The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-07-15
WOMEN AT THE CONVENTIONS.

Lucy Stone points it out as 8 note
worthy fact that at each Of the political
nominating Conventions held this year
place was made on the platform or
elsewhere for women and more or less
recognition was accorded their claim for
political rights.
At the Republican Convention 10 Chi
cago, ssventy-six women from the Ma
tional Association had seats assigned to
them on the platform, to which they
were politely escorted. Senator Ferry,
Of Michigan, had made special arrange
ments to secure the seats. Susan B.
Anthony, Belva A. Lockwood and Mrs.
Clay Bennett had hearing before the
Platform Committee, and presented a
memorial, asking the party to pledge
itself "to secure women citizens in the
exercise Of their right to vote" No ac-
ton was taken by the Convention on
this memorial. Nevertheless, it was
point gained to have had It presented to
the Committee.
At the Labor Greenback Convention
in Chicago, the same ladies had seats on
the platform, and, as some Of them we're
delegates, they shared in the discus
sions. Mrs. Matilda JOslyn Gage pre-
sented a memorial from the National
Woman Suffrage Association, and Susan
B. Anthony supported it. Later in the
discussion, Mrs. Sara Andrews Spencer,
Mary Z. Haggart and Mrs. Chandler
had hearing. But when the final vote
was taken on the suffrage question, it
was referred to the States with favora-
bic recommendation" by a vote Of SIS
to 124.
At the National Democratic Conven-
tion in Cincinnati, the Committee
awarded sixteen seats on the floor Of the
Convention, in the rear of the dele
gates, to the representatives Of Woman
Suffrage. Miss Anthony, Mrs. Spencer
and others urged the delegates to permit
a woman to be heard for ten minutes in
advocacy of the adoption Of a Woman
Suffrage plank. The same resolution
which had been presented at the Repub-
lican Convention was brought to the
Democrats with a preamble, both Of
which the Committee on Resolutions
were asked to incorporate in the plat
/ form. This was not done.
At the Prohibitory Convention in
Cleveland, many ladies were In the hall.
Mrs. Z. D. FoOte, Of Wisconsin, and
Mrs. Mcclellan Brown, of Pennsyl-
vania, were among the ce-Presidents.
The latter was called up for a speech, in
which she said she "believed the day
would come when all the prominent
conventions would consist of women
and men side by side; and the Prohibit
tion party would be the proudest party
of history, because il carried forward
the two great reforms Of anti-rum traffic
and Woman Suffrage" The platform
contained this passage in the eleventh
resolution: ave also demand as right
that women having privileges of citizens
in other respects shall be clothed with
the ballot for their protection and as a
rightful means for a proper settlement
Of the liquor question" When it came
up for discussion, it appeared large
part Of the Convention were favorable
to giving women the full and unquali-
fled right to the ballot. Several speak
ers thought the platform eqUivOcal on
this point. Others declared the state
ment was as broad as it could be made
and covered all points Of suffrage. But
it was finally adopted. Mrs. Mcclellan
Brown had the honor Of presenting the
name Of the candidate for Vice-Presi-
dent.
Thus more aud more each political
party is drawn or driven to larger recog-
milton OF the rights Of women.