The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-05-05
THE EXCITING FEATURE

of the day was when DR.. Monroe pre-
sented the conference with a written
statement from the four women dele
gates, part of which follows:
While we regard ourselves as lay
men in the full sense of that term and
hold that the electoral conferences are
entitled under the amendment of 1868
II to choose their delegates, subject
only to the restrictions therein speci-
fed, we are unwilling to insist upon
our personal rights which are in dis
pute.
ut seems to US that were the confer
ence relieved from the tension which
our presence occasions it might speed
lily devise a plan of admission upon
which the great majority of members
could agree. While we sincerely regret
to disappoint the chivalrous champions
of woman's eligibility, we will not con-
sent to a. protracted debate over our
personal eligibility to this conference
with the alterations we fear such
struggle might cause. We, therefore,
cheerfully relinquish our seats in this
honorable body and await such settle
nlent of the vexed question as your
wisdom may devise, confident that
your action will embody the spirit of
the golden rule"
The statement was presented by Jane
F. Bashford, Loise S. Parker and Ada
C. Butcher
No sooner had the communication
of the women delegates been offered
than DR.. Kynett, chairman of the COM
mittee on eligibility, submitted a ma
jority report. 1t briefly announced that
the committee had decided that the
WOMEN WE'RE ENTITLED TO
SEATS
in the convention. Several delegates
arose to defend the report, but there
was a universal demand for the mi
nority report. 1t was a lengthy docu-
ment, read by DR.. Neeley of PhiIa-
delphia. 1t found that the challenge of
the eligibility of the women whose
names appear on the roll of the gen
eral conference is sustained; that the
election of women by the law electoral
conferences is illegal, and that to seat
the claim ants would tend to destroy all
respect for the constitution of the
church and for the decisions and inter-
pretations of the general conference.
Thirteen standing committee and
special committee on Bpworth league Or
ganized permanently this afternoon and
will begin work tomorrow. Among them
are the committee which will consider the
ACCESSIBILITY of having more bishops and
that which will make recommendation
on the proposition to mitigate the
SEVERITY OF THE RULE
governing; the itineracy of ministers.
Bishop Foss said to the Associated Press
agent today: Il believe that more of the
bishops than not, think our number should
be increased by three or four The min
GRITTY, however, is very strong. My idea
if more bishops are chosen, is not to make
bishops of India. China. Africa, etc., but
to have them bishops in general sense,
so that we can devote what time is neces-
Sary to this country and certain of us go
to foreign lands for what time is needed
to be devoted there"
The supporters of the woman delegates
cause claim tonight that they have GER
tainly won the victory and that the final
vote will seat the women. Their OPP
ponents, while they concede that the other
side has had a large majority of the dele
gates from the start declare their belief
speeches in the conference today.
The debate will be resumed tomorrow
morning.