2     _________________
The Grand Rapids Morning Democrat
15 and 17 Fountain Street.
THIRTY-SIXTH YEAR,   NO. 199.
Special Associated Press "Wire.
Entered at G'd Rapids as 2nd class matter THURSDAY, MAY 4, 1899.
THEIR LAST DAY
'¦ Close of the Woman Suffrage Convention.
ANOTHER  MEETING  TODAY
Michigan Association to Elect Officers
and  Hear   Reports—Work   of
the Closing Sessions.
The last day of the thirty-first annual National Woman Suffrage Association's convention opened with the same ideally bright sunshiny weather, delightfully cool after the shower, that has favored the ladies during the entire week. On the stage the stately form of Miss Anthony, as usual, was the central figure, with Miss Shaw Iher "right .bower," as sne playfully calls her, at her side. The loving care with which Miss Shaw continually looks after the smallest detail that can contribute to Miss Anthony's comfort was shown when.she left her seat to bring the scarlet shawl Miss Anthony has worn so many years that all her friends 'have a mental picture of 'her, wrapped in its graceful folds, and tenderly wrapped it around her friend. Miss Anthony is one of the few (people* 'Who .can wear a shawl gracefully, and over the well made and well fittting black silk dress, relieved with a touch of white lace which she always wears, this .red shawl is very picturesque. Miss Anthony is always gowned richly, beautifully, and in. the most perfect taste. And, indeed, nearly all the suffrage leaders are as correctly costumed as though their most absorbing thought, like that of so many society women, centered on dress, instead of on the advancement of humanity and the securing of their rights. The first part of the morning session was devoted to "Memorial Hour." Rev. Antoinette Blackwell gave personal loving reminiscences of many she had known and -worked with, some for fifty years. On her list was no one less than, 50 years of age, many who. were 80 'to 90 years old. Her list was headed by the name of "Aunt" Laura. Haviland of this city.
In introducing Rev. Dr. Blackwell Miss Anthony paid that forty-five years ago it had been the pride of her life to prefix , the title Rev. before her friend's name, as she was the first woman entitled to ¦bear it. "And all these years," she added, "she ha« stood side by side with me in  this work,  and  never faltered."
Mrs. Blackweli replied that it had been a labor of love, and she .believed she had "gained more. from, the cause than the cause could possibly have gained from me. No one can work for humanity and not ¦be broadened and benefited thereby." both of which sentiments Miss Anthony emphatically indorsed.
The memorial resolutions were concluded by Mrs. Clara Bewick Colby, who spoke of the younger co-workers who have passed into silence, and several names were added to those to whom, she paid tribute, by others present. Many of the names that come oin this memorial list are well and widely known, and the tributes paid them were touching and of deep interest.
Miss Anthony made a report of work done by the congressional committee. Shp 'was granted her first congressional hearing in 1H6B. From that time there has been no Congress but has heard her appeals. These hearings, arguments and discussions have been diffused through the country, not only by the daily press, but by hundreds of thousands in the form of documents, pamphlets and tracts. Such documents have beem isent to every voter in states where constitutional amendments were pending, to legislators, to the clergy, to college professors, to editors, to all classes of people from whom, might be elicited any comment, whether of criticism or approval, if only thereby the question could be kept before the people. And she has never modified the basis of her demands at the expense of a hair's breadth of .principle to increase the possibilities of her success.
A motion was made by Mr. Blackwell. to the effect that this convention requests the business committee to invite, each of the eight senators and seven representatives in Congress from the four equal suffrage states to act as honorary members of the congressional committee of the National Woman Suffrage Association and after a brief but forcible discussion, it was carried.
Laura Clay, chairman of the report of work In enfranchised states, suggested that women's clubs Ibe Induced to join hands, and work for the cause. She 'believes much might be accomplished if the interest of the most cultured, intelligent and progressive class in any community, Its club women, could ibe aroused in the interest of "woman suffrage. There are already many civic clubs who work along nearly parallel lines and she thinks literary clubs would aid if their a-ttention was called to the, necessity.
Miss Anthony told of the triennial of National Council of Women and the peace resolutions compiled, by May Wright Sewall were read and on explanation of the way the proposed "thought wave of sympathy" is to be sent by 250.000 women of America, and of •many foreign countries oni May 15, 'was Jgrivem, when the meeting adjourned  until 2 o'clock.
MORE   STATE   REPORT!.
Pennsylvanlnns Educating Children in the Ways of Good Citizenship.
