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+ margin: 0; + text-align: center; + font-size: 0.8em;} + .figure img, .figcenter img {border: none;} + .figcenter {margin: auto; + clear: both;} + /* Tables ---------------------------------------------- */ + .center table {margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; text-align: left;} + table {margin-top: 1em; /* space above the table */ + caption-side: top; /* or bottom! */ + empty-cells: show; /* usual default is hide */ + border-spacing: 0.0em 0.0em; + font-size: 100%;} + td {padding-left: 0.5em; padding-right: 0.5em;} + td.right {text-align: right;} + td.left {text-align: left;} + td.indent {text-indent: -1.0em; padding-left: 1.5em;} + td.center {text-align: center;} + td.mustache {vertical-align: middle; font-size: 150%;} + td.valignm {vertical-align: middle;} + td.bt {border-top: solid thin; border-color: #D3D3D3; background-color: inherit;} + td.bb {border-bottom: solid thin; border-color: #D3D3D3; background-color: inherit;} + table.dense {border-spacing: 0em 0.0em; + padding-left: 0.0em; padding-right: 0.0em; + border-collapse: collapse; + border-color: #D3D3D3; background-color: inherit; + line-height: 1.0em; + font-size: 80%;} + table.smallprint {font-size: 90%;} + table.engravings {line-height: 1.5em; + font-size: 90%; + width: 60%;} + /* Links ------------------------------------------------ */ + a:link {color: blue; background-color: inherit; text-decoration: none} + link {color: blue; background-color: inherit; text-decoration: none} + a:visited {color: blue; background-color: inherit; text-decoration: none} + a:hover {color: red; background-color: inherit} + </style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The History of Woman Suffrage, Volume VI, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The History of Woman Suffrage, Volume VI + +Author: Various + +Editor: Ida Husted Harper + +Release Date: September 21, 2009 [EBook #30051] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE, V6 *** + + + + +Produced by Richard J. Shiffer and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="trans-note"> +<p class="heading">Transcriber's Note</p> +<p>Every effort has been made to replicate this text as +faithfully as possible, including obsolete and variant spellings and other +inconsistencies. Text that has been changed to correct an obvious error +is noted at the <a href="#END">end</a> of this ebook.</p> +<p>Also, many occurrences of mismatched single and double quotes remain +as they were in the original.</p> + +<p>This book contains links to individual volumes of "History of Woman Suffrage" +contained in the Project Gutenberg collection. Although we verify the correctness +of these links at the time of posting, these links may not work, for various reasons, +for various people, at various times.</p> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<h1 class="sc">THE HISTORY<br /><br /> +<small>of</small><br /><br /> +<big>Woman Suffrage</big></h1> + +<p><br /></p> + +<h5>EDITED BY</h5> + +<p><br /></p> + +<h4>IDA HUSTED HARPER</h4> + +<p><br /></p> + +<h5>ILLUSTRATED WITH COPPERPLATE AND PHOTOGRAVURE<br /> +ENGRAVINGS</h5> + +<p><br /></p> + +<h4><i>IN SIX VOLUMES</i></h4> + + +<h4>VOLUME VI</h4> + +<h4>1900—1920</h4> + +<hr class="tiny" /> + +<h4>IN A TRUE DEMOCRACY EVERY CITIZEN HAS A VOTE</h4> + +<p><br /></p> + +<h4>NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION</h4> + +<p><br /></p> + +<h5 class="sc">Copyright, 1922, by<br /> +National American Woman Suffrage Association</h5> + +<hr /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 372px;"> +<img src="images/v6_frontis.jpg" width="372" height="500" alt="MRS. CARRIE CHAPMAN CATT. President of the +International Woman Suffrage Alliance from its founding in 1904 and of +the National American Woman Suffrage Association 1900-1904 and from +1915. + +Standing in an automobile on the way from the railroad station in New +York after the campaign for ratification of the Federal Suffrage +Amendment was completed by Tennessee. (See page 652.)" title="" /> +<p class="center bold">MRS. CARRIE CHAPMAN CATT.</p> +<p class="center">President of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance from its founding in 1904 and of +the National American Woman Suffrage Association 1900-1904 and from +1915.</p> + +<p class="center">Standing in an automobile on the way from the railroad station in New +York after the campaign for ratification of the Federal Suffrage +Amendment was completed by Tennessee. (See <a href="#Page_652">page 652</a>.)</p> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[Pg iii]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="INTRODUCTION" id="INTRODUCTION"></a>INTRODUCTION</h2> + +<h3>WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN THE STATES OF THE UNION</h3> + + +<p>In the preceding volume a full account is given of the forty years' +continuous effort to secure an amendment to the Federal Constitution +which would confer full suffrage on all the women of the United States +possessing the qualifications required of men. Antedating the +beginning of this effort by thirty years was the attempt to +enfranchise women through the amendment of State constitutions. After +1869 the two movements were contemporaneous, each dependent on the +other, the latter a long process but essential in some measure to the +success of the former. There is no way by which the progress of the +movement for woman suffrage can be so clearly seen as by a comparison +of the State chapters in this volume with the State chapters in Volume +IV, which closed with 1900. The former show the remarkable development +of the organized work for woman suffrage, especially in the last +decade, which brought the complete victory.</p> + +<p>In Volume IV it was possible to give a résumé of the Laws specifically +relating to women and one was sent with each chapter for this volume. +The space occupied by the account of the work for the suffrage, +however, made it necessary to omit them. It required thousands of +words to record the legislation of the last twenty years relating +especially to women in some of the States and the large part of it to +women in the industries, which they had scarcely entered in 1900. The +same is true of child labor. Every State shows a desire for protective +legislation. Many States provide for mothers' pensions, a modern +tendency. About half of the States now have equal guardianship laws. +There is a gradual increase in those enlarging the property and +business rights of married women. The "age of consent" and the age for +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[Pg iv]</a></span>marriage have been raised in most States where they were too low. In +every State for a number of years the large organizations of women +have made a determined effort to obtain better laws for women and +children and Legislatures have yielded to pressure. In every State as +soon as women were enfranchised there was improvement in laws relating +to their welfare and that of children.</p> + +<p>The Federal Woman Suffrage Amendment went into effect in August, 1920, +and the following winter there was a greater amount of advanced +legislation in the various States than had taken place in the +preceding ten years collectively, and the résumé of existing laws that +had been prepared for this volume was soon at least partially obsolete +in many of them. A brief statement of Office Holding was incorporated +but its only value was in showing that in all States this was almost +exclusively limited to "electors." When the Federal Amendment was +proclaimed it carried with it eligibility to the offices. In some +States it included Jury service but in others it was held that for +this special legislation was necessary. In all States the professions +and other occupations are open to women the same as to men. In the way +of Education every State University admits women, and the vast +majority of institutions of learning, except some of a religious +character, are co-educational. A few of the large eastern universities +still bar their doors but women have all needful opportunities for the +higher education. Some professional schools—law, medicine and +especially theology—are still closed to women but enough are open to +them to satisfy the demand, and the same is true of the technical +schools. To meet the lack of space every chapter had to be drastically +cut after it was in type.</p> + +<p>Women now have in a general sense equality of rights, although in +every State they have learned or will learn that this is not literally +true and that further effort will be required, but now, as never +before, they are equipped for accomplishing it. It will be a long time +before they have equality of opportunity in the business and political +world but for the majority this will not be needed. Women will find, +however, that in the home, in club life and in all lines of religious, +philanthropic, educational and civic work the possession of a vote has +increased their influence and power beyond measure.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="TABLE_OF_CONTENTS" id="TABLE_OF_CONTENTS"></a>TABLE OF CONTENTS</h2> +<p><span class="ralign_sc">page</span><br /></p> + +<div class="chapter-summary"> +<p><span class="smcap">Introduction</span><span class="ralign">i</span><br /> +Position of women in regard to laws, office holding, education, +etc.</p> +</div> + +<p class="TOC-chapter"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a></p> + +<div class="chapter-summary"> +<p><span class="smcap">Alabama</span><span class="ralign">1</span><br /> +Early work — Progress of organization — Conventions held, reports +and speeches made, activities of the association — Officers and +workers — Legislative action — Campaigns — Help of the National +Association — Action on ratification of the Federal Suffrage +Amendment — Interest taken by President Wilson, National Committees +and party leaders — Celebrations.<br /><br /> +[This form is followed in all the State chapters, with names of +officers, workers, friends and enemies and many incidents; also +results where woman suffrage exists. The chapters are alphabetically +arranged, I to XLIX.]</p> +</div> + + +<p class="TOC-chapter"><a href="#CHAPTER_L">CHAPTER L.</a></p> + +<div class="chapter-summary"> +<p><span class="smcap">Woman Suffrage in the Territories and the Philippines</span><span class="ralign">713</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Alaska</span><span class="ralign">713</span><br /> + +Legislature gives suffrage to women — Privileges to Indian women — +Other laws — Women in prohibition campaign — Women's war work.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Hawaii</span><span class="ralign">715</span><br /> +Congress refuses to let its Legislature control the suffrage — +National Suffrage Association protests — Its president, Mrs. Carrie +Chapman Catt, at Honolulu — Mrs. Pitman, of Brookline, Mass., holds +meetings there — Legislature sends resolution to Congress — +Senator John F. Shafroth gets Bill through Congress — Efforts of +Hawaiian women with their Legislature.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Philippines</span><span class="ralign">719</span><br /> +The National Suffrage Association demands franchise for their women +— Governor General Taft and Archbishop Nozaleda support the demand +— The U. S. Congress ignores it — Position of Filipino women — +Commissioner's wife describes their efforts for the suffrage.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[Pg vi]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Porto Rico</span><span class="ralign">722</span><br /> +Status of suffrage for men — They demand their own Legislature — +National Suffrage Association asks that women may share in the +suffrage — Senator Shafroth shows that it can not be put into the +Bill — Efforts of Porto Rican women with its Legislature.</p> +</div> + +<p class="TOC-chapter"><a href="#CHAPTER_LI">CHAPTER LI.</a></p> + +<div class="chapter-summary"> +<p><span class="smcap">Great Britain</span><span class="ralign">726</span><br /> +Situation as to woman suffrage at commencement of the present +century — Status of the Bill in Parliament in the first decade — +Premier Campbell-Bannerman advises "pestering" — Strong hostility +of Premier Asquith — Beginning of "militancy" — Its effect on the +suffrage movement — Mrs. Fawcett's opinion — Constitutional +societies repudiate it — Labor party supports woman suffrage — +Treachery in Parliament — The Conciliation Bill — Women left out +of the Franchise Reform Bill — Deputation to Premier Asquith — +Lloyd George's attitude — Speaker Lowther kills Bill — Suffragists +go into politics — Great suffrage "pilgrimage" — Outbreak of war +— Important war work of the suffrage societies — Coalition +Government — Conference Committee on Electoral Reform Bill — +Premier Asquith supports Woman Suffrage — Lloyd George becomes +Premier — Suffrage clause in Bill gets immense majority in House of +Commons — Big fight in House of Lords but goes through — Royal +assent given — Two women elected to House of Commons — Oxford +University opened to women.</p> +</div> + +<p class="TOC-chapter"><a href="#CHAPTER_LII">CHAPTER LII.</a></p> + +<div class="chapter-summary"> +<p><span class="smcap">Woman Suffrage in British Colonies</span><span class="ralign">752</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">New Zealand, Australia</span><span class="ralign">752</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Canada</span><span class="ralign">753</span><br /> +First Woman Suffrage Society in Ontario — The gaining of Woman +Suffrage in Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. +Efforts of the Women to secure action from the Legislature of each +Province — Victory in Ontario after long struggle — War time Woman +Suffrage Act of the Dominion Parliament — Granting of complete +suffrage in 1918 — The Legislatures of New Brunswick and Nova +Scotia give Provincial suffrage — Quebec refuses — Women of +Newfoundland still disfranchised.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">South Africa</span><span class="ralign">767</span><br /> +The National Parliament persistently declines to enfranchise women +— Their strong efforts for the vote — Granted in several of the +States — Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, president of the International +Woman Suffrage Alliance, spends several months in South Africa +conferring with the women.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">India</span><span class="ralign">769</span></p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</a></span></p> + +<p class="TOC-chapter"><a href="#CHAPTER_LIII">CHAPTER LIII.</a></p> + +<div class="chapter-summary"> +<p class="sc">Woman Suffrage in Many Countries<span class="ralign">771</span><br /> +Finland<span class="ralign">771</span><br /> +Norway<span class="ralign">774</span><br /> +Denmark<span class="ralign">776</span><br /> +Iceland<span class="ralign">779</span><br /> +Sweden<span class="ralign">780</span><br /> +The Netherlands<span class="ralign">783</span><br /> +Belgium<span class="ralign">786</span><br /> +Luxemburg<span class="ralign">788</span><br /> +Russia<span class="ralign">788</span><br /> +Germany<span class="ralign">789</span><br /> +Austria<span class="ralign">792</span><br /> +Hungary<span class="ralign">793</span><br /> +Bohemia<span class="ralign">794</span><br /> +Switzerland<span class="ralign">795</span><br /> +Italy<span class="ralign">797</span><br /> +France<span class="ralign">799</span><br /> +Greece, Spain, Portugal, Palestine, China, Japan, South +and Central America, Mexico<span class="ralign">802-804</span></p> +</div> + +<p class="TOC-chapter"><a href="#CHAPTER_LIV">CHAPTER LIV.</a></p> + +<div class="chapter-summary"> +<p><span class="smcap">The International Woman Suffrage Alliance</span><span class="ralign">805</span><br /> +Desire of Early Leaders — International Council of Women — Miss +Anthony and Mrs. Catt call Conference in Washington on International +Suffrage Alliance — Ten Countries represented — Proceedings of +Conference — Plan of Temporary Organization — Declaration of +Principles — Valuable Reports on the Status of Women.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Permanent Organization in Berlin in 1904</span><span class="ralign">809</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Conference and Congress in Copenhagen in 1906</span><span class="ralign">812</span><br /> +Delegates present, addresses, Memorials for Miss Anthony, reports, social +entertainments, Badge adopted.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Congress in Amsterdam in 1908</span><span class="ralign">817</span><br /> +Welcome of Dr. Aletta Jacobs, president of the National Suffrage +Association — Mrs. Catt's president's address — "Militants" +present — Entertainments — Victories in Finland and Norway — <i>Jus</i> +<i>Suffragii</i> established — A day in Rotterdam.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The First Quinquennial in London</span><span class="ralign">828</span><br /> +Mrs. Catt's address — Mrs. Fawcett, president of the British +Suffrage Association, speaks, refers to "militants" — Mass meetings +in Albert Hall — In touch with Queens — Flag and Hymn selected — +Resolutions adopted — Officers elected — Dr. Shaw in the pulpits.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Congress in Stockholm</span><span class="ralign">838</span><br /> +Honors to Mrs. Catt — Many delegates and eminent guests — Dr. Shaw +preaches in State church — Selma Lagerlöf speaks — Growth of +Alliance — Non-partisanship declared — Men's International League +formed — Beautiful outdoor entertainments — Tributes to Sweden.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Congress in Budapest</span><span class="ralign">847</span><br /> +Great number of delegates — Official welcome in Academy of Music — +Mrs. Catt's president's address — Dr. Jacobs presents Banner from +women of China — Royal Opera House opened for the Congress — Many +excursions — "Militant" methods discussed — Resolution on +commercialized vice — Activity of Men's League — Rosika Schwimmer, +national president, speaks — Officers elected.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Conference in Geneva</span><span class="ralign">860</span><br /> +First meeting of Alliance after the World War — Miss Royden +preaches in National church — Mrs. Catt uses the War as text for +great speech — It brought Woman Suffrage to many countries — Women +present from thirty-six, including five members of Parliament — +Delegates entertained by the Municipality — Treasurer's report +tells of help of United States — Congress votes to continue the +Alliance.</p> +</div> + +<div class="chapter-summary"> +<p><span class="smcap">Appendix</span><span class="ralign">872</span><br /> +Anti-suffrage Manifesto of Nebraska men.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Suffrage Maps</span><span class="ralign">626-629</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Anthony Memorial Building</span><span class="ralign"><i>Opp. page</i> 442</span></p> +</div> + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>ALABAMA<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></h3> + + +<p>In 1902 Miss Frances Griffin of Verbena sent to the national suffrage +convention the following report as president of the State suffrage +association: "Two clubs in Alabama, in Huntsville and Decatur, are +auxiliary to the National American Woman Suffrage Association. The +State president did some aggressive work within the year, speaking in +many different towns before women's clubs and at parlor meetings. She +devoted much time to work of this character in Montgomery, hoping to +bring to bear sufficient influence upon members of the Constitutional +Convention to secure some concessions for women citizens. The results +were bitterly disappointing, for it not only refused to grant suffrage +to tax-paying women but it gave to the husbands of tax-payers the +right to vote upon their wives' property! Women in the larger towns +are taking an interest in municipal and educational affairs. Some have +been placed on advisory boards in State institutions, such as the +Girls' Industrial School, the Boys' Reform School and others. All this +means a gradual advance for the suffrage sentiment, a general +modifying of the anti-sentiment."</p> + +<p>There were also short reports for 1903 and 1904, which, while showing +no practical, tangible results of the efforts of that earnest pioneer +worker, are interesting as evidences of the backward, unprogressive +spirit against which the women of Alabama have had to contend. These +reports mark the end of the first period of suffrage activity in the +State, which had been maintained by a few devoted women. The new era +was ushered in by the organization in Selma in 1910 of an Equal +Suffrage<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> Association which was the beginning of an aggressive, +tireless fight. Miss Mary Partridge, after seeing the defeat of a +constitutional amendment for prohibition in Alabama despite the +earnest but ineffectual efforts of the women who besieged the polls +begging the men to vote for it, decided that the time was ripe for a +woman suffrage organization and wrote for advice to Dr. Anna Howard +Shaw, president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, +who answered in part: "I cannot express to you how happy I am that you +are willing to begin the work in your State where very little has been +done for suffrage because of the great conservatism among the women of +the South. I am very glad if they are now beginning to realize their +absolutely helpless and unprotected position. We have the temperance +agitation to thank for arousing a great many women over all the +country...."</p> + +<p>Shortly after the receipt of this letter Miss Partridge sent out a +"call" in the Selma papers and on March 29, 1910, Mrs. Frederick +Watson, Mrs. F. T. Raiford, Mrs. F. G. DuBose, Mrs. F. M. Hatch and +Miss Partridge met at the Carnegie Library and organized the +association. This action was reported to Dr. Shaw and she extended the +greetings of the National Association with "thanks and appreciation."</p> + +<p>The Birmingham Equal Suffrage Association was the outgrowth of a small +group of women who had been holding study meetings in the home of Mrs. +W. L. Murdoch. The enthusiasm and earnest conviction resulting from +them found expression in a "call" for a woman suffrage organization +and on Oct. 22, 1911, the association was formed at a meeting held in +the Chamber of Commerce, where the following officers were elected: +President, Mrs. Pattie Ruffner Jacobs; first vice-president, Miss +Ethel Armes; second, Mrs. W. L. Murdoch; third, Mrs. W. N. Wood; +corresponding secretary, Miss Helen J. Benners; recording secretary, +Mrs. J. E. Frazier; treasurer, Mrs. A. J. Bowron.</p> + +<p>Special mention is made of these two societies because they +constituted the nucleus on which the State organization was formed. An +urgent "call" was sent out by the officers of the Birmingham society +to "all men and women who wish to further the cause of woman suffrage +to unite in a State organization at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> a meeting in Birmingham Oct. 9, +1912." Selma sent six delegates who met with the Birmingham +suffragists at the Parish House of the Church of the Advent, where the +Alabama Equal Suffrage Association was organized and a constitution +and by-laws adopted. Mrs. Jacobs was elected president; Miss +Partridge, first vice-president; Mrs. Raiford, second; Mrs. Murdoch, +corresponding secretary; Mrs. Julian Parke, recording secretary; Mrs. +C. M. Spencer, treasurer; Miss Partridge, State organizer.<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p> + +<p>The following delegates were appointed to attend the national +convention in Philadelphia in November; Mrs. Jacobs, Miss Amelia +Worthington, Mrs. O. R. Hundley, Mrs. DuBose, Miss Partridge, Mrs. +Chappel Cory. The new State organization affiliated at once with the +National Association.</p> + +<p>The first annual convention was held in Selma Jan. 29, 1913, with +twenty-five representatives from Selma, Birmingham, Huntsville and +Montgomery. Mrs. Jacobs was re-elected president and a splendid +program of constructive work was outlined for the ensuing year. The +association was represented at the meeting of the International +Suffrage Alliance held in Budapest in June of this year by Mrs. T. G. +Bush of Birmingham.</p> + +<p>The second State convention, held in Huntsville Feb. 5, 1914, was made +notable by the inspiring presence of three of Alabama's pioneer +suffragists—Mrs. Annie Buel Drake Robertson, Mrs. Humes, and Mrs. +Virginia Clay Clopton. The following local societies were represented +by their presidents, named in the order in which they were organized: +Selma, Mrs. Parke; Birmingham, Mrs. Hundley; Montgomery, Mrs. Sallie +B. Powell; Huntsville, Mrs. Clopton; Cullman, Mrs. Ignatius Pollak; +Greensboro, Miss S. Anne Hobson; Tuscaloosa, Mrs. Losey; Vinemont, +Miss Mary Munson; Pell City, Miss Pearl Still; Coal City, Mrs. J. W. +Moore; Mobile, Miss Eugenie Marks. Mrs. Jacobs was re-elected despite +her wish to retire from office and her report of the past year told of +a great amount of work done by all the members of the board.</p> + +<p>In January, 1915, a resolution to submit a woman suffrage<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> amendment +to the State constitution to the voters was for the first time +introduced in the Legislature. It was referred to the Committee on +Privileges and Elections in the House and the Legislature afterwards +adjourned until July. In the meantime the women worked to secure +pledges from the members of the committee to report the bill favorably +and 14 of the 16 gave their promise to do so. Instead of this it was +"postponed indefinitely." The women did not rest until they persuaded +the House to compel a report and then a hearing was granted to them. +Among those who worked in the Legislature were the legislative +chairman, Mrs. O. R. Hundley; Mrs. Jacobs, the State president; Mrs. +Chappel Cory, president United Daughters of the Confederacy; Miss +Mollie Dowd, representing the wage earners, and Miss Lavinia Engle of +Maryland, field organizer for the National Association. The bill came +to a vote late in the session, when Representative Joe Green, who had +asked for the privilege of introducing it, spoke and voted against it. +The vote stood 52 ayes, 43 noes, a three-fifths majority being +necessary to submit an amendment. As the Legislature meets only once +in four years this was the only action ever taken on a State +amendment.</p> + +<p>At the State convention, held in Tuscaloosa in February of this year, +reports were made from 19 auxiliary branches and the organization of +23 non-auxiliary branches was reported. The address of Dr. Shaw, the +national president, gave a great impetus to suffrage work in the +State. Mrs. Jacobs and the other officers were re-elected, except that +Mrs. Frederick Koenig was made auditor.</p> + +<p>On Feb. 9, 1916, the State convention was held in Gadsden and the +evidences of the growth of the suffrage movement were most heartening, +26 local associations sending reports. Mrs. Parke was chosen for +president, Mrs. Jacobs having been elected auditor of the National +Association.</p> + +<p>The State convention was held in Birmingham Feb. 12-13, 1917, and the +officers re-elected except that Miss Worthington was made recording +secretary. It was followed by a "suffrage" school conducted by +representatives of the National Association, who generously gave the +valuable help that a course of study<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> under such able instructors +afforded. Over 200 pupils attended. It was reported that there were +now 81 suffrage clubs in the State, which were being merged into +political organizations with the county as a unit, and there were +chairmen in 55 of the 67 counties. There were also chairmen in nine of +the ten congressional districts. A paid organizer had been at work. +State headquarters were maintained on the principal street in Selma +and a bi-weekly press bulletin issued which was used by thirty-four +newspapers, while eight published weekly suffrage columns. The +Birmingham <i>News</i> got out a suffrage edition. Four travelling suffrage +libraries were kept in circulation. Automobile parades had been given, +a mass meeting held in Birmingham and street meetings in every part of +the State.</p> + +<p>The State convention was held in Selma May 7-8, 1918. The reports made +by local and State officers showed that the suffragists had lent +themselves and all their machinery of organization to every form of +war work. Mrs. Jacobs had been appointed by Mr. McAdoo, Secretary of +the Treasury, State chairman of the Woman's Liberty Loan Committee. +Suffrage work was in no wise suspended but the more active forms of +propaganda were held in abeyance. The Federal Amendment was endorsed +in no uncertain terms and the following resolution was adopted: +"Whereas, the Senate will soon vote on the Federal Suffrage Amendment, +therefore, be it resolved, by the suffragists of Alabama assembled in +their sixth annual convention, that the U. S. Senators, John H. +Bankhead and Oscar W. Underwood, be, and they hereby are, earnestly +petitioned to forward the march of democracy, to carry out the policy +of the Democratic administration and to represent truly the wishes of +the women of their own State by supporting this amendment and voting +for it when it comes up in the Senate."</p> + +<p>It was reported that the State association had energetically +cooperated with the National in all its suggestions and plans and +notwithstanding the efforts made to raise money for the purposes of +the war it had collected over $10,000 for State suffrage work and more +than paid its pledge of $1,000 to the national treasury. Thousands of +copies of U. S. Senator Shafroth's speech, the gift of the Leslie +Suffrage Commission, had been mailed to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> rural voters. The clergy +had been requested to speak on woman suffrage in their sermons on +"mothers' day" and many responded. Miss Lola Trax, the State +organizer, reported a chairman in all but two counties. Each of the +State's representatives in Congress had been interviewed. Dr. Anna +Howard Shaw, the national president, had lectured in seven places and +Mrs. Walter McNab Miller, national vice-president, in five. The +petitions for the Federal Amendment were being circulated.</p> + +<p>The Alabama delegates to the national convention in March, 1919, +learned while there that the Federal Amendment was likely to be passed +by Congress in time for action to be taken on its ratification by the +Legislature of the State, which had been called to meet July 8. They +went before the National Board and secured the promise of definite +help, which was to consist of literature, press work and organizers, +and certain obligations were undertaken on the part of the State. The +National Association did more even than it promised and the State +suffragists made heroic efforts to live up to their part of the +contract.</p> + +<p>On May 1 the campaign was under way although the amendment had not yet +been submitted. A Ratification Committee was appointed by the +president consisting of Mrs. John D. McNeel of Birmingham, chairman; +Mrs. W. D. Nesbit of Birmingham, vice-chairman; Mrs. Bibb Graves of +Montgomery, resident member, and Mrs. Jacobs, ex-officio member. +County chairmen were appointed in 53 counties and a Men's Committee of +One Hundred was organized. Headquarters were equipped with some paid +and much faithful volunteer help and the distribution of literature +and press work was started. Early in the month Mrs. Albert McMahon, +Miss Edna Beveridge and Miss Josephine Miller, organizers, were sent +by the National Association, to which group Miss Mary Parke London of +Birmingham was added and contributed her services throughout the +entire campaign as an organizer and lobbyist. Press work was +systematically carried on, some of the material sent from national +headquarters but most of it originating in Birmingham. Speakers +covered all important public meetings to which access could be had; +Governor Thomas E. Kilby and other prominent men were interviewed and +a poll was taken of the legislators before they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> convened.<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> At the +joint hearing, which was arranged almost immediately after the +Legislature met, John C. Anderson, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; +W. D. Nesbitt, State chairman of the Democratic Executive Committee; +ex-Senator Frank S. White; Judge S. D. Weakley, legal adviser of the +Governor, and others spoke for ratification.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> The Federal Amendment was submitted by Congress June 4 +and the Legislature met July 8. For days before the vote was taken it +occupied almost exclusive attention at the capital, many of the +newspapers saying that the opposition were placing the State and the +Democratic party in a grave position. The Republican party was +claiming credit for the submission and Democratic leaders felt it to +be very necessary that the Alabama Legislature should ratify. On July +12 President Wilson telegraphed to Governor Kilby as follows: "I hope +you will pardon me if I express my very earnest hope that the suffrage +amendment to the constitution of the United States may be ratified by +the great State of Alabama. It would constitute a very happy augury +for the future and add greatly to the strength of a movement which, in +my judgment, is based upon the highest consideration both of justice +and expedience."</p> + +<p>On the same date Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels sent a long +message to Mrs. McNeel, chairman of the Ratification Committee, and a +multigraphed copy to each member of the Senate, setting forth the +merits of the amendment and saying: "The South has nothing to fear +from the amendment but it would be a loss to southern chivalry and +southern prestige if our section of the country halted this great +reform. I earnestly hope that the people of Alabama will take the lead +of southern States east of the Mississippi and follow the wise +leadership of Texas<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> and Missouri and other progressive commonwealths. +There is no doubt of its ratification. Let Alabama lead and not +follow." Homer S. Cummings, chairman of the Democratic National +Committee, and other prominent Democrats added their earnest appeals +to the Senate for favorable action.</p> + +<p>The ratifying resolution was introduced in the Senate by John A. +Rogers and in the House by W. H. Shaw. The date set for the vote in +the Senate was July 17 and a hearing before a joint meeting of Senate +and House was granted on the 16th. Women journeyed to Montgomery from +nearly every county to plead for the amendment but its defeat had +already been planned. The vote was 13 ayes, 19 noes.</p> + +<p>The House did not act on the measure until September 17 and during the +interim every possible pressure was made on its members to obtain a +favorable vote. President Wilson sent an urgent telegram to Speaker H. +P. Merritt. Chairman Nesbit convened the State Democratic Committee on +August 21 to consider the amendment. It adopted a resolution by a vote +of 20 to 13, which endorsed the favorable action of the National +Committee the preceding May and said: "We pledge our support in every +proper way to accomplish the result desired." Mrs. George Bass, +chairman of the Women's National Democratic Committee, went to +Montgomery for this meeting and remained several days working for the +amendment. The Central Labor Union of that city at a mass meeting +passed a resolution asking the Legislature to "take steps immediately +to ratify the amendment." A majority of the House were pledged to vote +in favor of ratification but after it had been defeated in the Senate +they considered it useless to keep their promise and the vote was 31 +ayes, 60 noes.</p> + +<p>The Governor and Lieutenant Governor Nathan L. Miller maintained a +neutral position. The mainspring of the opposition from beginning to +end was U. S. Senator Oscar W. Underwood. Senator John H. Bankhead was +equally opposed. Both Senators had voted against the submission of the +Federal Amendment and of the ten members in the Lower House only one, +William B. Oliver of Tuscaloosa, had voted in favor.<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> + +<p>Because of the campaign no convention took place in 1919. On April +8-9, 1920, the last one of the State Equal Suffrage Association, as +such, was held in Montgomery. A large "pioneer luncheon" was given in +the Exchange Hotel and a beautiful set of silver baskets was presented +to Mrs. Jacobs. The sessions were held in the Senate chamber of the +historic Capitol and by unanimous consent the association was merged +into the State League of Women Voters. Mrs. A. J. Bowron was elected +chairman.</p> + +<p>After the amendment was finally ratified by the necessary 36 States +there was a victory parade in Birmingham in which 1,500 took part. A +brass band headed 36 automobiles, each a mass of banners, flags and +flowers, labeled in the order in which the States ratified. Mrs. +Jacobs and the pioneers led the marchers, followed by professional and +business women, the League of Women Voters, the Woman's Christian +Temperance Union and other organizations. It ended with addresses and +singing in Capitol Park.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Pattie +Ruffner Jacobs, eight years president of the State Equal Suffrage +Association, three years auditor of the National Association and now +secretary of the National League of Women Voters; also to Miss Helen +J. Benners, research chairman of the State League of Women Voters.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Those who held office in the State association during the +next eight years were as follows: Mrs. Milton Humes, Mrs. Frederick D. +Losey, Mrs. Parke, Mrs. Angus Taylor, Mrs. J. D. Wilkins, Mrs. W. J. +Chambers, Miss Annie Joe Coates, Mrs. John Lusk, Mrs. Leon Weil.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> On June 17, 1919, Mrs. James S. Pinckard called a meeting +of women of wealth and social standing at her home in Montgomery. With +the help of a constitutional lawyer they organized the Southern +Women's Anti-Ratification League, with Mrs. Pinckard chairman, Mrs. +Charles Henderson, vice-chairman; Mrs. W. T. Sheehan, secretary; Mrs. +Marie Bankhead Owen (daughter of the Senator), chairman of the +Legislative Committee. Members of the Executive Committee were +Mesdames Charles S. Thigpen, Hails Janney, Jack Thorington, J. A. +Winter, Ormond Somerville, W. J. Hannah, Clayton T. Tullis, J. Winter +Thorington, E. Perry Thomas, William M. E. Ellsberry, J.H. Naftel, W. +B. Kelly and Miss Mae Harris. They sent a memorial to the Legislature +which began: "We look with confidence to you to protect us from this +device of northern Abolitionists." They "worked night and day, +personally and by letter," and, after the defeat of ratification in +the Alabama Legislature, Mrs. Pinckard and others transferred their +efforts to those of Louisiana and Tennessee, where they "lobbied" for +many days.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> Among the men in the State who were especially active and +helpful were: Colonel Bibb Graves and John H. Wallace, of Montgomery; +L. B. Musgrove, of Jasper; Judge W. R. Chapman, of Dothan; H. H. +Patterson, of Atmore; John W. Abercrombie, of Anniston; John D. +McNeel, Phil Painter, Ex-Governor B. B. Comer, James Weatherly, Fred +M. Jackson and John R. Hornaday of Birmingham. +</p><p> +Among those especially active in opposition were: Congressman John H. +Bankhead, Jr., of Jasper; C. Brooks Smith, Judge John R. Tyson and Ray +Rushton, of Montgomery; R. A. Mitchell, of Gadsden; Wiley Tunstall and +Len F. Greer, of Anniston; Judge Joe Evans, Martin Calhoun and Joe +Green, of Selma; W. W. Brandon, of Tuscaloosa; John D. Leigh, of +Brewton; Emmett O'Neal and E. D. Smith, of Birmingham.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>ARIZONA.<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a></h3> + + +<p>Since this chapter is to commence with the year 1900, this will be +where Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt and Miss Mary Garrett Hay, chairman and +member of the Organization Committee of the National American Woman +Suffrage Association left off in the spring of 1899 after they had +spent a month laboring with the Territorial Legislature. They +succeeded in getting a bill through the Lower House by a vote of two +to one but by the deciding vote of Morris Goldwater of Prescott, +president of the Council or Upper House, it was sent to a committee +and prevented from coming to a vote. The hand of the "boss" of the +saloon-keepers was clearly recognized in the game that was played.</p> + +<p>Undaunted Mrs. Catt and Miss Hay came back in 1900 and organized the +first full-fledged suffrage association in the Territory, with Mrs. +Pauline O'Neill, wife of that staunch suffrage friend, the gallant +Rough Rider, William O'Neill, as its president; Mrs. Lida P. Robinson, +corresponding secretary; Mrs. Frances W. Munds, recording secretary, +Mrs. Porter of Phoenix, treasurer. All were inexperienced and the +society did not flourish and although 1900 was election year no +pre-election pledges were obtained. A Territorial Legislature can +extend suffrage to women without referring the question to the voters. +A bill for this purpose was introduced in 1901 through a committee of +women headed by Mrs. Robinson but it received little support and after +creating the usual amount of excitement failed to pass either House.</p> + +<p>During the following year suffrage work seemed to lapse and the +organization would have died a natural death but for the will of Mrs. +Robinson, who called a convention to meet in Phoenix<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> in the spring of +1902, where she was elected president with Mrs. Munds corresponding +and recording secretary and Mrs. Ada Irving treasurer. Under Mrs. +Robinson's guidance a list was made of all who had previously +expressed an interest and they were notified that something was doing +in the suffrage line. Dr. Frances Woods of Kansas was sent by the +National Association and made a tour of the Territory which was +remarkable for the haste in which it was made and the results +obtained. She organized clubs in every county and set the women to +work obtaining pre-election pledges, with the result that when the +Legislature convened in the spring of 1903 it lacked only a few votes +of having a majority in both Houses pledged to suffrage. Mrs. +Robinson, Dr. Woods and Mrs. Munds constituted themselves a committee +to work with the members and succeeded in getting a woman suffrage +bill through the Legislature by a two-thirds vote. The rejoicing was +short, for the Governor, Alexander O. Brodie, an appointee of +President Roosevelt, vetoed the bill. Representatives Kean St. +Charles, a newspaper man, and Morrison, a labor leader, were most +active in its behalf, while the scheme that finally sent it down to +defeat was concocted, it was said, by Joseph H. Kibbey, a lawyer of +Phoenix. He was the leader of the Republican minority in the Council +and traded its solid Republican vote for one needed vote on another +bill, with the understanding that the Governor would veto the suffrage +bill.</p> + +<p>Governor Brodie afterwards resigned and Mr. Kibbey, the arch-enemy of +woman suffrage, was appointed in his place. Mrs. Robinson continued +propaganda through a little paper which she published and distributed +herself throughout the Territory. This well-edited paper kept alive +the favorable sentiment and through it the leading men and women +suffragists in Arizona were in touch with each other. In the spring of +1905 Mrs. Mary C. C. Bradford of Denver was sent by the National +Association and spent several weeks working with the Legislature but +received practically no cooperation from the local women, as it was +conceded that the situation was hopeless while Kibbey was Governor. +Mrs. Robinson moved from the Territory and the organization was +without a head. It languished for about three<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> years and its enemies +sang cheerful requiems for the dead. The Legislature that met in 1907 +had a peaceful time as far as women were concerned for no suffrage +bill was introduced.</p> + +<p>In January, 1909, Miss Laura Clay of Kentucky, an officer of the +National Association, came to Arizona at her own expense. The last +Territorial Legislature was then in session and Miss Clay labored long +and faithfully with it but the resident women were apathetic and gave +her little assistance. The bill that she had introduced failed in both +Houses, the members availing themselves of the excuse that Arizona +women did not want suffrage or they would make some organized effort +to get it. Miss Clay had the right kind of spirit and gathering a +faithful few together they worked out a plan whereby the first really +efficient suffrage organization was effected. This plan was the same +as the political parties in the Territory used, namely, a State +chairman with a chairman in each county and a chairman for each local +club. A convention was called in Phoenix under Miss Clay's direction +and Mrs. Munds was made Territorial chairman. During the year +statehood for Arizona began to loom up and vigorous work was done for +that event. The National Association sent the very woman needed, Miss +Laura Gregg of Kansas. She made an extensive tour of the Territory and +by the time Congress had passed the Enabling Act in June, 1910, it was +thoroughly organized with suffrage clubs in every county and in all of +the larger towns and cities, with a membership of about 3,000 men and +women.</p> + +<p>Strenuous effort was made to have a majority of the members of the +Constitutional Convention pledged to vote for a suffrage plank but it +succeeded with only about a third of them. It met in October, 1910, +with eleven Republican and thirty-three Democratic members. Through +the demands of organized labor backed by a heavy labor vote a very +progressive constitution was written. Miss Gregg and Mrs. Munds +struggled with the delegates during its entire session to have a full, +partial or conditional woman suffrage clause incorporated but to no +avail. Members who proudly proclaimed themselves the only original +"progressives" were far too timid to put anything so "radical" as +woman suffrage in the constitution for fear that the voters would not +accept<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> it, and yet those same men wrote into it the initiative and +referendum, recall of judges and many other far more radical measures +and it was adopted by an overwhelming majority. It was plain that a +measure was deemed radical or not according to the voting power behind +it. The Republicans were in a minority and only two voted for the +suffrage clause, although there were enough Democratic pledges to have +carried it with the solid Republican support. The Republicans were for +a "safe and sane" constitution, something like the one adopted at the +same time by New Mexico, under which women never could get suffrage by +State process. One Democrat who offered "to do and die for it" in the +convention was Senator Fred Colter of Apache County.</p> + +<p>Not at all discouraged by the defeat the women, now aroused and +interested, began as soon as the constitution was accepted by the +voters and statehood was effected to get ready for the first State +election, as now it was necessary to have an amendment submitted by +the Legislature and accepted by the electors. Headquarters were +established in the house of Mrs. Munds at Prescott and a constant +stream of literature and correspondence went out in an effort to elect +suffragists to the first State Legislature. The men, however, were so +pleased with the members of the Constitutional Convention that a +little thing like their voting against woman suffrage did not matter +and every one who was a candidate for anything was elected, some to +the Legislature and others to the various State offices. George W. P. +Hunt, who was president of the convention and had vigorously opposed +the suffrage plank, was elected the first Governor of the State. He +did recommend in his message to the Legislature that it submit a woman +suffrage amendment to the voters. Senator John Hughes, son of former +Governor and Mrs. L. C. Hughes, who had done so much to obtain woman +suffrage in early territorial days, prepared and introduced such a +measure but it failed in both Houses. The Legislature was 90 per cent. +Democratic.</p> + +<p>It was then determined to use the initiative and collect the requisite +number of names on a petition that would compel the Legislature to +submit the question. Women in every county volunteered to get these +signatures, fifty or sixty altogether, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> did the drudgery of +canvassing until the required number of signatures were obtained.</p> + +<p>After a year's continuous educational work, in September, 1912, the +National Association was notified that Arizona was ready for the final +contest and asked to send Miss Gregg. She came and again campaigned +the State and through her efforts every labor organization pledged its +support. Mrs. Alice Park of Palo Alto, California, came at her own +expense and took charge of the distribution of literature. Mrs. Munds +went to Phoenix and opened headquarters in the Adams Hotel and ten +weeks were spent in a most strenuous campaign. The National +Association contributed Miss Gregg's salary and expenses, nearly +$1,000, and $200 in cash. The rest of the campaign fund was raised in +Arizona with the exception of voluntary contributions from suffrage +organizations in other States. Dr. Shaw came and spoke for a week in +the principal cities, making a tremendous impression. The press with +one or two exceptions was favorable and gave generous space. The press +work was in charge of Miss Sally Jacobs and Mrs. Maybelle Craig of +Phoenix. State Senator H. A. Davis did splendid campaign work and +loyal men and women too numerous to mention gave freely of their time +and money.</p> + +<p>On November 5 the amendment received 13,442 ayes, 6,202 noes, a +majority of more than two to one. Every county was carried. The vote +was small, as most Mexicans were disfranchised by an educational +requirement.</p> + +<p>The campaign was conducted without parades or demonstrations of any +kind and the saloon-keepers, not realizing the strength of the +suffragists, paid no attention to them until the closing days, then +suddenly woke up and put forth strong efforts to defeat them but they +were too well organized. The campaign closed with no deficit on the +books. Later a League of Women Voters was formed and Mrs. M. T. Phelps +of Phoenix was elected chairman.</p> + +<p>The first State Legislature completely revised the civil and criminal +codes of Arizona and without any demand on the part of the women +incorporated some excellent laws for women and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> children. Since then +others have been added, partly through the efforts of women +legislators.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> Women have taken so active a part and have been so +generally accepted in the political life of the State that it caused +scarcely a ripple of excitement when a special session of the +Legislature was called by Governor Thomas E. Campbell for the purpose +of ratifying the Federal Woman Suffrage Amendment. It convened at noon +Feb. 12, 1920, and adjourned at 9:30 p. m. of the same day. The +resolution for ratification was introduced jointly by the four women +members and passed both Houses without a dissenting vote. Protests +from Mrs. Mabel G. Millard and Mrs. Frances Williams of the Iowa and +Virginia Associations Opposed to Woman Suffrage were listened to in +the Senate with good-natured amusement.</p> + +<p>In the second Legislature of the new State, the first after women were +enfranchised, Mrs. Frances W. Munds of Prescott served as Senator and +Mrs. Rachel Berry of St. Johns as Representative. The third had in the +Lower House Mrs. Rosa McKay of Globe, Mrs. Theodora Marsh of Nogales +and Mrs. Pauline O'Neill of Phoenix. The fourth had Mrs. McKay and +Mrs. H. H. Westover of Yuma.</p> + +<p>About ten times as many women as men are teachers in the public +schools.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Frances +W. Munds, president of the State Woman Suffrage Association until +women were enfranchised and then elected State Senator.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>ARKANSAS.<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a></h3> + + +<p>There was little general suffrage activity in Arkansas before 1911; +perhaps the only specific work after 1900 was an occasional article +written by Mrs. Chester Jennings of Little Rock and published in +various papers in the State. She was called "the keeper of the light." +Arkansas was not affiliated with the National American Association +prior to 1913, there was only correspondence between individual +suffragists and national officers.</p> + +<p>In January, 1911, the Political Equality League was organized in +Little Rock. This organization came about indirectly as a result of an +article written by Mrs. D. D. Terry of this city and published on the +front page of the <i>Arkansas Gazette</i>, the largest paper in the State. +It was in answer to a scathing criticism of women by another paper for +attending the trial of a child victim and was a demand that the +suffrage should be given to women.</p> + +<p>Immediately following this occurrence Mrs. J. W. Markwell called a +public meeting in one of the Methodist churches to discuss this +question. She was chairman and Mrs. Rice, Mrs. Terry, Mrs. L. B. +Leigh, Mrs. Minnie Rutherford Fuller and members of the Woman's +Christian Temperance Union and the College Women's Club, almost to a +unit suffragists, were among the prominent women present. They were +deeply stirred and as the Legislature was in session they asked for a +hearing. This was granted by the Judiciary Committee and they were +courteously received, as they stated their desire. They went from the +hearing into one of the committee rooms of the Capitol and decided to +form a woman suffrage society. The same women with a few others met in +the home of Mrs. Markwell that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> evening. Miss Julia McAlmont Warner +was made chairman and the following officers were elected: President, +Miss Mary Fletcher; vice-president, Mrs. W. P. Hutton; secretary, Mrs. +Jennings; treasurer, Miss Warner, and the name adopted was Woman's +Political Equality League. It started with $20 in the treasury—of +which $3 were paid by men—Dr. J. W. Markwell, Mr. Boyer and Clio +Harper.</p> + +<p>The semi-monthly meetings were first held in the public library, one +in the afternoon, the other at night, so that working women, teachers +and men might attend. The president soon went to Europe and the work +passed into the capable hands of Mrs. Hutton. One of the most valuable +helpers was Rabbi L. Witt, who always attended and helped out many a +program. Leagues were formed in Hot Springs and Pine Bluff and these +were the only three prior to 1913 when a State association was +organized.</p> + +<p>In October, 1913, Mrs. O. F. Ellington was elected president of the +Little Rock League. At that time it was holding its meetings in the +Chamber of Commerce and few people would climb two flights of stairs +to hear a subject discussed in which there was little interest, so the +executive board secured the parlors of the City Hall. If the women +could accomplish as much in the offices of the City Hall as they did +in the parlors no fair-minded person would have objected to their +occupancy. Important local, State and national affairs were studied +and discussed and prominent State and national speakers addressed that +eager body of women.</p> + +<p>Under the auspices of the league the first national suffrage May day +was observed in Little Rock with speeches from the steps of the Old +State House. Seventy-five letters were sent out to prominent men in +the State, asking them to make five-minute speeches and after ten days +Dr. L. P. Gibson, the well-known physician, was the first to accept. +The next morning the <i>Arkansas Gazette</i> told that Dr. Gibson of Little +Rock would be one of the speakers and then every man who could arrange +to be in town that day accepted his invitation. Among the women who +spoke were Mrs. George Pratho, Mrs. Fuller, Mrs. C. E. Rose, Mrs. T. +T. Cotnam, Miss Julia Warner, Miss Josephine Miller, Mrs. George E. +Cunningham, Mrs. Terry, Mrs. S. S. Wassel,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> Mrs. E. W. Gibb, Mrs. W. +G. Whipple, Mrs. A. Marinana. The intensely interested crowd stood two +hours and a half earnestly listening to these leading citizens asking +the right of suffrage for Arkansas women.</p> + +<p>It had been the custom to disband during the summer months but the +summer of 1914 the Political Equality League opened a class for the +purpose of studying all the questions of the day and learning +something about speaking extemporaneously. In response to a call from +the president, Little Rock and Hot Springs sent representatives to a +conference held in the former city for the purpose of devising ways +and means of forming a State association. An organization committee +was formed of the following: Mrs. Ellington, Miss Fletcher, Miss Mary +House, Mrs. Rose, Mrs. Leigh, Mrs. Jennings, all of Little Rock; Miss +Adele Johnson of Hot Springs. In October the State Woman Suffrage +Association was formed in Little Rock at Hotel Marion, with six +leagues represented by the following presidents: Hot Springs, Miss +Mary Spargo; Pine Bluff, Mrs. L. K. Land; Augusta, Mrs. Rufus +Fitzhugh; Malvern, Mrs. Mary Jackson; Hardy, Mrs. S. A. Turner; +Fayetteville, Mrs. LeRoy Palmer. The officers elected were, President, +Mrs. Ellington; first vice-president, Mrs. Fuller, Magazine; second, +Mrs. N. F. Drake, Fayetteville; corresponding secretary, Mrs. P. J. +Henry, Hot Springs; recording secretary, Mrs. Cunningham, Little Rock; +treasurer, Mrs. Cotnam, Little Rock.</p> + +<p>In October, 1915, the first annual meeting took place in Little Rock, +eleven counties being represented, and this board was re-elected. The +principal business of this convention was to lay plans for the +legislative work early in the following year.</p> + +<p>In October, 1916, the second annual convention was held in Pine Bluff, +its principal work being to devise ways and means of raising money for +continuing the organization of the State. Mrs. Cotman presented a +feasible plan for raising money which was accepted by the convention. +New officers elected were second vice-president, Mrs. J. D. Head, +Texarkana; third vice-president, Mrs. J. H. Reynolds, Conway; +corresponding secretary, Mrs. Maud O. Clemmons; recording secretary, +Mrs. G. D. Henderson, both of Little Rock. Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, +president of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> the National American Suffrage Association, had come to +Little Rock in April and spoken most acceptably to a large audience. +She held a conference with the State officers and later the +association financed a two-months' campaign for organization. Miss +Gertrude Watkins and Miss Josephine Miller of Little Rock gave their +services for their expenses only and organized sixty committees.<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a></p> + +<p>The new Primary law was almost equal to the full suffrage, as where +one party is so largely in the majority the primaries decide the +elections, and it gave a great impetus to the movement throughout the +country, especially in the southern States.</p> + +<p>After the Primary bill passed the suffragists re-organized along the +lines of the State Democratic party. Where it had a State Central +Committee they had an Equal Suffrage State Central Committee and so on +through the organization. The object was to teach women how to work +through and with political parties but they were not fully +enfranchised and could not give up their suffrage organization, +therefore they held together on semi-political but non-partisan lines +until such time as they could go into the various parties.</p> + +<p>At the close of Mrs. Ellington's administration in August, 1917, +seventy-eight papers in the State were handling news items each week. +Eighty-five organizations had been completed. The Primary bill had +been passed by the Legislature and thousands of women had assessed +themselves and paid their poll tax of one dollar a year preparatory to +voting in the spring elections. Under the law the assessor can put +this tax only on male citizens and the women in asking for the Primary +suffrage voluntarily assumed it, as no one can vote until it is paid. +This was held to be legal by Attorney General John D. Arbuckle.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ellington left Arkansas on August 1 and Mrs. Cotnam was elected +by the State Board to take charge of affairs. On November 28 she was +elected chairman of the State Suffrage Central<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> Committee upon the +receipt of Mrs. Ellington's formal resignation. Mrs. Cotnam appeared +before the State Farmers' Union in August and secured a unanimous +endorsement of woman suffrage and in September at the meeting of its +executive committee she secured a resolution calling on Arkansas +Senators and Representatives to vote for the Federal Amendment. She +went to New York City in September to take part in the State suffrage +campaign. After six weeks she returned to Little Rock, where the great +victory won in New York was celebrated at a luncheon in the Marion +Hotel. Governor Charles H. Brough was a speaker and prophesied a +similar victory in Arkansas.</p> + +<p>Dr. Shaw visited Arkansas for the first time on April 3, 1918, and +spoke to an immense audience. She came under the auspices of the +National Council of Defense, as chairman of the Woman's Committee, but +she won many friends for suffrage and the sincere admiration of all.</p> + +<p>Active work to assure the writing of woman suffrage in the new State +constitution culminated at the first annual meeting of the Equal +Suffrage Central Committee on April 2, 1918, when a close organization +covering the State was perfected. At this meeting Mrs. Cotnam was +re-elected chairman; Mrs. C. T. Drennen of Hot Springs first +vice-chairman; Mrs. Stella Brizzolara of Fort Smith second +vice-chairman; Mrs. Frank W. Gibb, secretary; Mrs. R. W. Walker of +Little Rock, treasurer. The National American Association contributed +$1,675 to the campaign. The constitutional convention met the first +Monday in July and the suffrage clause was adopted on the third day of +the session. Only one man spoke and finally voted against this clause +but it was not acceptable to the majority until amended to make jury +service for women optional. The suffragists were consulted and agreed +because it was plain that a refusal might cause a long drawn out +debate. The constitution was defeated at a special election on Dec. +13, 1918, but it was generally conceded that the opposition caused by +the suffrage amendment was negligible.</p> + +<p>The first State-wide Primary election in which women had the right to +vote was held in May, 1918; between 40,000 and 50,000 voted and all +papers commented on the intelligence of the new<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> electors. The State +Democratic convention met in Little Rock on July 10 and for the first +time women delegates were present from many counties. Fifty were +seated and more were present in proportion to their representation +than were men. They attended in force all minor committee meetings and +controlled the action of some of these committees. The <i>Arkansas +Gazette</i> of July 11 commented: "It may safely be said that nothing was +put over on them by the wily politicians. There wasn't a chance—not a +chance in the world." There were women on the platform, the +resolutions and all prominent committees. The suffrage plank, as +written by the women, was unanimously adopted and for the first time a +woman was elected member of the State Central Committee, Mrs. +Brizzolara. The one appointed as a member of the Democratic Women's +National Committee was Mrs. Head, chairman of her congressional +district for the suffrage organization.</p> + +<p>On January 14 resolutions were introduced in the Senate by Senator Lee +Cazort and the House by Representative J. D. Doyle, memorializing the +Senate of the United States to submit the Federal Amendment. They +passed unanimously and later were read into the Congressional Record +by Senator W. F. Kirby.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> As soon as the Federal Amendment passed, letters were +sent to legislators asking them to agree to a call for a special +session. In less than one week answers were received from a majority +expressing willingness and even eagerness to hold the ratification +session. Many offered to pay their own expenses and waive the regular +per diem. With this support in hand a committee of fifty women went to +the State House and asked Governor Brough to call a special session. +This he agreed to do and set the date for July 28. While the +suffragists were never in doubt of ratification they were genuinely +surprised to find a few real enemies in the House and to hear some of +the moss-grown arguments of 1911. The Senate ratified by a vote of 29 +to two and the House by 74 to 15. Henry Ponder of Lawrence county +introduced the resolution in the Senate and said he believed his +children would be prouder of that act of his than of anything else he +might ever do. An identical resolution was introduced in the House by +Representatives Riggs, Joe<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> Joiner, Carl Held, Neil Bohlinger and J. +D. Doyle. The Senate resolution passed first and went over to the +House. The two Senators who voted against it were W. L. Ward, Lee +county, and W. H. Latimer, Sevier county. Many women came from over +the State to this special session and filled the galleries.</p> + +<p>On Dec. 3, 1919, at the second annual meeting the Equal Suffrage +Central Committee was merged into a State League of Women Voters and +Mrs. Cotnam was elected chairman.</p> + +<p>While the suffragists were working for the vote they confined their +organized effort to that one measure but it is significant that the +same Legislature that passed the Primary bill, gave women the right to +practice law and provided for a Girls' Industrial School; that of 1915 +removed all legal disabilities of married women.</p> + +<p>Miss Josephine Miller and Miss Gertrude Watkins of Little Rock are on +the staff of national organizers and Mrs. Cotnam has served as +instructor in suffrage schools and also as a speaker in twenty States.