The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-14
DISCUSS PRESS WORK.
Suffragists Want Papers to Run
a WOman'S Column.

Washington Feb 14.-Before the Ma
tional Woman Suffrage association met
today the delegates gathered in infor-
NAL conference for the purpose of dis
cussing press work. Mrs. Elnora M.
Babcock presided. She announced that
as different parts of the United States
needed different remedies and as the
south was a fertile field the time would
be allotted to hearing from delegates
from the southern states.
Mrs. Young, of South Carolina, said
she found newspaper work the greatest
factor in the dissemination of equal
rights ideas AS a member of her state
press association, she declared she had
never had any opposition in the associ-
alton on account of being a woman edi-
tor, except from one man, who had in
sisted that it would ruin any press as
ISOLATION to have women members
Mrs. Funk, of Maryland, said her eX
perience had been that where articles
were properly prepared the newspapers
accepted them.
A suggestion from Mrs De Merritt OF
Maine was favorably received. Her idea
was to have the newspapers adopt
''woman's column" devoted to woman
suffrage in the main but seasoned with
other items of interest.
Miss Mando of Maryland agreed with
the suggestion of Mrs De Merit saving ing
| recipes for mince pie and fruit cake or
something som to beauty her com M S3tt1,
woman suffrage if there is a womans col
umn. and that she will undoubtedly read
and digest it.
Mrs. Chebrough of Buffalo pleaded for
clear. condensed and up to date articles
for the press. The difficulty that the wo-
man suffrage organization encountered
pa pers something new showing what ad-
vance has been and was being made in
the work.
When the convention was called to or
der Clara Bewick Colby delivered an adj
dress on Industrial Problems. in which
she criticised the pending legislation in
congress providing for the adjustment of
sick leave for government clerks on the
ground that the women were constantly
abSenting themselves. This she said was
covert attack on the women clerks
In the Interstate commerce commission
where no women are employed. she said
the percentage of absences for sickness
was greatest.
Mrs. Gait said, in response to these re-
marks. that it was not so much wonder
that woman is being clCGed out as it is a
wonder that she ever was appointed. Only
the depletion of the number of men during
the civil war she said, was responsible
for women holding office. AS the pressure
for patronage grows stronger,she declared.
il is but natural that those who have no
votes shall be considered less and less eli
gible for government positions. 1t be-
hooves u.s., said Mrs. Gait to hasten the
day when women may vote in order that
they may have equal opportunity with
men in all the industrial lines of work.
Speaking in behalf of the committee on
legislation, Gail Laughliu said that their
duties We're somewhat restricted from the
fact that this is off year in politics,
but that in eight states holding elections
this year the state suffrage associations
are making efforts to obtain larger rights
Susan B. Anthony said she believed In
carrying the gospel of woman suffrage to
every convention of men and women that