The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1886-11-11

AINaAN -NAaa HNANAANA|N - IINAaN 80
Miss Anthony viee-presidsnf ct large
IS the llneal descendant Of the nrs.
woman suffrage society ever organ
ired. The Kansas Equal Suffrage
Association was organised auxiliary
to the Noti9naE, and enc Of the omcers
ofths State Association was appointed
Is the annual meeting Of the Natfosal
81 Washington, Jan. 1885. 70 the ONCE
Of vics-presldent fog the State Of Kan
sas 10 is this ofiicef's duty 70 arEanEs
for one convention during the year IL
her State; but with the promise Of
Mis- Anth0ny's presence during the
month Of October, and with the 90
operation Of the Kansas Association,
came Che strength and courage 10
arrange for one convention IN each Of
theseven congressional distrlcts Of The
State. But these districts are large.
and three conventions were planned
for the seventh, two for the second,
and two f0F the third district and one
for each Of the rsmaining four. The
6fst one vas held On Leavsn worth,
Oct. IS, and was fapidiy followed b.
others az Abilene, Lincoln, FiOrsno s,
Hutchinson, Wichita, Anthony, Via
field, Independence, Fort scott and
Lawrence. The business Of these
meetings Wes first and last b preach
the doctrines Of equal suffrage and 90
make converts % the same and that
the new converts might Be properly
nOuFia1ed IN the faith, and that the
movement might have the benefit Of
united effort, careful attention was
given % organization. Distriet, coun-
" and local Organizations were form
ed making q beautiful chain Of auEil.
liaries 10 the State. The story Of one
Of these conventions "a almost the
story Of each. -Four pOinte atWhich
these meetings were held, bad local
organizations and bad bad work
done. In the ether seven towns the
subject was supposed 70 be new. At
the first session the audience sat cool
~ critical, and the few friends OF the
movement looked oppressed and gen.
orally informed the speakers that
there were few suffagists IN the
place and little sympathy indeed. At
the second session the atmosphere
would grow warmer, and the meet
ings ell ended with crowds and en-
thusiasm. Organizations Of lsrge
numbers were left where before Il
was supposed that only half dozen
OF supporters Of the movement had
existed. The towns which were pre-
rl1usly reported as most conservative
4pca This question, threw their con-
nzlsalEm % the winds and went
doun before the unansWerabIe argu-
nsents and conclusive logic presented
By Miss Anthony, Mrs. Colby and
Mrs. Saxon. Sentiments in favor OF
extending the franchise 70 women
seems 10 have been quietly growing
all oyer this State IN the hearts Of the
people ike q smOidering FIRE, and at
3 touch, like that Of these meetings,
if burst into flames OF interest, effort
and enthusiasm. The interest Of the
meetings was cumulative, and Il was
curious 20 q student OF human nature
to watch it grow and grow 10 the
flual session. The hospitality Of the
most delightful homes was offered
upon eli occasions. The sOeial recOg.
milton Of the movement was all that
could be asked. The people highest
IN social position sought 10 entertain
these "ltlnerants,m and the brainiest
people Joined the organizations. Suf-
frage Is a question Of brains and must
be settled By brains. In great con-
trast 10 the OstFaelsm Of the pioneers
IN this movement, was the banquet
ing and showing about the cities, free
ly given to these iatter-dsy suffra- |
9isls; and the thing making all this |
unique was that Miss Anthony was |
then the central figure, grand Ia her
self as she Is IN history, representing,
and ripe and rich with the expert. |
enOes Of all stages Of this movement. |
Many were the toast 10 Miss An
thony and her life work. Few Of
the beginners OF great reforms have
grand fruitage Of their labors IS has |
she. The courtesy Of the press was
nvariabie-except in one instance.
The Wichita Eagle, hitherto bitterly
opposed, agFeed 20 an armistice dur
ing the presence Of Convention 20
Wichita; which agreement was
faithfully kept, and even certain
courtesies rendered, but the departure
ofthe speakers was hailed in the
E1Ole with q bacchanRlian sort of
farewell 10 each, but with no venom
IN Il, and the Eagle hasn't been
known 10 attack woman suffrage
since. The fact is, newspapers are
as much affected by ''the fashions" e.
are sfolks,n and woman suffrage is
now fashionable, and newspapers are
refiecting this fashion just as they do
others.
All Wichita It was found that there
Was q day 10 spare, and the COnven-
ton was Invited 10 remain Q third
day, which Invitation was accepted.
Miss Anthony spoke that night Ia
Memorial Hall, which has larger
seating capacity than any other
building In the city, and &c WHs esti-
mated that / go people were In at
tendance, and though large numbers
stood, the attention was Close through
out. Standing votes were taken IN
the night meetings upon the question
% woman suffrage, and nearly the
whole Of the various audiences rose In
favor only three votes In opposition
were offered IN all the meetings, and
two OF these were BY beardless boys.
In response 20 the question "DO
you desire that your Senators, ingalls,
and Plumb, and your seven Congress-
men shall vote for the 18th amend
lnent 20 the Federal Constitution ?1
and "DO you desire your Legislature
20 extend Municipal Suffrage 10 wo-
men ?n the vote was always s0lidly
ia favor. Twelve conventions. count !
ing the American held In Topeka,
were held during 80 days IN Kansas,
besides 3 dozen or more lectures 60
intermediate points. Miss Anthony
spoke Is times In IS days, and won
new laurels st every Convention.
Mra. COloy's logic and Mrs. SaxOnis
ferguT made for each hosts Of friends,
and set forward the cause Of equal
suffrage in Kansas. The Question
Box was q satisfactory feature OF these
meetings, and furnished q means Of
learniBg upon which phases o. the
question Of equal suffrage people were
IN need Of light. It is q curious fact
that these same questions were dupli-
Gated q ali points. OF the objections
oftencst offered, the ballot and bul-
letn objection took the lead. A list
% these Questions, sent up on slips Of
paptr, and read 20 the audience and
replied 20 Immediately, NAV some
tiule be published. They furnish 81
curious commentary On the thinking
habits Of "tlfe dear people,
These mestinge have been triumph.
nntly successful, and have done the
cause immeasuFable good, and were
made possible By Miss Anthony. 10
her eli women, and especially Kansas
women, should tender grateful thanks.