The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-15
THEIR sILVEh MRErlNG.
Famous Women IN twenty a tn An
nusl Convention.
(ConuriyhtN


NEW YORK, Jan. 14.-Famous women
are gathering in Washington to attend the
twenty-fifth annual meeting Of the National
Woman's Suffrage Association. The women
who were famous at the first memorable
convention are still at the head of the move
ment, though the active work has been
placed into younger hands, in those early
days the movement met with the ridicule
all innovations contend against, and few
were found willing TO encounter the calling
shafts of the American cynic. To-day the
membership is ia the hundreds, and besides
the names of Miss Susan B. Anthony, Eliza
beth Cady Stanton, Isabella Beecher
Hooker and Lucy Stone, must be placed the
active list of younger workers, such as Rev.
Anna Shaw, Rachel Foster Avery, Lucy e.
Anthony. May Wright Sewell Alice Stone
Blackwell and Harriet Taylor Upton.
Though this is a quarter century conven-
ton, It is by no means proper to infer that
the movement In America had its inception
twenty-five years ago. 1t was Mrs Stan
ton, still a member, who, In lS4s, almost
half a century ago, assisted by Lucretia
Mott, called the first convention at Seneca
Falls. The demand for equal suffrage was
es broad then as il is now. In its purpose
the movement has Fever grown. In its
splendid proportions.
The declar alton of sentiment enunciated
at that first convention reclted among other
grievances those growing out OF the legal
disabilities of women, the injustice OF taxa
ton without representation, lack OF higher
educational facilities aud finally the resolu-
ton: That it is the duty of the women Of
this country TO secure to themselves the
sacred right to the elective franchise
Two years later Susan B. Anthony joined
the movement and the QUAKER girl of those
early days put her heart soul and mind
into the movement. and much of the work
achieved must be credited to her.
Forty years ago women were given no
representation in conventions whore polit-
ical or industrial topics we're discussed.
To-day nearly all the states have some
degree of suffrage. New York and Mime
sofa have given women the power to vote
for county superintendent CT schools.
Illinois gives their vote on all school cleo
lions. including vote for trustees Of the
state university. Kansas allows them TO
vote at all city elections, and Wyoming
has given them full recognition, placing
them on level with the male voter. Two
OF the four territories, Arizona and Okla
homa, have granted woman suffrage in
school matters.
Delaware gives them school and munich
pal suffrage. Mississippi gives them vote
on some minor questions. Arkansas and
Missouri allow them a vote on license ques-
tions. Kentucky gives suffrage TO widowe
whose children attend schools. Tennessee
and Texas give them voting power on minor
matters. Most Of the states give women the
right to vote in business corporations of
which they are stockholders, aud nearly all
give them voice on questions Of local inn
provements.
But the women who are foremost in this
convention have given utternnce to their
sentiments in no weak manner. take the
following from the call issued for this con-
vention, and which breathes the spirit that
has controlled them in their long labors:
1.-THE mission OF the National American
Woman Suffrage Association is to awaken
public opinion TO the necessity of bringing
the practice of the United states govern
ment into harmony with It's PROPOSED prin-
ciples. Protesting itself a government Of
the people, 1t 10 actually an oligarcby OF
men. Protesting that the citizens of each
state shall be entitled 10 all privileges aud
immunities in the several states, this
United States governments permits the
states deliberately 20 deprive one-balf its
people-its womsn--of the only legitimate
means OF taking part IN the
government, the use OF the
ballot Such glsrlDg inconsistency