Women's History

Equal Rights Asso: That there is a law in this State that has never been enforced which we propose to test next October:- A widow who has children from the age of six to twenty can vote for School Trustee; or a widow without children having taxable property:-and the writer added"This bill be good work to take up in your club, for we wish it discussed all over the State.

It was then decided to adopt the Constitution of the Fayette Equal Rights Asso. as a basis on which to form our Constitution and By Laws.

The Pres, proceeded to read the Constitution adopted by the F.E.R.A. that each article might be acted upon separately with deliberation, and by vote of this body;- as a result of which vote we hear the following articles and by-laws. -(see Pages 1-3-5)

The following motions were made and carried.

That there be a standing committee on Press.

That there be a standing com. on Literature.

That there be a standing com. on Hygiene and Dress.

Mrs. Avery was appointed chairman of com. on Literature: Mrs. Bergmann chairman of com. on Hygiene and Dress: Miss M(?) chairman of com. on Press.

That general officers shall nominate the committees and officers not already elected.

Minutes of April 18th. Read on 20th.

On Saturday, April 13th was held the regular monthly meeting postponed from April 6th.

In the absence of President and Vice Pres. the Secretary called the meeting to order. After devotional excercises conducted by Mrs. Saul, Mrs. Avery was elected chairman pro tem.

The minutes of the previous meeting were then read and accepted.

The Secretary's report was then read and accepted. It was information of the Ky. Edition of Woman's Journal. Of the intended action of Lexington workers, to secure a bill from next Legislature, for appointments of female physicians in female wards of insane asylums. That Covington women will ask for universal suffrage with an educational qualification. A letter was read from Mrs. Josephine K. Henry of VersaillesState Superintendent of Legislature and Petition work, giving particulars of her line of work, and asking for our co-operation in her efforts to secure an Equitable Married Woman's Property Rights Law.

The Treasurer's report showed $8.00 in the treasury, and no disbursements. Report accepted.

There was no report from com-

mittee on Hygiene and Dress, the chairman being absent. The Press committee was also unprepresented. Mrs Avery, chairman of Literature committee, distributed leaflets among members, and read several able articles Municipal Suffrage for women, by Ednah D Cheney, in which the writer says: - The object of town and city governments should be mainly for the protection of homes;- that the town is only an enlarged house-hold, and the same qualities of care and thriftand attention to details which women are called upon to exercise in their households, are needed in the town. In the house-hold men and women work well in unison.- Why not in the town? That Massachusetts has settled the abstract principle of the right and propriety of women's voting, by the ready assent for such she gave to the demand that women should be empowered to vote in the election of school trustees.- That if they are able to aid in choosing the officers with whom rests one of the most important functions of the State, _ the education of its citizens, it is impossible to say- "Women are by nature unfittted to take any part in the government of city, state, or nation. That we must go on from the first step is evident From the "Woman's Column" an article was read embodying a letter written by

one of our Grandmothers, Abigail Adams who was Wife of one President, and Mother of another, to her Husband, John Adams; - March 31st 1776; in which she says:_ "In the new code of laws which it will be necessary for you to make, I desire that you would remember the ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them, than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power in the hands of the Husbands. - Remember all men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation."

The article on "Self Control", by Mrs. M. E. Holden, urged that of [/u]all[/u] powers, that of [/u]self control[/u] should be most earnestly cultivated. - In the child, by the Parents, and that [/u]we[/u] should [/u]all[/u] of us discipline ourselves in little victories over little conflicts, until the gradual subjugation of our impulses to our judgment have devel_ oped [/u]wisdom[/u].

In the extract from "Duties of Women" by Francis Power [Cobb], women were advised caution in dealing with the physician - To exercise their own judgment as to their physical conditions

and some will power, instead of allowing themselves to be convinced of invalidism while the Doctor draws a comfortable income, and houses suffer for housewifely care. In the consideration of new business which followed the reading, it was the unanimous decision of those present, that until our cause has grown in strength the meetings should be held oftener, and decided by note that they will be held on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of every month A motion was made, that in the petition for female physicians in female wards of insane asylums, it should be understood that no distinction be made in favor of either school of medicine to the exclusion of the other, nor that the appointments be limited to native born phys cians.- Seconded and carried. The following motions were made and carried.- That we undertake to have the "age of consent" raised in Ky. That we work to have women appointed to possitions in public places-especially police stations. The Sec'y was instructed to write an invitation to the W.C.T.U. asking them to meet with us, and arrange for co-operation work. There being no unfinished business to consider, the meeting adjourned.

