ional
Congress of Mothers. One came from the National Suffrage Association
of Denmark.

Mrs. Harper gave an address under the subject Facing the Situation,
showing the satire of the disfranchisement of one-half the citizens in
a Government boasting of being founded on individual representation.
In closing she said: "Eastward the star of woman's empire takes its
way. She does not look for the star in the East but for the star in
the West. Her sun of political freedom rose not in the East but in the
West. It is to the strong, courageous and progressive men of the
western States that the women of this whole country are looking for
deliverance from the bondage of disfranchisement. It is these men who
must start this movement and give it such momentum that it will roll
irresistibly on to the very shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Today the
eyes of the whole country are on this beautiful and progressive State.
This magnificent Exposition has been a revelation of its splendid
powers. It is an anomaly, a contradiction, a reproach indeed that in
the midst of these wonderful achievements one-half of its citizens
should be in absolute political subjection, without voice or share in
affairs of State. Are you not ready now to wipe out that paltry 2,000
majority which five years ago voted to continue this unjust condition?
Would it not add the crowning glory to this greatest period in your
history if the free men of Oregon should decree that this shall be,
henceforth and forever, the land also of free women?" The Rev. J.
Burgette Short expressed regret that his church, the Methodist
Episcopal, had refused to ordain Dr. Shaw and said it was much poorer
in consequence. "You represent the brains of the world," he said to
the delegates, "and you have my hearty interest and support in your
work."

A noteworthy address was made by the Hon. W. S. U'Ren, known as "the
father of the Initiative and Referendum," which was then in its early
stages but had been adopted by Oregon and some other States. The
convention was much impressed by this innovation, as the suffragists
had long struggled against the refusal of Legislatures to submit their
question to the voters, and Mrs. Catt offered a resolution that "the
convention affirms its belief in the Initiative and Referendum as a
needed reform and a potent factor in the progress of true democracy."
It was enthusiastically received and later adopted by the convention,
contrary to the habit of the asso