ion, is she not competent to
exercise with prudence and intelligence the elective
franchise? and would she not, if entrusted with it, exercise
it for the elevation of a common humanity? The _Record_
tenders hearty congratulations not only to Mrs. Harbert, who
we know will bear the honors modestly, but also to those who
by their presence in the convention gave encouragement to
greater respect for woman's wishes, and by whose work is
demonstrated woman's fitness to be in truth a helpmeet for
man. We had a mother, and have sisters, wife, and daughter,
and that is why we would have woman enjoy every privilege
and opportunity to be useful to herself and her country that
we claim for ourself.

At the annual meeting of 1875, held at Oskaloosa, the following
letter from the governor of the State was received:

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Des Moines, Iowa.

Mrs. R. G. ORWIG, _Cor. Sec. I. W. S. S.--Dear Madam_: I
have your letter inviting me to be present at your annual
meeting. Thanking you and the association for the
consideration implied, I have to express my regrets that
business of an official character will prevent me from
coming. I hope your proceedings may be characterized by such
wisdom, moderation, and sincerity as to advance the cause to
which your efforts are given. I have never been able to
discover any argument to sustain my own right to vote that
does not equally apply to woman. Whether my right is founded
upon the interest I have, in common with my fellows, in the
preservation of the free institutions of my country; or upon
the protection of my personal interests as a citizen; or
upon my right to a voice in the creation of laws to which I
am held amenable; or upon my right to influence by a vote
the direction given to revenues which I am taxed to help
supply; or upon any other right, personal, political or
moral, I have never been able to see why the reasons which
make the vote valuable to me do not apply with equal force
to woman. You doubtless think your efforts are comparatively
fruitless; but I need not tell you that while your agitation
has fa