The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-11-04
LETTER FROM McMINNvILLE.
MRS H. A. LOUGHARY OUTLINES THE WORK THAT
MUST BE DONE BY WOMAN sUFFRAGIsTs
IN THE COMING FOUR YEARS
McMINNvIL1E, October 2s, lssC

MCN1lNNNILIE, october 2S, 1881.
To THE EDITOR THE NEW NORTHWEST:
The recent act of the Legislature in passing
Senate Joint Resolution No. ?. was victory for
the women of Oregon, but a signal one is yet to
be gained. The question of woman's enfranchise-
ment in the State of Oregon has assumed a
new phase. Heretofore we have looked toward
the Capitol, and arguments have been directed
more especially to our lawmakers; but now we
must turn to another class, the people, and must
confess that the outlook is anything but encour-
aging, because we have not the money to rightly
prosecute the work of spreading our principles.
When we have intelligence to appeal to, we
can expect much; but when we must con-
front ignorance and prejudice, and know that
our cause is in their hands, it is not hatter-
ing to the most sanguine even. Such is the ig-
norance of existing laws created and amended
within the few years past for the elevation of
women, that we find men questioning the legality
of wOmen's voting at school meetings; and in
many districts they are prohibited from voting,
because Of ignorance of the law. To this class of
men the great and important question of woman's
full and free franchise is submitted.
One of Mr. GarfieId's maXims is, 1--WE must
confront the dangers of suffrage with the blessings
OF education" To educate the masses TO higher
estimate Of the ballot and just appreciation Of
How is it to be done? what methods must be
used and who are to do it? are grave questions
for the women Of Oregon to consider. In my
opinion the first great need necessary to the pros
ecution of this arduous work is money, and very
little can be done without it. Men have the
money, and women have not, generally speaking,
and as stated before, this is the discounging fea-
ture.
1t occurs to my mind, that what Will most read
lily facilitate the task of educating men upon this
important subject so as to aid them in voting
Justly and intelligenty will be to publish several
thousand two-page tracts containing briefs of the
main arguments for a constitutional amendment,
a synopsis of the laws wronging women and
those recently enacted righting her, the school
law, property rights laws, and the recent passage
of the resolution submitting the question to the
people; and such measures should be adopted as
will enable Us to scatter them in every nook and
corner of the State where there are voters.
The NEW NORTHWEST the only paper in the
State published in the interest of women, which
has a circulation of about two thousand, and i
read bv several times that number, ought to, 10y
such means as money could very easily help tC
suggest, be increased to circulation of five six
thousand and read by fifteen thousand Of the
men and women of Oregon for the next coming
place it on such safe basis that so much of it,
space need not be given up to advertising-spac,
that should in this, our time of need, be given FOL
pleas founded upon the principles that we claim
for answering objections against the practica
workings of Woman Suffrage, and for all matter
pertaining to the question. In due time we shal
need scores Of lecturers in the field, who will vis
every voting precinct in the State to present oul
claims in an intelligent earnest and forcible man
ner. But all this will take money
II men who are favorable to woman's enfran
chsement and will doubtless vote for the amend
ment if it be ratified by the next Legislature
could fully realize that "woman's cause is mans
cause" and would contribute such pecuniary aiC
as is in their power and would render assistance
in devisng and carrying out ways and means tC
educate the masses on this important question, the
victory would soon be won; but l regret to say
that but very few men, though they are in full
sympathy with us in feelings, feel that they ar,
expect ID to make an aggressive war against Oul
opponents
The consttutionality Of the proposed amend
ment is a subject of much comment, so that op-
position on that groundi to be fought. We hope
however, that some Of the many Of our friends o.
the legal profession will defend this point of at
tack. The resolution was laid before able coun
selOrs before II was introduced 10 either House o
Senate, and was judged correct; but now comes
the hue and cry'' Of its destined failure becaus,
of its uncoRstitutionality. Yet, notwithstanding
all this, the women of Oregon must work il
the coming four years, and must work earnestl!
and faithfully.
Some further plans of cooperative work nigh
be suggested but this letter is already too long
they must be deferred until some future time
II. A. LoUGHARY
Henry Ward Beecher does not believe in mix