The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-22
" The Newspaper: Its Defects
and Its Merits" Proves a
Lively Topic.
MANS INHUMANITY TO WOMAN
Cruelty in Every Form Is Rebuked.
Woman Suffragists Get in at
the Wind.Up.,


seat in the house was occupied, and be-
fore noon an audience of fully 600 was
present. Last nights splendid meeting
served to increase the interest in the event,
and to-day the whole city seemed heartily
In accord with the women iii their work.
One very noticeable feature of the pro-
ceed1ngs has been the absence of the suf-
frage question in the programme. Several
times ardent advocators OF woman's rights
attempted to get the suffrage issue before
the house, but each time President Kate
Upper Galpin ruled that it was
entirely out of order, although
strong suffragist herself. She maintained,
and in this was supported by the meeting,
that while undoubtedly large majority
OF the members of the parliament were in
favor OF equal rights of suffrage, that
question was not included in the work of
the order and should not be forced upon
the conservative members who did not de.
sire it, After the meeting adjourned to-
day, however, Mrs. J. a. Osgood was put
in the chair temporarily and motion was
put to the audience that all present who
favored the right of suffrage being ex-
tended should rise. This brought fully
four-fifths of the audience to its feet, and
the enthusiastic promoters of the motion
were satisfied.
The subject which occupied the atten-
ton of the parliament this morning was
certainly one furnishing colossal oppor.
tunities for discussion, the Newspaper"
The subject was presented In two depart
ments-"Its Defects" by Mrs. Z. E.
Spalding of Pasadena, and Its Merits"
Nv u nf
les. The principal defect" found By the
former lady was that newspapers pub
lished too much of sensational crime to
the sacrifice of more elevating subjects.
Mrs. William Spalding, however, found a
broad field in which to revel in showing
the merits of the modern journal. She
claimed that the character of newspaper
was nodded by its environments. 1t must
adapt itself to the tastes of its readers.
Her experience had taught her that the
newspaper of to-day was not so bad as it
was depicted by its enemies.
at is claimed that the press disregards
religion" said she, "but those who make
this claim always have the daily news
paper on their tables as a monument to
their piety and consistency"
Mrs. Ella II. Enderlain of the staff of
the Los Angeles Express opened the dis
cussion, and proved to be an able cham
pion of the press. Mrs. DR.. Reed OF Pasa-
dena discussed both sides of the question
She was of the opinion that the news
papers were no worse than the peo-
ple-that each educated the other
Mrs. Davis of San Francisco and Mrs.
Z. D. Buss of Tustin protested as mothers
against the practice of newspapers pub
fishing indecent advertisements, particu-
larly those of patent medicine quacks.
Miss Minnie Reed of San Diego said she
did not think, as one lady claimed, that
readers encouraged newspapers in their
people herself who refused to subscribe
for sensational journals. Mrs. William
Spalding of Pasadena said the newspapers
of Los Angeles pay out thousands of
dollars every year in expenses. They
must certainly yield a profit above this
amount and the undisputed fact that they
were prosperous was evidence that their
patrons were satisfied with them.
Eyes" she said, 1--WE demand our daily
sensation"
This afternoon the programme opened
with ouestion-box conducted by Mrs
DR.. Reed of Pasadena. An attempt was
made to introduce the suffrage question
here, but without success. Proper reading
matter in the family circle was advocated
and the introduction of politics in the pub
lie schools antagonzed.
The closing subject OF the programme,
"Inhumanity," brought out the spiciest
and most enjoyable debates of the whole
session. Mrs. Eugenia T. Manahan OF
Pasadena led off with thirty minute
paper on "Inhumanity to Man." The
misunderstood passions in man were
pointed out as one OF the causes of in
humanity that should no longer be per-
mltted to exist.
Truth, justice and humanity" she said,
"are essentials that should and will be
considered"
At this point Mr.. Brainard of Santa Ana,
an elderly gentleman who is totally blind,
took the liberty of announcing that II he
lived until November he intended to cast
a vote for woman suffrage.
Mrs. Eliza A. Lawrence of San Pedro was
called for, and in response stated that she
had only to say that mans inhumanlty to
man was we'll known; and AS the period OF
mans inhumanity to woman had drawn
nearly to q close she would not consume
the time of the parliament on the subject
Mrs. Steele of Compton followed with
few remarks. Next came "lnhumanity
to Girlhood," by Mrs. Harriet G. Wad-
leigh of Los Angeles. She ELECTED the
sympathy of the audience with few we'll
chosen instances of inhumanity to girls,
and gave an interesting account on the
methods employed at the Whittier State
School. The chief object of the paper was
to illustrate the necessity of providing
suitable homes for hayward girls who had
served at reform schools or other places of
correction.
The last subdivision OF the subject in
hand, "Inhumanity to Animals" had the
effect of bringing the whole assemblage
into scrimmage OF good-natured thrusts
and repartee. Being the closing feature, a
feeling Of something akin to abandon en-