Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1891-12-18
WOMAN SUFFRAGE MEETING.
National Delegate Chosen and Officers
Elected.

The following resolutions were adopt
ell at the Annual Convention of the
Washington Equal Suffrage A>socia-
ton, held in Olympia, Dec. Il, 1891.
WHEREAS, The theory of our politi
cal institutions j., that all human be
ing> are endowed by their Creator with
certain rights; that the object Of gov
eminent should he to secure each in
diyidual in the enjoyment of those
rights, and that government should
only derive power from the consent OF
the governed, and
WHEREAS, The practice oil our gov
eminent is not based upon this theory,
inasmuch, as one-half OF our people
are denied the privilege Of giving or
Withholding their consent to the pow
ers assumed by government, and
WHEREAS, The privilege of partici-
ptting in the functions of government,
for time enjoyed by the woman citi-
zcns OF Washington, has been unjust
ly, unlawfully and nefariously wrested
from them 10y their fellow men, to
their great injury and to the injury OF
the State at large, and
WHEREAS, 1t is a habit Of those who
execute and administer the powers Of
government, to act very differently to
those whose petitions they NAV disre- .
gard with impunity. to what they will
toward those who can call them to an
account, and
WHEREAS, The strength of every
government rests mainly upon the |
cordial support Of all the governed OBJ |
tanned only where Il consciousness OK
lists in the public mind that the wei |
fare of all is the aim of the govern
ment, and
WHEREAS, The condition of affairs
"Xisting at the time OF the formation
of the United States government,
whereby the welfare and independence
of every citizen could be secured and
maintained has become greatly |
changed, and is still rapidly changing,
and
WHEREAS, The changes that time is
producing, and the exigencies that are
often occurring, require closer simil-
itude, between the theory and prac-
tice of our government; therefore
Resolred, That we consider the wei !
fare and permanence OF the American
system of government, requires an
amendment to the United States Con-
stitution, securing to every American
citizen equal rights before the law.
Resolred, That we appeal to the
manhood of our fellow-men in the
State Of Washington, to remove the |
foul stains that were cast upon our
State by unjustly depriving the women
of this State OF that right, held most
sacred by every true American, the /
right OF self-government
Resolred, That we consider that not |
only the welfare and stability of our
Government, but the permanence of
our present civilization requires a
higher standard of moral manhood |
than has heretofore existed, the pro-
dnction OF which is dependent upon
the advancement Of woman, which can !
only he secured by endowing her with |
voice in the government, under !
which she lives, and we hereby pledge |
ourselves to labor every honorable and |
lawful way to accomplish this purpose
Resolred, That we tender to the SUI
preme Court of our State our heartfelt |
thanks for reversing the decision of the |
Supreme Court of our Territory in the |
case Of Washington Territory versus
Harlan.
Resolred, That in depriving the wo-
men citizens of the Territory of Wash !
ington of the right of suffrage, an out
rage was perpetrated, which in its ef
fort became National in character, and
that the National American Women
Suffrage Association is hereby earnest
ly requested to aid in properly present
ing the case of Bloomer vs. Todd ct al
when it is called in the U. S. Supreme
Court, which Court we are informed
has refused to dismiss the case on the
motion OF the Attorney for Plair tiff.
The Washington Equal Suffrage AS
ISOLATION held a session in Tacoma
Hall, Wednesday, about twenty mem
bers being present. Hon. Edward
Eldridge, of Whatcom, presided, and
Mrs. Bessie l. Savage acted as secre-
tary. The following delegates were
chosen to represent the association at
the national convention to assemble
at Washington, on Jan. 18th: Mrs. A.
II. II. Stuart, of Olympia, Mrs. Chap
man Katie, of Seattle, and Mrs Isabel
Paxon, of Whatcom. Officers of the
association were elected as follows:
President, Edward Eldridge; Secre-
tary, Mrs. Bessie l. Savage; Treasurer,
Mrs p. G. Hale.