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action</span>: 1911. In January Representatives Grant of Newport +and Whittington of Hot Springs introduced an equal suffrage resolution +in the House. It was not initiated by the suffragists and apparently +not introduced to advance woman suffrage, as it was said to contain a +"joker." Nevertheless, when it became known that the bill had been +introduced they appealed to Representative Hearst of Fayetteville, +chairman of the Judiciary Committee, for a hearing. On the day and +hour that it had been promised Mrs. Chester Jennings, Mrs. J. W. +Markwell, Miss Julia Warner, Mrs. Rutherford Fuller and Mrs. D. D. +Terry went to the Capitol but were unable to find either Mr. Hearst or +his committee. On March 11, however, the committee met at the Marion +Hotel, as it was customary to hold committee meetings at night in the +hotel, and a hearing was granted to the women. Miss Olive Gatlin (now +Mrs. Leigh) and Mrs. Fuller made excellent speeches which seemed to +make an impression. Later the suffrage resolution was reported to the +House and received six favorable votes.</p> + +<p>1913. House joint resolution giving women the right to vote was +introduced by Robert Martin. This year the suffragists had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> a most +successful hearing before the House Committee on Constitutional +Amendments. The president of the Senate, W. K. Oldham, Lonoke; Judge +W. L. Moose, Morrillton, and Rabbi L. Witt, Little Rock, made eloquent +pleas in addition to those of the women. The committee reported the +resolution favorably and the vote was 35 for, 55 against.</p> + +<p>Between the two Legislatures the State Woman Suffrage Association was +formed and its influence was immediately felt in political circles.</p> + +<p>1915. Senator George W. Garrett, Okolona, introduced a joint +resolution proposing an amendment to the constitution giving women +full suffrage and it passed by 23 to 12. The House called a night +session for the third reading. A resolution signed by Representatives +Yearger of Chico county, Dunlap of Phillips and Wilson of Jefferson to +allow a representative of the Woman Suffrage Association ten minutes +in which to present the reasons for the enfranchisement of women +passed and Mrs. Cotnam was introduced, the first woman ever given the +privilege of the floor. The vote was 51 in favor, 18 opposed, with 31 +absent. The amendment failed to get on the ballot, as under the +Arkansas law only three amendments could be submitted at one election +and the next morning before this one could be properly recorded the +Federation of Labor had filed an initiated amendment with the +Secretary of State and that for suffrage became the fourth. The +suffragists tried to get the Federation of Labor to withdraw their +amendment, which had no chance of being adopted, but were unsuccessful +and it did fail at the general election.</p> + +<p>1917. On January 11 Representative John A. Riggs of Hot Springs +introduced a joint resolution for the amendment, signed by himself, C. +B. Andrews of Nevada county, Stephen P. Meador of Clark and Carl W. +Held of Sebastian. Mrs. Ellington, president of the State Suffrage +Association, explained to them that it had entered into an agreement +with all other State associations at the last national suffrage +convention not to go into a referendum campaign without the consent of +the National Board, if they expected financial assistance from that +organization, and the resolution was withdrawn. On February 7 +Representative Riggs introduced what was known as the Primary Bill, +which in brief<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> was as follows: "An Act to provide that women may vote +in all primary elections: From and after the passage of this act and +subject to all the provisions of the laws of this State as to age, +residence, citizenship, payment of poll taxes and otherwise regulating +the manner and form of holding the same, but especially exempt from +every disqualification, direct or indirect, on account of sex, every +woman shall have the right to vote at any primary election held under +the laws of this State."</p> + +<p>This form of suffrage is unique and deserves some explanation. William +Hodges, Associate Justice of the Court of Civil Appeals, Texarkana, +Texas, suggested the idea to Senator O. S. Lattimore of Fort Worth, +who formulated the bill of which the Arkansas bill is substantially a +copy. The Texas Legislature defeated it. Mr. Riggs wired for a copy of +the bill, had a similar one drawn and submitted it to U. S. Senator +Kirby and a number of prominent lawyers, all of whom were unanimous in +the belief that it was constitutional. Justice Hodges said, "I have +felt deep interest in the suffrage question for several years and the +idea of permitting women to participate in Primary elections occurred +to me casually as I was thinking of how to meet the stubborn +opposition offered in the Texas Legislature to the submission of an +amendment to the constitution."<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> Mr. Riggs said his eagerness to +pass a suffrage bill was to do justice to the women of Arkansas and to +keep a promise to his mother that if he ever was elected to the +Legislature he would introduce and work for one.</p> + +<p>The Legislature of 1917 was soon discovered to be a progressive +assembly and gave promise of success for the bill. Mrs. Ellington +decided the time had come to adopt business methods in the suffrage +lobby and undertook with Mr. Riggs the whole responsibility of guiding +this bill on its eventful journey through the House and Senate. The +suffragists held themselves in readiness to do any special work +needed, which they did quietly and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> effectively, seeing legislators +when necessary, but the Legislature was not harassed by a large and +conspicuous lobby.<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a></p> + +<p>Sufficient pledges were secured in both House and Senate before the +bill was allowed to come even to a test vote. Judge Josiah Hardage, +Arkadelphia, assisted by W. J. Waggoner of Lonoke and James A. Choate +of Floyd, led the opposition in the House and conducted the bitterest +fight waged during the session. Sixteen men stood solidly with them in +all parliamentary tactics in hopes of killing the bill. Nineteen men +could delay it but they were destined to defeat when 78 men, led by +the astute floor leader, J. O. Johnson of Sebastian county, were +determined that it should pass. After several hours' debate the House +passed the bill February 15 by 71 ayes, 19 noes, 10 absent.</p> + +<p>When the bill came up in the Senate Walker Smith of Magnolia led the +opposition, although several days before he had promised Mrs. Head and +Mrs. Ellington to vote for it. Senator Houston Emory of Hot Springs +guided it to a successful vote on February 27—17 ayes, 15 noes. +Senators George F. Brown of Rison, George W. Garrett of Okolona, H. L. +Ponder of Walnut Ridge, J. S. Utley of Benton and R. Hill Caruth of +Warren aided materially in passing the bill. The first time during the +session that every man in the Senate was in his seat to vote was when +the Primary bill came up. Two Senators unalterably opposed to woman +suffrage had been expelled for bribery and this made its success +possible.</p> + +<p>The Senate slightly amended the bill and returned it to the House, +which accepted it March 6. Never did a man serve the cause of suffrage +more loyally or more efficiently than John A. Riggs and the women of +Arkansas owe him a lasting debt of gratitude. Governor Brough signed +the bill in the evening at a public meeting amid great enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>The Legislature met Jan. 13, 1919, after thousands of women had voted +at the Primary election. Not one member had been asked to present a +resolution proposing a constitutional amendment for woman suffrage. In +fact the women were following closely the advice of the National +Association and were ardently<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> hoping to avoid a State campaign. They +were reckoning from past experiences but times had changed. +Twenty-five men came ready to propose a full suffrage amendment; +Representative Riggs, the father of the Primary bill, was the first +man on the floor after the House was organized and his bill got first +place on the calendar. It passed the Senate January 30 by 27 to one, +and the House February 3 by 73 to three. In November it went to the +voters and was defeated. It received the largest favorable vote of any +of the amendments submitted but not a majority of the largest number +cast at the election, as required by the constitution. The women had +felt certain that this would be impossible. In August, 1920, full +suffrage was conferred by the Federal Amendment.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. O. F. +Ellington, president of the State Woman Suffrage Association, +1914-1917, and Mrs. T. T. Cotnam, State treasurer during these years +and chairman of the State Suffrage Central Committee from 1917.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> The following officers were elected: Chairman, Mrs. +Ellington; secretary, Mrs. Gibb, Little Rock. Finance Committee: +Chairman, Mrs. Cotnam; Mrs. C. C. Cate, Jonesboro; Mrs. Land, Mrs. +William Ells, Texarkana; Mrs. W. H. Connell, Hot Springs. Committee +that framed constitution: Mrs. Fuller, Magazine; Mrs. Head, Mrs. +Blaisdell, Hot Springs; Congressional chairman, Mrs. Ada Roussans, +Jonesboro; Mrs. Fitzhugh, Mrs. H. E. Morrow, Mrs. Head, Mrs. W. L. +Moose, Mrs. Drennan, Mrs. Garland Street, district chairmen.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> In June, 1912, Miss Kate Gordon offered a Primary bill as +a substitute for the constitutional amendment in the Louisiana +Legislature, but it never came out of committee. Miss Gordon said: +"The idea came to me as a solution of the woman suffrage question in a +flash and it struck me as a good one. The Primary idea was mine as +early as 1912."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> Most of the women whose names are mentioned in this +chapter, with the addition of Mrs. John P. Ahmand, Mrs. De Mott +Henderson and Miss Jennie De Neler, did valuable legislative work +during this and other sessions.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>CALIFORNIA.<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a></h3> + + +<p>The first ten years of the new century—Woman's Century—were years of +laborious effort in California to educate the public mind and +familiarize it with the idea of "votes for women." At the beginning of +the second decade the State had given them the complete suffrage and +at its close the women of the entire nation were enfranchised by an +amendment to the Federal Constitution.</p> + +<p>A resubmission of the question in California could not be expected for +several years after the defeat of a constitutional amendment in 1896, +although no subsequent Legislature met without discussing the subject +and voting on some phase of it. The liquor interests continued a +persistent opposition but the suffrage association had a powerful ally +in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, with its franchise +department and its well organized army of workers, and, although +somewhat discouraged for a few years, held its annual convention and +reorganization was gradually effected. The State convention of 1900 +met December 14, 15, in Golden Gate Hall, San Francisco, with the +president, Mrs. Mary Wood Swift, in the chair. A resolution was +adopted commending the former State president, Ellen Clark (Mrs. Aaron +A.) Sargent, for instituting suit against the tax collector for the +return of her taxes paid in San Francisco under written protest. [See +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29870/29870-h/29870-h.htm#Page_504">Volume IV, page 504</a>.] +The members were urged to file a protest when +paying taxes because they had no representation. It was declared that +the time was opportune for organized effort to have the Legislature +again submit an amendment to the voters. A vote of thanks was given<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +to Miss Clara Schlingheyde for her success in obtaining donations for +the national suffrage bazaar in New York and appreciation expressed +for the generous response of California people, especially for the +donation of William Keith, the artist, of his picture, Spring in the +Napa Valley. Mrs. Swift having served four years as president declined +to hold the office longer and Mrs. Mary S. Sperry retired as treasurer +after serving seven years. The following board was elected: Honorary +presidents, Mrs. Sargent of San Francisco and Mrs. Ellen Knox Goodrich +of San Jose; president, Mrs. Annie R. Wood, Alameda; first, second and +third vice-presidents, Mrs. Lovell White, San Francisco, Mrs. E. O. +Smith, San Jose, Mrs. Annie K. Bidwell, Chico; corresponding +secretary, Miss Carrie Whelan, Oakland; recording secretary, Mrs. +Dorothy Harnden; treasurer, Miss Schlingheyde, both of San Francisco; +auditors, Mrs. A. K. Spero and Mrs. Keith.</p> + +<p>A visit in 1901 from Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, president of the +National American Suffrage Association, greatly encouraged the clubs. +Acting upon her urgent request, Mrs. Keith revived the Berkeley club, +which soon doubled its membership and with the Oakland and Alameda +clubs became a strong influence. There were three clubs in San +Francisco and an active organization in Santa Clara county, made up of +San Jose, Palo Alto and other clubs. Mrs. May Wright Sewall, president +of the International Council of Women, came for an extended course of +lectures in the interest of women's advancement. Women's organizations +urged many changes in the unjust community property law, the W. C. T. +U., the Women's Parliament of Southern California and the State +Suffrage Association sending representatives to plead with the +legislators. A School suffrage bill passed the House and was defeated +by only seven votes in the Senate and there was constant agitation. +The State convention this year was held at San Francisco in Yosemite +Hall, Native Sons' Building, October 18, 19, with a large number of +delegates and an interesting program. Executive board meetings had +been held throughout the year and it was reported that eighty papers +were publishing suffrage matter sent them. Mrs. Leland Stanford in an +interview in the San Francisco <i>Examiner</i><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> had declared herself in +favor of woman suffrage and a letter of appreciation was sent to her.</p> + +<p>The annual convention met October 24, 25, 1902, in Century Hall, San +Francisco, with a large attendance and many excellent speakers, among +them Dr. David Starr Jordan, president of Stanford University, and B. +Fay Mills, the noted revivalist. Greetings were read from Miss Susan +B. Anthony, Mrs. Harriet Taylor Upton, the national treasurer, and +Mrs. Caroline M. Severance, the loved pioneer, now in her 83rd year, +who had come from the East to Los Angeles over twenty years before. +The reports showed that the board had been in constant communication +with the national officers; an organizer, Mrs. Florence Stoddard, had +been engaged; the treasury receipts were increasing; eighteen new +clubs were recorded and there was general progress. Miss Vida +Goldstein, a prominent suffrage leader of Australia, had been the +guest of the association and a letter was sent to the Woman's Council +of Australia, expressing gratitude for the assistance she had been in +the United States. Australia's recent enfranchisement of her 800,000 +women with eligibility to the national Parliament had given great +encouragement to those of California. Mrs. Sperry was persuaded to +take the presidency.<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> An interesting event reported was a suffrage +meeting of the Sierra Club of mountain lovers one summer evening in +King's River Canyon, where it was encamped. In the audience of over +two hundred prominent men and women were Professor Joseph Le Conte, +John Muir, William Keith, Dr. C. Hart Merriam, head of the U. S. +biological department and Dr. Gannett, of the geological department.</p> + +<p>The State convention of 1903 met in Golden Gate Hall, San Francisco, +November 18, 19. Among the addresses of welcome was one by the Rev. +Bradford Leavitt of the Unitarian church and one by President Benham +of the city Labor Council. Mrs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> Sargent and Mrs. E. O. Smith paid +tributes to the memory of the association's honorary president, Mrs. +Sarah Knox Goodrich, a devoted supporter of the cause for the past +thirty-five years. Greetings were read from Miss Anthony, Henry B. and +Alice Stone Blackwell, Mrs. Upton and Mrs. L. F. Darling, president of +the State Federation of Women's Clubs. Miss Gail Laughlin, a young +lawyer from the East, who was now State organizer, was among the +speakers, and Albert H. Elliott, a San Francisco lawyer, gave an +instructive talk on California Laws for Women. The executive board +made the excellent appointment of Dr. Alida C. Avery of San Jose as +historian. One hundred dollars were sent to the national board for use +in the New Hampshire campaign. The State association endorsed Mrs. +Sargent's protest against a referendum vote on the issuing of San +Francisco's city bonds in which women were not allowed to take part.</p> + +<p>A question considered at many board meetings had been the advisability +of trying to obtain from the Legislature another submission of an +amendment. The Los Angeles Suffrage League was waiting to know what +action would be taken. Mrs. Catt had written that it might be well to +make the effort and so a resolution was unanimously adopted to ask +this of the session of 1905. A letter had been sent by Mrs. Catt +suggesting plans of work to this end for the coming year and one was +received from Miss Anthony asking that Mrs. Stanton's birthday be +celebrated on November 12.</p> + +<p>The Los Angeles Equal Suffrage Society had not affiliated with the +State Association because of the long distance to San Francisco and +the announcement by Mrs. Sperry that the affiliation had now been made +was enthusiastically received. The movement had been active in +Southern California, where federations, parliaments and societies of +many kinds flourished, and the Woman Suffrage League had held monthly +meetings. Besides Mrs. Severance, another pioneer suffragist had come +there from the East many years ago, Mrs. Rebecca Spring, now past 90 +and still alert and interested. Mrs. Clara Shortridge Foltz, Mrs. +Alice Moore McComas and Mrs. Almeda B. Grey were still among the +capable and valued workers.</p> + +<p>In answer to an invitation from the Los Angeles city and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> county +suffrage leagues the State convention of 1904 was held in the Woman's +Club House, October 6, 7, with three sessions daily. Articles of +incorporation had been drawn by George C. Sargent of San Francisco and +filed with the Secretary of State, and the State organization had been +incorporated under the name of the California Equal Suffrage +Association. The convention was welcomed by Mrs. Ada J. Lingley and +Mrs. Mabel V. Osborne, county and city presidents. Mrs. Sperry in +responding expressed her great pleasure that Northern and Southern +California would now work together for woman suffrage. The report of +Miss Laughlin, State organizer, showed that fifty-two new clubs had +been formed and that the membership had more than doubled in the past +year, and the treasurer, Miss Schlingheyde, told of $2,063 contributed +for organization work. Subscriptions to the amount of $1,110 were +made, Mrs. Keith leading with $500. Miss Amanda Way, an Indiana +pioneer, now of Whittier, made her offering. Mayor M. P. Snyder, Judge +Waldo M. Yorke, the Rev. Eliza Tupper Wilkes and a long list of able +speakers addressed the evening meetings. Strong resolutions presented +by the chairman of the committee, Mrs. Nellie Holbrook Blinn, were +adopted. Mrs. Severance and Mrs. Spring were made honorary presidents.</p> + +<p>The work for the coming months was to secure a large petition to the +Legislature for the submission of a woman suffrage amendment and Mrs. +Osborne was appointed chairman of the committee. Heading the 15,000 +names which were eventually obtained were those of Governor George C. +Pardee, President David Starr Jordan, U. S. Senator George C. Perkins, +W. S. Goodfellow, T. C. Coogan, Fred S. Stratton, A. A. Moore, George +A. Knight, Henry J. Crocker, William H. Mills, Lovell White, M. B. +Woodworth, Congressman James G. Maguire, Judge Carrol Cook and F. J. +Murasky, all men of influence. The amendment was endorsed by the State +association of 1,000 teachers. With the aid of the National +Association 10,000 copies of Mrs. Catt's leaflet, Do You Know? were +circulated.</p> + +<p>The suffrage leaders made a vigorous effort at Sacramento at the next +legislative session in 1905 but the measure was defeated in both +Houses. California's full delegation of fourteen was in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> attendance at +the annual convention of the National American Suffrage Association in +Portland, Ore., in June. On the way from Portland Miss Anthony, Dr. +Anna Howard Shaw and several other eastern delegates stopped at Chico, +the home of Mrs. Bidwell, vice-president of the State association, +where Miss Anthony spoke at the dedication of a magnificent park of +2,200 acres which she was presenting to the town. They were royally +entertained in California, beginning with a public reception at the +Sequoia Hotel in San Francisco. This was followed by others in +Oakland, East Oakland and Berkeley, attended by hundreds. A mass +meeting of 1,500 was arranged by the Equal Suffrage League in the +Alhambra Theater, San Francisco.<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> Similar meetings and receptions +awaited them in Southern California and they addressed an audience of +10,000 at Venice, the noted seaside resort.</p> + +<p>The State convention met in Wheeler's Auditorium, San Francisco, in +October. Deep interest had been felt in the campaign for a woman +suffrage amendment carried on in Oregon during the summer and the +association had wished to assist with money, organizers and speakers. +For this purpose the entire contents of the treasury, about $500, were +contributed and clubs and individuals sent more than that amount. Mrs. +Keith gave $1,000 in the name of the State the following year.</p> + +<p>The year 1906 opened auspiciously. In all parts of the State the clubs +were holding public meetings, supplying columns of suffrage matter to +the newspapers, now largely willing to publish them, and preparing for +a siege of the next Legislature. In April the city was almost +destroyed by fire and earthquake. One month afterwards the State board +of officers met with a full quorum, ready to begin the effort to +obtain woman suffrage planks in the platforms of the political parties +at the approaching State conventions. This was accomplished in all but +that of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> dominant Republican party. The work was continued +throughout the State of securing resolutions of endorsement from +various kinds of organizations and by the end of the year these +included a dozen State associations, and with societies other than +suffrage in the different cities the list filled two pages of a +leaflet sent out from the headquarters. The annual convention was held +in Calvary Presbyterian Church, San Francisco, October 5, 6, with an +attractive program of men and women speakers. The initial number of +<i>The Yellow Ribbon</i>, a monthly magazine edited by Mrs. Katharine Reed +Balentine in the interest of woman suffrage on the Pacific coast, was +distributed among the delegates.</p> + +<p>The State convention of 1907 met in October in the Ebell Club House of +Oakland, where excellent arrangements had been made by the various +committees, and it was the most satisfactory yet held. There was a +program of very good speakers, well-known men among them, and Mrs. +Maud Wood Park of Boston was a guest of the convention. The chairman +of the Press Committee, Mrs. Mabel Craft Deering, reported that 203 +newspapers were using all the suffrage matter sent them. The chairman +of the State Central Committee, Mrs. Lillian Harris Coffin, said that +all the labor leaders were standing for woman suffrage. It was +announced that headquarters for pushing the submission of an amendment +would be established in Sacramento as soon as the Legislature opened +in January. There was a resolution on the death of Mrs. Laura de Force +Gordon, the pioneer lawyer and suffragist. The work conference +conducted by Mrs. Coffin was a valuable feature of the convention. +Over 5,000 clubwomen outside of the suffrage clubs had now declared +for suffrage.</p> + +<p>In January, 1908, Mrs. Maud Wood Park was invited to address the +students of the State University in Berkeley at the Friday morning +meeting and Professor Morse Stephens said he never heard as able a +presentation of any subject in so short a time. She organized branches +of the National College Equal Suffrage League here and at Leland +Stanford University. All conventions during the year were asked +through Mrs. Keith's committee to adopt woman suffrage resolutions and +many of them did so. Steps were taken through the State Central and +Legislative Committees to interview candidates for the Legislature<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +and pledge them after they were elected. The convention was held at +the California Club House, San Francisco, October 2, 3. The work +conference was conducted by Mrs. Keith.</p> + +<p>In 1909 strenuous work was done with the Legislature but it again +refused to submit the suffrage amendment, which it was the general +opinion the voters would adopt if given an opportunity. The official +board sent a telegram to President Roosevelt asking him in the name of +10,000 California women to recommend woman suffrage in his last +message to Congress but without effect. Committees were appointed for +Northern and Southern California and a chairman in each county to +collect signatures to the petition of the National Association to +Congress to submit a Federal Amendment. The State convention was held +in Stockton September 30-October 2, one of the largest on record. It +was welcomed by the Mayor and the president of the chamber of commerce +with a response by Mrs. Sperry and there were greetings from a number +of organizations of various kinds. The addresses were of a high order +and among the speakers were Franklin Hichborn, J. N. Stuckenbruck, +member of the Legislature; Mrs. Sturtevant Peet, for sixteen years +president of the State W. C.T. U.; Thomas E. Hayden, president of the +San Francisco Board of Education; Mrs. Elinor Carlisle of the Berkeley +board and Mrs. James B. Hume, president of the State Federation of +Women's Clubs. Mrs. Sperry, who had filled the office of president for +seven years, insisted upon retiring and Mrs. Elizabeth Lowe Watson, a +minister, lecturer, writer and philanthropist, president of the Santa +Clara Club, was prevailed upon to accept the office. Mrs. Sperry, Mrs. +Swift, Miss Sarah Severance and Dr. Jordan were added to the list of +honorary presidents. A full delegation had attended the national +convention at Seattle in July.</p> + +<p>After the earthquake and fire in 1906 headquarters had been +established at 2419 California St., conveniently fitted up in part of +a dwelling house adjoining the residence of Mrs. Sargent, who presided +and dispensed hospitality at the monthly board meetings. By 1910 +larger and more central accommodations were needed and commodious +headquarters were secured in the Pacific Building, corner of Market +and Fourth Streets. Here the increasing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> business of the association +was transacted and free lectures were given. Mrs. Alice Park, as +chairman, superintended the wide distribution of literature throughout +the State. The association's committees on Child Labor, Education, +Peace and other public questions were actively at work. The committee +on Petitions to the Legislature for the submission of a woman suffrage +amendment to the voters, of which Mrs. Sperry was chairman, secured +14,000 signatures. Mrs. Lowe Watson said in her report to the national +convention that splendid work was being done in organization through +the generous financial aid of Mrs. Keith and Mrs. Charles D. Blaney. +House to house canvasses were being made and assembly district and +precinct clubs formed. Mrs. Keith gave $100 a month during 1909 and +1910 to this and other headquarters work, largely financed the +legislative work and frequently bore the principal expense of State +conventions.<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> Space was freely granted in most of the newspapers +and many were giving editorial endorsement. The College Women's Equal +Suffrage Leagues were active and the subject of the universities' +intercollegiate debate for the year was: Resolved that the ballot +should be extended to women. Men's Auxiliary Leagues were formed in +Northern and Southern California. A Votes for Women business club and +a Wage Earners' club were organized in San Francisco and did important +work. There were five downtown suffrage headquarters. Most of the +women's clubs had introduced a civic section. Mrs. Lowe Watson +lectured before labor unions, church societies, W. C. T. U.'s, "native +daughters," women's clubs and suffrage clubs. The throng on +Socialists' "woman's day" filled one of the largest halls in San +Francisco and at the close of her address gave a unanimous standing +vote for equal suffrage.</p> + +<p>The annual suffrage convention took place Sept. 30, Oct. 1, 1910, in +the Palace Hotel, San Francisco, the 40th that had been held in the +State. The long program of prominent speakers, fraternal greetings, +committee and club reports, showed the gathering weight and importance +of the movement. J. Stitt Wilson, Mayor of Berkeley and Socialist +candidate for Governor,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> made a most encouraging address and J. H. +Braly, an influential citizen of Pasadena, came to tell of what was +being accomplished in Southern California. The visits of the national +officers, Professor Frances Squire Potter, Mrs. Florence Kelley and +Mrs. Ella S. Stewart had greatly inspired the workers and the +favorable action of the next Legislature seemed almost certain.</p> + +<p>For the past year California had been in the midst of a crucial +political campaign. The State government for forty years had been the +servant of a powerful political "machine" controlled by large public +service corporations. The people had tired of it and public opinion +was ripe for a change. The "progressive Republicans," as they were +called, came into power at the election of November, 1910, and Hiram +W. Johnson was elected Governor to carry out their reforms, woman +suffrage being one of them.</p> + +<p>The Legislative Committee was composed of Mrs. Coffin, Mrs. Blaney, +Mrs. Edson and Mrs. Arthur Cornwall Juilliard. Senator Charles W. Bell +of Pasadena had continuously stood for woman suffrage in the face of +the opposition of the Senate and in the organization of the +Legislature he was made chairman of the Republican caucus. Assemblyman +A. H. Hewitt of Yuba City, also a staunch friend of years' standing, +took charge of the amendment in the House and when elected Speaker he +placed it in the hands of Assemblyman Cattell of Pasadena, who made it +his chief interest. The Anti-Suffrage organization of women for the +first time maintained a lobby at the Capitol. The amendment was +introduced in both Houses the first week of the session. The Judiciary +Committee of the Senate granted a hearing on the evening of Jan. 18, +1911. The crowd was so large it had to be held in the Senate chamber, +and gallery, aisles and lobby were filled. Mrs. Katharine Philips +Edson of Los Angeles introduced the speakers and Mrs. Elizabeth +Gerberding of San Francisco made the opening argument. Miss Maude +Younger spoke in behalf of the working women; Miss Ethel Moore and +Mrs. Cornelia McKinne Stanwood of the College Equal Suffrage League +represented the children and the women of the State; Mrs. Coffin, +speaking for the State Suffrage Association, urged the legislators to +stand by the suffrage plank in their party platforms. Mrs. Shelley +Tolhurst closed the appeal. Then Mrs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> George A. Caswell of Los +Angeles, representing the women anti-suffragists, read a paper of +fifty minutes.</p> + +<p>Possibly there was no measure before the Legislature in which deeper +interest was manifested or which had the urge of stronger public +sentiment. Lieutenant Governor A. J. Wallace of Los Angeles was a true +friend and Senator A. E. Boynton of Marysville, president pro tem., +had for years loyally supported it. The Los Angeles delegation with +but few exceptions were pledged in favor. Many opponents of years' +standing, feeling the pressure of popularity, were prepared to +capitulate. Senator J. B. Sanford of Ukiah, who had long been a thorn +in the flesh of the suffrage lobby, attempted to block it but was +prevented by Senator Louis Juilliard and a spirited debate was led by +Senator Lee C. Gates of Los Angeles, a leader of progressive measures. +On January 26 the amendment came up for third reading and final +passage. There was no need of further debate but each Senator seemed +desirous of paying his tribute. It received 35 ayes and the opposition +could muster only five votes. The Senate resolution was submitted in +the Assembly and voted on February 2. Gallery and lobbies were +thronged and only time limited the oratory. It received 66 ayes, 12 +noes. Governor Johnson had insisted on the submission of the amendment +as a party pledge.</p> + +<p>Pink roses were sent by the committee to Mrs. Johnson, wife of the +Governor, and violets to Mrs. Wallace for their helpful cooperation. +Cordial appreciation was expressed to the wives of Senators and +Assemblymen who did yeoman service, among them Mrs. Bell, Mrs. Gates, +Mrs. Henry Ward Beecher Brown, Mrs. Miguel Estidillo and Mrs. Cattell.</p> + +<p>After the adjournment of the Legislature a conference was called by +the Progressive leaders to outline the plan of campaign for the many +amendments which had been submitted and it was decided <i>not to mention +the suffrage amendment</i>, as much needed contributions had been made on +this condition lest it might cause some of the others to be defeated. +There was strenuous objection to this plan by some of its friends but +the majority prevailed. Governor Johnson was present at the meeting +and carried out its program during the entire campaign, not referring +to the suffrage amendment in his speeches. It was said that he +expected it to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> lose and did not want to jeopardize the amendments +which would enable the voters to take the law-making power into their +own hands and secure all desired reforms. A notable exception among +the official speakers was Francis J. Heney, who never failed to +include it with the others in his appeals to the voters.</p> + +<p>The general political situation in California at the time, however, +favored the suffrage campaign. The five parties had put a woman +suffrage plank in their platforms and the voters could concentrate +their attention on the twenty-three proposed constitutional +amendments, for which a special election was called October 10. There +were but eight months for what would have to be a "whirlwind +campaign." The president of the State association, Mrs. Lowe Watson, +said in her report to the next national suffrage convention:</p> + +<blockquote><p>The situation was very different from that of 1895-96. Not only +were the suffragists better organized but as a result of the +previous campaign, in which the National Association largely +participated, there were earnest suffragists in every kind of +association in the State, in the Federated Women's Clubs; the W. +C. T. U., with a franchise department in every local; the +Socialist party, the State Grange and the ever-growing Labor +Unions. We determined to make a strenuous effort to get into +touch with every progressive element. Our State Campaign +Committee, with headquarters in San Francisco, consisted of +chairmen of the ten departments of work.... In addition we had an +Advisory Council composed of picked men and women over the State. +During the two preceding years the State association had been +carrying forward organization work under the able supervision of +Mrs. Helen Moore as chairman but there still remained much to be +done. Our territory was large, a portion of it immensely +difficult. It was conceded that a house to house canvass was of +the utmost importance, particularly in the large cities.</p> + +<p>The suffragists of Southern California, whose work with the +Legislature had been of incalculable value, led by J. H. Braly, +president of the Los Angeles Political Equality League, assumed +the responsibility of caring for the ten counties south of the +Tehachapi Pass and nobly did they fulfil all expectations. We +realized that the great "interests" were arrayed against us. +Untold money was at the command of our enemies and they were +schooled in political methods. We had little money and less +political experience but we had consecration of purpose and we +gave ourselves to the work, North and South, with unbounded +enthusiasm....</p> + +<p>There was scarcely a corner of the State unvisited by good +speakers. Under the supervision of Mrs. Rose M. French, the State +association issued 3,000,000 pages of literature, while the +College<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> Women's Equal Suffrage League and other organizations in +the North, and the Political Equality League of Los Angeles, also +published countless thousands of leaflets, besides ordering many +from the National Association. Under the tactful management of +Mrs. Ringrose, 50,000 Catholic leaflets were distributed at the +doors of Catholic churches. The picture slides and stereopticon +talks, superintended by Mrs. Lucretia Watson Taylor, were very +effective, particularly in the outlying districts. Posters, +pennants and banners played a conspicuous part in the campaign. +The attendance at the meetings held in theaters, churches, halls +and on the street corners was surprisingly large and in many +instances splendidly enthusiastic. The attitude of the public +generally was respectful and often profoundly sympathetic. Our +country clubs and county organizations followed closely the plans +recommended by the State association. It was purely an +educational campaign, without one shadow of partisanship or +militant methods. The victory in the State of Washington in 1910 +and the manner in which the enfranchised women used their newly +acquired power contributed much to the success in California. The +pulpit and the press were also largely with us. We worked hard to +make sure of these two great instrumentalities for the education +of the people.</p> + +<p>Our inland co-workers largely financed their own special lines of +propaganda. The generous contributions of the National +Association and the smaller personal donations through that body, +amounting altogether to about $1,800, and the noble work of the +national vice-president, Mrs. Catharine Waugh McCulloch, were a +large factor in our success. The Woman Suffrage Party of New York +sent us able speakers. Among our many good fortunes was the +coming of the National Education Association convention to San +Francisco. Miss Gail Laughlin was of immense service as a speaker +and as chairman of the Election Committee....</p> + +<p>The State association disbursed about $10,000, not counting the +expenses in Southern California. Mrs. Keith contributed $3,000 +within the year; Mrs. Anna K. Bidwell $1,000 through the State +treasury, besides assisting her own county organization. Mrs. +Charles D. Blaney gave generous sums, while others in an equally +liberal spirit donated from $200 down to one, according to their +means; and others again, having no gold or precious stones, gave +what was best of all, themselves, nobly, untiringly, out of their +love for justice.</p></blockquote> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>No active work in suffrage was done in Southern California for some +years after the defeat of 1896. In November, 1900, the State +president, Mrs. Mary Wood Swift, went to Los Angeles, a parlor meeting +was held and later a public address was given by her at the Woman's +Club House. Here it was determined to revive the Woman Suffrage League +and an executive committee<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> was appointed, Mrs. Sarah Burger Stearns, +a veteran suffragist, formerly of Minnesota, chairman. On December 1 a +meeting was called by this committee and the league was re-organized; +President, Mrs. Caroline M. Severance; vice-president, Mrs. Shelley +Tolhurst; secretary, Mrs. Lenore C. Schultz. Monthly meetings were +held for several years at the Woman's Club House, the money for the +rent being given by Mr. Wilde, whose sympathy was strong for suffrage. +The years from 1900 to 1910-11 were just years of "carrying on" and +well the pioneers did their work.<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> They kept the fires burning and +gradually all kinds of organizations of women became permeated with a +belief in suffrage for women and were ready for the final campaign.</p> + +<p>The work of John Hyde Braly in Southern California deserves a place by +itself. A prosperous business man and public-spirited citizen, when +the call came to assist the movement to enfranchise the women of the +State he saw the necessity of interesting men of prominence. From +early in January, 1910, he worked to secure the enrollment of one +hundred names of the leading citizens of Los Angeles and Pasadena. +Finally he arranged a mid-day banquet on the fifth of April and about +fifty responded. Organization was perfected with a charter membership +of one hundred influential men under the name of the Political +Equality League of California and the following compact was signed: +"We hereby associate ourselves together for the purpose of securing +political equality and suffrage without distinction on account of +sex." The officers elected were: J. H. Braly, president; Judge Waldo +M. Yorke, first vice-president; Hulett Merritt, second; J. D. +Bradford, secretary and treasurer. Enthusiastic speeches were made and +Mr. Braly said that they were initiating this movement at the +psychological time, for the progressive fever was in the California +blood. It was a man's job to take a hand in the enfranchisement of +women, since it was the men who must decide it by their votes. The +league was pledged to work to induce the legislators to submit the +amendment to the voters. Nine men were organized in a Board of +Governors and it was decided to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> have women become associate members +of the organization, they to select nine women to be governors with +the men. The movement was thus popularized and desirable men and women +of all classes rapidly joined it.</p> + +<p>Headquarters were established in the Story Building and systematic +work begun. Judge Yorke was chairman of the legislative and political +department. The 850 delegates and the audience at the Los Angeles +County Republican convention in Simpson Auditorium in August were +enthusiastically for woman suffrage. Eighty-three delegates went from +that convention to the State Republican convention of 430 delegates in +San Francisco. Mr. Braly was not only one of these delegates but also +a member of the platform committee. The suffrage plank went into the +platform and was received with the same enthusiasm apparently as in +Los Angeles. After a progressive Legislature was elected in the fall +of 1910 the Political Equality League gave a banquet at the Alexandria +Hotel in honor of the southern legislators, the State officers-elect +and their wives, with nearly 600 present. Mr. Braly said of this +occasion: "We all felt that we were making history and casting bread +upon the waters that would surely return to us in a day of need, +which, thank God, it did, for without it I think the suffrage bill +would not have been passed."</p> + +<p>The organization's express purpose was to use all legitimate means to +influence the Legislature to submit the amendment and every legislator +of the nine southern counties went to Sacramento pledged to vote for +it. After the Legislature had submitted the amendment the Political +Equality League held its annual election. It was felt that it would be +unjust to ask Mr. Braly to have charge of the details of the strenuous +campaign and with expressions of the highest appreciation he was made +president emeritus and Mrs. Seward A. Simons, president. Mr. Braly +arranged to have Mrs. McCulloch of Chicago make a speaking tour of +Southern California in company with a party consisting of himself and +wife, Judge Neely, Judge W. S. Harbert and Senator Lee C. Gates, at +his own expense, as was all of his work. Mrs. Edson wrote to him after +the campaign: "Without the platform pledges of the Republican county +and State conventions we could never<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> have held the legislators and to +you the women of California are indebted for making this possible."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Simons in her comprehensive report said in part:</p> + +<blockquote><p>In the southern part of the State the work from the beginning was +undertaken with the understanding that everything possible should +be done to counteract the effect of the probable San Francisco +vote and the California Political Equality League concentrated +its attention on Los Angeles and the country districts throughout +the State. The Executive Board, composed of the following +members, Mrs. Simons, president; Mrs. Tolhurst, chairman of the +Speakers' Committee; Mrs. Berthold Baruch, of the Meetings +Committee; Miss Louise Carr, Literature; Mrs. Edson, +Organization; Mrs. Martha Nelson McCan, Press; Mrs. John R. +Haynes, Finance; Miss Annie Bock, secretary, concerned itself +with effective publicity work—public meetings, the distribution +of literature and the press....</p> + +<p>Leaflets and pamphlets that appealed to every type of mind were +printed to the amount of over a million.... Votes-for-Women +buttons to the number of 93,000 and 13,000 pennants and banners +added their quota to the publicity work.... One of the most +effective means of publicity was that of letters of a personal +nature addressed to members of the various professions and +vocations. A letter was sent to 2,000 ministers asking their +cooperation; 60,000 letters were sent through the country +districts. Leaflets in Italian, German and French were given out +at the street meetings in the congested districts of Los Angeles. +A circular letter was sent in September to every club and +organization asking that they give an evening before the election +to a suffrage speaker to be supplied by the league. Suffrage was +presented to every class from the men's clubs in the churches to +the unions' meetings in the Labor Temple.</p> + +<p>The importance of getting the endorsement of large bodies of +women was recognized. A few of these endorsing were the Woman's +Parliament of 2,000 members; State Federation of Women's Clubs, +35,000; Federated College Clubs, 5,000; State Nurses' +Association, 800; State W. C. T. U., 6,000; Woman's Organized +Labor, 36,000, and the Los Angeles Teachers' Club, 800. All of +these endorsements were secured at conventions held in Southern +California and the Northern women pursued the same policy. These +do not include those made by organizations of men, or of men and +women or of clubs for suffrage alone and these in the South +exceeded fifty. In a large measure success was due to the +inestimable assistance given by the eminent speakers, among them +supreme court judges, prominent lawyers, physicians, ministers, +noted educators and philanthropists and by men and women from all +callings and occupations....</p> + +<p>During the last two months meetings were arranged in all the +towns of the southern counties where it was possible. When a hall +could not be had they were held in the open air. The last month +from fifty to sixty meetings a week were planned from the league<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +headquarters, speakers supplied and literature sent. These did +not include those arranged by local organizations in smaller +towns nor the many street meetings which were held by every one +who could command an automobile. The climax was in the largest +theater in Los Angeles on the evening of September 30 when over +4,000 people listened to the best speakers of the campaign. In +addition another thousand gathered in Choral Hall for an overflow +meeting, while many hundreds were turned from the doors. It was +the largest political demonstration in the history of Southern +California.</p> + +<p>The most important phase of the publicity work was that of the +Press Committee, formed of active newspaper women. Miss Bess Munn +was made secretary and her time was devoted exclusively to +supplying material to the local press and the country newspapers. +Double postals asking individuals their opinion of the suffrage +movement were sent to the members of the Legislature; to city, +county and State officials from San Diego to Siskiyou; to judges, +lawyers, merchants, bankers, physicians and all prominent +visitors within the gates of the city. Their answers were from +time to time printed in the form of interviews. Letters went to +club women in every town asking for cooperation in securing space +for suffrage material in the local press. Personal letters were +sent to all the editors informing them that a weekly suffrage +letter would be sent to them from the headquarters of the league. +This contained nothing but the shortest, pithiest items of +suffrage activities and enclosed were the leaflets which were +often printed in full. At the close of the campaign more than +half of the papers of the State regularly used the letter either +as news or as a basis for editorial comment. In Los Angeles alone +more than 10,000 columns were printed on suffrage. In monetary +value this amount of space would have cost $100,000. The last +week before election a cut of the ballot showing the position of +the suffrage amendment was sent to 150 newspapers of the South +with a letter offering the editor $5 for its publication but many +printed it without compensation....</p> + +<p>The majorities from the country districts won the victory by +counteracting the immense majority rolled up against the +amendment in San Francisco and thus proved that the country +residents are most satisfactorily reached by the country press.</p></blockquote> + +<p>The anti-suffragists made a more open fight in California than ever +before. A month preceding election a Committee of Fifty was organized +in Los Angeles composed of the reactionary elements, men representing +"big business," corporation lawyers, a number connected with the +Southern Pacific R.R., some socially prominent. The only one known +nationally was former U. S. Senator Frank P. Flint. The president was +a Southerner, George S. Patten, who wrote long articles using the +arguments and objections employed in the very earliest days of the +suffrage movement<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> sixty years ago. They claimed to have thousands of +members but never held a meeting and depended on intimidation by their +rather formidable list of names of local influence.</p> + +<p>The Women's Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage was more active. It +was formed in Los Angeles, with Mrs. George A. Caswell, head of a +fashionable school for girls, as its president. It organized also in +Northern California with Mrs. C. L. Goddard president and Mrs. +Benjamin Ide Wheeler heading the list of honorary presidents. Both +branches had a long list of officers, some with social prestige, and +maintained headquarters. They also claimed to have a large membership +but held only parlor and club meetings. The National Anti-Suffrage +Association sent its secretary, Miss Minnie Bronson, to speak, write, +organize and have charge of headquarters. Mrs. William Force Scott +came as a speaker from New York. The association was not an important +factor in the campaign.</p> + +<p>Theodore Roosevelt lectured in California in the spring of 1911. He +had been in the State twice in preceding years and each time had +referred disparagingly to woman suffrage. During the present visit he +spoke in the Greek Theater at the State University in Berkeley to an +audience of 10,000 on March 25 and the San Francisco <i>Examiner</i> of the +next morning said in its report:</p> + +<blockquote><p>Here is what Colonel Roosevelt said on the burning question of +woman suffrage:</p> + +<p>"A short time ago I was handed a letter from the president of an +Equal Suffrage Association asking me to speak in behalf of it. I +have always told my friends that it seemed to me that no man was +worth his salt who didn't think deeply of woman's rights and no +woman was worth her salt who didn't think more of her duties than +of her rights. Personally I am tepidly in favor of woman +suffrage. I have studied the condition of women in those States +where that right is exercised but I have never been able to take +a great interest in it because it always seemed to me so much +less important than so many other questions affecting women. I +don't think the harm will come of it that its opponents expect, +and I don't think that one-half of one per cent. of the good will +come from it that its friends expect. It is not a millionth part +as important as keeping and reviving the realization that the +great work of women must be done in the home. The ideal woman of +the future as of the past is the good wife and mother, able to +train numbers of healthy children."</p></blockquote><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p> + +<p>There were flourishing suffrage societies in all parts of the State. +An Equal Suffrage League had been formed in San Francisco from a +consolidation of suffrage clubs, with a large membership of men and +women, Mrs. Mary T. Gamage, president. With its various committees it +was an active force throughout the campaign. Great assistance was +rendered by the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, as had been the +case in 1896. During the fifteen years' interval it had been carrying +on a steady work of education through its local unions and their +members were among the most active in the suffrage clubs also. So +complete was the cooperation that they took off their white ribbon +badges toward the end of the campaign to disarm prejudice. Mrs. Keith, +president of the Berkeley Club, hired a house in the central part of +town for eight months as headquarters and Mrs. Hester Harland was +installed as manager. An advisory committee was formed of Mrs. George +W. Haight, Mrs. John Snook, Mrs. Fred G. Athearn, Mrs. Irving M. +Scott, Jr., Dr. Helen Waterman, Mrs. Samuel C. Haight, Mrs. Aaron +Schloss, Mrs. T. B. Sears, Mrs. C. C. Hall, Mrs. Frank F. Bunker, +assisted by many others toward the close of the campaign. Mrs. J. B. +Hume and Miss Blanche Morse toured the State as speakers and +organizers. Mrs. Keith herself spoke on a number of special occasions. +Mrs. Watson spoke night and day for three weeks in Sacramento Valley; +at Chico to an audience of 3,000.<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a></p> + +<p>The Central Campaign Committee was created in July, three months +before election, consisting of one member from each of the five +principal campaign organizations in San Francisco doing State work. +Mrs. Watson Taylor, daughter of the president, represented the State +Equal Suffrage Association; Mrs. Aylett Cotton, the Clubwoman's +Franchise League; Mrs. Robert A. Dean, the Woman Suffrage Party; Miss +Maud Younger, the Wage Earners' League and Mrs. Deering the College +League.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> This committee was formed at the suggestion of Mrs. James +Lees Laidlaw of New York, who visited San Francisco with her husband +in January, for the purpose of having all the organizations share in +the money and workers sent by the New York Woman Suffrage Party. Over +$1,000 were received from it, of which $500 came from General Horace +Carpentier, a former Californian and ex-mayor of Oakland, sent through +Mr. Laidlaw. The Men's New York League sent $200; the Rochester +Political Equality Club, $280; Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt $300. New York +suffragists also paid the railroad expenses of the three organizers +and speakers whom they sent and Chicago suffragists paid the +travelling expenses of Mrs. McCulloch, who contributed her services.</p> + +<p>From outside States came Miss Helen Todd, former factory inspector of +Illinois; Miss Margaret Haley of Chicago; Miss Jeannette Rankin of +Montana; Mrs. Helen Hoy Greeley, Mrs. A. C. Fisk and Mrs. John Rogers +of New York; Mrs. Mary Stanislawsky of Nevada; Mrs. Alma Lafferty, +member of the Colorado Legislature. These speakers were sent +throughout Northern California.</p> + +<p>The chairman of the Press Committee, Mrs. Deering, had been carrying +on the press work steadily for the past five years and hundreds of +papers were ready to support the amendment. Before the end of the +brief campaign, under her efficient management, almost every paper of +prominence either endorsed it or remained silent. The Los Angeles +<i>Express</i>, Sacramento <i>Bee</i>, <i>Star</i> and <i>Union</i>, the San Jose +<i>Mercury</i>, the Oakland <i>Enquirer</i>, the San Francisco <i>Bulletin</i> and +the <i>Daily News</i> were especially helpful. James H. Barry, editor of +the <i>Star</i>, was an unfailing advocate. The <i>Call</i> made a sustained +fight for it and the <i>Examiner</i> and <i>Post</i> advised a vote in favor. +The German papers were outspokenly opposed. The <i>Chronicle</i> in San +Francisco, owned by M. H. De Young, and the <i>Times</i>, in Los Angeles, +by Harrison Grey Otis, were relentless opponents. Much assistance was +rendered in the Legislature and the campaign by E. A. Dickson, a +prominent journalist of Los Angeles. The women connected with the +press were sympathetic and helpful.</p> + +<p>A most important feature of this remarkable campaign was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> the work of +the College Equal Suffrage League of Northern California, which had +been organized in 1909 for educational work among college women. When +the suffrage amendment was submitted in February, 1911, the league +decided to go actively into the campaign. The officers elected in May +were as follows: Miss Charlotte Anita Whitney (Wellesley), president; +Dr. Adelaide Brown (Smith), first vice-president; Miss Caroline Cook +Jackson (Cornell), second; Miss Lillien J. Martin (Vassar), third; +Miss Belle Judith Miller (California), recording secretary; Miss +Genevieve Cook (California Woman's Hospital), corresponding secretary; +Mrs. Genevieve Allen (Stanford), executive secretary; Dr. Anna Rude +(Cooper Medical College), treasurer; Dr. Rachel L. Ash (California), +delegate to Council. Directors: Miss Ethel Moore (Vassar); Mrs. Mabel +Craft Deering (California); Miss Kate Ames (Stanford); Mrs. Carlotta +Case Hall (Elmira); Miss Frances W. McLean (California); Mrs. Thomas +Haven (California); Dr. Kate Brousseau (University of Paris); Mrs. C. +H. Howard (California).<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a></p> + +<p>Altogether $2,075 were sent to the league from the East. Its total +receipts were $11,030 in fixed sums and the personal donations of its +working members in telegrams, postage, car fare, expressage, use of +automobiles, etc., amounted to thousands. At a meeting held in Oakland +Miss Sylvia Pankhurst spoke to more than a thousand persons who had +paid for their seats.</p> + +<p>Every legitimate method of campaigning was used, beginning with the +printing of 900,000 leaflets. There were posters and all kinds of +designs; city circularizing of the most thorough kind in many +languages; pageants, plays, concerts and public social functions; the +placarding of city bill boards over miles of country; advertising of +every possible kind; huge electric and other signs; long weeks of +automobile campaigning in the country and the villages; special +speakers for all sorts of organizations; a handsome float in the labor +day parade; speaking at vaudeville shows—there was no cessation of +these eight months' strenuous work. The campaigning in Sacramento was +in charge of Mrs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> Mary Roberts Coolidge, assisted by Mrs. E. V. +Spencer, against great odds, but the city gave a small favorable +majority, due chiefly to the union labor vote.</p> + +<p>During the last six months the College League held more than fifty +public meetings in halls in San Francisco, the audiences at the larger +ones varying from 1,300 to 10,000 with hundreds turned away. The Rev. +Charles F. Aked, the brilliant English orator, had just come from New +York and he made his first appearance outside of his pulpit at a +suffrage mass meeting in Savoy Theater, donated by the John Cort +management, and afterwards he could not refuse to speak at other +meetings. His debate with Colonel John P. Irish in the Valencia +Theater just before election was one of the great features of the +campaign. One of the most important meetings, with 1,500 present, was +addressed by the eloquent young priest, the Rev. Joseph M. Gleason, +with the boxes reserved for prominent Catholics. Rabbi Martin H. Meyer +was one of the strong speakers. At the meeting in the beautiful new +auditorium of Scottish Rite Hall Mrs. Alexander Morrison, president of +the National Collegiate Alumnae, was in the chair and among the +speakers were Dr. Aked, William C. Ralston, U. S. Sub-Treasurer; Mrs. +W. W. Douglas and Albert H. Elliott. In the Italian theater was held +the largest meeting of a political nature known to that quarter, +addressed by Emilio Lastredo, a prominent banking attorney; Ettore +Patrizi, editor of the daily <i>L'Italia</i>; Mr. Elliott, Miss Margaret +Haley and Mayor J. Stitt Wilson of Berkeley. A second great suffrage +meeting assembled there again, at which Mme. Adelina Dosenna of La +Scala, Milan, sang. The culmination was the mass meeting in Dreamland +Rink, the largest auditorium in the city. Mrs. Lowe Watson, president +of the State association, introduced by George A. Knight, was in the +chair. There were 6,000 in the audience and 4,000 on the outside, whom +Mrs. Greeley and other speakers kept in a good humor. These were Mrs. +McCulloch, Dr. Aked, John I. Nolan, union labor leader; Mr. Wilson, +Miss Todd, Miss Laughlin and Rabbi Meyer.</p> + +<p>The campaign closed with a "business men's meeting" in Cort's Theater +from 12 to 1:30 p. m. the day before election. The theater was crowded +and it was necessary to begin before noon.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> For several hours the +speakers held forth to an audience changing every half hour. Mr. +Elliott presided and the speakers were F. G. Athearn of the Southern +Pacific R. R.; Dr. Aked, Mr. Wilson, R. C. Van Fleet, Miss Todd and A. +L. Sapiro. Then came the climax to the campaign when Mrs. Ernestine +Black stepped forward and announced that Mme. Lilian Nordica would +speak for woman suffrage and sing in Union Square that evening!</p> + +<p>The great prima donna had come to San Francisco to sing at the +ground-breaking for the Panama Exposition and in an ever-generous +spirit agreed to give her matchless services to the cause in which she +was deeply interested. The crowds were packed for blocks in every +direction and suffrage speakers were addressing them from automobiles +when Madame Nordica stood up in masses of flowers in Union Square +opposite the St. Francis Hotel and very simply made her plea for the +enfranchisement of California women. Then her glorious voice rang out +to the very edges of the throng in the stirring notes of the Star +Spangled Banner. The campaign was over.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>The amendment went to the voters Oct. 10, 1911. It was most important +to watch the vote in San Francisco and Oakland, as their expected +adverse vote would have to be counteracted by the rest of the State if +the suffrage amendment carried. Oakland was put in charge of Mrs. +Coolidge, who had a corps of efficient helpers in the members of the +Amendment League, composed of old residents of Oakland, who had been +engaged for many years in church, temperance and other social work, +among them Mrs. Sarah C. Borland, Mrs. Agnes Ray, Mrs. A. A. Dennison, +Mrs. Emma Shirtzer, Mrs. Jean Kellogg, Mrs. F. M. Murray and Mrs. F. +Harlan. Of these league members 240 stood at the polls twelve hours, +not half enough of them but they were treated with the greatest +respect and undoubtedly they helped reduce the adverse majority. This +work was paralleled in Berkeley, Alameda and other places around the +bay.</p> + +<p>Four weeks before election two representatives of each of the nine +suffrage associations of San Francisco met and placed in the capable +hands of Miss Laughlin the difficult task of looking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> after the +election in that city and this committee of eighteen acted as an +executive board for carrying out her plans. Her management received +the highest commendation from political leaders. Dr. Mary Sperry and +Misses Miriam and Julie Michelson were a permanent office force and +Miss Schlingheyde, Mrs. Chapin and Miss Sullivan carried much of the +work. The Woman Suffrage Party gave the use of its headquarters in the +Lick building. The State association and the clubs of San Francisco +contributed about $1,500. A captain was appointed for each district +who selected her precinct captains and was supplied with an +automobile. Connection was established with the chairmen throughout +the counties and all were charged to "watch the count." On election +day and the next day $94 were spent for telegrams. To nearby places +experienced workers were rushed when the word came of dishonest +election officials. There were 1,066 volunteer workers in San +Francisco, 118 of them men. On election day hundreds reported for duty +before 6 o'clock and after standing at the polls twelve hours many +went into the booths and kept tally of the count until midnight. In +Oakland Pinkerton men were hired to watch it and in San Francisco the +vault where the ballots were deposited was watched for two days and +nights.</p> + +<p>The vote in San Francisco was 21,912 ayes, 35,471 noes, an adverse +majority of 13,559, and even the imperfect watching of the women +detected a fraudulent count of 3,000. In Oakland there were 6,075 +ayes, 7,818 noes, an adverse majority of 1,743. Berkeley alone of the +places around the bay came in victorious with 2,417 ayes, 1,761 noes, +a favorable majority of 656. Los Angeles, which in 1896 had given a +majority of about 4,600 in favor, returned 15,708 ayes, 13,921 noes, a +majority of only 1,787. On election night and for two days following +the suffragists judged from the vote in the cities that they were +defeated but the favorable returns from the villages, the country +districts and the ranches came slowly in and when the count was +finally completed it was found that out of a total of 246,487 votes +the suffrage amendment had been carried by 3,587, an average majority +of one in every voting precinct in the State.