Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-17
Interior Paints.
KANSAS Equal SpFFR AGISTS.
They Predict a Sweeping Victory IL
That State.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star
TOPEKA, Kan, May II, 1891.
Ten days ago the equal suffragists of Kan
sas commenced what they designated "a
grand sweep of the state" which is nothing
less than a series of mass meetings in the
interest of the pending suffrage amendment
to be held iE the l05 counties of Kansas
prior 20 the election in November. The
leaders of the suffrage movement here have
brought to their aid the ablest advocates of
female suffrage in the country, including
such wel-known women as Susan b. An
ttony, Anna Shaw, Carrie Lane Chapman
Gait and others.
The first half dozen meetings have been
held in the larger cities, and the intense in
terest which has already been aroused has
opened the eyes of the politicians and con-
fronts them with a very perpleXing PROB
lem. The republican and populist state con-
ventions will be held within the next thirty
days the former on June and the latter
June l.. The suffrage meetings thus far
held have aroused the women as well as the
men who favor the adoption of the amend
ment and out of this strong sentiment
comes a demand for the Endorsement of the
question in the two platforms.
The republicans, who must first yield to
o. refuse the demands for a plank, are be-
ginning to realize that they are confronted
with a very troublesome proposition. Until
recently the leaders of both parties OPP
posed any mention of the suffrage question
in the platforms. The republican women
were the first to advise this course, because,
they said, 1t would be the best for the suf
frage cause. They did not want to make 1t
a partisan question. Mrs. Laura NJ. Johns.
the president of the Kansas Equal Suffrage
Association, promulgated a letter TO the
friends OF suffrage two months ago, in
which she advocated this course. Mrs.
Johns was advised to do this by Mrs. j.
Ellen Foster of Iowa, who insisted that a
victory for republicanism in Kansas was
paramount to all other issues. Mrs. Johns
position was commended by the republican
press and leaders. and the result was that
republicans generally conceded with her.
At this time the populists were maintain
ing a silence which the opposition could not
understand. When the. leaders talked they
predicted that no reference would be made
in their platform to woman suffrage. This
pleased the republicans, because 1t Is the
desire nearest their hearts. But they have
recently learned that it will not do to take
for granted all that the populists say. They
realize now that resolution declaring for
the suffrage amendment will be incorporat-
ed in the platform to be made by the popu-
list state convention to be held June T.
This fact has caused the republican leaders
a great deal of concern, and while ii is their
present intention to evade that issue, they
are not unmindful of the prestige 1t will
give the new party.
In all the meetings now being held in the
state in the interest of equal suffrage the
national leaders, who are daily addressing
immense audiences, do not hesitate to say
that the amendment will carry in Kansas
and that the women of this state in future
elections will stand with the party that now
has the courage to plant itself on the side
Of justice long delayed.