can
cities could enforce their will and conscience by the ballot
instead of by the indefinitely slow work of persuasion.

The first evening was devoted to a more extended welcome and to the
president's address. On behalf of the city Dr. Howard S. Taylor
represented Mayor Edward F. Dunne and in an eloquent speech he
reviewed the various epochs in the country's history. "Take, for
instance," he said, "the first chapter, when the old Liberty Bell
clanged out to the world the doctrine that 'all men are created equal
and endowed with certain inalienable rights to life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness, and to secure these rights governments are
established among men deriving their just powers from the consent of
the governed.' There is no casuistry, however dextrous, that can take
woman out of that charter." He referred to pioneer days and the heavy
part borne by women and said: "But when the foundations had been
established and the pioneer fathers got down to writing the
constitutions they left the pioneer mothers out." He spoke of the time
in the '50's when "the Government invited the people from all over the
world to come and help us settle our political, social and commercial
questions but did not invite American mothers, sisters, wives and
daughters." "Then came the Civil War," he said, "and the large part
taken in it by women and when the war was over the Government made the
great army of emancipated slaves citizens and gave the men the ballot
but forgot the patriotic white women of the country." "I know," he
said in conclusion, "that if the women of Chicago and Illinois were
enfranchised the corruption of the city council and the Legislature
would be much less than it is. We should have a higher state of morals
among public men and better laws on the statute books."

When the speaker finished Dr. Shaw observed: "We ought to thank Mayor
Dunne for substituting a man like Dr. Taylor for himself." This
brought Mrs. Catharine Waugh McCulloch to her feet to say: "Mayor
Dunne would have made just as good a suffrage speech as Dr. Taylor."
"I did not intend any reflection on the Mayor," answered Dr. Shaw with
a quiet smile, "but I think he showed excellent judgment."

The Chicago Woman's Club of over a thousand members, a recognized
force in the great city, sent its greetings through its president,
Mrs. Gertrude E. Blackwelder. Mrs. Minnie E. Watkins, as president of
the State Federation of Women's Clubs, gave