The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-18
WOMEN ARE
D|SGUSTED.
Scant Courtesy Accorded
Equal Suffragists by
Democrats.
BRIEF HEARING AND A
DISMISSAL.
Their Resolution Tabled Without
Argument by Builders of
the Platform.
THEY WILL WORK TO DEFEAT
THE PARTY.
Indignation Of the Leaders Expressed
in Caustic Letters to "The
Call"
THEY WILL WORK TO DEFEAT
THE PARTY.
Indignation Of the Leaders Expressed
in Caustic Letters to "The
Call"

| SACRAMENTO, CAL, June 1.-THE
| delegation of woman suffragists is feeling
deeply disguised tonight over the cavalier
fashion in which they were bowed out of
| the Democratic platform by the commit
tee this afternoon and the convention to-
night. The women had been promised
chivalrous treatment, at least, though not
encouraged to hope that their plank would
be accepted. They deem, as Mrs. Sargent
expresses it, that they were shown scant
courtesy.
| They had prepared to make strong
showing before the committee on resoIu-
tons. The committee was in session in
the parlors of the Golden Eagle Hotel
nearly all day. The ladies were admitted
into the august presence during the after
noon.
| They found there a solitary woman, with
a solitary and anonymous letter for her
credentials. to combat the statement that
the women of California really desired the
ballot. The letter purported to have been
| written by married woman and explained
| its being anonymous by the statement
that the author had written it without the
knowledge of her husband and she
WlSucu W E6Iudlu uuQcI CON0I 81 l6I dS uO
was concerned as he would not like it.
This letter has caused great merriment
among the woman suffragists. It has, in
| fact, aided materially in relieving the
sense of depression otherwise resulting
| from the unsatisfactory result of their eff
| forts. They were given a brief hearing
| the woman with the anonymous letter
| being allowed as much time as the suf-
| fragists with their 10000 petitioners
| Susan B. Anthony offered the resolution
for the amendment of the constitution. 1t
was given almost no discussion by the
committeeman themselves.
| Later in the afternoon Wesley Reed
moved for a reconsideration of the action
laying it on the table, but the noes were
overwhelming. And for this the women
are anything but pleased with Democratic
| politics. A number take the occasion to
state their cause to THE CALL over their
own signatures. Here are the letters:
To the Editor of the San Francisco Call-sIR:
We came up to the convention expecting
| nothing, and we got it. The expression
among the delegates was general that their
| personal feeling in the matter cut no figure,
| that they would vote against woman suffrage
| in the hope of catching all that element in the
| StSte which is opposed to it. 1t was grand
| bid for votes, without any regard to principle.
| We were almost overwhelmed with assurances
of the great chivalry with which we were to
! be treated by being allowed to appear before
the platform committee. put as this same con-
| sideration was granted to the lowest and
meanest who chose to appear we failed to
recognize any especial chivalry.
On motion of ]. 7. Burke of San Francisco
| our resolution was tabled almost before the
| door closed behind us as we left the room By
thus refusing to vote on it, a minority report
was prevented, which would have been made
| by several on the committee.
! We want the Democra tic women of the State
to know that we brought up delegation of as
| representative women as could be had in the
| State; that, in the face of the most terrible
heat and under the most unpleasant circum-
stances, we made the strongest fight that we
were capable of making; that we left no stone
| unturned; that we did not spare ourselves any
effort or any fatigue.
| There was stronger power than ourselves
at work, and we were ANONYMOUSLY defeated.
| The campaign is now open: IDA A. HARPER.
| To the Editor of the San Francisco Calt-SIR: No
| one has ever expressed the opinion that the So
called woman's suffrage plank would be
| adopted in the Democratic platform. We had
no reason to expect however, that the matter
would be tabled in committee, without so
| much hearing in the convention. We
| thought there would be minority report from
the committee, as know there are number
| of staunch suffragists among the delegates
| Of course, this adverse action will not prevent
any individual from voting according to his
own views at the coming election, but it shuts
the door against the educational work which
we so much depended upon during the autumn
campaign; for. inasmuch as the party has
ignored the question, the newspapers will not
feel bound to discuss it, and for the orators,
| they will fear to lose a vote should they speak
of it.
But the educational work will be done by
the great Republican party and the two
smaller parties and through their agencies all
viii come to understand the question in q
measure at least, for all voters will attend
somewhat upon the meeting of their oppo-
nents. We have this great Republican party
and these smaller parties, and that great edu-
cational engine, THE CALL, to champion our
cause.
OF course, the rank and file of the women OF
California cannot consider the Democratic
party o. their friend. say that, having refer
ence only to the action of the party with re-
gard to this matter, and not as to any other of
the doctrines of the party. 1 am rather sorry
for the Democratic party, for we shall win this
fall and we shah owe our success largely TO its
opponents. SUSAN B. ANTHONY.
To the Editor of the San Francisco CdIt-SIR:
have TO say that think we have been treated
with scant courtesy by the convention of
Democrats. Coming here in a body, with a
National organization back of us, we were
scarcely given a hearing. The man at the
head OF the table in the room of the committee
on resolutions, where we made our plea,
looked cross and bored, as though he wished
we were elsewhere. Our opponents. composed
Of ~ with hacking
nothing to support them but an anonymous
letter, were given q fuller hearing than we
were. We deserved better at the hands OF the
big Democratic party. MRS. A. A. SARGENT.
To the Editor Of the San Francisco Catt-SIR:
In consideration of the delegation which pre-
sented the resolution, and in consideration of
the fact that we represented by petition 10000
voters and 10000 respectable women over 81
years of age, we deserved better trea tment at
the hands of the committee on resolutions.
We deserved vote, to say the least. However,
in campaign of any sort it is of the utmost