republic
based on equal rights for all is not the dream of a fanatic but the
only sane form of government." I. N. Fleischner, who had just been
elected to the school board largely by the votes of women, assured the
convention of his approval and support of the measures it advocated
and said he hoped to see the women enjoying the full right of suffrage
in Oregon in the very near future.

Mrs. Florence Kelley, executive secretary of the National Consumers'
League, spoke with deeper understanding than would be possible for any
other woman of The Young Bread-winner's Need. "We have in this
country," she said, "2,000,000 children under the age of sixteen who
are earning their bread. They vary in age from six and seven in the
cotton mills of Georgia, eight, nine and ten in the coal-breakers of
Pennsylvania and fourteen, fifteen and sixteen in more enlightened
States.... In some of the States children from six to thirteen may
legally be compelled to work the whole night of twelve hours," and she
described the heart-breaking conditions under which they toil. She
urged the need of woman's votes to destroy the great evil of child
labor and said: "We can enlist the workingmen on behalf of our
enfranchisement just in proportion as we strive with them to free the
children."

In introducing Mr. Blackwell, Dr. Cora Smith Eaton, who was presiding,
said: "As we came across the continent what impressed me most was the
mountains. First came the foothills, then the high mountains and then
the grand, snow clad peaks. Some of us are like the foothills, just
raised a little above the women who have all the rights they want;
then come those on a higher level of public spirit and service, who
are like the mountains; and then the pioneers rising above all like
the snow covered peaks." Taking the ground that "the perpetuity of
republican institutions depends on the speedy extension of the
suffrage to women," Mr. Blackwell said in his sound, logical address:
"How can we reach the common sense of the plain people, without whose
approval success is impossible?... A purely masculine government does
not fully represent the people, the feminine qualities are lacking. It
is a maxim among political thinkers that 'every class that votes makes
itself felt in the government.' Women as a class differ more widely
from men than any one class of men differs from another. To give the
ballot to merchants and lawyers and deny it to farmers would be class
legis