Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-02-08
A Mean Trick.
copyright, 1908, by American Press Asso-
citation

tAtub bDJeLl III Wow Attu ~ LuEneu ONl
iarnentable failure.
win give you brief account Of
how our organization was broken up
with a view to inducing you to aban.
don your attempt, foreseeing some
such outcome for the present move.
ment. Our society grew rapidly. far
more rapidly than one could have ex-
pected. We had meetings In Hyde
park, gathering thousands OF women
with appropriate banners and much
enthusiasm. We stormed the house Of
commons and forced the members to
listen 10 MS. Our enemies, the men. ar.
rested rs and kept us IN jail
Finally. when the house Of commons
was In despair Of being able to defeat
Us by open methods 1t must needs
go about undermining our society. In
secret session a committee was ap.
pointed to find and execute some meth
cd to break us up. This committee
consisted OF old bachelors rather, old
curmudgeons--al Of them confessed
woman haters and mean enough to
take advantage Of those weaknesses
peculiar TO our sex.
They began by laying plan 10 get
rid Of our admirable officers and put IN
such women as would wreck the so
ciety. Our annual election and appoint
ment Of committees came or shortly
after these men began their work, and
they took advantage OF the opportunI-
ty. Just before the election we were
surprised at a large accession 10 our
membership Then on the day OF the
election, while We were preparing for
the ballot handbills were scattered
about the hall In which we met stating
that at store on Piccadilly certain
standard goods that all women must
have were offered at less than half the
usual price. A silk dress that would
ordinarily cost ESQ might be had for
eco. Hats ia the latest style that were
selling for CT we're offered at &c Cs.
Clocks worth flo were TO be Ind for "a.
These are but few examples to show
you what bargains were to bc obtained.
The sale was TO take place during the
afternoon OF our election. but all WON
en- know that to secure what they want
at such sales they must be on hand
when the sale opens.
Well. no sooner were the handbllls
read than there began a gradual disap-
pearance Of the members. Just as water
leaves a bathtub without one's seeing
where It goes. One by one our wom-
en- slipped out. but II was noticeable
that all the new members remained
At that time my child. your father was
not doing at all well at his business
and was wearing hat that had been
long out Of fashion. II was impossible
for me to appear In any gathering In
such frightful headgear. Satisfying
myself that there was a quorum Of the
society without me. went to seize the
opportunity.
Now, our hall was on the opposite
side Of London from the place OF the
sale. took a bus TO get there and on
arriving al the store asked where the
sale was going ON. What sale? The
sale announced in the handblllsl No
one knew OF any handhllls or any
sale, Then | saw that something had
gone wrong. Taking another bus,
went back to the hall In company with
others OF our members I found that
the election was over new set OF
officers had been put IN and new com,
mittees appointed. What do you
thlnkH These mean, contemplate
mcn.ylllains had hired the new menu
bers 10 join, had produced the hand.
bills, and while we bona tide members
OF the society were going TO and com.
Ing from the bogus sale the hussies
had elected a ticket given them by the
men.
This was not the worst Of our mis-
fortunes. The new officers and com
mlttee women had been selected (by
the mem for the violence of their tenn.
pers and the volnblIIty Of their tongues.
The very FIRST meeting after their IN.
stallation showed that we had met
with quletus One of the committee
said something that made the presl.
deaf mad, and she threw her gavel at
the offending woman. The secretary
rose 10 her feet and hogan a steady
stream of talk. Other members strove
IN raln 70 get the floor. but the shrlll
voice Of tbs secretary. sounding like
a steam whistle. drowned them out
At one time there were a dozen women
and shrleking like
storm Wind In the rigging OF a ship
Then the chalrwoman Of the commit.
tee of ways aud means. perfect Her,
eules selxlng table used by the sec
retary, went through the hall for the
purpose Of clearing e. In ave minutes
theirs was not memher left.
By such contemplate process did
these moan. vile. ignohle. base. sneak.
lng. rascally. security. unfair creatures
10 whom has been given the name
nan thwart the noble work we had IN
hand. That was the last 90 the snf.
fragette movement 81 the iirst decade
u the present century. and members
II parliament have since been despica.
BE enough to boast that By a political
vancouver only worthy Of an American
I'D fashioned primary they bad Re-
.ured peace a0d comfort