Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-14
WOMAN SUFFRAGE
Is Being Doomed at Convention
at Washington.
Attempt Will Be Made to Double
Membership Next Year.
Susan Anthony Has Scheme to Get
Money Out Of Uncle Sam.

Washington, Feb. 1s.-At an informal
meeting of the National American Wo-
man Suffrage Associa ton. today, held
previous to the calling together Of the
regular convention. the subject Of or
zanization and advancement of the
cause of woman suffrage was discussed.
Nary G. Hay Of New York. presided.
She said two Of the state officers had
remarked that woman suffrage would
come just the same IL there was no or
ganjzation. that il would come through
the process of evolution.
Mrs. Gait said she would be glad If a
resolution would be introduced in the
convention to double the membership
and thereby set everybody to work.
Two years ago, Mrs. Gait explained,
after the convention had adjourned. a
request was sent through the nation to
try to double the membership. but some
people felt that it did not receive the
inspiration 1t would have had the con-
vention endorsed 1t.
The members at once acted upon the
suggestion and declared ii to be the
sense of the organization that all
should join in an effort to double the
membership.
When the association proper was
called to order by President Gait for
its second days session there was but
a slight falling off in the attendance.
Notwithstanding the intensely cold
weather.
Reports from the committee on
credentials. board of auditors and the
corresponding secretary were read and
approved. The report Of Harriet Tay-
lor Upton. treasurer, was then submit
ted and showed the financial condition
OF the association to be as follows:
The receipts for the year were sl3.
ISL: balance. s9s10. Three requests
were paid during the year. viz: Mrs.
Jonas Green of Virginia. 800; DIR. Helen
J. Underwood of California. 800; Mrs.
Charlotte a. Cleveland Of Perry. n. Y.
$4,000. The five states paying the largest
dues and therefore having the largest
societies. are New York, Massachusetts.
Iowa, Nebraska and Pennsylvania. The
largest per cent. Of gain was made by
Kentucky, where Miss Laura Clay is
president. The membership of the as
aociatior has increased and the out
look for future growth and develop
ment is much encouraging.
Susan Il. Anthony at this point state /
that she had a little scheme for getting
some money out Of Uncle Sam. 1t wa
said that when Mrs. Gait spoke before
the committees Of Congress. on Tuesday
OF next week. sh" should deliver Il por-
ton of her annual address and then ask
leave to print" By this means. sn"
said, the government will print the en-
tire speech and 1t can be sent under gov
ernmental frank to every state OF the
Union.
Miss Upton announced that the rail-
roads had granted an unusual concession
in extending the date OF the tickets 10
Feb. Is
Mrs. French of Rhode Island. gave no
tice of an amendment to the bylaws pro-
viding that whenever Is members of any
state petition the executive committee
that any question shall be referred to the
states for consideration. such question
shall be so referred and If a majority
of the states vote In favor Of the same
IL shall become q law.
Henry u. Blackwell. chairman of the
committee on Presidential suffrage, urged
every woman in every state to petition
their Legislat urc asking for the right to
vote for Presidential electors
Mrs. Babcock read an interesting paper
regarding the efforts which have been
made TO induce the newspapers of the
country to give more space to the caus"
Of woman suffrage. Letters OF sympa-
thy were sent to Mrs. Bella Hooker Mrs.
Mary Anthony. Caroline Miller. Sallir
Clark Bennett and Mrs. Helen l.. Jcn-
kins.
The afternoon session was devoted
mainly to addresses by the state presi-
dents. They were preceded By Mrs. Viz
ginia Clay Clopton Of Alabama who de-
iivcrcd an address Of greeting. Mains
was represented BY Mrs. Lucy Hobart
Day. president. and Massachusetts by
Henry II. blackwell, proxy.
The addresses concluded. an adjourn
rnent until o'clock tonight, was taken
in order TO permit the delegates to At
tend u reception rendered by Mrs. y. l..
BARRIER at her home. belmont"
A crowded audience greeted the mem
bcrs of then convention at the night SEES
sion. which. according to the program
was to be IAN evening with the new Wo-
man" Half dozen interesting papers
we're read By well known women.
"a Captivating Alliance" the first pa
per. was read by Mrs. Helen Adela Shaw
OF Boston. She illustrated the decay o.
old religious ideals and pleaded for pas
sionatc patriotism and the purihcation OF
political life.
Mrs Elizabeth Gilmcr dorothy Dix of
New Orleans, contributed very interest
Ing paper OH The Lady and the Quill.
dealing with the relations of women 70
the newspapers. a paper ON 'P1lis II
Politics. by Or. Cora Smith Eaton Of
Minnea polls. was next read.
The discussion OF the topic of From
Statues 10 Statutes" gave Miss Gail
I.aughlin OF New York. an opportunity to
speak of women in the legal progression.
The night session terminated with .
talk by Rev. lea {. Hultin Of Boston. Oh
The Need OF the Hour This need. she
declared. was the putting forward of the
great moral issues in place Of the greet
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