Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-29

Talks I'm the international Gather
lug in Washington Yesterday.
10y telegraph TO the Dispatch.J

fnihs I'm the International Gather
ing In Washington Yesterday.
10y telegraph 70 the Dispaich.I
WASHINGTON, March 2s.-The morning
session OF the international Council OF
Women was devoted to the general sub
Iect of industries. Laura NJ. Jones, pre-
sident of the Kansas Equal Suffrage As
ISOLATION, presided. The first paper Of
the session was read by Mrs. Mary A.
Livermore on "Woman's industrial
Gains During the Last Half Century"
She prefaced her figures by reference
to the notion Of woman's dependence on
man and that woman's destiny was mar
rage. She quoted figures to show that
from various causes women the world
over outnumbered men, and there were
millions OF women who had TO take their
share IN the remmeratiye work of the
world. The old-time theory that all men
supported all women has led TO the
enactment Of laws giving the hus-
band control OF his wifes earn
ings. While the woman remained I'M
married and a minor all her earnings
went to her father Usually if she re-
manned unmarried through life she con-
tlnued to give her earnings to her father,
receiving q small stipend from his estate
at his death. Generally mother and
daughter continued after the death of
the father as dependents on brothers and
sons. Such a state OF affairs still existed
in some parts of our country. 1t was
impossible to-day TO describe the storm
OF ridicule with which the public received
the past utterances Of the pioneers of the
movement for woman's independence.
/ She described the course of the move
ment up to the time of and through the
war, when for the first time in the
/ history of the world the women Of
America developed a heavenly side to
war; They needed money, and then the
latent business talents of women deyel.
Opcd themselves. She described the
greal and successful money-making en-
terprises of the sanitary commission that
yielded millions of dollars to be ex-
pended in the succor of the wounded.
These movements were energizod by
women they developed potentialites
that had never been dreamed Of.
Mrs. Livermore sketched rapidly the
work OF Clara Barton, Anna Dickinson.
and others. At the close of the war, she
said. there YVES but one college open
TO women-Oberlin. Now the colleges
that admit women are about as many rs
those that close their doors against them.
Not until the war was over were theolo-
gicol schools Of many denominations
open 10 women. Size referred TO women
physicians and women lawyers also.
Since tine great quIckrning of 1861 wo-
men had Organized great institutions.
Their capacity for public affairs received
large recognition at the present time,
and they were appointed 10 many offices
OF an administrative character She re-
forrod TO wOman's work IN arts aud pro-
fessions. In many positions women
worked with men who generously
conceded their ability. She quoted
Senator Blair as saying no charge
of maleielsance IN office had ever
been maintained against woman.
She firmly believed that in the higher
civilization, which was their ideal, every
man who wanted would have a wife, ana
every woman who desired il a husband.
The husband would lie the brcad-winner,
end the wife the broadmaker, the artist
who would make the home. Conditions
would compel the education Of American
people in industrial ants. They needed
technical schools rs free to women as To
men. Canon Kingsley said women would
never have soclal equity until they had
legal equality Therefore TO working
women, as well as to all women, the
ballot was a necessity. What the women
needed was q fine esprit H. corps.
They must rise above petty disagree
ments. 1.-The woman Thou gayest me-,
she gave me Of the tree aud did eat, ~
H. still the plea Of the shirk and coward.
She referred in contemptuous tones 10
women in homes OF luxury who declared
thev had all the rights they wanted. Mrs
Liyemore's address was applauded gen
erously.
Mrs. =. NJ. Worden, worthy master Of
Yineand Grange, No II, read paper
on the subject Of Women in the
Grange She spoke Of the grange, It's
objects, and wOmsn's connection with
il; the farm, its isolation and social
needs. It's monotonous round OF toll IN
It's effects upon mentality, often leading
70 insanity; its possible effects upon
heredity, affecting habits and lfe. The
grange, she said, was a temperance socle-
". eniOining Temperance IN all things; q
peace society, abrogating war; de
batting club. tolcratiug all shades of
opinion. ana whose obligations do not
interfere with moral, civil, or religious
duties or opinions Only woman, she
said, can educate man mp to the suffrage
question by proving not alone her right
but her ability to Judge politically.
Hulda b. Loud read paper on " WO-
men in the Knights OF Labor She
said that women's great influence in the
knights Of Labor is being felt wherever
the women OF character have joined the
order. Her work in tine order is mani
fest in the Punishment OF tobacco and
um from assembly rooms, and in the
great effect upon herself in the develop
meut Of "a stronger. more selfrellant cha
ractcr. She IS beginning to question II
the right TO vote, speak, ana hold office
in these ass mbhcs is granted, why Is 1t
WrorQ for her 60 do SO IN State Her
official recognition is slow, because of
mans selfshness and her own timidlty
and dissemination to push her claims.
And then Office has not and never Will
have the attraction for woman that 1t las
for man.
The next speaker was Ida Barney
Sales, corresponding secretary OF the So
Geological Society OF America. Herpnper
described thc work of the society aud
discussed the question Of cooperation
The president next introduced Ms.
Leouora n. Barry, organizer Of the
Knights of Labor The subject OF her
paper was "What the Knights Of Labor
arc Doing for Women" Mrs. Barry
spoke with perfect ease andgrcat earnest
ness and effect. Her address created
something akin to a sensation, and alter
taking her seat she was twice compelled
to come forward and bow her acknow-
Judgements for the ovation rendered her
Tonight the general topic Of the pa
pers was the professions, and several
women who have distinguished them
selves at the bar, in the pulpit, IN the
editorial sanctum, or in medicine, spoke.
Professor kena A. Michaels talked about