The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-09-02
TO FORM A WOMAN SUFFRAGE
SOCIETY,

EOL4AL
The National Citizen contains some
excellent remarks on the subject OF
forming Woman Suffrage Associations,
and some valuable instructions as to the
manner of proceeding. Any woman
may and should consider the words ad-
dressed TO her.
First, speak with your ueighbors. II
they are already women Of thought upon
this uiject, the way is clear. II they
are not, "a few words viii arouse their
interest aud show you they are not in
different. Every woman wishes as good
chance for her daughters education as
for her sons. Every woman desires
equal pay for equal work for herself aud
her daughter. Every woman desires
the same laws TO govern herself as gov
ern her husband, father and brothers.
When once you have induced thought,
speak Of forming a society. Issue invi-
tations for some convenient afternoon
or evening. II but half q dozen women
respond, you have enough for a begin
ming. Hold your first meetings with
women alone. Women are brought up
from childhood to have their opinions
criticized, laughed at and treated with
contempt, and will speak much more
freely if no man is present. Select an
energetic, go-ahead woman as President.
Have one or two or three Vice Presidents.
Elect an Executive Committee. See
that its chairman is a worker. IL does
not matter so much i'm regard 70 the
rest. Elect a Corresponding Secretary;
also a Recording Secretary. Let the
minutes OF each meeting be read at the
next one. Elect Treasurer. Let there
be small membership fee. Money
will be needed for stationery, tracts, etc.
Hold your meetings frequently at first
say once a week. After women have
become somewhat acquainted with the
routine Of business, invite gentlemen to
become members. But let women con-
troll the society, hold the offices, aud de.
eide what is to be done. Women need
this responsibility as an educator, and
besides, they are more interested in
their own acknowledgements than men
can be.
The following is a good form Of Con.
stituiion:
ARrIcLEl. This organization shall be called
the linser name OF place. Woman sunag,
Society.
AHr. .. TIE object OF this Society shall be Q,
secure protection FOR women citizens IN IN,
] exercise Of their right 10 vote
ART. B. All citizens OF [iusert name OF place
subscribing 90 this Constitution. aud payin.
its weekly or monthly dues, shall be consid
cred members OF this Society, with right Q,
participate in ats deliberations.
ART. 4. The officers Of This Society shall bD
a President, - Nics-Presidents, Core
spending Secretary, aud an Executive Com
mittee OF not less than five.
ART. S. The officers OF this Society shall bl
women, elected at each annual meeting.
ART. 6. The annual meeting shall be hel,
on the - OF ---- i'm each year.
An excellent way TO make the So
ciety's sessions Interesting and instruct
i've is to study the laws affecting WON
en-. Law books can easily be borrowed
The Session Laws Of each year will br
found at the town or county clerk
Office. Look in the index for the word
"woman," 4" "wife," "widow," "mother,'
"parent," "child," "wills," 'Tnherit
auce," divorce" "-eparation," etc.
etc. then read up and see whether tn
laws relating to these things are tn
same for man and woman. Ascertain
whether in your State the mother ha
equal right with the father to her owl
child. Study the law which gives IN
right Of property control TO the husband
allowing him to use As he pleases al
that the wife earns in the family, an
TO will it as he pleases TO great extent
at his death. Appoint some one t
write a short essay for each meeting
upon some phase Of the laws relating t
woman. Afterward discuss the law an
its bearings. Study the National Con
stitution. Take a Woman SUfIrag
= paper, reading its editorials aloud a
each meeting OF your society. Do thes
things, and you will have live, ener
ge,ic soeiety that will benefit yourselve
aud the world.
The long nights OF Winter are ap
prosching, and the women in the citie
= aud towns Of Oregon and Washiugto
may well employ a portion OF thei
evenings ia gaining definite kBowledg
as TO their political standing and i'm
par.ance.