<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p> + +<p>With the winning of this old, wealthy and influential State the entire +movement for woman suffrage passed the crisis and victory in the +remaining western States was sure to be a matter of a comparatively +short time. As soon as the result was certain Mrs. Watson, the State +president; Mrs. Sperry and Miss Whitney, representing Northern, and +Mr. and Mrs. Braly, Mrs. Ringrose and Mrs. French, Southern +California, went to Louisville, Ky., to carry the report to the +convention of the National Association, of which this State had +forty-five life members, more than any other except New York.</p> + +<p>No State convention had been held in 1911 but one was called to meet +in San Francisco in January, 1912, and it was decided to maintain the +State association to assist the work in neighboring States. Mrs. +William Keith was made president and the officers and executive +committee held all day monthly meetings in her home for several years. +After the National League of Women Voters was formed in 1919, when +Congress was about to submit the Federal Suffrage Amendment, a meeting +was held on Feb. 12, 1920, and a California branch was formed with +Mrs. Robert J. Burdette as chairman.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>The demand of the newly enfranchised women for guidance and knowledge +was met at once by the College League, which reorganized in November, +1911, and became the California Civic League for social service, +education for citizenship and the promotion of just legislation. The +excellent work of Miss Charlotte Anita Whitney was recognized by +continuing her as president of the new league from 1911 to 1914. It is +composed of about twenty-five centers in the cities and towns of +Northern California, with a membership of nearly 4,000 and many +centers wield a strong influence in municipal affairs.</p> + +<p>The Women's Legislative Council of California was organized in +December, 1912, the outgrowth of the Legislative Committee of the +State Federation of Women's Clubs. This council, which is +non-sectarian, non-partisan and non-political, is in reality a Central +Committee of State, county and some local organizations—about sixty +in all—representing a membership of over 100,000 women. Its purpose +is to coordinate the efforts and concentrate<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> the influence of women's +organizations behind a legislative program, especially for the benefit +of women and children. A list of at least thirty excellent laws since +the enfranchisement of women have been either directly sponsored by +this council or greatly aided by the efforts of women.<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a></p> + +<p>Space can not be given for local societies but the suffrage history of +California seems to require the mention of one—the Susan B. Anthony +Club. It was formed in the hour of defeat In 1896 in honor of the +great pioneer, who had worked with the California women through all +that long campaign, and in order to hold together some of those who +had shared in the toil and the disappointment. The club was formed in +the home of Mrs. Mary S. Sperry in San Francisco and she was its +president many years. Other presidents were Mrs. Sargent, wife of U. +S. Senator Sargent, who in 1878 first introduced the Federal Suffrage +Amendment; Mrs. Swift, wife of John F. Swift, Minister to Japan; Mrs. +William Keith, wife of the distinguished artist; Mrs. Isabel A. +Baldwin and Mrs. Nellie Holbrook Blinn, all officers of the State +Suffrage Association also at different times. Dr. Alida C. Avery was +its treasurer and Mrs. Sarah G. Pringle its press representative for a +number of years. Its membership comprised many influential women, it +held regular meetings and was a liberal contributor to suffrage work +in California and other States. In 1911, when all the suffrage clubs +were disbanding, this one remained in existence and continued to hold +social meetings for many years.</p> + +<p>In 1916-17 the Committee of Political Science of the State Federation +of Women's Clubs, Mrs. Seward A. Simons, president, made a Survey of +the results of five years of woman suffrage in California, which was +widely circulated. It was a most valuable résumé of the registration +and the vote of women, the legislation they had obtained, the offices +they had held, their service on juries, their political work and the +effect of the suffrage on women and on public life. A very complete +report was made also by Mrs. Coolidge, president of the Civic League.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative and Convention Action.</span> 1901. A bill for School suffrage +was defeated.</p> + +<p>1905. A resolution to submit a constitutional amendment was defeated +in both Houses by large majorities. A bill legalizing prize fighting +was passed the same day.</p> + +<p>1906. A Suffrage State Central Committee of twenty-one competent +workers was organized, Mrs. Lillian Harris Coffin, chairman, Mrs. +Katharine Reed Balentine, secretary, and it continued its activities +in behalf of an amendment to the State constitution for the next five +years. The plan was to secure its endorsement by all conventions and +organizations and have it incorporated in the platforms of the +political parties and the Central Committee was divided into +sub-committees with representatives in every part of the State. The +Executive of this Central Committee, Mrs. Mary S. Sperry, Mrs. Nellie +Holbrook Blinn, Mrs. Helen Moore and Mrs. Coffin, were the delegates +to the State Republican convention in Santa Cruz in 1906, which was +completely under the control of the "machine." It was at this +convention that the "insurgent" sentiment began to crystallize into +the "progressive" movement. Woman suffrage was not put in the +platform. James G. Gillette, nominated for Governor, approached the +women and pledged himself, if elected, to do all he could to carry +through the amendment. Later, at Sacramento, the Democratic +convention, under the leadership of Thomas E. Hayden, Albert Johnson, +Max Popper and John Sweeny, incorporated the amendment in the +platform. It was placed in the platform of the Labor party, Miss Maud +Younger and Mrs. Francis S. Gibson assisting the Legislative +Committee.</p> + +<p>1907. The Legislature of this year was the last under the complete +domination of the corrupt political forces. The graft prosecution in +San Francisco was in full swing, the result of which was an awakened +public conscience. Every legislator had been interviewed and the San +Francisco delegation was pledged in favor of the suffrage amendment. +It was introduced by Senator Leroy Wright of San Diego and in the +House of Grove L. Johnson of Sacramento the first week of the session. +Mrs. Coffin, Mrs. Moore and Thomas E. Hayden, an attorney retained by +the State association, were the lobby maintained in Sacramento<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> during +the entire session. The amendment was reported favorably out of +committee in both Houses. When the roll was called in the House it was +discovered that the San Francisco delegates had received orders and +the entire delegation voted "no." The result was a bare majority and +not two-thirds. On demand of the suffrage lobby Mr. Johnson obtained +reconsideration. When the vote was next taken it showed that the San +Francisco delegation had been again instructed and voted solid for the +amendment, giving the necessary two-thirds, 54 to 16. Thus was this +city able to control every measure.</p> + +<p>Then began the long struggle in the Senate. President pro tem. Edward +I. Wolf of San Francisco and Senator J. B. Sanford of Ukiah, +Republican and Democratic senior Senators, were bitter opponents of +the amendment of long years' standing. After weeks of effort, with a +deadlock of constantly changing votes and always "one more to get," it +was decided to appeal to Governor Gillette to redeem his pledge of +help and Mrs. Coffin and Mr. Hayden called upon him at the Capitol. He +received them without rising or inviting them to be seated and wholly +repudiated the promises he had made to the women at the Republican +convention, saying he was only fooling! The amendment went down to +defeat, lacking two votes.</p> + +<p>1908. The Democratic convention in Stockton in 1908 again incorporated +the amendment in the platform. The Labor convention did likewise, Mrs. +Edith DeLong Jarmuth rendering valuable service on the committee. The +convention of the Republican party, the dominant one, was held in +Oakland. The Suffrage State Central Committee opened headquarters at +the Hotel Metropole simultaneously with the Republicans, much to their +chagrin. Rooms were also opened in the Bacon Block, financed by the +Oakland Amendment League, who were coming to lobby. Three hundred +women marched in the first suffrage parade in the State behind a +yellow silk suffrage banner, with the State coat of arms richly +embroidered on it by Mrs. Theodore Pinther, who carried it to reserved +seats in the front of the gallery of the McDonough Theater, where the +convention was held. Mrs. Sperry, Mrs. Pease of Colorado and a +committee of eight women representing as many separate interests had +spoken before the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> Resolutions Committee the evening before, with two +minutes allotted to each. Mrs. Josephine Manahan, Miss Younger, Mrs. +LaRue, Mrs. Barron and Mrs. O'Donnell composed the labor committee. +Filling the galleries and boxes the suffragists waited for the result. +In lieu of a suffrage plank the Republican chairman stepped forth and +in his pleasantest manner thanked the women for their attendance, +assuring them that by their grace and beauty they had contributed +materially to the success of the convention. Mrs. Pease, who was +seated in the front row, rose and answered that the women were not +there for bouquets but for justice and declined their thanks.</p> + +<p>1909. This year the amendment was in the middle of the stream. It had +the promise of support from individual members but the party leaders +had declined assistance. The Progressives felt topheavy with reforms +and feared to be overbalanced if it were adopted as part of their +program. They had the majority in both Houses but failing to secure +any part of the organization they were left off of all important +committees and were on the outside. Apartments for the suffrage lobby, +under the care of Mrs. E. L. Campbell, were opened near the Capitol. +Delegates from many parts of the State were constantly arriving to +relieve the others, with the exception of Mrs. Coffin and Mrs. Moore, +who were in constant attendance and with other members of the +committees and Mrs. Elizabeth Lowe Watson, the president, carried the +burden of the work. Assemblyman Johnson again introduced the +amendment. A ruling was made, aimed at the women, that no lobbyists +should be permitted on the floor of the Assembly. To the amazement of +every one the women began to secure votes. The Judiciary Committee +recommended the amendment and it came up as a special order. Speaker +Philip A. Stanton was an avowed opponent, as was Assemblyman J. P. +Transue, floor leader, both of Los Angeles. The San Francisco +delegation, under the direction of Assemblyman J. J. McManus, lined up +with them. The debate lasted an hour. Assemblymen Otis, Telfer, +Juilliard and Hinkel were among those speaking for the amendment. The +atmosphere seemed favorable but at 12 o'clock, when the vote should +have been taken, to the amazement of its friends, Mr. Johnson moved +for a recess until one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> o'clock. In that hour every possible pressure +was brought to bear against the amendment. When the session reconvened +the galleries were packed with persons there in the interest of the +race-track bill and the suffrage lobby were compelled to sit on the +steps. Without preliminaries the amendment went down to defeat, Mr. +Johnson refusing to ask for reconsideration.</p> + +<p>The members of the suffrage lobby toured the State, telling the story +of the legislative defeat and showing what would be the benefits of a +direct primary law. During the Chautauqua meeting in the Yosemite in +July, through the efforts of Assemblyman Drew of Fresno, an entire day +and evening were granted for an excellent suffrage program of a strong +political flavor with Mrs. Ray, Mrs. Coffin and Mrs. Gamage in charge.</p> + +<p>1910. The reform element in the Legislature did succeed in enacting a +direct primary law, which, although imperfect, enabled the voters for +the first time in the history of the State to speak for themselves. +Stimulated and encouraged the Republican State convention of 1910 met +in San Francisco and was dominated by the progressive element. The +good government forces had been successful in Los Angeles and had +unanimously included the suffrage plank in their county platform, J. +H. Braly assisting in this result. Santa Clara county under the +leadership of Charles Blaney had done likewise, and the delegates came +to the State convention prepared to force its adoption. It needed that +solid front of eighty-three votes from south of the Tehachapi and the +militant argument of the sturdy Santa Clara delegation to bring the +San Francisco leaders into line. The amendment plank was taken up by +the Resolutions Committee, of which Harris Weinstock was chairman, and +given the same careful consideration accorded every other proposed +plank. The women attended the convention in numbers but were not +required to go before this committee, which adopted it unanimously. It +was adopted as part of the platform by the convention with three +cheers. Thus it became a man's measure and the policy of the +Progressive Republican party. To the regret of many prominent +supporters of the amendment in the Democratic ranks the convention of +that party failed to endorse it. The reason was simple—the "machine" +forces which had hitherto dominated the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> Republican conventions now +concentrated their strength on the Democratic. A progressive +Legislature was nominated and a man for Governor who had sufficient +courage to carry out a progressive program—Hiram W. Johnson—the +women contributing to his success in not a few counties. The election +was a Progressive victory and the chairman of the Republican State +Central Committee called a meeting of its members and the members +elect of the Legislature for 1911 at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco +and appointed committees for assisting the legislators in carrying out +the promises of the platform. A committee of the leading legislators +was appointed to see that a woman suffrage amendment to the +constitution was submitted.</p> + +<p>1911. The action taken in 1911 has been described.</p> + +<p>In 1915 the Legislature by unanimous vote of both Houses passed +resolutions which said in part:</p> + +<blockquote><p>Resolved, That so successful has been the operation and effect of +granting political rights to women that it is generally conceded +that, were the question to be again voted on by the people of +this State, it would be reendorsed by an overwhelming majority; +and be it further</p> + +<p>Resolved, That the adoption of woman suffrage by California is +one of the important factors contributing to the marked +political, social and industrial advancement made by our people +in recent years.</p></blockquote> + +<p>In 1917 in the midst of the war, when the Federal Suffrage Amendment +was hanging in the balance in Congress, a petition from the State +Federation of Women's Clubs was sent to the Legislature through Mrs. +Alfred Bartlett of Los Angeles that it would memorialize Congress on +the subject. Without a dissenting vote the following passed both +Houses in just twelve minutes: "Whereas, the women of the United +States are being called upon to share the burdens and sacrifices of +the present national crisis and they are patriotically responding to +that call, be it Resolved by the Senate of California with the +Assembly concurring that the denial of the right of women to vote on +equal terms with men is an injustice and we do urge upon Congress the +submission to the Legislatures of the States for their ratification of +an amendment to the U. S. Constitution granting women the right to +vote."</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> Governor William D. Stephens called the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> Legislature to +meet in special session Nov. 1, 1919, for the one purpose of ratifying +the Federal Amendment, which had been submitted June 4. The Women's +Legislative Council had unanimously urged this action in convention. +More than a hundred members of the various suffrage societies went to +Sacramento and before the vote was taken they gave a luncheon for the +legislators, which was attended by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor +and State officials. The speakers were the Governor and the presidents +of many State organizations of women. The ratification was not a +matter of controversy and the vote in favor was unanimous in the +Senate, 73 to 2 in the House—Robert Madison of Santa Rosa and C. W. +Greene of Paso Robles.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Mary L. Cheney, secretary of the University of California, +prepared for this chapter a complete list of the offices filled by +women and the positions held by women in the universities, which the +lack of space compelled to be omitted. In 1918 for the first time four +were elected to the Legislature and received important committee +appointments and there have been a few other women legislators. In San +Francisco a Doctor of Jurisprudence of the University of California, +Mrs. Annette Abbott Adams, was the first in the country to hold the +position of U. S. District Attorney. In 1920 another, Miss Frances H. +Wilson, was assistant district attorney. On the teaching force of the +State University at Berkeley were ninety-three women in December, +1919, including Dr. Jessica Peixotto, full professor of economics, +three associate and seven assistant professors and two assistant +professors in the medical college. At Leland Stanford Junior +University are one woman professor emeritus (psychology); two +associate professors, eight assistant professors—over 40 women on the +teaching force.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> For the "assembling" of the different parts of this +chapter and much of the work on it the History is indebted to Mary +McHenry (Mrs. William) Keith, president of the State Equal Suffrage +Association; for Legislative Action to Mrs. Lillian Harris Coffin, +chairman of the State Legislative Committee; for matter on Southern +California to Miss M. Frances Wills and Mrs. Adelia D. Wade.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> Mrs. Sperry was reelected the next six years. Miss +Carrie A. Whelan and Miss Clara Schlingheyde were retained six years +as corresponding secretary and treasurer. Others who held State +offices during the years were Mrs. Chapman, Mrs. Corbert, Dr. Minora +Kibbe, Mrs. Alice L. Park, Mrs. Osborne, Dr. Charlotte Baker, Miss +Belle Angier, Miss Josephine R. Cole, Rev. Mrs. Wilkes, Dr. Avery, +Mrs. Blinn, Mrs. M. A. Woog, Mrs. Chapman J. Arnott, Mrs. Nellie S. +Scoville, Mrs. Lulu Pyle Little, Mrs. Josephine Mastick, Mrs. Therese +S. Speddy, Mrs. Coffin, Mrs. Ella Mitchell, Dr. Minerva Goodman, Mrs. +Francesca Pierce, Mrs. Lucretia Watson Taylor, Mrs. Helen Moore, Mrs. +Lilian Hough, Mrs. Lehman Blum, Mrs. Martha Pierce, Mrs. Augusta +Jones.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> While in San Francisco Miss Anthony found time to give +one sitting for a large oil portrait by William Keith, which was +completed after her death in the spring of 1906 and looked down upon +the audience from the chancel of the Unitarian church in San Francisco +at the memorial services for her on Palm Sunday, April 8. It was +shipped to her home in Rochester, N. Y., the day before the earthquake +of April 18, but it escaped destruction by fire only to meet with +mishap after the death of Miss Mary S. Anthony, to whom it had been +presented by the wife of the artist. Miss Anthony was shown seated +near an open window from which a beautiful sunset was seen; a lavender +robe and a crimson curtain background set off the face and figure in +fine relief.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> Mrs. Keith was by no means a woman of wealth but it was +said that during the years that led up to the campaign and in the +campaign her contributions amounted to about $15,000.—Ed.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> Among the early workers, besides those already +mentioned, were: Mrs. Charlotte LeMoyne Wills, Mrs. Mila Tupper +Maynard, Mrs. Lulu Pyle Little, Mrs. Sarah Wilde Houser, Mrs. +Josephine Marlett, Mrs. Alice E. Brodwell, Mrs. Mary A. Kenney, Mrs. +Mary Alderman Garbutt, Mrs. Martha Salyer, Miss Margaret M. Fette, +Mrs. Cora D. Lewis.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> Among the names that constantly occur in the State work +as speakers, writers, on committees, etc., besides those specially +mentioned, are Mrs. Emma Shafter Howard, Miss Mary S. Keene, Mrs. J. +A. Waymire, Mrs. Isabel A. Baldwin, Mrs. Ella E. Greenman, Miss Mary +Fairbrother, Dr. Sarah I. Shuey, Miss Anna Chase, Mrs. Abbie E. Krebs, +Miss Ina Coolbrith, Mrs. Nellie Blessing Eyster, Mrs. Frances +Williamson. +</p><p> +The comprehensive booklet published by Miss Selina Solomons, "How We +Won the Vote in California," preserves scores of these names and +contains a wealth of details in regard to this interesting campaign.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> After the election was over the College League at a +general request issued a pamphlet of 139 pages, edited by Louise +Herrick Wall, describing in detail its many activities during the +campaign, every page of which is a record of marvelous work.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> The consideration of Secretary of State Frank Jordan was +appreciated in placing the amendment on the ballot with an explanatory +footnote that would prevent any one from not recognizing it. The +victory was partly due to this advantage.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> The very complete résumé of the activities of these +organizations made by Miss Martha A. Ijams, Council Secretary, had to +be much condensed for lack of space.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>COLORADO.<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a></h3> + + +<p>In Colorado the period from 1900 to 1920 began and ended with a +victory for equal suffrage. In 1901 the woman suffrage law of 1893 was +by vote of the people made a part of the State constitution. In 1919 a +special session of the Legislature ratified the Federal Suffrage +Amendment. A half-century ago, Jan. 4, 1870, Governor Edward M. McCook +in his biennial report to the Territorial Legislature had urged it to +be a leader in this "movement of progressive civilization," but it was +twenty-three years later when the lone example of the sister State, +Wyoming, was followed and Colorado became the second State to +enfranchise woman.</p> + +<p>When Colorado was admitted into the Union in 1876 a strong effort was +made to have its constitution provide for equal suffrage but it was +not successful. School suffrage was given and provision was made that +the Legislature might at any time submit a measure to the voters for +the complete franchise, which, if accepted by the majority, should +become law. This was done in 1877 and defeated. It was submitted again +in 1893 and adopted by a majority of 6,347. Women were thus entitled +to vote on the same terms as men but it was by law and not by +constitutional amendment. Aliens could vote on six months' residence +and on their "first papers," without completing their citizenship. In +1901 the Legislature submitted the following amendment: "Every person +over the age of twenty-one years, possessing the following +qualifications, shall be entitled to vote at all elections: He or she +shall be a citizen of the United States and shall have resided in the +State twelve months immediately preceding the election at which he or +she offers to vote." It is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> worthy of note that Casimero Barela, known +as the perpetual Senator who had opposed equal suffrage since the +question was first raised in Territorial days, esteemed it a privilege +to introduce the resolution for this amendment. The vote on Nov. 4, +1901, stood, ayes, 35,372; noes, 20,087; carried by a majority of +15,285, which was nearly 64 per cent. of the vote cast. After a trial +of eight years the voters, men and women, thus securely entrenched +woman suffrage in the State constitution.</p> + +<p>The Equal Suffrage Association has continued its existence in order to +assist the women in other States to get the franchise and also to look +after legislative and civic affairs at home. It has not held annual +conventions but its regular monthly meetings have taken place for +years at the Adams Hotel in Denver where they could be attended by +members from all parts of the State and strangers within the gates +from this or other countries. The presidents after Mrs. John L. Routt +retired were, Mrs. Katherine T. Patterson, Mrs. Amy K. Cornwall, +Professor Theodosia G. Ammons, Mrs. Minerva C. Welch, Mrs. Harriet G. +R. Wright (8 years), Mrs. Dora Phelps Buell, Mrs. Honora McPhearson, +Mrs. Lucy I. Harrington, Mrs. Katherine Tipton Hosmer, 1918.</p> + +<p>Three of these presidents have passed over the range, Mrs. Routt, wife +of the former Governor; Mrs. Patterson, wife of U. S. Senator Thomas +M. Patterson, and Professor Ammons, who established the department of +domestic science in the Colorado Agricultural College. Two eminent and +highly valued suffragists who have passed away are Mrs. Sarah Platt +Decker and the Hon. Isaac N. Stevens. Mrs. Decker, one of the most +accomplished and forceful of women, was president of the State Board +of Charities and Corrections and vice-president of the first State +Civil Service Commission from 1909 until her death July 7, 1912, in +California during the biennial of the General Federation of Women's +Clubs, of which she had been president. Mr. Stevens, editor for years +of the Colorado Springs <i>Gazette</i> and later of the <i>Pueblo Chieftain</i>, +member of the Legislature and prominent in politics, was always an +ardent and influential supporter of woman suffrage. Among the pioneer +workers who are still living are Mrs. Ione T. Hanna, the first woman +elected member of a school board in the State; Mrs. Alma V. Lafferty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +and Mrs. Harriet G. R. Wright, former members of the Legislature; Dr. +Mary Barker-Bates, Dr. Minnie C. T. Love, Mrs. William N. Byers, Mrs. +James B. Belford and Mrs. Celia Baldwin Whitehead.<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a></p> + +<p>The State Association has been non-partisan but its members personally +have been connected with the various parties. This does not mean that +they always have voted a straight party ticket; they have not, neither +have men, and scratched tickets are common. Women do not necessarily +"vote just as their husbands do" but many a pair go amicably to the +polls and with perfect good feeling nullify each other's vote. It is a +noteworthy fact that during all the years no bill which the State +association actively opposed has been passed by the General Assembly +and every bill which it actively supported has been enacted into law. +It has thus conclusively been proved that, while women must band +themselves together for bettering the condition of their sex and for +the general good of the State, yet having planned together they must +work out their problems through their political parties. The +association has consistently opposed the so-called National Woman's +Party with its "militant" methods, giving wide publicity to +resolutions adopted Oct. 2, 1917, which said: "We denounce the methods +and actions of the women 'picketing' the White House as unpatriotic +and not in accord with the principles of this association; we declare +they have impugned the good faith of the United States in the eyes of +Russia and other foreign nations ... and we request the Attorney +General of the United States to institute an investigation of the +association supporting the 'pickets' and the sources of its money +supply...."</p> + +<p>Though actively engaged with serious problems of State government, of +city administration and of home economics, the association has never +overlooked the fact that social activities<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> are essential to good +government and right living and has made its social affairs a +noteworthy feature during the past years.</p> + +<p>There has never been any question among the people generally in +Colorado as to the benefit of woman suffrage. Sanitary conditions are +improved, beginning at everybody's back yard and extending through +every business place and every public domain in the State. Business +methods are different. Visiting women say they can tell when in the +large department stores, groceries, etc., that the women are voters. +Political campaigns are very differently conducted since women have a +part in them. Election methods have changed to make election day what +the men deem fitting since their wives, mothers and sisters are voters +and the polling places are unobjectionable. Not only has it been +conceded that the commonwealth has been blest by the votes of the +women but also that the women themselves have been benefited; their +lives have been enriched by their broadening experiences; their larger +vision has made possible greater culture; their wider opportunity for +doing has led to more deeds of kindness; their interest in State +government and civic economics has improved their ideas of home +government and domestic economy; their assistance in State and civic +"house-cleaning" has imbued them with a higher sense of duty to +society and their own homes.</p> + +<p>From time to time wholly unwarranted attacks were made on the effects +of woman suffrage in Colorado in order to prevent its adoption in +other States. During 1908-9 the misrepresentations became so vicious +there was a general feeling that as the men voters largely outnumbered +the women they should not remain silent. Through the efforts of +Assistant District Attorney Omar E. Garwood the Equal Suffrage Aid +Association of men was formed with former Governor Alva Adams +president; Isaac N. Stevens, vice-president, and Mr. Garwood +secretary. Prominent men joined it and it rendered such excellent +service in giving authoritative information that in a few years the +attacks and misrepresentations almost wholly ceased. Mr. Garwood went +on to New York, where the National Men's League for Woman Suffrage was +organized with James Lees Laidlaw of New York City as president and +Mr. Garwood as secretary. He aided in forming similar leagues in other +States and for several years<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> participated actively in the suffrage +campaigns of Kansas, Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South +Dakota, and lectured as far south as Mississippi, finding much +interest in Colorado's experiment. It was believed that the men's +organizations, actively taking the stand for the enfranchisement of +women, contributed substantially to the ultimate success of the +movement. In 1915 and following years an obscure lawyer employed by +certain vested interests in Colorado and elsewhere went into eastern +States where suffrage amendments were pending and scattered false +statements about the situation in this State. The newspapers of the +East were flooded with denials by Colorado men, women and +organizations and when they published these he filed suits for libel +but never allowed one of them to come to trial.</p> + +<p>Again and again the Legislature has given official testimony in favor +of woman suffrage when it would be helpful. On Jan. 2, 1919, when the +U. S. Senate was about to vote on submitting the Federal Amendment, +Mrs. Hosmer, president of the State Association; Mrs. Anna M. Scott, +first vice-president, and Mrs. Sarah K. Walling, a member of the board +of directors, went before the Legislature at the opening of the +session, asking for a memorial to the Senate urging favorable action. +In less than an hour the rules had been suspended in both Houses and +the following resolution passed unanimously:</p> + +<blockquote><p>Whereas, Colorado has long enjoyed the help and counsel of its +women in all political matters of citizenship and by these years +of experience demonstrated the benefit to be derived from equal +suffrage; and whereas, there is now pending in the Senate of the +United States a constitutional amendment providing for national +woman suffrage; therefore be it</p> + +<p>Resolved, that we urge the United States Senate to take up and +submit this amendment at the earliest possible date in order that +all the women of the nation may have the right of suffrage and +the nation may have the benefit of their citizenship.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Both Democratic and Republican parties, and the Populist and +Progressive parties when they existed, have stood for equal suffrage +and unequivocally endorsed it in their platforms. The appointment of +vice-chairwomen of the political State Committees is a foregone +conclusion. During the memorable campaign of 1914, Mrs. Steele, wife +of the late Chief Justice Robert W.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> Steele, successfully filled this +place in the Democratic party during a time fraught with difficulties, +as the then Congressional Union opened headquarters in Denver to +oppose every Democratic candidate for Congress under the excuse of +holding the party in federal power responsible. The injection of such +a movement in a State where equal suffrage had long been in force and +the women had allied themselves with the parties of their choice, +created among them a keen resentment and acrimonious controversy. The +Democratic Senator, Charles S. Thomas, and Democratic Representatives +who had always been friends of woman suffrage, were re-elected.</p> + +<p>Beginning with 1908 the following women were sent as delegates or +alternates to the presidential nominating conventions: Mary C. C. +Bradford, Katherine Cook, Anna H. Pitzer, Eugenia Kelley, Nancy +Kirkland, Helen L. Grenfell, Alice B. Clark, Mary Nichols and Anna M. +Scott. The following have served as presidential electors: Gertrude A. +Lee, Sarah K. Walling, Adella Bailey, Julie Penrose, Anna Wolcott +Vaile.</p> + +<p>On Jan. 1, 1919, one of the most important receptions in Denver was +given by the State Equal Suffrage Association to the new Governor, +Oliver H. Shoup (Republican) and his wife, and the retiring Governor, +Julius C. Gunter (Democrat) and his wife. Both were on the board of +directors of the association. It was held in the roof ballroom of the +Adams Hotel and was a most democratic affair, all classes being +represented, as all had found a common interest in public welfare. A +few months later the association gave a handsomely appointed luncheon +at the Adams with Senator Agnes Riddle as guest of honor. Its purpose +was to show appreciation of her heroic stand for women when she voted +against the male appointee of the Governor of her own party to take +the place of a woman expert (a member of the other party) on the Board +of Charities and Correction.</p> + +<p>In May, 1919, when it was known that the Federal Suffrage Amendment +was certain to be submitted in a short time, the State Association +requested Governor Shoup to be in readiness to call a special session +of the Legislature so quickly that Colorado might be the first State +to ratify. It offered to supply without<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> salary or compensation of any +kind all necessary clerks, stenographers, pages and sergeants-at-arms +in order that the State should be put to no expense except for the +mileage of the legislators, whose salaries are paid by the year. When +the amendment was finally submitted on June 4 the newspapers, which +had been loyal to the cause all these years, and the men and women +whose interest and support had never flagged, were overjoyed with +thanksgiving and jubilation. The <i>Rocky Mountain Herald</i> of Denver was +one of the first papers to support the Equal Suffrage Association in +asking for an immediate ratification by a special session of the +Legislature. The Governor promised to call one eventually but would +not consent to do it at once, claiming that legislators from the +farming districts asked for delay. Every possible influence was +brought to bear on him but the situation remained unchanged. "For +reasons" the party in power (Republican) decreed that, while of course +the special session must be held, this could not be done until fall or +winter. The members of the association, knowing the futility of +further effort, proceeded to arrange for a public jubilee.</p> + +<p>The meeting was held in the City Park of Denver on the night of June +25 in connection with a concert by the city band. Mrs. Hosmer presided +and prayer was offered by Mrs. Almira Frost Hudson. Jubilant speeches +were made by Mrs. Harrington, State Senator E. V. Dunkley and Captain +Morrison Shafroth to an audience of about 1,500. Governor Shoup was +out of the city but sent a letter to be read. The Mayor was +represented by Commissioner J. W. Sharpley. At the Fourth of July +celebration held under the auspices of the Colorado Patriotic League +at the same place, the president of the State suffrage association was +one of the speakers. Her subject was "Woman's First Fourth of July" +and so this celebration also took on the nature of a rejoicing over +the new women electorate of the nation.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> The Legislature met in special session Dec. 8, 1919, and +a resolution for ratification was introduced in Senate and House, in +the latter bearing the names of the two women Representatives, Dr. May +T. Bigelow and Miss Mable Ruth Baker, and that of the Senate the name +of the one woman member, Senator Agnes Riddle, and as passed it bore<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> +all three names. It requires three days for action on a resolution and +the ratification was completed on the 12th, both Houses voting +unanimously in favor. The day of the final passage was made a great +occasion for the Equal Suffrage Association. Legislators referred to +it in their speeches and Mrs. Walling, one of its board of directors, +was escorted to a seat beside Speaker Allyn Cole. Mrs. Hosmer was out +of the city. A short recess was taken that the first vice-president, +Mrs. Anna M. Scott, might be heard, who made a brief but eloquent +speech. When the time came for the final vote Speaker Cole surrendered +his place to Representative Bigelow, so that a woman might wield the +gavel when the result was announced.<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> The bill went immediately to +the Governor, who signed it on the 15th. Colorado had by this +ratification placed the seal of her approval on the twenty-six years +of woman suffrage in the State.</p> + +<p>During the war, the Woman's State Council of Defense was a most +efficient organization, Governor Gunter saying that he ascribed its +remarkable work to the experience which the women had gained by their +quarter-of-a-century of active citizenship. On June 17, 1920, the +State Equal Suffrage Association became incorporated under the name of +the League of Women Voters with Mrs. Scott as chairman. A number of +prominent eastern women en route to the Democratic national convention +in San Francisco stopped at Denver and were guests at the banquet in +celebration of the new league.</p> + +<p>The legislative council of the State Federation of Women's Clubs holds +weekly meetings during the sessions of the Legislature and takes up +bills for consideration, particularly those relating to women and +children, education and public health. After discussion and study +these bills are approved or not approved and the legislators, the club +women and the general public are informed as to their action.</p> + +<p>There is no law prohibiting women from filling any offices in the +State and it has been said that a really determined effort could place +a woman even in that of chief executive. The office<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> of State +Superintendent of Public Instruction has been filled by a woman since +1894 and no man has been nominated for it. Those who have held this +important office are Antoinette J. Peavey, Grace Espey Patton, Helen +L. Grenfell (three terms), Katharine Craig, Katharine Cook, Helen M. +Wixson (two terms), Mary C. C. Bradford from 1915 to the present time. +During her second term she was elected president of the National +Education Association. Mrs. Walling succeeded Mrs. Sarah Platt Decker +as vice-president of the Civil Service Commission and served six +years. In 1913 Mrs. Alice Adams Fulton became secretary and chief +examiner of the commission. Mrs. Mary Wolfe Dargin was appointed +register of the U. S. Land Office in 1915 and Miss Clara Ruth Mozzer +to the office of Assistant Attorney General in 1917. There have been +women clerks, auditors, recorders and treasurers in seventy-five +cities and towns, including Denver, and several aldermen. Mrs. Lydia +Tague was elected judge in Eagle county. A few years ago 600 women +were serving on school boards.</p> + +<p>Prior to the year 1900 nine women had sat in the House of +Representatives—three in each Legislature after the passage of the +equal suffrage law, and there have been nine or ten since then, a +number of them re-elected. In 1913 Colorado's first woman Senator, +Mrs. Helen Ring Robinson, was elected. She was the second in the equal +suffrage States, Mrs. Martha Hughes Cannno of Utah the first. In 1917 +Mrs. Agnes Riddle was elected.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Katherine +Tipton (Mrs. George E.) Hosmer, president of the State Equal Suffrage +Association. Mrs. Hosmer wishes to express her obligation for +assistance in securing data to the past presidents and executive +officers of the association.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> Among those who worked in the first decade of this +century were: Helen L. Grenfell, Mary C. C. Bradford, Ellis Meredith, +Hattie E. Westover, Mrs. John F. Shafroth, Minnie J. Reynolds, Gail +Laughlin, Drs. Elizabeth Cassady, Jean Gale, Mary Long, Mary E. Bates, +Rose Kidd Beere and Sarah Townsend; Lillian C. Kerns, Martha A. Pease, +Alice Polk Hill, Mrs. A. C. Sisk, Mrs. A. L. Cooper, Bessie Lee Pogue, +Helen Wixson, Anna M. Scott, Carrie Marshall, Nora B. Wright, Laura +Holtzschneider, Hattie Howard, Rosetta Webb, Sarah Purchase, Helen +Bedford, Inez Johnson Lewis, Eva Rinkle, Evangeline Heartz, Louisa M. +Tyler, Mary Nichols, Helen Miller, Louise Blanchard, Margaret Keating, +Lillian Hartman Johnson.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> The day before a joint session of the two Houses had +been held that they might listen to the reading of a poem written for +the occasion by one of the oldest members of the association, Mrs. +Alice Polk Hill.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>CONNECTICUT.<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a></h3> + + +<p>In 1901 the Connecticut Woman Suffrage Association had been in +existence for thirty-two years, and, except for the first two years, +Mrs. Isabella Beecher Hooker, who had led the movement for its +organization, had been its president. Closely associated with her +during all these years was Miss Frances Ellen Burr, who was recording +secretary from 1869 to 1910. Under her leadership and with the aid of +her husband, John Hooker, an eminent lawyer, legislation had been +secured giving mothers equal guardianship of their children and wives +full control of their property and earnings. The only concession that +had been made to the steady demand of the women for suffrage was the +grant of the School franchise in 1893 and eligibility to the school +boards. Interest in woman suffrage was at a low ebb when the new +century opened. The membership of the association had decreased and at +the State convention in Hartford in 1901 the treasurer's report for +the year showed an expenditure of only $21.75. The report of the +president and secretary said: "The work of the association is confined +to the annual fall convention and the legislative hearing."</p> + +<p>A convention for the revision of the State constitution was to meet in +Hartford at the opening of 1902, whose delegates from the towns and +cities were chosen in the fall of 1901. Little was done to secure +pledges from the candidates but the association obtained the +concession of a room at the Capitol for its use. The National American +Woman Suffrage Association sent an organizer—Mrs. Mary Seymour Howell +of New York—into the State and paid her salary for four weeks and she +spent seven weeks in Hartford, living with Mrs. Hooker and giving her +time<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> to the convention. Mrs. Hooker prepared a Memorial that was +presented and referred to a committee, which refused not only to grant +a hearing to the suffragists but even to receive for distribution in +the convention the copies of the Memorial which had been printed. +Charles Hopkins Clark, editor of the <i>Courant</i>, was chairman. Two +suffrage resolutions were presented in the convention at the request +of the State association, by Daniel Davenport of Bridgeport and +Colonel Norris Osborn of New Haven, and were defeated without debate.</p> + +<p>In 1902 the State convention was held at Collinsville, in spite of +some unwillingness of local suffragists to "shock the town" by having +such a meeting there. By this time Mrs. Hooker, though still +president, had largely relinquished the work to Mrs. Elizabeth D. +Bacon, the faithful vice-president. A general feeling of +discouragement was perceptible in the reports to the convention of +1903, which was held at Mrs. Hooker's home in Hartford with only 21 +delegates present; also to the convention of 1904 in New Haven. +Nevertheless it was voted to ask the Legislature for Municipal +suffrage for women.</p> + +<p>During these years the annual expenditures never amounted to $200. In +1905 at the convention in Hartford on November 1 the treasurer +reported that $137 had been spent. In 1906, when the convention was +held at Meriden, November 2, the disbursements were reported as $162. +There were only nine delegates and Mrs. Hooker, who had not attended +the meetings for two years, was made honorary president, and Mrs. +Bacon was elected to the presidency. Mrs. Hooker died in January, +1907, at the age of 85, thus taking from the movement one of the most +brilliant figures of the early period.</p> + +<p>The convention of 1907 was held in Hartford October 29, and the +following year it met in New Haven on October 1. A slightly increased +membership was reported and some younger women had come into the +movement, including Mrs. Jessie Adler of Hartford, who was responsible +later for the candidacy of Mrs. Thomas N. Hepburn. The expenditures +for 1908 were $265. In 1909 the convention was held at Meriden. It was +reported that the National Association had sent a request to +Connecticut for a petition to Congress with a quota of at least<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +30,000 signatures but that the number collected had fallen +considerably short of 5,000. Miss Caroline Ruutz-Rees, principal of a +flourishing girls' school in Greenwich, attended as a delegate from a +newly formed Equal Franchise League in that town and several young and +enthusiastic suffragists, including Mrs. Hepburn, who had lately come +into the State, were in attendance with the delegation from the Equal +Rights Club of Hartford.</p> + +<p>In October Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst, whose "militant" movement in +England was attracting world-wide attention, spoke in Hartford. At +this meeting Mrs. Hepburn met Miss Emily Pierson of Cromwell, a +teacher in the Bristol High School. Both received an inspiration from +Mrs. Pankhurst and they began a campaign in Hartford, organizing +public meetings for which they obtained speakers of national +reputation. To support this work the Hartford Political Equality +League (afterwards the Equal Franchise League) was formed with a +membership at first of four, all of whom were officers. It quickly +attracted members and got into touch with the equally vigorous and +enthusiastic young league in Greenwich.</p> + +<p>In the fall of 1910 the State convention was held at Greenwich, with a +large delegation from these leagues. These younger members had come to +the decision that if any active work was to be done there must be a +complete change in the management of the State Woman Suffrage +Association, an idea that was warmly endorsed by some of the older +leaders. A new "slate" of officers was presented headed by Mrs. +Hepburn, who had consented to nomination on condition that the +Greenwich and the Hartford leagues should each pledge $1,000 for the +work of the coming year. Miss Burr had resigned three months before +the convention the secretaryship which she had held over forty years. +The treasurer, Mrs. Mary Jane Rogers, who had been in office for +sixteen years, was re-elected and continued to serve until 1913. Then +on her refusal to accept another term she was elected auditor and held +the office until her death in 1918. In 1912 ex-presidents were put on +the executive board and Mrs. Bacon regularly attended the meetings and +aided the newer workers with her experience and advice until her death +in 1918. The income for 1910 had been $400, the largest ever +received.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p> + +<p>The convention of 1911, held in Bridgeport, showed great advance in +organization and general activity. Miss Pierson was elected State +organizer and an automobile tour of one of the eight counties was +undertaken in August under her spirited leadership. Thirty-one +meetings were held and fourteen new leagues were formed and affiliated +with the State association. The income was reported at the convention +as having been $3,966 and the enrolled membership had increased to +over 5,000. At this convention Mrs. Hepburn declined re-election on +account of family duties and Mrs. William T. Hincks, president of a +new and active league at Bridgeport, was chosen. Mrs. Hepburn remained +a useful member of the board.</p> + +<p>In 1912 the annual convention was held at New Haven, where after much +difficulty Miss Pierson had organized a flourishing Equal Franchise +League with Mrs. Carlos F. Stoddard president. A Political Equality +Club had existed here from before the opening of the century but its +membership was small and it made no appeal to a large number of women +who were ready to come out for suffrage. It seemed better, as in +Hartford in 1909, to form a new organization with younger leaders.</p> + +<p>The annual convention in 1913 was held in Hartford. Mrs. Hincks +refused re-election and Mrs. Hepburn was again chosen, with Mrs. M. +Toscan Bennett as treasurer. The work accomplished during the year, as +reported at the convention, had included the collection of 18,000 +names to a petition to the Legislature for full suffrage for women, +while campaigns had covered the smaller cities and towns and resulted +in the organization of all the State except one county.</p> + +<p>The convention of 1914 again took place in Hartford and Mrs. Hepburn, +with practically the whole board, was re-elected. The work of the year +included a "ward campaign," in which a beginning was made of +organizing on the lines of a political party, automobile campaigns +completing the organization of the whole State; the first suffrage +parade took place in Hartford on May 2. Political work had resulted in +obtaining a woman suffrage plank in the Democratic State platform. The +total income for the year was $17,779.</p> + +<p>In 1915 at the State convention in Hartford Mrs. Hepburn was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> again +re-elected. The reports included accounts of the activities of the +sixty-nine clubs and leagues affiliated with the State association. In +the Legislature not only had the suffrage measures been turned down +but almost all of those favored by the women, owing to the bitter +hostility of the Republican "machine," by which it had long been +dominated. This convention declared in favor of concentrating on State +work, the majority opinion being that it was as yet of no use to work +for the Federal Suffrage Amendment. The income for the year was +reported as $19,476, this being entirely apart from the money received +and spent locally by the affiliated leagues. During the year a +petition to submit a State amendment with over 43,000 names of men and +women had been collected and presented to the Legislature.<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a></p> + +<p>The convention of 1916 was held at New Haven and Mrs. Hepburn was +re-elected. The reports showed that the year then ended had been the +most active in the history of the association. In the winter of +1915-16 work had been undertaken in the counties whose Representatives +had made the worst showing in the preceding Legislature. Miss Helen +Todd, who had worked in California in 1911 when its victory was +gained, was secured as the principal speaker for a campaign organized +for her by Miss Catharine Flanagan of Hartford. Other organizers were +Miss Alice Pierson of Cromwell, Miss Katherine Mullen of New Haven and +Miss Daphne Selden of Deep River, Miss Emily Pierson remaining State +organizer and directing the work. In the spring of 1916 Miss Alice +Pierson married Ralph Swetman and during the summer both undertook a +house to house campaign, with numerous open air meetings in the +smaller towns of Hartford county. The income for the year was $27,442, +nearly all of which was expended. The membership of the State +association<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> by careful count was 32,366 and the affiliated leagues +and clubs numbered eighty-one. During the year a bulletin from +headquarters was sent twice a month to each dues-paying member. In +June a delegation went to Chicago and marched under the leadership of +Mrs. Grace Gallatin Seton in the great parade of the National Suffrage +Association that braved the rain and wind on its way to the Coliseum, +where the cause of woman suffrage was presented to the Resolutions +Committee of the Republican National Convention.</p> + +<p>The State convention of 1917 was held in Hartford November 7, 8, and +the reports showed that attention had been concentrated on the three +measures before the Legislature—a bill for Presidential and Municipal +suffrage; a bill for Excise suffrage (a vote in local option), and a +resolution for a State constitutional amendment also but both bills +were defeated in House and Senate. The amendment resolution, however, +secured a majority in the House and as the constitution provides that +the House alone shall consider an amendment on its first presentation, +this victory insured that it should pass to the next Legislature for +final action. Through the whole of 1917 much work also was done for +the Federal Suffrage Amendment, deputations being sent to each of the +U. S. Senators and Representatives from Connecticut.</p> + +<p>The suffragists felt the urge of patriotism and Mrs. Hepburn in the +name of the association offered its services to Governor Marcus A. +Holcomb. The offer was graciously received though not definitely +accepted but requests for clerical help came to suffrage headquarters. +In response some 540 hours of work were given by volunteers. A Central +War Work Committee, under the auspices of the association, was formed +in April, immediately after the declaration of war, the chairmanship +held first by Miss Ruutz-Rees, who had been a member of the executive +board of the association from 1910. When she was made chairman of the +Woman's Division of the State Council of Defense, the chairmanship was +taken by Miss Katharine Ludington and other leading suffragists gave +their services. The War Work Committee had chiefly to do with food +conservation and $5,350 were collected by it for this purpose.</p> + +<p>In addition to the money contributed by suffragists for war<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> work, the +income of the association for the year was $29,933. At this convention +Mrs. Hepburn, who had been strongly stirred by the jailing of the +members of the National Woman's Party at Washington, announced her +intention of working with that organization and Mrs. Bennett refused +re-election for the same reason. Miss Ludington was elected president, +with Miss Mabel C. Washburn as treasurer. Mrs. Seton, who had been +vice-president since 1910, retained her position and Miss Ruutz-Rees +remained. Miss Ludington had shown her qualifications for the State +presidency, first as president of the Old Lyme Equal Franchise League, +then as chairman of New London county and during 1917 by her +organizing and executive ability as chairman of the War Work +Committee. At the annual convention of 1918 held at New Haven, she was +re-elected. The year had been a peculiarly difficult one on account of +the absorption of many women in war work but the income was $30,085, +of which $1,879 had been contributed for the oversea hospitals of the +National Suffrage Association. The work of the year had been directed +towards (1) the Federal Suffrage Amendment and the securing of a +favorable Connecticut delegation to Congress; (2) influencing the two +major parties in the State to include suffrage planks in their +platforms; (3) securing the election of members of the Legislature who +would be favorable to ratification.</p> + +<p>At the jubilee convention of 1919, held at Bridgeport after the +Federal Amendment had been submitted in June, a new constitution was +adopted, which provided for the election of five political leaders in +addition to the other officers and an organization of the State by +counties and districts, looking towards the forming later of a League +of Women Voters. During the year there had been a financial campaign, +which was carried on under the direction of Mrs. Nancy Schoonmaker, +resulting in gifts and pledges amounting to $30,993, of which $25,813 +were paid at the time of the convention. The total income for the year +was $63,398. Miss Ludington was again elected and most of the other +officers remained on the board. After thorough discussion it was +resolved that the policy of the association for 1919-20 should be to +oppose especially the small group of Republican politicians who had +blocked and were persistently blocking the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> progress of woman +suffrage. This resolution pledged the association to a fight against +the Republican "machine," which was made with intense determination.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> The final struggle came in 1920 over ratification of the +Federal Suffrage Amendment. Great efforts had been made to obtain a +majority favorable to it in the Legislature that would meet in 1919 +and had Congress submitted it in time to be voted on at the regular +session it would doubtless have been ratified, as both parties knew it +was inevitable. It was not passed by Congress, however, until June 4, +and by this time the Legislature had adjourned, not to meet again for +two years unless called in special session. All that the suffragists +were able to do during the winter of 1919 was to press for a +Presidential suffrage bill such as had been adopted by a number of +States. In support of this a petition signed by over 98,000 +women—increased afterwards to 102,000—was presented to the +Legislature when the bill came up for consideration. Nevertheless, +through the intense hostility of the Republican "machine," the bill +was defeated by a single vote in the Senate after having received a +large majority in the House.</p> + +<p>When Congress finally sent the amendment to the Legislatures most of +them had adjourned and would not meet again until 1921. If women were +to vote in the general election of November, 1920, ratification would +have to be by special sessions. The suffragists of Connecticut were +determined that it should be one of the States to hold an extra +session. Deputations from the State Association and the National +Woman's Party waited upon Governor Holcomb in the summer of 1919 to +ask that he call one in order to ratify the amendment. He refused on +the ground of a constitutional limitation of the Governor's power. The +State constitution provides that the Governor may convene the General +Assembly "on special emergencies" and he held that no special +emergency existed. The association then concentrated on the Republican +State Central Committee and the other leaders whom they considered the +chief opponents of suffrage. A petition signed by 478 prominent +members of the Republican party was presented to the chairman of this +committee on Feb. 11, 1920, by the Men's Ratification Committee—a +committee friendly to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> woman suffrage and anxious for the ending of +the long struggle, which had been formed with Colonel Isaac M. Ullman +chairman. No effect was produced by this petition nor by an interview +with John Henry Roraback, the State chairman, by Miss Ludington, in +which he was urged to put Connecticut among the 36 States necessary +for ratification, in order that the women might be able to feel that +suffrage had been granted them by their own State.</p> + +<p>By March 35 Legislatures had ratified and only a group of three or +four States held out any hope of the 36th and final ratification, of +which Connecticut was one. Leading Republicans in and out of Congress +tried to impress upon those in Connecticut that this was no longer a +State but a national issue. At their State convention in March the +Resolutions Committee gave a hearing to the suffragists and reported a +resolution in favor of a special session, which was passed by the +convention and presented to the Governor. It then returned to power +the very men who would prevent it. The Governor remained obdurate. To +the first petition he had replied that the desire of a few women did +not create an emergency. Then he had argued that suffrage was not an +issue when the Legislature was elected and therefore the legislators +were not authorized by the voters to act upon it. A little later he +gave it as his opinion that persistent appeals do not constitute an +emergency. Finally on April 10, in reply to a letter from Colonel +Ullman, he stated that he was ready to receive proof of the existence +of an emergency. The Connecticut women decided to give him the proof +and the National Suffrage Association offered its cooperation by +sending women from all over the country to Connecticut to join in a +great protest against the blocking of woman suffrage for the whole +nation. May 3-7, 1920, was declared "emergency week" and a Suffrage +Emergency Corps was organized of 46 eminent women from as many States. +They assembled in New York the evening of Sunday, May 2, as dinner +guests of Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, the national president, and +received their "marching orders and field instructions" from her and +Miss Ludington.</p> + +<p>The Emergency Corps arrived in Hartford Monday morning and were guests +at a luncheon given in their honor at the Golf Club, whose rooms were +crowded with men and women to meet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> these doctors, lawyers, +professors, scientists, officials, business women, presidents of +organizations—a remarkable gathering. There were roll call and +speeches and then they separated into four groups and departed by +motors for the four largest cities, where they spoke at mass meetings +in the evening. A carefully planned tour was made of thirty-six towns +with a total of forty-one meetings, at which they were introduced and +assisted by prominent men. Mrs. Catt spoke to a large audience in +Woolsey Hall, New Haven, with Mayor Fitzgerald presiding. The object +of the campaign was to show the sentiment in the State for a special +session of the Legislature and a resolution calling for it was +enthusiastically adopted at each meeting.</p> + +<p>The Governor appointed Friday morning at 11:30 for the interview and +the visitors and the officers and staff of the State Suffrage +Association were at the Capitol. Every possible point bearing on the +case was brought out by the speakers and they pleaded with the +Governor to settle this question of ratification by a stroke of his +pen for the women of the whole nation. He said he would reserve his +decision till he had carefully considered their arguments, and they +went out to report to the mass meeting in progress on the grounds of +the Capitol. The following Tuesday he made public his answer, which +was that, while the arguments proved that there was a strong desire +for a special session, they did not prove the existence of the +"special emergency" mentioned in the constitution and he felt +compelled to decline.</p> + +<p>A petition asking for a special session was then sent to the Governor +signed by a majority of both parties in both Houses of the +Legislature, which had not the slightest effect. The State association +held a meeting and resolved to try to defeat those Republican +candidates who were opposed to ratification and especially the little +group who composed the Republican "machine." Miss Ludington issued a +manifesto giving in detail their action which had determined this +policy and saying:</p> + +<blockquote><p>Our fight now is "November, 1920." One of the most important +presidential elections in years is to be held then. Women are +just as vitally affected by it and as deeply interested in it as +men. Although 35 out of the necessary 36 States have ratified, no +women can vote in this election under the Federal Amendment until +the 36th State<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> has ratified. It is curious how slow the +public—women as well as men—have been to realize this. They +talk of our being "almost" voters. They do not seem to understand +that although Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, etc., have +ratified the amendment, the women of these States will not vote +until the 36th State ratifies. Who is responsible for the delay +which may keep over 10,000,000 women from the vote for President +and about 20,000,000 from the vote for members of Congress, State +officials, etc.? Both political parties but the Republican in +greater degree.... It lies in the power of this party to speak +the word that will fully enfranchise the women of this country +and where there is power there is responsibility.