The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-02-12

Mankato Political Equality club Is
the name of the new suffrage organi.
cation formed I'm this city yesterday.
as n direct result of a meeting OF
those interested In suffrage. which
was held I'm DIR. J. w. Andrews II.
brary late yesterday afternoon. The
club Is starting out under the most
favorable auspices, and already has
substantial list Of members, who
signed during yesterdays meeting.
The speakers OF the day were Mrs.
II. 4. Tomlinson and Mrs. George W.
Kenyon. wellknown and conservative
suffrage leaders. from st. Paul, and
the meeting was carried OH rather
informally. those present being at
liberty to express their opinions at
any time. Membership fees will not
be over 25 cents year. and enroll
ment Is open to both men and WON
EN-. The next meeting of the new
club will be held in the auditorium
OF the public library February 10.
commencing at 1880 p. m.
Mrs. ]. W. Andrews was appointed
temporary chairman OF the meeting
held yesterday afternoon, and the
following officers we're nominated
and elected: Mrs. John Hotallng.
president; Mrs. J. w. Andrews. vice
president: Mrs. VI. Il. Coulter. secre.
tary; Mrs. J. NJ Vance. treasurer.
Opened With Good Attendance.
The meeting opened with good
attendance. Mrs. Fl. 4. Tomlinson
taking the chair. and briefly ex.
planning the object OF woman suf-
frage. She scored the old idea up.
held by the anti-suffragets that home
was womans' sphere, and she should
be confined within its borders. by
repeating the eouplet made famous
by Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait. at a
big suffrage meeting: IF the home
Is woman's sphere. what are the
ants doing here" She mentioned
the fact that February 10 was Miss
Anthony's birthday, and said that all
the suffrage association all over the
country were planning on holding
big meetings on that date.
Mrs. Kenyon In her address in the
interest OF suffrage, went back TO
the fundamental principles. showing
that the ballot was originally given
to property owners only, no one
being allowed to vote who did not
own property. and thus women had
been excluded from the ballot. She
referred back to the olden times
when women were not allowed 10
have any property rights, and where
reformer found II almost impos.
sible to secure any signatures to a
petition asking for property rights
for women, only five people being
found TO sign In Albany. These an.
cient laws ut which we smile are
still In vogue In some states oil
the union. married woman I'm the
state OF Texas not being allowed
to hold any property whatsoever"
She also referred to the surprising
fact that I'm only seventeen states i'm
the union, including Minnesota, were
women given co-guartlianshi? rights
with the father over their children,
a right held very dear TO the moth.
cr's heart.
wiIled Away His Child.
Repeating a story OF how man,
who was sickly and supported by his
wife. willed away his unborn child
To far away relatives. she proved
the rank injustice OF such laws. and
told how unceas;ng effort had been
required to fight them down, owing
to the popular prejudice against
changing the established custom.
Calling attention TO the fact that
FER a million women i'm the United
States enjoyed the privilege Of the
ballot today, Mrs. Kenyon asked why
the women OF Minnesota we're not as
intelligent as they were, and not
just as much entitled to the ballot.
At this point Mrs. Tomlinson
stated that II was an undisputed fact
that the vote Of the women would
decided the next president.
Women Police Are Advocated.
Many things In city life that
might be purified apd corrected by
women were discussed by the as.
scmbly in general. including the
great advantage and safeguard to
the young of having women police
for the city.
One of the ladies present spoke OF
the indecent literature that Is al.
legged to have been circulated I'm ad.
vertising a certain cigar, and the
sale of this brand of cigar will be
tabooed henccforth by the ladies
present. who made the stand that
they will not continue to patronize
grocers who handle the brand. The
need OF women I'm every public move.
ment. a woman on the grand jury,
one on the state board and one on
the parole board was talked over by
those present and many reasons
were shown why they would be de.
sirable in such positions. The ladies
present signed a petition asking for
equal political rights, and such Pc
titions will be widely circulated
among the men and women of the
city.
The suffrage movement Is now
L.. y