Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-16
Closing Session of the Woman's
Suffrage Association.
DONORS TO TEE RETIRING PRESIDENT
Scenes at Lafayette Opera House
Yesterday Afternoon.
RECEPTION LAST EVENING

With the closing OF the business session
today, the thirty-second year OF the Wo-
mans National American Suffrage Associa-
ton passes into history and new era opens
before 1t. For thirty years the helm has
been handled by those who banded them
selves together to form the national organ
izatiOn. With the retirement of Miss An
thony entirely new blood, younger and more
advanced women. take up the duties and
responsibilities. In the cabinet of officers
which the president, Mrs. Carrie Chapman
Gait. will have around her are old and tried
friends. those who have held up the hands
of Miss Anthony for score Of years. and
who will accept allegiance to the new
leader: but twenty years is a small portion
of fifty, and Miss Anthony is by almost
thirty years the pioneer of any now en-
gagged in active suffrage agitation
In point of interest and enthusiasm the
delegates to the convention say that the
thirty-second national meeting has been the
peer of any that has ever been held. At
every session the church in which it was
held has been crowded to the doors, and the
deepest interest has been exhibited in all
the deliberations.
The interest that opens the pocket
book" Miss Anthony says, SIS the interest
that counts. In this respect the associa-
ton has been doubly successful. For the
hrst time. perhaps, in the history of the
national organization 1t enters upon the
new year with debts all wiped out and a
clean page for the new administration to
begin upon. Fully $4,000 have been sub
Scribed at this session of the convention
and the desire of Miss Anthony is gratifed
in that she will leave the active service
Knowing that no debts remain to torment
the new president. as they have tormented
her for fifty years.
A Cheering Feature.
The suffragists of the country are thor
oushly organized, and that is cheering
feature In forty states there are state
organizations, and, it is claimed the out
look is bright for success in two or three
states, where amendments to the constitu-
tfon Will be submitted within a year or two
IN Congress, ii is a notable fact, the num-
Der OF men who believe that women should
be enfranchised is constantly growing. This
100, Is considered most hopeful sign by
those who have labored and petitioned so
long for the boon.
The next session of the national associa-
uon VIII be held in Minneapolis in Febru-
airy. 1891.
The scene at the Lafayette Opera House
Yesterday afternoon. as The Stars report
closed. was one that will never fade from
the memories of those who obtained ad-
mission to the great building Most touch
ing or all the incidents, perhaps was the
tribute of eight to eighty when four
score little men and women came trOopine
IN and each laid upon Miss Anthony's lap
a pure white rose. The reserve of the
woman broke to fragments, as the little
people came and kept coming and with
tears dropping upon the rare laces she
Wore, she bent and kissed each of the little
girls, whom many a parent there haped
would grow into as fine a type of her kind
as Miss Anthony. One dumping of a child
less than four years of age, laid her rose
on top of the others in Miss Anthony's lap,
and then put up her face for kiss unin-
vlted- The audience cheered and then
cheered again. as Miss Anthony took the
chiId in her arms and kissed her again and
again When she set her down. the little
maid very contentedly leaned against Miss
AnthOnys knee, proposing to take in the
rest of 1t from that vantage ground
pretty little miss in white. with long brown
curls' SAID verse as she deposited her
rose, and it was good that Miss Anthony
made her turn her face to the audience and
say 1t Tor the general benefit.
Greetings of Sufragists.
When Rev. Anna Howard Shaw, speaking
for the suffragists of the nation, presented
greetings to Miss Anthony, the pent up
emotions of the vast audience as we'll as
OF those upon the stage, burst forth in one
tremendous ovation. The people were
deeply moved. too, when one of the dusky
skinned race, for whose freedom Miss An
thony labcred for ten long years, came
to present the greetings of her people
the co'ored women of the United States
Her clear, rich voice filed the chamber as
she eloquently eulogized her whom, she
said, lis herself a better and stronger ar
gument in favor of woman's rights than
the most gifted orator could put into
words" Again, and yet again, Miss Cook
was called to the front, to acknowledge the
applause which greeted her.
The District of Columbia Suffrage Asso-
citation, through its president, Mrs Ellen
Powell Thompson, did more than present
greetings; 1t sent, also, two hundred gold
dollars, every penny of which is alive
with sincere thanks and earnest, loving
wishes for happiness and continued sue
cess, declared Mrs. Thompson
A surprise. and a pleasing one was the
music that was introduced near the close
Prof. Leo Wheat rendering a melody of
familiar airs, in which America" 1.-THE
Star Spangled Banner and Dixie kept
the audience cheering and cheering TIL
split gloves and blistered hands put a stop
to it. When The Star Spangled Banner,
and America" were heard the audience
arose and stood to the close
Way down on the program were two
more surprises. Wyoming, the first of all
the states to enfranchise women, through
Mrs. Warren, wife of Senator Warren of
Wyoming, presented in a delightful manner
tiny enamefed flag, in the blue field of
which four little diamonds marked the
Suffrage states. She promised that as a
MAN AND WIFE.