The San Francisco call., 1896-02-12
She Attends a Meeting of the
State Woman's Suffrage
Association.
ENCOURAGING LETTER READ.
The Members Urged to Devote Them
selves to the Constitutional
Amendment.

WIS uOnOreu Dy tue presence OF MISS Lucy
Anthony, niece of Miss Susan B. Anthony
and private secretary to Rev. Anna Shaw,
and also by the presence of Rev. Kate
Hughes of Illinois. 1t was one of the most
enthusiastic meetings ever held by the as
sociation.
Mrs. Ellen Sargent, the president, pre-
sided, and after the secretary had disposed
of some routine business she read the fol-
lowing from the Woman's Tribune of the
25th of last month, which called forth loud
and prolonged applause:
Mrs. Jennie L. Munroe, in her able address
on trades unions before the January meeting
OF the District OF Columbia Woman Suffrage
Association, recounted the action of the
Knights of Labor upon resolution sent to
them from the suffrage society. Mrs. Munroe
said:
''This society at special meeting called for
the purpose, appointed committee OF three
members to draft a resolution and present the
same to the said convention and request its
adoption. will give theresolution here:
"Inasmuch as your organization makes no dis
tinction between men and women in the rights,
duties and privileges pertaining thereto, and since
your platform demands equal pay for equal work,
without regard to sex, and at various times you
have adopted resolutions favoring women's po-
litical enfranchiSement;
Therefore, the District Womans Suffrage Asso-
citation respectfully urge you, In instructing your
assemblies TO direct their Congressman to secure
legislation restoring suffrage to the district, to
quest that the demand be made for all citizens
without distinction OF SEX"
Mrs. DR.. Bracket, Miss Gillett and the writer
of this paper composed that committee. Those
ladies could tell you how we were received,
how the resolution was passed in our pres
enee. without debate and by rising vote, but
it remains for me to tell you that was the first
time in the history OF the order such thing
was done by general assembly.
1t is a very deliberate body, and it carefully
looks into all questions it votes upon, but this
matter of the right OF women to the franchise
has been acknowledged by the ma jority of the
order so long 1t needed no explanation.
A letter from A. B. McGaffey, Secretary
of State. was also read and received with
much enthusiasm. In this the writer says:
There has been nothing to regret-there is
nothing to regret-in Colorado's experience
with women in politics. On the contrary
there have been many gratifying results.
There have been no startling or revolution
ary changes, but as we study the situation
'before" and latter" taking we see that there
has been a change, and that it has been in
every way for the better.
Women generally take quite as deep an in
tereSt and active part III politics here as do
the men, and think l am safe in saying that
fully as large percentage of them go 10 the
polls and vote.
trust that the women of California will be
successful in their efforts to secure that unde-
inable right OF citizenship, equality before
the law" and know that If they do your State
viii be the better for il.
Since Colorado has had universal suffrage
there has undoubtedly been a distinct i'm
provement in the moral tone of politics.
Woman's influence has been felt as it could
not be felt. Primaries, conventions, public
meetings, elections, all have quietly and al
most unconseiously, though none the less effee-
lively, been nodded by her presence-quieter,
more orderly and less liable 10 take chances in
the nomination of candidates unworthy of the
fullest confidence of the people.
The Rev. Mrs. Hughes spoke at some
~ n frr
and among other things declared that it
was cruel that Il, 900, 600 women should be
deprived of those rights which belong to
them, and deprived through the power of
a class that is not conyersant with the
government of this country and its laws.
She urged the women of California to
work for the proposed amendment to the
constitution of this State, which, if car
ried, will give women the right which be-
longs to them.
Mrs. Krebs addressed the meeting on
the subject of the laws of this State, hold
ing that they are in many ways more lib
eral to women than are those of other
States, but Notwithstanding their liberality
they will stand considerable amendment.
She urged the women not to turn from the
object that should occupy their attention
at this time, the proposed amendment,
and devote themselves exclusively to that.
''Do not talk now about what you would
do when you get the ballot wait till you
get II, then you may talk about what you
will do.'
She said it was no argument for those
opposed to universal suffrage to say
women will not vote" because it is a
well-known fact that many men, good
men, do not trouble themselves to vote.
Women, she said, want to vote, and when
they are entitled to the franchise their
vote will, in proportion, be equal to that
nf OLE ..
should educate themselves as to what the
ballot means.
Mrs. Louise Sorbier entered into a long
explanation of the law of this State so far
as they affect the rights of women in prop
erty, and then told of her efforts at Sacra-
mento in behalf of woman suffrage and
now the legislators asked what grievance
they had, and little by little amended the
law to the advantage of women. The laws
OF this State, while not perfect she said,
are not so bad as they are in some States,
She said that at Sacramento she saw in
the legislative halls men of q character
that she did not care to name as represen-
tatives from this City and was told that
these individuals In representing their
wives represented the interests OF women.
and she asked, "Can such men be good
fathers?" She said that if women are al
lowed to vote they will give the people a
good government.
Mrs. Emma Gregory showed that the
courts OF this State have declared that be-
cause the husband does no. take his wife's
earnings by SO doing he is supporting
her, because what she earns is comm un-
ity property, and she cited case in which
that doctrine was held.
Colonel P. T. Dickinson OF Alameda,
Mrs. Johnson and several others addressed
the meeting and the tone of their remarks
evinced their interest in the cause.
Miss Lucy Anthony, who had been ST.
lent listener, was called 10 the platform
and expressed her regret that she was un-
able to address an assemblage, but she ex-
planned that lady in Washington had of
fered $5 to have Nellie BLY, pointed out to
her, and that this contribution was subse-
quently appropriated as contribution to
the California campaign fund.
After the meeting Miss Anthony said
that she will remain on this coast for some
time. perhaps three months, perhaps
more, to arrange dates for Rev. Anna
Shaw. Her aunt, she thought would not
talk much this year. She expressed her
self as very much delighted with the feel
ing manifested at the meeting.
d FEMALE SWINDLER.
Jane simpson, Alias Mrs. HawIey, Held