The herald., 1896-05-21
THE WOMAN'S PARLIAMENT
Tenth Annual Session Convened IT Santa
Ana Yesterday


SANTA ANA, May 20--The tenth IN.
nual session of the womans parliament
was called to order at 10:3O this morn
ing, the president, Mrs. Kate Topper
Galpin. in the chair. There were about
fifty delegates present. Every portion
of the state from San Francisco to San
Diego was represented.
Neilis hall was closely packed with
interested ladies and few Of the stern
CT SEX
After singing and prayer the business
of the session was commenced by the
Country Women, by Mrs. Myra d.
Sprague of Paramount. Mrs. Sprague's
paper was a strong plea for an enlarged
intellectual life among country women
and closer alliance between country
and city clubs. The life of women on
farms and in the country was a con-
tinued round of domestic duties. and
little time or opportunity was left for
culture. If she take a vacation she
makes shopping or business the excuse
for so doing All this should be changed.
and she should be something more than
the busy housekeeper.
In the discussion that followed some
of the ladies seemed to understand that
Mrs. Sprague laid the responsibility of
these conditions upon the men, and Mrs
Collier argued that the men with the
cares of the farm and business should
not be held entirely accountable. and
that the women should assert their
rights and needs.
Mrs. Spaulding expressed great SYM
pathy with the "Marthas" burdened
with overmuch household duty.
Mrs. D. E. Steeler read a paper. Why
Should Women Study Economics? The
idea was that all should study econom-
les, as the history of man Is a history Of
his wants and his ability to supply them
1t was the large holdings Of the few that
drove the masses to cities and poverty
This was true now as much as in ancient
Rome, and as large holdings increased
marriage declined and immortality and
crime increased. 1t was useless to
preach the gospel to men whose pri-
mary needs We're homes and bread Mrs,
Il. A. Lawrence led the discussion which
followed. saying that higher wages lead
to higher civilization and broader oul-
ture.
Mrs. Sarah B. Cooper of San Francisco.
following Mrs. Lawrence, said that
homes were the protection of the coun-
try, and that the best way to give peo-
pie strength was to impose responsible
1ty- that weakness was not a woman's
charm, but strength was as 1t was q
mans. women wanted power. not in
fiuence.
Mrs. Cooper asked to speak on suf-
frage. tonight instead of kindergarten a.
billed.
Mrs. Mime Handy Jones read a paper
under the title ''My Mother Shall In
attention. She wished children taught
higher ideas Of life, and of the sacred
ness and purity of married life.
Mrs. Theodosia Jones led in the dis
cussion which followed. She said that
most people come into the world by ac
cident and were not we'll born, and 1t was
the work Of the we'll born to make over
those who We're i'll born.
Mrs. DR.. Reed thought that children
should be taught what they need to know
what they can understand. Mrs
Cooper and others followed.
Household hygiene was ably handled
by DR.. Sarah r. Maloy of Riverside, and
treated largely of scientific ventilation,
proper clothing, habits of purity and in
dustry.
Discussion was led by DR.. Theodore
Wilkins of Pomona, who gave some Of
her experiments in ventilation. That the
dread disease consumption was the dis
, case of indoor life. and the preventive
perfect ventilation. She called attention
to some of the grotesque fashions Of
dress. She read from the family paper"
to show what kind of stories children
were given to sleep on. Mrs. Cooper and
Mrs. DR.. Reed also took part In the dis
cussion.
Miss Minnie Reed Of San Diego spoke
on the Housewives Familiar Friends
and Foes" treating Of microbes
tfic explanation of the various
kinds and ways of avoiding evil
effects therefrom by use of proper anti
| septics. Miss Reeds assertion that the
| filthy habit of expectorating on the side
walks and public stairways should be
| punished by fine and imprisonment was
! applauded. Mrs. 8 j. McClatchie led in
| the discussion which followed, when
recess was taken till tomorrow.