The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-03
~entuCk'y
POeteSS
Tells What She Would Do If

VERSAILLES, KY, Oct. Mrs. Jo-
| sephine K. Henry, of this city, who has
been named as the Prohibition and ag-
| nostic candidate for president in l90O.
| is one of Kentucky's most remarkable
women. She has taken foremost part
for years in the uplifting of her sex
in this state and has lived to see much
good in that line accomplished. She
was born in Newport Ky. Her father,
Capt Euclid Williamson, was Vir-
ginian, who emigrated to Newport in
1885. He and his brother, Capt. John
A Williamson, engaged in steamboat
ing between Cincinnati and New Or
leans during the palmy days Of the
floating palaces on Western rivers I'm
der the guidance of her mother Mrs
Henry received liberal education. her
father having died when she was quite
young. She early evinced a great tai
ent for music, and became an accom-
pIished pianist and we'll trained singer.
She is an. accomplished poetess, and
her verses have been widely copied in
papers in all sections of the country.
Her poem prisoners of Fate" is espe-
cially popular On March 10, 1868, Miss
liam Henry, of this city who served
with distinction in the artillery arm
of the Confederate service.
The loss of her only son in 1891 cast
a dark cloud upon Mrs Henry, but
she, to all outward appearance shook
off her deep sorrow and became more
Jealous than ever in pushing forward
the various public movements with
oiaI, oh Il
titled. For five years she worked al
most continuously to secure some
measure Of justice to the married wom-
en- of Kentucky in relation to their
property rights. Two years ago she
had the satisfactioulof seeing the gen
eral assembly Of Kentucky enact just
and equitable laws for married women.
She recognized the cruelty and sinful
ness of the age of consent in Kentucky
being fixed at only twelve years. She
thought it ought to be at least eighteen
years, and through her constant effort
succeeded in having the legislature
raise 1t to sixteen years. Mrs Henry's
Industry is remarkable, when it is con-
sldered that she is very fragile and
VIII not weigh over ninety pounds.
AN UNCO2IPROMISING AGNOSTJC
She is an uncompromising agnostic.
and, although one of the most ardent
temperance advocates in America, she
mas never enrolled her name on the
Wonan's Christian Temperance union
BOOK. She was staunch friend of
May l.. Collins, who met a tragic
death in Boston last winter On Nav
1 last she delivered a memorial address
over the grave of Miss Collins in the
Lexington cemetery, which astonished
theologians and free thinkers alike for
its unanswerable logic, thrilling eIo-
quence and unapproachable reasoning
regarding this life and the future state
When seen at her fine old home by
your correspondent today she was hard
at work preparing an article for a
magazine, which she said ought to be
mailed tomorrow. L asked her to out
line her policy for a national admins
tration if she should become president
OF the United States. She carefully die
tated the following remarkable reply
to this comprehensive question:
"Sirce L have been suggested as a
candidate for the presidency of the
United States, without my knowledge
or consent, an Office from which 1 am
ccnstitutionally debarred, because 1
lesI uHGel lHe ulSdpllIIS VI peIAS
woman, though [ am native born, of
legal age, a law abiding, taXpaying
citizen of the American Republic, thus
caricaturing true Democracy, and you
request that l express through the
press what | would hope to do II elected
president, herewith outline the policy
which seems to a Kentucky woman
most needful under present conditions:
II should accept this sacred trust and
high honor at the hands of my country
men only by an honest vote and fair
count, and if elected by the power OF
money, the purchase and debauchlng OF