</p> + +<p>"But," the Republicans say, "we have given you 29 States. Think +of that! You ought to be grateful to us." "Exactly," we answer, +"but you have withheld that one State which would make just the +difference between our voting or not voting. And by the way you +didn't 'give' us those 29 States—we had to work pretty hard to +get some of them!" An emancipator is not the man who takes the +prisoner all the way to the door and lets him look out but the +man who actually unlocks the door and lets him go free. Once in +history the Republican party played the part of a genuine +emancipator. Now it looks very much as if it was playing petty +politics.... At the time of the last State Republican convention +the Hartford <i>Courant</i> obligingly explained that the suffrage +resolution it passed was a pretense and really meant nothing—a +statement, it is only fair to say, repudiated by many honorable +Republicans. Now it is Chairman Roraback, who, with happy +unconsciousness that he is exhibiting his party in a "yellow" +light, tells the public that the national Republican platform +should not be taken seriously.... "The leaders of the party," he +says, "put in the suffrage plank to please women in the voting +States but they meant nothing by it." Are the men who are to lead +a great party as double-faced and untrustworthy as Mr. Roraback +paints them? Were they laughing in their sleeves as they wrote +the solemn pledges in the rest of the national platform? We +wonder if Connecticut Republicans will let Mr. Roraback smirch +the party honor unchallenged.</p> + +<p>The course for the State Suffrage Association is clear. We must +play our part in this sector of the national suffrage struggle +and we must let our opponents see that they can not keep American +citizens out of their fundamental rights with impunity.</p></blockquote> + +<p>A committee of Republican women circulated a pledge to give no money +or work for the Republican party as long as women had no votes. Three +influential Republican women travelled to Columbus, O., to put before +the Republican National Executive Committee the opinions of Republican +women who were questioning the sincerity of the party in regard to +woman suffrage. In August thirty Connecticut women, headed by Miss +Ludington,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> went to New York by appointment to call upon Will Hays, +chairman of the National Republican Committee, and ask him what the +party was doing to secure ratification in Connecticut. He received +them in the national headquarters and Miss Ludington, who spoke for +the deputation, reminded him that his party was taking the credit for +the ratification of the Federal Suffrage Amendment thus far but not +bringing any effective pressure on the Republican Governors of +Connecticut and Vermont, each of whom could insure its full success, +and said: "What the women want is the vote in November. What the +parties apparently want is a good record as a talking point in the +coming campaign. What to the women is the supremely important thing is +that 36th State. What to the parties seems to be most important is to +exact their full due of gratitude from women who have not as yet +received the gift that was promised.... In our own State, where the +Republican party is responsible, the women are actually being called +upon to aid its campaign while it is repudiating the policy and +promises of the national party in regard to ratification."</p> + +<p>The speaker then quoted the resolution adopted by the National +Republican Committee Dec. 10, 1919, calling for special sessions +before February to complete ratification, accompanied by the public +statement: "The party managers will cooperate with the women in a +determined effort to bring about the calling of special sessions." She +quoted the resolution passed by this committee June 1, 1920: "Such +Republican States as have not already done so are urged to take such +action by their Governors and legislators as will assure the +ratification at the earliest possible time." She then gave a part of +the plank in the national Republican platform adopted two months ago: +"We earnestly hope that Republican Legislatures which have not yet +acted will ratify the 19th Amendment to the end that all women may +participate in the election of 1920," and said: "We have had no proof +as yet that the party means to make good on these declared +intentions—in fact many things seem to point the other way; first, +the Republican failure to ratify in Delaware; second, the weak plank +in the Republican national platform, which was emasculated <i>at the +request of the Connecticut delegates</i> until it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> an affront to the +intelligence of women and a mockery of the Connecticut and Vermont +Legislatures; third, the present situation in Connecticut.</p> + +<p>"From the time when suffrage became an issue," Miss Ludington +continued, "it has had the opposition of the leaders of the Republican +party in this State. Since the amendment passed Congress they have +resisted every expression of public opinion, every plea for +ratification on grounds of justice and fair play. For a year the +suffragists have tried sincerely and patiently to work in and with the +Republican party to overcome this opposition, and have been +cooperating with a Republican Men's Ratification Committee formed for +this purpose, but we are apparently no nearer a special session than +we were a year ago." She then concluded:</p> + +<blockquote><p>During all this time we have had no evidence that the National +Republican Committee was really working in the State. We have +found it very difficult to reach you personally and our appeals +for specific help have been ignored. Mr. Roraback and Major John +Buckley, secretary to the Governor, have stated that he has never +been asked by you to call a session. They evidently feel, and +wish the public to understand, that the National Republican +Committee has given them a free hand to pursue their +obstructionist course. And to confirm this comes President-elect +Harding's refusal to attempt to persuade Governor Holcomb.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, we women are being told that the Republican +party can not be held responsible, because the Governor stands +alone in his opposition! We submit that so long as the official +leaders of the party in the State are in entire harmony with him +in opposing us and the national party keeps hands off, they are +accomplices in his opposition and must be held responsible +accordingly. And we further submit that if a national party is to +come before the voters on the basis of its policies and promises, +then it must be held responsible for making those promises good +through its State branches.... If the Connecticut Republican +leaders can play a free hand without interference from the +national party, then that party faces the alternative of either +admitting powerlessness and disintegration or of being an +accomplice in the State's attitude of repudiation.</p> + +<p>Connecticut women will remain voteless unless their State or +Vermont or a southern State ratifies. The Republican party can +help us in two ways—either by giving a solid Republican vote in +Tennessee or by putting forth a really vigorous effort in a New +England State.</p></blockquote> + +<p>The situation in Connecticut remained unchanged but about two weeks +after this interview the Tennessee Legislature ratified<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> by means of +both Republican and Democratic votes. This made the 36th State and +Secretary Colby proclaimed the Federal Suffrage Amendment a part of +the National Constitution. The Democrats were claiming the credit and +the general election was only two months away. The Republicans, +especially those in Connecticut, keenly felt the situation. Governor +Holcomb was obliged to call a special session to enact legislation for +registering the women. The Legislature was called to meet September 14 +and the Governor warned it that it must restrict itself to the +business outlined in the call. No such restriction had ever before +been laid upon a Connecticut Legislature and the Governor himself two +years before had urged that he was powerless to prevent it from +enacting any bills that it pleased when once it had been called in +special session. The members of House and Senate were almost unanimous +in resenting this attempt to fetter their action and plans were laid +to ratify the Federal Amendment.</p> + +<p>Before September 14, however, developments in regard to the Tennessee +ratification seemed to threaten its validity and Governor Holcomb and +the Republican leaders perceived that there was an emergency which +called for ratification by Connecticut to prevent difficulty in the +coming elections. This was especially apparent to U. S. Senator Frank +B. Brandegee, who had been an uncompromising opponent of the Federal +Suffrage Amendment and voted against it every time it came before the +Senate. He sent an urgent letter to Colonel Ullman, chairman of the +Men's Ratification League, in which he said: "In view of the fact that +the validity of the ratification of the amendment by the State of +Tennessee has been questioned and that the result of the entire +election throughout the country may be imperilled thereby, and in +consideration of the fact that the amendment is certain to be ratified +by more than the required number of States as soon as their +Legislatures assemble in 1921, I earnestly hope that the Legislature +of Connecticut will ratify it."<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a></p> + +<p>As soon as the special session opened Governor Holcomb went before it +and asked it to adjourn without action, as he intended<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> to issue +another call for it to meet a week hence to ratify the amendment as +well as to enact the necessary legislation. Both House and Senate +refused to accede to his request but by unanimous vote in the Senate +and by a vote of 216 to 11 in the House, the Federal Suffrage +Amendment was ratified, although the Governor had not submitted the +certified copy to them.<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> After passing a number of other bills, all +of which were outside of the limits set by the Governor, the +Legislature adjourned to September 21, when the second session had +been called.</p> + +<p>When the Legislature met on September 21 the Governor appeared before +the two Houses and asked them to ratify the amendment which he now +laid before them. Many of the members were unwilling to do this, as it +seemed a confession that their former action was invalid. Wiser +counsels prevailed, especially as Miss Ludington and the State Board +strongly urged them not to allow their scruples to stand in the way +when there might be a possible doubt as to whether the first +ratification was legal. The amendment was again ratified, by the +Senate unanimously, the House 194 to 9. Later in the day a motion was +made to reconsider and confirm the action of the first session. This +was done to satisfy the members who were determined that the first +record should stand as authentic. Thus after a struggle lasting over +fifteen months, the Legislature at its first opportunity ratified the +Federal Suffrage Amendment, once, twice and thrice, and if there was +any doubt about Tennessee there was none whatever about Connecticut.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>The long fight for ratification and the contest against Senator +Brandegee made it impossible to organize a League of Women Voters in +1920. On November 8 and 9, after the election was over, the +Connecticut Woman Suffrage Association held its last convention in +Hartford. It voted to keep the organization in existence for a couple +of months until a league could be formed and then, without further +ceremony, to dissolve. Preliminary organization work was continued and +on Jan. 18, 1921, at a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> convention in New Haven the League of Women +Voters came into existence with Miss Mabel C. Washburn chairman.<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action.</span> The Connecticut Legislature has only a melancholy +record of defeats, having given the women nothing except a vote for +school trustees and on some school questions in 1893.</p> + +<p>1901. A bill for Municipal suffrage was adversely reported from +committee and defeated.</p> + +<p>1903. The same bill was defeated in the House on roll call by 105 +noes, 40 ayes; in the Senate without roll call.</p> + +<p>1905. The same measure had a favorable report from the Joint Woman +Suffrage Committee but it was not accepted by House or Senate.</p> + +<p>1907. In addition to the Municipal suffrage bill the association +presented one for Presidential suffrage. The Senate rejected both +without a roll call; House vote on Municipal suffrage, noes, 86; ayes, +56; on Presidential, noes 93; ayes, 55.</p> + +<p>1909. For the usual bill the Legislature substituted one giving women +a vote on levying a tax for maintaining a public library, which passed +the Senate without roll call and the House by 82 ayes, 50 noes. It +never was put into operation.</p> + +<p>1911. The two usual bills received unanimous favorable reports from +committees. The Municipal passed the Senate but was defeated in the +House, both without roll call. A resolution to submit an amendment was +defeated in the House, not voted on in the Senate.</p> + +<p>1913. State constitutional amendment defeated in the Senate by 20 +noes, 9 ayes, and in the House without roll call.</p> + +<p>1915. The above action was repeated except that both Houses defeated +without a roll call.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p> + +<p>1917. Three measures were introduced—a bill for Presidential and +Municipal suffrage, a bill giving women a vote in local option +elections and the amendment resolution. The two bills were fought with +great determination. The first was defeated in the Senate by 19 noes, +13 ayes; in the House by 149 noes, 85 ayes. The Excise bill was tabled +in the Senate, rejected in the House by 139 noes, 69 ayes. The +resolution passed the House by 138 ayes, 96 noes and was referred to +the next Legislature for final action, as required by law.</p> + +<p>1919. The State constitutional amendment came automatically before the +Legislature but a legal opinion given by former Governor Baldwin held +that it would sweep away the literacy test for voters and the suffrage +leaders, who doubted the wisdom of going to the work and expense of a +referendum campaign when the Federal Amendment was so near, were glad +to have so good a reason for not pressing the matter. The Presidential +suffrage bill secured a majority favorable report from the Joint Woman +Suffrage Committee and it passed in the House by a majority of 27. In +the Senate the Republican "machine" was determined to defeat it. In +the first vote there was a majority of two against it but on +reconsideration there was only one. The "machine" only defeated it by +winning a few Democratic votes. The fight over this measure had been +made with skill and courage by the women against the most determined +opposition on the part of the Republican "machine," which since 1900 +had completely controlled both Houses.</p> + +<p>The chairman of the Republican State Central Committee, John Henry +Roraback, and Major John Buckley, secretary to the Governor, were +accounted by the women their most bitter enemies and Speaker of the +House James F. Walsh used his large powers to defeat the suffrage +bills. Of the fifteen important House committees anti-suffragists held +eleven of the chairmanships. The chairman of the Woman Suffrage +Committee, Admiral William S. Cowles, was an "anti" but in spite of +his influence the committee report was favorable. This was due to the +progress of public sentiment, accelerated by the work of women during +the war and to the organization for suffrage which had been going +forward. Of the more progressive group<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> of Republicans in the +Legislature who fought for suffrage may be mentioned Lieutenant +Governor Clifford Wilson, Senators John B. Dillon, Charles E. +Williamson, William H. Heald, Arthur E. Bowers and Representative +Harry R. Sherwood. Senator Charles C. Hemenway, Democratic leader and +editor of the Hartford <i>Times</i>, was one of its most valuable +supporters.</p> + +<p>The liquor forces always employed lobbyists against the suffrage bills +and fought the movement secretly and openly. There were a number of +prominent women opposed but they were not organized until aroused by +the activity that followed the election of Mrs. Hepburn as president +in 1910. The State Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage was then +formed with Mrs. Daniel Markham as president and she held the office +until the proclamation of the Federal Suffrage Amendment put an end to +her organization. It held occasional meetings with speakers from +outside the State. The members attended legislative hearings and at +the large one on the Municipal and Excise bills in 1917 they occupied +the right of the chamber with row on row of the liquor men back of +them wearing the red rose which was their emblem.</p> + +<p>As the Democrats constituted a minority party it was always easier to +secure from them expressions favorable to woman suffrage and in 1916 +and 1918 such planks were placed in their platform. In 1918 they +declared for the Federal Suffrage Amendment and a majority of those +elected pledged themselves to vote for ratification, if it came before +the Legislature, and did vote for the Presidential suffrage bill. The +women went to the Republicans conventions each year to ask for a +suffrage plank but were steadily unsuccessful. In 1916 the State +platform reaffirmed the national one, which declared in favor of woman +suffrage. In 1918 the Republican platform included a plank approving +the principle of woman suffrage but leaving it to the States for +action and not to a Federal Amendment.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Annie +G. Porritt, journalist, author and lecturer, officially connected with +the Connecticut Woman Suffrage Association from 1910 as corresponding, +recording and press secretary.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> In June, 1915, a branch of the Congressional Union +(later the National Woman's Party), was organized with Mrs. William D. +Ascough as chairman. At that time the Woman Suffrage Association was +giving its attention almost exclusively to State work and the new +organization began by sending deputations to each of the Congressmen +and Senators to ask support for the Federal Suffrage Amendment. +Meetings and a press service to promote the amendment were carried on +until ratification was completed. Connecticut members took part in +every national demonstration of the Union and eleven suffered terms of +imprisonment. Annual conventions were held each year and in 1918 Mrs. +Thomas N. Hepburn was elected chairman, Mrs. Ascough having removed +from the State. The Union raised money for the ratification campaigns +in New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, West Virginia, Delaware and +Tennessee and sent workers to assist them and also to secure a special +session in Vermont.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> Notwithstanding this letter the State Suffrage +Association used its whole strength against Senator Brandegee's +election on November 2. It was estimated that 90 per cent. of the +women voted. Although the big Republican landslide elected him he +received 12,446 fewer votes than the Republican candidate for +President.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_25_25" id="Footnote_25_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> A certified copy of this vote was immediately dispatched +to Washington by Miss Flanagan, one of the National Woman's Party +workers, and Secretary of State Colby accepted it as valid. It is +therefore on record in Washington that Connecticut ratified the +Federal Suffrage Amendment on September 14, 1920.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_26_26" id="Footnote_26_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> The officers of the State Association from 1901 to 1920, +besides the presidents, not already mentioned, were as follows: +Vice-presidents, Mrs. Annie C. S. Fenner, 1906-1910; corresponding and +recording secretaries, Mrs. Ella B. Kendrick, Mrs. Marcia West, Mrs. +Jessie Adler, Mrs. Annie G. Porritt, Miss Mabel C. Washburn, Mrs. +Frederick C. Spencer, Mrs. Hiram P. Maxim, Mrs. William H. Deming, +Mrs. Samuel T. Davis, Jr., Mrs. S. H. Benton, Mrs. William C. Cheney. +</p><p> +Among those who served in other official capacities were Mesdames E. +J. Warren, Cynthia B. Fuller, Henrietta J. Pinches, A. Barton Hepburn, +Julius Maltby, H. H. DeLoss, Carlos F. Stoddard, Henry Townshend, +Jonathan A. Rawson, T. S. McDermott, Ruth McIntire Dadourian; Misses +Emily Whitney, Mary A. Goodman, Mary Bulkley, Frances Osborn. +</p><p> +The names of the many women who gave devoted service to this cause +during this score of years can never be recorded.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>DELAWARE.<a name="FNanchor_27_27" id="FNanchor_27_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a></h3> + + +<p>During the past twenty years the advocates of woman suffrage have +continued to suffer from the handicap peculiar to Delaware—no +referendum to the voters possible on constitutional amendments—and +therefore it never has had the advantage of a State-wide educational +campaign. An amendment must be passed by two-thirds of each branch of +the Legislature at two successive sessions and it then becomes a part +of the constitution. However, the State Equal Suffrage Association has +held conventions every year. Many distinguished advocates from outside +the State, including Miss Susan B. Anthony, Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, Mrs. +Carrie Chapman Catt, Miss Mary Garrett Hay, Mrs. Beatrice Forbes +Robertson Hale, Mrs. Maud Wood Park, Mrs. Frank A. Vanderlip and Mrs. +Borden Harriman, have been among the speakers. Prominent endorsers of +woman suffrage have been the State Grange, Grand Army of the Republic, +Ministerial Union, Central Labor Union and Woman's Christian +Temperance Union. The last is the only leading woman's organization to +give official sanction.</p> + +<p>The annual State convention was held Nov. 6, 1901, at Newport, with +three clubs—Wilmington, Newport and New Castle—under the presidency +of Mrs. Martha S. Cranston. Dr. Shaw, vice-president-at-large of the +National Association, was the speaker and the presence of reporters +was an encouraging feature.</p> + +<p>The convention of 1902 took place November 8 in Wilmington. Miss Jane +Campbell, president of the large Philadelphia county society, and +Henry W. Wilbur of the Friends' society, New York, were the speakers +from outside the State. During this year the W. C. T. U. and the +Wilmington District Epworth<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> League passed suffrage resolutions. The +Life and Work of Susan B. Anthony was placed in travelling libraries. +Women were urged to pay their taxes "under protest." The Newport Club +petitioned that the word "male" be omitted from the new town charter +but without success. Governor John Hunn in his Message to the +Legislature said: "The time is coming when the participation of women +in all our civil affairs will be voluntarily sought as an infusion of +indispensable new elements into our citizenship."</p> + +<p>The convention of 1903 was held November 28 at Newport, with Miss +Harriet May Mills of New York as the chief speaker. The master of the +State Grange declared his belief this year in the equality of the +sexes and urged that some provisions be made for the higher education +of Delaware women. The convention of 1904 was held November 22 in +Wilmington with an address by Dr. Shaw and $25 were pledged to the +National Association. In 1905 the convention was held November 4 in +New Castle, with Dr. Shaw the speaker. A pledge of $25 was again made +to the National Association and Delaware's quota to the Oregon +campaign was subscribed. The State convention took place at Newport on +Nov. 6, 1906. This year the G. A. R. endorsed both State and national +suffrage.</p> + +<p>The convention held Oct. 2, 1907, in Wilmington, arranged to send the +State president to the congressional suffrage hearing at Washington. +The outside speaker was Mrs. Susan S. Fessenden of Massachusetts. A +chairman of church work was appointed. Reports showed that much +suffrage sentiment was now manifested in the State.</p> + +<p>The convention of Nov. 12, 1908, at Newport, was addressed by Mrs. +Rachel Foster Avery and Miss Lucy E. Anthony, the latter describing +the great suffrage parade in London in which she had taken part. A +memorial to David Ferris, a prominent friend of woman suffrage, was +read by Miss Emma Worrell. The Higher Education of the Young Women of +Delaware was discussed by Professor H. H. Hayward, dean of Agriculture +in Delaware College.</p> + +<p>The convention of Nov. 29, 1909, in Wilmington, was addressed by Miss +Campbell and Miss Mary Winsor of Haverford,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> Penn. Memorials to Henry +B. Blackwell and William Lloyd Garrison were read by Mrs. Gertrude W. +Nields. The national petition work for a Federal Amendment was +undertaken in Wilmington with Miss Mary R. de Vou and Mrs. Don P. +Jones in charge; in the rest of the State by Mrs. Cranston. +Legislators and the State at large were deluged with literature. Miss +Perle Penfield, a national organizer, was sent for one week by +courtesy of Mrs. Avery, president of the Pennsylvania association. A +hearing was arranged by Professor Hayward before a Senate committee in +the interest of the higher education of women in Delaware, without +result.<a name="FNanchor_28_28" id="FNanchor_28_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a> A telegram and a letter were sent by the State president +and corresponding secretary to President Theodore Roosevelt, asking +him to remember woman suffrage in his message to Congress.</p> + +<p>The annual convention held Nov. 10, 1910, in Wilmington, was addressed +by Miss Lida Stokes Adams of Philadelphia and Frank Stephens of the +Arden Colony near by. A fine tribute to Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, who had +recently passed away, was given by Miss Worrell. The Newport and other +clubs sent $30 for the Susan B. Anthony Memorial Fund and a +contribution was made to the South Dakota campaign.</p> + +<p>In March the society of Wilmington, the largest branch, began holding +monthly meetings. In response to a letter from the National +Association, Miss Mary H. Askew Mather, Miss de Vou and Miss Emma Lore +were appointed to investigate the laws of Delaware affecting the +status of women in regard to their property rights and the +guardianship of their children. A committee was appointed to support +the candidacy of Dr. Josephine M. R. White deLacour for membership on +the school board of Wilmington, where women had school suffrage. This +year woman suffrage in Delaware lost another friend by the death of +former Chief Justice Charles B. Lore, who framed the petition to the +State constitutional convention in 1897 and who stood unfailingly for +the equality of men and women before the law. The State convention met +Nov. 9, 1911, at Newport.</p> + +<p>At the State convention held Nov. 20, 1912, in Wilmington,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> addresses +were made by Mrs. Harriet Taylor Upton, State president of Ohio, and +Miss Harriet May Mills State president of New York; and on the subject +Why Delaware Needs a College for Women by Mrs. Emalea P. Warner and +Dr. Hayward. It was decided to have a bill presented to the +Legislature of 1913 for striking the word "male" from the constitution +of the State. A branch club had been formed at the Arden Single Tax +Colony. The State association had held 22 meetings.</p> + +<p>On Jan. 4, 1913, a delegation from the Wilmington club was granted a +hearing before the Charter Commission and asked for a clause in the +proposed new city charter giving Municipal suffrage to women. Nine of +the ten commissioners were present and arguments were presented by +Miss Worrell, Mrs. Margaret H. Kent, Mrs. Cranston, Arthur R. Spaid, +county superintendent of schools; George B. Miller, president of the +board of education; Miss Grace B. Tounsend and Miss de Vou. This was +refused and the charter was defeated by an overwhelming majority with +no suffrage clause to handicap it. In February the club held a large +public meeting at the New Century Club with the Rev. Dr. George Edward +Reed, former president of Dickinson College, as the speaker. The club +organized a municipal section to study the work of the city boards and +to offer assistance in forwarding civic improvement, which was +addressed by the Mayor and heads of departments. The State association +was represented in the great suffrage parade in New York City on May 4 +by Mrs. J. R. Milligan and Miss Tounsend.</p> + +<p>At the State convention in Wilmington Nov. 6, 1913, fraternal +delegates were present from the W. C. T. U., Consumers' League and +Juvenile Court Association. Addresses were made by Irving Warner, Mrs. +Mary Ware Dennett, corresponding secretary of the National +Association, and Miss Mabel Vernon, of the Congressional Union. The +music was generously furnished as usual by the treasurer, Miss Lore. +There were now 174 dues-paying members and 560 registered +sympathizers; 12 executive sessions had been held and 35 meetings, 18 +outdoors, and 10,000 fliers and leaflets distributed. On February +18-20, the association was sponsor for "General" Rosalie Jones and her +Pilgrim Band en route from New York to Washington, D. C. Mayor Howell +of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> Wilmington welcomed them in the City Hall and they were guests at +the Garrick Theater, where they spoke between acts to an overcrowded +house. The State association was well represented in the famous parade +in Washington, D. C., on March 3, and again on April 7 when 531 women +from various States marched to the Capitol bearing special messages to +members of Congress, urging their support of the Federal Amendment. A +tent was established at the State Fair in September, realizing a long +cherished desire of the president, with Miss Ella W. Johnson in +charge. The two organizations joined forces and opened headquarters in +Wilmington, from which petitions to Congress were circulated and much +literature sent out.</p> + +<p>The annual convention was held Oct. 30, 1914, at Dover, the State +capital but with no suffrage club. Secretary of State James H. Hughes +welcomed the convention for vice-Mayor McGee, who refused to do so. +The speakers were Mrs. Helen Hoy Greeley of New York, Samuel H. Derby +of Kent county and Mrs. Florence Bayard Hilles, Delaware chairman of +the Congressional Union. In Wilmington a meeting was held February 15 +in honor of Miss Anthony's birthday, with Miss Anna Maxwell Jones of +New York as the speaker. In April on Arbor Day a "suffrage oak" was +planted, Mayor Howell presiding. In May a successful parade, the +first, was given in Wilmington with Mrs. Hilles in command. In +September both political State conventions were asked to endorse woman +suffrage but refused. Two rooms were furnished by and named in honor +of the State association, one at the Industrial School for Girls in +Claymont and one at the College for Women in Newark. It again had a +tent at the State Fair; prizes were given in the schools for the best +essays on woman suffrage; Lucy Stone's birthday was honored in August +13; members were enrolled by the hundreds and fifteen executive +meetings were held. The City Council's invitation was accepted to +march in the Old Home Week parade.</p> + +<p>The convention for 1915 took place on November 11, in Wilmington, with +speakers, Dr. Shaw, Miss Worrell on Elizabeth Cady Stanton's 100th +Birthday; Miss Ethel Smith of Washington, D. C., on National Work. +Mrs. Cranston, "the Susan B. Anthony of Delaware," the association's +first and only president<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> since January, 1896, retired and was made +honorary president. Mrs. Mary Clare Brassington was elected her +successor. This year connection was severed with the Congressional +Union, which unexpectedly announced its purpose of forming another +State society, while the old association continued its affiliation +with the National American. Three mass meetings were held with Miss +Janet Richards, Mrs. Beatrice Forbes Robertson Hale and Mrs. Bayard +Hilles the speakers. The association was represented in May in the +parade of the Woman Suffrage Party in Philadelphia, under the auspices +of the National Association.</p> + +<p>The annual convention met Nov. 10, 1916, in Wilmington, with Chas. A. +Wagner, State Commissioner of Education; Chas. W. Bush and Dr. Shaw as +speakers. Mrs. Brassington had been appointed to take part in the +suffrage demonstrations at the Republican and Democratic national +conventions in Chicago and St. Louis. The State Central Committees +were again petitioned in vain for an endorsement of woman suffrage.</p> + +<p>At the State convention held in Newport, Nov. 22, 1917, a $500 pledge +was made to the National Association. A telegram of congratulation had +been sent to Governor John G. Townsend, Jr., upon the declaration for +woman suffrage in his inaugural address. Miss Lola Trax, a national +organizer, was in the State five weeks, forming centers, and many +meetings were held. Federal Amendment Day was observed by tableaux on +the Court House steps in Wilmington, with Mrs. Florence Updegraff, +national organizer, and Miss Ospina, local congressional chairman, in +charge, Mrs. Brassington presiding, to whom a farewell luncheon was +given, as she was removing from the State. She was succeeded by Miss +Agnes Y. Downey, first vice-president.</p> + +<p>The annual convention in Wilmington Nov. 29, 1918, was addressed by +Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, president and Mrs. Halsey W. Wilson, +recording secretary of the National Association. Mrs. Albert Robin was +elected president. In May a congressional petition campaign was +launched at a large subscription luncheon given in Hotel DuPont, +Wilmington, with Mrs. Catt, Mrs. Frank Vanderlip, Mrs. Maud Wood Park +and Mrs. J. Borden Harriman guests of honor and speakers. Mrs. J. +Frank Ball, State vice-president, presided. Miss Mabel Willard,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +acting for the National Association, conducted the petition "drive" +and secured 175 volunteer workers, who enrolled 11,118 names to +influence the votes of Delaware's U. S. Senators on the Federal +Amendment. Mrs. Robin being absent from the State, Mrs. Ball became +acting president. A conference with U. S. Senator Josiah O. Wolcott +was held at her home in June, a large number of prominent persons +being present, at which the Senator declared himself open to +conviction. Mrs. Halsey Wilson gave a week in September to work in the +State. An active educational campaign was carried on until the +November elections and suffrage literature was distributed at the +polls.</p> + +<p>The State convention took place in November, 1919, at Dover, with Mrs. +Raymond Brown, national vice-president, as the principal speaker. A +memorial address for Dr. Anna Howard Shaw was presented by Mrs. +Cranston. At the reception given in the State House by Governor +Townsend and Secretary of State Everett C. Johnson the Governor said +in his welcome: "I feel more than ever since the war that women should +have the ballot. I will be glad at any time to use my influence toward +giving those of Delaware the right of suffrage." A luncheon followed +at the Hotel Richardson, attended by the Governor, Secretary of State +and other officials. All of the legislators were invited. The guests +were welcomed by Mrs. Roswell P. Hammond, president of the Dover +society, and James H. Hughes. Mrs. Robin, who presided, spoke of +ratification as the one goal of their efforts and Secretary Johnson +endorsed it. The Opera House was crowded in the evening to hear the +address of Mrs. Brown.</p> + +<p>Reports showed that in January the National Association sent an +organizer, Mrs. Maria McMahon, and with the financial assistance of +the Wilmington society she opened headquarters in Dover, organized a +number of towns and won many friends for the cause. Later Mrs. Halsey +Wilson gave another week to the State. About 600 telegrams were sent +in February to the Delaware Senators urging them to vote for the +submission of the Federal Suffrage Amendment but Senator Wolcott and +Senator Willard Saulsbury both voted "no" on February 10, when it went +to defeat. In May Mrs. Robin circularized the Delaware representatives +in Congress and on the 21st, when the amendment<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> was passed by the +Lower House, Caleb R. Layton, Delaware's one member, voted "aye." In +the Senate, the newly elected Senator, L. Heisler Ball, was paired in +favor, Senator Wolcott again voting "no." At a meeting of the State +Board a resolution was passed rejoicing over the success and calling +for a special session of the Legislature to ratify the amendment. A +Ratification Committee was appointed with Mrs. Robin chairman for +Wilmington and the State; Mrs. Cranston for rural New Castle county; +Mrs. Henry Ridgely for Kent county; Mrs. Robert G. Houston for Sussex +county; Miss Leah Burton, legislative chairman; Miss deVou, press +chairman and Mrs. Brassington chairman of literature. Mrs. Ridgely of +Dover was elected president and activities for the campaign were soon +centralized.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span><a name="FNanchor_29_29" id="FNanchor_29_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a> When it became evident that the Federal Suffrage +Amendment would be submitted by the next Congress, the presidents of +State associations began to plan for ratification and many asked help +from the National American Association. In response to a request from +the president of Delaware Mrs. McMahon was sent, arriving the last of +June, 1919, and beginning an active campaign of organization. T. +Coleman du Pont placed a motor at the disposal of the suffragists and +in a few weeks Newcastle county had been covered with the assistance +of Miss Downey and Mrs. J. W. Pennewell. Working out from Rehoboth +with the assistance of Mrs. Robin, Mrs. Ridgely, Mrs. Houston, Mrs. +John Eskridge and others, Sussex county was organized and later Kent +with the help of Mrs. James H. Hughes, Mrs. Roswell Hammond, Mrs. Emma +Burnett, Miss Winifred Morris and others. The interviewing of +influential men was carried on with the organizing through the autumn.</p> + +<p>Headquarters were opened in Dover in January, 1920, and effort from +that time was for a special session. Resolutions endorsing +ratification were secured from State and local Granges, from the State +Federation of Women's Clubs, State Methodist convention, State +Federation of Labor, State committees of Republican and Democratic +parties, and the Wilmington City Republican Committee, the largest in +the State. No<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> opposition was expressed by any organization. Each of +the fifty-two legislators was interviewed either by Miss Leah Burton, +Mrs. Ridgely or members of the Legislative Committee, Mrs. Harmon +Reynolds, Mrs. Cummins Speakman, Mrs. Hughes or Miss Morris, and by +Mrs. McMahon. Assurances were given by the majority in both parties +that their votes would be cast in favor of ratification. Governor +Townsend and Secretary Johnson were constantly helpful. The Republican +National Committee, through its chairman, Will Hays, and the +Congressional Committee, through its chairman, Simeon D. Fess, +rendered every possible assistance and the latter sent a +representative to work in Dover. On January 15 a delegation headed by +Mrs. George Bass, chairman of the Woman's Division of the National +Democratic Committee, appealed to this committee to take some action +toward ratification and it gave its endorsement. Mr. Isaacs, chairman +of the State Democratic Committee, asked the women to appear before it +and on January 22, after an address by Mrs. Ridgely and full +discussion, it endorsed ratification. The Republican State Committee +endorsed it after Governor Townsend had called the special session for +March 22. Only one Legislature was now needed to give the 36th and +final ratification.</p> + +<p>All looked so favorable that the women were little prepared for the +weeks of intrigue and double dealing into which they were thrust +immediately upon the convening of the Legislature. Personal and +factional fights entered into the question, while the School Code +played a prominent part and complicated the situation. It was briefly +this. A very large sum had been offered to the State by Pierre du Pont +for the much needed extension of Delaware's public school facilities +contingent upon the raising of a like sum by the State. The gift was +accepted by the Legislature and the people must raise the State's +share of the fund. This meant taxes and taxes meant opposition. Those +who wanted the School Code repealed or modified were inclined to try +to make terms on the suffrage measure. The men of Sussex, the most +southern county, were particularly hostile and at a meeting in +Georgetown hundreds of them protested not only against the School Code +but also against prohibition and woman<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> suffrage. It was the +representatives of these men who eventually blocked ratification in +the House and it was their two leaders, Daniel Layton, chairman of the +State Central Committee, and former Governor Simeon S. Pennewell, +whose influence caused much of the opposition. Governor Townsend, who +aimed to raise Delaware from thirty-second place in educational ranks +by the new code had aroused the personal antagonism of some of the +leaders, but when it became apparent that Delaware was vitally needed +to complete ratification he laid aside his fears that the code would +be repealed and called a special session.</p> + +<p>Suffrage mass meetings were held in all parts of the State and the +week before the Legislature met Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, addressed +large audiences in Wilmington and Dover. The Ratification Committee +appealed for more help and Miss Marjorie Shuler, national director of +field publicity, was sent and later Miss Betsy Edwards for political +work. When the special session opened not one of the three daily +papers was supporting ratification, public meetings were being held by +the "antis," their publicity was being sent broadcast to the +metropolitan press of the country and the impression was created that +the whole State was opposed to ratifying. To counteract this situation +required weeks of hard work by the suffragists. Outside correspondents +were secured who would send out the true story of the political +intrigue underlying the failure to ratify. The Wilmington <i>Morning +News</i>, under the ownership of Alfred I. du Pont, came out for +ratification and made a strong fight for it to the end.</p> + +<p>In his message to the two Houses in joint session the Governor said: +"Woman suffrage has been a subject of public discussion for over half +a century. It is not an agitation of the moment, it is a world wide +question of right and wrong. Your supreme duty is to think and act for +the good of your State and nation." Separate resolutions were +introduced in Senate and House, the former by a Republican, John M. +Walker of Hockessin, the latter by Walter E. Hart, Democrat, of +Townsend, the only one of eleven Democrats in the House who favored +it.</p> + +<p>On March 25 there was a hearing before the General Assembly. The +opponents had rushed into town every farmer and small politician they +could secure and the women "antis" pinned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> a red rose in his +buttonhole. The suffragists had given a yellow jonquil to every +friend. Behind the Speaker's desk hung a huge yellow banner inscribed +"Votes for Women," and so crowded was the room with determined men and +eager women that the sergeant-at-arms had to clear a space for the +Senate. The suffragists had two hours in the morning and the "antis" +the same amount of time in the afternoon, with thirty minutes each for +rebuttal. Mrs. Catt, at the earnest request of the State association, +spoke at this hearing, and its president, Mrs. Ridgely; also Mrs. +Florence Bayard Hilles, president of the Delaware branch of the +National Woman's Party (Congressional Union), United States Senators +McKellar of Tennessee and Stirling of South Dakota came from +Washington to urge ratification. People crowded into Dover from over +the State and hot arguments took place in hotel lobbies and on the +streets. The State anti-suffrage association was represented by Miss +Charlotte Rowe of Yonkers, N. Y., employed by their national +organization. Mrs. Catt closed the argument and her speech was +considered by the hundreds who heard it, according to the staff +correspondent of the Wilmington <i>Evening Journal</i>, "one of the +clearest, strongest and most reasonable arguments for votes for women +ever heard in Delaware."</p> + +<p>From this time until the vote was taken telegrams from outside the +State urging ratification were poured into the Legislature. They came +from the President of the United States; from Attorney General Palmer +and Secretaries Daniels, Houston and Meredith of his Cabinet; from +Republican Governors, State chairmen and party leaders throughout the +country, urging Daniel Layton to see that enough votes be given by the +Republican legislators to assure a majority in both Houses. In the +Senate all but five of the seventeen members were Republicans; in the +House, all but twelve of thirty-five. If they had adhered to the +expressed policy of their party the amendment could have been ratified +the first day of the session. On March 30 word was received that the +Mississippi Senate had ratified the Federal Amendment. This was +followed by a telegram from Mississippi to the anti-ratificationists +in Delaware that this Senate vote was only "a flash in the pan" and +would be reconsidered. A<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> meeting of the Republican opponents +telegraphed to the Speaker of the House in Mississippi: "Stand firm +against ratification. Delaware Legislature still firm for State's +rights and will not ratify." A hasty call was made for a meeting of +all the Republican members of the Senate and House favorable to +ratification. This was addressed by the Governor, by United States +Senator Ball, and by Congressman Layton, father of "Dan" Layton, who +had always heretofore favored woman suffrage. By this time, however, +the whole question had narrowed to his personal fight against Governor +Townsend and at this conference he publicly announced that he would +oppose ratification.</p> + +<p>The Governor did everything possible to make it easy for the leaders +of the southern part of the State to bring over its representatives to +the amendment. In a noble speech he offered to withdraw his candidacy +for delegate to the National Democratic convention if the Sussex +county members would vote for it. John E. McNabb, the Democratic floor +leader, boldly repudiated the telegrams from President Wilson, his +Cabinet, Homer Cummings, chairman of the Democratic National +Committee, and other party leaders. He said that not twenty-five +persons in his district favored ratification and in two days a +petition from five hundred was handed to him by Mrs. F. E. Bach and +Mrs. Pennewell of Wilmington. Alexander P. Corbitt, Speaker of the +House, was indirectly connected with the Pennsylvania railroad and to +him was due a large share of the responsibility of its defeat. +Prominent among the lobbyists were Henry B. Thompson of Wilmington, +husband of the president of the Anti-Suffrage Association; Major +Edmund Mitchell, former Republican State chairman; George Gray, former +Federal Judge; George A. Elliott, Mifflin Wilson, George W. Sparks and +Henry P. Scott of Wilmington, chairman of the State Republican Ways +and Means Committee. His argument, widely circulated, was as follows: +"If the Legislature will refuse to ratify the proposed amendment and +thus prevent the hysterical rout of the politicians of the country to +make shreds and patches of our sacred Constitution, the State of +Delaware will receive in the near future the greatest possible glory."</p> + +<p>Governor Townsend went to New York and laid the danger<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> of the +situation before T. Coleman du Pont, whose influence in the State was +very great. He came to Wilmington, interviewed various men, wrote +letters and then went to Dover where he worked for the amendment. +Gradually there was a weakening in the opposition with the gain of a +vote here and there, but the southern part of the State remained +solidly opposed. On March 23 Senator Thomas F. Gormley (a "wet" +Democrat) introduced a bill providing for the submission of every +constitutional amendment to the electorate before ratification or +rejection by the Legislature, which was defeated by 9 noes and 5 ayes.</p> + +<p>The date for the vote was finally fixed for March 31 and as its defeat +seemed certain, Assemblyman Hart, who, according to the rules, must +agree to have it brought up, held off heroically under political +threats and intimidations of every kind and at last left the Capitol +for home. After a conference with "anti" members, Representative Lloyd +introduced an exact copy of the Hart resolution. Mr. Hart then brought +up his resolution the next day, April 1, and it was defeated by 23 +noes to 9 ayes, with 2 not voting. Meanwhile the lobbying went madly +on. Much of the opposition came from notable "wets"; and many of the +opponents were connected with the Pennsylvania railroad.</p> + +<p>The Republican State convention met in Dover April 20 and the Equal +Suffrage Association made one of the most remarkable demonstrations +the State had ever seen. Every road was ablaze with decorated +automobiles and hundreds of suffragists arrived on every train. They +marched and they talked and in themselves they constituted the best +argument that could be made for ratification. American flags and +suffrage banners were used all over the town. With Mrs. Ridgely +presiding, speeches were made all day on the green in front of the +State House, and from an automobile in front of the Republican +convention hall Miss Shuler and others spoke. Long petition sheets +with the names of 20,000 Delaware women asking for ratification were +exhibited. The crowning feature of the day was a parade of "suffrage +children"—the children of suffragists—a long line mounted on ponies +and bicycles down to the babies in the "go carts."</p> + +<p>The speech of the permanent chairman of the convention, a staunch +suffragist, Robert Houston of Georgetown, Sussex<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> county, was a strong +appeal for ratification and it called out the greatest outburst of +enthusiasm of the day. The convention unanimously passed a resolution +calling on the Legislature to ratify the amendment. On the table was a +vase of jonquils, and when the president of the anti-suffrage +association rushed to the platform and demanded that they be removed +or that red roses be added she was met by the chairman of arrangements +with the quiet answer, "We are not complimenting the 'antis' today, we +are using the Republican color and that is the suffrage color." The +jonquils largely outnumbered the roses on the coats of the delegates.</p> + +<p>While no Republican could now vote against ratification without +repudiating his party it was plainly evident that the majority of +Democrats were opposed to it and on the day of their State convention +their party leaders, including United States Senator Wolcott and the +chairman, Josiah Marvel, blossomed in red, the "anti" color. Former +United States Senator Saulsbury's paper printed editorials of violent +opposition throughout the struggle.</p> + +<p>The resolution to ratify the Federal Suffrage Amendment was called up +in the Senate by Senator Walker Wednesday, May 5. Senator Gormley, +Democratic leader, offered as a substitute a referendum to the voters, +which was defeated by a solid Republican vote of 13 to 4. The roll was +called on the resolution to ratify and it was adopted by 11 ayes, 6 +noes—ten Republicans and one Democrat voting for and two Republicans +and four Democrats against it. The House had adjourned when the vote +was taken and the plan was to send the resolution to it Thursday +morning and attempt action Friday, but Thursday morning revealed a +clear intention to defeat it and it was therefore placed under lock +and key in the Senate. Senator Gormley attempted to offer a motion +ordering its delivery to the House but was ruled out of order by the +president pro tem. J. D. Short, whose recent accession to the suffrage +ranks had made the Senate victory sure.</p> + +<p>In the House "Bull" McNabb launched an attack on those who were +withholding the resolution, using freely the words "bribery," +"cajoling," "threats" and much profanity. Mrs. Thompson, the +anti-suffrage president, kept calling out encouragement<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> to him until +the Republican floor leader, William Lyons, had to ask her to stop.</p> + +<p>The Senate refused to send the resolution to the House and finally the +Republicans succeeded in forcing an adjournment of the Legislature +until May 17, hoping to bring about a change of sentiment. Some of +those who were interested in the ratification were asked to meet at +the capital that day. Among those who responded were Alfred I., T. +Coleman and Pierre S. du Pont, Governor Townsend, Senator Ball, +Representative Layton, former United States Senator J. F. Allee, +Secretary of State Johnson, Charles Warner, former Congressman Hiram +R. Burton, Speaker Charles Grantland and others. These men argued and +pleaded with the Republican legislators to give the 36th and final +ratification of the 19th Amendment but without effect.</p> + +<p>On May 28, twenty-three days after the resolution had passed the +Senate, it was sent to the Lower House. In the interval the Labor +Union of Wilmington passed resolutions unanimously calling upon their +three Representatives, McNabb, Mulvena and Mulrine, to vote for +ratification. President Wilson was assured that only three Democratic +votes were needed and he, therefore, telegraphed these three: "May I +not as a Democrat express my deep interest in the suffrage amendment +and my judgment that it would be of the greatest service to the party +if every Democrat in the Delaware Legislature should vote for it?" +Speaker Corbit was interviewed by members of the Republican National +Committee and Republican leaders from within and without the State and +strongly urged to stand with his party, but to no avail. The +resolution was read twice and a motion was unanimously carried that +the House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole. Representative +Lyons here offered a motion to vote on the resolution, which was +defeated by 24 noes, 10 ayes. A motion was then put to adjourn until +12.30, June 2, on which day it had been previously voted to adjourn +sine die at noon, and it was carried! The House thus again placed +itself on record against ratification and ended all further +legislative action.</p> + +<p>The causes that led to the defeat were briefly: 1. Factional +differences in the Republican party; antagonism toward Governor +Townsend; half-hearted interest and even treachery on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> part of +certain Republican leaders. 2. Democratic opposition either because of +the negro question or for national political reasons. 3. Influence of +the liquor interests. The cost of the campaign to the National +American Suffrage Association was approximately $4,500. The financial +cost to the suffragists of the State could not be estimated and even +more impossible would be an estimate of time and labor during many +months. [Long list of names of workers omitted for lack of space.]</p> + +<p>Following the final ratification of the Federal Amendment by the +Tennessee Legislature the Executive Board, which was in session at +Rehoboth, on August 27, 1920, merged the State Equal Suffrage +Association into the League of Women Voters and elected Mrs. Ridgely +chairman. This action was confirmed at a State convention held in +Wilmington September 29, 30.</p> + +<p>Among men and women not elsewhere mentioned who have been helpful to +woman suffrage are Mrs. Mary T. Challenger, Lea Pusey, George B. +Miller, Lewis W. Brosius, Mrs. J. R. Milligan; the Reverends Frederick +A. Hinckley, Thomas P. Holloway, Adam Stengle, Alexander T. Bowser, +Joel S. Gilfillan; Mrs. John F. Thomas, Congressman Thomas W. Miller, +George Carter, editor <i>Evening Journal</i>; Mrs. Samuel H. Derby, Frank +C. Bancroft, master of the State Grange; Mrs. Samuel Bancroft, Mrs. +Francis I. du Pont, Mrs. Victoria du Pont, Sr., Mrs. Philip Burnett, +Sr., and others mentioned in the chapter.</p> + +<p>State officers not named otherwise were Mrs. William L. Duggin, Mrs. +Alfred D. Warner, Mrs. Willard Morse, Mrs. Mary H. Thatcher, Miss +Elizabeth S. Gawthorp, Mrs. Mary Price Phillips, Mrs. Frederick L. +Steinlein, Mrs. R. Barclay Spicer, Mrs. Harry Hayward, Mrs. George +Newcombe, Miss Willabelle Shurter.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action</span>, 1913. A bill to strike from the suffrage clause of +the State constitution the word "male" was for the first time +presented to the Legislature. It was introduced in the Senate January +7, by David J. Reinhardt; in the House by Albert I. Swan. The members +had been previously circularized by the corresponding secretary, Miss +Mary R. de Vou, announcing this action in the spirit of the age, in +the name of justice and democracy and for the credit of the State. On +February<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> 26 a hearing was granted at a joint session, with the House +chamber crowded. Mrs. Cranston introduced the speakers, headed by Dr. +Anna Howard Shaw, national president. Miss Jeannette Rankin of +Montana, a field worker sent by the National Association, spent two +weeks in Dover, canvassing the legislators, assisted by members of the +State association. At the Senate hearing March 14 strong speeches were +made by Senators Reinhardt, John M. Walker, and a number of leading +women. Senators Zachary T. Harris and Dr. George W. Marshall worked +for the bill, which was endorsed by the Woman's Christian Temperance +Union, Ministerial Union, State Grange, Central Labor Union and +Socialist Party, but it was lost the same day by 11 noes, 6 ayes. The +bill was reported favorably by the House committee and Dr. John H. +Hammond declared that it was time to quit playing politics with it and +pass it but on March 19 it was defeated without debate by 23 noes, 8 +ayes.</p> + +<p>1915. A full suffrage bill was presented jointly by the State +association and the Congressional Union, introduced by Senator Harris +and Representative Frank M. Saulsbury. The Campaign Committee +representing the two associations and headed by Mrs. Florence Bayard +Hilles opened headquarters at Dover with Miss Mabel Vernon in charge. +Expenses of maintenance were paid by Mrs. George Day of Connecticut, a +member of the advisory council of the Union. A suffrage procession +headed by Mrs. Hilles and Mrs. Victor du Pont, Jr., marched to strains +of martial music from the station to headquarters on its opening day +early in January and gave the stately old capital a decided +innovation. Speaking followed from a gaily decorated automobile. +"Suffrage fliers" (motor cars) carrying able speakers and workers, +made whirlwind trips throughout the State. The anti-suffragists +organized as a committee, with Mrs. Henry B. Thompson chairman and +Mrs. David J. Reinhardt secretary.</p> + +<p>On January 21, before the Revised Statutes Committee of the House, all +of the Representatives and many of the Senators, a hearing was given +to the suffragists. The speakers were Mrs. Cranston, Miss Leila Aaron +of Dover, Miss Vernon and Mrs. Hilles, whose argument was nearly +flawless. On February 3 the "antis" spoke before practically the same +audience and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> enthusiasm equalled that of the suffrage hearing. +Thomas F. Bayard, brother of Mrs. Hilles, opened the hearing and +introduced Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Grace W. Goodwin of Westfield and Mrs. +Preston Lea, wife of a former Governor. On February 9 the suffragists +were granted a second hearing, all members of the Senate and several +of the House being present. On February 16 the House Committee +reported the bill favorably. On March 8, with an hour's interval +between, the House killed it by a vote of 22 noes to 8 ayes; the +Senate by a vote of 11 noes to 6 ayes. Legislative friends were +Senators Edward Hart, John A. Barnard and Speaker Charles H. +Grantland.</p> + +<p>Preceding the vote was a gay and colorful parade of suffragists, +followed by speechmaking outside the State House. Able speakers and +workers from other States had spoken during the campaign, among them +United States Representatives J. A. Falconer of Washington and William +Kent of California; Mrs. Kent, Mrs. Thomas R. Hepburn, president of +the Connecticut Equal Suffrage Association and Miss Anne Martin, +president of the Nevada association. Among local speakers were Dr. +George Edward Reed, D.D., former president of Dickinson College; John +S. Hamilton of Wilmington and Mrs. Cranston. On March 11, three days +after the defeat, at a well-attended luncheon in Hotel du Pont, +Wilmington, was opened the campaign for 1917 in true Bunker Hill +spirit.</p> + +<p>1917. A full suffrage bill was presented, the Congressional Union in +charge. The State was canvassed for and against. Before the joint +hearing on February 16 the bill had been reported favorably by +committees of both House and Senate. It went to defeat, however, on +February 23 by a vote in the House of 21 noes to 12 ayes, in the +Senate on February 26 by a vote of 6 noes to 8 ayes. Among the +anti-suffrage leaders were Judge George Gray, General James H. Wilson, +Miss Emily P. Bissell, Mrs. George A. Elliott and Mrs. Henry P. +Scott.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_27_27" id="Footnote_27_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27_27"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Miss Mary R. +de Vou, corresponding secretary of the Delaware Equal Suffrage +Association fourteen years; also treasurer and auditor.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_28_28" id="Footnote_28_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28_28"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> The Women's College affiliated with Delaware College at +Newark, the State College for men, was opened in September, 1914.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_29_29" id="Footnote_29_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29_29"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> The History is indebted to Miss Winifred Morris, +secretary of the State Equal Suffrage Association, for much of the +material in this story of the effort for ratification.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.<a name="FNanchor_30_30" id="FNanchor_30_30"></a><a href="#Footnote_30_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a></h3> + + +<p>While the women in the District of Columbia rejoiced with those in the +States over the successful end of the long, hard fight for the Federal +Suffrage Amendment their joy was tempered by the fact that they still +had before them a struggle for an amendment which would enfranchise +the residents of the District—one really for equal suffrage, men and +women alike being without the vote. The Congress itself now has entire +jurisdiction, each branch appointing a committee for the purpose.</p> + +<p>The district is a municipal corporation, administered by a Board of +three commissioners, two of whom are appointed by the President of the +United States from civil life, confirmed by the Senate, the third +being detailed by him from the engineer corps of the army. The +argument for the citizen's franchise is that representation in +Congress for the residents of the District would only give them a +voice in the governing body without impairing the "exclusive +jurisdiction" given to Congress by the National Constitution. It has a +population greater than six of the States and pays taxes in excess of +twenty-two States—each of which has two Senators and Representatives +based on its population. Local self-government also is advocated by +some residents but the majority are behind the movement to obtain +representation in Congress and the vote for presidential electors. +From the time this matter was first agitated the woman suffrage +association of the District has insisted that women should have the +same rights granted to men.</p> + +<p>Although the suffragists of the District had no hope of +enfranchisement from the Federal Amendment, nevertheless their +interest in the cause never flagged and they gave freely of their time +and money to aid the movement for it. From 1869 to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> 1895 they assisted +every year the convention of the National Woman Suffrage Association +in Washington, and afterwards whenever it was held in this city. Its +great celebration of Miss Susan B. Anthony's 80th birthday in +February, 1900, gave a new impetus to the cause. The various societies +had been organized in 1898 into the District of Columbia State Equal +Suffrage Association, corresponding to those in the various States. +The old parent society formed in 1868 and the first Junior Club were +augmented by the Political Study Club organized in 1900, to study the +origin, growth and government of cities and later agitating the +question of placing women on boards of charities, schools, etc.; by +the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Club, organized in 1901, to take up the +study of general taxation, methods of carrying on the public schools, +tariff, finance and city government; by the College Equal Suffrage +League, organized in 1909 and doing excellent work, and in 1916 by the +Anthony League, organized in 1911 primarily for suffrage, but taking +up civic affairs. The Woman Suffrage Council was formed from these +societies in 1914 to aid the Congressional Committee of the National +Association at its branch headquarters in Washington. The name was +afterwards changed to Equal Franchise League when it was decided to +keep the organization intact for the purpose of working for suffrage +in the district. Mrs. Glenna Smith Tinnin was the first chairman, +followed by Mrs. George A. Mosshart and Mrs. Louis Brownlow.</p> + +<p>The D. C. State Association held regular meetings about four times a +year and some special sessions. It kept the woman suffrage sentiment +active and was responsible for a great deal of progressive work. The +following served as presidents: Mrs. Helen Rand Tindall, 1898; Mrs. +Ellen Powell Thompson, 1899; Mrs. Carrie E. Kent, 1900; Mrs. Tindall, +1901; Mrs. Kent, 1902-3; Mrs. Mary L. Talbott, 1904-5; Mrs. Jessie +Waite Wright, 1906-7-8; Miss Harriette J. J. Hifton, 1909-10; Mrs. Le +Droit Barber, 1911; Miss Florence Etheridge, 1912; Mrs. Nina E. +Allender, 1913; Mrs. Kent, 1914; Miss Mary O'Toole, 1915 to 1920.