A Septuagenarian

The National Woman's Party meets again--to spend its 75th birthday at its birthplace, Seneca Falls, N. Y. Most people have not the privilege of choosing their birthplaces. With organizations, however, it is a different matter. Nevertheless, it was more the choice of circumstances than of people that the woman's rights movements was born at Seneca Falls.

In 1848, Lucretia Mott, eloquent Quakeress, attending the Yearly Meeting of Friends in Western New York, visited her sister at Auburn. At Seneca Falls, ten miles away, was Elizabeth Cady Stanton, another gifted young advocate of women's rights. They had met before at an anti-slavery conference in London. Now, being so near together, they met again--and decided to hold a convention.

The meeting was called for July 19 and 20 at Wesley an Chapel (Methodist) in Seneca Falls. It was the first meeting of its kind. In those days women faced many disadvantages. Their husbands could beat them provided it was with a stick "no thicker than a man's thumb." Husbands had the sole custody of children. Except among the Quakers, women did not engage in any public activities. (For an excellent brief treatment of the situation and developments at this time, see The Nation, July 18.)

The first "Woman's Rights Convention " assembled, and James Mott, husband of Lucretia, was asked to preside. Several women spoke, or rather read their speeches. A " Decclaration of Sentiments " was passed--an imitation of the Declaration of Independence--beginning: "That, being invested by the Creator with the same capabilities, and the same consciousness of responsibility for their exercise, it is demonstrably the right and duty of woman, equally with man, to promote every righteous cause," etc.

About 100 people, men and women, signed the Declaration, although many of them later " withdrew" their signatures when ridicule began to be heaped upon the incident. Other resolutions were also passed, all unanimously, except one for woman suffrage, which was carried by a narrow margin.

In assembling, 75 years later, on July 20, women are pointing out that this is the only one of their demands which they have entirely gained. The National Woman's Party intends launching at this meeting its campaign for a simple and far-reaching Amendment to the Constitution: " Men and women shall have equal rights throughout the United States and every place subject to its jurisdiction."

Among the speakers--who are not expected to read their speeches--were Mrs. Oliver H. P. Belmont and Miss Alice Paul, President and Vice President of the National Woman's Party. Harriet Stanton Blatch, daughter of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, was also to make an address.

Arrangements were made with the city of Rochester to furnish motor cars to take the delegates to that city after the convention, there to pay a tribute at the grave of the late Susan B. Anthony, long one of the leading champions of woman's rights. It is worth while noting, however, that at the time of the convention of 1848, Miss Anthony was not yet a convert to the ideals espoused at that meeting.