Judge Bradwell made a few remarks on the subject of the letter, advocating the union of the two organizations, and proposing the following resolution:
Whereas, In Article II. of the Constitution of the American Woman Suffrage Association it is stated, "Its object shall be to concentrate the efforts of all the advocates of woman suffrage in the United States," and whereas the Union Woman Suffrage Association, of which Theodore Tilton is President, has appointed a committee of eleven persons with full power to agree upon a basis for the union of the two national associations, now, therefore, be it.
Resolved, That the convention for the purpose of carrying out the object of said association, as expressed in said Article II., and concentrating the efforts of all the friends of woman suffrage throughout the Union for national purposes, do hereby appoint.... who, with the eleven persons heretofore appointed by said Woman Suffrage Society, shall compose a joint committee with full power to form a union of the American Woman Suffrage Association and the Union Woman Suffrage Society under one constitution and one set of officers. It is further provided, after notice to all, that a majority of said joint committee shall have power to act.
The above was referred to the Committee on Resolutions.
At the afternoon session Vice-President Higginson invited the Vice-Presidents of the associations of different States to seats upon the platform.
Mrs. Lucy Stone was introduced, and gave an interesting account of the course pursued by her and Mrs. Livermore in a Massachusetts convention. Here the two ladies were received as delegates, took their places among the regular delegates of the convention, and voted with them. After that they urged their lady friends to attend the ward meetings. The women of Massachusetts, she said, paid taxes on $100,000,000 of property, the women of Boston on $40,000,000. She thought it good policy to work inside the parties.
Mrs. Dr. Ferguson, of Indiana, thought it necessary to begin by sowing the seeds of the doctrine. Meetings had been held in different parts of the State. One was held on the sidewalk, was well attended, and was followed by a large meeting. Soon after, conventions were held, and though many women were afraid to take hold of the subject, others advocated it with full force. We have organized fourteen local societies. Some of these are sending out their lecturers.
Col. T. W. Higginson reported that the Rhode Island Society was endeavoring to obtain the appointment of women as superintendents of reform institutions. We should have matrons in all the prisons where women are confined. I would therefore urge upon all women in their respective cities to labor in this direction. Men will vote for placing women upon all these boards.
Judge Bradwell, of Chicago, made a short report on the condition of the suffrage party in his State.
Dr. Child, of Pennsylvania, said: The suggestions of our President are very important. Woman should have a position by the side of man in all public institutions. I am happy to say that in the city of Philadelphia, founded by William Penn, and to a considerable extent still under the influence of Friends, women do participate largely in our benevolent institutions and prisons. Our State organization was formed on the 22d of December last, and is auxiliary to the American Association. Our principal labor has been to increase the circulation of the Woman's Journal and circulate tracts.