The San Francisco call., 1895-11-25
Why Nothing Was Said About
the Ballot at a Palace
Breakfast.
MRS. LowENBERGs POSITION.
The Much.Discussed Theme Tabooed by
Pioneer Organization-Laurel
Hall Club.

The ''old man" will still have q chance
to continue his roles of protector, bread
winner-in-chief and sturdy oak of the
human family if the Laurel Hall Club has
its way.
1t is notable fact that neither the toast
mistress nor any of the ladies who re-
sponded to toasts at the Laurel Hall Club
breakfast on Friday made any reference to
the ballot as woman's weapon. Consider
ing that all loyal suffragists have been
urged by their feminine Moses, Susan
B. Anthony, to advocate suffrage
on all public occasions, whether of
social, political or religious nature, and
that they have not been known to lose
such an opportunity since the last
woman's congress, this was especially
noticeable. Mrs. Sarah B. Cooper, who
though a recent convert to woman suf-
frage and is its ardent supporter, did not
mention any talismanic words in her ten
minute address on Literary Clubs"
This fact was the occasion of much COM
ment outside the club circles. Within
those circles It was we'll known that this
abstinence from arguments or appeals in
behalf of equal suffrage was mark of def
erence to views of the amiable hostess,
Mrs. l. Lowenberg, who is president not
only of the Laurel Hall Club, but the Philo-
math as we'll. She gave the breakfast at
the Palace Hotel in honor of the Laurel
Hall Club but invited a goodly represen-
tation from the Century ana ISorosis clubs,
and Woman's Press Association.
OF all these clubs the Philomath takes
probably the strongest stand against the
new woman, or the ballot-in-hand con-
ception of her, and next in the rank of
conservatism, with regard to the question
involved, is the Laurel Hall Club, the
pioneer of women's clubdom in San Fran
cisco.
While there are few members of both
clubs who may be found in suffrage ranks,
the large majority are opposed to it.
Mrs. Charles Freeman Johnson's re-
sponse to the toast, Man." Is said to
embody the sentiments of the club as an
organization. The lady said:
cat this era of the new woman toast to
man seems rather unmanageable, yet this
is mandate. | can express my senti-
mentS by asserting that marriage is the
best age in the world. Man: in any
capacity is power among us. In spite OF
the noisy fads he will go on loving and
protecting the fortunate woman whose
happiness it is to be in the shelter of his
strength.
$50 l say, may good fathers, brothers
and husbands multiply and continue as
from the beginning to help US make that
of love and mutual dependence unmarried
by any question of equality
This toast in contrast to the ''roast" the
male fraction of humanity is so likely to
receive at similar gatherings awoke hearty
applause, and the handshakings and in
formal Endorsements that followed would
warrant the spectator in believing that
man still has a chance for a reasonable
place in the estimation of his fair sisters il
he tries to be worthy of 1t.
Mrs. Lowenberg, the hostess on the oc-
casion of the tabooed topic, says mildly
that "she has not received the suffrage
idea" There is tacit understanding that
it is not to be discussed at the club meet
ings.
The officers of Laurel Hall Club are ::
Mrs. Lowen berg, president; Mrs. Thomas
w. Collins, Mrs. John Farnhan,, Mrs. R. S.
Fiske, Mrs. D. w. Guptill, Mrs. Russell
Wing, ce-presidents; Mrs. Irving Moul-
ton, secretary; Mrs. John T. Hill, corre-
spending secretary; Mrs. Stephen Roberts.
treasurer; Mrs. W. R. Parnell, Nine.
Emelia Tojetti, Mrs. ]. Brandt, Mrs. Ed
ward R. Taylor, Mrs. Philo D. Jewett,
Mrs. George Peterson, Mrs. Louis Vein
mann, executive committee.