<a name="FNanchor_31_31" id="FNanchor_31_31"></a><a href="#Footnote_31_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span></p> + +<p>A number of prominent women in the District were officers of the local +suffrage clubs and worked under their auspices, being connected +through them with the D. C. State Association. A part of the program +of the latter in 1904-5 was a study of Fisk's Civil Government of the +United States, Laws affecting Women and Children, taxation and other +subjects of public interest. There was also discussion of bills before +Congress of special interest to women and the association supported +those for the protection of neglected and delinquent children, +compulsory education and restriction of child labor. A bill to raise +the salaries of public school teachers was strongly pressed. Among +those especially active were Mrs. Ellen Spencer Mussey, Dr. Emily +Young O'Brien and Mrs. Alice Stern Gitterman. Through their efforts +two truant officers were appointed, one white and one colored. During +this period the work was being done which led to the establishment of +a Juvenile Court with one probation officer, Mrs. Charles Darwin. In +1906 and 1907 the suffragists were active in agitating for women on +the Board of Education and succeeded in having two white women and one +colored woman appointed, as well as thirty women supervisors of the +public playgrounds. In 1908, also as a direct result of the efforts of +Mrs. Helen Rand Tindall and other members of the association, two +public comfort stations were built at a cost of $35,000, with bath, +rest rooms and all sanitary conveniences, the first in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> the city. The +association and the College Equal Suffrage League sent representatives +to a hearing before the Commissioners to ask that if a referendum on +the excise question should be taken women should have a vote as well +as men. In 1909 the association assisted in the petition work of the +national organization and paid the secretary who was in charge of +their headquarters in Washington for keeping them open evenings. Under +the auspices of the association lectures were given by Mrs. Emmeline +Pankhurst and Mrs. Ethel Snowdon of England.</p> + +<p>In 1910 at a hearing granted to the National Association by the +Judiciary Committee of Congress the District was represented by Miss +Emma M. Gillett and Mrs. Katharine Reed Balentine, who overheard one +of its members say that if the women really wanted suffrage they +should do something more than come up there to make speeches so as to +have them cheaply printed and mailed without postage. Miss Gillett, +who soon afterwards was made chairman of the National Congressional +Committee, was so stimulated by this remark that at her request the D. +C. State Association raised $100 and she herself contributed $100 and +used the fund to circularize every candidate for Congress in the +1910 campaign. She appealed through the <i>Woman's Journal</i> for +contributions, but only $14 were received. The circular asked seven +searching questions covering all forms of woman suffrage. The answers +were tabulated and sent out by the Associated Press. +[See <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29878/29878-h/29878-h.htm#CHAPTER_X">Chapter X, Volume V</a>.]</p> + +<p>President Seth Low, of the National Civic Federation, called a +conference in Washington Jan. 17-19, 1910, of delegates to be +appointed by the Governors of States and "presidents of commercial, +agricultural, manufacturing, labor, financial, professional and other +bodies national in extent." The program was to include discussions of +"public health, pure food regulations, uniform divorce law and +discrimination against married women as to the control of their +children and property." The suffragists asked the Commissioners to +appoint women among the twelve delegates to represent the District, +but this was not done. Mr. Low in answering Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt's +criticism that women delegates had not been invited, said it had not +occurred to him that women would be interested but that he would +place<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> the name of the National Suffrage Association on the list for +future calls of a like character.</p> + +<p>This year the clergymen of Washington were circularized to ascertain +their position on woman suffrage and the great field of usefulness it +would offer for women in moral and social reforms was pointed out. +Miss Hifton and Miss Anna C. Kelton (afterwards Mrs. Harvey W. Wiley) +took charge of this work and the 129 letters they sent received only +eight answers, five in favor, two non-committal, one opposed. For the +first time permission was obtained from the school board to post +notices of the national suffrage convention in the school buildings, +Miss Anna MacLaren arranging for it.</p> + +<p>In 1911 representatives of the association addressed many conventions +in Washington and asked that resolutions favoring suffrage for women +be passed. They were not successful but presented their cause. In +1912-13 the suffragists were busy among other things in agitating the +question of having a woman as Juvenile Court Judge. President Taft +practically promised the appointment, but the male incumbent was +allowed to hold over another year. A meeting of women lawyers was held +and a committee appointed to call on Attorney General Wickersham to +urge the name of Mrs. Ellen Spencer Mussey, then Dean of the +Washington College of Law. She was endorsed by several thousand men +and women, over six hundred of whom were teachers in the public +schools and familiar with Mrs. Mussey's excellent work on the Board of +Education, but no woman was appointed. (In 1918 Miss Kathryn Sellers, +president of the College Women's Equal Suffrage League, was appointed +by President Wilson.)</p> + +<p>On March 3, the day before the inauguration of Woodrow Wilson, for the +first time women marched on Pennsylvania Avenue. The parade was +arranged by the Congressional Committee of the National Association, +of which Miss Alice Paul was chairman. Objection being made by +Superintendent of Police Sylvester to giving a permit, the women +appealed to the Senate Committee for the District on the ground that +as citizens and tax-payers they had the right to use the avenue, and a +joint resolution was passed by Congress granting it. Adequate<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> police +protection, however, was not given, indeed some of the police +themselves hooted and jeered with the mob which attacked the paraders. +Doubtless it was composed of persons who had come from outside to the +inauguration. It took three hours to march the mile from the Peace +Monument to the Treasury, where tableaux were given on the steps. +Finally it was necessary to call the troops from Fort Myer. The Senate +ordered an investigation and the Police Superintendent resigned. It +was said that this parade won thousands of friends for the cause of +woman suffrage.</p> + +<p>This year the Congressional Union was organized to work in the +District and the States solely for the Federal Suffrage Amendment, +with Miss Paul chairman, Miss Lucy Burns, Mrs. Crystal Eastman, Mrs. +Mary Beard and Mrs. Lawrence Lewis the other officers. It had its own +headquarters and was not affiliated with the National American +Association.</p> + +<p>In 1914 the suffragists protested again, this time to the Chamber of +Commerce, against a constitutional amendment sponsored by it to +enfranchise the residents of the District, because it did not +definitely state that women should be included. This protest was also +taken up in the Federation of Women's Clubs through the auxiliaries of +the State Suffrage Association, which were affiliated with it. During +1915 and 1916 suffragists addressed all the civic bodies in Washington +on the necessity of including women in any measure looking to the +enfranchisement of the residents of the District. As a result of this +continuous agitation a compromise was reached to hold the question in +abeyance until a constitutional amendment was passed enabling Congress +to grant suffrage to the District. The association as usual +participated in commemorating the birthdays of Mrs. Stanton and Miss +Anthony and placed wreaths on the bust of Lincoln in the rotunda of +the Capitol. It joined in the contest with the school board which +tried to exclude married women as teachers.</p> + +<p>During the closing years of the long campaign for woman suffrage +street meetings were held. Among those who helped in this work were +Mrs. Frank Hiram Snell, Miss Florence F. Stiles, Miss Elizabeth +Eggert, Miss O'Toole and Miss Sellers. Receptions were given to the +"yellow flier," the automobile sent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> across the continent by the +National Association, and to the "prairie schooner," the car sent by +the Just Government League of Maryland to tour its southern counties. +Miss O'Toole travelled with the "schooner" two weeks, speaking several +times a day. A delegation from the College League met it at the +District line and a procession accompanied it into the city under +police escort. In the evening a public reception was given at the +Washington College of Law. From 1916 the association assisted the +National Association at its new headquarters, 1626 Rhode Island +Avenue, by serving tea afternoons and raising money through bazaars, +rummage sales, card parties, etc.</p> + +<p>During 1918 all the suffrage societies in the District devoted their +energies to war work and co-operated in every possible way with the +Woman's Committee of National Defense, whose headquarters were in +Washington, Dr. Anna Howard Shaw chairman. They rejoiced in the +submission of the Federal Suffrage Amendment by Congress in 1919 and +its ratification in 1920, although notwithstanding their many years of +loyalty and assistance to the National Association they could receive +no benefit from the victory.</p> + +<p>More women hold office in Washington than in any city in the world +because of their very extensive employment by the National Government. +When Volume IV of the History of Woman Suffrage was written in 1900 an +official statement gave the total number of government employees in +the District as 20,109 men, 7,496 women, a total of 27,600. At the +request of Mrs. Helen H. Gardener, a vice-president of the National +Woman Suffrage Association and a member of the U. S. Civil Service +Commission, the following information was sent in 1920 to be used in +this volume, by the president of the commission, Martin A. Morrison:</p> + +<blockquote><p>In 1907 the Bureau of the Census issued a report in which it was +stated that men outnumbered women in the Government service by +about eleven to one in Washington, D. C., and outside. The +percentage of women in the District was much larger than outside +for the reason that the great bulk of the employees in field +branches are in services the duties of which are not ordinarily +performed by women—the mechanical forces at navy yards, ordnance +establishments, engineer departments, reclamation service +projects, lighthouse<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> service and the like; also the +letter-carriers, city and rural, railway mail clerks and such +classes.</p> + +<p>It is believed that the proportion of women to men in the entire +service did not change materially until the beginning of the war. +When the United States entered the war, there were approximately +38,000 employees in the executive civil service in the District +of Columbia, approximately two-fifths of them women. The force +was increased by 80,000 during the war, of whom approximately 75 +per cent were women. The force has now been reduced to about +90,000, of whom approximately 50,000 are women. The proportion of +women is being constantly reduced by the return of former +soldiers and sailors to civilian employment, who are allowed +preference under the law. The Federal Civil Service outside the +District of Columbia increased by approximately 280,000 during +the war period, possibly one-third of this increase made up of +women. That force numbers now about 550,000 as compared with +450,000 before the war and it seems safe to say that twenty per +cent. are women.</p> + +<p>These positions are open to any who pass the civil service +examinations but the chiefs of the bureaus and departments are +appointed by the President, and Secretaries of Departments, and +they have always been men. Men have succeeded also in getting the +highly paid positions under civil service.</p></blockquote> + +<p>No law excludes women from the District offices. There are, of course, +no elections. Some officials are appointed by the President, some by +the Commissioners, and the Supreme Court of the District appoints the +Board of Education, three of whose members must be women. In 1920 +President Wilson appointed Miss Kathryn Sellers, a member of the +District bar, to be Judge of the Juvenile Court. This was largely due +to the efforts of Justice William Hitz, of the District Supreme Court. +The President appointed also Mrs. Clara Sears Taylor a member of the +Rent Commission, created to consider rent problems growing out of the +war, and Miss Mabel T. Boardman as Commissioner of the District. The +Commissioners appointed two women trustees of the public library. +Formerly it was necessary to make an effort to get women on the boards +of charities, hospitals, etc., but now such places are seeking the +women. Within the past ten years many women graduates of the law +schools have been appointed as law clerks in various departments, War +Risk, Treasury, especially the income and customs divisions, and in +the Solicitor's office for the State Department. The Interior +Department appointed Miss Florence Etheridge, at one time president of +the D. C. State Equal Suffrage Association,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> probate attorney for the +Cherokee Indians. Miss Marie K. Saunders was the first woman appointed +patent examiner, as the result of a competitive examination, and she +has been advanced until the next step is that of principal examiner. +Women hold important positions as secretaries of committees at the +Capitol.</p> + +<p>The Board of Commissioners appoint the Superintendent of Police and +under Major Raymond J. Pullman a Woman's Bureau was established in +1918, after several women had been serving on the force. Mrs. Marian +C. Spingarn was made director. When she left Washington the following +year Mrs. Mina C. Van Winkle was appointed and continues to hold the +position. To give her power she was made Detective Sergeant and in +1920 was promoted to a Lieutenancy, so that she might legally be in +command of a precinct where the Woman's Bureau is on the first floor +of the house of detention and the preventive and protective work for +women and children is directed. The functions of this bureau are very +wide and very important and the work of the women police covers the +entire city.</p> + +<p>The national appointments of women have attracted the attention not +only of this but of other countries. They began in 1912 with the +selection of Miss Julia C. Lathrop of Hull House, Chicago, by +President Taft as Chief of the newly created Federal Children's +Bureau, which position she still holds (1920). President Wilson +appointed Mrs. Frances C. Axtell in 1916 a member of the Federal +Employees' Compensation Commission; in 1920 Mrs. Helen H. Gardener a +member of the Civil Service Commission; Mrs. Annette A. Adams, U. S. +Attorney in San Francisco, Assistant Attorney General; Miss Mary +Anderson, chief of the Women's Division of the Department of Labor.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_30_30" id="Footnote_30_30"></a><a href="#FNanchor_30_30"><span class="label">[30]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Miss Mary +O'Toole, attorney and counsellor at law, president of the District of +Columbia State Equal Suffrage Association from 1915 to 1920, when the +Federal Amendment was ratified. Appointed Judge of the Municipal Court +by President Harding, Aug. 4, 1921.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_31_31" id="Footnote_31_31"></a><a href="#FNanchor_31_31"><span class="label">[31]</span></a> Vice-presidents: Justice Wendell P. Stafford, +Commissioner Henry B. F. McFarland, Dr. William Tindall, Mrs. Helen H. +Gardener, Mrs. Harvey W. Wiley, Mrs. Belva A. Lockwood, Mrs. Philander +P. Claxton, Mrs. Wesley, M. Stoner, Mrs. Anna E. Hendley, Miss Helen +Jamison, Miss Gertrude Metcalf, Miss Catharine L. Fleming, Miss Annie +Goebel, Miss Bertha A. Yoder, Mrs. C. C. Farrar, Dr. Margaret S. +Potter, Mrs. Monroe Hopkins, Mrs. Caleb Miller, Mrs. Henry Churchill +Cooke, Mrs. Ruth B. Hensey, Mrs. George Easement. There were few years +when Dr. and Mrs. Tindall did not occupy some official position. +</p><p> +Corresponding secretaries: Miss Henrietta Morrison, Mrs. B. B. +Cheshire, Mrs. Jennie L. Monroe, Mrs. L. M. Coope, Mrs. Ida Finley +McCrille, Miss Lavinia H. Engle, Miss Abbie R. Knapp, Miss Helen M. +Calkins, Francis Scott, Mrs. Rachel Ezekiel, Mrs. Edna V. Bryan. +</p><p> +Recording secretaries: Miss Emma M. Gillett (8 years), Miss Mary H. +Williams, Mrs. Jeannette M. Bradley, Miss Josephine Mason, Mrs. Sarah +Newman, Mrs. Louis Ottenberg. +</p><p> +Treasurers: Mrs. Kate Ward Burt (5 years), W. G. Steward, Mrs. Alice +P. Rand. Mrs. Kent served in some official capacity from 1898 until +her death in 1918. +</p><p> +Auditors: George A. Warren, Miss Edith Harris, William Lee, Mrs. R. G. +Whiting, Mrs. F. M. Gregory, Mrs. Jessica Penn Hunter, Miss Audrey +Goss, Mrs. L. Aveihle, Miss Alice Jenkins, Mrs. Jeanne F. Brackett, +Mrs. Sarah Beall, Mrs. Frank Pyle. Many of the above named also filled +other offices. +</p><p> +Among the names which appear in the records of the years as chairmen +of committees, in addition to many of the above, are those of Miss +Helen Varick Boswell, Dr. Clara McNaughton, Miss Nettie Lovisa White, +Mrs. Katharine Reed Balentine and Miss Abby T. Nicholls.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>FLORIDA.<a name="FNanchor_32_32" id="FNanchor_32_32"></a><a href="#Footnote_32_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a></h3> + + +<p>With the removal from the State of Mrs. Ella C. Chamberlain in 1897 +and no one found to take the leadership, the cause of woman suffrage, +which was represented only by the one society at her home in Tampa, +languished for years. In 1907 John Schnarr, a prominent business man +of Orlando, circulated a petition to Congress for a Federal Suffrage +Amendment which was sent down by the National Association and obtained +numerous signatures. It is interesting to note that, from the +beginning of the suffrage movement in Florida, men as well as women +have been its active supporters.</p> + +<p>As the years passed and the movement waxed strong throughout the +country and important victories were won, the women of Florida imbibed +the spirit of their day and generation. It became a frequent topic of +discussion and women in various places began to realize the need of +organization. On June 15, 1912, the Equal Franchise League was +organized at Jacksonville in the home of Mrs. Herbert Anderson by +herself and Mrs. Katherine Livingstone Eagan, with about thirty ladies +present. Monthly meetings were held in a room in a large new office +building given them for headquarters by the owners and forty-five +members were enrolled. Mrs. Eagan, the president, soon went to Paris +and her duties fell upon the vice-president, Mrs. Roselle C. Cooley; +the secretary, Miss Frances Anderson, and the other officers. In the +autumn two leading suffragists, who were attending the National Child +Labor Convention, were invited to address the League, but neither the +Board of Trade nor the Woman's Club would rent its auditorium for a +suffrage meeting, so they had to open a door between their +headquarters and an adjoining room and a large audience was present. +The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> league affiliated with the National American Suffrage +Association, which the next year sent a field worker to help in +legislative work. In 1914 it published a special edition of <i>The +State</i>, which was put into the hands of all the Florida members of +Congress and the Legislature. Mrs. Medill McCormick, chairman of the +National Congressional Committee, sent one of the national workers, +Miss Lavinia Engle, to assist. This year Mr. Heard, president of the +Heard National Bank, gave the league the use of a large front room on +its first office floor.</p> + +<p>On Feb. 13, 1913, the Political Equality Club of Lake Helen was formed +with Mrs. S. A. Armstrong president and Mrs. Irene Adams secretary. On +the 27th the Equal Suffrage League of Orlando was organized with the +Rev. Mary A. Safford president, and in October the first demand for +suffrage was made here. The Mayor issued a notice that all freeholders +must register for the sewerage bond election by the 9th, and a few +suffragists saw their opportunity. Very secretly and hurriedly, before +the Mayor could get word of it and give notice that the election was +meant for men only, Miss Emma Hainer and Mrs. Helen Starbuck gathered +together several women who owned valuable property and they went to +the city clerk's office and announced that they had come in response +to the Mayor's call to register for the coming election. He referred +them to the Mayor, who referred them to the Council, which referred +them to the city attorney. He told them that the law did not permit +women to register. This they knew, but their action caused a +discussion of the question and disclosed a widespread belief that +women should have the right to vote.</p> + +<p>At a meeting of the executive board of the Orlando league in the home +of Mrs. J. C. Patterson April 21 the question of forming a State +Association was earnestly considered and Miss Safford was requested to +prepare a "call" for this purpose. Soon afterwards she and Mrs. +Starbuck were sent to Tallahassee by the league to aid the suffrage +work being done in the Legislature. Here the great need of a State +organization was very apparent, as legislators constantly asked, +"Where are the suffragists from my district?"</p> + +<p>During the summer through conversation with interested<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> suffragists +and correspondence with Mrs. Cooley, president of the Jacksonville +league, arrangements were made for calling a convention to organize a +State association at Orlando at the time of the meeting of the State +Federation of Women's Clubs. This took place Nov. 4, 1913, Miss +Safford was chairman, Mrs. Isabel Stanley secretary of the convention +and addresses were made by women from half a dozen towns. A committee +was appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws which reported at an +adjourned meeting on the 6th, when they were adopted and the following +officers for the State Equal Suffrage Association were elected: +President, Miss Safford, Orlando; first vice-president, Mrs. C. J. +Huber, Webster; second, Mrs. Ella Chamberlain, Tampa; third, Miss +Caroline Brevard, Tallahassee; corresponding secretary, Miss Elizabeth +Askew, Tampa; recording secretary, Miss Frances B. Anderson, +Jacksonville; treasurer, Mrs. John Schnarr, Orlando; auditors, Mrs. +Anna Andrus, Miami, and Mrs. J. M. Thayer, Orlando.</p> + +<p>In 1914 Miss Safford published a bulletin, showing that the State +Association had auxiliaries in Jacksonville, Lake Helen, Orlando, +Zellwood, Pine Castle, Winter Park, Pensacola, Milton, Miami, Tampa, +and a Men's Equal Suffrage League in Orlando with Mayor E. F. Sperry +as president and Justin Van Buskirk as secretary. Miss Kate M. Gordon, +president of the Southern Woman's Suffrage Conference, had held a +successful meeting in Jacksonville. The Orlando League had had a float +in the trades' parade of the midwinter fair and a booth at the fair +where the names of voters in favor of submitting a State suffrage +amendment were obtained. It had had "teas" for replenishing the +treasury and closed the year with a banquet complimentary to the Men's +League. A committee was preparing a program on the laws of the State +for the next year's work. The Pensacola league was arranging to issue +a special edition of the <i>Journal</i> and have a booth at the tri-county +fair. Most of the leagues had formed classes to study history and the +duties of citizenship and had distributed literature and some of them +had held a celebration on May 2, as the National Association had +requested.</p> + +<p>The first annual convention, held at Pensacola, Dec. 8-10, 1914, +stressed the pledging of candidates for Congress and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> Legislature and +securing signatures to petitions. The second, at Orlando, Feb. 3, +1915, formed congressional districts, according to the plan of the +National Association. The third, at Miami, March 15-16, 1916, arranged +for suffrage schools and planned to assist work outside the State. The +fourth, at Tampa, Nov. 20, 1917, found the members busy with war work. +The fifth, at Daytona, Nov. 19, 1918, planned to introduce a bill for +Primary suffrage in the Legislature and co-operate with the Federation +of Women's Clubs to secure it. The sixth, at Tampa, Oct. 30-31, 1919, +was devoted to plans for ratification of the Federal Suffrage +Amendment and citizenship.</p> + +<p>While the State association could show no definite accomplishment, its +work had been largely educational and a considerable public sentiment +in favor of woman suffrage had been created. Its organization and +growth center about the name of the Rev. Mary Augusta Safford, a +pioneer worker in the suffrage cause in several States. She came in +1905 to make Florida her home from Des Moines, Iowa, where she had +been pastor of the Unitarian church for eleven years. Her energy, +enthusiasm and devotion carried all before her and but for her +organization might have been delayed for years. For four years she was +the untiring State president, then Mrs. Frank Stranahan served in +1917, Miss Safford again in 1918. The following, in addition to those +elsewhere mentioned, are among those prominent in the suffrage work in +the State: Mrs. A. E. McDavid, Miss Minnie Kehoe, Pensacola; Mrs. +Susan B. Dyer, Winter Park; Mrs. H. W. Thompson, Miss C. H. Day, +Milton; Mrs. S. V. Moore, Cocoanut Grove; Mrs. Kate C. Havens, Miami; +Miss Pleasaunce Baker, Zellwood; Mrs. Grace Hanchett, Orlando.</p> + +<p>From its beginning the association worked for the Federal Suffrage +Amendment, although it tried also to obtain from the Legislature the +submission of a State amendment to the voters. In 1915 Dr. Anna Howard +Shaw, the national president, assisted Miss Safford and the other +workers in holding conventions in several congressional districts. +Many local meetings were held, much literature distributed, +resolutions secured and legislators interviewed. The Federation of +Women's Clubs, the largest organization of women in the State, +endorsed the movement.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> In 1916 Miss Safford went for a month to +assist the campaign in Iowa, to which the association sent $100, and +the vice-president, Mrs. Frank Tracy, directed the State work. New +leagues were formed, delegates to the national presidential +conventions were interviewed and Florida women attended those in +Chicago and St. Louis. Dr. Shaw was present at the State convention +where 550 members were reported and the distribution of 750 packages +of literature. A series of meetings was held in cooperation with the +Congressional Committee of the National Association and work in the +Legislature was done.</p> + +<p>By 1918 a number of counties had been organized and the State +convention, encouraged by the granting of Primary suffrage to women in +Arkansas and Texas, decided to make this its legislative work for +1919, and plans were made to raise $5,000 through local conferences. A +State organizer was put into the field and the National Association +sent its recording secretary, Mrs. Halsey W. Wilson, a trained worker, +to assist the State organization. In January, 1919, Dr. Shaw attended +a conference at Orlando and $1,000 were raised; later at a conference +in Tampa, $198 and at one in Miami and West Palm Beach $260. Miss +Elizabeth Skinner was appointed State organizer and the National +Association sent one of its most capable organizers, Mrs. Maria +McMahon. The 38 county chairmen had obtained nearly 2,500 signatures +to petitions to the Legislature and an active campaign was undertaken +for Primary suffrage.</p> + +<p>In January, 1919, the National Association's Congressional Committee +sent its secretary, Mrs. Minnie Fisher Cunningham of Arkansas, and its +press secretary, Miss Marjorie Shuler of New York, to spend several +weeks in a quiet campaign to influence U. S. Senator Park Trammell to +cast his vote for the Federal Suffrage Amendment, this being +considered useless in the case of Senator Duncan U. Fletcher. They +secured newspaper comment in favor, interviews with prominent people +and resolutions from conventions, but these had no effect. At the +annual convention in October the following officers were elected: +President, Mrs. John T. Fuller, Orlando; first vice-president, Mrs. +Edgar A. Lewis, Fort Pierce; second, Miss Elizabeth Skinner, Dunedin; +third, Dr. Minerva B. Cushman, St. Petersburg;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> corresponding +secretary, Mrs. W. R. O'Neal, Orlando; recording secretary, Mrs. C. E. +Hawkins, Brooksville; treasurer, Mrs. Clara B. Worthington, Tampa; +auditors, Mrs. J. W. McCollum, Mrs. J. D. Stringfellow, Gainesville; +Legislative Committee, Mrs. Amos Norris, chairman, Tampa. A memorial +meeting was held for Dr. Shaw, who had died July 2.</p> + +<p>The annual meeting in 1920 took place in Orlando. Mrs. Fuller was +re-elected and plans for extensive work were made but the association +was not quite ready to merge into a League of Women Voters. This was +done April 1, 1921, and Mrs. J. B. O'Hara was elected chairman.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action</span>. Before the State Association was organized the +Equal Franchise League of Jacksonville decided to ask the Legislature, +which met in April, 1913, to submit to the voters a woman suffrage +amendment to the State constitution. A bill was prepared and an appeal +for assistance made to the National American Association. In response +it sent its very capable field worker, Miss Jeannette Rankin, who went +with the executive officers of the league to Tallahassee. Its +president, Mrs. Roselle C. Cooley, said in her report: "The House of +Representatives decided to hear us in a Committee of the Whole, at an +evening session. In this case it meant the whole House, the whole +Senate and the whole town. Seats, aisles, the steps of the Speaker's +rostrum were filled, windows had people sitting in them and in the +hall as far as one could see people were standing on chairs to hear +the first call for the rights of women ever uttered in the Capitol of +Florida. Four women and three men spoke, the vote of the committee was +publicly called at the close of the speaking and the bill passed into +the House of Representatives without recommendation. Weary days and +weeks of waiting, time wasted on petty legislation, members going home +for week-ends and not returning for Monday work kept us still anxious. +At length the bill was called and the vote was 26 ayes to 38 noes.</p> + +<p>"As we were leaving for our homes on Saturday evening a Senator said: +'If you will come into the Senate we will show those men how to treat +ladies.' So we went back on Monday and were fortunate in having for +our sponsor Senator Cone of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> Columbia county, the leader of the +Senate. He took up our bill, placed it on the special calendar and +advised us in our procedure, the bill having come into the Senate with +favorable recommendation from the committee. Again the weary waiting, +the petty legislation, the filibustering of the 'corporation' members +and the whisky men, and at last a motion to postpone indefinitely was +carried by one majority, 15 to 16, the sixteenth man being one who had +been with us from the first until this moment."</p> + +<p>The Legislature meets every two years and in 1915 the State +association, which had now sixteen well organized branches, was +sponsor for the bill, or resolution, and a large number of legislators +had promised their support. Hearings were granted by both Houses, but +it was defeated.</p> + +<p>In 1917 strenuous efforts were again made in behalf of a State +constitutional amendment. Mrs. William Jennings Bryan, who now had a +winter home in Florida, was among those who addressed the Legislature +in favor of it, and on April 23 the resolution to submit the amendment +passed the Senate by 23 to 7. The struggle was then begun in the House +but the corporate and liquor interests combined with the +non-progressive character of many of the members accomplished its +defeat.</p> + +<p>In April, 1919, the State Federation of Women's Clubs, which now had a +suffrage chairman, co-operated with the State Equal Suffrage +Association in the effort to obtain a Primary Suffrage Bill, such as +had been passed by the Legislatures of Arkansas and Texas. Mrs. +McMahon, a national organizer, and Miss Skinner did organizing and +legislative work from March 6 to April 22. The former was sent to work +for Presidential suffrage, but the State Board believed that Primary +suffrage had a better chance. This, however, met with so much +opposition that it was never brought up. The moment the Federal +Amendment was submitted by Congress a delegation of women—Mrs. Frank +Stranahan, chairman of the Legislative Committee; Dr. Safford, Mrs. W. +S. Jennings, Mrs. Edgar A. Lewis—went to Tallahassee to try to have +the Legislature ratify it, arriving one day before adjournment. They +quickly canvassed the members and found a small majority willing to +vote for it but there was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> no time. Governor Sidney J. Catts could +have called a special session for the next day but insisted that there +was no assurance of ratification, as some of the men listed as +favorable were in the habit of changing their vote, and he did not +want to put the members on record. Some of them who were alleged to be +supporters declared that they would not stay over even for one day. It +was impossible to persuade the Governor to call a special session at +any time afterwards, but in 1920 Florida women were enfranchised by +this amendment.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Suffrage</span>. By special acts of the Legislature, charters were granted to +various cities giving Municipal suffrage to women and the voters +accepted them. Sixteen towns had such a charter: Felsmere, Aurantia, +Cocoa, Orange City, Deland, West Palm Beach, Delray, Florence Villa +(where Dr. Anna Howard Shaw had a winter home for a number of years), +Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Moore Haven, Orlando, Clearwater, Dunedin, St. +Petersburg, Tarpon Springs. Felsmere was the pioneer, receiving its +charter in 1915.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_32_32" id="Footnote_32_32"></a><a href="#FNanchor_32_32"><span class="label">[32]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Alice G. +(Mrs. George) Kollock, prominent in the work for woman suffrage in +Florida, with thanks to others who assisted.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>GEORGIA.<a name="FNanchor_33_33" id="FNanchor_33_33"></a><a href="#Footnote_33_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a></h3> + + +<p>The first suffrage society in Georgia was formed at Columbus in 1890 +and the second in Atlanta in 1894. Here the first State convention was +held in 1899 and the State association, auxiliary to the National +American Woman Suffrage Association, never ceased its labors until the +year following the ratification of the Federal Woman Suffrage +Amendment.</p> + +<p>Mrs. McLendon became an officer in 1892 and held official position +during the entire twenty-nine years. For thirteen years she was +vice-president or honorary president and for the remainder of the time +president of the association. Mrs. Thomas was second honorary +president for five years before her death in 1906. The following +served as presidents: Miss H. Augusta Howard, 1890-1895; Mrs. Frances +Cater Swift, 1895-1896; Mrs. Mary L. McLendon, 1896-1899; Mrs. +Gertrude C. Thomas, 1899-1901; Miss Katherine Koch, 1901-1904; Mrs. +Rose Y. Colvin, 1904-1906; Mrs. Mary L. McLendon, 1906-1921.<a name="FNanchor_34_34" id="FNanchor_34_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_34_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a></p> + +<p>In 1900 the same suffrage measures presented the year before were +again offered to the Legislature with the same barren result. The +Southern Chautauqua invited the association to hold an all day meeting +and also engaged Miss Frances A. Griffin of Alabama to lecture. F. +Henry Richardson, editor of the Atlanta <i>Journal</i>, and Lucian Knight, +editor of the Atlanta<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> <i>Constitution</i>, brought the "woman's rights +movement" as prominently before the public as they were permitted to +do by the managers of those newspapers.</p> + +<p>On Nov. 25, 26, 1901, the State convention was held in the +Universalist Church of Atlanta. Addresses were made by Mrs. Carrie +Chapman Catt, president of the National Association; Mrs. Thomas, Mrs. +Alice Daniels and Mrs. McLendon. The meeting adjourned early in the +afternoon to go to the Atlanta Women's Club room, where Mrs. Catt was +invited to address that body. The night meeting was held in the hall +of the House of Representatives, where Mrs. Catt, Mr. Richardson and +the Hon. Robert R. Hemphill of South Carolina addressed a large and +appreciative audience. The convention decided to employ a State +lecturer and organizer.</p> + +<p>With but two exceptions State conventions or conferences were held +every year, always in Atlanta until 1919, in the Congregational and +Universalist churches, in the Grand Building, the hall of the +Federation of Labor, the Carnegie Library, the Hotel Ansley and the +Piedmont Hotel. The membership gradually increased, a series of +literary meetings in the winter of 1902 adding fifty names. This year +a committee was appointed to revise the charter of Atlanta and the +officers of the association appeared before it and asked that it +include Municipal suffrage for women. The sub-committee on franchises +recommended that instead it provide for women on school, hospital, +park and health boards, but the general committee reported adversely. +The Atlanta branch protested to Mayor Livingstone Mims against the +injustice of not allowing women taxpayers to vote on the proposed +$400,000 bond issue. He expressed himself in favor of woman suffrage +and promised to bring the matter before the city council, but there +was no result.</p> + +<p>Miss Kate M. Gordon, national corresponding secretary, gave a most +convincing address in the Carnegie Library the next year, 1903, on how +the taxpaying women of Louisiana won the right to vote on questions of +taxation; strong articles were published, but all the women were able +to do was to post large placards at the polls, "Taxpaying women should +be allowed to vote at this bond election." Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, +national<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> vice-president-at-large, came to assist at the State +convention and delivered her famous lecture, "The Fate of Republics." +This year the association distributed 10,000 pages of suffrage +literature at the Interstate Fair. It attempted to bring a bill before +the Legislature for police matrons but not a member would introduce +it.</p> + +<p>During these years the suffragists found it very difficult to persuade +a legislator to present a bill for raising the age of consent or +compulsory education in order to take the young children out of the +factories or for the enfranchisement of women. In 1905, at the request +of the National Association that fraternal greetings should be sent to +various organizations, Mrs. McLendon, who had been a member of the +Women's Christian Temperance Union since 1890, carried them to its +convention and made an earnest but unsuccessful effort to have it +adopt a franchise department. Thousands of pieces of suffrage +literature were distributed at the State Fair. In 1906 memorial +services were held for the great leader, Susan B. Anthony, and the +association carried out to its full power all the State work planned +by the National Board, including a petition to the Legislature to pass +a resolution asking Congress to submit a Federal Suffrage Amendment.</p> + +<p>The membership of the association was increased in 1907 by the +addition of three prominent W. C. T. U. officials, Mrs. J. J. Ansley, +Mrs. Jennie Hart Sibley and Mrs. L. W. Walker, who were promptly +appointed superintendents of Church Work, Legislation and Petition and +Christian Citizenship. Miss Jean Gordon of New Orleans and Mrs. +Florence Kelley of New York made splendid addresses in favor of woman +suffrage when they came to Atlanta in April to attend the Child Labor +Convention. Dr. Shaw gave a stirring suffrage speech in the hall of +the House of Representatives on May 4.</p> + +<p>The evening sessions of the annual convention in 1908 were held in the +Senate Chamber of the Capitol. Miss Laura Clay, Mrs. Sibley, Miss H. +Augusta Howard and W. S. Witham were the speakers, with Mrs. McLendon +presiding. Miss Clay's address, entitled Who Works Against Woman +Suffrage? created a profound impression and she was of much +assistance.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> Mrs. McLendon was invited to speak before the convention +of the Georgia Agricultural Association, one of the oldest in the +State, on Woman's Education and Woman's Rights. A rising vote of +thanks was accorded her and the address ordered printed in the +minutes. The State Prohibition convention placed a strong woman +suffrage plank in its platform and the delegates to the national +convention were instructed to vote for one if it was offered. Mr. +Witham, the Rev. James A. Gordon and Mr. Barker, editor of <i>The +Southern Star</i>, worked faithfully for this plank.</p> + +<p>In 1909, at the request of the National Association, letters were +written to Georgia's Senators and Representatives in Congress, asking +them to vote for a Federal Woman Suffrage Amendment. Polite but +non-committal replies were received from Senators Clay and Bacon and +Representatives Griggs and Lewis. The other eight evidently did not +consider disfranchised women worthy of an answer. The city council of +Atlanta decided that its charter was forty years behind the times and +again a committee of forty-nine men was appointed to draw up a new +one. The Civic League, an Atlanta auxiliary to the State Suffrage +Association, set to work to have this new charter recognize the rights +of the women taxpayers. It was discovered that the women paid taxes on +more than $13,000,000 worth of real and personal property in the city. +Several hundred personal letters were written to leading taxpaying +women asking their opinion of the league's movement; only favorable +replies were received and many friends of the cause developed among +the influential women. Strong articles were published in the city +papers and widely copied throughout the State, but the charter +entirely ignored the claims of women. Many letters were written to +Republican and Democratic delegates asking them to vote for a suffrage +plank in their platforms. The annual convention was not held in Macon, +as intended, because there was so much sentiment against it in that +city. This year women in the Methodist Church South became active to +secure laity rights, which had been granted to women members in the +North, East and West after they had worked years for it, but the +bishops in the South were bitterly opposed to it. Mrs. Mary Harris +Armor,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> the well-known national organizer and lecturer for the W. C. +T. U., and four years president for Georgia, joined the suffrage +association.</p> + +<p>The National Association's petition to Congress had been distributed +throughout the State for signatures and returned to Washington. In +1910 letters were written to President Taft, to the members of +Congress from Georgia and to Governor "Joe" Brown, as requested by Dr. +Shaw, national president. Senator Clay and Representatives W. C. +Brantley, S. A. Roddenberry and W. C. Adamson were the only ones who +could spare time to answer. Atlanta was to have an election for a +three-million dollar bond issue on February 15, Susan B. Anthony's +birthday, and the Mayor and president of the Chamber of Commerce had +appealed to the City Federation of Women's Clubs to "make the men go +to the polls to vote for bonds." The suffragists distributed broadcast +a poster headed by a cartoon by Louis Gregg representing women of all +sorts, armed with brooms, umbrellas, rolling pins, etc., driving the +men to the polls.</p> + +<p>Over 6,000 pages of suffrage literature were distributed in the State, +a considerable amount of it to young people engaging in debates or +writing essays. Dr. James W. Lee and Dr. Frank M. Siler, Methodist +ministers of Atlanta, fearlessly expressed themselves in their pulpits +as in favor of the enfranchisement of women, regardless of the fact +that Bishop Warren A. Candler was bitterly opposed to it. Dr. Len G. +Broughton of the Baptist church and Dr. Dean Ellenwood of the +Universalist also declared themselves as favoring equal rights in +Church and State for women. Judge John L. Hopkins, one of Georgia's +foremost lawyers, who codified the laws, proclaimed himself a believer +in equal rights for women in a letter to the <i>Constitution</i>. In June +when it was again proposed to revise the charter of Atlanta, a +committee from the Civic League went before the charter committee and +presented a petition asking Municipal suffrage for women. Later at a +meeting of the city council the petition was brought up for +consideration and was treated with ridicule and contempt. On August 8 +the association held its convention in the hall of the Federation of +Labor, its true friend. Walter McElreath of Fulton county offered a +resolution that the House<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> of Representatives should be tendered for +the evening session, but Joe Bill Hall, a noted anti-prohibitionist +and anti-suffragist, marshalled the liquor men and they defeated it.</p> + +<p>In 1912 the State association conformed to the plan of the National +and appointed a committee of education, who would offer money prizes +for the best essays on woman suffrage by the seniors of the high +schools, with Mrs. Helmer chairman and Miss Koch secretary. It worked +vigorously for the bill to permit women to practice law. Mrs. Rebecca +Latimer Felton became a member and was elected a delegate to the +national suffrage convention in Philadelphia. Attorney Leonard J. +Grossman joined the association and was made general counsel.</p> + +<p>In 1913, while Mr. Grossman was attending the convention of the +National American Woman Suffrage Association as a delegate, he was +requested by James Lees Laidlaw, president of the National Men's +League for Woman Suffrage, to undertake the organization of a Georgia +Men's League. He did so immediately on returning home, with the +following officers: President, Mr. Grossman; vice-presidents, the Rev. +Fred A. Line, the Rev. J. Wade Conkling, C. W. McClure, Dr. Frank +Peck, E. L. Martin, ex-president Macon Chamber of Commerce; S. B. +Marks and L. Marquardt, ex-presidents of the State Federation of +Labor. Mr. Grossman toured the State on behalf of woman suffrage under +the joint auspices of the Men's League and the State association. He +drafted, at their request, proposed bills and ratification +resolutions; appeared before the annual conventions of the Federation +of Labor, obtaining their formal endorsement of woman suffrage; +secured also the endorsement of the Civic Educational League, +comprising a great majority of the Jewish citizens of Atlanta; +occupied church pulpits and addressed women's clubs, civic bodies, +city councils and legislative committees. The members of the Men's +League gave whatever assistance was required.</p> + +<p>The many State victories in 1912 put new life into the movement in +1913. The Georgia Young People's Suffrage Association was organized +with Miss Ruth Buckholz as president. To represent the association +Mrs. Amelia R. Woodall, corresponding, and Miss Katherine Koch, +recording secretary; Miss Mamie<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> Matthews, treasurer of the young +people's society, Mrs. Landis Sanna, Mrs. Margaret Gardner, editor +Trox Bankston of West Point and J. J. Williams of Chatterton, were +sent to Washington to march in the parade on March 3. They carried the +suffrage flag made for the national convention in Atlanta in 1895, +with two handsome yellow banners prepared especially for the parade. +Five bills before the Legislature were supported this year as well as +the Federal Amendment. When Presidential suffrage was given to +Illinois women in 1913, the Atlanta <i>Constitution</i> was so impressed +with the "nearness" of woman suffrage that it created a suffrage +department and offered the editorship to Mrs. McLendon. U. S. Senators +Hoke Smith and Augustus O. Bacon had been obliged to present the +petition of Georgia suffragists asking for the Federal Amendment, but +no beautiful speeches were made by them. Senator Smith had been on +record all his life as being "unalterably opposed to woman suffrage" +and voted against it whenever he had opportunity, adding insult to +injury by declaring, "Our best women do not want it." Senator W. S. +West, who succeeded Senator Bacon, was more amenable to reason, but +Senator Thomas W. Hardwick, who followed after Mr. West's death, has +been an implacable opponent. For the second time the Atlanta +Federation tendered the use of its beautiful Temple of Labor for the +day sessions of the State convention which met July 9, 10. The +Legislature was persuaded by John Y. Smith of Fulton county to permit +an evening session in the House of Representatives. Senator Starke +opposed the use of the Senate Chamber "because Christ did not select +women for his Disciples" but saner counsels prevailed and it was +opened for a session.</p> + +<p>During 1914 there were 275 meetings in Atlanta, Rome, Athens, Decatur, +Macon and Bainbridge by the auxiliary societies, with five open air +meetings. On March 1 a mass meeting was held in the Atlanta theater to +which members of the Legislature were especially invited. The speakers +were officers of the National Association, including the +vice-president, Miss Jane Addams. To enlarge the scope of the work +there was organized in February the Woman Suffrage Party Incorporated, +as a branch of the State association, with Mrs. McLendon president.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> +It secured a charter and prepared for an aggressive state-wide +suffrage campaign. A chairman for each of the twelve congressional +districts was appointed and instructed to organize in her district. +This year for the first time a hearing was granted before the House +Committee on Constitutional Amendments. Mrs. Felton and Mrs. Rose +Ashby spoke for the association, Mrs. Cheatham and Mrs. Frances Smith +Whiteside for the Woman Suffrage League. The association distributed +40,000 pages of leaflets, fliers, newspapers, etc.; about a dozen of +the leading newspapers were supplied with local and national suffrage +news and members of the Legislature with suffrage literature. In 1900, +when the first National W. C. T. U. convention was held in Atlanta, +woman suffrage was a forbidden subject at all temperance meetings in +Georgia. In 1914, when the second was held, Mrs. McLendon, president +of the State Suffrage Association, was selected to welcome the White +Ribboners in behalf of the suffragists of the State.<a name="FNanchor_35_35" id="FNanchor_35_35"></a><a href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a></p> + +<p>The annual convention of the State association was held July 21, 22, +in the ballroom of the Hotel Ansley, beautifully decorated for the +occasion. Miss Kate M. Gordon aided largely in making it a success. +Mrs. Annie Fletcher of Oldham, England, visited Atlanta this year and +spoke on the suffrage situation there. Mrs. Georgia McIntyre Wheeler, +a practicing attorney of West Virginia, helped greatly in securing the +Woman Lawyer Bill. Atlanta and Waycross suffragists applied to the +city governments to grant women Municipal suffrage. The association +did not parade on May 2, as requested by the National Board, but the +president made a suffrage speech on the steps of the State Capitol and +members sold copies of the <i>Woman's Journal</i>. The Rev. A. M. Hewlett, +pastor of St. Marks Methodist Church South, accompanied Mrs. McLendon +and Attorney Grossman to Cox College in March and by invitation of its +president they gave addresses in favor of suffrage for women before +the student body.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> There was a growing sentiment in favor of it among +clergymen of various denominations.</p> + +<p>The State convention was held in Atlanta Nov. 15-20, 1915, at the same +time as the harvest festival, and the first suffrage parade took +place, led by Miss Eleanor Raoul on horseback. Mrs. McLendon followed +in the little yellow car which once belonged to Dr. Shaw, driven by +Mrs. Loring Raoul. As a protest against taxation without +representation Dr. Shaw allowed it to be sold for taxes and it was +bought by Miss Sallie Fannie Gleaton of Conyers, who walked behind it +in the parade. The suffrage carriages were decorated with yellow, +those of the W. C. T. U. with white. Mrs. William R. Woodall, +president of the Atlanta association, and Miss Katherine Koch had +carried on a suffrage school the first and second Wednesdays from +February 24 to December 1. The motion picture suffrage play Your Girl +and Mine had been put on in the Grand Opera House. The branch in Rome +published an official organ called <i>The Woman's Magazine</i>.</p> + +<p>In February, 1916, the State association and its three auxiliaries in +Atlanta worked with the Equal Suffrage Party and the Woman Suffrage +League to secure 10,000 names to a petition to the city council asking +for the Municipal franchise. State Senator Helen Ring Robinson of +Colorado and Mesdames Brooks, Kenney and Horine of Washington, D. C., +came to their assistance. There were street speaking from automobiles +at night and meetings at private residences and they secured over +9,000 names. The city council gave a hearing, the Hon. Claude Peyton +making the presentation speech. The members listened apathetically and +appeared much relieved when Attorney Robert M. Blackburn assured them +they could not give women Municipal suffrage, as the State +constitution declared only male citizens could vote. Letters were sent +to the delegates to the two national conventions of the dominant +political parties, asking them to put a strong suffrage plank in their +platforms and Mrs. Woodall and Mrs. Laura Couzzens responded to Mrs. +Catt's call for marchers at the Chicago and St. Louis conventions. +Governor N. E. Harris refused to include woman suffrage in the call +for the special session of the Legislature which made the State "bone +dry," but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> this year it enacted a number of laws for which the +association had long worked.</p> + +<p>On Feb. 12, 13, 1917, officers of the National Association held a +suffrage school in Atlanta. When the Legislature assembled in June all +the members found on their desks a notice that bills granting +Municipal suffrage to women, also full suffrage, and one to raise the +age of consent from 10 years to 18 would be introduced. The State +association sent the national suffrage organ, the <i>Woman Citizen</i>, for +a year to the United States Senators and fourteen Representatives in +Congress; to the members of the Legislature and all State officials. +The Atlanta association again conducted a three months' suffrage +school. The State convention in December in the Assembly Hall of the +Piedmont Hotel closed with a luncheon at which many prominent men and +women were present. Representatives John C. White and John Y. Smith at +that time pledged themselves to introduce and work for suffrage bills. +During this and the following year the suffrage associations did their +full share of war work. Mrs. McLendon represented the State +association on the Women's Council of National Defense, and Mrs. +Martin, first vice-president, was chairman of the State +Americanization Committee.</p> + +<p>In 1918 the Parent-Teacher Association adopted strong suffrage +resolutions. The Baptist and Methodist churches South granted laity +rights to women. State suffrage headquarters were deluged with +requests for literature by educational institutions for debates. The +State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Professor M. L. Brittain, +had been an advocate of votes for women many years. The Atlanta +<i>Journal</i> gave the State association a column in its Sunday issues, +which Mrs. Martin edited. Raymond E. White wrote a number of fine +suffrage editorials for the <i>Constitution</i>. In July the Hearst papers +circulated a petition for a Federal Suffrage Amendment and the Atlanta +association secured 5,000 names and other auxiliaries 1,000.</p> + +<p>On May 3, 1919, a progressive city Democratic Central Committee gave +Atlanta women the right to vote in the Municipal primary election to +be held September 3. A Central Committee of Women Citizens was at once +elected at a mass meeting of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> women to see that they registered and +nearly 4,000 did so, paying one dollar for the privilege.</p> + +<p>Mrs. McLendon represented the State Association at the convention of +the National Association in St. Louis in March, 1919. On May 21 she +and her sister, Mrs. Felton, sat in the House of Representatives in +Washington and had the pleasure of hearing W. D. Upshaw, member from +the fifth congressional district of Georgia, vote for the submission +of the Federal Suffrage Amendment, the only Representative from the +State to do so. On June 4 the new U. S. Senator, William J. Harris of +Georgia, voted for the submission of this amendment, giving one of the +long needed two votes. The official board of the State Association +through Mrs. McLendon mailed to each member of the Legislature a +personal letter with copies of letters from Mrs. J. K. Ottley, the +Democratic Executive Committee woman from Georgia, and the eminent +clergyman, Dr. J. B. Gambrell, urging the members to ratify the +Federal Suffrage Amendment. The annual convention of 1919 was held in +the auditorium of the Hotel Piedmont, Atlanta, on December 5.</p> + +<p>A League of Women Voters was organized in Atlanta in March, 1920, out +of the Equal Suffrage Party, but the State association decided that +this action was premature, since there were no women voters in +Georgia, and that the old association, organized in 1890, would never +disband until women could vote on the same terms as men.</p> + +<p>On June 1, in response to a petition of fifty representative women of +Atlanta, a hearing in charge of Mrs. McLendon was granted by the +chairman of the Democratic Executive Committee, at the request of +Mayor Key. After a number had spoken a motion was made to let the +women vote in the white municipal primary in Atlanta and was carried +with only four negative votes. The Atlanta and the Young People's +Suffrage Associations endorsed the re-election of Mayor Key and worked +for him, and he was returned by a majority of three to one on July 28. +Afterwards several other cities and villages permitted women to vote +in the primaries and on bond issues.</p> + +<p>After the Federal Suffrage Amendment was ratified in August 1920, it +was announced that women would not be permitted to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> register and vote +in the primary on September 8 and the runover primary of October 6 for +the general election because they had not registered for it in April +and May, which they had no right to do. When the Legislature had +assembled June 23, Mrs. McLendon, Mrs. Martin and Mrs. Woodall had +called on Representatives Covington and John Y. Smith and Senators +Elders Dorris and Pittman and begged them to introduce an Enabling Act +to provide for the women to vote in November if the 19th Amendment +should be ratified. They promised faithfully to do this and the +Senators did so, but it was held back. The Representatives never did +introduce it. Mrs. McLendon then appealed to Governor Dorsey, but he +was candidate for U. S. Senator and had no time to attend to it. The +Legislature adjourned and the women were left in the lurch.</p> + +<p>Then Mrs. McLendon decided to make a test and see if women could not +vote in the primary on September 8, as the returned soldiers who did +not reach Georgia before May were allowed to vote in all elections +without registering. She wired to Senator Fermor Barrett of Stevens +county, chairman of the sub-committee of the State Democratic +Executive Committee, asking him to call it together and see if it +could provide some way. He called it to meet in Atlanta on September +3, and he and H. H. Dean made speeches and voted to try to arrange it, +but the other five members voted against it. Mrs. McLendon then went +to the chairman of the County Democratic Executive Committee and he +refused to take any action, saying, "Our committee is only the agent +of the State committee and must obey its mandates." Then she and Mrs. +Julia H. Ellington, Mrs. Jane Adkins and Mrs. Nancy Duncan called on +the tax collector and asked to be allowed to pay their State and +county taxes and to register. They were sent to the chairman of the +Registration Committee and he also refused to enroll their names. Then +they went to the polls September 8 and were told, "No women voting +here."</p> + +<p>Mrs. McLendon telegraphed to Bainbridge Colby, Secretary of State, who +answered: "The matter to which you refer is not within the province of +this Department and I am not in a position to give you any advice with +regard thereto." She next asked Governor Dorsey to call an extra +session of the Legislature<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> to provide some way for the women to vote +in the general election, but he said he could not. Then she went to a +full meeting of the State Democratic Executive Committee, held +September 16, but no chance to be heard was given her. The next day +she attended a meeting of the Fulton County Commissioners, who +declared their willingness but their inability to do anything. She +then called on Attorney General R. A. Denny, who advised her to go to +the polls and make the effort, saying: "The 19th Amendment is above +the laws of any State." Women in Georgia, however, were not permitted +to vote at the Presidential election two months after they had been +enfranchised by this amendment.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action.</span> The first request for woman suffrage was put +before the Legislature in 1895, the last in 1920, and in the interim +every session had this subject before it, with petitions signed by +thousands of women, but during the quarter of a century it did not +give one scrap of suffrage to the women of the State. From 1895 bills +for the following measures were kept continuously before it: Age of +protection for girls to be raised from 10 years; co-guardianship of +children; prevention of employment of children under 10 or 12 years +old in factories; women on boards of education; opening of the +colleges to women. Year after year these bills were smothered in +committees or reported unfavorably or defeated, usually by large +majorities. In 1912 a bill was passed enabling women to be notaries +public; in 1916 one permitting women to practice law, which the +suffragists had worked for since 1899; in 1918 one raising the age of +consent to 14. The suffrage association had worked for it twenty-three +years and always asked that the age be 18.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>In 1912 another association to further the movement for woman suffrage +was formed in Atlanta, the Woman Suffrage League, and Mrs. Frances +Smith Whiteside, who had been from early days a member of the old +association, was elected president. Mrs. Whiteside was for thirty +years principal of the Ivy Street school and during the first ten +years of the existence of the State Association she was the only +teacher who dared avow herself a member, as the very name of suffrage +was so odious to the public. Through her family connections and wide +acquaintance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> she was able to exercise a strong personal influence in +bringing well-known men and women to a belief in this cause. The +league did active work among teachers and business women and converted +some of the leading legislators. It inaugurated an educational +campaign in the schools and gave business scholarships for the best +essays on woman suffrage. In co-operation with the other associations +it obtained signatures to petitions for the Municipal franchise. The +first street speaking was done under its auspices.</p> + +<p>When Leagues of Women Voters were authorized by the National American +Suffrage Association in 1919, the organization disbanded and the +members entered the league formed in Georgia. Mrs. Whiteside had been +continually the president and there had been only two changes in the +board of the following officers: First vice-president, Mrs. Elizabeth +McCarty; second, Miss Laura Barrien; corresponding secretary, Mrs. +Jack Hawkins; recording secretaries, Mrs. William H. Yeandle, Mrs. +Mary Peyton; treasurer, Miss Ethel Merk; auditors, Mrs. A. G. Helmer, +Miss Minnie Bellamy. Mrs. Yeandle died in 1915 and Mrs. Mary Peyton +was elected in her place. This year Mrs. Helmer became president of a +branch league and was succeeded as auditor by Miss Minnie Bellamy.</p> + + +<h3>THE EQUAL SUFFRAGE PARTY OF GEORGIA.<a name="FNanchor_36_36" id="FNanchor_36_36"></a><a href="#Footnote_36_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a></h3> + +<p>For some time there had seemed a necessity in Georgia for an +organization which would undertake more aggressive work in behalf of +woman suffrage. Early in 1914 the psychological time for it became +apparent and a meeting was held at the home of Mrs. Emily C. McDougald +in Atlanta. A group of influential men and women were present, who +declared themselves in favor of an active campaign and pledged their +support. On motion of Linton C. Hopkins a committee was appointed to +nominate temporary officers, and reported for president Mrs. +McDougald; for vice-president, Mrs. Hopkins, and for secretary, Mrs. +Hugh Lokey. A constitution and by-laws were adopted and a petition<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> +for a State charter was filed under the name of the Equal Suffrage +Party of Georgia.</p> + +<p>On July 29 a meeting was called for permanent organization and with +representatives from different parts of the State present the +following were elected: President, Mrs. McDougald; first +vice-president, Mrs. John Dozier Pou of Columbia; second, Miss Mildred +Cunningham of Savannah; secretary, Mrs. Henry Schlesinger; treasurer, +Mrs. Benjamin Elsas; organizer, Mrs. Mary Raoul Millis; auditor, Miss +Genevieve Saunders, all of Atlanta. Members of the Executive Board +were: Mrs. Mary Meade Owens of Augusta; Mrs. Mayhew Cunningham of +Savannah; Miss Anna Griffin of Columbus; Mrs. Charles C. Harrold of +Macon. Affiliated branches were organized with presidents as follows: +In Savannah, Mrs. F. P. McIntire; in Augusta, Mrs. Owens; in Columbus, +Miss Anabel Redd; in Atlanta, Miss Eleanore Raoul; in Macon, Mrs. +Harrold; in Athens, Mrs. W. B. Hill; in Albany, Mrs. D. H. Redfearn.