The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-03-29

TO use a somewhat overWorke6
term, yesterday was Ladies' day. in
the constitutional convention. From
1880 in the morning until noon and
from until 4 o'clock. the suffrage
question was the all-absorbing topic
for debate and the cause of the best
debate that has so FAR characterized
The sittings Of the convention. AS was
to be expected, Democrats were lions
of the day and only one or two voices
were RAISED on the Republican side OF
the house. and these were not keyed
to the superb efforts of the masters OF
elosuence with whom they would con-
tend.
Roberts gave part of what has been
jocotiy termed the speech of his life
and of his death. He did not give ii
all because when he came into the hall
in the morning he was met by a condi-
ton for which he had not looked. The
night before the Republicans. with
the utmost secrecy. had held a caucus
For hours they wrangled and brow.
beat until Charley Crane and his lieu
tenants had whipped most of the re-
calcitrant Republicans into line.
support which had been promised him
He knew that the Republicans had
endeavored to win over even those who
had signed the minority report. With
the ground taken a.way from under his
feet he yet determined to speak and
he made a superb effort. worthy to be
called the one of his life. He spoke to
an audience composed of the leading
women suffragists Of this city, the
delegates of the convention and the
packed lobby. in which there was not
an inch CO standing room. From the
beginning of his speech until the last
word was uttered, fully an hour and a
half, the interest never tagged. All
eyes were fixed on the orator as he
stood in front Of the desk. towering
over those who were ready to oppose
him the most, as he one moment
rose 10 climax thrilling in its inten-
sity, and the next checked himself and
allowed his voice to become slow and
pleading. 1t took him sometime to
gather himself. but once he did he was
an oratorical avalanche. a stream
of language, potent and pleasing, flow
ed from his lips and caught his listen
ers until even those who were most
bitArly opposed to him were compelled
to SEay compliment to his power with
rapturous applause. As he stood alone.
disclaiming any desire for charity
and fully recognizing the consequences
of his action. the suffragists themselves
could not but admire his courage, and
when ne had finished they crowded
around him ard shook his hand en-
Enthusiastically.
As Roberts was a superb grafton, so
the speeches of Thurman and Richards
were most able presentations of their
cause. Thurman, keen, deliberate and
incisive, applied logic to Roberts ora
tioQ. He was merciless in his irony
and sarcasm, using them until they
seemed to cut to the very bone. He,
enthusiasm though often emphatic,
ne drove his arguments home with
strong, steady blows. Admitting
Roberts to be the peerless orator. yet
he said he would choose logic. After
him Richards read prepared speech.
for suffrage which had not been
covered by Thurman's answer. Both
together covered the entire field. Rich
ards efforts was argunentative. 1t re-
viewed the question of suffrage in all
3ts phases and brought the light to
bear from a dozen different quarters.
1t was a mastery effort.
Outside of these Cannon made the
best speech. He covered much the
same ground as Thurman and took up
several of Roberts points. Chidester,
as chairman of the committee, made a
short speech on the same lines. Ander-
son, of Beaver, in a prepared speech.
was quite dramatic, while Robinson,
of Kane. spoke as a young man and
presented new idea
ksAfe debate will be continued today.
RXerts announced his intention last
night of continuing his argument.
This was done because of certain
statements on the part of Thurman
who rallied him for not arguing the
question on its merits. He is prepared
TO take I'D at least the forenoon and
Il is rot improbable that Thurman will
reply The Republicans, too, are likely
TO push some one to the front. They
are afraid to have 1t shown that the
Democrats are the giants of debate.
on this point especially, and last night
they were anxiously searching for
some one who could speak for their
side Latest advices showed they had
not been favored with unbounded sue
cesx. Varian has consented TO vote for
Suffrage but he has not so far eased
he conscience as to speak for it. Good
win and Kimbal1 are distinctively
AGAINST Il. Pierce is not enthusiastic
and neither is James. This exhausts
the roll of Republican orators. To tell
tte truth the Republican side is in q
bad way
The Proceedings.
After being called to order at 10 a.
M the session was opened with prayer
bv Rev. Stanley NJ. Hunter. Roll call
showed 90 members present.
When the journal had been read
Chichester, who mixed things up the
da.v before. said his motion for special
order on suffrage had been incorrectly
exported. He had not moved to take
e article up after the regular order
4 I'd been ....ished, but after roll call
any sreading of the journal.