The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-10
THE WOMEN'S BIG MEETING
eDEYVER'S IMPRESSIONS OF TIE FED
ERITION CONVENTION.

III " " AUANN NNN = vs.
mItted, Ran Politics Like Old staEers,
spoke Well and Worked on GrudEes.
'DESvER, Juno 2S.-It must have been due to
the exhilarattng effect OF the Colorado climate
or clsc the women delegates to the biennial
confederation Of woman's clubs are OF eScep-
ttonnlly strong physique, for they began to talk
in the corridors OF the hotels by 5 O'Clock In tho
morning and they did not retire until midnight.
Their tongues were waREing In the hotel din
ing rooms by I O'Clock and they could scarcely
spare timo TO give their orders to the walters.
s'Why. they are worse than men" said one dis
rusted waiter. they want their orders filed at
once and they Just bolt their food 30 as TO
have more timc to talk" Some OF tho
women delegates discovered restaurants whore
quick lunches we're served and thcre they
fiocked and crowded out the business men.
The hum md buzz was constant on street cars.
In hotel Hobbies. and In the several halls where
sessions OF the convention were hold. Every
Woma had her hobby, and wanted to give the
other delegates the results Of hcr past expert
ments and all her ideas for the future, Although
che programmes were long and the sessions
began generally right on time, those who read
papers or spoke extempore-and there were
many OF that class--were but n small part OF
tho delegatcs who wanted TO have their say, and
the result was that the women talked at high
pressure during every waking moment.
Besides the desire 10 talk. tneTc was an
equally great desire TO hear everything said in
the convention. to SEQ everything in the form
Of entertainment offered by the local commit
tees. and to attend all the receptions and social
affairs for which invitations were issued. But
Invitations we're not necessary. One woman
who had planned q luncheon on the very first
day and had sent out invitations for 100 guests.
made arrangements for possibly $50. but before
she decided to close the doors over 400 women
~ 49, - $1,000.
before tho demand for refreshments ceased.
On another day when there were eight reccp-
lions In different parts Of the city at the same
time the delegates hired carriages and rushed
from one to another without regard to the as
siRnments made by the local committee to
avoid n crush.
Ono feature OF the Denver convention was n
source OF unending discussion for the visitors.
The results Of equal suffrage were inquired
into and opinions were solicited from poll
ticians. lawyers and even from newsboys on the
street. The Equal Suffrage League held open
house tn church parlors, where an election
booth was set up and a mock election was con-
Quoted forthc editication OF tho visitors. Women
Interested In the local suffrage movement were
prepared to knock down all opposing argu-
mcnts, and they strove v~aliantly to convince all
douhters OF the success OF the experiment.
Those delegates who had long been sufTragists.
OF course. were delighted. but there wcre.many
strong women present who were equally strong
In believing that the thing is a failure.
The State delegations managed to find time
somewhere to caucus for candidates for the
federation offices. There was n strong feeling
that the women who had come hoping to re-
ccive tho nomination for President should not
be elected. and some clever work was done to
sidetrack the ambitious. The Western women
wanted Mrs. Platt Of Denver to run for the
office. and the Colorado delegates begged and
implored her to reconsider her determination
not to be a candidate. She had the promise OF
plenty OF votes. but she showed from the out
SGT that she really meant not to be n candidate.
But the delegates were self-willed. and the can
wasting and caucussing went on with q due
regard for the other offices. after considering
the possibility that Mrs. Plat would accept.
The women had plenty Of time. apparently,
to think OF dress The dry air and reasonably
cool weather permitted them to wear either
dark or light colors. and the scene from tho
etage when the Broadway theatre was filed
was n composite picture, many hued and at
~tractivc. Mrs. Helmuth of New York scintil-
lated with diamonds at State receptions. and
the modest young girl from Idaho looked
equally attractive In pure white without a sin
gle Jewel. Women from every part of the
country with compilations and costumes be-
traying more or loss insular or sectional tastes
composed a picture ever changing and ever
attractive. But even the strongest willed had
times OF relapse. and on tho warm days at the
close Of the week it was no unusual thing to
Aee q delegate nodding in her seat, her weary
eyes closed and her brain dulled by fatigue
30 that she could not hear what was being
said. Some OF the wise ones surrendered and
went into seclusion for a day. OF course some
women tainted. but there was a mild sensation
at one session when a stray man spectator,
who ought TO have known better. frightened
his near neighbors in going off into a faint Just
like n woman. A baby in the balcony began Ia
how Just as a woman was explaining the duty
OF women in Legislative reform and a wag Of q
reporter asked Mrs. Plat In an indignant tone
Where Is that woman's husband that he
does not look after the KIDD"
The convention developed the fact that the
club women are becoming excellent platform
speakers. Many of them have cultivated theiI
voices so that under ordinary conditions they
can all an auditorium with q volume OF sound
which with careful delivery makes them popu.
lar Sneakers, II was noticed, also. that West
Srn women rivalled the noted Eastern delegates
bonn onor ~ w Seyle c Sna dei aY " c or o9S day M6yr, the
one q school teacher Of Denver. the other a wife
OFFS Cripple, Creek miner. The Cripple Creek
woman spoke upon the advantages of extern
P pSbiect so ss spcaEimRGl " and md she 81 IN ilu uidG heI
Women Of great social prestige were in this
democratic city no more conspicuous than the
young woman who arose in her seat one day and
electrified her auditors by her clear thinkinG
and bright manner Of expressing herself. The
woman Alderman from Buena Vista brought
down the house by n declaration that it takes q
woman TO s~traighten ont q town Council. Del.
egates with their hobbies had many opnortuni-
ties to elaborate upon them before an audience
The stylish dressed young salcswoman from a
great department store in New York city told
OF the ideals and literary aspirations OF the
young. clerks OF that establishments who had
formed themselves into n club for mutual help
business-llke address was given by n Chi,
union OF members OF her profession" az
che, styled 1t. She asked for aid and good
Sral reputation Of stenographers by newspapol
Jokes. and she begged for a higher social re,
ception. Women doctors want women medica
attendants In all public institutions where wo
men are committed; Delegates spoke for fac
tory, laws for the hcttcrment of women anC
Shildrent for art education. and for the grea
field OF culture, education, and development il
2 t9SIsand al, directions Miss Sadie American