The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-10-25
Susan B. Anthony Speaks
Before Suffrage Association.
The Doctrine Of Human Rights DiIated
Upon by Anna Gar|in Spencer and
Resolutions Adopted.

Tbs annual meeting Of the Rhode Island
the Bell street chapel yesterday after
noon
The president Mrs A. c. Dewing was
In the chair and called the meeting TO
order al 3 O'Clock
The regular reports were presented
the first being that of the secretary, Mrs
Annie c. Jewett
The report of the treasurer. Mrs. Wood
showed a balance in the treasury OF
s5O0ti
The annual report Of the president,
Mrs. Dewing was an interesting resume
of the scope and work OF the association.
After the formal reports and other min
or matters, OF interest TO the association,
hsd been disposed OF, Mrs. Dewing intro
duesd to the audience. rs the guest Of
honor and the chief speaker OF the after
noon, the venerable Susan B. Anthony
MISS ANTHoNYs ADDRESS.
As Miss Anthony arose to speak one
msrvcled chat she bore the weight OF
more than four score years 80 gracefully.
indeed there seemed very little material
evidence that the "grasshopper had be-
come a burden"
Her manner was as vigorous her form
AS unbent and her words as forceful as
of yore. II the same old story that
she had 10 tell she carried her hearers
back to the years OF 1875 and II and con-
irasled the position OF women in those
days with their position AT the opening OF
the 2oth century.
incidentally Mrs. Anthony turned back
in retrospection 20 80 years ago when, she
said, Elizabeth u. Chace, George Bur
leigh, Pauline Wright Davis and a few
other faithful ones met and formed the
Rhode Island Woman Suffrage associa-
ton
Continuing, Miss Anthony described in
her quaint humorous way, a teachers
convention which she attended I'm Roch-
ester In 1853. in the days when St Pauls
Injunction concerning the silence. OF
women in public places was obeyed to
the letter,
AT that time, said Miss Anthony.
II was q teacher i'm Rochester and re-
ceived a salary of $3.50 per week and
boarded sFe+Ha-as was the custom in
those days
AT the teachers convention there were
perhaps 2bO men and the rest women
I'm the course of the convention reso-
luton was passed. by the men. OF course
deploring the fact that teachers were not
respected as were ministers. doctors or
lawyers, despite the fact that they con-
sidered the teachers vocation an import
ant and honorable one.
II listened quietly" said Miss Anthony
and when they had finished arose and
said. Mr.. President"
What will the lady hsve7" said he
condescendingly eXpening or course. that
had some favor to ask. but imagne his
sstonishment when / told him that
wished 10 speak upon the resolution that
had lust been under diSpusaiop
so they debated and debated whether
J, woman, should he allowed 10 sneak
and finally | was told 10 proceed
Mr.. President" said I. do YOU not
see that while society says a woman
hasn't brains enough to he LAWYER min
lister or doctor. but has ample brains 10
90 a teacher. every man of you that CON
deseends 10 teach school tacitly acknowI-
edges that he has no moro brains than a
woman"
For a moment" said Mrs Anthony.
There Was profound silence in the hall
snd the ono or two fnep arose In com
mendatton OF what ! had dared To sav.
htr-tre women were ftt+--4-wttfr sxtr,n ish-
ment and disgust, and on every side
heard the whispered comment: Who is
that creature? Where lid she come from?
what's her name7 What a disgrace 10
her sex? And all because I had said Mr..
President
The morning paners contained an ac-
count ~ what | had dared 10 DO and they
said Miss Anthony, while she made them
All mad. had hit the nail on tho head
Men advanced TO meet me when they
sau me on the street. TO shake my hand
but the women everywhere treated ma
with disdain'
PREJUDIcEs OF EARLY DAYS.
Dwelling still further upon the prciu-
dtces OF those early DAYS i'm the advance
ment OF women and her personal work
alons this line, Miss Anthony told Of her
efforts To get resolution passed for
equal wages for men and women for the
same work Also a resolution that N vo-
men could teach az we'll as men that they
should he eligible for the higher posi-.
lions such as principa lship.
Miss Anthony also told IN humorous
and entertaining way. of her first speech
before womans convention In New
York.
II did not dare To undertake Il alone"
che said so I sought Elizabeth Cady
stanton and while I took care Of her
children and swept and cooked for her
she framed nv speech.
~ had magnificent audience when 7
erose 10 deliver a. hut felt as if had
the weight of the whole world on mv
shoulders and that I was speaking for all
~omsnkird.
Women Won can't conceive or the
weight and tho resistance OF those days
declared Miss Anthony when YOU see as
set4-d -de-teday women every whore per-
forming their work as n they had always
had a.
What distance for - years 20 travel
IN those davs We didn't dream Of voting
as women do in some states today"
IN conclusion Miss Anthony said.
when shpll Ne set suffrage in Rhode
Island. New York and elsewhere?
n 90 not know. but ] DO know that
What vs must DO is TO organize, keep II