t she was
there on the invitation of the Society, and they could not refuse
her a voice in the proceedings.

But points of order were raised, and a determination manifested
not to permit a fair discussion of the subject. The Chair was at
length appealed to for a decision. He decided that the letter of
the Constitution of the State Society, and also the call for this
meeting would admit woman to an equal participation in the
proceedings, and allow her a vote; but as there were no female
societies in existence five years ago when this Society was
organized, such a thing was not contemplated at that time; he
therefore considered her inadmissible. "The letter of the
Constitution and call would admit her, but the spirit would not."

Mr. Camp must have been very ignorant not to know that ten years
before there were efficient woman's temperance societies all over
the State. He was doubtless right in saying that such a thing as
a woman presuming to speak or vote in the meetings of that
Society was not contemplated by its founders, but he greatly
erred in giving a reason for their short-sightedness.

The decision of the Chair was appealed from, and the excitement
continued. All tried to talk at the same time, but those
possessing more firmness than others succeeded in having their
say; while the opponents of woman were allowed to express their
sentiments freely, those in favor were called to order and forced
to yield the floor. The decision of the Chair was finally
sustained by two votes. As the delegates had not been required to
make themselves known, it was not ascertained how many were
present, or who they were; nor how many persons in the crowd
voted who had no right to do so. All men were permitted to vote,
without its even being known whether they were temperance men or
not.

And so, after spending the whole afternoon in hot discussion of
the woman's rights question, the disgraceful affair terminated by
refusing woman the right of uttering her sentiments on a subject
in which she was deeply interested, and of pleading in behalf of
the poor crushed victims of man's injustice and cruelty.

Rev. Luther Lee offered his church just before the adjournment, and
Mr. May announced that Miss Anthony and Mrs. Bloomer would speak there
in the evening. They