The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-19
Especial to The Herald.

ceedingS of the National Council OF
Women eliminated today in a session
which stands as one of the most re-
markable held in this city for lon2
time. The discussion hinged upon The
consideration of resolutions concerning
ReDresentative-elect Roberts. The con-
fiict was intense and exciting from
start to finish.
1t had been known since the opening
of the convention that the Roberts case
might bring about interesting develop
ments. The resolutions committee mad
been wrestling with the case all the
week, but the struggle in open session
did not commence until the report OF
the committee this afternoon. With
that the real contest began, and lasted
five hours.
Roberts of Utah, a majority and minor
ity resolution was reported. The ma
| jority resolution follows:
| Resolved, That the National Council
, of Women of the United States stands
for the highest ideals of domestic and
civic virtue, as well as for the observ-
ance of law in all its departments, both
state and nationan; therefore,
Resolved. That no person should be
! allowed to hold a place in any law
( making body of the nation who is not a
/ law-abiding citizen"
Minority resolutions were offered as
follows:
Whereas, The passage of the Ed
munds bill (so-called) established the
law of monogamic marriage as binding
upon all citizens of the United States;
therefore,
Resolved. That no person shall be
allowed to hold a place in a law-making
body of the nation who is not in this,
and in all other matters, a law-abiding
citizen"
Mrs. Rebecca B. Chambers moved the
substitution of the minority for the ma
Jorlty report, and was seconded by Mrs.
Lillian NJ. n. Stevens, president of the
National Woman's Christian Temper
ance Union.
AT this time said Mrs Chambers,
public opinion demands an expression
of no uncertain sound upon a specific
subject This council should deal with
public questions fairly and squarely,
and this is a most important question
concerning womanhoOd."
Mrs. Judith Ellen Foster of this city
favored the majority resolution. She
said: DO not commit ourselves to The
views taught by any organization. We
should put aside individual and per-
sonal matters. The character of the
national council forbids a direct ex-
preston on this matter. The election
OF Roberts was not an act Of the church
to which he belongs. Let it be left to
the house of representatives"
Mrs. Elizabeth NJ. Grannis of New
York spoke in favor of the minority re-
port, saying that she was there to
serve the whole peoDle-above the ma
tional council. if needs be.
Mrs. NJ. p Davis, Michigan; Mrs L.
c. Manchester, Rhode Island and Mrs.
L. NJ. Lowell, Pennsylvania, also aired
themselves on the same side.
Rev. Anna Gartin Spencer, Rhode
Island, chairman Of the resolutions
committee, said she considered the ma
jority resolution the broader o. the two.
Il stand here for it, said she, mot
because it is DointlesS, but because it
has many points,
Miss Anna Gordon Of Illinois offered
substitute resolution, which, she said |
had been drawn up as a compromise.
1t left out the words "Edmunds bill"
and contained some other changes, but !
it was not essentially different in pur-
pose.
UTAH WOMAN'S VIEW.
Mrs. Zina Young Card of Utah said
all the delegates wanted purity in the t
family, but were they able to investi- |
gate the parentage of every child born /
into the world? If not, why should the |
national council direct an attack upon |
any individual?
Miss Sadie American of Illinois, dele
gate from the National Council of Jew
ish Women, said that she had come out
on her Sabbath to stand for breadth
Of view, and urged that the organiza-
ton should not concern itself with
questions OF this sort.
a rising vote was offered on the
amendment offered by Miss Gordon,
and it was lost by a considerable ma
iority.
The discussion then came back to
the original question as to the adop-
ton of the majority report on the Rob
erts question.
The famous Susan B. Anthony said:
We have laws in all our states to pun
sh men who violate laws of the monog-
amic marriage, but if we should go up
% congress, would we not find men
here who, upon investigation, would
De punishable under these laws? Why.
hen, should we go away out to Utah
% seek out a man to punish?"
Rev. Anna Shaw said: 1T has been
stated here that the man some of US
Ire trying to antagoniZe has no con-
lection with the Mormon church. We
lont want to bring in a resolution
,ristiing with points, but bristling with
point. We are told we must stick
o general questions, and yet we have
truck against the canteen system, the
wearing of birds on hats, and many
Questions of nowhere near the import
nee of the present one. Every woman
ught to protest against the seating of
his man, who has been guilty of vio-
ating the law
SUSA YOUNG GATES.
Susa Young Gates made touching ]
nd impressive speech. She said: II {
now of no argument which better
hows the ability of this council to ar
itrate great questions than the discus ;
ion OF this question; for it has been {
one in the best of spirit. and yet ii
a cruel thing to force us into a DO {
ition which we dOnotwish 10 occupy.
you want the women of my people
} accept your views, why not treat
s with kindness? would not dare to q
peak TO you in insincerity, and I ask i
on to be charitable. l want to bring Q
} you argument, but l see l can only I
ring to you emotion and sentiment {
At the close of her remarks DR. z
larry Walker came down the aisle and .
Used Mrs. Gates as she took her seat I
Living in an adjoining state" said 5
Irs. Ida II. Weaver of Idaho, '.I feel I
lat / know something of the political $
)nditions of Utah, and underlying an
lis excitement think I see a political !,
,heme. 1 urge the majority report. I
justice to ALL" y
Mrs. Martha Tingey said: 1--WE all a
now the Edmunds act was directed /
yainst our people, and we feel that ii :
not the place Of the national council r