Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-04

sixteenth Annual Convention Of the
Woman Suffrage Association.


Woman Suffrage Association.
OPENING PROCEEDINGS TO-DAY At LINCOLN HALL
MISS SUSAN R. ANTHONY TAXES Tfs HELN-LsTrERs
fKoA GEORGE ". CURTIS AND oTHERS-CoMxITTEE
APPOINTED TODAY, &C.
The Womans Suffrage association began It's
annual convention this morning In Lincoln hail.
only members and delegates were present AS the
meeting was in the nature OF an executive session.
MIS- May Wright Sewall the chairman OF the
executive committee, presided. All those promi-
heht In this work were present. the notable eycep-
,on peing Mrs stanton who is detained ct home by
the illness OF her sister
COMMITTEES APPOINTED
Inc following committees were appointed:
On resout.ons-Mrs. puniway Oregon, Chairman;
Mrs Harbert, I'll
BAKE, New York. Mrs Gouser Indiana.
on receiving membership-Mrs Shattuck, Massa-
cnuSe.ts. chairman; Mrs Clay. Kentucky.
>, on fnance-Mrs spo1ord. chairman; Mrs Ward,
d. c.: Mrs. Cougar Indiana
On On reception and credentials-Mrs Rogers, New
on press-Mrs. Sewal. Indiana; Mira Couzlns,
MS; haroert Ill; Miss sheldon, D. c.; Rev Phoebe
Each OF the above committees is limited 70 i've
snt TX ana sii the names Of the members viii be
motion prevailed to appoint committee on
pna VI ~ook lOr the ensuing year, which VIII be
or the convention in pamphlet form
Mrs Sewail OF Indiana was appointed to edit
ana puollsn this pamphlet
A motion to change the basis OF representation In
the ASSOCIATION and postpone action upon the same
u i thursday morning. offered by Mrs Shattuck,
VI MASSACHUSETTS, was adopted.
me association then took recess until the after
noon session
WHO WERE PRESENT
The following officers and members OF the asso-
citation were present. Miss Anthony, vice president;
frpo
MIS-. sewall, Chairman Of executive committee;
f fn"eoe oouzins tMol, Mary B. Clay lKy, Abigail
scott runway Oregon. Elizabeth Boynton Har
Helen NJ Cougar, Mrs Bryant dndianai,
Lille DeyereuN Bake, Caroline Gkey Rogers, Mrs
York: Phoebe A. Haniford and Miss Miles. OF New
Jersey; Mrs. Mansfield, of Kansas: Mrs. Tyler.
ARKANSAS; Mrs Best, OF Maryland; Mrs. Westood
Davis, OF Pennsylvania
number of ladies from the Distrist and states
10 the humber OF IS We're present being the largest
executive session ever held at the opening of the
convention. Executive sessions Will be held daily
at Lincoln hail, open only to members and dele
gates.
THE FIRST PUBLIC SESSION.
The first public session OF the convention Was
held at Lincoln hali at half past two O'Clock this
afternoon. Miss Anthony presiding. In the absence
of Mrs. Elizabeth Cady stanton. The program Tor
the afternoon session included an Invocation by
Rev. olympia Brown. opening address by susan
Is. Anthony. reports from Geiva \. Lockwood. Dis
lrict OF Columbia; Mary B. Clay, Kentucky; Har-
rette X Shattuck, Massachusetts, Abigail Scott
Daliway, Oregon and Washington Territory: and
| Helen NJ. Cougar, Indiana, anc speeches 10y Or.
Clemence Lozer and Mary seymour Howell.
GEORGE WILLIAM cCRTIs ON woMAH's RIGHTS.
Miss Anthony read number OF letters from prom
1nent people among which was the following from
George William Curtis:
81 cannot come TO your meeting, but can say
that have seen no reason to Change the opinions
which have long held that tho exclusion OF the
40 rHr
cral conduct OF the community, by forDdd!ng them
a responsible expression Oh their views is Incon-
sstent with the American doctrine Of government
by consent OF the governed 1t IS only fair to saw
however, that the great multitude OF women seem
difference Is the great obstruction OF your cause
Politically, as you know, our is very practical
The holders Of power are not likely to share IT with
those who apparently do not care for the burden,
and the movement TO which you have SO long and
unself1shy devoted yourself will langush until II is
plain that women themselves desire the exclusion
TO be annulled."
