New-York tribune., 1910-02-17
WOMEN AT ALBANY
BIG MASS MEETING.
Mrs. Belmont, Mrs. Mockay
and Others .Attend
IBy Telegraph "a Tb. rr;,,,n.

by Telegraph to The Tribune
Albany. feb 16.-Suffragists suffragettes
ana thsH oe"oly adversaries. the women
who refuse TO want the ballot. went in large
NUMBERS to-nlsht to suffrage mass meet
ing at Harnanus Bleecker Hall. They ex-
pected to safe their curiosity end listen to
speeches. But they had not expccted to
be asked TO contribute to the campaign
fund through a regulation church service
collection basket. which was their fate.
This may or may not have been an attack
WITH malice aforethousht on the many anti
suffragists in the audience but at anv rate
II lent much zest to the occasion
There was a distiAt social flavor to the
affair, though any noticeable political tinse
to the audience was missing. Mrs O. II.
p. Belmont. in a black gown, and her party.
including Mrs. Timothy L. Woodruff, had
box at the left of the stage while Mrs
Clarence II. Mackay, who wore a yellow
silk gown and a large black plumed hat
occupied the box opposite. In her party.
besides her husband. were Speaker and
Mrs. James w. Wadsworth jr.. Senator
Davis and eX-Lieutenant Governor Chan
Ter. The front of the box was draped with
a large blue banner bearing the words
Equal Franchise Association which is
Mrs. Mackays own suffrage organization
Mrs. Mackay engaged the hall for the mass
meeting. but it was under the direction of
the New York State Woman Suffrage As
Socatiun.
Albany's socially elect. together with some
Socialists and a spattering of men. occupied
every seat in the hall. and from the atten-
tion which the boxes at the right and left
Of the stage received there is some doubt as
to whether they came TO see Mrs. MacAay
Il 1FrnJrN.
en- should vote Even the "antis" turned out
in good numbers to attend the meeting
their champion. Mrs Nelson Henry, sitting
in the box over Mrs Mackays. The gal
lant adjutant general and William Barnes
jr were also in her party. Others who oc-
cupied boxes were Mrs. Warren NJ Leeds.
Mrs James Laidlaw. Mrs. Harriet Stanton
Blatch. Miss Inez Milholland Mr.. and Mrs
Martin W. Littleton and James w. Os-
borne. BY some trick of fate in the assign
ing of boxes it was found that MI Little
ton and Mr.. Osborne were put in the same
one Before the meeting. however. one or
the women. remembering that they were
the opposing counsel In the Alds'Conser
investigation. asked Mr.. Osborne If the ar
rangement would lead to any embarrass-
ment.
Il should be delighted to sit with Mar
tin he replied.
The taking up of collection 10 help
the cause along was the feature of the
evening. The women are conducting
whirlwind campaign in Albany this year
and are apparently running low in their
funds At least that was the impression
uher after the last speaker had finished
twenty handsomely dressed young women
tripped down the aises with wicker bas-
latc in hei- having n
naunccd that collection would he taken.
Max Eastman. a Columbia College pro-
fessor and secretary of the Mems League
for Womans Suffrage, was introduced by
Mrs Ella Haptry Crossstt. president Of
the state association He divuiged the in
formation that he was known as man
suffragette and excused himself for this
condition by saying that there were fifty
seven varieties Of suffrage arguments lying
around his home in Eiuira the same
time They had become 50 familiar. he
said. as 70 become unintellgible.
He. however. said that there vas one
great argument In favor OF woman suf-
fraee-that the political activity would de
veIop women and therefore he a benefit not
only 10 themselves. but 10 their husbands
end families Among men he said there
was a tendency when they went into poll
tics 10 leave their virtue at home with the
women. and he expressed the belief that
If the women were to be the custodians of
virtue they should hs taken into politics
also.
Upstate" he said. when a man comes
to the Legislature and disgraces himself
the people when they merciful. say
that anyway ne was good man In his
family. The way out OF the dfficulty Is
IN taka the family into politiCs"
The speakers were the Rev. Anna How
ard Shaw president Of the National Suf-.
frage Association and Mrs. Helen III.
Greedy. of New York
Before the meeting Mrs Belmont enter
tanned Mr. and Mrs. Woodruff at dinner
at the Hotel Ten Eyck. After the mass
meeting Mr.. Woodruff gave supper al the
hotel at which Mrs. Belmont was the
guest of honor, and William Barnes. jr.,
and several legislators were present.