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THE CONGRESS OF WOMEN.
the middle class—made up of neither rich nor poor. This audience was made up of the better middle class. I said I failed to see the virtue of opening our arms to the scum of Europe and of closing them to the Chinese, who never get drunk, who do their work and don’t vote, and ask nothing in return except to live. The audience was so enthusiastic that I thought it would tear the benches up. This most infamous Geary Bill, opposed to every principle of liberty, was the work of politicians.
One of the congressmen who had supported this bill in Washington asked me what I thought of his speech. I said to him: “ Do you want to come back to Congress?” He said: “No.” “Very well,” I said, “why don’t you tell the truth, for you know that it is a lie.” He said: “ I don’t want to come back, but I want to have the pleasure of refusing the renomination.” So in order to get a possible renomination he lied about the whole Chinese race. I do not expect any applause for what I am saying—[applause]—I dare say Californians here do not agree with me, but if they are women they feel as I do, because they know that without the Chinese servants they will have to do their own work.
But to return to Louisville. I said that the only new departure the Republican party advocated was woman’s suffrage. Seeing it is utterly impossible to get a restricted suffrage I said to Miss Anthony last Friday night that from this time forth I should advocate woman’s suffrage, because I was tired of being classed with criminals, idiots and children, and I did not want politicians to make the laws for me if I could help it. So Miss Anthony came upon the platform and accepted me into the fold.
What am I here for today? I am here not to celebrate myself, but to celebrate the World’s Fair. Do you know what this means? It means the dawn of a new era for woman. For the first time in the history of the world women have been officially recognized in a world’s exposition. You have this wonderful Woman’s Building, designed by a woman, managed by women, and filled with the work of women; and if you don’t take your new departure from 1893, women of America, it is your own fault. You have the chance and you should take advantage of it.
I am here today to endeavor, if possible, to get from this audience expressions of opinion as to the best way to make the World’s Fair popular. I am not only an editor of a national review, but I am here as a contributor to one of the leading papers of Chicago. I want to be a friendly critic. I think I fully appreciate the greatness of this Exposition. The idea of criticism of many Eastern writers is the noble art of finding fault. It is not noble; it is ignoble. What I want to do with this fair is to popularize it. Now the question arises: “ How shall we do this? ” If there are persons in this audience who have an idea of what they think would be an advantage to the World’s Fair I wish they would get up and speak to me about it. I hear that Dr. Swing is present. Is he here? Evidently not; and I am afraid that not one of you has courage enough to speak. I will tell you what I think.
But just here a woman’s voice piped up from a front seat:
“ It the railroads would reduce the fare I know hundreds ot people who would be here.”
Miss Field repeated her remark for the benefit of the audience, and then a Wyoming woman made a remark about the cost of living, on which Mi-ss Field commented:
A lady from the splendid State of Wyoming says that a great many people have staid away because of the increase of prices in board and lodging; that rooms which have been renting for $15 to $20 a month now rent for $65 and $70, and even $100 a month. That is too great a profit. I don’t think it is fair. We all know that the commercial system of today is quick returns and small profits. We should impress upon those charging too much that it would be a great deal better if we had a great many people here and not so much profit on a few. Is there anything else?
A lady from Logansport, Ind.—Keep the fair closed on Sunday.