The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-02-01
WOMAN SUFFRAGISTS.
OPENING OF THE ANNUAL SESSIoN
OF THE Ma TIONAL ASSOCIATION.
Although an Admission Fee Was Charged
the HaIl Was Crowded With the Gu
rious at Night Session.

ATLANTA. GA. Jan. a.-The twenty
seventh annual convention Of the National
Women's Suffrage Association was cdhed
to order by Mrs. Susan B. Anthony at lie
Gives opera House this morning at
o'clock In her opening speech Of salu-
tation. she expressed the pleasure which
she derived in calling to order the first
national convention to assemble south OF
M1son and Dixon's line. aud the pleasure
that IL gave her to meet with the Wo-
men of the South. At the conclusion OF
her speech she presented Rev. Anna II.
Shaw to the convention, who offered the
prayer OF invocation. She designated the
Almighty God as the mother of all man
kind.
4 roll Of the States was then called
by the recording secretary, Miss Alice
Stone Blackwell. and over thirty states
were found to be represented.
The strength Of the convention will be
considerably augmented by later arrivals.
committee on credentials was appointed
to see all the delegates present were
properly authorized to represent their re-
spective State organizations. number
Of reports from the different States We're
made the most interesting being that
from Colorado. II was shown by one DEL
egate that Colorado had three women in
her State Legislature, and that woman
suffrage had not made women of that
state unwOmanly. After the reports Of
the states were read a committee from
the Woman's Christian Temperance Union
was presented 10 the association
The afternoon session Of the convention
was devoted to the hearing Of special re-
ports all of which were interesting A
large crowd Of the spectators filled the
opera house. At night, however, the
crowd was dense, in spite Of the admis
sion fee. II was quite evident TO the con-
ventlon that If the people of Atlanta
were not in favor Of woman suffrage
they were at least, glad Of an opportuni-
~ TO hear the speakers. The session was
opened with prayer by the Jewish Rabbi
who made a fervent appeal in behalf OF
the suffrage movement. This was follow
ei by several addresses Of welcome. Air.
Bennett j. Conyers, a brilliant young at
torney of this city. delivered the audress
Of welcome I'm behalf Of the South. he
was followed by Mrs NJ. l.. McLendon
who greeted the association in behalf or
the State. ana Major Charles ". Hub
ner. who expressed the welcome Of the
city.
Miss Susan r. Anthony in a graceful
speech. responded to the various adj
dresses Of welcome. and briefly outlined
the suffrage movement She was present
ed to the audience by Miss Augusta
Howard. one Of the brightest young mem
bers Of the association.
a hearty response in behalf Of the Ma
tional American Woman's Suffrage Asso-
citation was made by Mrs. lille Deve-
rauX Blake, who created no small amount
of enthusiasm. In the absence Of Ms.
Dora Phelps Buell. Of Colorado Slrs.
Merweather, the president of the Ten
nessee State Association. was pfesented
to the convention. and made a rousing
plea in behalf OF the mo he's Of the lana.
who were entitled TO the right Of suffrage
and should be allowed 10 exercise IL in
behalf Of their children.
Mrs. Chapman Taylor of Colorado, was
introduced as the only woman voter in
the convention. She mere acknowledg ii
her Introduction in a graceful speech and
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 refinement Of her woman
hood.
The last speaker was Mrs. E.iZ ibeth L.
Yates, of Maine, who captured her au-
dence completely She paid a IRA ,eful
tribute to the Southern Peep o. and ex-
pressed her happiness in being amongs,
them. She made a prophecy, in whi
she portrayed the last opponent of the
woman suffrage movement as a skeleton
on exhibition at the Worlds Fair Of IS >
All the speeches were good and the peo-
pie of Atlanta, If the session tonight
affords any indication. are ce ply inter
ested in the work Of the convention.
The suffraGists will be in session until
next Monday morning.