The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-12

The Washington State Equal Suffrage
Association commenced its annual con-
vention yesterday. the sessions being held
in the banqueting hall of the Masonic
Temple on Pike street. The afternoon
was given up to receiving delegates. of
whom there was a fair representation
from west of the mountains. In the even
ing there was very liberal attendance,
the hall being completely filled with SYM
pathizers Of both sexes. possibly quarter
of those present being men.
Mrs. Bessie /. Savage, of Olympia, presi-
dent of the association. occupied the chair
aud introduced as the first feature Of the
evening piano solo by Miss Mira A.
Dean. following which Mrs. Savage an
nounced that this year marks a jubilee
fer the movement Of equal suffrage. She
reviewed the first meeting Of fifty years
ago at Syracuse and said that 1t was the
ouigrowth Of the treatment that women
delegates 10 the worlds anti-slavery con-
yertion held in London, In 1910, at which
time women were refused seats or a voice
in the proceedings. Mrs. Savage stated
that English women are further advanced
than American, owing to the women's la
Dor organizations and clubs of England,
which have brought about suffrage on all
subjects except those of a parliamentary
nature.
Size reviewed the growing field for wo-
mems efforts from the time when work
as domestics was all that was open to
therl. In 1870 there were but seven occu-
patt,ns which women followed. Wash
ington territory was first TO employ women
as legislative clerks and she charged that
ignorance on the part of the territorial
supreme court was responsible for the
withdrawal of suffrage on all subjects to
wonien; otherwise women In this state
would now be enjoying the fullest rights
Of american citizenship. She cited legal
ruli lgs establishing the citizenship of wo-
mer', and stated that the struggle is on
and that the coming months are full Of
woik for all. she advised women who
desired the right of franchise to join some
society. Help could only be hoped for
from voters and every woman knew of
SON vote that she could influence.
SHE then introduced DIR. D. F. Long
street who stated that he approached an
add -ess on subject germane to the &C.
cast IN with iemerity. DIR. Long street Is
single iaxer and he stated that single
takers believed in justice-that all men
are created equal He quoted the Declar-
alton of Independence and then proceeded
to tear that document to pieces, charac-
tert.ing 1t document or political prtvi-
legt, for which men have fought. He
charged it with Inconsistency when 1t was
written that all men are equal.
Those who drew 1t were siave-owners
ard Ii should have read that all men are
created equal except negroes. unpardoned
criminals. foreigners and women. He said
he would not blame women If they 70 Sc
and broke all the laws. He believed IN
suffrage because he thought ii was right
Women are not inherently better than
men. but circumstantially better. because
men are more subject 20 temptation and
, lead immoral lives. Or. Longstreet stated
| he did not believe there was a business in
/, the United States that could thu i've IL con-
Quoted on moral lines. and he cited in
stances Of commercial Misrepresentation
that WIRE made necessary by competition.
DR. Lcngstreet earned applause when he
| said that he did not believe a woman's
vote could be bought. He then discussed
| single tax and suffrage in New Zealand.
| Politics VIII not corrupt women; women
| will purify politics. said he. He took up
| the subject of crime. and said il was
| traceable to poverty. "A girl may find
| that she can live without virtue but she
| can't Hive without vituals." Suffrage. he
| believed. would remove poverty. Suffrage
| is in line with progression. He would like
| to see two words blotted out of the die
| tionary-'' conservatism" and precedent
| Most men are as they are because their