Los Angeles herald., 1909-05-07
WOMEN SOCIALISTS
ATTEND CONFERENCE
LOCAL UNION IS PIONEER IN
WORK
Suffrage and Economic Conditions
Are Interesting Subjects at
Annual Meeting in Bur-
bank Hall

Socialism. suffrage, civic and eco
nomic conditions are among the topics
being considered with enthusiasm and
much interesting discussion at the first
annual conference of the Woman's
Socialist union, now in session in Bur-
bank hall.
The opening session yesterday was
devoted to business routine, the items
including the question of utilization
with the Woman's National Progress
sive league and revision of the con-
stitution The first matter was settled
by vote favoring utilization with the
national body while retaining the
name, Womans Socialist union. Re-
vision of the constitution was laid over
until today.
A brief review of the Socialist move
ment showed that the local union was
the first one to be formed in the United
States being organized in 1902 by
Winonah Stevens Purvis, who the
same year organized. by correspond
ence, a national body which has since
become inactive, largely on account of
the illness of Mrs. Purvis.
A symposium on suffrage occupied
the larger part of the afternoon pro-
gram, Mrs. Mary A. Kenney speaking
on 1.-THE Ballot as a Protection for the
Home" and Mrs. Nora White Simpson
of San Diego showing some reasons
why Socialist women should work for
White Slave Traffic
Vital interest was aroused by Mrs.
Agnes H. Downing's treatment of THE
White Slave Traffic Mrs. Ruth Hall
Lindgrin of Huntington Beach follow
ing with a little clear-cut exposition
OF the profit system, especially as ap-
piled to the subject discussed by her
predecessor, These addresses and the
warm discussions that followed occu-
pied the remainder of the session.
Among the interesting women pres
ent was Mrs. Susannah Stevens of Del
Monte, San Diego county, a pioneer in
Socialism.
Mrs. Stevens. who is 81 years of age,
is widow of the late James w. Stevens,
formerly state senator for North Da-
kota. Senator Stevens died last year,
just before their siXtieth wedding an
niversary. For years Mrs. Stevens ac-
companied her husband to the polls.
going through the form of offering her
vote, only, of course, to have it refused.
This was the method employed by
these pioneers in suffrage and Social
ism to voice their protest against ex-
listing conditions.
A tiny maiden, not yet years old
who is being educated in the Socialist
belief, is little May Rosenblum, daugh-
ter of Mr. and Mrs. Morris Rosenblum
of East Eighth street, and her song
monologue yesterday afternoon was
one of the enjoyable features of the
program.
Today's Program
A large attendance marked last
nights session, a program being pro-
vided by children of the Los Angeles
Lyceum. Miss Ethel Whitehead, pres
ident, gave her annual address,
The program today, to begin at 10: 80
this morning, will be the following:
Music.
Constitution.
Plans of work
Miscellaneous business
2 o. m. music.
Social Betterment"
''Woman's Christian Temperance Union. -
Mrs. Hester T. Griffith. state president
Union Label league, Mrs. Mary Engle, presi-
dent.
Civic association, Mrs. wiloughby Rodman,
vice president.
Bethlehem Institutional work. Mrs a. l.
Bradley.
Parent Teachers association. Mrs. Chalmers
Smith, president.
Music Collection.
IAN Ideal city" Rev Dana W. Bartlett
THE Root Of the Matter" Mrs. Mary e.
Garbutt.
Condition Of the Toilers in Los Angeles.
Johanna Won Wagner
.'The Social Awakening. " Reynold E Blight
Reading. The Desire Of the Nations" ed
win MaTkham), Catherine Pierce Wheat
Music Collection.
'swoman's Industrial Emancipation" Mrs
Mollie Bloom Flagg, San Jose.