Evening star., 1902-02-17
OFFICERS ELECTED
Work of the Suffrage Asso-
citation Today.
MISS ANTHONY SPEAKS
PRESENTS MRS. Gait TO THE
CONVENTION.
National President and Other Officers
Make Brief and Pleasant Speeches
Future Addresses.


and election of officers. The presidents s
council" presided over by Miss Laura Clay.
president of the Kentucky Equal Rights
Association, brought out much discussion
of methods of pushing suffrage work, and
incidents of suffrage campaigns caused
laughter
The main business Of the morning was
the election of officers. There were 307
delegates entitled to vote. The informal
ballot was made the formal one in each in
stance, and all the old officers reelected
with the exception of DR.. Cora Smith
Eaton. DR.. Eaton has large practice and
feels that she cannot afford to accept the
authorship again.
The officers elected for the ensuing year:
Honorary presidents, Elizabeth Cady STAN
ton, New York, and Susan 3. Anthony, New
York; president, Carrie Chapman Gait, New
York; vice president-at-large, Rev Anna
H. Shaw. Pennsylvania; corresponding sec
retary, Kate M. Gordon, New York; record
ing secretary, Alice Stone Blackwell, Mas
sachusetts; treasurer. Harriet Taylor Up
ton. Ohio; auditors. Laura Clay, Kentucky,
and Mrs. Mary ]. Coggshall, Iowa.
Congratulatory Speechmaking.
Mrs. Gait was presented to the convention
by Miss Anthony, who looked frail and
worn. She said she was happy in being
able to present to the convention for the
third time their choice for national presi-
dent. "Of all the women in the organfza-
tion, l know of no one better qualified to be
your president" she said. In closing, she
gave Mrs. Gait much praise for the ma
terial advancement ofthe association since
her incumbency of the office Mrs Gait, in
replying, said that she had really desired to
take a rest, but felt it a privilege to go on.
''The work is not hard.'' she said. "and do
not care for the honor Of 1t, but 1 do con-
slider it a great privilege to work for so
grand cause" She then spoke Of a time
many years ago when she had gone down
almost to the dark river, and she said in
her feyerish murmurings that she could re-
member but one good thing she had ever
done in her life. She had labored in the
cause of women. and she felt that If death
came, that would be the white mark in her
favor. "Now," she said. Il feel exactly
that way yet. When 1 die, If you can say
of me, she fought nobly in the cause of wo-
man. it will be eulogy enough. l can only
say that l will do the best I can for you in
the coming year, and you must help me.
Her reelection and her remarks were re-
ceived with every evidence of pleasure.
Miss Alice Stone B, ckwell, who was re-
elected for the thirteenth time recording
secretary, was also given high praise for
her faithfulness. accuracy, energy and gen.
eral helpfulness. Mrs. Gait said: IF any
Of my officers had to leave me l think |
could spare any one Of them better than
Miss Bl ckwell."
Mrs. Harriet Taylor Upton, who was re-
elected treasurer, was escorted to the plat
form under protest. She said she had been
parading up and down the platform for q
week and insisted that she could walk
alone. She was carried up, however. by
Miss Mary G. Hay, and convulsed the con-
Vention with her speech of acceptance.
The international conference commit ee
has for it's head Miss Anthony. Marie
Stritt, president of the WOman's Fedora
tiOn of WOmans Club of Germany, was
elected vice chairman: Carrie Chapman
Fenwick Miller treasurer.
The plan is to hold an international con-
vention in Berlin In two years. Each coun-
try having a national suffrage associa-
ton will be entitled to three delegates and
each country where there Is no such or
ganzation, will have a suffrage committee
appointed and three delegates from each
such country sent to the convention.
Rev. Anna Garlin Spencer of Providence,
r. l., preached to crowded house In the
First Presbyterian Church yesterday, as
sisted by Rev. Anna Howard Shaw, and
Rev. Olympia Brown.
In the evening, the parlorS and corridors
of the Riggs House We're crowded to listen
to g talk by Laura De Merritte Of Maine. on
How may conservative church women be
re- : ID.
In Other Countries.
The afternoon program was extremely
entertaining. the addresses being made by
the delegates from the various countries
represented. 1t was titled Spanish Ameri-
cam afternoon.all the papers but two being
on Spanish states The exceptions were
the addresses of Madame Lvovna Fried
land on "The Women of Russia" and that
of Mrs. Godrain Drewson of Norway.
The report Of Venezuela read by Harriet
Taylor Upton was prepared by Mrs. Jose
Raphael Ricart Of Caracas. Mrs Ricart IA
cOnyersant with the laws of the country
Is fine business woman interested in pub
lie and private charities. She assists her
husband in his private enterprises. She be-
longs to fine old family and regrets were
expressed that she could not be present at
the conference.
Mrs. Upton is very much interested in
Venezuela. Her husband has business
there and she has lately returned She
says nothing was ever more ridiculous than
the opinions people in the states have Of
Venezuela. She says that we suppose it to
be a fighting people because of the numer-
Gus reported revolutions, when in reality
1t is one of the most peaceful countries of
the world. The people are gentle, refined
and kind. Stealing even among the lowest
classes Is almost unknown. Women are
never violated The climate in most parts
Is delightful.
In her paper Mrs Ricart says that
Venezuela women cannot negotiate their
property without the husbands consent
unless otherwise agreed to by marriage
contract.
Widows, as legal heirs of the husband.
have the right to the full administration of
their estates and are the legal guardians
of the children Venezuela women have no
form of suffrage. Public employment is not
forbidden her by law. They can be en-
ployed In telegraph and mail service and
when they are they get about one-half the
amount of wages given men. The Central
University of Caracas has conferred upon
Cornia Cardinas a midwife's diploma, but
she is the only woman who has defied the
social prejudice. There are no woman's COL
leges in that country.
Punishment for crime is the same for
men as for women. Married women can
make willis and can testify in court, but
as a rule her deposition Is taken In her
own home.
"As the Catholic Church Is the official
church women hold no church offices. A
Venezuela woman usually selects her own
husband provided she Is Of age. There are
separations in Venezuela, but no divorces"
Russian Women.
The address of Madame F'riedland of RUS
sia was interesting, because of its historical
Importance. and she is. besides, q very elo-
quent and intense little woman. Madame
Friedland said. in part:
Owing to an absolute government, and
also to the inferior intellectual standard Of
a great number Of our women, the woman's