LETTER FROM RICHARD coBDES's DAUGHTER.
letter was also read from Jane Golden, daugh-
ter OF the late Richard Golden, dated at London,
February 9Th, 1884, which said 81 hope that the
question on your side OF the Atlantic ia making
the way it is In this country, IL So we shall stimuli
| taneousiy and shortly see the enfranchisement OF
women In both countries. Here the agitation for
adding this act OF justice to our statute book is
gaining In strength daily, the liberals have called
for 1t throughout the country, through their repre-
senatives at the Leeds liberal conference In Octo
other. are passing resolutions In favor OF this
reform; we have, therefore, the liberals OF England
wt sneeS as a So we may ,e feel sure Of
OF the righteousness OF the work in which am SO
much engaged, because know from words spoken
and written by my father as far back as rs that
had he been living at the present day should have
had MS sympathy. He was nothing il not consist
emit, and so he said in speech delivered In London
In As on free trade: There are many ladies, am
happy TO say, present. Now 1t is very anomalous
and singular fact that they Cannot vote them
selves. and yet that they have power OF confer
ring votes upon other people. l wish they had the
franchise, for they would often make a much bet
ter use OF Ii than their husbands The reference
to the power of comforting votes relates the cra-
ton Of fortyShiliing fTeehOldS By this quotation
you viii see that my father was I'm favor OF woman
suffrage. wish you all success in the struggle Won
are carrying on SO bravely in America, and Know
your hearty sympathy is with Us here"
THE woMANs RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN ENGLAND.
Miss Anthony also presented the following letter
from John P. Ihomasson, Il P, dated London,
February Sth.
ave had a very satisfactory meeting OF members
OF parliament at the house OF commons yesterday
to consider the course of proceeding THIS session in
1 o. 6 ~ oa Sc ,DE nefs Wen s,s
shows great interest In the movement. A resolu-
tiof was submitted that In committee OF the county
franchise bill to lie introduced by the government
an amendment be moved demanding the franchise
for women ION the same conditions on which
proposal an amendment was proposed to leave out
the latter words and to demand 1t 'on the same
conditions as those on which 1t is granted to men.
This amendment was carried against the original
wording by a small majority, say about 10 TO Z,
many members not voting and some having gone
away on OF her business, owing to the length CT
the discussion, which turned on the question of the
ACCESSIBILITY or otherwise Oh distinctly Claiming the
franchise for qualified widows and spinsterS and
not for married women. Mr.. WoOdale, NJ. p. was
then unanimously chosen as leader OF the move
ment In parliament, it having been ascertained
that Mr.. Jacob Bright, though thoroughly In ac-
cord with the meeting was unable TO take that
position.
The bill will not be in committee, probably, TILL
THIS EVENINGS SESSION.
The program for the evenings session includes
the following addresses: 1.-The Craftsmanship OF
Women" Elizabeth Boynton Harbert; 1.-THE
Unknown Quantity in Politics." Lille Devereux
Blake; 'D1sabtieS," Martha Mcclellan Brown;
"The Successful Experiment." Judge NJ. Brown,
United States district attorney for Wyoming
THE RECEPTION AT TAR RIGGS HOUSE
reception was given at the Riggs house last
evening in honor OF Miss Anthony and the officers
and members OF the Woman's Suffrage association.
The guests were presented by Mrs sponord to
Miss Anthony and her cO-workerS, including Rev.
Olympia Brown, of Wisconsin, Abigail Scott Duni-
wady, OF Oregon; DR.. Clemence LOzer, OF New York;
Elizabeth BoyntOn Harbert, or Illinois; May Wright
Sewall, of Indiana; Helen N. Cougar, of Indiana;
Belva A. Lockwood, OF Washington; Mary B. Clay,
OF Kentucky; Henriette r. Shattuck. OF Massachu-
sets; Martha Mcclellan Brown, Lille Devereux
Blake, Of New York; Phoebe n. CouZins, OF st.
Louis, and Bertha H. Ellsworth. of Kansas About
300 ladies and gentlemen attended the reception,
the number including many persons OF prominence.