The San Francisco call., 1896-03-24
dignity that commend it to the respectful

dignity That commend 1t to the respectful
attention of the American people. AS
late as fifteen or twenty years ago woman
suffrage meetings were usually presided
over and addressed by stern visaged old
women of sour and uncertain tempers and
the voices of shrews. They parted their
hair on the side and cut it short and in
jected free love into their platform as a
part of the doctrine of equal representation.
Some of them chewed snuff and ejacu-
lated "My Gawd!" at the most unex-
pected crises, while others smoked cigar
cites and rested their thick ankles on the
backs of chairs while they spoke of the
divine rights of WON en-.
Amid this heterogeneous mass of freaks
and cranks there shone brightly here and
there the luster of true woman-of such
as Susan B. Anthony, julia Warde Howe
and Harriet Beecher Stowe. to whom was
reserved the martyrdom of battling against
the prejudices which the eccentricities of
the less noble Of their sex provoked among
the people.
But the representation of the new era
last night was most vivid. There were no
vinegar-visaged misanthropes, no untamed,
unsexed shrews, but an assemblage of
bright cheerful women, many of whom
were young and pretty and all of whom
were fashionably attired. In other words
there were no symptoms OF crankiness, the
partic: pants being earnest American
women, maids, wives and mothers repre-
senting all shades of religious belief and
all varieties of political opinion.
Not a seat was vacant in the commo-
dious hall of the Native Sons of the Golden
West. The audience was composed of rep
resentatives of the best families in the
City, and their attractive costumes were
enhanced by the background of the beauti-
full white hall.
Mrs. Sarah B. Cooper. who took SO much
of an active part in the trial of DR.. Brown,
presided over the meeting. and her
daughter Hattie was among her many
willing assistants on the floor. Rev. Dr.
RAIDER, member of the council which
tried DR.. Brown, delivered the opening
prayer and remained an in terested listener
until the close of the meeting. DR.. Brown
was not present, or, if present, was not in
sight of the reporters.
Leaflets containing the words of half
dozen or more suffrage songs were dis
tributed among the audience, and these
songs were sung with will, between
speeches.
Colonel Taylor Rodgers, Mayor Sutro's
secretary, read the following letter from
the Mayor:
MARCH %, 1896.
Miss Mary j. Hay and Miss Harriet Cooper,
San Francisco, Cal-DEAR LADIES: During our
short but very pleasant interview of to-day
you kindly extended me an invitation to ad-
dress the meeting to be held at Native Sons
Hall tonight in advocacy of female suffrage.
1t will be inconvenient for me to attend, but
please accept my appreciation of your request,
and rest assured that your movement has my
l believe in even-handed justice for all
hence woman should have her share in civic
affairs.
of our Government-hence woman should as
sumo all the responsibilities that arise out of
her morality and mental endowments as a
citizen.
/ believe in the preservation of the sacred
ness of the home-hence woman should aid in
the duty of formulating, executing and inter-
preting all legislation that touches that home.
Woman's advent as a voter will be the means
through which the Government may be per-
petuated, as embodying justice, equality and
Through these attributes our great corpora
tions will be forced to obey the laws that pro-
vide "equal rights for all and special privileges
for none"
In simple phrase let me conclude by saying,
"God bless you IN your noble effOrts.' Yours
ADoLPH SUTRo
Miss Elizabeth Upham Yates of Maine
and for five years missionary in China
was the first speaker. Miss Yates is q
very prepossessing brunette of Southern
rather than Northern type of beauty.
She made an effective speech in a quiet,
modest way.
She began by saying that according to-
goodness, wisdom and power
were the three clements of government.
The best and the worst of men
will acknowledge that women hold the
balance of power for morality and
that they form the great majority of
The church membership. Women were
not perfect, she continued. They