Wisconsin Afro-American., 1892-08-20
IHE PERFORMANCE 4

been effectively sustained by women;
it is unlikely that they would have at
tanned any considerable vitality or in
huence without this support. The
Farmers Alliance, the Peoples party,
and the so-called Prohibition party are
illustrations of woman's influence in
political affairs.
The Republican party will be the
gamer if it utilizes the social, m oral
and political influence of its women
sympathizers. This can only be broad
ly effective through organization.
The little state of Rhode Island,
which by it's recent election, has taken
it's place at the right of the Republican
column in '92, has begun this good work.
1t was accomplished on this wise:
The Garfield Republican Club, of
Pawtucket, Rhode Island, whose presi-
dent. Col. Tiepke, is also president of
the State League of Republican clubs,
inaugurated the movement by giving a
"ladies' night" banquet, April % last,
at the great music hall in the 'city of
Providence there being no hall in
Pawtucket large enough to accommo-
date the gathering). The feast was
elegant, the company of ladies and
gentlemen fine, and among other Re-
publicans, Mrs. ]. Ellen Foster had ac-
cepted an invitation to be present and
respond to the toast-"The Influence of
Women in American Politics."
The response to her outline of the
possible work of Republican women
led to the holding of a meeting for
organization. This meeting was called
to order by Gen. Chase (member of the
National Committee), and was presided
over by His Excellency, Gov. Ladd. The
president of the State League, and q
few invited gentlemen were also pres
ent.
These gentlemen gave official en-
dorsement to the meeting, which re-
suited in state organization of about
800 women, with plan adopted for the
forming of local associations. These
ladies had received their cards of invi-
tation land admission) from the gentle
men of the various Republican clubs oi
the state, and were, therefore, care
fully selected company. A Rhode lei
and Woman's Republican Association
was formed which has already begun
the work of local organization.
The outline of the work already done
is given as indicative of what may be
accomplished in other states through
the same or similar methods.
Ladies' are carefully instructed that
their organization is for straight Repub-
lican work; it is especially stated at or
ganization that it is contrary to the de-
sign of the movement to attempt any
diversion of the organizations work or
influence to reform movements PRO
hibition or Woman Suffrage).
Mrs. Foster expects to visit and or
ganize in all the Northern states during
the summer months. She desires the
cooperation and support of the Repub-
lican voters throughout the country.
The Republican party is party Of
action. Its breath is progress. Its
speech is the language of the world
and it's dialect the rhetoric of the home
and the shop. It's shibboleths might
be written on the white walls of apy
church 1t holds within it's ranks the
armies of ali reforms. 1t studies po-
litical conditions, weighs popular senti-
ment, and seizes the earliest hour to
crystalize that sentiment into wise leg
islation. Its heroic constituencies are
the thinking, moving vital elements of
American life.
Is it any wonder that women rally to
the support of such party?