Transcribed from the Seattle Daily Post-Intelligencer, February 10, 1887. Microfilm #A329 at UW library.

Paramount to a widely published call, issued by Mrs. Nellie Wood, Mrs. Kenworthy, Laura E. Hall and many others urging all women favorable to the cause of Woman Suffrage, to assemble at Pythian Hall, thirty-six ladies met at the hall in the third story of the Opera House block at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon, and remained there for three mortal hours.

Shortly after 2 o'clock, Mrs. Kenworthy called the meeting to order. She said: "Ladies, we have met here to take action on the decision of the Supreme Court in taking from us the ballot. We don't want to do anything to injure our cause, but to do something to facilitate getting back our rights. I favor continuing these meetings in the country around about.

On motion of Laura E. Hall, Mrs. Nellie Wood was elected President. She said the election was a surprise to her, but that she had prepared a few remarks in case of an emergency, which she would proceed to read. These remarks were in substance as follows:

"We are disenfranchised; stripped of our rights and our liberties, and reduced to an equality with the squalid savage and the heathen Chinese. We have met to take steps to regain our rights. We are the beacon lights of this movement, and were progressing satisfactorily when this severe blow came upon us. All the more severe because we had tasted the sweets of liberty. We are disenfranchised, and we can weep, wail, and gnash our teeth, and our prayers will avail us nothing against those two old sticklers on law, but we can make ourselves felt in other ways. I suggest that we at once petition the President to remove these two old fossils - those two old carpet baggers, (applause) and ask him to appoint citizens of this Territory in their places. Voorhees was elected by the votes of women and if he has any gallantry, he will do all in his power to get Congress to give us back our rights. The case looked pretty bad at first, but at second thought it is more hopeful. If the question comes to a vote of the people we can get the votes of the 14,000 women who voted at the last election, and the votes of the 8000 Knights of Labor, besides many liberal-minded persons' votes, thus giving us a majority of the 41,000 votes in the Territory." (Applause.)

Mrs. Kenworthy nominated Mrs. R. Scott for Vice President, and she was elected.

Mrs. W. P. Smith was chosen Secretary.

On motion of Mrs. Kenworthy, Mrs. Giddings was elected treasurer.

On motion of Mrs. Kenworthy, the Chair appointed Mrs. Charleston, Mrs. Hummel, Mrs. Jenner, Mrs. Swinson and Sarah E. Hall a committee, whose duty it should be to select and Executive Committee. The ladies retired, and after being out some time, returned and reported the following Executive Committee: Mrs. Weed, Mrs. Homer Hill, Mrs. Chick and Mrs. Mooers.

During a lull in the business a number of short speeches were made.

Mrs. R. Scott said, "They have taken away our franchise, but I hope you will do as I am going to. When election day comes I'll get my ticket and march up to the polls and demand the reason why my vote is refused. These men have stirred up a hornet's nest, and I want them to see that the hornets have been aroused."

Mrs. DeVoe said the best people she had known in the states were all in favor of woman suffrage.

Laura E. Hall - "We have a right to congratulate ourselves the the press of the Territory is almost altogether with us. I have been in a number of meetings, and have heard the votes ring out loud and clear for woman suffrage. I was paralyzed when I saw the POST-INTELLIGENCER extra announcing that our rights had been taken from us, and I have hardly got over my paralytic shock yet. I am on the fight. I believe we should go into the war and fight against the war on women. If we show we are in earnest the men will help us."

Mrs. Weed was called, she said: Everybody knows how I feel on this subject. Today I got a letter from a gentleman in Yakima containing good words in regard to the suffrage fight witht the POST-INTELLIGENCER. Revolutions never go backward, and notwithstanding we have a decision of the Supreme Court against us, we should not give up the ship."

Mrs Wright - I believe in work, and never give up.

Mrs. Jones - I am glad to be able to add my mite to the cause. I was a woman suffragist for many years in St. Louis, and it gave me much pleasure to write to my old associates and tell them how well we got along voting out here. I, like Laura E. Hall, was stunned at this news, but not cast down. I will always raise my voice for the cause. I doubt if Judge Langofrd knew what he was about when he made that decision. I fear he was biased and prejudiced. I am sure we will get our suffrage back.

Mrs. Chick - I am like Mrs. Jones, I don’t think we are going to lose our suffrage. I suppose you have all read Judge Jacobs' article in the POST-INTELLIGENCER. There is much comfort to be taken from his exposition of the subject. I hate technicalities, as a rule; but when they are used to help our cause they are all right. I am sure Judges Turner and Langford are surprised at the indignation their decision has brought down on their heads.

Laura E. Hall - Now for business. I believe the officers are all elected. Day before yesterday I called on John Kinnear and asked him to draw up a petition to be presented to Congress to have these laws validated. The petition reads as follows:

To the Honorable, the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress Assembled: The petition of the subscribers, residents, and citizens of Washington Territory, respectfully show:

That the Acts of the Legislative Assembly of Washington Territory, hereinafter mentioned, passed since the compilation of the Code of 1881, to wit: By the sessions of 1883 and 1885-'86, are believed to be defective and inoperative, on account of a defective title to each Act, in this, that refernce is made to the sections and chapter of the Code, simply, and no other mention is made of the object of the Acts in the title thereof.

[Then follows a list of twenty-two acts.]

Your petitioners further show that the Supreme Court of this Territory has held that the title to an Act similar to the foregoing titles renders the Act in operative, null and void.

And petitioners further show that the Legislature of said Territory will not convene in regular session for nearly one year to come, and no immediate relief can be obtained from that quarter.

