The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-02-13
THE WOMAN SUFFRAGlSTS
FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
NOW IN SESSION..
Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton Made a
Strong Plea for the Elimination Of
the Sex Qualification.

Washington, February 1.-THE hrst in
ternatlonal woman's suffrage conference
and the thirty-fourth annual convention Of
the National Womans Suffrage assoclu.
tlon was begun here today with an I'M
usually large number Of delegates in at.
tendance. The convention WAS presided
over by Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait, its
president. The delegates were welcomed
to the city by Hon. Henry Il. McFar-
land, president OF the board of the Dis.
rict commissioners.
The foreign delegates who were seated
on the platform and who took great in
terest in the proceedings listened TO words
Of greeting from May Wright Scwau,
Clara Barton, Susan b. Anthony and Rev.
Anna II. Shaw.
Madame ZofJa Levoyna FrieaMnd OF
Russia httingy responded, saying In part
nat Russia mad been the friend of Amer.
lies OF friendship exist between the two
countries. America, she said, had more
than once displayed friendship toward
Russia and had sent her ships there to
protect her people from a most cruel
euemy-hunger.
Mrs. Gait, the president, then delivered
her annual address.
At the conclusion OF Mrs Cats ad-
dress recess was taken uutl o'clock.
The first night session OF the congress
was very appropriately given over 60 he
pioneers, number Of whom occupied
seats on the platform. Miss Susan 5. lu-
thony presided aud greetings ana addresses
from number Of well known women were
heard.
Mrs. Wise a member OF the Legion OF
Loyal Women, extended the greetings and
sympathy Of that organization iU the cause
of suffrage
A cordial greeting from Englands pio-
neer prcsCilla Bright McLnTeu. was pre-
scented by Mrs Florence Fenwlcl. Miller.
a strong plea Tor educated suffrage was
made IN an address by Mrs. Elizabeth
Cady stanton. owing 10 her inability 90
be present II was read by Clara Bcwiak
Colby Of Washington. Mrs. Stanton is the
only living woman who signed the call
for the first wOmans rights convention
held in the world. This convention was
held at Seneca Falls, y. Y, July 1919,
1913. She and Miss Susan -. Anthony
have battled together for woman's rights
for the past ffty years. Mrs Brown, who
read the address, Is the first woman in
the United states to be ordained by a
regularly const uted ecclesiastical body.
Mrs Stanton's paper was, In part, as
follows: "a republic based on the theory
Of universal suffrage in which large
class Of educated women, representing the
virtue Intelligence and wealth OF the maj
tion are disfranchised, Is an anomaly on
the government and especially when all
men, foreign and native, ignorant and edn
Gated, black and white, Vicious and viz
tuous by their votes decide the rights
and duties of this superior class
"As women have no voice in the laws
under which they live, they surely have
the right to demand that their rulers
foreign and native shall be able 10 read
and write English The popular ohjec
tlon TO woman suffrage Is that It would
double the ignorant vote The patent
answer to this Is abolish the ignorant
vote Our legislators have this power ir
/ their own hands
paper was read by Caroline Halowel
/ Miller Of Maryland entitled "Why We
! Come Again" and was an earnest plea
! for equal suffrage
The venerable Henry y. Blackwell o.
, on Equal Rights b. ALL"
! The singing Of Aud Lang syne" closed
| the evening session.