Letter from Mrs. Stanton.
The following is the letter from Elizabeth Cady Stanton, read at the organization of the Political Equality Club last Tuesday evening.
26 W. 61st St., New York, Nov. 26, 1897. My Dear Miss Root:
It gives rue great pleasure to hear that the women of Greneva are forming a club for political study and thus prepare themselves for their duties as citizens of a Republic,
We have heard much of the rights of women as citizens; it is equally iui" portaut to consider their duties,
Rev. Samuel J, May used to say: '"The State is suffering a condition of half orphanage, as the mothers take no interest in its affairs, and the family is also in a condition of half-orphanage, as the fathers take so little interest in the care and education of the children."
The innumerable wards of the State, in our jails, prisons, in charitable in-stitutions,swarmiug in tenement houses in poverty and ignorance and yice, in their dumb appeals, summon the mothers of the race to the consideration of all this misery and the remedy in better laws and more generous  public action.
Women are equally responsible with men for all the wrongs of society; that they are awaking to this fact is one of the most promising signs of   the times.
The study of the State and municipal laws, in their political -equality clubs, is the first step in the coming revolution for equal rights to all.
With best wishes for the success of your club,             Sincerely yours,
Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
e _„,.
¦ POLITICAL EQUALITY
A Geneva Club Was Organized Last Nig hi
FIFTY MEMBERS ENROLLED,
Addresses      on    Question   of   SuftVage —
( onsiderable Interest Manifested—
Election   of Officers
Announced.
A large number of ladies and  gentlemen assembled at the Y. M. C. A. hall   last  eve ning, pursuant to the announcement that a number of addresses on   universal suffrage would be given, with the view of organizing a Political Equality club,   The meeting wai called to order and S. H. VerPlanok was in vited to  preside,   with   Mr. Ellsworth   a secretary.   In taking the   chair   Mr.   Ver Planck said he had never expected to preside
at a woman suffrage meeting, but as he had been called upon in that capacity he could not refrain from speaking of the injustice of taxing a woman without giving her a voice in the matter. Oa South Main street, he said, there are forty homes owned by women, thirty of which are not represented by votes. On that account the men in the neighborhood have less influence.
After a letter hadj been   read from   Mrs KUzabeth Uady Stanton, Miss Julia   R. Jen ney, of Syracuse, was introduced as the firs speaker, the chairman   saying   that   he did not wish to be understood as taking libertie with her name   in presenting  her  as Mis Jenney, as that was her last   name, for   tht present at least.    Miss Jenney among other things sai j that woman had made her   own platform, and that it would stand.    There is a difference between  the   rights   of men and women, and on account of   that differ-eace she should have the ballot.   The pres-ent law respecting j woman's   disfranchise-nient is uujust, the speaker urged, for three reasons: Because she may not vote for school commissioner; be -auseshe may not vote for municipal officers; because she may not vote for national and state   legislators.       Since she is an individual,stock-holder and citizen slae should be a voter, but  as  it is she lias not the right co select or elect. Her interests are no'as   well  protected   as those of men. Miss Jenny was listened to with deep inter est, and her address   was   well   received by r auditoi"s.
Miss Harriet M. Mills, of Syracuse, was presented as the second speaker. A-**"* ;onie preliminary remwka uu the suBJect of iqual suffrage, she proceeded to speak >£ the desirability of organizing in Geneva a Political Equality club, saying that all who beliuve in equal suffrage should join ihe organisation, that it would be a forum 'or discussing local and public questions, ;hat it would educate the meu; as well as ;he women.
MissAune P. Miller, of Geneva, was then ntroduced and read an interesting >aper, giving the reasons why an Equality dab should be formed; Because there a:e many persons in town who believe in equality; because as individuals all need fi better understanding of public af-afirs.
A resolution was presented by M. T. Atchley that such a club should be formed, andadopted.by the meeting. A constitution was then presented by Miss Mills and accepted, in which it was stated that the name should be the Political Equality club of Geneva, an auxiliary to the New York association. The constitution was? signed by thos3 desiring to become members.many availing themselves of the invitation.
The following officers, submitted by a nominating committee, were elected: Honorary president, Mrs. Elizabeth S. Miller; president, Mrs. H. K, Clapp; first vice-president, Louis J. Licht; second vice president, Miss Lillle Hopkins; third vice-presi dent, O. J. C. Rose; recording secretary, Miss Louisa-Bunn; secretary Mrs. Elizabeth G. Root; treasurer, J. E. P. Butts.
The appointment was made for a meeting o£ the club in the Y. M. 0. A. hall, January 17, 1893, when addresses will be given by Judge F. 0. Mason and Prof. J. H. Mc-Daniels.
Political Equality Club Membership.
The Political Equality club of Geneva, organ izedu week ago to-day, has a membership of over 00, including 20 men.