Evening star., 1900-02-10
Stir Created in Woman's Suffrage
Association.
ALL OVER over TIE PRESIDENCY
Reports From Different States Re-
ceived Today.
PROGRESS OF THE WORK

| A national suffrage convention without
| a surprise would he an anomaly. The sur
prise has been sprung. As the delegates
| of the American National Suffrage Asso-
| citation entered the church a little before
| 10 O'Clock today they passed between two
| small sentries-a of blackest Senegam-
| bia on one side. and very much soiled
| Caucasian brother on the other-who passed
| to each incomer big circular. 1t is against
! orders to distribute any kind of literature
except that authorized by the convention
| inside of the church, and one very peppery
woman asked the boys in somewhat heated
| terms what they We're doing there.
| 'We'se jus 4 doin' what we's Sc paid fur, y
| remarked one. Woman inside thah tole
we'alls to 'stribute these heah,' said the
| other.
| These heah" proved, on examination. to
be circulars setting forth the qualifications
| Of Mrs. Lille pevereuX Blake for president
| of the National American Woman Suffrage
| Association.
| The circular recites that she has great
| executive ability: that she IS an admirable
| presiding officer; a woman of high culture;
| fine presence, and in all respects well fitted
| to honor the position. That through her
! efforts mainly women were appointed CEN
Sus enumeratorS in 1870 and 1890; granted
| pensions as war nurses, and made eligible
| to civil service positions: that to her ef-
| York are indebted for the passage of the
| laws granting school suffrage to women:
| making mother and father joint guardians
| of their children: enabling woman to
| make a will without her husbands consent
providing that there shall be women as
! trustees in all public institutions where
women are placed, and providing seats for
SaleSwomen.
1t recites that Mrs Blake originated and
sustained the agitation for the appoint
ment of police matrons, and that for plac-
| ing women on boards of education, and
| advancing the salaries Of women school
| teachers. and concludes by saying:
kindly give these facts serious consid-
Grafton before casting your ballot for the
next national president"
The circular is signed by Elizabeth Cady
Stanton, DR.. Mary Putnam Jacob and NJ.
Olivia Sage.
Every person who entered the church
was handed one Of the circulars TIL the
boys Were ordered out of the house and off
| the grounds. They objected to going say
| ing they had been pad to stay right 'thah.'
but they had to skip lively when one in
dignant }ittie woman went after them.
| Some one rushed to Mrs. Carrie Chapman
Gait with the information that her Uppo-
nentswas spreading sedttious literature.
| Mrs. Gait looked mildly at the heated in
formant. and. holding out one of the circu-
lars, said. Il knew about them some time
ago, and went quietly on with her con-
versation.
Miss Anthony looked benignly over the
printed sheet. and in her decided way re-
marked. Why, there things stated in
| that circular that Lille Blake knows no
more about than Il bah" unborn, and then
| she addressed herself to the business of
| the convention. Among the national Off
| GERS the circular created not the least rip
pie of excitement. The indignation was
| mostly among the voting members. ITS
a nasty. mean advantage to take of any
/ one. Dear, nice Carrie Chapman Gait
wouldn't do thing like that. / know"
| Which goes to show that even suffragist
al,
| One excited delegate came bearing down
| the aisle like ship in full sail, holding the
| circular out at arms length, and to knot
| of ladies said, with much fervor, Isn't this
| perfectly dreadful: Are we 4 lot of pot
| house politicians? Are We promoting yell
| low journal methods? Is this the kind of
warfare that have got to enter into
| when our beloved Miss Anthony rct1res? l
| simply won't stand it,''
| ''oh. yes, thee will Mary" was the cain
| rejoinder of a notwithstanding elderly
woman. Thee will Just keep thy temper
| and seat thyself. Carries election is in no
| wise endangered by the paper"
| Mrs Mary Seymour Howell Of Arpany,
| n. y. Is Mrs. Biakes manager. The cleo
| ton takes place Tuesday.
| Further than commen. on the manner OF
| distribution there was not much Talk about
| the circular. The great point in it seemed
| to be that Mrs. Blake is supported by Eliza
| beth Cady stanton.
| state Addresses.
| The first business of the morning was the
| report of the credentials committee. after
| which the addresses Of state presidents
We're resumed Mississippi was the first
state to be heard from, through it's presi-
| dent, Hala Hammond Butt Miss Anthony
| announced on Introducing the young lady
| Ia the convention that this was the first
| time that Mississippi had sent a president
| TO The national convention, and that she
| lhonSnl II d most suspicious occasion.
/ DrH=lIanf "a md of
| her state for many reasons. That there
was perhaps not another state in the Union
| excepting possibly those states wherein
| women are fully endowed with the right of
| suffrage. where women are accorded the
| legal consideration thai is given in her ma =
| tive state, Mississippi The property rights,
| she said, are most liberal, educationa ia
| clntles are the best and all that the state
| affords. The legislature has lust appro-
1 prlated S1o1,UO for educational purposes
/ Sl,"n Of which went specifically to an in
| dustr-al school and college exclusively for
| women: about 100000 went to the State
| University, where women are admitted on
| equal terms with men. and large propor-
| uon went to the public school fund from
| which the girls derive larger benefits than
| the boys. The legal status of women she
| believes, compares favorably with that of
| the men, excepting the right of franchise
| She is of the opinion that this will soon
| come. She touched on the negro question,
| believing 1t to be true that the iliterate
| negro voter menaced peace and seemed TO
| see III suffrage granted to women the ray
| of light in the darkness She is inclined to
| think that the controversy going on be-
| tween the senator from North Carolina and
| that of Alabama, involving the senator of
| Mississippi. Is of less Importance than the
| fact that they have disfranchised the wo-
| men of those states, and show no dispOsi-
| ton to r.ctify the blunder. She thinks
| that the women of her state need organized
| effort. She finds the press of the state will
| ing to hear both sides of the question and
| give the different views publicity. They
| have school suffrage, after a fashion. She
| considers Mississippi to be in receptive
| mood, and believes that earnest and united
! effort would carry the state for the fran
| elise of women.
| Committee on Press.
| The report of Einora NJ. Babcock chair
| man of the press committee was received
| with much interest and enthusiasm 1t
| shows conclusively that the press is grow
| Ing much more liberal to the suffrage
cause.
| While the past year had been the first
| attempt at systematic presswOrk, the re-
| suits had been very encouraging. She
| found the newspapers of the country ready
| and willing to use their articles. There
| had been sent out from the press head
| quarters in Dunkirk 32SO0 articles. besides
frrtf fIN N.aEF To- II.