The afternoon session was opened by Miss Shaw, Miss Anthony coming in a few minutes late, having been detained by guests at luncheon. Miss Anthony has .'been stopping with Mrs. John W. Blod-gett since Saturday and has been, as she expresses it, "in clover." 'She will remain iin the city until Saturday morning, as she Is to. preside at the services in Temple JSmanuel tomorrow evening-.
The stage 'has been each morning supplied with fresh flowers, and each, day they have been lovelier and more plentiful than the last., Great bunches of roses of every shade filled vases in every corner, hundreds of crimson, pink and white car-'H<a.tions, iscarlet and. while lilies, miniature trees of appleblossoms, and many 'other varieties of flowers, and a great variety of palms and ferns and trailing vines added beauty aind fragrance to the surroundings of the honored guests. A very rare and choice 'Norfolk Island pine Was a feature of yesterday's decorations. The florists who lhave furnished, these choice floral displays in the order they are named are -Henry Smith, Grand Rapids Floral Company, 'Cunningham, Orabb & Hunter, Creelman, Mendel & Renwick.
The afternoon was devoted to reports from state presidents, giving brief reviews of the work which has been done in the last year. Much enthusiasm, was shown, a<nd a general interest in results. 'Mrs. Evelyn H. Belden. came with a delegation of fifteen delegates from. Iowa, :«nd -she gave a most 'hopeful view of the situation there. She delivered an inspiring address and was followed iby a. written report read by the secretary.
Harriet Brown Stanton's report from Ohio was read by Mrs. Saxe, and also showed that admirable work has baen done.
Mrs1. Lucy Hobart Day, president of Mfljne Btate Association, gave an eloquent and poetical address.   Miss Shaw followed
with   a,    graceful   .tribute    to    the   last speaker, a  young  woman,   and  one,  she said, who would push the work and in-< sure its success.
Mrs. Phoebe C. Wright reported from New Jersey, and lElmira Springer from Illinois. This last report was most interesting, showing that workers have been very active, and accomplished much.
At 3 o'clock the press work was taken up, and MIes Blackwell read the minutes of the business meeting.
A .motion was made by Lillie Devereaux Blake that Mrs. Elenora M. Babcock be engaged, to do the press work lor the Na-ational American Association for the mext nine months, at a salary of $1,000, which sum was to include all expenses. This motion was warmly discussed, no one questioning the ability of Mrs. Babcock to do the work in a. satisfactory manner, but she lives in 'Dunkirk, N. Y., and a large faction considered it most desirable that the work should be done in headquarters in New York. She has been the press committee for New York and Massachusetts state associations for two years., and has done admirable work. After a long and earnest debate the question was decided by a rising vote, there being 39 votes for and 29 against.
All Western delegates were invited, by Mrs. Catt. to meet the Woman's dub of Chicago at their club rooms. 203 Michigan avenue, at 2 o'clock on: Saturday, May 6, if they should pass through the city on their way home. She said they intended holding a reception in honor of returning delegates.
Reports were resumed and Mrs. Addle M. Johnson of Missouri gave 'the report for that «tate. 'She paid a cordial tribute to Grand Rapids and in closing invited the National Woman Suffrage Association to hold its convention in St. Louis in the year ]!)0U. when "the greatest fair ever held on this fair earth" will be held there. This invitation was referrred to the business committee, as have been, those o the Board of Trade of .Milwaukee, seconded by the Wisconsin Association of Suffragists, 'to hold the convention there in 1901, and an invitation, from Cincinnati's mayor and Business. Men's Club to meet there. Mrs. Abigail Scott Duniway of Oregon, who is ia strong ally of Carrie Chapman Catt in opposing the Washington plan, is working among the •women to get the convention to, Portland in two years.
Mrs.   Mary  (Bentley  Thomas   reviewed the situation in Maryland, and Mrs. Martha J. Thompson   in Minnesota. CHILDREN'S CREED.
Mrs. A very read the report of Lueretla L. Blankenbury and told what woman's clubs are doing in Pennsylvania, to aid >the cause of suffrage. She said that the Civic Club of Harristmrg had petitioned to be allowed to have the hearing of the public school children for twenty minutes a month. This hiad 'been, granted, and a civic creed was compiled, which the children learned aind repeated, after which they were addressed briefly by some member of the club. They were taught 'to Interest themselves in the cleanliness of their city, in preventing mutilation of public property, in all ways learning to become good 'citizens. Following is the civic creed of the children:
"God hath made of one blood all nations of men, .and we are his children, brothers and sisters all. We are citizens of these United States, and we believe our flag stands for self-sacrifice for the good of all people. We want, therefore, to be true citizens of our city, and will show our love for her by our works.
