The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-09-25
CALIFORNIA ORGANIZES.


The wide-awake Woman Suffragisgs
Of the Golden State have organized a
suffrage association. Most Of those who
comprise the society were formerly
members of the California State Educa-
tional Association. This body, at
meeting held last week, decided to dis.
band and organize an entirely new and
independent association, having for its
purpose the accomplishment Of the free
dom Of the ballot to women. The
masses need education in political equal
ity more than in any other direction
aud the association can work more sue
eessfully when its name tells plainly
the object Of its efforts than when ham
pered by so indefinite a title as simply
Educational Association" The last
named society has done an immense
amount Of good, but its members are
conscious that the time has arrived
when the freedom Of women can be
worked for without its advocates being
the subjects Of ridicule, aud so the work
is openly commenced. The condition Of
California at present is favorable for the
agitation of the question. There is
hardly a man or woman in the Slate
who has not during the past year given
considerable attention 10 political mat
ters and public reforms. The public has
become 50 used TO hearing new ideas ad-
vanced, and studying them, that any
question will receive attention. All
that is asked by the advocates Of wonn-
ans liberty is that the subject be given
careful and intelligent consideration,
for the justice of the claim will be ap-
parent TO any one who will examine the
question. The Association 10 California
is taking advantage OF the attention ac-
corded questions of political polity, and
the result will be an immense growth
in public sentiment in this matter Of
Justice TO women.
The Constitution and Bylaws Of the
Association were prepared by Rev. B.
+. BOwles, Mrs. Knox Goodrich, and
Mrs. a. a. Sargent. The permanent
officers are as follows: President, Mrs.
Ada C. Bowles Vice Presidents, Mrs.
DIR. Sawtelle aud Mrs. Sargent Secre-
tary, Mrs. NJ. A. Edmunds; Treasurer,
Mrs. I. II. Hittell. The majority Of
these names are familiar to the reading
public throughout the Union, aud give
assurance that the Association was or
ganized by earnest workers. Among
those who addressed the Association at
its first session, We find the names Of
Mrs. Bowles, Mrs. Williams, Rev. Mr..
Benslee, Mrs. Drake, Mrs. Sawtelle. \
number not mentioned also delivered
addresses. The San Francisco Bulletin,
in speaking Of the organization Of the
Association, said "the ladies present
seemed determined to start on a vigor-
Gus campaign for what they consider
their Gue-the right to vote" The
wording Of the remark is as careful as is
Characteristic of the journals published
by AIessrs. Fitch and Pickering, vet il
betrays that they foresee the popularity
which the cause is attaining, aud that
their two great papers will be committed
to the cause as soon as il appears profit
able. We congratulate the suffragists OF
our sister state in having perfected their
organization, and in having selected
well-known aud able advocates Of hu-
man freedom 10 fill the offices. We
trust we shall hear good reports from
the Woman Suffrage Society Of Califor-
MIA.
We also find accounts Of the proceed
iugs Of the California State Woman
Suffrage Educational Association in
both the Bulletin and the Chronicle, but
the names Of the officers are entirely
different, aud we cannot decipher the
riddle. We trust some Of the friends Of
the cause in California will enlighten
their eo-workers in Oregon in regard to
these matters The sufIragisis Of this
State sincerely hope that discord has
not been allowed TO grow up in Califor-
mia among the workers for the rights Of
woman.