Volume 14 , Issue 10

News on Women's Suffrage (1881 & 1885)

[Click images for larger view.] -- We begin with this mention of an article we found in the National Republican, Wednesday, 19 January 1881, with headlines that read, "Bound To Vote" and Woman's Suffrage Association thirteenth yearly convention and the Nott Memorial Services with speeches by prominent workers in the cause with Squire Lockwood advising the study of the law.

This was the thirteenth annual convention of the National woman's Suffrage Association, called to order in Lincoln Hall at ten o'clock by president Mrs. Stanton who announced that the first session would be devoted to a memorial service in honor of the late Mrs. Lucretia Mott, one of the pioneers in the cause of universal suffrage. Mrs. Stanton opened the discussion with a speech, in which she reviewed the work accomplished by the association, and concluded with a forcible argument, portraying the ultimate success of the suffrage movement.

Mrs. Belva A. Lockwood was introduced as the first speaker, who stated that her subject for the evening was Why Women should Practice Law, but the main object of the convention, was to decide whether or not women should vote. Mrs. Lockwood was in favor of an educational qualification, and women should be compelled to exercise their privilege at the polls. Lockwood supposed that there was a class of women who did not desire to vote and that they simply represented an element willing to shirk any duty. Lockwood went on to state that women should learn that this privilege would protect them."

Mrs. Lockwood continued, "Take the cases of Elizabeth Tilton, Aate Sprague and Mrs. Christiancy - what had been done to them showed that no protection would be afforded them when they stood in the way of some man's greed, avarice or ambition. It was back then that women were voting for school officers in thirteen States of the Union, and it was Governor Long, of Massachusetts, in his message to the Massachusetts Legislature, recommended the granting of suffrage to women, as it would be better for the State and tend to make it much stronger. Women should study law for their own protection and in order to discriminate between just and pernicious laws, that they might see that men represented them at the polls correctly. It was their duty to mold the minds of the rising generation, and that they could be trusted to do this was evidenced by the fact that three-fourths of the public school teachers of this country were women."

23 january 1885

On 23 January 1885 -- In the Omaha Bee, Nebraska newspaper on the Suffrage movement. If you scroll down through this page to the headlines, Starving Out the Boomers," there is an article about the Republican's Arkansas City, Kansas, Emporia, Kansas, dated January 22, 1885 that reads as follows, "Gen. Hatch has surrounded the boomers at Stillwater with the intention of starving them out. He allows no one to approach them, but lets any leave who desire. A courier just in reports several leaving already, as the provisions are running short. The Oklahomaites have been trying to raise money here for their relief, but without success. There was no firing done."

Also in the National Republican was mentioned about "The National Woman Suffragist Association Adjourn" under the heading of "Washington News." It reads as follows -- "Woman's Suffrage Association - Today Mrs. Blake, chairman of the committee on plan of work, made a report, which was adopted, recommending that the women of the several states labor with their legislatures for the passage of suffrage laws, and to mark every member antagonizing the measures in favor of women in order to oppose them. The work before congress for the passage of the 16th amendment is to be continued by the women in the several states.

It continues with, "They are also requested to oppose the re-election of senators and representatives voting against woman suffrage. The vice-presidents were requested to obtain, if possible, the passage of resolutions by their respective state legislatures recommending to congress the adoption of the 16th amendment. The question of municipal suffrage was discussed at some length. it was stated that school suffrage had been granted in twelve states. At a public meeting this afternoon addresses were made by Mrs. Diggs, Kansas; Clara B. Colby, Nebraska, and Dr. Alice B. Stockham, Chicago. In the evening session addresses were made by Laura Deforce Gordon, California; Matilda Joslyn Gage and Susan B. Anthony. The association closed its annual session by an able speech by Elizabeth Cady Stanton."   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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