Inasmuch, therefore, as said Acts of the Legislature embrace many subjects, and cover a wide field of legislation, affecting so many people and interests, great and irreparable injury is certain to fall upon us as a people if said Acts are held and remain invalid.

Your petitioners, therefore, humbly pray that your honorable bodies will enact a law validating the foregoing Acts of the Legislature of this Territory and declaring the same to be of full fore, virtue and effect, notwithstanding the omissions aforesaid in the titles thereof.

And your petitioners will ever pary.

At the conclusion of this reading Mrs. Hall continued: "It seems to me imperative that this matter be attended to. I took the responsibility of having 100 copies printed. The cost was $4 and has not been provided for. Mr. Kinnear promised to pay part. I want this Association to endorse my act, and then request every lady and gentleman present to sign it."

Mrs. Hummell, Sarah E. Hall and Mrs. Fay were appointed a Finance Committee.

The petition read by Laura E. Hall was adopted.

Mrs. Chick announced that the Prohibition Club would meet in Pythian hall, Tuesday at 2:20 to discuss woman suffrage, and invited all to be present.

Laura E. Hall submitted some resolutions which, on motions of Mrs. Jenner, were referred to Mrs. Chick, Mrs. Giddings, and Mrs. Jones, a Committee on Resolutions.

While the Committee was out, Mrs. Jenner read an article from the Christian Union giving a description of Mrs. Geo. Rogers of Chicago, head of the Knights of Labor, by Frances E. Willard.

Laura E. Hall moved that another meeting be held on Wednesday next. Three persons voted; two for the motion and one loud one against it. Some discussion ensued, which grew quite animated, when the matter was dropped.

Thirty-six persons signed the petition to be sent to Congress.

Mrs. Dr. Johnson was chosen Corresponding Secretary.

After some time the committee returned, and submitted the following:

WHEREAS, The assembled disenfranchised women of Washington Territory do not believe that the decision given by a part of the Supreme Court, abolishing woman suffrage in Washington Territory, is just: therefore, be it resolved that we shall firmly and unceasingly work to restore to women the right to vote, of which they have been deprived by trifling technicalities.

Resolved, That it is our unwavering conviction that the rights of women are the rights of humanity, and that within a short period of time, the power of the ballot will be restored to the women of this Territory, thereby enlarging her field of usefulness and advancing the cause of humanity.

Resolution adopted.

Mrs. Dr. Johnson made a pretty little speech, in which she disclaimed that women will neglect their families to meddle in politics even if they have the ballot.

Mrs. Jenner volunteered to circulate the petition in the W.C.T.U., Laura E. Hall said she would take it into the Knights of Labor, and Anna Tappan said she would take a copy over to Colby.

Laura E. Hall took the floor and said: "I am indignant, and I want a chance to express my indignation. Let us get up a big meeting in the hall below, get a lot of people to come there, and we'll show them how indignant we are. I tell you I am indignant, and I want a big meeting down stairs. Let this meeting make arrangements to secure the hall and speakers."

Two widely different elements were represented in this meeting - the W. C. T. U. wing, represented by Mrs. Jenner, Mrs. Weed, Mrs. Chick and others, and the Liberal League wing, represented by Laura E. Hall, Mrs. Kenworthy, and others. These two elements, like air and water, will not mix.

When Laura E. Hall wanted the Executive Committee to arrange an indignation meeting in the Opera House so that she could show her indignation, Mrs. Weed asked to be excused from serving on the committee.

Mrs. Kenworthy was nominated for the vacant place on the committee and declared elected before any discussion could be had.

Mrs. Jenner raised a point of order and the President declared the question open for discussion.

Mrs. Jenner said she would oppose Mrs. Kenworthy's nomination; not because she did not respect Mr. Kenworthy as a woman suffragist, but because she considered it impolitic and unwise to place her on the Committee.

Laura E. Hall thought Mrs. Kenworthy had more executive ability than several other women she knew of. She doubted if the Executive Committee could harmonize so as to arrange that indignation meeting.

Mrs. Giddings - I think Mrs. Kenworthy's age should demand respect.

Things were getting pretty warm and considerable feeling was manifested.

Mrs. Jenner said the two factions had been miles apart, but she was in hopes this trouble would be the means of bringing them together again, but it did not seem now as though it would.

Mrs. Chick asked to be relieved from the Executive Committee, as her time was all occupied at home.

Mrs. Jenner asked to be relieved from the Committee on Nominations, and Mrs. DeVoe was substituted.

The Nominating Committee retire to select two names for the Executive Committee in place of Mrs. Weed and Mrs. Chick, and after being out in the cold for more than half an hour, returned and reported they could not agree.

Laura E. Hall moved that the meeting elect the two members of the Executive Committee, whereupon Mrs. DeVoe and Mrs. Giddings were elected in place of Mrs. Weed and Mrs. Chick.

Mrs. Giddings moved to adjourn.

Laura E. Hall - "My goodness alive! Don't let us go until we arrange for that indignation meeting. I am so indignant that I am becoming uncomfortable, and cannot stand it much longer."

By this time there were less than fifteen ladies remaining in the meeting, and they were the most indignant ones, so it was ordered that the Executive Committee issue a call for the indignation meeting to be held sometime in the future.

"When that meeting comes off," said an enthusiastic suffragist, "Judges Turner and Langford had better stand from under, for something is going to drop." Meeting adjourned.

(my note: spelling errors of names (i.e., Chick vs. Chich) are due to poor quality of microfilm.)

Submitted by Stacey Davis November 3, 2000