Evening star., 1896-01-18

model state suffrage organization, headed
by Jean Brooks Greenleaf, Martha Almy,
Mary Seymour Howell. Lille D. Blake.
Imogene c. Fales, Mariana w. Chapman,
Cornelia K. Hood, Mrs. Isaac Carey, Mrs.
Priscilla Hackstaff and other influential
and distinguished women. The Woman's
Christian Temperance Union has numer-
Gus and energetic state association organ
lied in every county, which Is also in favor
of political equality.
A third important element is the vast
army of women's clubs. which are said to
number over 1000 and to have some 10000
members, including clubs in the general
federation and those of such character as
to be unincluded in the list. Among these
an important element consists of the work.
ing women's societies and unions, especially
those which have come into existence in the
past few years. The minority parties in
the state-the pOpulists. single takers, pro-
hibitionists and other parties-are strongly
in favor of suffrage for women, chiefly in
the belief that it will greatly strengthen
their forces. Another silent but powerful
influence is the large number of women en-
gagged in business or professions on their
own account, women who are property
owners or have large personal estates and
who take deep interest in legislation, par
ticularly that which involves assessment
and taxation. This element is larger in
New York than in any other state on ac-
count Of it's greater population. manufac-
lures and wealth. There are other causes,
but these are the main ones, which have
superinduced the growth from a handful Of
men and women at Seneca Falls over fifty
years ago to an army OF nearly million
today.
Bay State Strength.
In Massachusetts, woman suffrage was de-
feated at the polls by vote of about one
hundred and eighty thousand to one hun
dred and ten thousand. The opposition was
very bitter, and the bill was drawn in 80
artful a manner that it offended and even
antagonized many of the most stalwart ad-
vocates of the idea. AS a result, many suf-
frage people stayed away from the polls,
and, 80 far as they were concerned, let the
matter go by default. Even upon this basis
the figures tell an eloquent tale Of the
strength Of the movement In the bay state
Much Of its success is due to the enthusiasm
Of the graduates and even Of the students
of the many institutions of learning fol
women which are so notable a characters
tic of that commonwealth. There are some
twenty schools and colleges for women alone
est class. such as Radcliffe. Wellesley
Boston, Tufts, Smith, Mount Holyoke, Am
| herst. Agricultural, and others.
In South Carolina, supposed to be thu
most conservative state Of all the Union
woman suffrage was defeated in the consti
| tutional convention, but only after lon,
and stubborn fight. and then by majorit!
which gave no pleasure to the opposition
l
| which accord women limited suffrage. Th
| list of these Is Arizona, Delaware, Idaho
| Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts,
| Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska
New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dako
] ia. Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon. South Dakota
| Kansas, Texas. Vermont, Washington, Wis
| consin and Connecticut. This makes a to
tai of three states in which there is abso
lutte political equality, twenty-five wher
| there is limited suffrage and eighteen Il
| which woman's political rights are ignored
| Even among these states the suffrage move
| ment is making great headway. In Cali
| fornia there is complete state organiza
| ton which has already enrolled one fourtl
| of the voters of the state. In Mississippi
there is fair organization, which claims t
| represent third OF the state.
Seed SOyyn In the South.
In North Carolina, Virginia and West Vii
ginia are small organiza lions which repor
| great progress. In Georgia the success @
the women at the international exposition
has given great impetus to the movement
resulting in the formation Of vast numbe
of suffrage clubs in various cities an
| towns. In the remaining states and terri
tories, with the exception of Alaska, ther
are now complete state organizations, wit
branches in every city. Some were forme
this year. Their formation makes the ns
tional organization complete. When til
] roll Is called in Washington on the epenin