The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-06


N IL progress Of women will be held
u IL in Washington February "A 10
ls. BY the National American Womans
Suffrage association. IL IS the seni-cen-
tennial of the first convention Of women
ever held in the world. and the ". ~ W.
;. A. viii observe the anniversary with
the greatest convention IN It's history
Preparations are being made at the
headquarters OF the association for an
elaborate i've days programme which will
take the form OF q comprehensive review
OF the progress of women in nifty years
Only one woman survives who was present
al the humiliating events which gave birth
10 the idea OF a nnien OF women in their
own behalf. and also at the now historic
convention OF 1siS That is Mrs. Elizabeth
Cady Stanton.
Although Mrs. Stanton has been an In
valid for some years now. and has not
been able 10 attend the national conven-
tfons. she viii make supreme effor; and
viii be taken to Washington as a guest ~
honor. With her will share the honors
Mrs. Anteinette Brown Blackwell. the
first woman minister in the country. who
Is the only other survivor OF the original
convention.
Women from Canada and European
countries Will unite with American women
in Washington in the celebration. Many
OF the foremost professional women OF the
country who are not members OF the ASSOC
citation will recount the victories OF women
in their special lines.
In these days OF freedom. when hardly
an occupation Is closed TO women, girls
cannot understand the conditions OF %
years ago. With thousands OF clubs, with
the foremost women of the world. even
the queens daughters themselves, and our
presidents wives presiding at meetings,
Ii is impossible TO believe that 30 years ago
only seven occupations We're open TO wo-
men, and American women were refused
permission to sit in worlds anti-slavery
convention with men.
The organizations OF half a century ago
were located all over the world In civil
ixed countries and were agitating the abol-
ition OF slavery. There wasn't q land in
which there were no slaves. In America
the Quakers always gave women the same
privileges In their meetings as men had,
and when anti-siavery organizations were
formed the women still ranked beside their
husbands. So when the call was sent out
for worlds convention. the American
societies sent Quaker women. Mrs. STAN
ton was married in time 10 accompany her
husband on a wedding trip TO the conven-
ton to which he was a delegate. The par
ty went on a sailing vessel and We're much
belated. Word reached England that the
Americans had sent women. English min
listers at once said they could not come
into the convention, but waited TO take ac-
ton when the convention opened. Fer a
day the question was fought. and at last
the women were refused admission. But
the men decided they owed them some
courtesy and told them they might sit
in gallery behind screen and listen to
their voices.
William Lloyd Garrison. arriving on q
belated ship. heard the women had been
put out, refused TO sit in convention. and
for II days sat with the women IN protest
behind the screen.
Among the famous women behind the
screen were Lady Byron, Lucretia Mott
and Mrs. Wendell Phillips. The indigna-
ton among them was great.
Mrs Stanton and Lucretia Mott decided
that when they returned a movement for
the emancipation OF women from slavery
should be started. The argument used by
those English ministers was that the mo-
ment women sat down by men In such
body that instant the morals OF all Chris
tendon would be ruined.
Soon after the return 10 America An
toinette Brown. VINO had been ordained a
minister of the Congregational church.
was sent as delegate from her church in
New Jersey TO a temperance convention of
ministers and leaders. For two days and
q half her admission was fought over, and
when she was finaiiy allowed In, 10 chnch
it her supporters gave her ten minutes In
which to address the meeting. As she
went to the platform that body of good
men broke into Kisses and eat calls. For
ten minutes. her allotted time. she faced
a storm OF Kisses. For three long hours.
until IL was time for the convention TO adj
tourn, she stood and tried in vain 70
speak a word. The reverend gentlemen
continued their storm OF Kisses without
cessation.
That was the last straw TO the women
and when Mrs. Stanton and Mrs. Mott
found themselves together in central New
York they decided to start movement 70
secure freedom for women. This confer
ence OF women that has resulted In such
wonderful strides. was organized by seven
women. and met at the residence Of a high
seat Quaker at Waterloo. ~. Y. Other
women attended. and the newspapers