The San Francisco call., 1896-08-25
MISS ANTHONY GLAD.
The Veteran Suffragist Says She
w Charmed and Delighted
With the MaSS-M Getting.

With the Mass-Meeting.
IT consider last Saturday nights meet
ing in the Auditorium one of the grand
ESQ affairs of the sort that ever saw, and
have seen many"
Miss Susan B. Anthony was seated amid
group of ardent woman-suffrage work
ers, all, like their veteran leader, delight
ed with the enthusiastic formal indorse-
ment which the suffrage plank in the
Republican platform had received at the
great mass s-meeting.
at was a clean, dignified meeting, y
went on Miss Anthony. There was
nothing about it that savored of person
ality, nor single coarse alluslon OF any
sort. Now, 1 know little about political
meetings, since have been going to them
for half century or SO, and for propriety,
moderation and good taste this one seems
the peer of any that have attended and
by far the superior of most.
"Of course, my main interest in the
gathering was to see how the woman-suf-
frage plank would be handled. So much
seemed to depend upon the party's hearty
sponsorship of the measure that | was on
the anxious seat all the time until l saw
how things were going. Little by little
the subject was reached. One or two
kindly, respectful references to 1t were
made by those grand speakers, and then
Mr.. Scott spoke so feelingly and so truly
OF woman's proper sphere In the social
fabric that felt like cheering him at the
top of my voice. However, the crowd
saved my lungs that exertion.
"And then came Mr.. Shortridge's clear
well-defned, flat-footed statement of his
party's position, given with all due pre-
cisioE, as SO formal a statement of great
issue should be given, yet with an enthusl-
astic friendiiness SO evidently real and 50
contagious thatthe whole audience seemed
to be of one mind with him. | could not
cheer, could not applaud. All | could do
was to restrain the tears of Joy which
seemed determined TO force their way from
eyes which had never gazed upon grander
scene. The loud pIaudits of that vast as
sembly, cheering the cause to which
have devoted my life. seem still to be ring
ing in my ears, making me feel younger
and happier than ever before in my public
life. To me it is no small matter that this
great State seems to be about declaring
for the right.
"As to Mr.. Knights introduction of Miss
Shaw, it was, in my opinion, the acme OF
surprising refinement He displayed the
delicacy of a gentleman presenting a lady,
and at the same time there was in his
words and manner every Indication OF
that comradeship with which the truly
hlgh-mlnded man treats his equal. Mr..
Shortridge had sounded the keynote of
the campaign in clarion tones. Mr..
Knight seemed to take up the strain as
one instrument responds to another in a
grand orchestra. 1t was a fitting intro
duction to Miss Shaw, and she was plainly
enthused by it. And then the cheers that
greeted her, and the bursts of applause
that compelled her to interrupt her ad-
dress at frequent intervals-the whole
thing was simply glorious.
Il must. however, exercise an old
woman's privilege and find fault with one
thing-there were too many women there.
Bonnets filled the house and crowded
upon the stage, while thousands of men
voters-were turned away. felt like get
ting up and telling the women to go home
and stay there until after the campaign is
over. What business have the bonnets at
political meeting while their owners can
not vote and merely deprive voters of the
seats to which they have q right? Next
year party leaders will welcome bonnets
as gladly as the now welcome bald heads,
but until then no woman should go to a
political meeting and usurp voters seat.
However, bonnets and all things else
to the contrary Notwithstanding, the
memory of that great meeting will be one
of my brightest recollections in the time
when / shall be able to work no longer.
I doubt if the innate nobility and chivalry
of Californian manhood ever shone forth
with brighter luster."