.
The prospect for this considerat tion was
never so bright as now. find myself
ineXpressibly encouraged after two
months exceptional opportunity for in
vestigation of the subject.
It is absolutely astonishing to note
the readiness with which the man OF
fair average ability and sense of justice
is converted to the doctrines of equal
rights when they are really brought
home to him. Such conversions were
apparently numerous at the called
meeting of the Oregon State Woman
Suffrage Association, recently held in
Salem. believe that all of our mis-
siOnary work that is done in intelligence
and fairness is abundantly fruitful. AS
a rule, men of good morals and educa-
tiOn are unjust to women because they
are really ignorant, incredible as that
may seem. We must enlighten them
Education is always the hope of free.
dom.
have said that reforms usually WORK
from above downward. The demand
for them may come from below, as al
instructive appeal. But in reality the
most enlightened must be the most lib
eral. Let me Illustrate. A man is sen
to Congress by the suffrages of the peo
pie. He becomes the avenue of the de
sires and petitions of his constituency
He is made aware of hundreds of de
mands where perhaps any one man VIII,
makes q demand through him is awar
only of an interest in his particular per
sonal needs. Our Congressman mus
examine data of every description in or
der to intelligently serve his cOnstitu
ents. If he is an ordinarily intelIigen
and conscientious man, he become
thoroughly imbued with the spirit q
reform. If there is anything wrong il
the law, he is the one to know it an
urge change. Not only does Congress
man become conversant with the needle
reforms in his own State, but measure
bly, so with those of other States, be
cause he must study them to vote upo
measures introduced by fellow Con
gressmen. What is true of Congress
man is true in greater or less degree c
a governor, a legislator, etc. Distin
guished position must afford distin
guished privileges of instruction. /
man upon whom questions are forced
and who is literally required to act upo
them, must know more in regard t
them than a man whose occupation
like a woman's, does not of itself oh
trude upon his notice any but his ow
private affairs. In support of my posi-
ton, 1 call attention to the fact tina
very many men of high public positio
are notably advocates of equal rights.
believe this to be the case with the ma
jority of them, and think that thi
will become the rule when the women
claims have received as much impartis
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