The herald., 1896-10-14
INTERESTING PAPERS READ
Mrs. Evangeline BuIla Tells About
Womau's Place In Government
The Financial Question Handled 10 a Very
Able Manner
Mrs. Margaret Collier Graham and Mrs
Lottie D. Willard Present Papers
on the Subject--Other Topics
Touched Upon.

The fifth annual session of the Wo-
mans parliament of Southern Califor-
mia began yesterday morning in the
First Congregational church, outrivaling
all it's predecessors in numbers and in
terest, calling into attendance a notable
assemblage from all sections of the
state and adding chronicles of excep-
tional brilliancy to the history of the
organization.
The parliament owes its being to the
instrumentality of Mrs. Elmira T. Ste
phens This pioneer in benevolent work
in Los Angeles, while visiting Mime
sofa about five years ago, had the pleas
ure accidentally of attending an as
sembly of the Woman's congress then in
session in Minneapolis. Impressed with
the strength of organized effort among
women as evidenced in this body, Mrs.
Stephens, on her return to Los Angeles,
took immediate measures for combining
the philapthropic forces Of the city in an
assembly of the same nature. A, simple
call to the women of Los Angeles and
vicinity found immediate favor in their
sight, with the remarkable result Of a
fully fiedged meeting held in Unity
church, of which the present parliament
is the fifth anniversary.
The organization has steadily grown,
spreading into the following seven
counties: Orange, Ventura, Los An
geles, Riverside, San Diego, San Ber-
nardino and Santa Barbara. 1t has
gathered unto itself Not only women of
intellect and genius known to distinc-
tion, but hosts Of fair rulers in that
queendom whose dominions lie within
the home, who believe that parallel with
the knowledge which is power all true
education is culture.
The object of the parliament Is not
aggression, but progression. 1t does not
seek to create new" universe through
the unspeakable female, but that in
broadly viewing the trend of social con-
ditiOns, she may exercise that lofty
charity which is not absorbed in it's own
domesticity nor yet engrossed in the
view of its neighbors, seen through the
old-time parlor window, but which takes
sufficient height to note the great
march Of humanity to seeking the relief
of the poor. the depraved and the for
saken, and the welfare of all mankind.
1t is the belief also that no field Is barred
to woman's existence wherein she may
exercise benevolence, whether through
the paths of the philanthropical, educa-
tional, religious, industrial or political.
THE PROCEEDINGS.
The parliament was opened at $3.50 a.
m. by the president, Mrs. Kate Tupper
Galpin. Mrs. Josephine Marlett offered
prayer, and the audience united in
singing Nearer, My God, to Thee, led by
Mrs. l.. M. Loeb, with Mrs. G. w. Payne
accompaniste. AT the hour of opening
there was but small gathering in at.
tendance, but constantly in-pouring
tide of visitors rapidly filled the vast au-
ditorium. The president showed all the
tact and diplomacy of a true parliament
tartan In the marshaling of her forces
Order was admirably preserved by ad-
mitting each new influx only every fif-
teen minutes. The men were hardly in
evidence, not more than a half-dozen
being visible.
The entire morning session was devot-
ed to the subject foremost of the hour,
the political situation. Three papers
each or half-hour'S duration, heavy
with research, deep in argument. and
listened to with the gravest attention.
were presented by three women of Los
Angeles.
WOMAN'S PLACE IN GOVERNMENT
Mrs. Evangeline Bulla made the first
address, taking as her subject, Woman's s
Place in the Government. Many of the
arguments presented were naturally
those that are constantly rehearsed in
all the addresses OF the day in connec-
tion with the woman's right of franchise
Though not new, the ideas We're freshly
treated and received we'll merited ap-
plause. Her most striking points We're
that apathy to the public welfare, by
men and women alike, was the most
dangerous phase of the political situa-
ton; that the ballot, if obtained for wo-
men, created no new responsibility for
her; the responsibility always existed
as woman.s duty and that the power Of
voting, neither detracted from it nor
added thereto. Womans place in the
government, briefly stated, was said to
be the duty already referred to and that
of urging husbands and fathers to a
more personal interest in the veal of the
nation. The frailty of womankind was
commented upon in that she displays
the contradictoriness of her character
In possessing all the heroism necessary
to see her "beloved" go to war and yet
in times of peace, when man should
exercise his powers for his country's
good, his wife docs not like hirs to be-
out nights"
Mrs. Bulla dwelt somewhat harshly
on the old story of the foreign element
in America being given the privilege of
the ballot.
At the close of the lecture exception
was made to her attitude on the subject
In a discussion following, the speakers S
ideas were brought more directly into
prominence by Miss Collier of South
Pasadena, who referred to an article in
Scribner's for October entitled Greater
New York, in which the writer stated
that in that city there were twice as
many Irish born citizens as in any city
Of ireland, ard as many natives Of Ger
many as in any German city, Berlin, per-
haps, excepted. Quotations were also
made from other sources showing the
preponderance of criminals in the for
eign population of New York.
2 At this point objection was made by
Mrs. Pierce of Pasadena, who next took
her place on the platform. She said: Il
feel; that / arm pretty hard hit; crossed
the Atlantic ocean in sailing vessel.
love this country more than any coun-
try in the world. 1t is true that
there are slums in Europe and that
that there are slums there too, and that
there, are the same kind here that are
American. II feel something should be
said in defense Of foreigners and Of my
self. They are not all rebels that come
from the other side of the ocean" The
speaker took her place amid tempestu-
GUS applause. f,s,sg
Mrs. Park of Orange then emphasized