17 Minutes of April 20th. [Read?] [May?] 3rd The semi-monthly meeting of the Louisville Equal Rights Asso. was held Saturday, April 20th.

The meeting was opened by scruipture reading and prayer, by the President.

The minutes of the previous meeting were accepted as read.

Mrs. Josephine K. Henry's letter which had been read at previous meeting was re-read for further consideration, and the Sec'y was instructed to write in reply that while we are in sympathy with her noble work, we do not feel confident, in our infancy to pledge ourselves to make the Property Rights Bill our chief work of the year; yet it shall be among the foremost of our aims to render her every possible assistance, and co-operate with her just as far as lies within our strength.

The Treasurers report showed $10.00 in the Treasury, and no disbursements.

A discussion followed as to the object of this Association; a member having asked for information as to whether this was solely a Suffrage Asso., saying that "If it had other aims, there were many women who would become members".

It was decided that this is a Suffrage organization, with definite lines of work for the advancement of women, as set forth in Article 2 of our By-Laws.

The proposition was made that we ally ourselves as an organization with the W.C.T.U It was favorably considered by those present, - but the proposition was left open.

The literary exercise followed by the President reading an original article:- "Do women want the Ballot? Will he right of Suffrage increase the discontent of domestic life?"

In answering these questions the writer says:- "So far from seeing how it can disturb home life, we believe it to be the most important factor in securing a fixed abode for woman, and in needing permanent that which now is so often temporary changing and uncertain.

The inate love of home is a quality of woman nature that cannot be suppressed:- that women will always be house-wives as long as these are homes: they will be mothers as long as there are marriages: they are and will be citizens whether recognised as such by law: and will be capable of discharging duties to the public without neglect of home affair as long as time shall last or governments endure. Of the property guise

tion it was shown that in some states the law does not give woman any right to the Husband's property either living or dead. The Wife dies she had no right to make a will:- the law would not recognize it at all during the Husband's life time, not perhaps afterwards. He dies, and she gets one third of what her toil and tact has helped to accumulate. In conclusion, members of the W.C.T.U. were urged to recognize that there is not another question of more vital importance before them today, and to enlist in the cause of universal suffrage.

Extracts were read from:- "The Bible for Woman Suffrage", by Rev. J.W. Bashford, and to conclude the exercise, an article was read: "Why Woman Suffrage should receive the earnest support of every citizen", by Erasmus M. Correll. One of the ten reasons given, being, that "Male Suffrage alone means an aristocracy of sex, while impartial suffrage means a true republic.

Their being no further business before the Asso the meeting adjourned.

Minutes of meeting held May 3rd should have been read on May 17th, but on account of illness of the Sec'y the reading was postponed until next regular meeting on June 7th.

On Friday, May 17th, the date of our last semi-monthly meeting, the regular exercises were omitted and only an informal meeting held, at which matters of interest to the Asso. were discussed, and several interesting articles were read.

The regular semi-monthly meeting of the Louisville Equal Rights Asso. was held Saturday afternoon, May 3rd.

The meeting was opened with devotional exercises: reading of the one hundred and forty sixth Psalm; followed by Prayer.

The minutes of the previous meeting were accepted as read.

The Treasurers report showed $12.00 in the Treasury with no disbursements.

Mrs Hibberd was elected chairman of Press Conc. to fill vacancy occasioned by Miss Merker's non-acceptance of the office.

A letter was read from Mrs Munnell, regretting inability to meet with the Asso. on that day, and inclosing membership dues.

an effort was made to elect a 2nd Vice-President of Kentucky Equal Rights Asso. to represent our Asso. in the State Executive Board. Mrs Avery, and Mrs Johnson were named for that office, but each upon nomination, declined to serve. The question was postponed until a later date, Miss Clay to be notified to that effect.

An article was read from the Southern Journal, on "Woman's Property Rights", by Mrs Josephine K. Henry:- After which a motion was made and carrried, that we should circulate a petition in behalf of that cause.

The literary exercises consisted of an original article by Mrs Johnson, written in answer to a recent lecture in this city by Bishop Vincent.

The writer maintained that anything and everything comes within a woman's sphere, which God has given her capacity to do and circumstances seem to require her to do, or seem to point to as the best thing for her to do.

That every human being, man or woman, has the right to choose what he or she shall do; and if they fail, each must go to the wall alike. That there should