The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-02-13
PROCEEDINGS OF THE 0. s.W. s. A
FIRST pAY-MoRNIHG SESSION.

The Oregon State Woman Suffrage /
Association met on February IL, 1879, .
at the parlnrs Of DIR. Agnes Burr, at II
o'clock A. NJ, the President, Mrs. Abigail
Scott Duuiway, in the chair
Minutes OF previous session read and
approved, after which the President de-
livered her annual address.
DR.. J. a. Casio, Of New Era, was
called out, who gave brief but fitting
speech in favor Of woman's enfrauchise-
ment.
Remarks relative to the work Of the
Association were offered by Mrs c. \.
Coburn and others.
On motion, the President appointed
the following committees: On pro-
gramme-Mrs. c. a. Coburn, H. l..
McCord, Mrs. Augur; resolutions-Dr.
J. Casio, NJ. a. Edmunds, Mrs. II. A.
Loughary; finance-Mrs. y. Hembree,
Dr. Agnes Burr, B. c. Duniway;
music-Mrs. ID. w. Prentice, Miss Ida
Lesley, Prof Clark.
On motion, the Secretary was author
lied to furnish copies of these minutes
to the daily papers in response 10 invi-
tatiOn from editors.
The President delivered the following
address:
TO the officers and Members 0f
the oregon State Woman Suffrage
association, Greeting: Six years
ago this morning i have good
reason TO remember the occasion
well-an earnest and devoted band Of
human rights advocates braved the
then popular storms of ridicule aud all
the shafts Of ignorance aud prejudice,
and met in this city, pursuant To call
from your present executive and many
others, and formed the nucleus OF this
State Association, which has grown
from that undaunted beginning into
well-organized and successful society
that engages the respectful attention
Of all the prominent citizens of this
commonwealth.
On this, the sixth anniversary aud
seventh annual gathering of ourselves
together, / am proud To welcome these
veterans in our ranks who have been
with Us from the beginning. The idea
Of womau's political acknowledgements,
" NlEl EAA NEAA0 hEh " a. 50 new anu
strange and consequently obnoxious to
the uuthinking masses, Is no longer OPP
posed by any save the extremely timid
or naturally tyrannical. Among the
learned and philanthropic We count our
friends in the State 10y thousands; and
Of the few who yet oppose Us, a majority
will doubtless be convinced Of the cor
rectness OF our claims before the labors
OF this Association shall close.
OF course there is always a class,
numerically large, Of the ignorant aud
vicious who yet array themselves
against the idea Of woman's freedom
These will only yield 10 the irrepressi-
ble current Of human destiny. Our OBJ
ject in holding these meetings is to
awaken agitation and thereby continue
the work of educating public sentiment
through consequent Investigation. Our
labOTs are no longer ignored, burlesqued
or ridieuled. The best men in the State
are among our outspoken allies, and but
I for the opposing vote in the uuthinking
and ignorant, TO whose fiat We are COM
PEELED To remain in suhjectiOn yet lit
| tie longer, through power OF the one
sided ballot, there would be 10 need Of
| this convention.
Since the Association began its or
ganiZed existence, We have held, be-
sides the six annual meetings previous
TO this one, four special or "called'i
meetings, three in Salem during the
different biennial legislative sessions,
aud one, last summer, in Astoria. These
meetings have always been held with a
view to influencing legislation on be-
half Of the best Interests of women, and
through her, the best interests of our
common humanity. As a society, We
have never been advocates Of Oufg
wOman's rights. Our mission has been
broader than this; aud our platform has
known no sex aud acknow ledges no
principle save the inherent and priceless
one of individual liberty.
As an association, We have had some
sort OF "A hearing before each session OF
the legislature which has convened
since our organized work began. Never,
until last September, were we hOnOred
with other than a brief, spasmOdic and
strougly-contested hearing, which was
IN its results unsatisfactory. True, We
had prevailed upon our Legislators, prior
to that time, to give u the 'woman's
sole trader bill,n aud the "married
women's property BILL" both OF which,
however, must remain comparatively
null until We eau be empowered with
AAlE lfNlAAlEAl AAEEuNAl necessary 10 vi q IL z
such bills available toany class. Never,
until the last session, has wOmau'-
right to place in the government re-
ceived a tacit Endorsement from a vast
majority of its legislators as a body.
During that session, every bill for the
promotion OF woman's interests, which
was brought up for consideration, was
passed almost without objection.
Women were made voters on all school
questions aud road interests; and their
individual property rights were just as
nearly secured To them by law a. legis-
lative action can secure them to any
class which is denied personal represen-
tatiou.
But, though I remained at the capital
as your executive, during two-thirds OF
the entire session, l failed 10 get bill
before either House for amending the
Constitution by striking out the word
"malen from its code OF rights, the fail
ure resulting from the desire OF our
friends TO pass the other bills above
mentioned before reaching this one.
Col F. H. Gates, Of WascO, who had
charge Of this bill, purposely held il
back until the Others should be passed;
and then, through some unlooked for
parliamentary techulcality about the
time for introducing new bills, this one
affecting the political rights Of women
was tabled for the term, in company
with many Others. was disappointed,
but / could not help myself or this As
ISOLATION. We are therefore compelled
I TO possess our souls in what patience we
can command till another biennial ses-
sion, In the meantime, never halting in
| our arduOus work Of educating the peO-
pie to a higher sense Of justice and