</p> + +<p>From these centers a great deal of work was done for suffrage in the +adjacent smaller towns. The city organizations opened offices and +committees of local women were put in charge of the work of raising +money and distributing suffrage propaganda. Tens of thousands of +letters, leaflets, books and speeches were distributed throughout the +State. All of the women's clubs were urged to endorse suffrage; +schools were asked to debate the subject and prizes offered for the +best arguments in debate and in written composition. Suffrage parades +on foot and in automobiles were had in all the cities, suffrage plays +put into the theaters, suffrage slides into the movies and every means +of educating the public was used. The best national speakers were +brought into the State and immense audiences worked up for them. The +beloved Dr. Anna Howard Shaw spoke in Atlanta to one of 6,000. The +National American Woman Suffrage Association, of which the Equal +Suffrage Party was an affiliated branch, gave hearty co-operation in +securing these speakers. The party held annual conventions, where new +officers were generally elected as a matter of democratic policy. The +second took place in Atlanta Nov. 17, 1915, where Mrs. McDougald was +re-elected president and the other officers selected were Mrs. J. D. +Pou of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> Columbus, first vice-president; Mrs. Cunningham, second; Miss +Schlesinger, secretary; Miss Aurelia Roach, treasurer; Mrs. Millis, +organizer. The party already had branches in 13 counties, including +the largest cities.</p> + +<p>The annual convention on Oct. 28, 1916, was held in Atlanta and Mrs. +L. S. Arrington of Augusta was elected president; Mrs. S. B. C. Morgan +of Savannah, first vice-president; Mrs. Harrold, second; Miss Julia +Flisch, secretary, and Miss Annie G. Wright, treasurer, both of +Augusta. The effort in Atlanta to secure a petition for Municipal +suffrage for women had resulted in obtaining the signatures of 6,000 +women and 3,000 men. All the delegates to three national Presidential +conventions had been circularized in behalf of a plank for Federal +woman suffrage, and all the members of the Legislature asking for the +submission of a State amendment. The next annual convention was held +in Augusta Nov. 24, 1917, and Mrs. Frank P. McIntire of Savannah was +selected for president. The convention was omitted in 1918, as the +women were occupied with war work.</p> + +<p>At the convention held in Savannah Jan. 15, 1919, Mrs. McDougald was +again elected president. The splendidly efficient service of women in +all the departments of war work proved that without them it would have +been most difficult to succeed in the Liberty Bond sales, the Red +Cross and all the "drives" for raising money. The officers of the +Equal Suffrage Party and those of its affiliated societies were +selected as leaders in the work of the Woman's Council of Defense, +National and State.</p> + +<p>From every part of the State hundreds of letters were sent to the U. +S. Senators Smith and Hardwick, asking them to vote for the Federal +Suffrage Amendment, but to no avail. The year had been a fruitful one, +even though the Legislature had failed to ratify the Federal +Amendment, which was submitted by Congress in June. An adverse +influence, which it was very hard to combat, was that of the State +Federation of Women's Clubs. Its president, Mrs. Z. L. Fitzpatrick of +Madison and other officials were violently opposed. A large majority +of the women in the city clubs were suffragists and not influenced by +the attitude of the federation officers but this was not true of the +rural women, who were constantly warned that woman suffrage was a +great<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> evil not to be even mentioned in their clubs. This +anti-suffrage influence reacted upon the rural legislator and gave him +ground for the oft-repeated argument, "The women of my district do not +want the vote, they won't even discuss it in their clubs." There had +long been a strong desire to have woman suffrage endorsed by the State +Federation, the largest organization of women in the State, with +30,000 members, and every year the Equal Suffrage Party had sent to +all the club presidents an earnest letter urging them to give their +members an opportunity to vote on the question and pointing out the +greater achievements of the clubs in States where women had the +franchise. At every annual meeting, however, when a resolution would +be offered from the floor, the president of the federation would +declare it out of order and prevent action on it. In 1917, at its +convention in Augusta, a resolution was offered to send a +congratulatory telegram to the women of New York on their newly +acquired enfranchisement, whereupon a storm of protest arose, the +president ruled it out of order and it was tabled.</p> + +<p>In 1919 every club was again circularized and the answers showed that +the women throughout the State wanted favorable action by the State +Federation. At its convention in Columbus in November, 1919, two +resolutions were prepared, one or the other to be presented, as seemed +most expedient at the time. One was a simple endorsement of woman +suffrage; the other, submitted by Mrs. Morgan, asked for an +endorsement of the Federal Amendment and its ratification by the +Legislature. At the last moment, the suffragists decided to take a +bold step and send the latter to the Resolutions Committee, which was +done, and this committee recommended its adoption. The president, Mrs. +James E. Hayes of Montezuma, ruled it out of order. Mrs. Rogers Winter +of Atlanta appealed from the decision of the chair; Mrs. Alonzo +Richardson of Atlanta seconded the appeal and was sustained and the +resolution was brought before the convention. It was carried by a vote +of 85 to 40.<a name="FNanchor_37_37" id="FNanchor_37_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_37_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a></p> + +<p>When the report of this action was received in Macon, an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> indignant +protest went up from the anti-suffragists. Mrs. Bruce Carr Jones, +secretary of the State Federation, sent in her resignation. Mrs. +Walter D. Lamar and Mrs. Thomas Moore went before the women's clubs of +the city and urged that they withdraw from the federation. The Macon +<i>Telegraph</i> devoted much space to denouncing it as a most dishonest +trick and approved heartily the efforts of these women to dismember +the federation. Through their influence six clubs resigned. Sixty-nine +new clubs joined the federation in the twelve months following its +endorsement of the Federal Amendment.<a name="FNanchor_38_38" id="FNanchor_38_38"></a><a href="#Footnote_38_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a></p> + +<p>The white women of Atlanta were given the vote in the city Primaries +in May, 1919. For several years all the suffrage forces in the city +had been working to secure this privilege from the Democratic +Executive Committee, but without success. In 1919, however, the +personnel of the committee had changed to such an extent that it was +decided to make another effort. The chairman, E. C. Buchanan, was a +good friend and with his help Mrs. A. G. Helmer, Mrs. Charles Goodman +and Mrs. McDougald had the opportunity of making a personal canvass of +each of its forty-four members. When the chairman called a meeting for +May 3, to consider, he said, the request of the Equal Suffrage Party, +there was every reason to believe they would make a favorable report. +A resolution written by Mrs. McDougald was adopted by a vote of 24 to +1. On the roll call each man stood up and in a few gracious words +expressed his pleasure in being able to show his confidence in the +helpful co-operation of women in city government by granting them this +suffrage. A mass meeting of women was called at once to name a central +committee to take charge of the task of getting the women registered +immediately as a city election was near at hand. Miss Eleanore Raoul +was made chairman, and with her able co-workers in every ward<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> +accomplished a wonderful work. Public meetings addressed by prominent +men and women were held daily; $1,200 were raised and 4,000 women were +registered in a few weeks. The Executive Committee in 1920 again +included women in the electorate and to this body of men is due the +honor of being the first in Georgia to recognize the value of women in +civic affairs.</p> + +<p>In 1919 all the district school superintendents inaugurated a series +of competitive debates on the question, Shall Georgia Grant Suffrage +to the Women of the State? This created intense interest in every +county and the Equal Suffrage Party found it difficult to supply the +demand for literature from the hundreds of schools. The Atlanta +Chamber of Commerce elected five women as members in recognition of +their public service. In addressing the Landowners' Convention at +Savannah in November Governor Hugh M. Dorsey said: "I hope that as +Governor of Georgia I may be given the privilege of signing a bill +giving women equal rights in this great commonwealth."</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action.</span> In June, 1915, the Equal Suffrage Party made its +first effort to sponsor a suffrage bill in the Legislature. It opened +a booth in one of the corridors between the House and Senate chambers, +supplied it with the best suffrage literature and put it in charge of +a committee of women who worked faithfully to convert some of that +wilful and reactionary group of politicians. It was a hopeless task. +The first bill was introduced in the House by Mr. Wohlwender of +Muscogee county and in the Senate by Senators Dobbs and Buchanan and +referred to the Judiciary Committee, which granted a hearing. +Representatives from all the suffrage associations were present and +made speeches. Mrs. Walter D. Lamar and Miss Mildred Rutherford, head +of the Lucy Cobb Institute of Athens, represented the Anti-Suffrage +Association. Mrs. Lamar's arguments were based upon the theory that +women did not have sufficient integrity to be trusted with the ballot; +that long years ago when those of New Jersey had it it had to be taken +from them because they were so dishonest in their use of it. She also +said that women were universally the hardest taskmasters, requiring +more work and paying less for it than men. Miss Rutherford begged the +legislators to disregard the request of the few women desiring<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> the +ballot, as they did not represent the true type of the southern woman, +who had always rejoiced in being upon a high pedestal where men had +placed her and worshipped her and that women were more than satisfied +with that which men had so lavishly and chivalrously given—their love +and their money. These speeches were received with howls of +appreciation from the legislators, who dwelt upon the type that +appealed to them, "the woman who was the mother of children and +realized that her place was at home with her hand on the cradle." The +committee made an unfavorable report.</p> + +<p>In 1916 this experience was repeated. In 1917 and 1918 the leaders of +the Equal Suffrage Party were absorbed in war work and had no time to +waste in so helpless and disagreeable a task. They realized that they +would soon be enfranchised by a Federal Amendment, the only hope of +the women of Georgia.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> In 1919 came the great struggle over ratification. The +best the suffragists hoped for was that no action would be taken. +During the first days of the session, however, the resolution to +ratify was introduced in the House by Representative J. B. Jackson of +Jones county and in the Senate by Senator T. H. Parker of Colquitt +county, both of whom explained that their action was taken in order to +kill it. The resolution was referred in both Houses to the Committees +on Constitutional Amendments and a joint hearing was set for an early +date.</p> + +<p>The suffragists had more friends and stronger ones on the House +Committee than the "antis" and more than they had realized. All they +asked was that the resolution be tabled, not reported favorably, for +they knew that defeat on the floor of the House was certain. One of +their strongest supporters, Judge W. A. Covington of Colquitt county, +was detained at home by illness in his family and telegraphed the +chairman of the House Committee, John W. Bale of Floyd county, asking +that the hearing be postponed a few days so that he might be present. +This courtesy, commonly extended without question, was refused by Mr. +Bale. Immediately on the opening of the hearing Mr. Jackson asked to +substitute for his original resolution one which explicitly rejected +ratification. By permission of the chairman this substitute was +accepted. After the hearing, at which Miss<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> Rutherford alone appeared +in opposition while seven women spoke for it, the committee went into +executive session. On a motion to postpone action the vote was 13 to +13, and the chairman cast his vote against it. During the executive +session Robert T. DuBose of Clarke county became ill and asked if he +might cast his vote ahead of time and leave. Permission was granted +him and he wrote on a slip of paper a vote for postponing action. When +the final vote was taken Mr. Bale ruled that Mr. DuBose's vote could +not be counted. If it had been the suffragists would have carried +their point by a vote of 14 to 13. After the motion to postpone was +lost the Jackson resolution to reject was reported favorably.</p> + +<p>The Senate Committee acted in open session. After prolonged debate the +Parker resolution to ratify was reported unfavorably by a vote of 10 +to 3, and the next day it came before the Senate. The opponents +believed they could make short work of it or they would not have +permitted it to come up. By a vote of 37 to 12 the Senate refused to +disagree to the committee report. In order to dispose of the +resolution, however, it was necessary to agree to the report and when +this motion was made the suffrage supporters started a "filibuster" +which they continued for several days. Finally the anti-suffrage +Senators promised that if the suffragists would call off their +"filibuster" they would vote to recommit the resolution to the +committee with the understanding that it would stay there the +remainder of the session. But on the same day that this agreement was +made Senator Parker introduced another resolution, which, like the +Jones substitute, called for rejection of ratification. It was +reported favorably by the committee and after several days' debate, +Senators Claude Pittman, W. H. Dorris, H. H. Elders and George G. +Glenn, speaking for ratification, the rejection resolution was carried +on July 24 by 39 to 10. The Senate then voted down a proposition to +submit to the voters a woman suffrage amendment to the State +constitution. On the same day the Jackson resolution to reject was +presented in the House and after a spirited debate led by Judge +Covington and A. S. Anderson for ratification the resolution was +carried by 132 to 34.</p> + +<p>This contest had occupied about two-thirds of the time since<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> the +Legislature convened and yet the opponents, after all their efforts, +failed to have the Legislature go on record as rejecting the Federal +Amendment, for the House resolution was never concurred in by the +Senate and the Senate resolution was never concurred in by the House +and the session adjourned without completing formal action. President +Wilson had sent a telegram urging ratification for party expediency +and U. S. Senator Harris went to Atlanta to lobby for either +ratification or no action, but he was denounced by the legislators and +the President was called a "meddler." Members of the Democratic +National Committee and Clark Howell, editor of the Atlanta +<i>Constitution</i>, and James Hallanan, its political editor, strongly +supported ratification, as did Governor Dorsey. The suffrage +associations made no effort in 1920, knowing the hopelessness of it. +The National Woman's Party endeavored to secure an Enabling Act, so +that women might vote under the Federal Amendment although the time +for registration had passed, but were not successful.</p> + +<p>The last meeting of the Equal Suffrage Party was held in Atlanta +during the regional conference of the National League of Woman Voters. +Thirty-five States had ratified the Federal Amendment, and feeling +assured that ratification would soon be fully accomplished, Mrs. +McDougald had gained the consent of all the branches to take this +occasion to merge it into a State League. This was done April 3, 1920. +Miss Annie G. Wright of Augusta was elected chairman and Mrs. +McDougald and Mrs. S. B. C. Morgan honorary presidents for life.<a name="FNanchor_39_39" id="FNanchor_39_39"></a><a href="#Footnote_39_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a></p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_33_33" id="Footnote_33_33"></a><a href="#FNanchor_33_33"><span class="label">[33]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Mary +Latimer McLendon, a resident of Atlanta over 60 years, who also wrote +the <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29870/29870-h/29870-h.htm#CHAPTER_XXXV">Georgia chapter for Volume IV</a>. Before the absolutely necessary +condensation of the present chapter it included 22,000 words and was a +most remarkable production for a woman in her 81st year. It will be +preserved intact in another place.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_34_34" id="Footnote_34_34"></a><a href="#FNanchor_34_34"><span class="label">[34]</span></a> During the years from 1901 the following held office in +the State association: honorary vice-president, Miss Madeline J. S. +Wylie; vice-presidents, Mrs. P. H. Moore, Miss S. A. Gresham, Miss +Rebecca Vaughn, Miss H. Augusta Howard, Mrs. Emma T. Martin, Mrs. J. +Dejournette, Mrs. W. Y. Atkinson; corresponding secretaries, Mrs. +Mamie Folsom Wynne, Miss Katherine Koch, Mrs. DeLacy Eastman, Mrs. +Amelia R. Woodall; recording secretaries, Miss Willette Allen, Mrs. +Alice C. Daniels; treasurers, Mrs. E. O. Archer, Mrs. Mary Osborne, +Mrs. M. K. Mathews, Mrs. E. C. Cresse; auditor, Mrs. W. H. Felton.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_35_35" id="Footnote_35_35"></a><a href="#FNanchor_35_35"><span class="label">[35]</span></a> In October, 1919, when Mrs. McLendon attended the W. C. +T. U. convention, she was called to the platform on the opening night, +presented as a "brave pioneer" and highly eulogized by the present and +former State presidents. The audience gave her the Chautauqua salute +and the White Ribbon cheer and in return she gave them a woman +suffrage speech, which was enthusiastically received. Nevertheless the +State society never endorsed votes for women, although local societies +did so.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_36_36" id="Footnote_36_36"></a><a href="#FNanchor_36_36"><span class="label">[36]</span></a> The History is indebted for this part of the chapter to +Mrs. Emily C. McDougald, president of the Equal Suffrage Party of +Georgia.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_37_37" id="Footnote_37_37"></a><a href="#FNanchor_37_37"><span class="label">[37]</span></a> The resolution was voted on in the last hours of the +convention and a number of the suffragists had taken trains for home. +Mrs. Hayes desired to have the resolution pass but as the convention +the preceding year had sustained the ruling of the president that it +was out of order she felt obliged to make a similar one.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_38_38" id="Footnote_38_38"></a><a href="#FNanchor_38_38"><span class="label">[38]</span></a> The only organized antagonism to woman suffrage came +from a very small but very vindictive association in Macon, vigorously +abetted and encouraged by the <i>Telegraph</i>, the only paper in the State +which fought suffrage and suffragists. Every week a column or more, +edited by James P. Callaway, was filled with abuse of suffrage leaders +and every slanderous statement in regard to them which could be found. +Miss Caroline Patterson of Macon was always president of this +association and Mrs. Lamar, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Moore and a few other +women, all of Macon, were ardent co-workers and leaders and frequent +contributors to Mr. Callaway's column. The association still holds +together and the members are pledged not to vote but to give their +time and money to any effort made in the courts to invalidate +ratification of the Federal Amendment (1920).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_39_39" id="Footnote_39_39"></a><a href="#FNanchor_39_39"><span class="label">[39]</span></a> In 1921 the League prepared a bill "to remove the civil +disabilities of women," which provided that women should be eligible +to vote in all elections, primary and general, in municipalities, +counties and the State, and should be eligible to hold public office. +The only objection made to the bill was to women on juries. The women +objected to this exemption but had to yield. In the Senate the vote on +July 22 stood 36 for, 3 against; in the House almost unanimous on +August 10. These legislators were so courteous and obliging the women +could scarcely believe it was a Georgia Legislature. They gave +everything asked for and inquired, "Is there anything else we can do +for you?" +</p><p> +The State organizer of the League of Women Voters is Mrs. Z. L. +Fitzpatrick, former president of the State Federation of Women's +Clubs. She is most enthusiastic over the new order of affairs and is +touring the State organizing leagues and urging women to get out and +vote and to nominate women for the offices!</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>IDAHO.<a name="FNanchor_40_40" id="FNanchor_40_40"></a><a href="#Footnote_40_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a></h3> + + +<p>Idaho women have been voting citizens for twenty-four years and during +these years much has been accomplished for the making of a bigger and +better State, especially along educational lines. The women came into +their suffrage sanely and quietly, working shoulder to shoulder with +men in everything vital to their country. State and local politics has +been materially improved since women have been electors. No strictly +suffrage association has been maintained since the franchise was +granted, but when the National League of Women Voters was instituted +in 1920 a branch was formed in Idaho with Dr. Emma F. A. Drake +chairman. Work heretofore had been done through the Federation of +Clubs, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and other organizations +of women. Political leaders always consider what women will think of a +candidate before he is nominated and it is constantly demonstrated +that nothing puts the fear of God into a man's heart like the ballot +in the hands of a good woman. The women vote in about the same +proportion as the men and there never is any criticism of it. Women +have worked for many good laws and have seen the most of them passed.</p> + +<p>The women are not ambitious for office, but they fill regularly, +without question, the following: State Superintendent of Public +Instruction, County School Superintendent, County Treasurer, City +Treasurer and, in many counties, Auditor and the appointive offices, +Law Librarian and assistant, Traveling Librarian and assistant. In +January, 1920, Governor D. W. Davis appointed Mrs. J. G. H. Gravely on +the State Educational Board. The following women have filled the +office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction: Miss Permeal +French, Miss Belle Chamberlain,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> Miss Bernice McCoy, Miss May Scott, +Miss Grace Shepherd, Miss Ethel Redfield; of Law Librarian: Mrs. Mary +Wood, Mrs. Arabella Erskine, Mrs. Carrie A. Gainer, Mrs. Minnie Priest +Dunton, Mrs. William Balderston; of Traveling Librarian: Mrs. E. J. +Dockery, Miss Louise Johnson, Mrs. Marie Schrieber, Miss Margaret S. +Roberts.</p> + +<p>Only six women have served in the Legislature, all in the Lower House: +Mrs. Hattie F. Noble, Mrs. Clara Campbell, Dr. Emma F. A. Drake, Mrs. +Mary Allen Wright, Mrs. Lettie McFadden, Mrs. Carrie Harper White.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> Governor Davis called a special session to ratify the +Federal Suffrage Amendment Feb. 11, 1920. It was carried unanimously +in the House, after Dr. Emma F. A. Drake, the only woman member of the +House present, made a strong and logical speech introducing the +resolution. It was carried in the Senate but had six opposing votes. +The following are the names of the men who were proud to vote against +the ratification: Elmer Davis of Boise county; C. B. Faraday of +Elmore; Ross Mason of Shoshone; R. T. Owens of Oneida; E. W. Porter of +Latah; John S. St. Clair of Owyhee.<a name="FNanchor_41_41" id="FNanchor_41_41"></a><a href="#Footnote_41_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a></p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_40_40" id="Footnote_40_40"></a><a href="#FNanchor_40_40"><span class="label">[40]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Miss +Margaret S. Roberts, Librarian of the Idaho Free Travelling Library. A +full account of the winning of woman suffrage in 1896 will be found in +Volume IV, History of Woman Suffrage.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_41_41" id="Footnote_41_41"></a><a href="#FNanchor_41_41"><span class="label">[41]</span></a> If "happy women have no history" those of Idaho are +fortunate, as the above is all that could be obtained for the State +chapter.—Ed.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>ILLINOIS.<a name="FNanchor_42_42" id="FNanchor_42_42"></a><a href="#Footnote_42_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a></h3> + + +<p>The Illinois Equal Suffrage Association started on its work for the +new century with a determination to win full suffrage for women—the +one great purpose for which it was organized in 1869. The State +conventions were always held in October or November. In the earlier +years they usually went to the "down state" cities or towns, but as +they grew large Chicago was generally selected. In October, 1900, the +State convention was held at Edgewater and Mrs. Elizabeth Boynton +Harbert of Evanston resumed the presidency, which she had held for a +number of years. Delegates from four places besides Chicago were +present. Mrs. Catharine Waugh McCulloch was made legislative chairman +and work was continued for needed changes in the laws.</p> + +<p>At the convention of 1901 Mrs. Elizabeth F. Long of Barry was elected +president. Great effort was made to interest the press in the suffrage +question and a leaflet entitled Suffrage for Women Taxpayers was +published and sent to all the large newspapers. The Chicago Teachers' +Federation, under the leadership of Miss Margaret Haley and Miss +Catherine Goggin, rendered valuable service in arousing the people to +the injustice of taxation without representation. The Ella Flagg Young +Club, an organization of the women principals of the public schools, +affiliated this year with the State suffrage association. Petitions +were circulated and suffrage resolutions passed by various kinds of +clubs and plans were made to introduce in the next Legislature the +Municipal and Presidential suffrage bill as well as a full suffrage +amendment to the State constitution. Among the women who rendered +efficient service in these early years<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> were Dr. Julia Holmes Smith, +Mrs. Lucy Flower and Mrs. Lydia Avery Coonley-Ward.</p> + +<p>The next convention was held in Jacksonville in 1902 and the Rev. Kate +Hughes of Table Grove was elected president. At the convention of 1903 +Mrs. Hughes was re-elected. A feature of the educational work this +year was to urge the directors of the libraries of the State to place +on their shelves the official History of Woman Suffrage, recently +brought up to date. A leaflet by Mrs. McCulloch, Bench and Bar of +Illinois, was published by the association and widely circulated. It +gave the opinions of some of the ablest jurists and statesmen on the +woman suffrage question.</p> + +<p>At the 1904 convention Mrs. McCulloch was elected president. Notable +growth was made in suffrage societies during the year and favorable +sentiment was aroused in organizations formed for other work. Among +these were the State Federation of Women's Clubs and the Teachers' +Federation, the former with a membership of 25,000 and the latter with +3,500. All party conventions but the Republican passed strong suffrage +resolutions and all parties including this one nominated women as +trustees of the State University. The Democratic Mayor of Chicago, +Edward F. Dunne, appointed Miss Jane Addams, Dr. Cornelia DeBey and +Mrs. Emmons Blaine as members of the School Board. The legislative +work was encouraging this year, for in both Senate and House the +Municipal and Presidential suffrage bill was reported out of committee +with favorable recommendations, and in the Senate it reached second +reading.</p> + +<p>The State convention of 1905 was held in Chicago and Mrs. Ella S. +Stewart was elected president. During the year much literature was +distributed and a committee was appointed, that included as many +federated club presidents as would serve, to secure if possible +Municipal suffrage in the new Chicago charter which was then being +considered. Mrs. Charles Henrotin, former president of the General +Federation of Women's Clubs, was appointed chairman. The women were +allowed to make their appeal before several minor committees, but not +before the whole Charter Convention, which tabled their request. The +entire charter was tabled in the Legislature. Miss Alice Henry,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> +formerly of Australia, editor of the magazine <i>Life and Labor</i>, gave +valuable assistance in organizing suffrage clubs. Educational work in +colleges was begun and Mrs. Elmira E. Springer, an ardent suffrage +worker, contributed a fund of $1,000, the interest to be distributed +as prizes at an annual inter-collegiate oratorical suffrage contest. +As a result suffrage societies were formed among the college students +auxiliary to the State association. It published suffrage leaflets +written by Judge Murray F. Tuley, a prominent Chicago judge; Mrs. +Eugenia M. Bacon, former president of the State Federation of Women's +Clubs, and one by Miss Anna Nicholes, an active settlement worker, on +the need of the ballot for the working woman.</p> + +<p>At the convention of 1906 Mrs. Stewart was re-elected. Much literature +was published and valuable educational work was carried on in addition +to the legislative work at Springfield under the auspices of Mrs. +McCulloch. In the fall of 1907 the State convention was held on the +Fair grounds at Springfield, and Mrs. Stewart was re-elected. At the +convention of 1908 Mrs. Stewart was continued as president. The +association co-operated with the National American Suffrage +Association in requesting the National Republican Committee, which met +in Chicago, to incorporate a woman suffrage plank in its platform. An +active educational campaign was started to appeal again for Municipal +suffrage for women in another charter which was being prepared. This +time the charter convention acceded to the request of the women, but +the whole was defeated at Springfield. In this work important help was +given the association by the Teachers' Federation, the Chicago Woman's +Club and the Trade Union League. The Chicago Political Equality +League, as well as other affiliated suffrage organizations, took an +active part in this campaign and about 60,000 signatures to a petition +were obtained.</p> + +<p>In October, 1909, the State convention was held in Chicago and Mrs. +Stewart was again re-elected. This year the State association +organized the Chicago Men's Equal Suffrage League with former Senator +Thomas J. McMillan, the "father" of the Illinois School suffrage law, +as its first president. The members were from many walks of life, +among them George E. Cole, founder of the Citizens' Association, who +had led in civic reform<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> work for many years; Bishop Samuel Fallows, +one of the city's most prominent and best loved clergymen; Richard S. +Tuthill, for years an influential Judge; Jenkin Lloyd Jones, founder +of the liberal church known as Lincoln Center; Dr. Henry B. Favill, +one of Chicago's well-known physicians; Henry Neil, who was +responsible for the mothers' pension law; Andrew MacLeish, a member of +Carson, Pirie, Scott & Company, one of the city's largest dry goods +houses, and many other prominent men, including the husbands of all +the well-known suffragists. This year for the first time permanent +headquarters were opened in the Fine Arts Building, 410 Michigan +Boulevard, and Miss Harriet Grim, a student of Chicago University, was +engaged as State organizer. She spoke before women's clubs, labor +unions and parlor groups and twenty new societies were formed. Active +suffrage work was also instituted among the churches under the +management of Mrs. Fannie H. Rastall, chairman of the Church +Committee.</p> + +<p>In the spring of 1910 the State Board decided to try suffrage +automobile tours. Mrs. Grace Wilbur Trout, president of the Chicago +Political Equality League, was appointed to take charge of an +experimental tour which required about six weeks of preparatory work +to insure its success. She visited the offices of the newspapers and +secured their co-operation. The tour started on Monday, July 11, and +the edition of the <i>Tribune</i> the day before contained a full colored +page of the women in the autos and nearly a half page more of reading +material about it. The paper sent two reporters on the trip, who rode +in the car with the speakers. The <i>Examiner</i>, <i>Record Herald</i>, <i>Post</i> +and <i>Journal</i> sent reporters by railroad and trolley, who joined the +suffragists at their stopping places. The women spoke from the +automobile, which drove into some square or stopped on a prominent +street corner, previously arranged for by the local committees. Mrs. +McCulloch spoke from the legal standpoint; Miss Nicholes from the +laboring woman's view and Mrs. Stewart from an international aspect. +Mrs. Trout made the opening address, covering the subject in a general +way, and presented the speakers. She herself was introduced by some +prominent local woman and on several occasions by the Mayor.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span></p> + +<p>Sixteen towns were visited, and the <i>Tribune</i> said: "Suffrage tour +ends in triumph. With mud bespattered 'Votes for Women' banners still +flying, Mrs. Trout and her party of orators returned late yesterday +afternoon. Men and women cheered them all the way in from their last +stop at Wheaton to the Fine Arts Building headquarters." Similar tours +in other parts of the State were conducted by Dr. Anna E. Blount, Mrs. +Stewart, Miss Grim and Mrs. Jennie F. W. Johnson. Mrs. Trout took her +same speakers and went to Lake Geneva, where meetings with speaking +from automobiles were held under the auspices of Mrs. Willis S. +McCrea, who entertained the suffragists in her spacious summer home. +In the autumn at her house on Lincoln Parkway Mrs. McCrea organized +the North Side Branch of the State association, afterwards (1913) +renamed the Chicago Equal Suffrage Association.</p> + +<p>In October the State convention was held at Elgin and Mrs. Stewart was +re-elected. The Municipal and Presidential bills and the full suffrage +amendment were introduced in the Legislature as usual. Miss Grim and +Miss Ruth Harl were stationed at Springfield as permanent lobbyists +and Mrs. McCulloch directed the work. At the time of the hearing a +special suffrage train was run from Chicago to Springfield, with +speaking from the rear platform at the principal places en route.</p> + +<p>The State convention was held at Decatur in October, 1911, and Mrs. +Stewart, wishing to retire from office after serving six strenuous +years, Mrs. Elvira Downey was elected president. Organizing work was +pushed throughout the State. Cook county clubs for political +discussion were formed by Miss Mary Miller, a lawyer of Chicago. In +the winter a suffrage bazaar lasting five days was held at the Hotel +LaSalle, under the management of Mrs. Alice Bright Parker. Many of the +younger suffragists took part in this social event. Every afternoon +and evening there were suffrage speeches and several Grand Opera +singers contributed their services. It was an excellent piece of +propaganda work and aroused interest among people who had not been +reached through other forms.</p> + +<p>At the April primaries in Chicago in 1912, through the initiative of +Mrs. McCulloch, a "preferential" ballot on the question<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> of suffrage +for women was taken. This was merely an expression of opinion by the +voters as to whether they favored it, which the Democratic Judge of +Elections, John E. Owens, allowed to be taken, but it had no legal +standing. The State association conducted a whirlwind educational +campaign immediately before the election. Unfortunately, +Prohibitionists, Socialists and many independent electors who favored +it were not entitled to vote. The result was 135,410 noes, 71,354 +ayes, every ward giving an adverse majority. In October the State +convention was held at Galesburg and Mrs. Grace Wilbur Trout was +elected president. Mrs. Trout had been on the State board for two +years and during this time had served also as president of the Chicago +Political Equality League, which under her administration had +increased its membership from 143 to over 1,000 members. She began at +once to strengthen the State organization for the legislative campaign +of 1913. There were still Senatorial districts in which there were no +suffrage societies, and, as the time was short, competent women were +immediately appointed in such districts to see that their legislators +were interviewed and to make ready to have letters and telegrams sent +to them at Springfield.</p> + +<p>During the Legislature of 1911 Mrs. Trout had twice accompanied Mrs. +McCulloch to Springfield and the antagonism manifested against woman +suffrage made her realize that new tactics would have to be employed. +Mrs. McCulloch after many years of service had asked to be relieved +and Mrs. Elizabeth K. Booth of Glencoe had been elected legislative +chairman. Mrs. Trout and she adopted a new plan without spectacular +activities of any kind, believing that much publicity was likely to +arouse the opponents. It was decided to initiate a quiet, educational +campaign and as the only possible way to secure sufficient votes to +pass the measure, to convert some of the opponents into friends. It +was agreed also that a card index, giving data about every member of +the Legislature, should be compiled at once to be used later for +reference. This plan was approved and adopted by the State board.</p> + +<p>The members of the Board and suffrage friends throughout the State +gathered information about the legislators and sent it to Mrs. Booth. +The cards when filled out stated the politics and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> religion of the +various Senators and Representatives, whether they were married or +single, whether their home relations were harmonious, and tabulated +any public service they had ever rendered. This information made it +easier to approach the different legislators in a way to overcome +their individual prejudices. All effort was to be concentrated on the +bill, which, with variations, the State association had had before +most of the Legislatures since 1893. It read as follows:</p> + +<blockquote><p>All women [naming usual qualifications] shall be allowed to vote +for presidential electors, members of the State Board of +Equalization, clerk of the appellate court, county collector, +county surveyor, members of board of assessors, members of board +of review, sanitary district trustees, and for all officers of +cities, villages and towns (except police magistrates), and upon +all questions or propositions submitted to a vote of the electors +of such municipalities or other political division of this State.</p> + +<p>All such women may also vote for the following township officers: +supervisor, town clerk, assessor, collector and highway +commissioner, and may also participate and vote in all annual and +special town meetings in the township in which such election +district shall be.</p> + +<p>Separate ballot boxes and ballots shall be provided....</p></blockquote> + +<p>As soon as the Legislature convened in 1913 a struggle developed over +the Speakership, and there was a long and bitter deadlock before +William McKinley, a young Democrat from Chicago, was finally elected. +Then another struggle ensued over a United States Senator. During +these weeks of turmoil little could be accomplished for the suffrage +bill, but February 10 Mrs. Booth went to Springfield and from then +attended the sessions regularly. She sat in the galleries of the +Senate and House and soon learned to recognize each member and rounded +up and checked off friendly legislators.</p> + +<p>The Progressives had a large representation and had made plans to +introduce as a party measure a carefully drafted Woman Suffrage bill. +Mrs. Trout and Mrs. Booth suggested to the leaders that it would be +far better to let the State association sponsor this measure than to +have it presented by any political party. They finally agreed, but +Mrs. McCulloch had accompanied Mrs. Booth to Springfield taking the +bill which she herself had drafted and which she insisted upon having +substituted. Out of deference to her long years of service her bill +was taken instead<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> of the Progressives'. It named the officers for +which women should be allowed to vote instead of being worded like the +Progressive draft, which said: "Women shall be allowed to vote for all +officers and upon all propositions submitted except where the +Constitution provides that the elector shall be a male citizen." In +Mrs. Booth's official report to the State convention, held in the fall +of 1913 at Peoria, she said: "As we failed to introduce the form of +bill approved by the Progressives' constitutional lawyers they +introduced it, and it required considerable tact to allay their +displeasure and induce them to support our bill." Medill McCormick, +one of the leading Progressives in the Legislature, helped greatly in +straightening out this tangle. He was a faithful ally of the suffrage +lobby and rendered invaluable assistance. Other Progressives who gave +important service were John M. Curran and Emil N. Zolla of Chicago; J. +H. Jayne of Monmouth; Charles H. Carmon of Forrest, and Fayette S. +Munro of Highland Park.<a name="FNanchor_43_43" id="FNanchor_43_43"></a><a href="#Footnote_43_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a></p> + +<p>On March 10 Mrs. Trout went to Springfield to secure if possible the +support of the Democratic Governor, Edward F. Dunne, for the bill. +Mrs. Booth said in her official report: "The Governor told us that he +would not support any suffrage measure which provided for a +constitutional amendment, as this might interfere with the Initiative +and Referendum Amendment, upon which the administration was +concentrating its efforts. We assured him that we would not introduce +a resolution for an amendment and that we desired the support of the +administration for our statutory bill, as we realized that no suffrage +measure could pass if it opposed. He then acquiesced." The work at +Springfield became more and more complicated and at times seemed +almost hopeless. No politicians believed the suffragists had the +slightest chance of success. From April 7 Mrs. Trout went down every +week. The women had the strong support of the Chicago press and +editorials were published whenever<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> they were especially needed during +the six months' struggle. After considerable educational work the +Springfield newspapers also became friendly and published suffrage +editorials at opportune times. The papers were refolded so that these +editorials, blue penciled, came on the outside, and placed on the +desks of the legislators.</p> + +<p>The bill was introduced in the House by Charles L. Scott (Dem.) and in +the Senate by Hugh S. Magill (Rep.). All efforts were centered on its +passage first through the Senate. After nearly three months of +strenuous effort this was finally accomplished on May 7, 1913, by a +vote of 29 ayes (three more than the required majority) and 15 noes. +It is doubtful whether this action could have been secured without the +skilful tactics of Senator Magill, but he could not have succeeded +without the unfailing co-operation of Lieutenant Governor Barratt +O'Hara. Among other Senators who helped were Martin B. Bailey, Albert +C. Clark, Edward C. Curtis, Samuel A. Ettelson, Logan Hay and Thomas +B. Stewart, Republicans; Michael H. Cleary, William A. Compton, Kent +E. Keller, Walter I. Manny and W. Duff Piercy, Democrats; George W. +Harris and Walter Clyde Jones, Progressives.</p> + +<p>The day the bill passed Mrs. Trout left Springfield to address a +suffrage meeting to be held in Galesburg that evening and the next day +one at Monmouth. In each place resided a member of the House who was +marked on the card index as "doubtful," but both, through the +influence of their constituents, voted for the bill. Mrs. Booth +remained in Springfield to see that it got safely over to the House. +The two women wished the bill to go into the friendly Elections +Committee and the opponents were planning to put it into the Judiciary +Committee, where it would remain during the rest of the session. The +suffrage lobby worked into the small hours of the night making plans +to frustrate this scheme. Arrangements were made with Speaker McKinley +to turn it over to the Elections Committee, and when the morning +session opened this was done before the opponents realized that their +plot had failed.</p> + +<p>The women were indebted to David R. Shanahan, for many years an +influential Republican member, who, representing a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> "wet" district in +Chicago, felt that he could not vote for the bill, but without his +counsel it would have been still more difficult to pass it. To +overcome the pitfalls, Mrs. Trout appealed to the enemies to give the +women of Illinois a square deal, especially to Lee O'Neil Browne, a +powerful Democratic leader. He had always opposed suffrage +legislation, but he finally consented to let the bill, so far as he +was concerned, be voted up or down on its merits. It was this spirit +of fair play among its opponents as well as the loyalty of its friends +that made possible the final victory.</p> + +<p>Up to this time Mrs. Trout and Mrs. Booth had worked alone, but now +Mrs. Trout asked Mrs. Antoinette Funk, a lawyer, of Chicago, who had +done active work for the Progressive party, to come to Springfield, +and she arrived on May 13. A week later Mrs. Medill McCormick came to +reside in the capital and her services were immediately enlisted. She +was a daughter of the late Senator Mark Hanna, who had inherited much +of her father's ability in politics and was an important addition to +the suffrage lobby. On May 14 the bill had its first reading and was +referred to the Elections Committee. On the 21st it was reported with +a recommendation that it "do pass." The opponents were now thoroughly +alarmed. Anton J. Cermak of Chicago, president of the United +Societies, a powerful organization of liquor interests, directed the +fight against it. Leaflets were circulated giving the "preferential" +suffrage vote taken in Chicago the year before, with a list of the +negative votes cast in each ward to show the Chicago members how badly +it had been beaten by their constituents. The bill was called up for +second reading June 3 and there was a desperate attempt to amend and +if possible kill it, but it finally passed in just the form it had +come over from the Senate.</p> + +<p>The hope of the opposition now was to keep Speaker McKinley from +allowing the bill to come up for third reading. He told Mrs. Trout +that hundreds of men from Chicago as well as from other parts of the +State had come to Springfield and begged him to prevent it from coming +to a vote. The young Speaker looked haggard and worn during those +days, and he asked her to let him know it if there was any suffrage +sentiment in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> State. She immediately telephoned to Mrs. Harriette +Taylor Treadwell, president of the Chicago Political Equality League, +to have letters and telegrams sent at once to Springfield and to have +people communicate by telephone with the Speaker when he returned to +Chicago for the week end. Mrs. Treadwell called upon the suffragists +and thousands of letters and telegrams were sent. She also organized a +telephone brigade by means of which he was called up every fifteen +minutes by men as well as women, both at his home and his office, from +early Saturday morning until late Monday night the days he spent in +Chicago. She was assisted in this work by Mrs. James W. Morrisson, +secretary of the Chicago Equal Suffrage Association; Mrs. George Bass, +president of the Chicago Woman's Club; Mrs. Jean Wallace Butler, a +well-known business woman; Mrs. Edward L. Stillman, an active +suffragist in the Rogers Park Woman's Club; Miss Florence King, a +prominent patent lawyer and president of the Chicago Woman's +Association of Commerce; Miss Mary Miller, another Chicago lawyer and +president of the Chicago Human Rights Association; Mrs. Charlotte +Rhodus, president of the Woman Suffrage Party of Cook County and other +influential women. Mrs. Trout telephoned Miss Margaret Dobyne, press +chairman of the association, to send out the call for help over the +State, which she did with the assistance of Miss Jennie F. W. Johnson, +the treasurer, and Mrs. J. W. McGraw, the auditor.</p> + +<p>A deluge of letters and telegrams from every section of Illinois +awaited the Speaker when he arrived in Springfield Tuesday morning. He +needed no further proof and announced that the bill would be called up +for final action June 11. The women in charge of it immediately began +to marshal their forces for the last struggle. Messages were sent to +each friend of the measure in the House, urging him to be present +without fail.<a name="FNanchor_44_44" id="FNanchor_44_44"></a><a href="#Footnote_44_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a> On the eventful morning there was much excitement at +the Capitol. The "captains," previously requested to be on hand<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> +early, reported if any of their men were missing, these were at once +called up by telephone and when necessary a cab was sent for them. The +four women lobbyists were stationed as follows: Mrs. Booth and Mrs. +McCormick in the gallery; Mrs. Trout at the only entrance of the House +left open that day, and Mrs. Funk to carry messages and instructions +between these points. Mrs. Booth checked off the votes and Mrs. Trout +stood guard to see that no friendly members left the House during roll +calls and also to prevent the violation of the law which forbade any +lobbyist to enter the floor of the House after the session had +convened. The burly doorkeeper, who was against the suffrage bill, +could not be trusted to enforce the law if its enemies chose to enter.</p> + +<p>Events proved the wisdom of this precaution. A number of favoring +legislators who started to leave the House during the fight were +persuaded to return and the doorkeeper soon told Mrs. Trout she would +have to go into the gallery. As she did not move he came back +presently and said that Benjamin Mitchell, one of the members of the +House leading the opposition, had instructed him that if she did not +immediately go to the gallery he would put a resolution through the +House forcing her to do so. She politely but firmly said it was her +right as a citizen of Illinois to stay in the corridor and remained at +her post. As a consequence no one entered the House that day who was +not legally entitled to do so. During the five hours' debate all known +parliamentary tactics were used to defeat the bill. When Speaker +McKinley finally announced the vote—ayes 83 (six more than the +required majority), noes 58—a hush fell for an instant before the +wild outburst of applause. It seemed as if there had passed through +those legislative halls the spirit of eternal justice and truth and +the eyes of strong men filled with tears.</p> + +<p>Politicians declared it was a miracle, but it was a miracle made +possible by six months of unceasing toil, during which the suffrage +lobby worked from early in the morning until late at night and were +shadowed by detectives eager to acquire testimony that would prejudice +the legislators against their measure. It was most encouraging to the +workers when they won over Edward D. Shurtleff, who had been for years +Speaker of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> House and was acknowledged to be one of the most +astute men in Springfield. His practical knowledge of legislative +procedure made his advice of the greatest value. Representative Scott, +who introduced the bill in the House, was a highly esteemed member who +refused to present any others so that he could be free to devote all +of his time and energy to this one, and others were equally loyal. +Mrs. Trout's leadership received the highest praise from the press and +the politicians of the State. The Illinois Legislature led the way and +within a few years bills of a similar nature had been passed by those +of fourteen other States.</p> + +<p>The State Equal Suffrage Association tendered a banquet at the Leland +Hotel in Springfield on June 13 to the legislators and their wives, +opponents as well as friends, and prominent suffragists came from over +the State. Mrs. Trout asked Mrs. McCormick to take charge of the +banquet and she had a roll of honor printed which the men who voted +for the suffrage bill were invited to sign, and the Governor's +signature was also obtained. As soon as he entered the banquet hall +Mrs. Trout, in charge of the program, called upon the banqueters to +rise and do honor to the Governor who would soon, by signing the +suffrage bill, win the everlasting gratitude of all men and women in +Illinois interested in human liberty. The very day the bill passed the +House a committee of anti-suffrage legislators called upon Governor +Dunne to urge him to veto it and tried to influence Attorney General +Patrick J. Lucey to declare it unconstitutional, which would give him +an excuse. Mrs. McCormick immediately went to Chicago and secured +opinions from able lawyers that the bill was constitutional, and he +stood out against all opposition and signed it on June 26.</p> + +<p>On July 1 a jubilee automobile parade was arranged by Mrs. Treadwell +with Mrs. Kenneth McLennan as grand marshal, and the cars filled with +enthusiastic suffragists extended several miles down Michigan +Boulevard. The first important work was to arouse the women of the +State to a realization of all the good that could be accomplished by +the wise use of the franchise. The entire cost of the Springfield +campaign, which lasted over six months and included railroad fare for +the lobbyists, innumerable telegrams and long distance telephone +calls, postage, stationery,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> printing, stenographic help, hotel bills +and incidentals, was only $1,567, but it left the treasury of the +association empty. The board therefore gratefully accepted the offer +of William Randolph Hearst of a suffrage edition of the Chicago +<i>Examiner</i>. He agreed to pay for the cost of publication and permit +the funds raised through the sale of the papers and the advertising to +go into the suffrage treasury. The women were weary from the campaign +and most of the board were going away for the summer but Mrs. Trout +rallied her forces, was general manager herself and persuaded Mrs. +Funk to be managing editor, Miss Dobyne advertising manager and Mrs. +Treadwell circulation manager. As a result of almost six weeks' work +during the hottest part of the summer nearly $15,000 were raised. +After all commissions and other expenses were paid and new and +commodious suffrage headquarters in the Tower Building were furnished +a fund of between $7,000 and $8,000 was left to maintain them and push +organization work.</p> + +<p>The constitutionality of the law was soon attacked and Mrs. Trout +consulted frequently with the officers of the Anti-Saloon League, for +the attacks always emanated from the "wet" interests, and most +efficient service was rendered by F. Scott McBride, State +Superintendent; E. J. Davis, Chicago superintendent, and Frank B. +Ebbert, legal counsel for the league, who said it was also their +fight. A case was brought against the Election Commissioners of +Chicago for allowing women to vote on certain questions, decided in +their favor by the lower courts, appealed and brought before the +Supreme Court of Illinois. A meeting of the board of the State Equal +Suffrage Association was called at once, which voted to raise a +defense fund and fight the case to a finish. The chairman of the +committee was Mrs. George A. Soden, first vice-president, and it was +largely through her efforts and the contributions of her husband that +the fund was raised. Not only the legislators who had voted for the +bill but also a number who voted against it sent money to help defend +the law. The opponents of the law—the liquor interests—were +represented by Levi Mayer of Chicago, counsel for the United Societies +as well as for big brewery interests and considered one of the ablest +constitutional lawyers in the State. It was therefore necessary<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> for +the association to secure the best and they engaged John J. Herrick +and Judge Charles S. Cutting, who by agreement with the Election +Commissioners took charge of the fight. The women consulted also with +Charles H. Mitchell, their regular counsel, as well as with Judge +Willard McEwen, whom the commissioners engaged as special counsel. +They frequently conferred with Judge Isaiah T. Greenacre, counsel for +the Teachers' Federation, and Joel F. Longnecker, a young lawyer +active in the Progressive party, both of whom donated their services.</p> + +<p>There was a long delay in the Supreme Court and during this time it +was vitally necessary to demonstrate that the women wanted the ballot +by bringing out as large a registration as possible for the municipal +election to be held in April, 1914. The opponents were saying: "Women +down the State have voted because they are interested in local option +but not 25,000 women will register in Chicago." It was, therefore, of +paramount importance to arouse the Chicago women. This work was in +charge of Mrs. Edward L. Stewart, assisted by Mrs. Judith Weil +Loewenthal, members of the State Board. Mrs. Stewart called upon every +organization of women in the city to assist. Valuable help was given +by Mrs. Ida Darling Engelke, city chairman of ward organization for +the Chicago Political Equality League; Mrs. Joseph T. Bowen, president +of the Woman's City Club, and Mrs. James Morrisson, president of the +Chicago Equal Suffrage Association. There were public meetings in +every ward, and a mass meeting the Sunday before the election in the +Auditorium Theater, which seated over 4,000 people, but overflow +meetings were necessary. As a result of this united effort over +200,000 women registered in Chicago alone and thousands more +throughout the State.</p> + +<p>On May 2, 1914, was held the first large suffrage parade in Illinois. +It was managed by the State association and its affiliated Chicago +clubs. Mrs. Trout, with the members of the Board and distinguished +pioneer suffragists, led the procession, and Governor Dunne and Mayor +Carter H. Harrison reviewed it. The city government sent to head the +parade the mounted police, led by Chief Gleason, called "the beauty +squad," only brought out on very special occasions. Nearly 15,000 +women, representing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> all parties, creeds and classes, marched down +Michigan Boulevard and hundreds of thousands of people lined both +sides for over two miles. Captain Charles W. Kayser of Wheaton planned +the procession with military skill. The Parade Committee, including +the heads of divisions and numbering over a thousand women, was +invited immediately after the procession to the Hotel La Salle by +Ernest Stevens, manager and one of the owners, where they were guests +of the management at supper, which was followed by music and speaking.</p> + +<p>In June the General Federation of Women's Clubs held its biennial +convention in Chicago and the question uppermost in the minds of all +club women was, would the president, Mrs. Percy Pennybacker, refuse to +allow a woman suffrage resolution to be presented, as her predecessor, +Mrs. Philip Moore, had done in San Francisco at the preceding +biennial, and also would it receive a favorable vote if presented? The +State Board, realizing that with the suffrage law still hanging in the +balance in the Supreme Court, it was vitally important to have the +endorsement by this convention, representing 1,500,000 members, +appointed Mrs. Trout to secure favorable action if possible. The +Federation Board on request of Mrs. Pennybacker appointed a special +committee to confer with her and as the result of co-operation the +following resolution, presented by Mrs. Lucretia L. Blankenburg of +Philadelphia, an officer of the Federation, was adopted on June 13:</p> + +<blockquote><p><span class="smcap">Whereas</span>, the question of the political equality of men and women +is today a vital problem under discussion throughout the +civilized world, therefore,</p> + +<p><i>Resolved</i>, that the General Federation of Women's Clubs give the +cause of political equality for men and women its moral support +by recording its earnest belief in the principle of political +equality regardless of sex.</p></blockquote> + +<p>There were between 1,700 and 1,800 delegates present, representing all +sections of the country. The vote was viva voce and so overwhelmingly +in the affirmative that it was not counted. The Chicago <i>Tribune</i> +said: "The anti-suffragists made no fight against the resolution on +the floor of the convention, probably realizing they were hopelessly +outnumbered. There was a considerable chorus of nays when it was put, +but not enough for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> any one to demand a count." Afterwards the +Illinois members recommended Mrs. Trout as an honorary member of the +General Federation and she was unanimously elected.</p> + +<p>By an interesting coincidence the day the suffrage resolution was +passed by the Biennial the State Supreme Court pronounced the Suffrage +Law constitutional. A banquet had already been planned by the State +association for that evening to be held in the Gold Room of the +Congress Hotel in honor of the General Federation, and it proved to be +a memorable occasion. Over a thousand women were present and nearly as +many more could not find room. Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, Miss Mary +Garrett Hay and other well known suffragists, as well as the officers +of the Federation, made speeches.</p> + +<p>All these events changed public sentiment in regard to the woman +suffrage question. As Congress was in session this summer its members +were unable to fill their Chautauqua lecture dates, and Mrs. Trout was +asked to make suffrage speeches at fifty Chautauquas in nine States, +filling dates for a Democrat, the Hon. Champ Clark, and for a +Republican, United States Senator Robert LaFollette, and for William +Jennings Bryan.</p> + +<p>The State convention was held in Chicago in 1914 and Mrs. Trout was +again re-elected president. During this year the Chicago Equal +Suffrage Association did excellent educational work by establishing +classes in citizenship in the Woman's City Club and by publishing +catechisms for women voters in seven different languages.</p> + +<p>At the annual convention held in Peoria in 1915 Mrs. Trout positively +refused to stand again for president and Mrs. Adella Maxwell Brown of +Peoria was elected. Four State conferences were held during the year +and Mrs. Brown represented the association at the National Suffrage +Association at Washington in December; the Mississippi Valley +Conference at Minneapolis the next May; the National Council of Women +Voters at Cheyenne in July and the National Suffrage Association at +Atlantic City in September. In June, 1916, the State association, +assisted by those of Chicago, took charge of what became known as the +"famous rainy day suffrage parade," held in that city while the +National Republican convention was in session. Mrs. Brown<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> was +chairman of the committee, Mrs. Morrisson vice-chairman and Mrs. +Kellogg Fairbanks grand marshal of the parade.</p> + +<p>There was much speculation among the political parties as to how the +women would vote at their first presidential election in November, +1916. As their ballots were put into separate boxes they could be +distinguished and they were as follows: Republican, 459,215; +Democratic, 383,292; Socialist, 17,175; Prohibition, 16,212; Socialist +Labor, 806.</p> + +<p>Much important legislative work was to be done in the next session of +the Legislature and at the State convention held in Springfield in +October, 1916, Mrs. Trout was persuaded to accept again the +presidency. Delegates were present from every section and the policy +for the ensuing year was thoroughly discussed by Mrs. McCulloch, +Senator Magill, Lewis G. Stevenson, Secretary of State; Mrs. George +Bass, and others. The consensus of opinion was that owing to the great +difficulty of amending the State constitution the only practical way +to secure full suffrage for women was through a new constitution. This +convention, therefore, voted in an overwhelming majority to work in +the Legislature of 1917 for the calling of a constitutional +convention. The Citizens' Association, composed of leading men of +Chicago and the State, had been trying over thirty years to obtain a +new State constitution and as soon as they learned of this action they +sent Shelby M. Singleton, its secretary, to request of Mrs. Trout and +Mrs. McGraw that the work be directed by the leaders of the State +Equal Suffrage Association, to which they agreed. They went to +Springfield at the beginning of the session in 1917 and a struggle +followed that lasted over ten weeks.