The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-03-07
they women, Upon thi. point we have an

they womeni Upon this point we have an
opinion which 1t is unnecessary to express.
Cleveland is a branch of New England. In
Oklahoma IL might not be considered pru-
dent to accuse a woman of pecuniary fraud.
Habit and mental cultivation and the use Of
the most modern text books produce a
change in the way of regarding m and
perhaps chivalry Is not considered to
apply to s~tateswomen. At any rate, Mrs.
AvERY's husband, Senator ELRoY M.
AVERY, had to defend her. Not that
she was not able to defend herself,
but she was in Washington, at the
meeting Of the Daughters of the Ameri-
can Revolution. Mr.. AvERY's remarks
about the pleasant little anecdote which
accused Mrs. AVERY Of being q tool Of the
money power were gratifyingly earnest:
"Yes It's a lie. with tho brand Of hell on every word
OF II, and when a man or set Of men dsres sling mud
at her they wifi answer to me in this campaign and
campaigns hereafter. on general principles q man
who will strike a woman Is mean and beneath the DIG.
nifty Of a man, but when the woman Is out Of town
md not present to defend herself against such infa-
nous insults. the man is not only a contemplate cur.
but a coward. That. gentlemen. Ia why I am here to
address you tonight. I am here to defend the char
acter OF n woman. and when a man OF set OF men
makes such a charge as this ono IL Is time. my friends.
that you take steps to protect her against these scan.
dalous influences.
81 know that janitors and teachers have had tho
word passed to them that II Mrs. AVERY is reelected
It will not please tho ~of1cials at headquarters. Now,
my fellow citizens. I have talked plain, ! have made
no attempt to mince matters, but for every word Ut
tered I alone stand responsible. and to whom It may
concern I make tho following statement. which may
go broadcast"
He read the following:
ITO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN; II has Just come to my
knowledge that o. rtain unknown persons are mali
ciously circulating. for political eject, o report that
the changes Of text books made by the School Council
last summer were made for a corrupt consideration.
and that my wife received money or other thing Of
value Tor her influence and vote. The ohivsiric liars
who set this story anoat thieves crying stop thiefiO
know that Mrs. AVERY II not In the city. and, there.
fore. cannot defend herself against the charge. ! will
pay the sum Of $500 to any person who will furnish
me with conclusive proof that such a statement has
and hereby nsreo TO prosecute the offender until he Is
convicted or ! am bankrupt. ELRor N. AyERr."
A gentleman in the audience said very
properly that Mrs. AVERY was "above re-
proach," and that every fair.minded citizen
should be indignant ut the charge that she
had accepted a bride. We should say so,
and we hope that she will be reelected by q
monumental majority. But the charge
against her could not be made with safety
in Oklahoma. On the frontier there are
certain old.fashioned ideas about women,
and there the campaign lie would not be
allowed to circulate against women. 1t
may be urged that when women are candi-
dates for political Office they are to be
treated no better than men; but the rude, gal
liant fellows on the border would never ac-
cept such an argument. Cleveland seems to
nave that absence Of sentiment about
women, even in politics, which may be de-
fcnsiblc, but is certainly unpleasant.