Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-09-05
EQUAL SUFFRAGEMAss
CONVENTION

"ASAnAA AcIEHNOON.
The convention was called to order by the
PRESIDENT OF the South Dakota Suffrage Asocia-
ions, Mrs. Philena Eyeratt johnson. at 3 y. m.
The South Dakota Female Quartette of Iro-
quois sang selection, which was followed by
an invocation by Rev. Olympia Brown Of Wis.
c0nsin,
rev, Atkinson made q brief but eloquent and
appropriate address of welcome to the conyeu.
ton. which was responded to by Mrs. Picker
on behalf Of the State Association and by Miss
Shaw on behalf of the National Association.
The quartette then sang the campaign soKg
Dakota, Land of Liberty" and being encored
gave another selection dedicated to Miss An.
thony, after which Mrs. johnson read the call
for the Convention and gave cordial greeting
to all. Mrs. johnson is a very pleasant speak
er. with clear voice and good articulation. with
rare executive ability,
Mrs. Laura NJ. Johns, state president of Kan
sas was then introduced and gave very inter.
esting address on municipal suffrage in the
SunhoWer state. Voting has not made the
women Of Kansas masculine in character,
manners or dress. Those who were good
house keepers before voting are good house.
keepers now. There is no delay in the emigra-
ten Of young men into the state of matrimony
and the country isnot strewn with heart broken
husbands and other dire disasters as prophesied
by Cassins NJ Clay and Others
The following COMMITTEES were then appointed:
Resolutions-Rev. Joshua Hines, Elk Point;
Col. Sheets, Kingsbury; Henry Blackwell,
Boston;
Enrolment-Mrs. DeVoe, Huron; Mrs. Ward.
Turner; L. ii. Baily, Hughes;
COurtesies Rev A.W Atkinson, Mitchell:
Mrs. Alice NJ. A. Pickler, Faulkton.
Short addresses were made by Rev. Hines,
Mrs. Swift. Alonzo Wardall and others, all
expressing their interest and hearty coopera-
lions. A song by quartette and convention
adjourned.
MONDAY EVENING.
A large audience was present when the
Convention was called to order by the president.
Rev. Abb. Huntley of Washington Springs con-
Quoted the devotional exercises. Committee
on resolutions reported. After reading the
resolutions the chairman Of the committee
moved that they be laid on the table until NOR
ming and that the press have the liberty of
publishing them. The following are the reso.
lutions which were tiunaly adapted:
]. RESOLVED, That South Dakota, by the
terms OF the Enabling Act. is under ohliJation
to frame a constitution in conformation with
ne princein.les Of the Declaration Of Indepen-
ernments are Just: only when they rest upon
1.-THE consent Of the governed;'' that women
are governed, and the only form Of political
consents tile ballot. a5,
women Of South Dakota, who have shared
with the men in the lab0rs and privations of
pioneer Ire. can be trusted to vote for God and
equal share in the privileges and responsibilities
OF statehood.
8. RESOLVED, That the Republican party,
which gave suffrage to the negro men, and the
Werkg % e gays 70 Wb ids
opposes mOnOpOlies and class distinctions. are
al under z moral obligation e support the
, woman suffrage amendment which viii remove we
women citizens of South Dakota.
4. RESOLVED, That so long as women are
not allowed to vote, they cannot be members
Of any political party; that no party which ,
any claim to their support that the attitude of
women toward parties and candidates during
the coming campaign must depend upon the
man suffrage, and we remind politicians that
every eXtention of suffrage hitherto made has
strengthened the party which advocates it and
has weakened the party which opposes it.
man suffrage amendment will make South
Dakota, side by side with Wyoming. n0bly
conspcuous Throughout the Union, will
M atrsct cspta from viii ne greatly
increase intelligent immigration from the cast
ern states, and above all will secure the per-
manent supremacy OF temperance, liberty, and
justice,
6. RESOLVED, That committee Of seven
be appointed by the chair to confer with the
Republican State Convention, about to meet in
this city. to present the views OF this convention
and to request such favorable action rs may be
wise and timely In behalf of the equal rights of
women.
Hon. Henry B Blackwell, q noted lawyer. and
editor Of the Woman's Journal Of Boston then
addressed the audience on 'Woman Suffrage,
Growth of CIVILIZATION"
1t is in accordance with nature, reason, re-
ligion and science. ''Male and female created
he them and gave THEM dominion" First
governments were despotic but even desp0tism
is better than barbarism. Our first government
was an aristocracy of birth. now an aristocracy
of sex. There are men in the hotels here to-
night who do not know that the Constitution
of the U. S. gives women the right of suffrage.
BENJAMIN Franklin, a born democrat, worked
to give lab,ring people the ballot, He also
believed in equality of sex. Democrats gave
the poor man the ballot, and thot is the reason
why the laborers today are voting the Demo.
cratic uCkeG. 4ucy ACaAh SAoo AA1 oAAS osA
country and come here ready to vote for the
party they believe is working for them. Why
this spirit Of unrest? Because this government
is based on injustice. Some say 1t is all theory
that women suffrage would help. Women arc
class with class interests. Every class
makes itself felt in the government. A certain
man, John Morussey, was semitic Congress year
after year. Hewas well known and noted
gambler. Why did he 60? Because he was
sent by gamblers who wanted laws In their IA
yor. SO even that class was represented.
There is not gambler nor horsethief in
South Dakota now who does not vote. Wo-
men are the most law abiding citizens we have.
OF criminals only one in ten are women. You
ask why we do not have woman suffrage in
Massachusetts? Because the cream of our coun-
try comes west and their places are taken by
prediudiced foreigners who have to learn by
slow degrees the meaning of the Declaration of
independence. Mr.. Blackwell closed by reci-
ting in telling manner, Bryant's poem on 1.-The
New West"
Miss Shaw made witty collection speech
and while the collection was being TAKEN the
choir sang "Ring Dem Suffrage Bells
| Adjourned to $3.50 a. IN. Tuesday.