Birmingham age-herald., 1895-02-01
THE WOMAN SUFFRAGlSTS Open Their Twenty-Seventh An
 nual Session in Atlanta. A SOUTHERN WELCOME
WELCOME
Accorded the Convention-An Alabamian Prominent as the
 Only Woman Voter.

ATLANTA, Jan. 31.-rhe twenty. annual convention of the National Ameri- can Woman's Suffrage association was called 10 order by Mrs. Susie B. Anthony at DeGive's opera house this morning at 10 o'clock. In her opening speech of salu- tation she called attention to the fact that the gavel she held iu her hand was the identical instrument that was used by the speaker of the Wyoming house of repre- sentatives that called to order the first legislative body declaring in favor oi equal rights to women. Her appearance on the platform was the signal for hearty out burst of enthusiasm.
 She expressed her qualification at seeing such large number of delegates present, representing every section of the country. She paid glowing tribute to the efforts of woman suffragists in Colorado, Wyoming and Oregon. characterizing Colorado as the first republic, in fact as well as in name, that the world had ever produced. She expressed the pleasure which she de- rived in calling to order the first national convention 10 assembls south of the Mason and Dixon line, and expressed the pleasure in 1t it gave her to meet with women of the south.
  convention was devoted to the hearing of special reports, which were interesting. A large crowd of spectators filled the opera house.
 At night, however, the crowd was dense, iu spite of the admission fee. It was quite evident to the convention that if the people of Atlanta were not in favor of woman suf- frage they were al least glad of an oppor- tunity to hear the speakers.
 The session was opened with prayer by . tto sal, r,uAo faru
 peal in behalf of the suffrage movement. This was followed by several addresses of welcome.
 MT. Bennett J. Conyers, brilliant young attorney of this city, delivered tie address of welcome in behalf of the south. He was followed by Mrs. M. L. McLen- don, who greeted the association in behalf of the state, and Maj. Charles W. Hubner, who expressed the welcome of the city. Miss Anthony, fn graceful spsech. re- ST o uded to these various addresses of well come and briefly outlined the suffrage movement. She was presented to the au- dience by Miss Augusta Howard, one of the brightest young members of the asso- citation.
 A hearty response in behalf of the Ma tional American Woman's Suffrage associ- ation was made by Mrs. Lilie Devereux Blake, who created no small amount of en- husasm.
 In the absence of Mrs. Dora Phelps
 
 president of the Tennessee state associa- | ton, was presented to the convention and made rousing plea in behalf of the moth CTS of the land, who were entitled to the right of suffrage and should be allowed to exercise 1t in behalf of their children. Mrs. Chapman Taylor of Colorado was | introduced as the only woman voter in the
 convention. She merely acknowledged her introduction in graceful speech aud | then retired.
 | Miss Anthony stated that Mrs. Taylor was born in Alabama and the south should be proud of her as representing the culture | and ref finement of her womanhood. The last speaker was Mrs. Elizabeth U. | Yates of Maine, who captured her audi | ence completely. She paid a graceful | tribute to the southern people and ex-
 pressed her happiness in being among them. She made prophecy in which she portrayed the late opponent of the woman suffrage movement skeleton on ex- hibition at the Worlds fair of 1892. The suffragists will be in session until next Monday. Rev. Anna Shaw de-
 flyers the annual sermon on Sunday afler- noon at o'clock.