The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-11-14
SWEETLY LOVINGLY
Must the Women Continue toWork
for Suffrage.
SAYS MRS. FOSTER TO THE LADIES

the " omen.
Yesterday afternoon as the hour drew
nigh. that had been designated by
! Mrs J. Ellen Foster when the Republican
women in Topeka should meet her in the
+ Copeland hotel parIors, an early conner
! might have discovered that one or two
women had dropped IN, who were not
1 particularly interested in the meeting or
its objects and aims, one or
two even. who actually had never
seen Mrs. Foster. But these were
/ only one or two at most, and the majority
! Of the sixty or seventy women gathered
/ there were mem bers of the W Omen's
+ Republican association, and came to re-
joice together over the victory, as we'll
TO do honor to their national presi-
dent.
Mrs. Minnie D. Morgan, the state presi-
/ dent of the association, was there, one Of
/ the most enthusiastic Republican women
f IL the state, hopeful and sanguine de-
lighted with the good work already done
X by the association and confident Of the
+ great good yet to be accom- plished by it.
Cottonwood Falls, Mrs. Morgan's home,
also has the honor Of being the home of
the first Woman's Republican association
+ in the state.
+ Mrs. L. c. Slime. the state organizer,
was there, ready to take the names of any
+ possible adhereats to the cause.
/ the local association was present; Mrs.
i Florence Covert, formerly state organ
+ izer, Mrs J. Q. Royce Of Phillips county
/ glad TO say that her county gave 200
majority for the suffrage amendment.
I lhen there were visitors from different
+ places and nearly all the members of
/ the local association.
+ As Mrs. Foster entered the room, one
/ Of the women before mentioned. who
! had never seen her, said in undertOne
i
4 erly looking woman Mrs. FOSTER Well
/ 1 never imagined she looked like that.
! Why she wears a bonnet! And what
dear little wave that is in her front hair,
and her hands look just like mother
hands; if their touch might be a ca
ress. After all my prejudice against it,
there seems to be some very intelligent,
some very good women interested
+ in politics. and she looked around
/ over the crowd with a long breath that
was very like sigh.
Perhaps she was disappointed that
there was no vestige Of the unfemTnine-
about Mrs Foster or her following. How
easy does ejudice make partisans of
US all.
Mrs. Foster talked hrst in that easy
conversational style Of hers that takes in
fifty a hundred listeners and sounds
/ as if it We're addressed to but one. She
said she was glad Of the opportunity
Z to meet the ladies' and rejoice over the
/ grand victory Just ACHE we'd
eWhile there may be a minor tone of
4 sadness in The pasan Of gladness sung by
/ the Repub lican women Of Kansas, when
/ they think of their beloved amendment
4 going down, they remember that they
/ are Republicans first and suhragists
/ afterwards
Among other things Mrs. Foster
said was: against my own convic-
tions, 1 asked the Republican conven-
ton to endorse the amendment; my own
judgment has always been TO the effect
that it is unsafe for a party to endorse a
movement before the Will of the people
as regards that movement has been made
known. The cause of suffrage has been
hurt by its seeming defenders and pro-
mOters; l am opposed to streng theniDg
the forces of unrig hteousness that right
eOusne5s may triumph; no cause can be
advanced by having for its advocates
women who talk to and about each other
after the fashion Of tishmOngers." The
applause here was loud and long.
Mrs Minnie Morgan spoke a few
minutes. Mrs. l. G. Slime told how the
cause had prospered, and illustrated her
remarks by telling of the wonderful
growth of associations that had been
organized all over the state under various
difficulties Mrs. 5. A. Thurston, when
called on to speak, said she had a repu-
tati0n for Just one thing knowing when
to keep still; but she followed this asser-
ton by a few well-timed remarks that
showed she also knew when to talk and
what to say As the meeting progressed
the hall outside filed up with men, aud
from their ranks several prominent Re
publicans came in and addressed q few
words to the ladies.
Among these were NIr. Cy. Leland.
Mr.. Lelands said. Il. am glad to know
you have helped the Republican party
and hope to see the time when you will
be able to help yourselves"
j. l. Bristow. secretary Of the state
central committee, com plimented the
women upon the excellent work done BY
the Republican women of the state and
fed their organization, inasmuch as the
returns had shown greater gains
wherever there had been u Woman's Re
/ publican club.
Governor elect Morrill, was brought in
and said: Il hope l shall be able to so
administer the affairs Of the state as to
meet the appreciation of the women Of
/ Kansas; this is my highest ambition"
Bernard Kelly then spoke particularly
/ of the relations Of women's work to the
! enforcement of the prohibitory law, and
said. Il beg the ladies to ask for the
better enforcement of the existing pro
hibitory law rather than for any new
legislation on that subject"
Mrs. Foster said in Introducing ex-
I Attorney General Bradford, "my and
your life long friend"
Mr.. Bradford said: 4 have had the
pleasant privilege of having dope much
work with Mrs Foster in the temper
ance cause.
In my opinions the Republican party
has today greater res ponsib Ility resting
upon it than ever before. During these
( Troublesome times we have taught the
people how to adversely criticise the er-
e..