The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-04
Ministers Declare WOman's
Day of Power Is Nigh
at Hand.
a TALK ON THE CONGRESS
Tributes to Her Late
Colleagues.

of the Woman's Congress. Mrs. Cooper
said:
The Wo.nan's Congress of the Pacific Coast
for 1895 will never be forgotten. 1t has be-
come part of the unique history of this West
ern world. As in the woman's branch of the
Worlds Congress, so also here during the
weeks past, each participant has been moved
by the desire to assist in properly focusing the
last and best thought developed, not only in
regard 10 the home, but also in regard to the
various outlying departments of the worlds
work, IN which women take brave and heroic
part. All have brought their votiVe offerings
TO assist in building up the fair temple of "The
Home" And ii may just truly be said of
this late congress as it was said of the World
Congress, the influence emanating from these
great OVERLOOKING meetings from day 10 day
the influence for good-can never be eSti-
mated, Tor the words spoken and spread broad
cast through the medium OF the press will be
felt far and wide; their influence will never
die.
These words express, not only the actual con-
dltlonS and potent forces which are working
for good to-day, but also the influences that lie
just back of them, which will make possible q
better and happier tomorrow. Such meetings
are great inspiration to all the women work
ers who have had the privilege of attending
them. Hundreds and thousands who
have not been privileged to attend viii also
feel the influence from those who have caught
the spirit that pervaded the meetings, and will,
in turn, convey it to those whom they meet
And l trust and pray that the womanhood
OF the coast and OF the world will indeed arise
to the greatness of the responsibility and the
opportunity which opens before her.
This congress was born in the Women's Press
Association OF the Pacific Coast. The great
Worlds Congress gave the hint to what
might be done on smaller scale. The history
OF the movement dates back TO August, 1893,
when the Pacific Coast Women'S Press Associa-
ton (of which l am proud to say am charter
member), foreseeing the opportunity for dis
cusSion of the great questions of the day. took
the initiative steps toward the Inauguration
OF auxiliary congresses. Preliminary meetings
were held at the Hotel Renton in this City,
and were attended by representatives OF
twenty-five women's organizations of San
Francisco and of adjacent towns.
The idea OF congresses met with enthusiastic
approval, and the result of these meetings was
the appointment of a board of congresses to
arrange for Woman's Congress and to sug-
gest general congresses. The board of mana
gers OF the Woman's Congress was organized
October II, 1898, and has since then carried
on the work OF the congress.
Mrs. Cooper read extracts from the
printed address, published before the
meeting of the recent congress, and gave a
resume of what had happened during the
congress:
The first day was devoted to 'eThe Home and
Education" Beginning with the great divine
law OF Hereditary Influence" it passed on to
EARLY Home ENVIRONMENT and the Higher
Education as 1t Affects the Home.''
The second day was devoted to 1.-THE Home
and Esthetics," showing the function of art in
the home, the social value of music in the
home and showing how TO secure its advance
ment. The elements of good taste were well
brought out in a fine discussion OF the several
papers.
The third day was full of interest
Economics" occupied the day. The home
industries OF the past present and future
were compared; the subject of domestic
service brought dozen women to their feet at
time, so eager were they for discussion
"Does Home Life Forbid World Service?"
opened up a theme that covered the woman
SIS CHI,
that the women who were the best home
makers were the most efficient in their work
outside of home.
The fourth day was devoted to 1.-THE Home
and Politics" 1t was the great day of the feast
And well was it for the congress that
the capacious and beautiful auditorium of
the First Congregational Church had been
graciously rendered the congress on the second
day OF the session. To say that the vast audi
torlum was thronged-packed running over
Goes not cover the ground. 1t was estimated
that between 1900 and 1900 were turned away
after filling the entire building, including the
aisles and corridors, to their utmost capacity
1t was a wonderful sight, full of suggestive
import What brought them there in such
eager throngs, this great mass of humanity?
There they stood, three hours at time
listening in breathless attention. This means
something. God is in it. The two magnificent
women, Miss Anthony and Miss Shaw, occu-
pied much of the entire day The peopie were
fairly wild to hear them. The silence was al
most breathless, so intent was that vast audi
ence on catching every word. The closing ad-
C1tizenshlp?" was perfect masterpiece of
logic and oratory. 1t fairly bristled with facts
and statistics; every sentence was trained
down to fighting weight. and there was a mas
terly eloquence, born of the union of profound
Thought, welded to clear luminous diction
Miss Shaws utterances are enlivened and
1llumlned by flashes of wit and humor-a
wit that serves as buckler to defend by
handsome reply, and never as a sword to
wound, no matter how captivatingly facetious
she may be.
Her vigorous thoughts beget vigorous words.
and sparkling humor ripples brook-like,
through all her generaliZations
Precision OF statement; that skill and nicely
In the handling OF political terms, which modu-
late the very tones of her voice: that
readiness which reveals an intellectual train
Ing that mas become second nature; that easy,
self-contalned confidence based on the largest
preparation; that logical arrangement which
gives the assurance that back of eyerv proposi-
ton is a SOLID column to support it, if attacked;
that strength and symmetry OF expression
which carry the conviction that behind Mt
terance there is a fullness of expression that
floods every sentence with meaning and thai
every word vital force. The intellectual and
the emotional are marvelously blended in this
woman.
Miss Susan B. Anthony closed this great
day OF the feast, speaking on the
subject, t1nfluence or Power = which,"
This, too, was masterpiece of logic and
showed conclusivefy that in order to secure
the highest possible results there must he
combination OF power and influence Just as
power with influence, so must it be in the gov
eminent OF the state; not only must there he
woman's influence, but also woman's power
as represented by the ballot. Second hand in
fuence and secondhand power is not enough
Woman is an individual, and responsible in
dividualism is the basis of republican fnstitu-
tons.
Miss Anthony's strong and convincing logic
met with round after round of rapturous an
plause, and at the close of the mastery argT-
ment the vast audience would not be silenced
until this great, heroic apostle of woman's en-
reimbursement came to the front of the Mat
form. She seized the opportunity for suggest
ing that her soul would be satisfied if in 1895
the Legislature of California would adopt the
suffrage amendment by eliminating the word
male from the constitution. This ouick
sally was received with deafening applause
1t is simple truth TO say that Miss An
thony is held in reverent affection and
honor by all thoughtful men and
women because of her noble, self-sacrificing
devotion to the cause of woman. For more
than fifty, years this magnificent woman has
conseerated her mighty talents and energies
TO the uplifting of woman. Through evil re-
port and good report she has stood steadfast
and immovable, counting not her own life
dear unto herself in order to bring on better
day for her own sex. She has lived to see the
fruition of her hopes. Grand and glorious
womanl Her life, still rich and strong and
vigorous, is the glorious contamination of all
the grand years that have preceded.