Wichita eagle., 1889-10-02
EQUAL SUFFRAGISTS.
SIXTH ANNUAL CONVENTION OF
THE KANSAS EQUAL SUE
FRAGE ASSOCIATION.
The Presidents Annual Address-Com.
mittees Appointed-Addresso Of Wei
come and Responses-Speeches
by Susan B. Anthony and
Others-Today's Program.

SIKH annual convention OF Inc Kansas
Equal Suffrage association met at DIR.
Stevens hall On South Water street and
were called to order 10y the president, Mrs.
Laura NJ. Johns, of Salina, Kan. There
were only about thirty delegates present.
the majority not yet having arrived but
the hall was crowded by visitors.
The president spoke of her gIadness in
seeing SO many familiar faces and
spoke of how SO many of
the wheel horses of the party
were prevented from attending the meet
ing by being ia attendance at gatherings
elsewhere.
taken up and reports were heard from dis
trict presidents and auxiliary secretaries
which tended to show that the interest in
the work was increasing in all districts
The following committees were then
appointed:
Credentials-Mrs. NJ. L. Berry, Cawker
City; Mrs. Z. v Shriver, Cedar Point Mrs.
VI. 3. Brown, Salina.
Resolutions-Mrs. E. Gaines, Anthony;
Mrs. II. Il. Brown, Salina. Mrs. r. F. Dur
gan, Atchison; DIR. jackson, Emporia;
Miss Sarah Mccall, Jamestown; Mrs. G..
v Lamb, Halstead; Miss Halstead, Holton.
Plan Of work-Mrs. Stewart, Newton;
Mrs. Lizzie Evans, Newton; Miss A.
knower, Atchison; Mrs. Blggs, Lincoln;
Mrs. Edith Kerr, Salina: Mrs. J. H. Slo-
cum, EmporiA.
Railroad-Mrs Lizzie Hopkins, Salina;
Mrs. Munger. Newton.
Finance-Dr. Mamie Stevens. Wichita;
= f,.e- ~ 4 4 a.
Newton.
Auditing-Mrs. Siocum, Emporia; COM
mittee not ompleted.
a letter was read from Congressman
Bishop W. Perkins, regretting that he had
TO leave the city a delegate TO the deep
water convention in Topeka and WAS
therefore unable to accept the invitation
which the convention had extended him.
Regrets We're also received from Judge
Horton, OF Topeka, and Mrs. Harriet d.
Laughlin and Mrs. Lucy Stone, of Boston.
Miss Susan q. Anthony was then intro
duced 10 the convention She said that no
speech would be made by her but she had
brought the convention good news from
the east. She then returned thanks to the
convention for the welcome which had
been given her.
W hen the credential committee made a
partial report it was found that some
auXiliaries were on the delinquent list and
some time WAS consumed by the arguing
as to whether or not the delegates We're
entitled TO seats. 1t was moved and car
ried that the rules be suspended and the
delegates allowed to take their seats
Mrs. Laura NJ. Johns, of Salna, presi-
dent of the association, then arose and
delivered the following address:
PRESIDENTS ANNUAL ADDRESS.
Our annual gat herings always suggest
re'rospection and NOV us to measure the
advance of our columns during the year.
1t has been our wonderful good fortune to
be ab 10 mark at each of our six annual
meetiugs-the milestones of our march are
theY-a decided advance nearly all along
the line. We have been furn shed with
good cause for congratulatIon ID the mu-
nc pal and school elections of the present
their results, the methods and
numbers of the woman voters. The gain
in the woman vote of this year in the mu-
DlCipai elections is at least 30 per cent.
over the Vo' of 'S7. To give the gain over
the vote of IS would show a seeming
greater advance; but the actual gain would
not be tn s correctly estimated, because
IDC NicCl1bu Vi b4Stl year WAS DOb Oh euUdl
being the off, year in cities
of the first and second class, when no mayor
nor police judge is elected, and the whole
vote always fai s off An estimate of the
gains or losses of the municipal vote of the
state can only be made by comparison of
the votes of the odd years. When city
reports TO NE this year, as in one notable
case, Il gain of 1913 votes over the vote of
'SS and vet falls 200 votes below the vote
of ~. no ccJpra6 NJ
gain. This distiction must be kept III
mind, else we shall give out the impression
that our Interest in municipal elections
Northumberland it could be described by a
wavy line of regular depressions and ele-
without explanatory notes to
show cause.
In our last municipal elections there was
a very perceptible increase in manifesto
tons of interest in city government by
who had not hitherto looked upon
the matter as one in which they had any
Legitimate or important part. Herein |
find one of the most encouraging features
of the last election-this awakening of the
to the vital Importance of the
election to city office of men who shall be
to have care for its moral as
well as material well being.
The attitude of men toward the women
voters in this election was indicative OF
growing respect for their powers and for
their interest TO put into office men of
character. An amusing and gratifying
spectacle was furnished to my eyes by the
men who had regarded woman's enfran-
chisement with lofty scorn now seeking
the support of the woman
voters and finding the emotional sex"
very steadily, self-respecting holding their
votes at a high value, and discriminating
with thoughtful independence between
candidates, and not easily to be moved by
threat or persuasion.
The women of the cities of Kansas have
had in their voting an eye single
10 one object-the election of good men TO
office, but am moved to fault them for
The slngleness of their aim. for in thinking
only Of securing good men for city officials
they have sometimes elected inca pabies,
for Ii IS necessary not only for a man to be
good, but good for something. good for n
great deal, indeed, to make d satisfactory
and successful city official.
This however Is an eXtreue-the far
swing OF the pendulum-and not wholly
and is Il state of things rap
dly rightipg itself as experience has an
opportunity to temper the determination
IF women To demand good men for office.
With "a disposition to question whether
hey possess the other qualities that are
absolutely necessary 20 the makeup of a
lseful city official A man may be as good
II an angel rl IN told that the bible angels
ire all masculine and yet possess almost
10 fitness for the duties of office.
One of the greatest obstacles which our
Y omen voters encounter is the fficulty
}ersuadiug the man Of the right quality
md caiibre 10 consent 10 stand for office
[ frequently happens that the man of
lean lie. OF sterling integrity, OF good eX-
'outiye ability aud successful in business,
IND having n care for moral interests. has
10 inclination 10 serve the public il the
hut thankless positions of n
,ity officer; and il sometimes happens that
neither of the candidates presented is the /