The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-09-26
WOMEN WANT SUFFRAGE.

The Calm After the Storm-The Dele
gates Listen to tho Advocates OF Wo-
man Suffrage.
In the constitutional convention on
the 17th inst. everything was as serene
and placid as the surface of u lake on a
suitry day. There was not even an
echo OF yeste rday's battle of words.
his committee hearing q contest was
not in the hall during the morning
session. or course, the sensational
events of yesterday has been the sub
Ject discussed by every knot of mon.
The news that Irby had SO severely
handled his erstwhiIe bosom friend was
q surprise It, will take many some time
to recover from.
Tho convention was in session only
about half an hour today, owing TO the
fact that none of the committees wore
ready to report a flood Of new ordi-
nances aud resolutions wore received,
and then the convention took o recess
until . p. m., on motion Of Col. Aid
rich, to hear speeches from all advo-
Gates of the cause Of woman's suffrage
who wished to address the convention
Col. Aldrich stated that they had
the right that any citizen had to be
heard, and to present their grievances.
The convention agreed to it without
trouble.
During the day several important
ordinances were introduced among
them were ordinances to regulate the
suffrage in various ways, to engraft
the dispensary laws main fentures in
the constitution, to MAKE education
compulsory, to prevent favOritiSm in
awarding contracts for public printing,
etc.
General Robert Smalls. the negro
who was member Of the reconstruct
tion convention, introduced an ordi-
nance containing the article on the suf-
| trage In the present constitution. |.
H. Read, col0red, today introduced an
antl-lynching ordinance providing for
| the summary dismissal of any officer
of the law who allows q prisoner to
suffer any bodily harm while in his
custody.
This evening the galleries were pack
ed to their utmost capacity with specta-
| tors, mostly ladies, to hear the speeches
of the advocates of woman's suffrage.
1t was one of the largest audiences ever
seen in the hall. Addresses were made
by Miss Laura Nj. Clay, of Kentucky,
the noted advocate of the cause; Mrs.
Virginia d. Young, president of the
Equal Rights Association, and Mrs.
Viola Neblett, vice president of the
association. They we're most atten-
lively listened to, and seemed well
pleased with the attention shown
them by the convention. The speeches
were unusually strong. The reasons
for woman's suffrage were presented
in u forcible manner.
Gov. Evans, introduclngsMiss Clay,
took occasion to say that it was sup.
posed chat they were the sovereign
power, but that was not so; woman
was there to speak for herself. He
paid high tribute to the great
| Kentucky statesman, Henry Clay, in
introducing his relative, and said
"Who knows but that this relative
Of the famed COMPROMISED may be here
now to cause history to repeat itself so
far as our State is concerned"
! At the conclusion Of the speeches
| Mr.. McCown offered a resolution,
asking for its immediate considera-
tiou, that the committee on suffrage
| be requested to report to the convcn-
tion an article providing for woman 5
suffrage. Mr.. McCown was going too
fast though, nearly three times ten
members objected to the Immediate
consideration and it went to tho com
| mittee.