The San Francisco call., 1896-05-10
Meetings the Convention Adjourns
for Year.

enjoyable one. We listened with close atten-
ton to the bursts of eloQuence displayed in
the nominating speeches, but we wondered why
IN those nominating Mr.. Grant the orators
spent ali their breath in extolling the Illus
trious father, but had not one word to say in
praise of the proposed delegate, except that he
was the son of his father.
We were very much grieved to learn from
our waiter at the hotel that he should not vote
for woman suffrage, as he did not think women
were smart enough TO votel We had young
fellow to do our errands, look after our fire,
etc., and he surprised US by saying one day
that he thought he ought to tell US that he
could not give US his vote this fall as he did
not think women were prepared for suffrage
We asked him if women who could come up
there and do the work we were doing were not
intelligent enough to use the ballot. He said
he thought we were awfully smart women, but
not smart enough to vote. Finding that he
was Republican we inquired If all the wise
men attending the convention should decide
that we ought to have the ballot, whether he
then would vote for 1T. He thought he would,
and finally decided to put on the badge. re-
fer to these instances simply TO illustrate the
humiliations to which progressive, educated
women are subjected.
As soon as the convent closed there was a
wild rush for the train, and when we got
aboard the cars were crowded. At least
dozen delegates tired as they were, sprang up
and insisted upon putting US in their seats,
and after we were comfortably seated they
came to us from another car and told US they
had arranged to have US all sit together there.
We went forward and took those seats, and
then the other men came in to know why we
left their car. At the Benicia ferry delegate
from Tulare brought lunch to US, and in
every possible way our comfort and convent
ence were attended to. These are but small
things, yet l relate them because one OF the
bugbears held up before the advocates of
woman suffrage is that when women get the
right to vote they will be allowed to stand up
in cars, etc.
We believe that they will be treated with
even more Difference and respect when they
are no longer classed politically with Grimm
ais, idiots and insane, and when their opinions
and wishes are considered of suffi cient value
to be accorded the same weight III public af-
fairs as are those of men. We make the pre-
diction that after few years experience of
woman suffrage in California all OF these old
objections will appear so utterly weak and alb
surd that people will wonder how they ever
could have made them or believed in them.
On Monday we go to the Populist Convention
at Sacramento and on Thursday to the Prohi-
bition Convention at Stockton. We have every
assurance from the leaders OF these parties
that our appearing before them will be mere
act OF formality and courtesy, as woman suf-
frage is one of their fundamental principles.
The statement is frequently made by Popu-
lists, and appeared in THE CALL few days
ago, that, while they are in full sympathy with
suffrage and will work for il, they are not
obIivious to the fact that, soon as 1t was
given to the women of Colorado, they over
threw the Populist party in that State. This is
not fair statement. 1t is true that at the first
election where women voted in Colorado the
Republican party scored a victory, but this
also was done IN Kansas, where women have
no vote whatever in State elections. The
Populist party was as fully in control in Kan
sas as in Colorado. Whenever there comes
time OF great financial stress the party in
power is always charged with being the cause
of it, no matter what party it may be. Colo
redo and Kansas were passing through such
period of depression, and in both States the
people overthrow the administration, in hopes
of securing better times. The Populist women
doubtless stood by .heir party in as large
proportion as did the Populist men. 1t was
simply one of those landslides which are apt at
any time TO turn down any party.
IDA A. HARrEE,
Chairman press Conn