The Portland daily press., 1888-10-30
BEAUTY FOR covERNoR.
Massachusetts Women Nominate a
Candidate Rich as Ames, Young as
Russell and Handsomer than
Either.

BosroN, Oct. 29.-Exactly 21 women,
blondes and brunettes. young and old ,comely
and otherwise, met in Bracebridge Hall at
o'clock Sunday afternoon and organized the
most novel State convention ever held in
Massachusetts. They had come together in
response to special invitation from small
group of active and earnest spirits who were
anxious to see Massachusetts take her place
in the Equal Rights movement. led in the
presidential campaign by Lockwood and
Love. pretty young girl, who could hard
ly have seen her twenty-frst birthday.
pinned op the bosom of each of the merry,
chatterlng delegates carnation pink. Half
an hour was spent in introductions and
social greeting. Then Mrs. Sylvie Hume, of
Boston, tall, strongly, yet fnely-built
woman, with a large head covered with iron
gray hail, smoothly combed, stepped to the
presiding officers chair, laid aside her cape
and bonnet, drew off her kid gauntlets, and
said: "Fellow sufferers! Oh how dearly
should love to say Fellow cltizensp Please
come to order. At the risk of being thought
ofiicious. strong minded and short-haired,
few inexperienced women Of Massachusetts,
are bravely met to-day TO mingle the banner
Of this proud old State with the ensigns of
those Of her sisters In the Union of States
that are already lifted in behalf Of equal
rights for all Americans and in support of
that dauntless and irreproachable leader,
Belva Ann Lockwood of the District of
Columbia"
Here 40 gloved hands went pit a-pat and
dozen sun umbrellas beat the floor.
Women" continued the warm, sweet
voice Of Mrs. Hume, Il await your pleasure
as to the organization"
An elderly delegate, wearing spectacles,
moved that Mrs. Hume permanently preside
over the deliberations of the convention
This motion prevailed in delightful chorus
OF Ayes" There was more hand clapping
as the slight, delcately moulded young girl
fair, soft of face, brown-haired and tastefully
dressed, walked up to the secretary's table
and unc0rked the ink.
After considerable preliminary business
the convention voted that full state ticket
should be placed in the field and that in the
distribution OF honors men should not be dis
criminated against. The chairman an
nounced that it was in order to nominate the
candidate for governor. Immediately two
delegates addressed the chair. The chair
man looked helplessly at both, and asked If
one or the other would not please sit down
Then both generously resumed their seats.
After an the chairman had to show some
partiality and so she recognized Mrs. Lucy
Sala OF Boston, who made spirited little
speech for the n0mination0f young woman
as the standard bearer. She urged the dele
gates to profit by the weakness Of the Repub-
lican ticket and the strength of the Demo-
cratic. Mrs. Sala hoped that the Equal
Rights ticket would rival the Democracy
In Its choice of such young blood
as as Russell and Corcoran, John
drew, Joseph H. O'Neil and Sam Roads of
Marblehead. In conclusion, she presented
the name Of young woman of exalted So
clal position and democratic practices; of
daring nature and remarkable beauty of
person; of noble intellect and Christian
mercy; a candidate who would almost equal
the Republican candidate in wealth and the
democratic candidate in youth-Miss Alice
Draper Stockton of Wheaton.
Miss Stockt0n's name was received with
lively demonstrations of rapture. Several
delegates seconded the nomination in warm
praise, and Miss Stockton was nominated
unanimously by acclamati0n. Almost before
the nomination was declared four young del
egates in the front row got up, turned about
ana facing the convention led off in soul
ravlshing tones with the national hymn,
America" Not less than Is sofc voices
Joineo in the singing, the entire convention
standing the while. When the singing was
nnisned MISS stockton was enthusiastically
escorted to the platform.
Beyond question she Is the handsomest
and most magnetic candidate that ever was
nominated for any Office in the world. All
during the proceedings her m0desty had kept
her silent and secluded, and now that the
chief honor Of the day had been thrust upon
her the blood leaped to her cheeks and she
hid her eyes, while her devoted followers all
wanted to cry out with Joy and affection.
MISS Stockton Is tall, queenly beauty,
with line. regular features, and delicate,
artistic figure. Her hair is brown and her
eyes nearly black She was dressed richly.
yet simply, with scarcely an inch of super
huous cloth in her elegant gown, and without
pennysworth of jewelry displayed. The
drapery OF drawing room would befar lit
ter as her background than the dusty, bare
walls OF Bracebridge Hail.
All her lie her taste for reading has been
OF a social and economic character, but she
mas never before yentured to the front in
public movement. She was attracted to Mrs.
Lockwood while occupying the relation of
client TO the celebrated woman lawyer, and
Tor several years the leader of the Equal
higutS party has received the generous and
substantial support of Miss Stockton.
The granddaughter on her mothers side
OF yenturesome and successful Massachu-
sets merchant, Miss Stockton is the daugh-
ter OF Clarence X. Stockton, who for many
years represented in China his father-in-
laws house. At Hong Kong Miss Stockton
was porn only 70 years ago, although her
SOBER costume and mature address yesterday
made her seem five years older. Her mother
died when Miss Stockton was only q child,
and at her fathers death 10 years ago, the
orphan, the heir to great fortune and the
last OF two old families, was taken from
China to Europe, where for eight years she
was trained 10 every accomplishment that
becomes young woman. Only seven years
ago she hrst saw the land Of her fathers, and
Soh'Ahb W AhaoooOnuoCtbc olc bOOh up utE
home in the old family house at Wheaton,
where 1t is her habit to spend the summer
and autumn in a simple way, dispensing a
refined hospitality and seeking out among
her less fortunate neghbors chances to do
good. The rest of the year is divided be-
tween New York and southerly climes in
both hemispheres.
Her little speech to the convention was
very happy and earnest. She dwelt with
epeclal emphasis on the idea that the actiyi-
ty OF women in political affairs should not
divide families but strengthen them. And
she asserted that there was no more reason
why man and wife should clash in politics
than in religion. Love, she said, was link
that nothing could break, and she expressed
the hope that it should become an element in
the government of nations.
Miss Stockton's speech was exceedingly
plain and very forclble. 1t was o'clock
when the committee on platform and electors
offered to report, but Miss Stockton observed
that If the convention should try to do every
thing at one session some poor husbands and
children might have to go supperess to bed.
This remark settled Ii, and with three charm
ing cheers for Lockwood, Love and Stockton