"Harrisburg does not ask us to die for her welfare; she asks tis to live for her, and so to live and so to 'act that her government may be pure, her officers honest, and every corner of her territory shall be a. place fit to grow the best men and women who shall rule over her."
CLOSING   8E9SION.
Thanks to Those Who Assisted In the Success.
The evening session was opened with a song, "The Swallows," by Ccwen, sung by Mrs. Aldworth.
Mr. Blackwell offered the following resolution, which was adopted unanimously:
Resolved, That our cordial thanks are due to Mrs. Emily B. Ketcham. to the entertainment committee. Mrs. Alien C. Ad-sit and her co-workers and the citizens who have so generously entertained o-ur delegates in their homes; to the. Board of Trade for programs, souvenirs and carriage .rides, to. the ministers, who hnvp opened their churches to our women speakers, to. the newspapers for their full and fair reports, to. the Bissell Carpet S'Weeper Company for their presents of sample sweepers, to the women's social and literary clubs and the W. C. T. U. for their receptions, to Mrs. Rathbone Carpenter and her committee for charming musicians, to the courtesies, reception, decoration, information and ushers' committees, to Mrs. D. W. Biddings' committee and the florists Henry Smith, Grand Rapids Floral Company. Crabb & Hunter, William Cunningham, W. T. Renwick, and Freiling & Mendal, and to all others who have helped ttf^nake our convention a success.
•Laura Clay of Kentucky igave an address on the "Removal of Industries from the 'Home." She spoke, as nearly all the speakers have done, clearly and distinctly, so that every person. In the audience could distinctly understand. Her address may be published later.
Dr. Mary H. Barker-Bates, member of the Denver school board. Colorado, gave an address which was a brief history of woman suffrage in Colorado. She was on the program for a, talk on "Our Gains and Our Losses," a speech prepared with great care, but she said, "it is now floating somewhere upon the prairies. It went out of the car wind'ow." She told her experience on. the school board and 'the work which had been done. Their board in Denver consists of six -members, two of which are elected each year, the term being two years. Five of these members live in one ward, showing that they elect their members without regard to locality. There has been a movement to. increase the board to twenty-five or more members, but the women fought it, as they believed the tendency of a large board would be toward political corruption. Of these six members two are women. The first work they accomplished was the introduction, of kindergartens in the public schools. Later (the speaker was made chairman of the committee on Duildings and supplies. She thoroughly believes in organization and believes it should be as perfect as possible.
Another song, "The Wild Flower," by Leonia, was sweetly given by Miss Elizabeth Bell.
Miss Anthony announced that there was to be a woman's suffrage ulcove in the new congressional library devoted to literature of a.n educational nature.
Miss Griffin of Alabama iwas then Introduced, and spoke very briefly, telling a story which carried an argument for equal suffrage. She was received as usual, with much laughter andi applause, she having furnished the .humorous element of the convention.
Miss Anthony's closing address was a strong, powerful argument for the cause to which she has devoted her life, but the applause she .received was as much a loving tribute to the woman., as to the ideas she had expressed.
The .Entertainers.
The commit'tee on. entertainment who assisted at the Ladies' Literary Club all through the convention is as follows:
April 2T—Mesdames Barny, N. A. Earle and Jenks.
April 28—Mesdamea Robinson, Charles Berkey and Leonard.
April 29—Mrs. Bissell, Mrs. Thwing and Miss Clapp.
May 1—Mfsdames ISpeed, Fowler and Blake.
May 2—CMesdames Follmer, Lucius Bolt-wood and George Boltwood.
May 3—Mrs. Hawley Lyon, Mrs. Tink-ham and Miss Maude Fuller.
Miss Anna Caulfield also assisted during the weeto. and the •president, Mrs. Goss, received. Some very delightful hours were spent 'here, iboth hy the delegates and (by 'the club ladles, -wttio Weighted to entertain them.
Michigan Women Today.
Although yesterday was virtually the last day of the big convention there will
be'two more meetings of importance to the suffragists today. This morning the •new executive committee of the national association will meet and will go through a big grist of business, which is of no interest to any one not a suffragist, but is of importance to the arrangement of the program for next year, and to some of the intermediat,e work. The annual gathering of the Michigan Suffrage Association, which it was decided should be held in Grand Rapids1 this year because most of the members would be here for the larger meeting, will be held today. The president of the state, organization is May Stocking Knaggs of Bay City, find the treasurer is Mrs. Emily B. Ketcham. president of the Susan B. Anthony Club here. 'The meeting -will be called to. order at J.'St and the election of officers aind report* of standing: and temporary committees will be given.