Order!" Herman Camp, of Trumansburg, the president, ruled that she was
not a delegate and had no right to speak. Amid great confusion the
question was put to vote and the decision of the chair sustained. As no
delegates had yet been accredited, everybody in the house was allowed
to vote, but the secretary, J.T. Hazen, announced that he did not count
the votes of the women!
Rev. Luther Lee at once offered his church to the ladies for an evening
meeting. They had a crowded house, fine speeches and good music, while
the convention was practically deserted, not over fifty being present.
After a masterly speech by Mr. May and stirring remarks from Mr. Lee,
Mrs. Bloomer and others, Miss Anthony made the address of the evening,
which she had prepared for the men's convention, a strong plea for the
right of women to work and speak for temperance. Soon afterwards she
wrote her father: "I feel there is a great work to be done which none
but women can do. How I wish I could be daily associated with those
whose ideas are in advance of my own, it would enable me to develop so
much faster;" and then, notwithstanding all her rebuffs, she signed
herself, "Yours cheerily."
The anti-slavery convention this year was held in Rochester, and Miss
Anthony had as a guest her dear friend, Lydia Mott, and again met
Garrison, Phillips, May, the Fosters, Pillsbury, Henry C. Wright and
others of that glorious band who together had received the baptism of
fire. Although intensely interested in the anti-slavery question she
did not dare think she had the ability to take up that work, but she
did resolve to give all her time and energy to the temperance cause.
The summer of 1852 was spent in traveling throughout the State with
Mrs. Vaughn, Mrs. Attilia Albro and Miss Emily Clark. They canvassed
thirty counties, organizing societies and securing 28,000 signatures to
a petition for the Maine Law. Miss Anthony sent out a strong appeal,
saying:
Women, and mothers in particular, should feel it their right and
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