The morning call., 1894-05-11
SARAH B. COOPER PRESIDES.
The Formation of Women's
Congress Society.
WILL HOLD ANNUAL MEETINGS
Some "Loud'' Theatrical Posters
RouHdiy Condemned-Taik About
Styles of Dressing.

Nearly every seat in the Unitarian
church was filled yesterday afternoon.
when the-Oakland session of the Woman's s
men were present. and these were well
along in years as general thing.
1t was 80 o'clock when the meeting
was called to order by Mrs. Sarah B.
Cooper. who presided in the absence of
Mrs. John Vance Cheney. The reports
were read by Mrs. Ada Van Pelt
a report of the committee on organiza-
tion was read, in which there was pro-
vided as permanent organization a
Woman's Congress Association of the
Pacific This body will meet annually in
the leading coast cities. Mrs. Cheney
was chosen as president for the first year.
A vice-presdent Will be selected from each
Congressional district, and as respond
ing secretary Mrs. ]. T. Gaden was
chosen, while Mrs. Van Pelt was elected
secretary.
The programme for the afternoon was
as follows: Economics in Finance" Mrs.
Alice Moore McComas of Los Angeles
IAN AIl-round Woman OF Antiquity" "
Rev Ada c. BOwles Of Pomona; Indus
trial ART" Miss Catherine NJ. Ball of
Mrs. Bowles sent physicians certif-
cate which stated that she was too i'll to
attend, and her space was filed by other
ladies on various subjects intelligenily dis
cussed.
On the subject. Economies in Finance"
Mrs. McComas read from notes and han
died her subject well. She dwelt in the
beginning on the natural advantages which
America possesses over most countries on
the globe, and before she got far into her
subject il was apparent she was strong on
silver as money.
After the address questions were called
for and several ladies espOnded, but few
questions resulted, each lady making a
few remarks of her own on the subject
uDpermOst in her mind.
Mrs. Scipio Craig. wife of the Southern
California editor, spoke of woman suffrage
in South Australia. and Miss Catherine
NJ. Ball, the correct dress refOrmer of
Chicago, told a laughable story of how
herself and some other Chicago teachers
got rid of a Democratic secretary of
Chicago school board by beating him in
politics.
Mrs. Helen Campbell related her ex-
periences in the South, and compared the
women of the South with those of the
North on the question of suffrage.
Miss Ball, who is an interesting talker,
next addressed the congress on Indus
trial Art"
Mrs. Campbell then announced that she
wanted the prayers of the congrega-
tion for the company of 100 Den
yer women who had resolved boldly
on making a dress reform movement. She
said she did not know in detail what this
garb was, but that it had originated in
Boston. and that the Syrian costume was
one phase of il.
Mrs. Galpin was here called to the plat
form and spoke her mind on the evils of
the billboard pictures which infest our
cities, saying that the average picture of
the average theatrical company of the
present day was enough 10 make woman
blush with shame.
Mrs. MeROberts took the platform and
said that until woman can free and
does free herself from the many trammels
surrounding her she should not be entitled
TO vote. Who are the women who are
healthy? Surely not those who dress ac-
cording TO fashions dictations.
Two able speakers addressed the con-