Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-02-27
1928 MRS. EMMELINE B. WELLS 1904
Sevcnysy Will Celebrate Eighteenth
o Monday.

In February, 1870, and the founding OF
| the Womans Exponent" little over
two years later, Prior to that period
she had devoted herself almost exclus-
lively TO home though she sang In the
choir at the old Tabernacle, wrote con-
siderable poetry and prose, and was al
ways interested In people. in culture, In
the education OF the youth and the prog
ress OF communities and nations. The
advancement OF her sex was with her
favorlte theme. She was one OF the
first women to wield the ballot, and In
1873 her writings appeared In the Wo-
mans Exponent At first she wrote
over the nom de plume of "Blanch
Beechwood;" In is7i-5 she was assistant
editor, and In July, 1871 she succeeded
Mrs. Lula Greene Richards as editor.
She has been sole editor Of the Ex-
poDent for more than a quarter OF a
century.
Through her association with moth.
er" Whitney, who was counselor to
Emma Smith, president OF the original
Relief society, organized by the Prophet
at Nauvoo, she had early become ac-
quainted with the character and pur-
pose Of that benefcent organization,
and In Utah and surrounding parts
she Travelled extensively In its inter-
ests with Eliza r, Snow, 2ina d. Young
and other leading workers. In October,
1915. under advice from President Brig
ham Young, she took the initiative in
the grain storing movement, and was
chairman Of the central committee or
ganized for that purpose. The same
year she acted as secretary for the w0-
- tuh In. f..i,,s. f.r y.
tennlal exhibition az Philadelphia, AL
ready, for two years, she had been
Utah's vice president OF the National
Woman's Suffrage association, and was
thencefOrth destined TO be active In
public duties Of general character.
Her first public work outside OF Utah
was her attendance. by the earnest So
lctation Of Susan b. Anthony aud
other noted women. at the convention
Of the National Suffrage association,
held in Washington, d, c., January
1879, where she and her companion
Mrs, Gina Young Williams, (now Mrs
c, o, Card, were we'll received
and spoke from the platform
They visited President and Mrs.
Hayes at the White House,
and memorialzed Congress for the re-
peal OF the antI-polygamy act OF 1862,
which had just been declared constI-
tutlonal. In 1852, Mrs. Wells with Mrs.
Zna y. Young, attended the National
Suffrage convention at Omaha. Three
years later she was at another con-
ventIon In Washington and interviewed
prominent Congressman upon the Nor
mon question. She was graciously re-
ceived By Miss Rose Elizabeth Cleve-
land at the White House visited her
old home In Massachusetts,, dined with
Lucy Stone. spent a day with the poet
Whittier, and had tea and an lntor-
esting conversation with Elizabeth Stu
art Phelps While yet In the east she
was Joined by other Utah ladies', aud
spent several months at the capital In
a vain attempt 10 stave off hostile legs.
lation aimed at her people.
Her duties as corresponding secretary
Of the general Relief society began in
1883, and In 1892 when the society was
incorporated. she was elected general
secretary, which position she still holds.
The year before she had attended the
first session Of the National Council Of
Women az Washington, and II was then
that the Relief society became affiliated
with the council At the Congress OF
Representative Women held In connec-
ton with the worldA fair In 1893, she
gave a paper upon Western Women In
Journalism" and also spoke upon the
storing OF grain, She presided over one
OF the meetings Of the congress held In
the Hall Of Columbus I'm 1895 she rep.
resented Utah az the National W0man's
Suffrage association convened in At
lanta, and her address upon Utah's
prospective admission TO statehood was
enthusiastically appauded, At the Ma.
tlonal Council Of Women, IN Washing
ton, the same year, she read a paper
entitled, Forty Years In the Valley OF |
the Great Salt Lake which was re-
produced IN leading journals.
She returned home In time 10 use her
influence towards securing equal suff- |
rage as a plank Of the state Constltu-
tion, then being framed by the |
convention In session at Salt |
Lake City, Just before statehood |
but withdrew under protest. when the |
eligibility 10 hold office prior 10 the /,
signing Of the Constitution by the |
president Of the United States. Prior |
10 the division on national party lines |
she had been n member OF the Peoples |
central and Salt Lake county commit. |
tees In 1882 she was member OF the |
Constitutional Convention. After the |
division she was member Of the Re.
publican territorial committee, ana
subsequently vice chairman OF the state
committee.
She continued TO attend the great
gatherings Of women held az various
points, addressing congregations OF her
sex, as we'll as legislative bodies upon
the suffrage question. At an exocu-
tive meeting Of the National Council
OF Women. In Minneapolis, 1897, sho
was appointed one Of n commission Of
three for woman's work In Cuba. Haw-
ali and the Philippines. In 1899 she
crossed the Atlantic, and attended the
Woman's Council aud G ngress in
London. During this Wish he address.
ed by invitation a great meeting at
ConYocation hall Dearhry, Westmin.
ster Abbey. In 1901 she witnessed the