The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-03-18
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
Meeting of Providence Association
al E. Y. w. {. A. Rooms.
Address by Anna Gar In Spencer ard
Mrs. Ellen M. Boiles.

A. meeting OF the Providence woman's
Suffrage Association was held at the X. Y.
W. @. A. rooms 25l Washington street, at p.
business was transacted at the business meet
ing anu the public meeting opened at
o'clock. The saoaker Of tho day was was
Mrs Anna q Arlian Spencer, whose subject
was "The Visit of the List Convention of the
National Woman's Suffrage Association at
Washington She introduced her remarks
by reaoing letter to her from one of the
members regarding the petition made TO the
Constitutional commission to extend the
franchise TO women. She explained that the
matter was not mentioned in the report to the
legislature because it was forgotten by Judge
Durfee. The letter further stated that there
was no doubt that IL the women throughout
the country demanded the franchise or any
thing else the men would grant it. The Pc
tiiion rs presented TO the commission was
defeated Ito 8. Mrs. Spencer spoke Of the
encouragement 10 be received from tho fact
that soHany votes were cast in its favor.
She thoaaht that enfranchisement would
come TO women only under stress of some
great national excitement, where men are
nearly equally divided and in which women
are also inter Mrs Bolles here rose TO
say that she thought that the revised Consti-
tuition should be defeated because ID did not
make IL so easy 10 amend the, constitution as
IL Is under The present one.
Mrs Spencer said IN t she was not in favor
Of the Constitution commission. Where the
business questions OF the state are TO be con
sdered 1t should be done by Constitutional
Convention. But while Mrs. Bolles took
very gloomy view of the situation, Mrs. Spen-
Ger thought that the people of this state would
revolt against bossism, that black stain our
government. III n few Ilen were made 10
understand that they do not run this state
thin we will have a better class of men to
deal with and could better gain enfranchise-
ment than now with the class of men that
compose our state Legislature. She thought
the that the association should work
against the acceptance OF the revised
cUnstition. Speaking OF the Washington
meeting she said IL was the celebration OF the
50th anniversary Of the first declaration Of
the rights Of women. During those fifty
years complete revolution in the standing Of
woman had been brought about throughout
the entire world And this was the only revo-
luton in the history Of the world that had
been accomplished without bloodsed and with
peace. love and COED feeling.
Then she told Of the condition Of women
Atty years ago, when there was no legal recog
milton Of her. and no occupations to which
she was eligible Now woman is found fin
every profession and business, in many cases
in large numbers. In matters political
comparison was also made.
She them described how the petition for
the amendment was made to Congress annu-
ally before tho committees of the Senate and
House The meetings Of the association held
at Washington are held yearly at the time
that these hearings are held.
Mrs. Spencer then described in detail the
other proceedings of the convention and spoke
also regar. ing the question Of womsns rights
in the South