The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-23
THEY FUSED.
Women at the Suffrage Conven-
tion Quarrel.
Bill for Officers Salaries
Starts 1t.
REPUTATION WINS
Topeka Women In 1t as Usual
and Succeed.
Election of Officers Makes Mrs.
Case Treasurer.

EUREKA, Kan, Nov est was the
question of salaries that upset the peace
full feeling of the state convention of the
Equal Suffrage association.
A bill had been presented the associa-
ton for past salaries of its officers as fol-
lows: Mrs. Johns as president $9s2; Mrs.
Hopkins as corresponding secretary, ,$257,
and DR.. Tiffany as treasury, $40.
Mrs L. o. Case of Topeka, the first
speaker, read the circular letter gotten
out by the executive committee in which
they urged the ladies of the different
auxiliaries to consider the subject of
raising money to pay the State Equal
Suffrage association officers their past
salaries, which amounted to 81 800. In a
postscript the letter stated that the sala-
ries were voted to these officers in the
annual meeting of 1887.
Mrs. Case stated she had been sur
prised; indeed, she felt discouraged,
when we had just met such a defeat. and
then to be confronted with this debt of
$1,000; she did not understand any action
had been taken on this question since
the convention of 1887. She was in
favor of paying honest debts, but as no
mention had been made of this in the
| last three or four conventions she did not
consider it legal.
DR.. Harding remembered of the salary
being voted at Newton in 1887. but dis
tinctly recalled an article published last
year during the campaign which stated
the &. Z. S. A. president did not now nor
never had received any money for her
services. Mrs. Thurston, of Topeka, told
the ladies that she had attended one con-
vention since 1887 where the question
of these salaries had been discussed, and
that to make it perfectly legal it should
| either have been voted upon at each an
nual meeting or embodied in the con-
stitution, but she believed that all
the oldest and many of the new mem
! bers were aware of the debt, and while it
| did not comply with all the technical
legal points it was moral debt. and a
moral obligation should be more binding
to women that a legal one, and she very
much hoped the ladies would not repudi-
ate moral debt.
Mrs. Johns, by permission, made a
| few remarks. in which she said she con-
sidered these three debts we're due these
officers and she hoped the convention
would decide to pay them, but"
said she, 81 want to say, my
tire share shall go into the state
treasury. l would not touch a dollar of
it." When she finished women were on
their feet, begging recognition and Civ
ing evidence of having a solution to the
problem. Miss Ella Green, the travelling
saleswomap, made short, concise state
ment, in a business-like manner arguing
against a legal debt that had no official
records to back it, but urging the women
by donation to pay all moral obligations.
which did not meet the approval of the
| friends of Mrs. Johns. The matter was
! finally laid over but when called up
again large majority decided not TO
! rppnoniZa the Gahf a9 a 1enal or moral
obligation.
I he time had now come for election of
officers The informal ballot for presi-
dent gave them three candidates, Mrs.
| Addison. Mrs. Royce and Mrs. Case. The
two receiving the highest number we're
balloted upon The final ballot resulted
in the selection of Mrs. Katie R. Addi-
son of Eureka, the president of the
| Fourth district, woman who has the
universal respect of the entire as
sociation. The balloting for vice
president gave them Mrs. Royce
and Mrs. Bobbitt as candidates. Mrs.
| Royce withdrew her name. and Mrs
Bobbitt of Winfield, was declared the
vice president. Other officers were
| elected on the first ballot: Treasurer,
Mrs. L. o. Case, of Topeka; Recording
| Secretary, Mrs. Laura Greggs, of Gar
nett; Corresponding Secretary, Ray Nc
1AtJEo Vi IIDOEdQO. LIZ. EUl4y
| Newcomb of Kansas City; Parlismenta-
rian, Mrs. Hutchinson of Hutchinson.
Delegates we're then chosen to attend
the national convention in Washington,
D. G., in February, which resulted in
Mrs. Addison, DIR. Harding, Mrs Royce,
Miss Helen Kimber and Mrs. Johns as
members from Kansas of national execu-
| tive committee.
Some discussions regarding the state
mem bership which has caused SO much
trouble, was finally voted down. The
report of the plan of work committee
and resolutions committee were, after a
very little discussion, adopted as read
A committee of the following ladies was
appointed to revise the constitution: Mira
L. o. Case of Topeka, Mrs S. A. Thurs
ton of Topeka, Mrs. Mary E. Haines of
Augusta, Mrs. B. Baird of Eureka; Mrs
Emma Albright of Winfield. The next
annual meeting will be held in Topeka