Evening journal., 1901-11-07
they WANT THE
RIGHT TO VOTE
Equal SuifragiStS Consider
Methods to Obtain 1t
THEIR METHODS PECULIAR
Al Least That Is How a Strange Wis,
itOr to The Convention Vas
Impressed
THEIR METHODS PECULIAR

/
1t is well to take a note;
The ladies who desire it
Are a rather lonesome few,
So what are all the others
Who remained at home to do?
It's well enough, | fancy,
For the Reverend Anna Shaw,
And other ladies capable
OF laying down the law:
But the women who are legion,
Who have work to do at home,
When dhe polls are opened maybe
Would be too engaged to come,
And leave the baby squalling,
And the dinner on to burn,
And the washing in the hamper
And the butter in the churn.
Oh. it's well enough, fancy,
For the Reverend Anna Shaw.
To eNpOund the noble doctrine
And elucidate the law;
And to ladies who have leisure
All my rights l will bequeath,
When the children have the measles.
And the baby's cutting teeth.
If the equal suffrage women would
Just induce some young, pretty and
charming women to join their ranks.
then there might be some hope that their
cause might win. Western women are
SAID to be handsome, and they must have
more powers to fascinate masculinity
than Eastern women. else they never
would have won over the men in the suf-
| frage question.
This occurred to me time and again
IN the fifth annual convention of the Del
aware Equal Suffrage Association.
which was held in the Newport NJ. Il.
L., Ill a.
thirty-three persons in attendance, three
OF whom were men-Onc a preacher, one
a cripple and another a newspaper report
! en-. The convention was called TO order
by the president, and after the prelimi-
nary exercises stout woman in a black
gown got up to read paper. She select
ed her tone of voice. and it evidently
suited her fancy exactly, for il never
varied a hairs breadth, though it fire.
quently was Interrupted by distinctly
audible sniff. The readers face was
characterized by a remarkable absence
OF expression during her ordeal but
when II was over her countenance fairly
beamed with mingled joy and relief.
! In the paper the lady declared:
The gravity with which modern men,
who usurped all law and authority,
pass such Judgment upon the conceded
right and privileges of women and say
il is eXpedient, would be laughable were
It not SO presumptuOus.
In my opinion the most important
point to be considered in regard to suf-
| frage is the effect upon the woman her
self as an individual.
"Disfranchisement is ever and al
ways degradation. In this country men
are dsfranchised for cause, and the
cause is always attended by humiliation.
If men do not feel the degradation of
disfranchisement, then this very. fact Is
enc of the most prominent Of the evils
suffered by women, by reason of their no.
having this right.
No woman is fit to bring up the adj
ministrators Of n republic who is not
herself familiar with the Fundamental
principles upon which it is based.
"Woman's intellectual horizon is mar
rowed and her self-respect injured by her
political limitations.
I'VE know that when woman is given
her perfect freedom we will have O
grander race of men than the world has
ever seen"
The paper being concluded, the prcsi
dent invited discussion. At first there
| was no response. but when the invitation
was given again by the chair in a more
pressing fashion. several of the lady del
/ egates began 10 speak at once. Finally
a slim, determined looking little woman
i with flashing black eyes, and sharp
quick voice gained the floor and the eal
OF the presiding officer. and spoke abou
her interest in the election and particular
ly its result in Maryland Then she told
how the negro had been taught 10 avol6
the O. She told it well and plainly. She
said that every ballot of the rival par
ties, except the Republican, containe,
the letter o. The illiterate voter wai
taught this letter-alsO to avoid it-an'
not to vote any ballot upon which ar
. neared this hoO-dOO letter. She sat down
flushed with conscious triumph when
woman across the aisle said, blandly
Would the lady repeat thatF don
know what she means 10y avoiding TN
letter O." The lady complied with tn
request in a very succinct manner.
In the concerted discussion which thel
, ensued the president was heard to re
mark that educational qualification I
vote would be a step toward compulsOr
education. A delegate opposed this o
the ground that woman suffrage wa
1 based on right. the nalenable right a
an American citizen. Then about half
D dozen began TO talk at once, and it wa
simply impossible to understand the drit
> OF the remarks. There was a great dea
of laughing, too, and in the excitemeI
woman who kept the president con
pany in the pulpit sat so far forward j
her chair and tipped il so frequently tina
a collision between her and a rubb,
pit seemed imminent.
At this juncture Miss Emma Lore san
solo. a sweet, melodious air in ths
Z rich. rare voice OF hers that transporte
the listener to realms of delight. Late
and by request. she sang The Sta
Spangled Banner She also played ne
q own accompaniment.
Previous to Miss LOre's singing. SOM
| body suggested that one of the gentleme
IN the audience move the organ SO thu
3 Miss Lore would not be obliged to sill
into the wall. At that time there WEI
4 only two men in the room-the cripp
and the newspaper man. The latter IA
[ lantly responded To "A beckOning finge
but was so overwhelmed by the hon
conferred upon him that he nearly to
pied over the bowls of flowers which 7
6 posed in fancied security upon the e
of the instrument.
n The suffragists struck snag VIII
they attempted to elect officers. Tn,
" president announced tina; the ball
would make the nomination, whatev
2 that meant Then she went on to 81
that she did not know whether each d'
ecate could vote once or twice. b
thought she bad seen in the constituti'
that they could vote once. The ballo