The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1903-11-13
EQUAL SUFFRAGE CONVENTION.
Bright Ladies' Tell Why They Could Run
the Government Better Than Men.

Il
Paw this week, the first session being
called at o'clock Tuesday afternoon.
The attendance was lighter than it
should have been and those who were
absent were the losers.
Word had been received that the pres
ident, Mrs Martha Snyder Root of Bay
City was very seriously i'll, and at the
executive meeting held previous to the
regular session telegram of greeting
was sent her Mrs. Gulielma III. Barnum
of Charlotte acted as president in her
! place.
The first number on the program was
we'll rendered vocal duet by r. f. Jen-
nings and Mrs. r.. III. Harvey. In the alb
sence of Rev. Anna Barton, Rev. Olivia j.
| G. Woodman was called on for an invoca-
| ton, after which Mrs. Harvey sang "The
Four Leaf Glover" in very pretty man.
ner.
The president being belated, Mrs.
! Mary l.. Dole of Lansing presided and
/ introd duced Rev. Anna Howard Shaw of
Philadelphia, who was in charge of the
question box. She is very able talker
and brought out many interesting facts
/
hestancy in answering and her talk
showed her to be an exceedingly well in
! formed woman.
The question box was followed by an
address of welcome by Rev. Olivia j. &.
! Woodman, president of the Coterie of
/ Paw Paw, which was so cordial as to
make all guests of the village feel en-
| tirely at home
! Mrs. Mary l.. Doe of Lansing respond
ed in a short talk which was quite inter
esting aud to the point.
The acting president, Mrs. Guielma
II. Barnum then gave an address strong
in arguments in favor of equal suffrage
at the close of which an informal recep-
tion ended the session.
TUESDAY EVENING.
This session opened with a well filled
church, and at the close no one seemed
to be disappointed
After an invocation by Rev. II. W.
Harvey, Judge Benz. f. Heckert read
greeting in behalf of the village, as fol-
! lows
Ladies' of the Conveniently pleas
ing duty of extending to you the glad
hand on behalf of this community has
been assigned to me. On its part and
on my own, | give you a most cordial
and hearty welcome to the precincts of
our beautiful village. You have con-
ferred a distinction of no mean sort on
Us by holding your convention here at
this time. For the time being you have
cast your lot in the midst of an inteli-
gent, hosptable and generous people.
The object sought to be attained by your
organization may not meet with en-
couragement from all of our citizens, but
you are nevertheless greeted by all in
broad and catholic spirit We lay no
claim to superiority over other inteli-
gent communities in recognizing the
right to full and free use of the plat
form for the discussion of every question
entering into and affecting the best in
terests of the body polite, but in the
highest ideals of philanthropy we bid
you welcome to our homes. We guar
antee to you respectful and consider
ate hearing, and hope nothing will con-
spire to deter you from an enthusiastic
and eloquent presentation of your views
on the subject which will elicit your dis
cussion and delberation.
However much room there may be
for differing opinions on the abstract
proposition of how far the right of suf-
frage should be recognized under our
form OF government, yet, when your con-
sderaton of the subject shall have come
to an end, we will know, as in fact we al.
ready know, that you are honest and
sincere in your advocacy, and that you
were spu-red on by the highest, purest
and most patriotic impulses.
"You are therefore encouraged to en-
ter upon the labors before you with un-
trammeled and courageous spirits. Let
not wave of trouble or a shadow of
tremour roll across your peaceful breasts.
Uncork the demjohns of woman's per
suasive oratory, and in whitening phrase
arraign the inconsiderate men, who
would withhold from you any right to
which you consider yourselves entitled.
In clarion tones which these solid walls
will not be able to confine, declare the
eternal principles of justice and equal
ity. Let the wings of the wind bear your
eloquent words to the remotest confines
of the republic, and if after full and
fair consideration of the matter, it shall
be agreed that you be clothed in the
shining panoply of American citizenship,
we will hope that it will be demonstrat-
ed that there was wisdom in yielding to
your demands. Whether she attains
that to which she aspires or not, the
American woman will still be the fairest,
sweetest and best in all the earth.
Again extend the glad hand and
bid you welcome, in the name of the
most picturesque village that nestles in
the bosom OF the most resourceful com
monwealth embraced within the almost
limitless domain of the grandest nation
which God in his providence has ever
permitted to exist"
After b A. Cummings had rendered
vocal solo in his usual excellent manner,
the address of the evening was given 10y
Rev. Anna Howard Shaw on "The New
Democratic Ideal" Her lecture was full
of new ideas and held the closest atten-