The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1884-03-21
MANKATo FREE PRESS
FRIDAY, MARCH, q, 1884.
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our regular Correspondent
March Sth, 1884.
In this popular city for holding con-
ventions, a notable one is now in ses-
sion. 1t is the National Association of
Woman Suffragists, and this is their six
teenth annual meeting. The seekers
for suffrage are from large number of
States, and illustrate in their oratorical
fights against mans inhumanity to wo-
man that they know how to talk, and
how to talk well. They are perennial
ly hopeful sisterhood, and fully expect
to vote sometime in the future. Their
veteran leader Miss Anthony, while
speaking to the convention, alluded to
her recent foreign travels, and said
high premium was offered to widow
hood, andSpinsterhood in England, as
the right of suffrage was there granted
in municipal and school matters only to
widows and spinsters. Over there pub
lie men were not afraid to go to woman
suffrage meetingsand sit upon the plat
form, and she knew it would be 80 here
if woman had the influence of IL vote.
At the twice daily sessions several adj
dresses are made by the delegates on
pertinent subjects. Mrs. Dunniway of
Oregon told how woman suffrage had
been obtained in Washington territory.
Mrs. Brown of Cincinnati spoke of po-
litical Disabilities" Mrs. Herbert of
Chicago on 'rhe Craftsmanship of Wo-
man." Mrs. Cougar, of Indiana, who
would make II more effective stump
speaker than any other woman of the
convention, spoke upon "Woman Be-
fore the Law" Belva Lockwood's
subject was the proposed disenfranch-
isement of Utah women, and Miss
Couzins' theme was the unmeaning
question: "What answer" in which she
spoke sarcastically ofthe National Capt.
tai, spending its time in strict obser-
vance of borrowed social forms and
quarreling over petty points of social
precedence. Her arraignment of the
sham was received with laughter and
applause by the audience Mrs. Blake
represented woman as the Unknown
Quantity of Politics." and turned her
attention to the Presidential candidates.
"Mr. Edmunds" she said, would
not do at all. Ever since he had been
in the Senate he had used his voice and
influence against the reimbursement
u woman and even the women of
Utah, whether Mormon or Gentle, he
wanted to dlsfranchise. The Ellis
torian of the Kennebec" had a better
record, but he had never heartily es-
poused their cause, and women wanted
no luke-warm lover. Conkling had not
been good to women when in the Sen
ate, and the giant from little Delaware
might be a chivalrous Bayard, but
when he set his lance at rest against
the demands of women he might as
well place himself among the fossils of
the National Museum. Mr.. Flower,
was an out spoken advocate of woman
suffrage, and if he were nominated the
women would smile upon him; but Jo-
seph Mcdonald, she said was their
most unequivocal champion, and the
first man who had ever done anything
in the United States Senate for the free
dom of women" BY invitation officers
and delegates of the convention call |
ed on the President. On Friday the
Senate committee on woman suffrage |
gave the convention q hearing, and the |
House Judiciary committee will hear
them on Saturday.
The Presidents daily callers often |
represent great variety of people and |
classes. Some seal pers Of the plains, |
who called at the White House yester- |
day to pay their respects to the Presi- |
dent were followed by Henry Ward |
Beecher, and he by Mr. Henry Irving
Of dramatic fame.
Presidential candidates were auspic-
ious at the Irving performance the |
other night. Gen. Logan, and Senator |
Sherman occupied opposite boxes, and |
President Arthur, and Mr.. Blaine were |
in the orchestra chairs. On the next |
evening Mr.. Blaine saw the play of
Hamlet from box. He evidently en-
joyed the performance, and kept his
opera glasses on the English tragcdian
during the greater part of the time.
Thus far, the Senatc's work may be |
summed up in the discussion and pas
sage of the appropriation bill for the
Military school at West Point; bill for
the protection of. children in the Dis
trict of Columbia, who may be cruelty |
treated; a bill for extending the limits
of the Yellowstone National Park, and |
the consideration of judicial jurisdic-
ton outside of the territory of the Uni
ted States. The House of Representa-
tives has debated and passed the bill
for pensioning the Mexican veterans at
eight dollars month, voted for thir-
teen more House employees, pages,
messengers, and clerks, and is now dis
cussing the Naval appropriation bill.
The Senate spent some time offering
tributes to the memory of the recently
deceased members from Kansas, Mr..
Haskell.