The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-05-03
MINUTES OF THE MARION COUNTY
W. S. A.

at the Opera House in Salem, April
18th, for the purpose Of appointing COM
mittees and transaeting such business
as its officers and members might direct.
The President, Mrs. Mimic, called the
meeting to order.
The minutes Of last meeting were read
and approved.
The President stated the object Of the
meeting, aud briefly recapitulaled the
workings Of the society.
Mrs. Duniway being present, was in
vited to address the Association, which
she did in her usual spirited style, espe-
cially urging the working force present
to be of good cheer. Among other
things, she said: "You may think, be-
cause you muster scarcely more than
your corps Of officers on an occasion like
this, that the women Of the rank and
/ file are apathetic or Indifferent as to
your success. But assure you they are
not so. When you go through a vast
mandatory and see the wheels aud
[ spindles at work, you see only the mag
nitude Of the enterprise that feeds the
hungry and clothes the naked. But if
| you would see the moving force, the d.
/ rect cause of all the motion and enter
| prise that makes that array Of buildings
a very persOnifcation of life, you go
away from the throngs Of bright-eyed
women who attend to the bobbins, spin
dies, designs, looms, and shuttIes, with
their countless paraphernalia Of intrica-
cies, and you search out an obscure
apartment in the basement, where only
a few chosen ones are at work. What :?
you say; 'can this be all the interest
the women take in clothing their
bodies {? My brave co-wOrkers, you
can easily see the implied comparison.
The prime movers in all great works
radiate their efforts from compare
lively small focus. tell you the masses
Of women are not apathetic in relation
to this question. They have set watch
women upon their walls that shall
never hold their peace till the work is
done. Meanwhile, the rank and file are
in the school-room, the studio, the med
zeal college, the physicians Office, the
store, the bOarding-house, the sick
chamber, the kitchen, and at the cradle
side, sewing machine, wash-tub, and
ironing table. regret that there is not
a larger attendance, but / know why
they are not present, and I take cour-
age"
Mrs. Davis made short and stirring
address, in which she alluded feelingly
to woman's need Of the largest freedom
that men enjoy, politically and inan-
cially, and, per consequence, physically
and Intellectually.
Mrs. Davis was followed by c. A.
Sehlbrede, Esq, who made brief and
able address, identifying himself with
the movement, which he said he had
but recently espoused, because he had
hut recently Investigated the principle.
He believed woman's enfrauehisement
, would be followed by higher standard
Of self-respect and consequent moral ex-
cel!ence among men.
, DIR. IL. Parker said be was a Woman
= Sunragist, but he was sorry to see the
women Of the rank and file so apathetic
as he was compelled to believe them to
be. II he were a suflragist for popular
b ity's sake, he would hardly he present,
, for he had seen very few ladies coming
toward the hail.
. Mr. Hugh Harrison said that he was
+ a sufIragist, a Methodist, Granger,
and Good Templar. He had long be-
lieved in woman's equal right with man
to a voice in the administration Of the
government that taxed her to meet its
liabilities. But, to accomplish this
/ work, woman herself must be reused to
action. be thought the majority Of
women did not yet desire the elective
franchise, else they would manifest
more interest in the cause.
This brought Mrs. Duniway to her
feet, who thanked the gentlemen for
their speeches, of which, she said, syn
opses would be given in the NEW
NORTHWEST. She protested that the
women were not apathetic; that they
were bound, hand and foot. They
worked their way to conventions, State
aud national, in spite Of financial him
drances, such as men never thought Of.
They could not all come to the front, but
they sent their representatives yearly
from every State aud Territory in the
Z Union to legislate for them. More they
could not do. Their acknowledgements
must come through the efforts Of men,
who alone debarred them from their
rights.
Mr.. Harrison thought the men were
not remiss in duty on this occasion.
Mrs. Duniway gracefully aequiesced,
and again thanked the gentlemen for
their assistance.
Mrs. Johns read poem.
Colonel c. a. Reed believed with Mr..
Harrison that the women were apa-
thetic, but he did not wonder that they
were discouraged. Their repeated efforts
for liberty had been met by continued
repulses. But the good work could not
retrograde. \ final triumph was GER
tain.
The President liked the speeches, but
reminded the society that unfinished
business must be considered.
Mrs. Duniway moved that the Asso-
c'ation leave the committee work with
the President and Secretary, who were