Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-16

Miss Anthony in the Chnfr

L he HTSl business OF the morning session
after the reading of the minutes of yester-
day was the report of the credentials COM
mittee by the chairman, Mrs. Harriet Tay-
lor Upton. Prior to this, however, a num-
Der of proposed amendments to the by
laws were read and laid over for action
later in the convention. Mrs. Upton had nc
formal report to make just yet, owing to
the fact that the financial books had been
forwarded by express and had got snow
bound on the route. For the same reason
she was unable TO make her report as treas
urer of the association.
Mrs. Avery's Report.
The report of the corresponding secretary
Mrs. Rachel Foster Avery. was a most en-
couraging document In the course of ii
Mrs. Avery said that the advances along
the line of woman suffrage have been very
great and unusually encouraging. even for
these encouraging times. The splendid and
almost unhoped for victory in Colorado had
prepared all for more devoted work. even
in the face of difficulties which may appear
insurmountable Among all the rejoicings
none had seemed so significant of a change
in public sentiment as the rejoicingS of tie
Wellesley students over the Colorado vic
tory. When the girls who are receiving
the higher education. which is one IF :he
first fruits of the struggle for political
rights, are awakening to the underlying
principle of justice between the sexes the
future of the cause was Mrs. Avery said,
pointed hopes of the women of Michis gan
and New York. where certain laws on the
subject of woman suffrage had been de-
clared unconstitutional. Speaking of New
York, she asked what cared the woman
there at this great crisis of their political
history. They were organizing the grand
est campaign for equality of rights that the
country had yet seen. Looking further
away from home We find, said the report.
the past year made memora BILE in woman
suffrage annals by the extension of the
franchise to the women of New Zealand,
and by their eager and enthusiastic entry
into political life at the late election, when
one-third of the votes were cast by the
women and when the proportion of defect
i've ballots was smaller than ever before.
In England the women have, in spite Of
the government opposition, been endowed
with the parish councils franchise in COM
pany with several classes of men now en-
franchsed.
AS a member of the National Council of
Women, the association had the opportun-
ity said the report, of bringing it's prn-
cipleS 10 the notice of women who would
never of their own motion attend a suffrage
meeting. The next public meeting of the
council, which will be held in this city next
spring, would prove an immense help to
the woman suffrage cause in showing the
interest of women of all creeds and inter
ests in the public questions which are agi-
tating the nation.
Mrs. Avery suggested that the Pilgrim
Mothers dinner. originated IN New York
by Mrs. Blake and others, was an annual
gathering which 1t would be well to in
that the ministers who favor equality for
woman should be urged to preach at least
once year upon that theme. Womci!
must feel it their chief work now to cryS