The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-29

in the capacity of president. Mrs. Blinn
holds this position in the State association.
One thing which impresses the visitor
to these meetings is the manifest earnest
ness of those who are enlisted in the work.
They are not only doubly in earnest, but
they are we'll equipped with argument to
sustain every position they take upon the
subject which forms the foundation Of
their ganiZati0n.
One of the most interesting talks deliv-
cred during the afternoon was that by
Mrs. VI. S. Singer of New York. who
spoke of the status of women in that
State, giving an outline of the position she
sustained in regard TO politics and what
1t was hoped would be accomplished by
earnest and united effort on the part of
their friends in the future
The most of the time, however, was
taken up by parliamentary debate, inaug-
urated for the purpose of familiarizing the
ladies with the intricacies of parliament
tary law. There were points of order,
questions of privilege and other features
of the proceedings OF deliberative bodies
argued at length and with remarks bic
intelligence and force. denoting close
study of the ground which was being gone
over The debates, in fact, were OF such
an interesting nature that the participants
were decidedly adverse to stopping. and
some OF them asserted a Willingness TO
remain all night if necessary.
The question which caused the most dis
cussi0n was as 10 the DTactca bility of di-
viding the city into districts for the pur-
pose of circulating suffrage petitions, and
the affirmative position was sustained
upon vote of the house.
Mrs. L. S. Anderson led the affirmative
forces, and the principal point made by
her was that by the circulation of the petit
tons each individual voter would be
BOD I'D hot furf mo-. bo. 4
which would set the people 10 thinking.
Mrs. Wells was the leader of those who
sustained the negative, and was ably as
sisted by Mrs. Smediey and others. 1t
was claimed by these that petitions would
have no effect, because the men would
know that those who circulated them were
not voters and consequently would give
them but little attention. They thought
that two women could do more by going
before the Legislature and properly pre-
senting their case than a hundred could do
with petitions.
Still another objection urged against
the petition project was that petitions, as
a rule, were ineffective. One of the speak,
ers referred to the ease with which sigma
lures could be obtained, men signing al
most every paper presented to them simply
10 order to escape from the persuasive
elOquence of the person who mad the petit
ton In hand. This being generally
kOOWD. bHe Qay Hdu pdoSou WDen Sucn
methods of attaining desired end we're
effective.
Mrs. Blinu, in speaking of tile meeting
last night, said that they hoped to go be-
fore the Legislature and succeed in ac-
complishing something at the next session
of that body. She also expressed much
faith in the stand taken by the Republican
party on the question at issue, and said
that, although politi cs and religion we're
tabooed by the organization of which she
was a member, they yet naturally hoped
for much from political powers which
were in sympathy with their movement.
Mrs. Blinn also said that during the
discussion yesterday afternoon the ques-
ton arose as to whether the proposition
applied TO the city alone or the State at
large, and that it was announced that the
city only was referred to at present, but
that the Slate president expected TO make
the same part of the work OF all the dis
trict PLANTATIONS in the near future
Many ladies were present yesterday who
were anxious to speak. but only small
portion of them found an opportunity.