</p> + +<p>[Mrs. McGraw prepared a very full account of the work in the +Legislature to have it submit to the voters the question of calling a +convention to prepare a new constitution. Representatives of all the +leading organizations of women assisted at Springfield from time to +time. The resolution had the powerful support of Governor Frank C. +Lowden, Congressman Medill McCormick, Roger C. Sullivan and other +prominent men, but the Citizens' Association in an official bulletin +gave the larger part of the credit to "the tireless and tactful work +of the women's lobby." After Senate and House by more than a +two-thirds<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> majority had voted to submit the question to the voters +the State association organized an Emergency League to establish +centers in each of the 101 counties and an immense educational +campaign was carried on. Over a thousand meetings were held in the +summer and fall preceding the election Nov. 5, 1918, when the proposal +for a convention received a majority of 74,239. The next year +delegates to the convention were elected and it met in Springfield +Jan. 6, 1920. One of its first acts was to adopt an article giving the +complete suffrage to women. Before the constitution was ready to +submit to the voters the women were fully enfranchised by the Federal +Amendment.]</p> + +<p>After the victory was gained in the Legislature and just as all plans +were laid for the campaign in the spring of 1917 the United States +entered the war against Germany. Mrs. Trout was appointed a member of +the executive committee of the Woman's Council of National Defense and +all the members of the board immediately engaged in Liberty Loan, Red +Cross and other war work. During this period of strenuous activity +another attack was made on the constitutionality of the suffrage law +by the liquor interests and the case was again brought before the +Supreme Court. The State Board engaged James G. Skinner, an able +lawyer, formerly Assistant Corporation Counsel, and in December the +law was again pronounced constitutional.</p> + +<p>The State convention was held in the autumn of 1917 in Danville and +Mrs. Trout was re-elected. The association now had affiliated +societies in every senatorial and congressional district with a +membership of over 200,000 women. Mrs. Trout was soon called to +Washington by Mrs. Catt to work for the Federal Suffrage Amendment and +spent many months there while Mrs. McGraw directed the organization +work of the State association. She secured the co-operation of Mrs. R. +M. Reed, legislative chairman of the Illinois Federation of Women's +Clubs; they appointed two workers in each congressional district and +nearly every woman's society in the State had constitutional +convention programs. In the spring of 1918 Governor Lowden appointed +Judge Orrin N. Carter, of the Supreme Court, chairman of a state-wide +committee that worked in co-operation with the state-wide committee of +women. The annual suffrage convention was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> held in the latter part of +October, 1918, in Chicago, and Mrs. Trout was re-elected.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> When Congress submitted the Federal Suffrage Amendment +June 4, 1919, Mrs. Trout and Mrs. McGraw immediately went to +Springfield where the Legislature was in session. They had already +made preliminary arrangements and without urging it ratified the +amendment on June 10. The vote in the Senate was unanimous, in the +House it was 135 ayes, 85 Republicans, 50 Democrats; three nays, all +Democrats, Lee O'Neil Browne, John Griffin and Peter F. Smith. A minor +mistake was made in the first certified copy of the resolution sent +from the Secretary of State's office at Washington to the Governor of +Illinois. To prevent the possibility of any legal quibbling Governor +Lowden telegraphed that office to send at once a corrected, certified +copy. This was done and the ratification was reaffirmed by the +Legislature on June 17, the vote in the Senate again being unanimous +and one Democrat, Charles F. Franz, added to the former three negative +votes in the House.</p> + +<p>Owing to a misunderstanding of the facts for a short time there was +some controversy as to whether Illinois was entitled to first place, +as the Wisconsin Legislature ratified an hour later. Attorney General +Brundage prepared a brief showing that the mistake in the first +certified copy did not affect the legality of the ratification on June +10, as the mistake was made in copying the introductory resolution and +not in the amendment itself. This opinion was accepted in the +Secretary of State's office at Washington. So Illinois, the first +State east of the Mississippi River to grant suffrage to its women, +was the first to ratify the Federal Suffrage Amendment. In celebration +a jubilee banquet was held on June 24 at the Hotel LaSalle, Mrs. Trout +presiding, with Governor and Mrs. Lowden the guests of honor. Among +the speakers were the Governor, prominent members of the State +Legislature and the leading women suffragists.</p> + +<p>In October the State convention was held in Chicago, with delegates +present from every section, and Mrs. Trout was re-elected president. +It was voted to continue to work for the speedy ratification of the +Federal Suffrage Amendment in other States and if this was not +obtained in 1920 to work for the full<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> suffrage article in the new +constitution when it was submitted to the voters. At the convention of +the National American Association in St. Louis the preceding March the +Illinois association had extended an invitation to hold the next one +in Chicago, which was accepted. The State board called together +representatives from the principal organizations of women, which were +appointed to take charge of different days of the convention and +various phases of the work. Mrs. Trout and Mrs. McGraw were made +chairman and vice-chairman of the committee; Mrs. Samuel Slade, +recording secretary, was appointed chairman of the Finance Committee, +which raised the funds to defray all the expenses of this large +convention in February, 1920. [Full account in +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29878/29878-h/29878-h.htm#CHAPTER_XIX">Chapter XIX, Volume V</a>.]</p> + +<p>A meeting of the State Board was called and a committee formed to get +as many women as possible to vote in November at the election for +President. Mrs. Trout was elected State chairman, Mrs. McGraw +vice-chairman, and Mrs. Albert Schweitzer, a member of the board, was +appointed Chicago chairman. The Woman's City Club, of which Mrs. +Joseph T. Bowen was president, took an active part in the campaign and +was the headquarters for the Chicago committee. In August in the midst +of the campaign came the joyful news that the 36th State had ratified +the Federal Amendment. A call was issued for the State convention to +be held in Chicago October 7-9, when the Illinois Equal Suffrage +Association, its work finished, disbanded, and its members formed a +State League of Women Voters, with Mrs. H. W. Cheney of Chicago as +chairman.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_42_42" id="Footnote_42_42"></a><a href="#FNanchor_42_42"><span class="label">[42]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. J. W. +McGraw, eight years on the Board of Directors and six years +Legislative Chairman of the Illinois Equal Suffrage Association. She +is under obligations for many of the facts relative to the campaign of +1913 to Mrs. Grace Wilbur Trout, State president for seven years.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_43_43" id="Footnote_43_43"></a><a href="#FNanchor_43_43"><span class="label">[43]</span></a> The State association always did everything possible to +cooperate with the National Suffrage Association. On March 1, headed +by Mrs. Trout, 83 women left Chicago by special train for Washington. +In the big suffrage parade there on the 3rd they wore a uniform +regalia of cap and baldric and were headed by a large band led by Mrs. +George S. Wells, a member of the State Board, as drum major. There was +a woman out-rider, Mrs. W. H. Stewart, on a spirited horse. Mrs. Trout +led, carrying an American flag, and the Illinois banner was carried by +Royal N. Allen, a prominent member of the Progressive party and the +railroad official who had charge of the special train.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_44_44" id="Footnote_44_44"></a><a href="#FNanchor_44_44"><span class="label">[44]</span></a> "Captains" had been appointed among the members and each +furnished with a list and it was his duty to see that the men on it +were in their seats whenever the bill was up for discussion. The +following Representatives served as "captains" and rendered important +service: William F. Burres, Norman G. Flagg, Edward D. Shurtleff, +Homer J. Tice and George H. Wilson, Republicans; John P. Devine, Frank +Gillespie, William A. Hubbard, W. C. Kane, Charles L. Scott and +Francis E. Williamson, Democrats; Roy D. Hunt, J. H. Jayne, Medill +McCormick and Emil N. Zolla, Progressives; Seymour Stedman, +Socialist.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>INDIANA. PART I.<a name="FNanchor_45_45" id="FNanchor_45_45"></a><a href="#Footnote_45_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a></h3> + + +<p>Although Indiana was one of the first States in the Union to form a +suffrage association in 1851 there were long periods when it was +inactive but there were others when it flourished. In 1851 a +constitution was adopted whose provisions for women were probably more +liberal than existed in any other State and they did not feel a +pressure of unjust laws; co-education prevailed from an early date and +all occupations were open to them. Thus they were not impelled by +personal grievances to keep up a continued fight for the suffrage. +After 1900 there was a period of depression which the National +American Suffrage Association tried unsuccessfully to relieve. Finally +in May, 1906, it called a convention to meet in Kokomo, where one of +the old societies had continued to maintain an organization, and +delegates were present from societies in Indianapolis, Logansport, +Tipton and Montpelier. Mrs. Harriet Taylor Upton, treasurer of the +National Association, presided and a good deal of interest was shown. +The following officers were elected: President, Mrs. Sarah Davis; +first vice-president, Mrs. Laura Schofield; secretary, Mrs. E. M. +Wood, all of Kokomo; second vice-president, Mrs. Anna Dunn Noland, +Logansport; treasurer, Mrs. Marion Harvey Barnard, Indianapolis; +auditors, Mrs. Jane Pond, Montpelier, Judge Samuel Artman, Lebanon. +The association affiliated with the National body and always remained +an auxiliary. Mrs. Davis left the State during this year and there +seems to be no record of anything done by this board.</p> + +<p>In April, 1908, Mrs. Upton wrote to Mrs. Noland begging her to call a +convention. Acting as president, secretary and treasurer and supplying +the funds from her own purse, Mrs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> Noland sent hundreds of letters +over the State asking for names of people interested in suffrage and +from the names she formed committees to interest others. Her only +assistant was her husband, Dr. J. F. Noland, who helped in leisure +hours. In October the work of organization began by Mrs. Noland and +Miss Pearl Penfield. A convention was called to meet in Logansport, +March 16-17, 1909. Fifteen clubs had paid small dues but only seven +sent delegates. It was welcomed by Mayor George P. McKee. Much +interest and a great deal of publicity resulted. The <i>Reporter</i>, a +Logansport daily paper, published a suffrage edition March 17, one +page edited by a committee from the association. Mrs. Ella S. Stewart +of Chicago, Miss Harriet Noble of Indianapolis and Mrs. B. F. Perkins +of Fort Wayne were the speakers. The following officers were elected: +President, Mrs. Noland; first vice-president, Dr. Susan E. Collier, +Indianapolis; second, Mrs. Mary Mitchner, Kokomo; corresponding +secretary, Mrs. Bessie Hughes, Logansport; recording secretary, Mrs. +Wood; treasurer, Mrs. Barnard; auditors re-elected; member National +Executive Committee, Mrs. Perkins. During the year Sullivan, Terre +Haute, Amboy, Lafayette, Red Key and Ridgeville became auxiliaries. +Mrs. Antoinette D. Leach of Sullivan was made State organizer; Mrs. +Flora T. Neff of Logansport chairman of literature.</p> + +<p>In 1911 a resolution to amend the State constitution by striking out +the word "male" was presented to the Legislature, drafted by Mrs. +Leach. It passed the House committee unanimously, went to third +reading and was shelved because of a proposed plan for a new +constitution brought out by Governor Thomas R. Marshall. The Municipal +League composed of the mayors and councilmen of all the cities in the +State invited the Equal Suffrage Association to provide speakers for +the annual meeting at Crawfordsville June 20 and Mrs. Noland, Miss +Noble and Mrs. Leach responded. They were courteously received and +heard with much applause. The convention was not interested in woman +suffrage but the press gave much publicity. A State suffrage +convention was held at this time. In August a monthly journal called +the <i>Woman Citizen</i> was established in Indianapolis by the +association with Mrs. Leach as editor, its columns open<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> to all +suffrage organizations, and published for two years. New Albany, +Jeffersonville, Markleville and Valparaiso clubs were added to the +State association. The New Albany society was large and active and +gave suffrage much prominence in southern Indiana. Mrs. Noland +reported 5,000 letters sent out in 1911.</p> + +<p>On June 28, 29, 1912, Logansport again entertained the State +convention. Mrs. Noland acted as publicity chairman. The Call was sent +broadcast; press notices in every daily and weekly paper; large +posters put up at the cross roads in every county; banners stretched +across Broadway announcing the date. On the Saturday before the +meeting circulars announcing it and a parade were dropped over the +city from an air ship. Every business house was beautifully dressed in +suffrage colors. Mayor D. D. Fickle gave an address of welcome. The +principal speaker was Dr. B. O. Aylesworth of Colorado. The parade was +viewed by more than 50,000 people and Pathé made films of it. The +convention was widely noticed by the press. Eleven new societies were +added to the State association. Mrs. Noland was re-elected. Other +officers were: Mrs. O. P. Smith, Logansport; Mrs. Anna Cassangese, New +Albany; Mrs. Margaret Williamson, Red Key; Dr. Emma G. Holloway, North +Manchester, vice-presidents; secretary-treasurer, Mrs. Katharine +Hoffman, Logansport; member National Executive Committee, Mrs. Leach; +standing committees, Legislation, Mrs. Leach; Church, Mrs. Alice Judah +Clark, Vincennes; Endorsement, Mrs. Harriet Houser; Press, Mrs. Neff, +both of Logansport.</p> + +<p>A publicity campaign was begun. Billboards were covered with posters +and barns, fences and stones along the country roadways were decorated +with "Votes for Women." Free literature was distributed and handbills +were given out at every opportunity. Sunday afternoon meetings were +held in picture show halls in many towns. Booths were secured at +county and street fairs. Tents were placed on Chautauqua grounds with +speakers and all kinds of suffrage supplies. This program was kept up +until the World War called the women to other duties. The Gary Civic +Service League affiliated with the association and Mrs. Kate Wood Ray, +its president, was made press chairman.</p> + +<p>On Oct. 12-14, 1914, the annual convention was held in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> Logansport, +welcomed by Mayor Guthrie. Among the speakers were Judge S. T. +McConnell of Logansport and O. P. Smith, a State and national labor +leader. Both had attended the meeting at Kokomo in 1906, since which +time Judge McConnell had been a legal adviser of the association. Mr. +Smith was a member of the legislative advisory committee. Miss Laura +Clay of Kentucky, Dr. Frank Stockton of Bloomington and Miss Florence +Wattles of Kokomo were the principal speakers. Miss Clay was made an +honorary member. Mrs. Mary P. Flannegan, secretary-treasurer, was the +only new officer; new committee chairmen, Mrs. McConnell, Mrs. L. E. +Sellars, Mrs. E. B. De Vault, Miss Wattles. The secretary's report +showed 28 affiliated societies. It was voted to cooperate with the +Legislative Council of Women and work for Presidential suffrage. Mrs. +Noland, as chairman of the committee, was in Indianapolis from the +time the bill was introduced until the Assembly adjourned.</p> + +<p>In February, 1915, Mrs. Noland went before the national convention of +miners in Indianapolis and secured a unanimous resolution favoring +State and national woman suffrage from the 1,600 delegates. In the +summer the State association sent Miss Wattles for two months' +speaking in the New Jersey and Pennsylvania suffrage campaigns. In +July the Municipal League held its annual meeting in Logansport and +the association, again called upon for speakers, sent Mrs. Noland, +Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Sellars. The enthusiasm with which they were +received and the discussion by the delegates which followed showed a +marked change since the meeting at Crawfordsville in 1911. At the +State convention in the fall a committee was appointed for +interviewing candidates before the spring primaries, especially those +for Governor and members of the Legislature and Congress. Mrs. Ray, +Mrs. Leach and Mrs. Noland composed the committee.</p> + +<p>In the fall of 1916 the question of a new State constitution was +referred to the voters and the association placed women at all polling +places in the cities and large towns. In the small towns and country +the voters received literature and letters asking them to vote in +favor. It was lost but the work gave the women a new zeal and with the +enlightenment of the voters the effort seemed more than worth while. +At the State meeting in October<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> it was decided again to join hands +with the Legislative Council to work for a partial suffrage bill and +to cooperate with the Woman's Franchise League in legislative work if +a mutual decision could be brought about. The association all over the +State was very zealous in behalf of the bill and Mrs. Ray, Mrs. Noland +and Mrs. Stimson worked continuously in the State House until the +Governor signed it on February 28.</p> + +<p>To the Legislative Council of Women belongs much of the glory for the +final suffrage victories in Indiana. Formed in 1914 to work with the +Legislature it was composed of the following State organizations +representing 80,000 organized women: Federation of Women's Clubs, +Woman's Christian Temperance Union, Mothers' Congress, Woman's +Franchise League, Woman's Press Club, Association of Collegiate +Alumnae, Consumers' League, Woman's Relief Corps, Equal Suffrage +Association. These organizations represented an influence that could +not be ignored. The officers were as follows: President, Mrs. Felix T. +McWhirter (later Mrs. Edward F. White), Indianapolis; vice-presidents: +Miss Vida Newsom, Columbus; Mrs. Flora Millspaugh, Chesterfield; Mrs. +A. D. Moffett, Elwood; secretary-treasurer, Miss Dora Bosart, +Indianapolis. The Executive Committee was composed of the president +and one delegate from each organization and Mrs. S. C. Stimson of +Terre Haute was chairman. The Council was financed by these +organizations, assisted by churches, business men's clubs, ministers', +teachers' and farmers' associations and individual contributions.</p> + +<p>The Act was ruled unconstitutional in October but the women had a +taste of citizenship, for all over the State they had registered and +in some places they had voted on prohibition and public improvements. +The Legislative Council sent out 75,000 registration cards. Municipal +authorities had appointed women to places of trust. The Suffrage Board +formulated a plan for the study of citizenship, of the United States +and State constitutions, methods of voting, etc., which has since been +on the program of study for the local societies.</p> + +<p>In July, 1917, Mrs. Noland and Mrs. Ray were again asked to speak at +the annual meeting of the Municipal League and the following was +adopted with enthusiasm: "Resolved; That the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> Municipal League of +Indiana does hereby recommend full and equal suffrage for women in +both State and nation."</p> + +<p>By a vote of the local societies it was decided not to call a +convention during the war, as every woman was engaged in war work, but +monthly board meetings were held in different towns in 1917 and 1918, +keeping the busy women in touch with suffrage work. During the +Legislature of 1919 other organizations seemed desirous of pushing the +suffrage work and the association voted to give them a free hand. It +assisted the effort for the ratification of the Federal Amendment by +sending letters and having resolutions passed by organizations. It has +at this time (1920) 29 affiliated societies, 500 dues-paying members +and over 6,000 non-dues-paying members.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<h3>INDIANA. PART II.<a name="FNanchor_46_46" id="FNanchor_46_46"></a><a href="#Footnote_46_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a></h3> + +<p>During the early years of the present century there was no definite +campaign for suffrage in Indiana but the partial success of repeated +efforts to influence the General Assembly to pass various suffrage +bills showed a large body of interested if unorganized favorable +opinion. The State had never been entirely organized but there were +several centers where flourishing associations kept up interest. In +1901 the State Woman Suffrage Association under the presidency of Mrs. +Bertha G. Wade of Indianapolis engaged chiefly in legislative work but +it gradually ceased effort. There were attempts toward its +re-organization in the following years, assisted by the National +Association, but interest proved to be not sufficiently keen or +widespread.</p> + +<p>The Indianapolis Equal Suffrage Society, organized in 1878 under the +direction of Mrs. May Wright Sewall, had never suspended activities. +Dr. Amelia R. Keller was its president in 1909 and in order to +stimulate interest and give an outlet for the energy of its members, +assisted by Mrs. Grace Julian Clarke, Mrs. Felix T. McWhirter, Mrs. +John F. Barnhill, Mrs. W. T. Barnes, Mrs. Winfield Scott Johnson and +Dr. Rebecca Rogers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> George, she formed the Women's School League on +October 1, "to elect a woman to the school board and improve the +schools of Indianapolis." Dr. Keller was made president and the other +officers were, vice-presidents, Dr. George and Mrs. McWhirter; +secretary, Mrs. Julia C. Henderson; treasurer, Miss Harriet Noble; +directors, Mrs. Clarke, Mrs. Barnhill, Mrs. Arthur B. Grover, Mrs. +Johnson, Mrs. Linton A. Cox, Mrs. Laura Kregelo, Mrs. Edgar A. +Perkins, Dr. Mary A. Spink, Miss Belle O'Hair and Miss Tarquinia Voss. +Many of these names become familiar in the later records of suffrage +work.</p> + +<p>The first part of the league's program succeeded and a woman was +elected to the school board of Indianapolis. At the same time the +women of Terre Haute, where under a new law the school board was +elective, made a like attempt through the Woman's Club and the local +suffrage society and were also successful. These were the only places +where school boards were elective. Many women showed themselves eager +to work for a woman on the school board who were indifferent to the +larger aspects of suffrage. It was soon clear, however, that the +schools could not stand alone in municipal affairs but where boards +were not elected it would be necessary to vote for Mayor and +councilmen to influence school conditions, therefore on April 21, +1911, the organization dropped the word "school" from its title and +became the Woman's Franchise League of Indiana. Dr. Keller continued +as president and associated with her as officers were Mrs. Meredith +Nicholson and Mrs. McWhirter, vice presidents; Mrs. Henderson, +secretary; Mrs. Barnhill, treasurer.</p> + +<p>A State convention of the league was held in Indianapolis April 12, +1912, and one took place annually after that date, always in the +capital. At this convention Dr. Martha Griffiths of Crawfordsville and +Dr. Adah McMahon of Lafayette were added to the directors. This year +the league affiliated with the National American Woman Suffrage +Association.<a name="FNanchor_47_47" id="FNanchor_47_47"></a><a href="#Footnote_47_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a> By May,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> 1916, there were sixty branch leagues and +3,000 members; in May, 1919, there were 300 branches and 16,000 +members. Dr. Keller continued as president until the convention of +1917, when Mrs. Richard E. Edwards of Peru was elected and served two +years. At the convention of 1919 Miss Helen Benbridge of Terre Haute +was chosen. The Franchise League was exceedingly fortunate in its +three presidents, who gave the most of their time, thought and effort +to its demands without salary. Dr. Keller organized it largely through +the force of her own personality and was able to gather around her +other strong and determined women through whom the idea of suffrage +was carried out into the State. Mrs. Edwards took up the work of more +intensive organization of the State outside of Indianapolis and +succeeded, with Miss Benbridge as State organizer, in multiplying the +branch leagues and the members by five. Miss Benbridge's work as +president was that of consolidating these gains and directing the +women in the use of the vote which they thought they had won. The list +is too long to be given of those who deserve special mention for years +of devoted service.</p> + +<p>From the spring of 1917 to the autumn of 1918 the members of force and +character were drawn upon for war service and the league suffered the +temporary loss of some of its best workers, who were filling executive +positions in the many war agencies. Of the directorate Miss Adah Bush +worked first in Washington with the Woman's Council of National +Defense and later went to France with the Young Women's Christian +Association; Mrs. Fred McCulloch was State chairman of Liberty Loans; +Dr. McMahon went to France on the staff of the Women's Oversea +Hospitals; Mrs. Henderson was chairman of the "four minute speakers" +who at their own expense went over the State speaking for Liberty +Loans, Red Cross, etc.</p> + +<p>Under the able direction of Miss Benbridge the league continued to +increase until there were but four counties in which it had no +representation. The changed status of members from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> suffrage workers +to voters necessitated a different sort of activity. Organizers were +still employed to some extent and suffrage propaganda used in the more +remote counties but the stress was laid upon teaching women to use the +vote intelligently and appreciate the power it gives. A Citizenship +School of the nature of a Normal School was held in Indianapolis in +October and women from all over the State attended a five days' +session and heard talks on the nature and various functions of the +government and the duties of citizens, by men and women who were +experts in their various lines. They took back to their own towns the +inspiration received and these schools were carried on quite +generally. The State Superintendent of Education sent out a bulletin +asking the teachers to give their aid and recommending that the public +schools be used for this work. A monograph entitled An Aid to the +Citizen in Indiana was prepared by Miss Martha Block of Terre Haute +and published by the league. This movement to train the new voters +commanded the respect of educators and several professors in +educational institutions offered their services as teachers in the +schools of citizenship.</p> + +<p>The convention of April, 1920, was the end of the Franchise League. +With the near ratification of the Federal Amendment work for suffrage +seemed to be finished in Indiana. As a Presidential suffrage bill had +been passed by the General Assembly the women of the State were +already partial voters, so the league disbanded and in its place was +formed the State League of Women Voters, with Mrs. A. H. Beardsley of +Elkhart as president. The branches became auxiliaries and the +leaders realized that the task of getting the vote was nearly +accomplished—that of using it had just begun.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action.</span> 1901. Through the efforts of the Equal Suffrage +Association a resolution for an amendment to the State constitution to +strike out the word "male" in the suffrage section was introduced. In +the Senate it was buried in committee. In the House it received a vote +of 49 ayes, 33 noes—a two-thirds majority being necessary. Later it +was reconsidered and passed by a vote of 52 to 32. This vote was also +reconsidered and the amendment laid on the table.</p> + +<p>1907. Municipal suffrage bill was defeated by the Senate.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span></p> + +<p>1911. A similar measure was reported favorably out of committees but +lost in the Lower House by 41 ayes, 48 noes, and no action was taken +by the Senate.</p> + +<p>1913. A resolution to submit a woman suffrage amendment was held up in +committees. The Senate passed a School suffrage bill by 27 ayes, 10 +noes, but there was no action in the House.</p> + +<p>1915. A Presidential suffrage bill passed in the Senate by 37 ayes, 3 +noes, was held up in the House.</p> + +<p>1917. This year will long be remembered by suffrage workers as one of +triumphs and defeats. The legislative session was a continued triumph +and showed that public opinion was in favor of granting political +rights to women. A great help was the agitation for a new +constitution. The present constitution was adopted in 1851. An early +court decision that an amendment in order to carry must have a +majority of all the votes cast at the election made amending it a +practical impossibility and for a long time there had been a +widespread demand for a new one for the sake of many needed reforms. +The suffragists joined the agitation for it, as this seemed the only +way to get the vote by State action.</p> + +<p>The General Assembly of 1917 was carefully selected to pass the +Prohibition Amendment and was known to be favorable to the calling of +a constitutional convention. While the suffragists placed their hope +in a new constitution yet in order to leave no means untried the +Legislative Council of Women was formed at the suggestion of Mrs. +Grace Julian Clarke, composed of representatives of eight or ten State +organizations, of which the Women's Franchise League was one. Mrs. +Felix T. McWhirter was made president and it was decided to present a +Presidential and Municipal suffrage bill similar to the one passed by +the Illinois Legislature in 1913 and sustained by the courts.</p> + +<p>The Council had quarters in the State House granted by the Governor; +the Women's Franchise League immediately established a bureau there by +his consent with Mrs. John F. Barnhill and Miss Alma Sickler in charge +and all the women labored diligently for the success of the measure. +The work over the State was necessarily done largely by the Franchise +League, as it had the local societies necessary. The Council secured +the aid of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> Mrs. Catharine Waugh McCulloch, a lawyer of Chicago, who +had been closely identified with the Illinois law. For the first time +in the history of Indiana's struggle for equal suffrage there was +active opposition by women. Nineteen, all of Indianapolis, appealed to +the Senate Committee on Rights and Privileges, which had the bill in +charge, for a hearing in order to protest.<a name="FNanchor_48_48" id="FNanchor_48_48"></a><a href="#Footnote_48_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a> This was granted but it +resulted in an enthusiastic suffrage meeting. The "nineteen," who +asserted that they spoke for 90 per cent. of unorganized women in +Indiana, were represented by Mrs. Lucius B. Swift, Miss Minnie +Bronson, secretary of the National Anti-Suffrage Association, and +Charles McLean of Iowa, who was in its employ. Mrs. McCulloch, +Meredith Nicholson, Mrs. Edward Franklin White, now president of the +Council, former Mayor Charles A. Bookwalter and a number of others +spoke for the bill.</p> + +<p>The calendar of suffrage events in the Legislature of 1917 was as +follows: On January 23 the bill for a constitutional convention passed +the House by 87 ayes, 10 noes; on the 31st it passed the Senate by 34 +ayes, 14 noes, and on February 1 was signed by Governor James P. +Goodrich. On February 8 the Presidential-Municipal suffrage bill +passed the Senate by 32 ayes, 16 noes. It also provided that women +could vote for delegates to the constitutional convention, were +eligible to election as delegates and could vote on the adoption of +the proposed new constitution. On the 22nd it passed the House by 67 +ayes, 24 noes, and was signed by the Governor. The Legislature also +voted to submit a full suffrage amendment to the electors.</p> + +<p>Although it was early apparent that these laws would be carried into +the courts preparations were at once made by the women for +registering. The Franchise League opened booths in the shopping +districts in the cities and urged the women in the country to go to +the court house and register when in town. They sent out women +notaries with blanks to register the women.<a name="FNanchor_49_49" id="FNanchor_49_49"></a><a href="#Footnote_49_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> In Vigo county, of +which Terre Haute is the county seat, 12,000 registered, more than the +average number of men who usually voted at elections. In all parts of +the State the registration of women was very large and the women were +studying political questions and showing much interest in their new +duties.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the action of the Legislature was taken into the courts. On +June 25 Judge W. W. Thornton of the Marion County (Indianapolis) +Superior Court gave a decision that the Legislature had no authority +to call for an election of delegates to a constitutional convention +and no right to grant to women the privilege of voting for such +delegates or any constitution which might be submitted to the voters. +The case was at once appealed to the State Supreme Court, which on +July 13 sustained the decision. Chief Justice Erwin wrote the opinion +and Justices Spencer, Harvey and Myers concurred. Justice M. B. Lairy +filed a dissenting opinion. There was a wide difference of opinion +among the lawyers of the State.</p> + +<p>This decision did not affect the limited suffrage law, which gave +women the right to vote for (1) Presidential electors; (2) all State +officers not expressly named in the constitution, including Attorney +General and Judges of the Appellate, Superior, Criminal, Probate and +Juvenile Courts; (3) all city, township and county officers not named +in the constitution. The law was referred to as nine-tenths suffrage.</p> + +<p>Action was brought in the Superior Court of Marion county for a +decision on this law. The Court gave an adverse decision but it +embraced definitely only the Municipal suffrage. On October 26 the +Supreme Court upheld this decision concerning Municipal suffrage and +implied that the entire Act was invalid. The counsel for the +suffragists, including some of the foremost lawyers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> in the State, +with Eli Stansbury, Attorney General, and Mrs. McCulloch, presented +masterly arguments. The decision of the Supreme Court was condemned by +many besides the suffragists. The hearing was not held before a full +bench and the decision was not unanimous, Judge Lawson J. Harvey +handing down a dissenting opinion, so that two men virtually decided +this momentous question.</p> + +<p>By Jan. 1, 1919 the Federal Suffrage Amendment had passed the Lower +House of Congress and was pending in the Senate and the first act of +this year's Legislature, convened in joint session before either House +had organized, was to adopt a resolution with but one opposing vote +calling on the U. S. Senate to submit the amendment, which was signed +by the Governor and forwarded to Washington.</p> + +<p>There still remained from the legislation of 1917 the amendment to the +State constitution, which in order to be submitted to the voters had +to be passed also by the Assembly of 1919. The result of the election +of 1918 in the State had been an overwhelmingly Republican victory. +Since the party had the Governor and a majority of both branches of +the Assembly, it wished to put through a program of legislation that +called for amending the constitution and the leaders requested the +women to withdraw the suffrage amendment, as while one was pending +another could not be introduced. Feeling that withdrawal with a +friendly majority was better than defeat and enmity, the board of the +Franchise League consented. One of the rewards for this sacrifice, +which meant a delay of two years in presenting a State amendment to +the voters, was the Presidential suffrage bill, which passed on +February 6 with six dissenting votes out of a membership of 150. Three +of these were in the Senate, Erskine of Evansville, Haggerty of South +Bend and Kline of Huntington; three in the House, Sambor, Bidaman and +O'Neal, the last two from Terre Haute, Sambor from Indiana Harbor. The +vote to submit an amendment was unanimous in both Houses.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> When the U. S. Senate finally voted on June 4 to submit +the Federal Suffrage Amendment the Legislature of 1919 had adjourned. +The question of ratification was of course uppermost in the minds of +the leaders of the Franchise<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> League and there would be no regular +session until 1921. Governor Goodrich came to the rescue by promising +to call a special session, probably in August or September of the +present year, and sent out an invitation to other Governors of States +similarly situated to join him in securing enough special sessions to +ratify the amendment at an early date. The Governor of Indiana has +power to call a special session but can not restrict its action. Owing +to internal affairs of the State which developed the Governor +postponed indefinitely calling the session, assuring the suffragists, +however, that it should be held in time for them to vote at the +general election of 1920. Finally after repeated importunities he +announced on December 30 that he would call the special session for +Jan. 15, 1920, if a two-thirds majority of the Legislature would agree +to consider only ratification.</p> + +<p>Although both political parties had declared in favor of ratifying the +amendment yet the women were expected to secure these pledges and it +was no small task but it seemed to be the only way. The suffragists +looked to the Franchise League for action and it assumed the burden. +Miss Helen Benbridge, its efficient president, soon made the +politicians see the wisdom of a special session. Under her skillful +management letters from the Governor were sent immediately to all the +legislators enclosing this agreement: "I hereby pledge myself to +attend a special session of the General Assembly limited to the +ratification of the Federal Suffrage Amendment and to vote for +adjournment immediately afterwards."</p> + +<p>The Franchise League opened headquarters in Indianapolis and every +pressure, political and other kinds, was brought to bear on the +members and answers began to come in as early as January 4. It +certainly was a surprise to the politicians when on the afternoon of +January 13 Miss Benbridge was able to take to Governor Goodrich signed +pledges from 35 Senators and 67 Representatives, a two-thirds majority +in each House. The Governor at once issued a call for a special +session on January 16, allowing two days for members to reach +Indianapolis. That so many legislators were willing to lay aside party +prejudice and meet for a non-partisan purpose speaks volumes for the +personnel of the General Assembly of 1919. Recognition is due<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> +especially to the Democratic members, as the Republicans were obeying +the call of their chief but the Democrats, on the summons of a +Republican Governor, laid aside their convictions and acted solely in +the interest of the women of their State.</p> + +<p>The Assembly convened at 10 a. m. on Jan. 16, 1920, and more than a +hundred suffrage workers from all parts of the State were present to +see the fruition of their hopes. Miss Benbridge, president, and Mrs. +Edwards, past president of the league, sat on the rostrum in the +Senate Chamber beside Lieutenant Governor Edgar D. Bush, and in the +House beside Speaker Jesse Eschbach, while the vote was being taken. +The Senators enjoyed what was termed "the last wail" of the three +anti-suffragists who voted no—Kline, Haggerty and Franklin McCray of +Indianapolis. Forty-three votes were cast in favor. The resolution was +then taken to the House, which had organized and was waiting, and, +after suspension of the rules so that the three necessary readings +might be had in one day, it was passed by the unanimous vote of the 93 +members present. It was signed at once by the presiding officers and +at half past four of the same afternoon by Governor Goodrich, who +wished in this way to show his agreement, though his signature was not +legally necessary. Mrs. Goodrich, Miss Benbridge, many officers of the +Franchise League and other interested suffragists witnessed the +signing. With this act the long struggle for political rights for +women which began in Indiana in the middle of the nineteenth century +was finished.</p> + +<p>A large and enthusiastic meeting of the board of the Franchise League +was then held and there was general congratulation. Miss Benbridge, +who presided, said: "The work that assured the special session and the +result achieved was done, not by the little group of women in the +Indianapolis headquarters, although their work was well done, but by +the women over the State. Much credit for the success belongs to the +Franchise League members everywhere, who have won the sentiment of +their localities for woman suffrage."</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_45_45" id="Footnote_45_45"></a><a href="#FNanchor_45_45"><span class="label">[45]</span></a> The History is indebted for this part of the chapter to +Mrs. Anna Dunn Noland, president of the Stale Equal Suffrage +Association.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_46_46" id="Footnote_46_46"></a><a href="#FNanchor_46_46"><span class="label">[46]</span></a> The History is indebted for this part of the chapter to +Mrs. Lenore Hanna Cox, an officer of the Woman's Franchise League from +its beginning in 1911 until its work was finished in 1920.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_47_47" id="Footnote_47_47"></a><a href="#FNanchor_47_47"><span class="label">[47]</span></a> From 1912-1919 the following women served as vice +presidents, some for several terms: Mrs. Meredith Nicholson, Mrs. +Felix T. McWhirter, Mrs. Ovid B. Jameson, Mrs. John F. Barnhill, Mrs. +Julia Fried Walker, Mrs. Isaac Born, all of Indianapolis; Mrs. Lenore +Hanna Cox, Mrs. C. M. Curry, Miss Helen Benbridge, Mrs. Leon Stern, of +Terre Haute; Mrs. Fred McCulloch, Mrs. Olaf Guldlin, of Fort Wayne; +Mrs. Horace Stilwell, Anderson; Mrs. R. M. Johnson, Franklin; Mrs. A. +D. Moffett, Elwood; Miss Adah E. Bush, Kentland; Mrs. A. H. Beardsley, +Elkhart; Mrs. Charles J. Gill, Muncie; Mrs. Chester Evans, +Bloomington; Miss Betsy Jewett Edwards, Shelbyville. +</p><p> +Mrs. Julia C. Henderson, secretary from 1912 to 1917, was succeeded by +Miss Dora Bosart, both of Indianapolis; Mrs. John C. Morrison of +Lafayette, and Mrs. Richard E. Edwards, of Peru. +</p><p> +Miss Harriet Noble, the first treasurer, was succeeded by Misses +Eldena and Sara Lauter, both of Indianapolis; Miss Adah E. Bush; Mrs. +Mindwell Crampton Wilson, Delphi; Mrs. Charles J. Gill.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_48_48" id="Footnote_48_48"></a><a href="#FNanchor_48_48"><span class="label">[48]</span></a> Mesdames Lucius B. Swift, William Watson Woollen, George +C. Hitt, L. H. Levey, S. A. Fletcher, Harry Murphy, Edward Daniels, +Samuel Reid, H. H. Harrison, William H. H. Miller, S. B. Sutphin, F. +G. Darlington, Philamon A. Watson, Henry Scott Fraser, E. C. Atkins, +A. Bennett Gates, Evans Woollen; Misses Caroline Harrison Howland and +Josephine Hershall.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_49_49" id="Footnote_49_49"></a><a href="#FNanchor_49_49"><span class="label">[49]</span></a> Issued by the Campaign Organization Committee of the +Woman's Franchise League and circulated by the thousands. +</p><p> +This is a Statewide campaign drive, so do your part by fully carrying +out the following program: 1. On Saturday June 30, an auto tour must +be made in each county. Start these tours in every town where there is +an organized league and proceed through the county, distributing +flyers, posting bills and making ten minute speeches in every town and +village. 2. Sunday, July 1, is Woman Citizen's Sunday throughout the +State. Ask that forceful appeal be made from all pulpits urging every +woman to recognize and discharge her new citizenship duty. The clergy +of all denominations feel the importance of this step—you will find +them ready and willing to cooperate. 3. Push registration of women +during the week of July 4 as a patriotic measure. Secure favorable +mention of woman suffrage in all speeches. 4. Close the week's +campaign by a mass meeting of all local women's organizations, +including clubs, lodges and church societies. 5. Secure all the +newspaper space possible for this patriotic week. Publish this entire +program and report its progress daily to your local papers....</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>IOWA.<a name="FNanchor_50_50" id="FNanchor_50_50"></a><a href="#Footnote_50_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a></h3> + + +<p>The Iowa Equal Suffrage Association was still conducting in 1901 the +campaign of education begun when it was organized in 1870, as fully +described in Volume IV of the History of Woman Suffrage. It seemed at +times a deadly dull process and there rose bolder spirits occasionally +who suggested more vigorous and spectacular means of bringing the +cause to the attention of the general public and of focusing the +suffrage sentiment, which evidently existed, on the members of the +Legislatures and putting them into a more genial attitude toward +submitting a State constitutional amendment, which seemed in those +years the only method of attaining the longed-for goal. Women, +however, are conservative and the Iowa laws on the whole were not +oppressive enough to stir the average woman to active propaganda for a +share in making and administering them. Therefore the association +proceeded along the beaten path—by way of education, aided by social +and economic evolution, from which not even the most non-progressive +woman can protect herself, much less protect her daughters. The +association never missed an annual meeting and the women elected each +year to carry on its work were those who knew that the cause might be +delayed but could not be permanently defeated.</p> + +<p>The convention of 1901 was held in November at Waterloo and Mrs. +Adelaide Ballard was elected president, having previously served two +terms. The conventions of 1902, 1903 and 1904 took place in October in +Des Moines, Boone and Sheldon, and Mrs. Mary J. Coggeshall was each +year elected president, having held the office two years at earlier +dates. The annual meeting of 1905 was held in November at Panora; that +of 1906<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> in September at Ida Grove, and Bertha A. Wilcox was each year +elected president.</p> + +<p>The conventions of 1907 and 1908 took place in October at Des Moines +and Boone and the Rev. Eleanor E. Gordon was at each elected +president. Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, president of the National American +Woman Suffrage Association, who was present at the Boone convention, +had just returned from England and was accompanied by two young +English women who had campaigned for suffrage there and who took part +in the convention. She had marched in a parade in London and was very +desirous that parades should be held here. After much urging from her +and the president, and with great trepidation and many misgivings on +the part of the members, a procession was formed and marched through +the principal streets on October 29. The Boone <i>Daily News</i> said: "The +members of the Equal Suffrage Association in convention, scores of the +local women interested in the movement and the Woman's Christian +Temperance Union united in a monster parade through the main streets. +The Wilder-Yeoman Band led with the Rev. Eleanor Gordon, president, +Mrs. Coggeshall, honorary president, Mrs. Julia Clark Hallam, Dr. Shaw +of Philadelphia and the Misses Rendell and Costelloe of London next in +the procession. From every viewpoint it was a success." This was the +first or one of the first suffrage parades to be held in the United +States and it required much courage to take part in it. The crowd +which lined the sidewalks was most respectful and when Dr. Shaw and +the English visitors spoke from an automobile there was enthusiastic +response.</p> + +<p>In 1909 at the State convention held in Des Moines Mrs. Hallam was +made president. In 1910, at the convention in Corydon, Mrs. Harriet B. +Evans was elected to this position. The report of the corresponding +secretary, Mrs. Lona I. Robinson, was similar to those that had been +made in many preceding years and that continued to be made for several +following years. It showed that hundreds of letters were sent to the +officers of local clubs, asking them to interview the candidates for +the Legislature on their attitude towards woman suffrage; to sign the +petitions to Congress for a Federal Amendment, which were sent to +them; to strengthen their organization; to increase their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> propaganda +work, for which quantities of literature were furnished. The report +showed the activities of the State officers, meetings arranged, +addresses made and legislative work done.</p> + +<p>At the annual meeting in October, 1911, at Perry, the Rev. Mary A. +Safford became president. This year the <i>Woman's Standard</i>, a monthly +newspaper published since 1886 by the association, was discontinued, +as there was an ever-increasing opportunity for suffrage news and +arguments in the newspapers of the State. On Dec. 22, 1911, Mrs. +Coggeshall, who had been the inspiration and leader of the State +suffrage work since its beginning and part of the time an officer of +the National Suffrage Association, passed away. She was the link +between those who began the movement and those who finished it. +Whatever the later workers in Iowa had done had been as a candle flame +lighted from the torch of her faith and devotion. She was a friend of +Susan B. Anthony, of Lucy Stone and of many of the other veterans. Her +delightful home was open to every suffragist of high or low +degree—there were no degrees to her if a woman was a suffragist. She +showed her faith in the cause not only by her gifts, her hospitality +and her unceasing activity during her life but also by bequests of +$5,000 to the State association and $10,000 to the National +Association. The former was used, as she would have wished it to be, +in the amendment campaign of 1916 and the National Association +returned a large part of its bequest for use at this time.</p> + +<p>In October, 1912, the convention was held in Des Moines and the Rev. +Miss Safford was re-elected president. By this time new methods of +propaganda were being used. During the State Fair the City Council of +Suffrage Clubs in Des Moines arranged for the photoplay Votes for +Women to be shown in a river front park near a band stand where +nightly concerts were given and literally thousands of people had +their first education in suffrage through the speeches made there.</p> + +<p>The State convention met in October, 1913, in Boone and Miss Flora +Dunlap was made president. An automobile trip crossing the State +twice, with open air meetings in thirty towns, had been undertaken in +September. Governor George W. Clark and Harvey Ingham, editor of the +Des Moines <i>Register</i>, a long time supporter<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> of woman suffrage, spoke +at the first meeting and other prominent men, officials, editors and +clergymen, joined the party for one or more days. Two reporters from +Des Moines newspapers went with it and there was excellent publicity. +Mrs. P. J. Mills of Des Moines managed the trip and accompanied the +party with her car, Miss Evangeline Prouty, daughter of an Iowa member +of Congress, acting as chauffeur. Miss Dunlap also made the entire two +weeks' journey, while other workers joined for briefer periods. J. R. +Hanna, Mayor of Des Moines, wrote the Mayors of all towns in which +meetings were scheduled asking the courtesies of the city for the +party, and this, with the Governor's opening speech, gave a helpful +official sanction.</p> + +<p>The annual meeting took place in October, 1914, at Des Moines and Miss +Dunlap was re-elected president. In March the Mississippi Valley +Conference, with many interesting delegates, had been held in that +city and made a very favorable impression. Miss Jane Addams and Mrs. +Harriet Taylor Upton, president of the Ohio Suffrage Association, had +spoken at a Sunday afternoon mass meeting in the largest theater. When +the convention met at Des Moines in October, 1915, a woman suffrage +amendment to the State constitution had at last been submitted by the +Legislature to be passed upon by the voters in June, 1916. Miss Dunlap +was again re-elected and arrangements were perfected for continuing +the vigorous campaign already under way. By the time the association +held its convention at Waterloo in September, 1916, the amendment had +been defeated but nevertheless the meeting was large and enthusiastic. +Miss Anna B. Lawther was elected president and arrangements were made +for securing as soon as possible the re-submission of the amendment.</p> + +<p>The convention of 1917 met in October at Des Moines and Miss Lawther +was re-elected. The country was now in the midst of war, and, like +patriotic women everywhere, Iowa suffragists turned all their +attention to helping win it. Miss Lawther served on a special +committee appointed by the Governor to organize the women of the State +for war activities. Every woman on the suffrage board filled an +important position in the various State war organizations and every +county chairman and local member was active in the work of her +community. The women worked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> long, full days for the war and far into +the night for suffrage.</p> + +<p>When the State convention met at Cedar Rapids in September, 1918, the +women were still immersed in war work. Meanwhile the Lower House of +Congress had voted to submit the Federal Woman Suffrage Amendment and +for some months the efforts of the association had been centered on +this amendment. It had secured pledges from all the Iowa +representatives in Congress to vote for it except Harry E. Hull, who +voted against it. In June a "suffrage school" had been held in Penn +College, Oskaloosa, for the express purpose of educating women in the +need of this amendment and the necessity of educating State +legislators to the point where it would be ratified as soon as it was +submitted. Miss Lawther was again re-elected but resigned the next +June and Mrs. James E. Devitt, the vice-president, filled the office.</p> + +<p>In 1919 the association was in the thick of the struggle to obtain +from the Legislature Primary and Presidential suffrage. The former was +defeated; the latter passed both houses in April. The Federal +Amendment was ratified by the Legislature July 2.</p> + +<p>The work of the Equal Suffrage Association seemed finished. The half +century of agitation, education and evolution was completed. The 48th +and last annual convention was held Oct. 2, 1919, in Boone, which had +been its hostess many times, and the association was happily dissolved +by unanimous vote. The State League of Women Voters was at once +organized with Miss Flora Dunlap, chairman, and the old workers faced +the new task of making political suffrage for women the privilege and +blessing they always had believed it would prove to be.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action.</span> A resolution to submit to the voters a woman +suffrage amendment to the State constitution was introduced in every +General Assembly beginning with 1870. In the early years petitions +were sent, the number of signatures rising from 8,000 in 1884 to +100,000 in 1900, but after that time they were almost entirely given +up, as they had no effect. The resolution was introduced according to +custom in the Legislature of 1902. Also according to custom, not +always so carefully observed, the Senate passed the resolution by 28 +to 16, this being the Senate's year for this courtesy, and the House +accepted the report recommending indefinite postponement.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span></p> + +<p>In 1904 the resolution was defeated in the House and did not emerge +from the Senate committee. In 1906 this program was repeated. The +meeting of the Legislature was now changed to the odd years and in +1907 the above program was reversed. After this year the members +omitted even the customary graciousness of an understanding that one +body would pass it and the other kill it, thus keeping the women +friendly and dividing the responsibility for the defeat, and both +Houses in 1909 rejected it.</p> + +<p>In 1911 the Senate treated the resolution in a most contemptuous +manner by voting to strike out the enacting clause and then passing +it. This was the last time it was defeated. The tide was changing and +even the most confirmed opponents knew that it was a rising and not a +falling tide. Fortunately most of the active workers who sat through +that humiliating experience lived to see the men who were responsible +for it either retired entirely from public life or so changed in +sentiment as to claim a place among those who "always believed in +woman suffrage."</p> + +<p>The neighboring State of Kansas fully enfranchised its women in 1912, +as did several other western States, and favorable pressure was +growing very strong. In 1913 the resolution to submit the amendment +passed in the House on February 20 by a vote of 81 to 26 and in the +Senate on March 7 by a vote of 31 to 15. The deadlock was broken and +every suffragist rejoiced.</p> + +<p>The resolution had to pass two Legislatures and in July, 1914, the +Republican State convention strongly urged the next one to pass it. In +1915 this was done, by the Senate on February 12 by a vote of 38 to +11, and by the House on the 23rd by one of 84 to 19. The date for the +referendum to the voters was set at the time of the primary elections, +June 5, 1916, over three years from the time the resolution was first +passed. After forty-five years thus far had the workers for woman +suffrage arrived.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>The activities of the State association were at once turned to the +education of the voters. It had been long thought by both State and +national leaders that if the amendment could be brought before them +they would give a large majority for it. Probably no State ever went +into a campaign under more favorable auspices and until the last few +weeks it seemed that victory was certain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> and the women had learned +that it was not entirely a State matter but one of national interest. +The national president, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, gave six weeks of +time to the campaign and liberal contributions of money, as she +considered Iowa her State, having spent a large part of her life +there. The honorary president, Dr. Shaw, other national officers, +State presidents and men and women suffragists from many other States +rendered valuable help in time, money and service of all sorts. Large +numbers of Iowa women who had never helped before now did effective +work. The long-time suffragists devoted themselves wholly to the +campaign. Many Iowa men gave great assistance. A Men's League for +Woman Suffrage, John H. Denison, president, was organized with +headquarters at Des Moines and branches in all the large cities, forty +altogether. These leagues not only assisted with counsel but raised +funds, placed speakers and helped get out the vote. O. G. Geyer was +the executive secretary and the State offices of the League adjoined +those of the State Suffrage Association. There were the closest +cooperation and the greatest harmony in the work of the two +organizations. An unusually well-conducted press campaign was carried +on with Mrs. Rose Lawless Geyer at the head of the press department +and she and Miss Alice B. Curtis, executive secretary, gave long hours +and invaluable service to the campaign. Five-sixths of the newspapers +not only used plate matter and a weekly press letter but supported the +cause editorially and some of them refused the paid advertising of the +"antis."</p> + +<p>Dr. Effie McCollum Jones was finance secretary; Miss Mabel Lodge was +the first organizer in the field and there is a long list of men and +women whose names deserve mention for the abundant time and unstinted +devotion they gave to the campaign. In some of the counties along the +Mississippi River, where the situation was the most difficult, were +strong groups of men and women workers. Miss Anna B. Lawther of +Dubuque headed one of the most active and the record of the river +counties would have been even blacker than it was but for the +herculean work that they did. In Keokuk, the most southern city on the +river, this was so effective that it alone was a white spot in the +long, black line when the election returns came in. Each of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> +eleven Congressional districts had an organizer in charge from January +until election day. In every one of the ninety counties there was +organization. Nine-tenths of them opened headquarters from one to +three months before the end of the campaign and 2,000 precinct workers +were enrolled. The whole State was covered by auto-trips in the last +month. Approximately 5,000,000 pieces of literature were distributed, +much of it especially printed to meet local needs and the false +statements circulated by the opposition. One cent postage for one +circularization of the voters of Iowa cost $5,000.</p> + +<p>As suffragists throughout the nation gave their help, so the opponents +outside the State tried to defeat the amendment. The women's National +Association Opposed to the Further Extension of Suffrage sent a number +of its paid workers and a considerable sum of money into the State. +There was a small anti-suffrage organization in Iowa during the +campaign affiliated with this national association, with branches in +Des Moines, Davenport, Clinton, Sioux City and a few other places. +Mrs. Simon Casady of Des Moines was State president. John P. Irish, a +former resident, came from California under its auspices to work +against the amendment but the press department widely circulated his +favorable declarations for woman suffrage in early years and reprinted +his editorials written during the Civil War, in which his disloyalty +to Lincoln and to the Union was shown. He was much disturbed by this +publicity concerning his past and soon left the State. The women's +anti-suffrage association did no particular harm but the forces of +evil with which it was allied did great damage and in the end defeated +the amendment. Iowa women had believed that their men were free from +entanglements with these forces but they learned that no State line +bars out the elements which work against democracy and the influence +of women in government.</p> + +<p>In spite of these opposing forces the amendment would have won but for +political complications which arose during the last few weeks of the +campaign. It became necessary for the Republican party to sacrifice +woman suffrage to its "wet" candidate for Governor, as it felt sure +that he could not be elected in November<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> if the vote should be given +to women in June. A prominent supporter said openly: "We had to do it +in self-defense."</p> + +<p>The special election and the primary election were held on June 5, +1916, and after several days of waiting the final returns showed that +the amendment was defeated—ayes, 162,683; noes, 173,024—lost by +10,341 votes.</p> + +<p>The adverse vote was almost entirely in the counties along the +Mississippi River. They were in revolt against the State prohibition +law and there was constant evasion of it and agitation for its repeal. +Naturally those opposed to prohibition were also opposed to woman +suffrage. The vote in these counties was large enough to overcome the +vote in the central and western counties where the sentiment was +generally "dry." Des Moines, the capital and largest city in the +State, voted in favor; Sioux City, the second largest, recorded a +small adverse vote; Council Bluffs on the western border returned a +favorable majority; Keokuk on the river in the southeastern corner of +the State was carried, but all the other cities on the eastern border +voted "wet." The river counties of Dubuque, Scott and Clinton gave +9,383 of the 10,341 adverse majority. They were the stronghold for the +commercial liquor interests of the State. The Republican candidate for +Governor received a majority of 126,754 and this party could easily +have carried the amendment.</p> + +<p>It was evident that there were many irregularities in the election and +the board of the State Suffrage Association conferred with competent +attorneys but after much consultation it was decided that it would not +be practical to contest it. The defeat of the amendment was a serious +disappointment to the temperance forces and the Woman's Christian +Temperance Union determined to have the returns canvassed and if +possible discover the cause. The election proceedings and officials +returns were investigated in 44 counties and the report in affidavit +form consisted of 200 closely typewritten pages. The Des Moines +<i>Register</i> of Oct. 15, 1916, said of this report:</p> + +<blockquote><p>The investigation revealed several strange conditions. The +records in the Secretary of State's office disclose that there +were 29,341 more votes cast on the equal suffrage amendment than +the total cast for all candidates for Governor by all parties. +The canvass in these 44<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> counties, however, shows that there were +13,609 more names listed as voting, as shown by the poll books, +than there were suffrage ballots. Add to this the 2,289 votes +where certain precincts show more votes on the amendment than +names recorded in the poll books and altogether 15,898 more names +are found on the poll books than there were ballots cast on woman +suffrage. If this proportion is maintained in the other +fifty-five counties, there would be approximately 30,000 more +voters listed than there were votes on the amendment. The +question the investigator raises is: "Did 60,000 men go to the +polls and fail to vote a primary ballot, and did 30,000 of these +fail to vote on the amendment? Did 30,000 go to the polls and +fail to vote for anybody or anything?"