Louisville Equal Rights Association Minute book, 1889-1895

Equal Rights Asso: That there is a law in this State that has never been enforced which we propose to test next October:- A widow who has children from the age of six to twenty can vote for School Trustee; or a widow without children having taxable property:-and the writer added"This bill be good work to take up in your club, for we wish it discussed all over the State.

It was then decided to adopt the Constitution of the Fayette Equal Rights Asso. as a basis on which to form our Constitution and By Laws.

The Pres, proceeded to read the Constitution adopted by the F.E.R.A. that each article might be acted upon separately with deliberation, and by vote of this body;- as a result of which vote we hear the following articles and by-laws. -(see Pages 1-3-5)

The following motions were made and carried.

That there be a standing committee on Press.

That there be a standing com. on Literature.

That there be a standing com. on Hygiene and Dress.

Mrs. Avery was appointed chairman of com. on Literature: Mrs. Bergmann chairman of com. on Hygiene and Dress: Miss M(?) chairman of com. on Press.

That general officers shall nominate the committees and officers not already elected.

Minutes of April 18th. Read on 20th.

On Saturday, April 13th was held the regular monthly meeting postponed from April 6th.

In the absence of President and Vice Pres. the Secretary called the meeting to order. After devotional excercises conducted by Mrs. Saul, Mrs. Avery was elected chairman pro tem.

The minutes of the previous meeting were then read and accepted.

The Secretary's report was then read and accepted. It was information of the Ky. Edition of Woman's Journal. Of the intended action of Lexington workers, to secure a bill from next Legislature, for appointments of female physicians in female wards of insane asylums. That Covington women will ask for universal suffrage with an educational qualification. A letter was read from Mrs. Josephine K. Henry of VersaillesState Superintendent of Legislature and Petition work, giving particulars of her line of work, and asking for our co-operation in her efforts to secure an Equitable Married Woman's Property Rights Law.

The Treasurer's report showed $8.00 in the treasury, and no disbursements. Report accepted.

There was no report from com-

mittee on Hygiene and Dress, the chairman being absent. The Press committee was also unprepresented. Mrs Avery, chairman of Literature committee, distributed leaflets among members, and read several able articles Municipal Suffrage for women, by Ednah D Cheney, in which the writer says: - The object of town and city governments should be mainly for the protection of homes;- that the town is only an enlarged house-hold, and the same qualities of care and thriftand attention to details which women are called upon to exercise in their households, are needed in the town. In the house-hold men and women work well in unison.- Why not in the town? That Massachusetts has settled the abstract principle of the right and propriety of women's voting, by the ready assent for such she gave to the demand that women should be empowered to vote in the election of school trustees.- That if they are able to aid in choosing the officers with whom rests one of the most important functions of the State, _ the education of its citizens, it is impossible to say- "Women are by nature unfittted to take any part in the government of city, state, or nation. That we must go on from the first step is evident From the "Woman's Column" an article was read embodying a letter written by

one of our Grandmothers, Abigail Adams who was Wife of one President, and Mother of another, to her Husband, John Adams; - March 31st 1776; in which she says:_ "In the new code of laws which it will be necessary for you to make, I desire that you would remember the ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them, than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power in the hands of the Husbands. - Remember all men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation."

The article on "Self Control", by Mrs. M. E. Holden, urged that of [/u]all[/u] powers, that of [/u]self control[/u] should be most earnestly cultivated. - In the child, by the Parents, and that [/u]we[/u] should [/u]all[/u] of us discipline ourselves in little victories over little conflicts, until the gradual subjugation of our impulses to our judgment have devel_ oped [/u]wisdom[/u].

In the extract from "Duties of Women" by Francis Power [Cobb], women were advised caution in dealing with the physician - To exercise their own judgment as to their physical conditions

and some will power, instead of allowing themselves to be convinced of invalidism while the Doctor draws a comfortable income, and houses suffer for housewifely care. In the consideration of new business which followed the reading, it was the unanimous decision of those present, that until our cause has grown in strength the meetings should be held oftener, and decided by note that they will be held on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of every month A motion was made, that in the petition for female physicians in female wards of insane asylums, it should be understood that no distinction be made in favor of either school of medicine to the exclusion of the other, nor that the appointments be limited to native born phys cians.- Seconded and carried. The following motions were made and carried.- That we undertake to have the "age of consent" raised in Ky. That we work to have women appointed to possitions in public places-especially police stations. The Sec'y was instructed to write an invitation to the W.C.T.U. asking them to meet with us, and arrange for co-operation work. There being no unfinished business to consider, the meeting adjourned.