Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1888-04-14
<BOUTsOCIAL PURTrR.
Tie Womsn's Congress Discuss Delicate
0"esfioHs tH Vigorous Language.

Tie TonsH's Congress Discuss Delicate
Questions IH Vigorous Language.
Washington dispatch: In the wo-
mans suffrage convention this morning,
Mrs. Elizabeth Lisle Saxon, of Tennes-
see, created sensation by her discourse
on Social Purity" She spoke very
plainly Of the social evil; of the impru-
dence Of women in not confding to
their children the great secrets and
truths of life, instead OF letting them
learn from other children and servants.
Mrs. Anna Rice Powell, of New York,
spoke Of the age Of protection in the va
rious states, and paid tribute to Kan.
sas as having made that age II years,
whis- = one state it was as low as 2
years.
Mrs. Admission Chant vouched for the
truthfulness of the charges published in
the Pail Mall Gazette, saying she would
stake her life on their correctness. She
spoke principally of the work of the
social purity societies in Great Britain.
Girls, before there was legislation in the
matter, were taken in droves by pro-
curesses to the continent to fill the
getting them places at service.
Harriet b. Shattuck and Clara Clay
born Hoffman spoke in the same strain
as Mrs. Saxon had done. All the reme-
dies would be but partial and disap-
pointing until woman stands everywhere
in perfect equality with man; until 30
ciety and the church and the law regard
marriage as a perfect partnership, and
she an equal partner. The horror of
lustful children being brought into the
world will continue until woman is re-
cognized as having the right to say when
the new life shall begin. Parents, when
that fine arrives, will have no shame in
teaching their children the mysteries of
life.
Frances Willard, as preface to her
remarks, read petition TO be signed,
juggling congress to pass a bill to raise
the age of consent, wherever it has alb
solute control, to 1S years. She at
tackled the low necked dresses, and said
those wearing them borrowed the idea
from women whom she would he
ashamed to touch. She also condemned
the half-nude pictures of women used
as advertisements. She also touched
upon the improperly of stage-dressing,
md the evils of round dancing.
AT tue evening session Lne Jnefne LOT
discussion was Political Condition and
Woman's Right to the Ballot" The
FIRST address was by Isabella Beecher
Hooker, of Connecticut, who asserted
that the words ''the people," every
where used in the constitution showed
it was the intention of the trainers to
place women on perfect equality with
men.
J. Ellen Foster said the denial of wo-
mans rights TO vote was a defiance of
thea9th century civilization. The wo-
men of the United States would never
cease this agitation until liberty OF
heart, head and hand is secured to
every citizen of the republic.
Mrs. Harriet H. Robinson said moth
ing was to be expected from either of
the two leading political parties The
prohibition party was very good about
passing resolutions, but as yet has no
| political power. and majority of the
members usually vote the republican
ticket. The only hope seems to be the
formation of new party, which shall
advocate our own with other leading re.
forms. The old parties are slowly dy-
! ing out.