Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1896-11-13
THEY ASK EQUAL RIGHTS.
ANNUAL CONVENTION OF MISSOURI
WOMAN SUFFRAGISTs.
Rev. Annn II. Shaw, of Boston, Among
the Distinguished Outniders-Miss
Anthony and Mrs. Chapman
Gait to Arrive To-day.

The mass convention OF the Equal suf-
fragists of the state opened yesterday
morning in the Academy Of MUSIC, lZ-'
MCGEE street, with thirty-siN delegates
from the state. large number of inter
ested ladies from the city and several ira
ternal Delegations from Kansas in attend
ance. Three sessions were held, and three
more Will be held to-day. after when the
convention will adjourn. The principal
worl, of the convention IS to effect an Or
ganization throughout the state that, Will
exert its Influence toward getting full suf-
frase granted to the women of the COM
monwealth.
TIE ladies are not asking for the right,
as they said yesterday. on several occa-
sions: they are now demanding of the
men their rights. which are God given,the
right 10 share equally with man the duties
of life in all its various departments and
share the ioners that may be won by fidel-
ity and faithful application of talents"
They do net want partial suffrage, they
want and claim they intend to have the
full right and have IL as soon as possible.
Inspiration is lent TO the gathering by
the presence of some noted workers IN the
cause. Yesterday TIE audience listened to
addresses by Rev. Anna Howard Shaw,
the noted Boston minister. and Miss Mary
e. Hay, and to-day they will be assisted
b. Susan b. anthony and Carrie Chap
man-Catt. The quartette has been working
for suffrage in California land are now on
their way East. Miss Anthony will arrive
to-day. She is an object OF particular in
terest al this time. She is at an advanced
age. and the long trips TO this portion of
the country make 1t improbable that she
will he. harp loved
almost TO the point of worship by her sis
ter workers, and her words are listened to
reverently. She is just as strong for suf-
frage as ever and urges ali others TO con-
.tinue In the good work. Miss Anthony Is
on her return from the California CAM
paign.
Yesterday the meetings were presided
over by the president Of the association,
Miss Ella Harrison, who is an attorney
at Carthage. She has an impressive man
ner and presides over the gathering with
ease and grace. 1t was decided that here
after the annual meetings were to be held
in the spring instead of fall and the pres
ent officers were to hold over until next
spring. This was done SO that the plans
for state organization now being matured
may be carried out at once.
During the afternoon about 500 was
raised for the state organization, and
pledges for other amounts were also made.
Mrs. Mehan. of Joplin. read a paper on
the necessity of women on the school
boards Of the cities, that brought out a
spirited discussion. Miss Green, who has
been saleswoman on the road for twelve
years. declared that every door would be
open for women If there was push behind
the endeayor.
Reports were made regarding the work
done in the California campaign, and on
this subject Miss Shaw delivered spirited
address, encouraging women to work
hard, and to direct their work systemat-
ically so that good results would certainly
come from their labors.
Night Meeting.
1t had been thought that Miss Anthony
and Mrs. Carrie Chapman-Catt would reach
the city In time to be present at last nights
meeting, but they were detained and will
not arrive until to-day. They will take
part in the sessions of this morning and
afternoon and both will deliver addresses
at a grand closing open meeting tonight.
Mrs. Anna H. Shaw, the noted Boston
minister, made the speech of the evening
at last nights mass meeting and for more
than an hour she kept the audience ap-
plauding or laughing at her eloquent and
witty sallies. She gave an amusing account
OF the California equal suffrage campaign,
where the women were permitted to ad
dress the voters at political meetings: but
as the men had the first say, Miss Shaw
said she finally found out what 16 to l
meant-it was 16 minutes to / o'clock be-
fore the women had chance to be heard.
Miss Shaw said that the women were talk
ing an unprecedented interest in political
affairs because they were beginning to re-
alze that political affairs affected women
equally with men; whatever concerned the
home and society and the citizen concerned
the women. 1t affected the women quite
as Intimately as the men whether there
LIST n ha try
whether there We're bad laws on the books
and bad men to enforce them. She de-
clared that women had a right to meddle
with whatever meddled with them and that
politics meddled with women most decis-
ively
Regarding the defeat Of the equal suf-
frage amendment in California. Miss Shaw
said the amendment carried in the state
outside of San Francisco. but was beaten
by 2o.ooo in the city by the saloon element;
in the state 3006o voters dii not pass upon
the question at all, and she had confidence
that at the next time the amendment would
carry easily. In California the roorhouse
inmates were voted: native born Cinnamon
voted solidly against equal suffrage. while
women who paid taxes or were punished
for violation OF the law had nothing to say
as TO what they should pay taxes for or
what the laws should be. Miss Shaw ar
Gued with her own innitsb,e power the
Justice of equal suffrage. She answered all
the stereotyped objections of its opponents
. She ridiculed the plea that women would
mingle with the riff-raff of the country on
election day any more than they have to
all the rest of the time; she ridiculed mems
sohcitude that the blush of womaniiness
would fade on election day any sooner
than over the washtub. She declared that
womsnliness so fragile as that was rot
worth anxiety. but that womanIiness
which was ingrsined in wornans character
would not be affected by any duty which
called woman into any place. Miss Shaw
declared In closing that any party which
was brave enough 10 give suffrage to wom-
en- could control the government for the
next fifty years
Miss Marie Stewart rendered A niano solo.
Mrs. r. T. Hollenheck gave Il vocal solo
and Miss Norris contributed recitation.