The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-05-16
AMERICAN WOMEN.
Ella Dietz Clymer, President of sorosis,
MIKES ExpIanation.

Ella Dietz Clymer, President of sorosis,
Makes an Explanation.
Mrs. Ella Dietz Ciymer, President Of
Sorosis, believing that her remarks at the
recent meeting of the club had not been
thoroughly understood, said recently to
correspondent of the New York Mail and
Express:
well, l believe OF course, the women of
the United States are much better off, taken
as whole, than those of any other coun-
try. referred to this subject in my open
Ing address al our late convention, but |
hardly think my remarks were clearly I'M
derStOod, and so | should like to be set
right In the matter. What l meant was
That, relatively. women stood in a better
position IN other countries, but positively
they were superior here. BY that
l mean that in America we have
hitherto shone by the reflected light
mans suffrage. which is thing unknown
III any other part of the world. But our
women have not advanced in the same ratio.
In other countries men have not the priyi-
ieges that are given them here, but women
are nearer them in the matter of political
rights. 1t IS only recently that women in
Boston have been allowed TO vote for School
Commissioner, whereas in almost every
country In Europe women are given
municipal suffrage, and are permitted TO
vote with the men on many matters.
Nevertheless, it is true that our women
do not begin to realize how well off they
are or how many advantages they possess.
At the time 'Sorosis' was organized we
would have found IL an utter impossibilty
TO have started such a club in any other
country. Why, at that date in France
seven cr eight women could not possibly
have had secret meeting without being
watched by the police and suspected of
intrigue against the Government. There
is no place in the world where
we are given such freedom of
speech and action as in the United
States and are so entirely free from police
surveillance. just Imagine how indignant
we would feel If our motions and actions
were Icing watched. And yet even now,
IN travelling through foreign countries, you
are subjected more or less to certain
amount of espionage which is decidedly I'M
comfortable to an independent American.
In this country there is always certain
amount of Difference shown woman in
all things, The contrast with other
countries in this respect may be due
to the fact that in households
abroad the sons of the family are always
pushed ahead and the girls obliged to
stand in the background and yield them
every respect. Here it is quite the con-
trary. The boys are taught to look up TO
their sisters, and If any advantage is given
it is usually on the girls side. Women are
beginning to appreciate this fact more and
more. American women have made many
rapid strides Of late years, and they
are constantly organizing for their
mutual benefit. To be sure, there
are two large women's leagues In
England, but, / am sorry to say, their OBJ
ject is really TO benefit the men, not them
selves. The Primrose League, of which
Lady Randolph Churchill is the head, is
used to advance the cause of the Conserva-
tives, while the Liberal League, headed by
Mrs. Gladstone, is devoted to the Radical
cause. The women's declarations in this
country are held with but one object in
view, and that is TO improve the condition
Of women in every possible way"