The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-20
was unanimously and enthusiastically
adopted by the convention

adopted by the convention.
We were many times assured that it
would receive almost the entire Populist
vote OF the State This was not the actio n
of a small body of men leading forlorn
hope, but of a political party which polled
over 6S, goo votes at the last election, and
has prospect OF an increased strength at
the next. 1t was not done as a matter of
party expediency, for many OF the mem
bers expressed grave doubts as TO whether
the votes of women would add strength to
the Populist organization, for few years
at least; but ii was the act of 800 sincere.
intelligent, independent men, governed
by their convictions OF right and wrong,
and standing squarely upon the question
OF principle. This party is founded on
the basis of individual re representation and
has the maniiness and the Justice to
recognize that woman as an individual
has the same rights as men, and they de-
sire to grant to her what she never should
have been deprived of.
There was never any doubt as to the
action the Prohibition Convention would
take on this subject. From its organiza-
ton il has stood for woman suffrage, and
women have sat as delegates in its con-
ventions. The Woman's Christian Tenn
perance Union is the most thoroughly and
effectively organized body of women the
world ever has known and has been largely
instrumental in securing much salutary
temperance legislation and educating pub
lie sentiment in this direction. The State
Suffrage Association feels that the ladies
OF the W. c. I. u. do not need any assist
ance from them in looking after the Pro-
nlbltlon party, or, rather, that this party
does not need looking after by anybody.
But as mark of honor and Difference the
State Suffrage representatives attended the
Prohibition Convention at Stockton last
Thursday, and were received with the
most distinguished attentions. The
eleventh amendment was Endorsed with
out dissenting voice, and, doubtless, will
receive the full strength OF the party vote.
The most interesting question now IN
der discussion is, What will be the action
OF the Democratic convention upon this
subject? The politicians of ali parties tell
us that il will be waste of time and
money to go TO that convention, as We
will be sent away empty-handed. We do
not consider the advice of politicians as
always sound and We most assuredly shall
visit the Democratic convention and ask
them to extend TO US the same considera-
ton as has been shown by the other po-
litical parties of the State. There is moth
ing whatever in the pure Jeffersonian
principles, upon which this party is
founded, to prevent its Endorsement of an
act to enfranchise women. 1t will have
nothing to lose by such action at the
present time; it may have much to gain.
Should woman suffrage carry in Califor-
MIA, of which there is an encouraging pros
pect, this party will not want 20 stand in
the attitude towards Democratic women
of having done what it could to prevent
their obtaining this right or privilege.
In no other State in this Union is there
such spirit of fairness and justice toward
women as has been shown by the men of
California in these last three political con-
vent1ons. 1t is an insult to the Democratic
men OF the State to say that they have not
this spirit in as great a measure as the
men of the other parties. Until they
themselves prove this by their own acts,
the women of the State will refuse to be-
lieve it, and we insist upon suspended
judgment until the 18th day of June.
Many letters have been received urging
TO the paper OF Professor ii. II, Powers be-
fore the Woman Congress. This is a mat
ter exclusively under the control OF the
congress, which is body entirely separate
from the State Suffrage Association, but
neither the writer nor the paper is OF suffi-
cient importance to warrant official notice.
Such papers are apt to be of more benefit
than harm. There is nothing women need
so much as TO be reused from their condi-
ton of lethargy and Indifference and to
begin to think upon the social problems
and living issues of the day.
So long as they are only coddled and
fiattered their stronger faculties lie dor
mant, but when man stands on public
platform and brutality tells them that ma
ture only intended them for breeders, :" it
acts like an ice-water plunge or an electric