The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-31
MRS. CLARA FOLTz' AD|EU
A Representative Lady AdVo-
cate Says a Last Public
Word.
FOUNDED THE PoRTIA CLUB.
A Parting Address in Which Woman:
Part in Government Is Strongly
Indicated.

With the fourth public evening OF the
Portia Law Club held last night at Beet
hoven Hall on Post street, Mrs. Clara
FoltZ made her last appearance before a
San Francisco audience. She celebrated
her farewell to the club, of which she is
dean, by making an extemporaneous ap-
peal 10 women 70 learn the laws of their
country, that the knowledge of the
machinery of government may be commu-
nicated by mother to son with the pur-
pose of inspiring in youth such a respect
for law that crime would not be COM
mitted by succeeding generations.
1t is Mrs. FoItz's belief that when
mothers generally shall have come to an
understanding of municipal and State
government there will be no longer any
need of policemen. OF reform schools, jalls
and homes for the Inebriate. And this
woman lawyer advocates the attendance
of her sex upon trials, not to crafty de-
sire for the sensational, but to observe and
learn how justice is administered
Referring briefly to her recent Eastern
trip. Mrs. FoltZ said that she was every
where i'm pressed with the growing neces-
slty OF woman's knowing something about
law, and she also said that she was con-
stantly on the defensive in repelling the
insinuations that were made regarding
California by those who had formed their
i'm pressions from a certain recent notori-
Gus crime committed in this City.
She meant the Durrant case, but she
mentioned no names, although there
were several oLher references to the same
subject, particularly when she said tina: il
her hearers would go with her to the new
CITY Hall they could watch the women
sr- rrrla -f1ra piaa r-Ta
in progress there, and again when she de-
precated the custom OF attributing 4 GER
tain brilliant Young official attorneys
ability to traits inherited only from his
father. Continuing, Mrs. Foltz said:
The Portia Law Club Of California was
the first law club OF women in the world. In
san Francisco its purposes have been fully
realized.
That prejudice that used to be felt against
women attending court is in its last throes; IL
should be buried 100, OOO, 900 feet deep. When
| Judge Coffey cast an imputatiOn upon the deli
| caey OF woman who would wish to attend
| trials like the Martin case, this club was
| obliged for several months 10 keep abIaze in
refutiug his statements. COngratulatory let
| tiers came 10 US from abroad and from all parts
I OF the East commencing our stand and then
men here fell in line and said Judge Coffey was
wrong
The women OF the country ought to be just
! to their boys. You cannot If you neglect the
| consideration of law.
| maintain that the reason there is so much
! crime and immortality in this country is be-
cause mothers do not understand law and i'm
press il upon their sons.
The Government is only home On broader
| scale. and q woman that understands the laws
| OF her country as she should viii never give to
| her country a criminal son. What is this Gov
eminent? II is simply magnificent system of
| rules known as laws.
! For the last TWO years there has been IN
usual activity IN thought all over the world.
| That is why there is talk OF new woman.
| The new woman, God bless her, is here, and if
l m Z iG q r1Sr ~ n Nf
man, and many OF the men are looking for her
! TO become their wife.
| Think how important it is that you should
| know not only the laws of your beautiful
| bodies, but the laws OF your country. From
/ the moment that maternity becomes possible
| think OF bringing forth perfect offspring. and
| in understanding the functions OF the Govern
| ment under which you live you cannot bring
! forth imperfect brood
The law presUmes that you know the law,
and there is not more ridiculous presump
| ton. Not one man in fifty knows the law and
| not one woman IN 500.
| II the women of the Portia Law Club will
| increase the membership, provided, of course,
! the applicants can pass the necessary examin-
| alton, women's law clubs may be instituted
| throughout this State, and what has been
| accomplished by these members may spread
| throughout California.
Women have shirked their duty. There is
| too much ''ls-tee-da" talk among them. There
| should be more sympathy among them, more
| sisterly feeling. The women in high social
| positions should come down d little 70 help
1
| better, TO aid those who have the ability TO do
| the work.
You should demand, coax insist, beg, do
| anything to get the right to express your
| opinions in TIE ballot-box. AT the next cleo
! ton think the gentlemen will pass the amend
ment permitting women TO vote.
| I want to see woman grow broader, wiser,
| and that she may l am eager to see her be given
| an opportunity TO do everything from rocking
| cradle and singing lullaby TO filing the
/ highest positions IN science, medicine and law
| in the land.
It is all due to your narrow conservatism
| that you have not been able TO attain more
| Let Us be more loving; let Us be better sisters,
| better mothers
The speaker spoke in passing OF her
| twenty years and more of experience in
this City and on this coast as a woman
lawyer and OF her numerous visits to Sac
ramento advocating women's rights until
she believed the very capital used to frown
| on her persistence.
Mrs. Fol:z will leave this City next
Wednesday for New York, where she will
| pursue her profession. A reception and
| public farewell will be rendered her at the
Occidental Hotel next Monday evening.
The programme, of which Mrs. Foltz's
address formed the most important part,
consisted of numerous musical and lit
erary selections, all OF which were en-
! Enthusiastically applauded.
Miss Mamie Conlin and Miss Annie
Benson rendered violin solo and later a
duet Miss Fannie 4. Ryan sang Barrl S
Beloved Again" and responded to an
encore. A either solo by Emil Bachman
and vocal solo by C. T. LIE Loug were
each applauded until encores were given.
Other umbers were:
Soprano solo (seIected), Miss Minnie Powell
| J. W. Mckenzie, accompanist; recitation, Miss
! Jessie Calhoun Anderson; violin duetists
| Klauge aus dem Thuringer waId &C. Geipell
| Miss Mamie Couiin and Miss Annie Benson :
song, My Own Dearest Boy o. W. hcKenziel,
| Thomas Nowlan-J.W W. Mckenzie, aecompanist
| farce, THE Happy Pair''-Mrs. Honeyton, Miss
| Agnes Noonan; Mr.. Honeyton Miss Nav P.
| Andrew pupils of Miss Jessie Calhoun Ander-
! sonl-Martin Schultz, accompanies.