The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-10
THEIR CLEVER IDEA.
Becky Sharp Tells of the Kansas
Women's Plans.
A BEAUTIFUL SUFFRAGIST IMPORTED
From Colorado to Plead the SuRrasIst
Cause Before the Legislature.


not by any means the smaller. proportion
of these are women.
The lobbyists of the hour are the
women who desire the resubmission of
the suffrage amendment
OF course, they are only one body of
the element represented by the gentler
sex in the lobbying business; but that
would indeed be poor appreciation of
their tactics. which failed to show any
recognition of the fact that they should
no longer be referred to as the weaker
sex, so much does their strength lie in
the fact that they are learning more
and more every day-if not 10 fight
men with their own weapons
to at least attack them at their most
vulnerable points, with the particular
weapon best adapted to the sort Of war
fare on at the moment; on the theory
perhaps, that all things are fair in politics
as in love and war
While the suffragists are all, or nearly
all new women" they cherish the some
what old fashioned idea that good looks
are potent factor in winning men. The
possessor of good looks at least has
chance of attracting attention for mo-
ment, and once attract Il mans attention
to good looks and half the battle is won.
While the new woman personally,
scorns such subterfuge, she is clever
enough to want to conciliate the powers
that be, and consequently her prettiest
representative generally does the lobby
ing she has to do.
The members appreciate this, know;
| heard one of them say SO yesterday
Early in the day. / met Mrs Althea
Briggs Stryker, of Great Bend, president
of the State Equal Sutfra &c association.
She was accompanied by Mrs. Thornton,
a CO. worker who has recently become
associated with the ladies who want the
suffrage amendment resubmitted.
Mrs. Stryker is a Populist, but for the
time being at least, she is d sutfragist
first and a Populist afterward. she was
the only woman who at the Holton con-
vention strongly opposed any party en-
dorsement of the amendment; when,
however that was decided on, she work
ed hard for its success
Today she is working just as hard for
its resubmiSslOn.
said: Mrs. Stryker, don't you be-
lieve that this move is a mistake, when
the people have SO recently decided
against III"
only doing the same thing the Republi-
cans have done. The people decided
against them two years ago and this fall
were asked to reconsider that decision"
"But they did not ask so soon,' [ sug
gested.
said.
is Mrs Lease working in sympathy
with your
Not practically; but she is, l am sure,
in touch with US. We, Mrs. Potts, Mrs.
Lyon and Mrs. Thornton, are going now
to see several members We want a
Shawnee man, if possible, to Introduce
our bill"
Mrs. Thornton has done very
little suffrage work, but she is. as one of
the women expressed it, just the person
to be a successful lobbyist"
She is the niece of the lieutenant gov
ernor of Colorado, and the daughter in
law of Chief Justice Thornton of Illinois,
and she hasn't a vestige of ''new woman"
look about her. She is tall, willowy,
graceful, fine looking, with wealth of
gold brown hair becomingly arranged
about face that is tinted like peach
blossom. Her attire is stylish, 'chic"; d
dark grey dress, the skirt of the latest
style and chang" with long dark blue
| coat over it, that sets off her fine figure
admirably; and becoming hat over the
| beautiful hair completes her charming
costume.
! One of the prominent workers said
| today, sit is such ladies we need in our
! cause; why, when a number of US went
before the ministerial union with our Pc
titions, they treated us as though we had
! been pickpockets; but when Mrs Stry-
ker went to them with her pleasant face,
| things were all changed
Mrs. Stryker, by the way, has a
remarkably pleasant face and man
ner. As we walked along she
said: eve will have DR.. Emily New
comb, our vice president, with us again
in d day or two. We are very hopeful:
there are women and men working for
the resubmission of the amendment who
never worked for suffrage before" As
it was Mrs. Stryker's idea that only the
elect would better appear before such
/ august personages as the mem bers, and
| that newspaper woman could have no
possible interest i'll suffrage or anything
else that did not admit OF pushing her
j pencil into, it was decided that [ would
be left out of the Copeland hotel parlor
caucus.
The ladies went there and sent for one
of the Shawnee members. He came
smiling and affable; all members are
! The ladies were anxious to have a bill
introduced for the resubmission of the
suffrage amendment; would "AIr. Gar
denhire lend his influence to it." Yes
Mr.. Gardenhire would support it. as
would number of the members whose
promise the ladies had secured.
After little more talk on the subjec
the member started to fetch some paper:
the ladies wanted, aud l. who, like ''the
Peri at the gate without. had stood dis
consulate, waylaid him in the hall, ar
anxious seeker for information.
''Do you know who will introduce the
bill:" / asked him.
senator Householder has introduced
it in the senate; l don't know who will
introduce it in the house"
The ladies had their political faith an
chored in. Col. Veal, and from the Cope
land went to his Office. Mrs Thornton
who adds to her other fine qualities tina
of being good talker, approached hin
at once and asked him to introduce tn,
bill and to push it, saying the ladies ha
No money to spond Stayiup around bor