</p> + +<p>The W. C. T. U. can draw but one conclusion from this condition, +namely, that they were defrauded out of their right to the +ballot.</p> + +<p>The investigators found that in the 44 counties ... 4,743 +ballots, shown to have been cast by the list of voters, are +absolutely unaccounted for.... In 15 counties it was found that +in certain precincts 2,239 more ballots were certified than there +were names on the list of voters.... In 15 counties there were +8,067 more ballots on the amendment than there were voters +checked as having voted.</p> + +<p>In 30 counties where the combination poll books were used no +voter was checked as having voted, but the certificates show that +55,107 votes were cast on the amendment. In 27 cities canvassed, +a total disregard or ignorance of the registration laws in nearly +all precincts appears and in many of these the violations are +most flagrant.</p> + +<p>The law requires that the judges and clerks of election shall +make out a certificate showing the total number of votes cast, +the number voting "yes" or "no" or "rejected." A total of 9,320 +votes in these counties are not properly certified to and the +"true return" is not signed in many instances by any of the +clerks or judges and in others not by all. In this class 27,362 +votes were affected. In six counties certificates properly signed +by the clerks and judges had been changed by a different hand and +in some cases several different precincts had been changed by the +same hand....</p></blockquote> + +<p>Many other instances were given of incompetence and dishonesty beyond +question, but, notwithstanding this positive evidence, the legal +requirements and restrictions were such as made any effort for a +recount or another election of no avail.<a name="FNanchor_51_51" id="FNanchor_51_51"></a><a href="#Footnote_51_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a></p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>A conference of the suffrage leaders was held in Des Moines the next +month after the election. Every one was sad but no one was resigned +and those who had worked the hardest and sacrificed the most were the +first to renew their pledges for further effort. It was decided that +while their forces were well<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> organized they should at once begin +another campaign. The half-century-old resolution was presented to the +General Assembly of 1917, and, though there were arguments that the +voters had just spoken and that the question ought not again be +submitted in so brief a time, the resolution passed by a vote of 35 +ayes, 13 noes in the Senate and 85 ayes, 20 noes in the House.</p> + +<p>The women continued their work for the second vote, which must be +given by the Legislature of 1919. When it convened the discovery was +made that the Secretary of State, William S. Allen, did not publish +notice of the passage of the resolution the first time, as required by +law and it had to be voted on again as if the first time. It passed +with but one dissenting voice in each House but the second vote could +not be taken till 1921.</p> + +<p>A bill for Primary suffrage passed the Lower House in 1919 by 86 ayes, +15 noes, but met with great opposition in the Senate even from men +posing as friends of woman suffrage. In a one-party State, as Iowa had +been for many years, the dominant party hardly could feel that its +supremacy would be threatened by women's votes in the primary, but, as +one speaker naďvely disclosed in the debate, the "machine" might be +thrown entirely out of gear. "Why," said he dramatically to the +listening Senate, "the Republican party would be in hopeless +confusion. Nobody could tell in advance what candidate the women might +nominate in the primary!" The bill was postponed by 31 ayes, 17 noes.</p> + +<p>The next step was to have a bill introduced to give women a vote for +Presidential electors. One of the contributing factors to its success +was the ever-increasing number of victories for similar bills in other +States, particularly the recent victory in Missouri, which had +completed the circle of "white" States surrounding Iowa. One of the +features of the debate in the Senate was the reading of a letter from +John T. Adams, vice-chairman of the National Republican Committee, +heretofore an anti-suffragist, by Senator Eugene Schaffter, the +sponsor of the bill, in which he impressed upon the Republicans the +political urgency of granting the Presidential franchise to women. +After a hard campaign by the Legislative Committee of the State +Suffrage Association, with Mrs. Frank W. Dodson of Des Moines as +chairman, the Iowa legislators joined the procession and on April 4, +1919,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> the Senate passed the bill by a vote of 38 ayes, 8 noes, the +House following on April 19 with a vote of 84 ayes, 2 noes.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> When the Federal Amendment went to the last vote in +Congress, the Iowa delegation maintained its record on each vote +that had been taken, both Senators and ten of the eleven +Representatives—all but Harry E. Hull—casting their votes in the +affirmative. Immediately Mrs. Devitt of Oskaloosa, acting president, +and Mrs. Fred B. Crowley of Des Moines, corresponding secretary of the +State association, requested Governor William L. Harding to call a +special session of the Legislature to ratify it. It met on July 2 in +special session for this sole purpose. Men and women had made their +way early to the Capitol, filling the galleries and the rear of the +chambers. The legislators, too, were apparently as happy as boys, with +a new idea of real democracy in Iowa. It seemed like a gathering of +great-hearted, honest-of-purpose men who were eager to do an act of +justice. The joyous expressions of these men, who had taken hot, dusty +rides on day trains from their farms and stores in the scorching July +weather to come and cast their votes for ratification, assured the +women of victory. It was a wonderful moment. After a joint session at +10 a. m., to hear the reading of the Governor's message, by 11:40 the +vote had been taken in both Houses. Every Senator but two was present +and was recorded in the affirmative; the vote in the House was 96 +ayes, 5 noes; E. H. Knickerbocker, Linn county; T. J. O'Donnell, +Dubuque; C. A. Quick and George A. Smith, Clinton; W. H. Vance, +Madison. Senators J. D. Buser of Conesville and D. W. Kimberly of +Davenport were absent. The former had voted against Presidential +suffrage and the latter had not voted.</p> + +<p>An informal luncheon followed in one of the Des Moines tea rooms which +had often housed the suffragists in times of desolation and it was +turned into a jollification meeting. Three former State presidents and +other women spoke and there were many present for whom the occasion +meant the fulfillment of an idea to which they had given years of +devoted service.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_50_50" id="Footnote_50_50"></a><a href="#FNanchor_50_50"><span class="label">[50]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Miss Flora +Dunlap, president of the State Equal Suffrage Association 1913-1915 +and chairman of the League of Women Voters.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_51_51" id="Footnote_51_51"></a><a href="#FNanchor_51_51"><span class="label">[51]</span></a> Space is given to this report because it is a fair +illustration of the conditions under which woman suffrage amendments +were defeated again and again in different States.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>KANSAS.<a name="FNanchor_52_52" id="FNanchor_52_52"></a><a href="#Footnote_52_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a></h3> + + +<p>Kansas was not yet a State when in 1859 twenty-five of her +justice-loving men and women met and formed the first association to +gain political freedom for women, and the liberty lighting torch +kindled then was kept aflame by organization for fifty-three years +before the women received equal political rights with the men in 1912. +A State Equal Suffrage Association was formed in 1884 and thereafter +annual conventions were held.</p> + +<p>During 1901 Miss Helen Kimber, president of the association, travelled +through fifteen counties and held twenty-five meetings. She had +obtained for the national suffrage bazaar held in New York in +December, 1900, besides many smaller donations, a car load of flour +from the Kansas Millers' Association and two hundred pounds of butter +from the Continental Creamery Company of Topeka. She was re-elected +president at the convention held in McPherson, Nov. 7, 8, and the +following year visited more than half the counties, forming +organizations where they did not already exist. The attempt made in +the Legislature through the influence of the liquor interests to +deprive women of their Municipal suffrage, possessed since 1887, +brought more of them to realize its value and at the spring election +more than ever before were elected on school boards, for which women +could vote.</p> + +<p>The convention of 1902 was held in Topeka October 14-15 and Miss +Kimber was re-elected; Mrs. John B. Sims, secretary. Several thousand +people listened to the inspiring addresses of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> Mrs. Carrie Chapman +Catt, president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, +and the senior editor of the <i>Woman's Journal</i>, Henry B. Blackwell. +Headquarters were established in Topeka. Petitions for Presidential +suffrage with about 32,000 signatures had been secured to be presented +to the Legislature of 1903. There was an increased vote of women at +the spring election and forty-two were elected as county officers, for +whom only men could vote.</p> + +<p>The State convention of 1903 was held in Abilene December 8-9 and Miss +Kimber was again re-elected. She reported suffrage meetings conducted +at the Winfield, Beloit and Lincoln Chautauquas. Mrs. Mary C. C. +Bradford of Colorado was the outside speaker and afterwards spoke in +four of the principal cities. Mrs. Sadie P. Grisham of Cottonwood +Falls was elected president at the convention held in Topeka Nov. 9, +10, 1904. The increase of membership of nearly a thousand was largely +accredited to the efforts of Mrs. Alice Moyer, State organizer. +Presidential suffrage was again adopted for the year's work. The +suffrage departments were maintained at the Chautauqua meetings and +literature and letters were sent to every member of the incoming +Legislature. The convention of 1905 was held in Topeka October 20-21. +Mrs. Grisham refused a second term and Mrs. Roxana E. Rice of Lawrence +was elected president. On Oct. 14, 1906, the convention met in Topeka +and Mrs. Rice was re-elected and with others of her board represented +Kansas at the national convention in Chicago the next February.</p> + +<p>The annual meeting of 1907 was again held in Topeka on November 14 and +a report from the national convention was given by the vice-president, +Mrs. Lilla Day Monroe, but all propositions and resolutions offered by +the mother organization were either rejected or referred to a +committee and at the conclusion of Mrs. Monroe's report she moved that +"the Kansas Equal Suffrage Association withdraw from the National." +After discussion to the effect that it could do more effective work +alone the motion was carried. Mrs. Monroe was elected president, Mrs. +J. D. McFarland first and Mrs. Rice second vice-president. The +treasurer reported $260 in the treasury and was instructed to pay $25 +to the Susan B. Anthony memorial fund. The board<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> decided to publish +the <i>Club Member</i>, devoted to women's activities.</p> + +<p>The convention of 1908 met October 30-31 in Topeka, the Good +Government Club and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of that +city uniting with the association in an evening program. Mrs. A. H. +Horton was elected president, Mrs. Monroe first and Mrs. Margaret Hill +McCarter second vice-president. The fact was evident that there had +been no organization work and little activity throughout the State for +several years, and, as there was now no connection with the National +Association, interest was awakened only at biennial periods by the +convening of the Legislature.</p> + +<p>At the convention of 1909 in Topeka, December 10, 11, T. A. McNeal of +this city, former member of the Legislature, principal speaker at the +evening meeting, chided the women and declared that the little advance +made along suffrage lines of recent years was not because of men's +lack of interest but on account of women's indifference. Mrs. +Catharine A. Hoffman was elected president; Mrs. R. V. Chambers first +and Mrs. McCarter second vice-president; Mrs. E. E. Raudebush, +secretary; Mrs. Emma Sells Marshall, treasurer; Mrs. McFarland and +Mrs. Rice, auditors. The president appointed an advisory board of +fifteen men and women and named Mrs. Genevieve Howland Chalkley State +organizer. The press was used to advantage and good speakers from +Kansas and neighboring States helped to make woman suffrage a more +popular subject. A number of meetings of a semi-social nature were +held in the capital city before the Legislature met. One, "a Kansas +equal suffrage banquet," followed a business meeting of the +association, Jan. 28, 1910, at Hotel Throop. About one hundred guests +were present, Governor W. R. Stubbs and wife and former Governor W. E. +Hoch and wife having seats of honor. Mrs. Hoffman was toastmistress +and about twenty men and women responded to toasts.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hoffman's policy was to make a strong appeal to the next +Legislature for the submission of a full suffrage amendment to the +voters. On Dec. 9, 1910, she called her officers and a number of well +known workers to a conference in Topeka and a plan of action was +outlined. A room in the State Historical<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> Department, which through +the courtesy of Geo. W. Martin had been used as legislative +headquarters in other years, was again retained with Mrs. Monroe as +superintendent. Mrs. William A. Johnston, Mrs. Stubbs and Mrs. C. C. +Goddard were appointed a legislative committee. Governor Stubbs had +been re-elected in November, 1910, and in his message to the +Legislature in January he strongly advised the submission. Then the +battle royal for votes opened. The resolution was introduced early in +January. Every legislator was asked by each member of the committee to +vote for it; many of the members' wives were in Topeka and teas, +dinners and receptions became popular, at which the "assisting ladies" +were asked to keep the subject of woman suffrage to the front and in +this way many men and women were interested and educated.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hoffman was a conservative but diligent worker and among her able +assistants were a number of men and women from the colleges and +universities. Mrs. Lillian Mitchner, president of the State W. C. T. +U., was a constant helper. The names of all the valiant workers would +be those of hundreds of Topeka people and hundreds more out in the +"home districts," who used their influence with the legislators, and +those of wives of Senators and Representatives who influenced their +husbands' votes. The State House headquarters was a busy place and a +large amount of work was done there. The amendment resolution was +passed by the votes of the men but it could not have been done without +the careful, well planned work of the women. It was adopted by a large +majority in both Houses and signed by Governor Stubbs Feb. 12, 1911.</p> + +<p>The State convention met in Representative Hall, Topeka, May 16, 1911. +Kansas women were now for the third time entering a campaign for +political liberty, which made the meeting one of unusual interest. +Mrs. Hoffman could not serve longer and the following officers were +elected: Mrs. Johnston, president; Mrs. Stubbs first and Mrs. Cora W. +Bullard second vice-president; Miss Gertrude Reed, corresponding +secretary; Miss Helen N. Eacker, recording secretary; Mrs. S. A. +Thurston, treasurer; Mrs. William Allen White, auditor; district +presidents, Mrs. Bullard, Mrs. Chalkley, Mrs. P. H. Albright, Mrs. L. +C.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> Wooster, Mrs. Matie Toothaker Kimball, Mrs. Anna C. Waite, Mrs. W. +Y. Morgan, Mrs. Nannie Garrett. An enthusiastic mass meeting was held +in the evening, the speakers, Chief Justice William A. Johnston; John +McDonald, former Superintendent of Public Instruction; George W. +Martin, secretary of the State Historical Society; David Leahy, +secretary to the Governor, and Mrs. Mitchner; Mrs. Hoffman presiding. +The next day a joint meeting of the old and new officers was held. The +treasurer reported $37.50 received as membership fees, and $100, a +gift from Mrs. Catt. This was a small sum to begin a campaign for +about 500,000 votes, but all hearts were filled with courage. Later +three district presidents resigned and Mrs. Minnie J. Brinstead, Mrs. +H. Wirick and Mrs. M. B. Munson were appointed; also Mrs. Hoffman, +chairman of press; Dr. Alberta Corbin, of membership extension, and +Miss Effie Graham of education.</p> + +<p>These eighteen women constituted a board of management. At its meeting +July 10 a program was submitted by the president of the association +for the complete organization of the State. Organization, education +and publicity were the watchwords adopted. The need of money was so +pressing that the board made personal pledges of from $25 to $200, +which in many instances were more than doubled before the vote was +taken. This act of self-denial and consecration gave strength and +courage to go to others, for worthy as was the cause money would not +come without asking. The big public is much like the Lord, who helps +those who help themselves. The half-million voters to obtain and +almost as many women living in 105 counties to educate meant work as +well as faith.</p> + +<p>The hottest summer and the coldest, stormiest winter followed and the +workers learned what it meant to travel across country with the +mercury ranging from 110 in the shade to 22 degrees below zero; to +have a Turkish bath while making a "votes for women" speech or be +delayed for hours on a freight or passenger train by a snow blockade. +By January, 1912, however, one-third of the counties were organized, +many newspapers pledged to help, and headquarters established in the +best business building in Topeka. Then began a "day in and day out" +battle for votes.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> At first there was one stenographer, later three +and two secretaries, and the president broke all the maximum hour +laws. Besides the regular county and precinct organizations, college +clubs were formed and a Men's State League, with Dr. E. S. Pettyjohn +president. This league had a large and influential membership, +including the Governor, the Chief Justice and other State officers; +many prominent business men, leading ministers, lawyers, teachers, +professors and politicians. It gave the campaign prestige with the +voters and its members were invaluable as advisers and active workers.</p> + +<p>The State convention was held in Wichita, May 7-9, 1912. Greetings +were given by Mrs. W. J. Babb, the new president of the district; Mrs. +W. T. Johnston, hostess and president of the county, and Mrs. Sally +Toler, president of the City Federation of Clubs. Mrs. Mitchner +pledged the support of the W. C. T. U. and Mrs. W. D. Atkinson, +president of the State Federation of Women's Clubs, brought its +endorsement and pleaded with other State organizations to "bring in +the reserves." Telegrams and letters were read from Miss Alice Stone +Blackwell, editor of the <i>Woman's Journal</i>; Governor John F. Shafroth +of Colorado; Judge Ben Lindsey of Denver; Omar E. Garwood, secretary +of the National Men's League; Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, president of the +National Association; Mrs. Oliver H. P. Belmont of New York; J. H. +Braly of California and others. Dr. Helen Brewster Owens of Ithaca, N. +Y., field organizer, gave an interesting report of her work, which +included addressing 176 audiences and organizing five college leagues. +The first "motion" was that application be made for reinstatement in +the National Association, and it was carried unanimously. Pledges +amounting to $1,000 were given in five minutes to finance a whirlwind +campaign proposed by Mr. Braly similar to the one successfully made in +California the year before.</p> + +<p>The evening meeting was held in the Crawford Theater and many were +unable to gain admission. Mrs. Johnson presided, Mayor W. W. Winnick +gave the address of welcome and Mrs. Stubbs responded. The Rev. +Olympia Brown of Wisconsin, a pioneer suffragist, and Miss Jane Addams +of Chicago were the principal speakers. During the convention +encouraging reports<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> were made by chairmen of the three departments +and eight congressional districts and many county presidents. The +State officers were all re-elected; Mrs. C. W. Smith was made +president of the sixth district and Mrs. Babb of the eighth. The +afternoon features were an automobile ride by courtesy of the Commerce +Club and a street meeting where Miss Addams made her first outdoor +speech, standing on the rear seat of an automobile. An evening +reception at the Masonic Temple was a delightful finale to the +biggest, most enthusiastic suffrage convention ever held in the State.</p> + +<p>An executive board meeting and a conference took place May 9, at which +date the State, district and county officers of the organized forces +numbered more than 2,000 women. These with the men in favor and most +of the newspapers created a suffrage sentiment which reached every +corner of the State. Nearly all of the forty field workers were +Kansans, but assistants and money came from other State organizations +and individuals. The National Association contributed in literature +and money $2,076. Mrs. Laura M. Johns, now of California, and other +"formerly of Kansas" women sent counsel and gifts. Kansas people gave +most of the money which the campaign cost, and some of the $6,000 +expended was so sacred that it was handled with tearful eyes and +reverent touch. For instance, one letter enclosed a check for $100, +representing "the life savings of Mary," who wanted it used in a +campaign State. In another was $10 "from mother's money, who wanted +this justice for women, but it did not come while she lived." Another +woman wrote: "This is my sainted mother's birthday and I want this $5 +used in her memory." One had made provisions in her will to leave $200 +for the next campaign, but thanked God it had come while she could +work as well as give. There were the widows' mites, many times meaning +sacrifice and toil, and single dollars came from women who were too +old or too ill to work but wanted to have a part. There were also a +few surreptitious dollars from women whose husbands were boasting that +their wives did not want to vote, and "joy dollars" for sons and +daughters or the new-born babe. All these gifts were thrice blessed.</p> + +<p>With votes as with most of the dollars—they were not coming<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> +unsought, and in order to make sure of them they must be looked for in +their own habitat. This the women did on horseback, in wagons, +carriages, steam cars and automobiles. They were found in the shops, +offices and stores, at the fairs, conventions and Chautauquas, at the +theater and the circus, on the farms and the highways, at the fireside +and in the streets. One automobile trip covered a part of the same +route travelled by the Rev. Olympia Brown and other suffrage workers +in the campaign of 1867, when they often rode in ox-teams or on Indian +ponies, stopped over night in dugouts or sod houses and finally were +driven back by hostile Indians. This mental picture made the trip over +good roads and through villages of pretty homes seem like a pleasure +ride. Miss Laura Clay of Kentucky; the president, Mrs. Johnston; Mrs. +Kimball and Mrs. Hoffman, who furnished the car, made one trip of +1,000 miles in the fifth district and Miss Clay was then placed in +charge of the sixth district offices, where she rendered valuable +service for two weeks longer, all gratuitous.</p> + +<p>Arthur Capper, owner and publisher of the Topeka <i>Daily Capital</i>, and +L. L. Kiene, editor of the <i>State Journal</i>, were most helpful. The +favorable Catholic vote was largely due to the excellent work of Mrs. +Mary E. Ringrose and her sister of California and to David Leahy of +Wichita, an active worker in the Men's League. W. Y. Morgan, member of +Congress from Kansas, and Professor S. J. Brandenburg of Oxford, Ohio, +looked after the voters in the colleges and universities. +Four-year-old Billy Brandenburg came with his mother to help in the +automobile tours and was adopted as the "campaign mascot." At the +street meetings his little cap was often heavy with nickels and +quarters when he helped take collections. Kansas had often stood in +the lime-light, but while the women avoided the humdrum, all +spectacular methods were discouraged and they won by keeping their +efforts on dignified, conservative lines.</p> + +<p>All along those in charge of the campaign were warned that the big +interests whose business thrives on the degradation of human life +would rather defeat suffrage in Kansas than in any other two States. +Early in the summer of 1912 a bound book of letters, entitled +"Business Versus Woman Suffrage," was brought out by a certain C. F. +Tibbles of Chicago, cunningly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> devised to arouse the prejudice of +every kind of business man or reform worker. Later two other editions +were issued, enlarged and more daring in their statements. They were +left in railway coaches and sent to newspaper offices with strong +appeals for the publishing of the letters from time to time, but +Kansas men had fought too many battles with the saloon power not to +recognize its hydra head. Toward the last came one clothed in the +official garb of the exalted Methodist Church, but warning had been +sent by the women of Oregon, where he had united his efforts with the +worst elements to defeat the suffrage amendment in two campaigns. The +Men's League, the press and the ministers co-operated with the women +and "Clarence, the Untrue," was effectively bound and gagged. About +this time one of the good friends in Kansas City, Mo., discovered that +the same plan which had defeated the amendment in Ohio was going to be +used in Kansas, and he loyally reported it to headquarters. A busy day +followed and Mrs. Edwin Knapp, Miss Eacker and the president remained +up all night getting out letters to expose the plan. These were sent +to all of the weekly newspapers for their last issue before the +election and an Associated Press letter to be used in the Sunday and +Monday issues.</p> + +<p>Thanks to the splendid manhood of Kansas, these were sufficient, and +women came into their own on November 5, 1912, by a vote of 175,246 +ayes, 159,197 noes—a majority of over 16,000. No other State had won +by so large a majority and because the count was made and the victory +reported first of the three that were carried in 1912, Kansas claims +the right to the seventh place on the list of equal suffrage +States.<a name="FNanchor_53_53" id="FNanchor_53_53"></a><a href="#Footnote_53_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a></p> + +<p>The Jubilee Convention, May 19-20, 1913, was held in the Baptist +Church at Lawrence, and men and women came from every part of the +State. The evening program was under the auspices of the Men's League, +Dr. Pettyjohn, presiding. Professor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> W. H. Carruth of the State +University gave the address of welcome and the Hon. W. S. Guyer, an +active helper in the campaign, responded. Addresses were made by +Governor George H. Hodges (Democrat), ex-Governor W. R. Stubbs +(Republican), the Hon. W. Y. Morgan and the Rev. C. M. Sheldon. The +theme was The New Citizen, and she had a liberal share of the +compliments and good advice. At a large evening meeting Mrs. Agnes +Riddle, member of the Colorado House of Representatives, gave an +interesting address. As befitted a jubilee convention, there were +feasting and music, but the subjects discussed revealed a serious +realization of the enlarged responsibilities which the vote involved. +The name of the association was changed to the Good Citizenship +League. Mrs. Johnston declining re-election, received the title of +president emeritus, and Mrs. Chalkley was elected president; Mrs. +Stubbs first and Mrs. Laura Reed Yaggy second vice-presidents; Miss +Eacker, recording secretary; Mrs. Magdalen B. Munson, treasurer; Mrs. +W. T. Johnston, auditor, and eight district presidents.</p> + +<p>During the months that followed, educational work and helpful interest +in States having campaigns was carried forward. At a meeting in +Emporia, April 3, 1914, the measures to be supported in the next +Legislature by the association were chosen and a study of the +political situation was made. The candidates for Governor, Arthur +Capper (Republican), George H. Hodges (Democrat) and Professor George +W. Kleihege of Washburn College (Socialist) presented the principles +of their parties. Henry J. Allen (Progressive) sent greetings and Dean +Relvix of Ottawa University explained the tenets of this party. A +legislative school followed, attended by women from many sections of +the State. A rally to help the campaign in Missouri was held in Kansas +City October 15, with a banquet and speeches on the Missouri side and +an all day and evening meeting on the Kansas side. The principal +speakers were Dean Sophonisba Breckinridge of the University of +Chicago and Justice J. S. West of the Kansas Supreme Court. The annual +convention met in Lawrence Dec. 19, 1914, and Mrs. Bullard was elected +president.</p> + +<p>In 1915 the convention was held in Topeka. As war problems were +filling the hearts and minds of the people, only a business<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> meeting +was held. The usual resolution urging the delegation in Congress to +use all honorable means to put through the Federal Suffrage Amendment +was passed.</p> + +<p>In 1916 the convention was held in Memorial Hall, Topeka, and the name +Equal Suffrage Association was restored. Governor Capper commended the +women for their good influence on legislation. Mrs. Catt, president of +the National Association, reviewed its activities, and urged Kansas +women to work for the Federal Amendment and go to the national +political conventions. Money was raised for the Iowa campaign. There +had been several attempts to organize a "militant" suffrage society in +Kansas under the name of the Congressional Union and a number of men +and women had been innocently led into it. A "question box" conducted +by Mrs. Catt did much to clarify the situation, making it plain that +there was no chance of united work by the two organizations as they +were diametrically opposed in methods. She addressed the Commercial +Club at a noon luncheon and many business men testified to the good +results of woman suffrage. Mrs. W. Y. Morgan was elected president. +The Kansas members of Congress, all of whom were in favor of the +Federal Amendment, were continuously urged to press for its +submission. About fifty Kansas women marched in the great suffrage +parade in Chicago at the time of the Republican national convention in +June.</p> + +<p>The convention met in Topeka June 21, 1917, and Mrs. Morgan declining +re-election, Mrs. Charles H. Brooks of Wichita was made president. The +annual meeting of 1918 was held in Wichita June 12. The money had been +raised to send two envoys to the Southern States and then on to +Washington, Mrs. Henry Ware Allen and Mrs. Yaggy, both of charming +personality and belonging to the Democratic party, to obtain the help +of Congressmen from the South, and it is gratifying to remember that +the securing of the last necessary votes in the House in January might +be attributed to the efforts of these two women. It was voted to send +money and speakers to help in the Oklahoma campaign, where the liquor +interests were making a strong fight against the amendment. Mrs. +Brooks' excellent work soon brought results. It was hard to raise +money for anything except<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> winning the war but she never lost sight of +the fact that winning votes for the Federal Amendment was winning +democracy for the world. Almost without exception the officers of the +association represented families with men in uniform. The suffragists +sold in the Third and Fourth Liberty Loans $20,000,000 worth of bonds +and they worked in every "drive" through the Woman's Committee of the +Council of Defense. Mrs. Brooks and her entire board were re-elected. +As guests of the Wichita Equal Suffrage Society delegates and visitors +were entertained at tea in the home of the Hon. Henry J. Allen.</p> + +<p>The convention of 1919 was held in Wichita June 10-11. Mrs. Brooks had +been elected president of the National League of Women Voters and the +Kansas association loyally changed its name to the State League of +Women Voters. A largely attended "victory dinner" was given at the +Lassen Hotel. Mrs. Brooks was succeeded by Mrs. Henry Ware Allen, who +later resigned, and the Executive Board in November called on the well +beloved veteran, Mrs. Catharine A. Hoffman, again to take the +presidency. A special meeting of the association and a citizenship +school were held in Wichita Jan. 19-25, 1920, the latter conducted by +Miss Marie B. Ames of St. Louis, the regional director of the National +League of Women Voters.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action.</span> After an amendment to the State constitution was +defeated by the voters in 1894, women asked for full suffrage only now +and then, but encouraged by Henry B. Blackwell of Massachusetts they +made special efforts after 1900 to obtain the vote for presidential +electors.</p> + +<p>1901. The Presidential suffrage bill passed the Senate by a vote of 22 +to 13, but the next day the vote was reconsidered on motion of Senator +G. A. Knofster and the bill defeated by 23 to 13. It died on the House +calendar. On January 14 Representative J. A. Butler of Wyandotte +county introduced a bill the purpose of which was to deprive women of +Municipal suffrage. A storm of protests began at once to pour in and +it was estimated that 10,000 letters were sent to members by women +from their home districts. The bill was twice killed in committee and +received less than ten votes, amid derision and laughter, when its +author tried to have it placed on the calendar.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span></p> + +<p>1903. Senator Dumont Smith introduced the Presidential suffrage bill +and worked faithfully for it, but it was defeated on January 28 by 21 +noes, 13 ayes. Cyrus Leland introduced it in the Lower House, where it +was killed in Committee of the Whole on February 11 by 62 noes, 57 +ayes. At this session an extension of bond suffrage was granted to +women. They had had the right to vote on bonds for school buildings +since 1887, but this act extended the privilege to all other public +improvements in cities of the first class.</p> + +<p>1905. Governor Edward W. Hoch in his message to the Legislature +recommended full suffrage for women and a committee of seven on the +Political Rights of Women was appointed in the House. Early in the +session the politicians stated that no full suffrage measure would be +introduced. Later I. W. Crumley, chairman of the committee, introduced +a bill for Presidential suffrage, which passed the House, 65 ayes, 50 +noes, and was killed in the Senate.</p> + +<p>1907. A House concurrent resolution to submit a constitutional +amendment died in Committee of the Whole and no action was taken in +the Senate.</p> + +<p>1909. The House bill conferring Presidential suffrage was reported +favorably, made a special order for February 16 and received 59 noes, +57 ayes. The Senate bill was reported adversely.</p> + +<p>1911. The amendment resolution was introduced by Representative Henry +Block, and all available space on the floor and in the galleries was +filled during the discussion. It passed on February 7 by 94 ayes, 28 +noes. The Senate resolution introduced by Senator George H. Hodges was +passed on February 11 by 27 ayes, 12 noes. A two-thirds majority is +required to pass an amendment resolution and Senator Frank Travis cast +the last and deciding vote. It was signed by Governor Stubbs. The +amendment went to the voters Nov. 5, 1912, and received a majority in +favor of 16,049.</p> + +<p>1913. The attitude of the Legislature this year was in marked contrast +to that of previous sessions and those who feared that women would +lose influence by being enfranchised were certainly undeceived. +Judging from the number of welfare bills<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> introduced without their +solicitation it seemed that the members were vying with each other as +to who should champion the most. Instead of dodging or ignoring the +requests of women's committees their advice and wishes were sought.</p> + +<p>1915. The following resolution was passed unanimously by both Houses: +"Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Kansas, the House +concurring therein, that it is the judgment of this Legislature that +the granting of the right of suffrage to the women of the State, so +long withheld from them, was not only an act of justice to a +disfranchised class, but that it also has proved to be of great good +to the State and to the women themselves." This was approved March 15 +by the Governor and sent to Congress, and similar resolutions were +passed by each Legislature until the Federal Amendment was submitted.</p> + +<p>1919. An Act this year required that instruction must be given in the +public schools in civic government, patriotism and the duties of a +citizen.</p> + +<p>Among the women who were active in legislative work were Mesdames +Lillian Mitchner, C. C. Goddard, W. R. Stubbs, J. D. McFarland, E. E. +Rodebush, E. S. Marshall, Lilla Monroe, A. H. Horton, Lottie Case, +Frank Lindsay, Festus Foster and S. S. Estey.<a name="FNanchor_54_54" id="FNanchor_54_54"></a><a href="#Footnote_54_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> Governor Henry J. Allen called a special session of the +Legislature for the purpose of ratifying the Federal Suffrage +Amendment eleven days after it had been submitted by Congress on June +4, 1919. Representative Minnie J. Grinstead introduced the joint +resolution and it was passed unanimously on June 16 by both Houses and +approved by the Governor and forwarded to the Secretary of State on +the 17th.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_52_52" id="Footnote_52_52"></a><a href="#FNanchor_52_52"><span class="label">[52]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Lucy B. +(Mrs. William A.) Johnston, president of the State Equal Suffrage +Association when the victory was won. She is under obligations to H. +G. Larimer, legislative reference and bill drafting department; Miss +Henrietta Alexander, legislative reference librarian; L. J. Pettyjohn, +Secretary of State; Miss Lorraine E. Wooster, State superintendent of +public instruction; Miss Suzanne Henry, Supreme Court law clerk; Dr. +S. J. Crumbine, secretary State board of health; Mrs. Herbert Jones, +department vital statistics; Miss Linna Bresette, State labor +department; Miss Clara Francis, librarian State Historical Society.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_53_53" id="Footnote_53_53"></a><a href="#FNanchor_53_53"><span class="label">[53]</span></a> Among the many who aided in campaign work were Judge and +Mrs. Frank Doster, Mr. and Mrs. J. K. Codding, the Hon. A. M. Harvey, +the Hon. Geo. Waters, the Hon. C. C. Gafford, the Rev. Festus Foster, +the Rev. S. S. Estey, D. D., William Allen White, Sim Bromlette, John +J. Brown; Mesdames Doster Cook, C. W. Smith, Nanon Herren, Lucia Case, +Lida Buckley, Sherman Medill, Margaret Brandenburg, Edwin Knapp, L. S. +Corbin, Adrian Greene, Adrian Sherman, Pansy Clark, Z. Nason, Geo. W. +Rose, Effie Van Tuyl, Eva M. Murphy, Effie Frost; Misses Laura French, +Eva Corning, Florence Welch, Bertha Hemstead, Olga House, E. Galloo, +Mary Dobbs, Dorothy Sherman.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_54_54" id="Footnote_54_54"></a><a href="#FNanchor_54_54"><span class="label">[54]</span></a> A complete résumé of the unexcelled welfare legislation +of the past twenty years was sent with this chapter but had to be +omitted for lack of space. The first State constitution in 1859 +guaranteed the same educational rights to women as to men. The State +University at Lawrence has 54 women on its faculty; the State +Agricultural College, 52; the State Normal, 46.—Ed.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3>KENTUCKY.<a name="FNanchor_55_55" id="FNanchor_55_55"></a><a href="#Footnote_55_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a></h3> + + +<p>When the Equal Rights Association was formed in 1888 Kentucky was the +only State that did not permit a married woman to make a will; a +wife's wages might be collected by the husband; property and +inheritance laws between husband and wife were absolutely unequal; +fathers were sole guardians of their children and at death could +appoint one even of a child unborn; the age of consent was 12 years +and it was legal for a girl to marry at 12. An infinitesimal number of +women had a bit of School suffrage. In the rest of that century, under +the leadership of Miss Laura Clay, with the able assistance of such +women as Mrs. Josephine K. Henry, Mrs. Eliza Calvert Obenchain and +many others, much was accomplished in the improvement of the laws and +in other ways beneficial to women.</p> + +<p>No State convention was held in 1900. Conventions took place annually +in the autumn from 1901 to 1917 inclusive in the following cities: +Louisville, Lexington, Covington, Newport, Richmond, Ashland, +Owensboro, most often in Lexington. The convention of 1918 was +postponed on account of the influenza epidemic and held in Louisville +March 11-12, 1919. The convention which should have been held in the +fall of this year was postponed because of work for ratification and +became a "victory" convention held Jan. 6-7, 1920, in Frankfort and +Lexington.</p> + +<p>The first president of the Equal Rights Association, Miss Laura Clay +of Lexington, elected in 1888, served until November, 1912. The +constitution was then amended at her desire to prevent a president +from succeeding herself and to provide for a three-year term. Mrs. +Desha Breckinridge of Lexington was elected in November, 1912, and in +1915 Mrs. Thomas Jefferson<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> Smith of Frankfort. In 1916, Mrs. Smith +resigning because of her election to the National Board, Mrs. John +Glover South of Frankfort was elected to fill out the unexpired term. +In March, 1919, Mrs. Breckinridge was again elected.</p> + +<p>For many years the association worked on a non-dues-paying basis and +was supported by voluntary contributions. Increase of activity is +indicated by the following figures: The financial report for 1903 +shows that $359 were spent; that for 1917 gives an expenditure of +$7,838. In 1912 there were 1,779 members, with organizations in 11 +counties; 4,655 members were reported in November, 1913, and 10,577 in +November, 1914, with completely organized suffrage leagues in 64 +counties; partially organized leagues in 23; a roll of members in 32 +and but one county in which there was no membership.</p> + +<p>Many suffrage addresses have been made in the State by eminent +Kentucky men and women and in later years by outside speakers +including Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, Mrs. +Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Senator Helen Ring Robinson, Mrs. +T. T. Cotnam, Max Eastman, Walter J. Millard, Mrs. Beatrice +Forbes-Robertson; Mrs. Philip Snowden, Mrs. Pethick-Lawrence and Mrs. +Pankhurst of England, and Rosika Schwimmer of Hungary.</p> + +<p>Propaganda work has been done by means of the press and the lecture +bureau, by the offering of prizes in schools and colleges for the best +essays on woman suffrage and at the State, Blue Grass and county fairs +through speaking and circulating literature. In recent years many +newspapers have given editorial support and many more have given space +for frequent articles furnished by the press bureau. Notable among +those of recent date is the Louisville <i>Courier-Journal</i>, in which for +many years Colonel Henry Watterson inveighed against woman suffrage in +immoderate terms. From the time it passed into the hands of Judge +Robert W. Bingham, and "Marse Henry's" connection with it ceased, it +consistently and persistently advocated suffrage for women, including +the Federal Amendment. Miss Clay writes: "The paper with the largest +circulation of any in the State outside of Louisville and of great +influence in central Kentucky, the Lexington <i>Herald</i>, owned and +edited by Desha Breckinridge,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> has from the beginning of the century +editorially advocated and insisted upon suffrage for women, including +School, Presidential and full suffrage, whether through 'State rights' +or Federal Amendment. It has given unlimited space to suffrage +propaganda and is largely responsible for making the question one of +paramount political moment." The <i>Herald</i> of Louisville has been also +a valued supporter of the cause.</p> + +<p>The Woman's Christian Temperance Union, of which Mrs. Frances E. +Beauchamp, always a prominent suffragist, has for thirty years been +president, and the Federation of Women's Clubs have continually worked +with the State Equal Rights Association for the improvement of +conditions affecting women. By mutual agreement bills in the +Legislature have been managed sometimes by one and sometimes by the +other.</p> + +<p>In addition to organizing the suffrage forces and creating favorable +sentiment the principal work of the State Association has been to +secure action by the Legislature for suffrage and better laws and +conditions for women. This work was under the direction of Miss Clay +until the end of her presidency, with a corps of able assistants, and +she continued to help the legislative work. She was always sustained +by the interest and generosity of her sister, Sallie Clay (Mrs. James) +Bennett of Richmond, Ky. Mrs. S. M. Hubbard of Hickman was the largest +contributor and was a strong factor in the western part of the State. +As early as 1902 a bill for the franchise for presidential electors +was presented. In 1904, to the amazement of the suffragists, the act +of 1894 was repealed which gave School suffrage to the women of the +three third-class cities, Lexington, Covington and Newport. The reason +given was that too many illiterate negro women voted. It was made a +strict party measure, but one Democrat voting against the repeal and +but one Republican for it.</p> + +<p>Following this action the women went to work to obtain School suffrage +for all women in the State able to read and write. In organizing this +protest against the repeal Mrs. Mary C. Roark, afterwards head of the +Eastern Kentucky Normal School, was a leader. Mrs. A. M. Harrison, +member of the school board in Lexington, was prominently identified +with the effort. This proved a long, hard struggle, as it was +considered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> an entering wedge to full suffrage by the liquor interests +and ward politicians of the cities and was bitterly fought. Year after +year the bill was defeated in the Legislature. At the request of the +suffrage association in 1908 the State Federation of Women's Clubs +took charge of it as a part of its work for better schools, but it was +defeated that year and in 1910. The Federation did not cease its work +and in 1912 the Democratic party included a School suffrage plank in +its platform. It already had the support of the Republican party and +this year the bill passed both Houses by a vote of more than two to +one. The Democrats were in control of the two Legislatures that +rejected it and also of the one that passed it. Mrs. Breckinridge was +legislative chairman for the federation during the years covering +these three sessions.</p> + +<p>In 1912 the suffragists accepted the invitation of the Perry +Centennial Committee to have a suffrage section in the parade in +Louisville and their "float" attracted much attention. This is +believed to have been the first suffrage parade in the South.</p> + +<p>In 1914 amendments to the new primary law were made by the Legislature +securing the right of women to vote in the primary elections for +county superintendent of schools. This right was in doubt the year +before and was denied in many counties. Much work was done by the +association in acquainting the women of the State with their rights +under the new law. This year after many efforts a resolution to submit +to the voters an amendment to the State constitution giving full +suffrage to women was before the Legislature, presented by Senator J. +H. Durham of Franklin and Representative John G. Miller of Paducah, +both Democrats. Favorable reports were obtained from Senate and House +Committees, it was placed on the Senate calendar, but after its defeat +in the House by 52 noes, 29 ayes, was not considered.</p> + +<p>In 1915 a plank was obtained in the Republican State platform +endorsing woman suffrage, largely through the work of Mrs. Murray +Hubbard, chairman of a committee from the Federation of Women's Clubs. +When the Legislature met in January, 1916, the Republicans, under the +leadership of Edwin P. Morrow, caucused and agreed to support solidly +the resolution to submit a suffrage amendment to the State +constitution. The legislative work of the State association was +managed by Mrs. Breckinridge,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> chairman, and Mrs. Hubbard, +vice-chairman. The resolution was presented in the Senate by Thomas A. +Combs and in the House by W. C. G. Hobbs, both of Lexington and both +Democrats. It passed the Senate by 26 ayes, 8 noes. In the House it +was held in the committee and although three test votes were made in +an effort to bring it out and a majority was obtained on one of them, +a two-thirds vote was necessary and it was not allowed to come to a +vote. No Republican in the Senate gave an adverse vote and only three +in the House. Governor A. O. Stanley (Democrat) used the full strength +of the administration, even invoking the aid of the Kentucky +delegation in Congress, to kill the measure in the House.</p> + +<p>This year the Republican and Progressive State conventions endorsed +woman suffrage, the Democrats refusing to do so. At the national +Republican convention in Chicago the Kentucky member of the +Resolutions Committee voted for the suffrage plank in its platform. At +the national Democratic convention in St. Louis all the twenty-six +delegates, on account of the "unit ruling," cast their votes for the +State's rights suffrage plank.</p> + +<p>During 1917 suffrage work was displaced by war work, of which Kentucky +suffragists did a large share. They were asked to raise $500 for the +Women's Oversea Hospitals of the National Association and more than +doubled the quota by the able management of Mrs. Samuel Castleman of +Louisville. Under the direction of Mrs. E. L. Hutchinson of Lexington +a plan to raise money for an ambulance to be named in honor of Miss +Laura Clay, the pioneer suffragist, was successfully carried through.</p> + +<p>In 1918 for the first time there was every reason to believe that a +resolution to submit a State amendment would pass the Legislature, but +a majority of the State suffrage board voted to conform to the desire +of the National Association to avoid State campaigns and concentrate +on the Federal Amendment and no resolution was presented.</p> + +<p>At the State convention, held March 11, 1919, resolutions were adopted +calling upon all Kentucky members of Congress to vote for the Federal +Suffrage Amendment; calling on the Legislature to ratify this +amendment, when passed, at the first opportunity and asking it to +enact a law giving to women a vote<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> for presidential electors. Miss +Clay, who for over thirty years had been the leader of the +suffragists, withdrew from the State association, which she had +founded, and formed a new organization to work for the vote by State +action alone, as she was strongly opposed to Federal action. It was +called the Citizens' Committee for a State Suffrage Amendment and +opened headquarters in Lexington. It issued an "open letter to the +public," an able argument for the State's control of its own suffrage +and an arraignment of interference by Congress, which it declared +would "become possessed of an autocratic power dangerous to free +institutions." It conducted a vigorous campaign against every move for +a Federal Amendment and met the representatives of the old association +at the Republican State convention in May to prevent their securing an +endorsement of it. In an eloquent speech before the platform committee +Miss Clay urged it to reaffirm the State's rights plank in the +National platform and pledge the party to secure the submission to the +voters of a State suffrage amendment and to support it at the polls. +The plank adopted was as follows: "We reaffirm our belief in the +justice and expediency of suffrage for women and call upon our +representatives in the Congress of the United States, in the +Legislature and in all executive positions to use their votes and +their influence for all measures granting political rights to women."</p> + +<p>The Federal Suffrage Amendment was submitted by Congress June 4. Both +organizations urged their claims at the Democratic State convention in +September and the platform contained the following plank:</p> + +<blockquote><p>We favor the ratification by the Legislature of Kentucky at its +next session of the amendment to the Constitution of the United +States extending to women the right of suffrage and we urge our +representatives in the Legislature and all executive or other +officers to use their votes and influence in every legitimate way +to bring about the ratification of the same. We pledge ourselves +to support in the next General Assembly, if the Federal Amendment +has not become operative by that time, the submission of an +amendment to the State Constitution granting suffrage to women on +the same terms as to men and when the amendment is submitted to +support it at the polls as a party measure.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Every candidate for the nomination for Governor had stood on a +suffrage platform and the successful Democratic candidate,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> Governor +James D. Black, defeated at the election by Edwin P. Morrow, was a +staunch and life-long suffragist. When he was filling out Governor +Stanley's unexpired term and he received a telegram in June, with all +other Governors of Southern States, from the Governor of Louisiana, +asking him to oppose ratification of the Federal Amendment, he gave to +Mrs. Breckinridge a ringing interview for use in the press to the +effect that he would not oppose it. Governor Morrow, a Republican, had +always been a friend of woman suffrage in whatever form it was asked.</p> + +<p>Kentucky suffragists could easily remember when they could poll but +one vote in Congress—that of John W. Langley. When in 1919 the final +vote was taken on the Federal Amendment but one of the State's ten +votes in the Lower House, that of A. B. Rouse of Covington, was cast +against it. There was one vacancy. Senator George B. Martin voted for +the resolution and Senator J. C. W. Beckham against it. He had voted +against it in February, when, having passed the House, it was lost in +the Senate by a single vote.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> The November legislative election in 1919 resulted in a +Republican House and a Democratic Senate. The Republicans caucused and +agreed to vote for ratification. Governor Morrow urged it in a +vigorous message personally delivered to the Legislature in which he +said:</p> + +<blockquote><p>A government "of the people by the people" can not and does not +exist in a commonwealth in which one-half of its citizens are +denied the right of suffrage. The women of Kentucky are citizens +and there is no good or just reason why they should be refused +the full and equal exercise of the sovereign right of every free +people—the ballot. Every member of this General Assembly is +unequivocally committed by his party's platform declaration to +cast his vote and use his influence for the immediate +enfranchisement of women in both nation and State. Party loyalty, +faith-keeping with the people and our long-boasted chivalry all +demand that the General Assembly shall break all previous speed +records in ratifying the Federal Suffrage Amendment and passing +all measures granting political rights to women.</p></blockquote> + +<p>By agreement, a Democrat, Senator Charles M. Harriss, presented the +resolution for ratification in the Senate, and a Republican, Joseph +Lazarus, in the House. On Jan. 6, 1920, the first day of the session, +it was passed by a vote of 30 ayes, 8 noes in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> the Senate and 72 ayes, +25 noes in the House. The affirmative vote by parties was as follows: +In the two Houses 39 Democrats out of a possible 65, and 63 +Republicans out of a possible 73. That any measure should pass on the +first day of the session was unprecedented in Kentucky legislative +history. Democrats were in control of the two Legislatures—1914 and +1916—which defeated the full suffrage measures. Democrats were in +control of the Legislature in 1918 which undoubtedly would have passed +a resolution for a State amendment, a Presidential suffrage bill, or +would have ratified the Federal Amendment had Congress acted in time. +The leaders of both parties by this time had seen a great light!</p> + +<p>The delegates who had gathered in Frankfort for the State convention +were entertained at a buffet luncheon by the local suffrage +organization, went in a body to the State House and had the +gratification of seeing the Federal Amendment ratified. A +glorification meeting was held that night at Lexington, twenty-five +miles away, at which Governor Morrow told why the new women voters +should enter the Republican party and Judge C. S. Nunn and Senator +Harriss, leader of the Senate, told why they should enter the +Democratic party. The latter were introduced by former Senator Combs, +who had sponsored the suffrage cause among the Democrats in the last +two Legislatures. The convention closed with an address by Mrs. +Emmeline Pankhurst of England the following night, and on the next day +the officers and members of the association went to Frankfort again to +see the Governor sign the ratification.</p> + +<p>As it was not certain that the amendment would be completely ratified +before the general election in November the Legislature decided to +pass a bill giving to women the right to vote for presidential +electors. On March 11 it passed the House and on the 15th the Senate +by almost the same vote given on the Federal Amendment. Only three +Senators voted against it—Thomas J. Gardner of Bardwell, Hayes Carter +of Elizabethtown and C. W. Burton of Crittenden. On the 16th bills +were passed making necessary changes in the election laws to insure +the voting of the women in the primaries and at the regular elections.</p> + +<p>Kentucky women who rendered conspicuous service in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> lobby work at +Washington under the auspices of the National Suffrage Association +were Mrs. John Glover South, Mrs. Thomas Jefferson Smith, Mrs. Edmund +M. Post, Mrs. Samuel Castleman, Mrs. Charles Firth and Mrs. Samuel +Henning. They were equally helpful in the State political work and +among many others who deserve especial mention are Mrs. James A. +Leech, Mrs. J. B. Judah and Mrs. Robinson A. McDowell. The association +is indebted to Mr. McDowell for legal assistance. An important factor +was the press work of Miss Eleanor Hume.<a name="FNanchor_56_56" id="FNanchor_56_56"></a><a href="#Footnote_56_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a></p> + +<p>The organizing of classes in citizenship was begun in the summer of +1919 and the services of a specialist in politics and history, Miss +Mary Scrugham, a Kentucky woman, were secured to prepare a course of +lectures for their use. These were published in the Lexington <i>Herald</i> +and supplied to women's clubs, suffrage associations and newly formed +Leagues of Women Citizens, soon to become Leagues of Women Voters.</p> + +<p>The Equal Rights Association voted at its convention in January, 1920, +to change its name to the League of Women Voters as soon as +ratification of the Federal Amendment was complete or Presidential +suffrage granted. The league was fully organized on December 15, with +Miss Mary Bronaugh of Hopkinsville chairman.</p> + +<p>The first vice-president of the State Equal Suffrage Association, Mrs. +South, was elected as chairman of the Women's Division of the National +Republican Committee, and the second vice-president, Mrs. Castleman, +as Kentucky member of the National Democratic Woman's Committee.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_55_55" id="Footnote_55_55"></a><a href="#FNanchor_55_55"><span class="label">[55]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Madeline +McDowell (Mrs. Desha) Breckinridge, president of the State Equal +Rights Association 1912-1915 and 1919-1920; vice-president of the +National American Woman Suffrage Association 1913-1914.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_56_56" id="Footnote_56_56"></a><a href="#FNanchor_56_56"><span class="label">[56]</span></a> In addition to the presidents the following served as +officers of the association: Vice-presidents: Mrs. Mary B. Clay, Mrs. +Mary Cramer, Mrs. N. S. McLaughlin, Mrs. John Castleman, Mrs. E. L. +Hutchinson, Mrs. Charles Firth, Mrs. Judah, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Samuel +Castleman, Mrs. Leech, Mrs. McDowell, Mrs. Joseph Alderson, Mrs. F. A. +Rothier. Corresponding secretaries: Miss Anna Miller, Mrs. Mary C. +Roark, Mrs. Alice Carpenter, Miss Clay, Mrs. Herbert Mendel, Mrs. +South. Recording secretaries: Mrs. Emma Roebuck, Mrs. McDowell, Mrs. +Firth, Mrs. J. D. Hays. Treasurers: Mrs. Isabella Shepherd, Mrs. +Warfield Bennett, Mrs. Judah. Auditors: Miss Laura White, Mrs. Charles +L. Nield, Mrs. W. F. Lillard, Mrs. Alderson. Historians: Mrs. Mary +Light Ogle, Mrs. M. B. Reynolds. Press work: Mrs. Obenchain. Members +National Executive Committee: Miss Mary E. Giltner, Mrs. Post, Miss +Clay.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3>LOUISIANA. PART I.<a name="FNanchor_57_57" id="FNanchor_57_57"></a><a href="#Footnote_57_57" class="fnanchor">[57]</a></h3> + + +<p>The history of woman suffrage in Louisiana is unique inasmuch as it +records largely the activity of one club, an influence, however, which +was felt in the upbuilding of sentiment not alone in Louisiana but in +almost every Southern State. When in 1900 Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt on +her accession to the presidency of the National American Woman +Suffrage Association called for conventions in the Southern States it +was found that in Louisiana the State Suffrage Association, formed in +1896 by the union of the Portia and Era clubs, had lapsed because the +former was no longer in existence. The Era Club, however, was +flourishing under the stimulus and prestige gained by the successful +Drainage, Sewerage and Water Campaign of 1899.<a name="FNanchor_58_58" id="FNanchor_58_58"></a><a href="#Footnote_58_58" class="fnanchor">[58]</a> Mrs. Catt decided +that, while it was a new precedent to recognize one club as a State +association, it would be done in this case. Mrs. Evelyn Ordway was +made president, Mrs. Caroline E. Merrick, vice-president; Miss +Jeannette Ballard and Miss Jean Gordon, secretaries, and Mrs. Otto +Joachim, treasurer of the new association at a meeting in May, 1900, +at New Orleans. It went on record at this first meeting as a State's +rights organization, which Mrs. Catt ruled was permissible under the +dual character of the National Association's constitution.</p> + +<p>The secretary entered into active correspondence with individuals in +all sections of the State known to be favorable to suffrage, but all +efforts to secure clubs were unsuccessful. The Era Club, therefore, +extended its membership over the State in order that representation in +the national suffrage conventions<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> could be state-wide. It had a +standing Legislative Committee and for thirteen years its activities +constituted the work of a State association. In 1904, Mrs. Merrick, +Louisiana's pioneer suffragist, was made honorary president; Miss Kate +M. Gordon, president; Mrs. James McConnell, vice-president; Mrs. +Armand Romain, corresponding secretary; Miss Jean Gordon, recording +secretary; Mrs. Lucretia Horner (now Mrs. James McBride), treasurer. +There was no change in this board until 1913 except that on the death +of Mrs. Romain in 1908 Mrs. Judith Hyams Douglas was appointed in her +place.</p> + +<p>Clubs were formed during the years in various towns, but did not +survive, until in 1913 a league was organized in Shreveport which did +excellent work under its presidents, Mrs. S. B. Hicks, Mrs. S. P. +Weaver and Mrs. J. M. Henry. The first State convention was held Nov. +12, 1913, in New Orleans, and the following officers were elected: +Miss Jean Gordon, president; Mrs. George Wesley Smith, Rayville; Mrs. +James C. Wooten, Monroe; Mrs. Louis Hackenjos, Alexandria, +vice-presidents; Mrs. R. M. Carruth, New Roads, corresponding +secretary; Miss Lois Janvier, New Orleans, recording secretary; Miss +Olivia Munson, Napoleonville, treasurer; Mrs. Fannie Wolfson, +Coushatta, auditor.</p> + +<p>This board was unchanged until 1915, when Mrs. Clarence King of +Shreveport became treasurer and Mrs. M. H. Lawless of Garden City and +Mrs. D. C. Scarborough of Natchitoches, auditors. There was no further +change until 1920, when Mrs. McBride became treasurer and Mrs. Horace +Wilkinson took Mrs. Scarborough's place. State conventions met in +Alexandria in 1914 and in Shreveport in 1915. Conferences were held in +twenty-five parishes in anticipation of the proposed constitutional +convention of 1915. A convention was held in Alexandria in July, 1918, +and chairmen were appointed in forty-eight parishes in preparation for +the State amendment campaign.</p> + +<p>In reviewing the history of woman suffrage in Louisiana three factors +stand out prominently as influences that molded a favorable public +opinion. These are the national suffrage convention in 1903; the +inauguration of charity campaigns on the lines of political +organization and the forming of the Southern States Woman Suffrage +Conference, the object of which was to place<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> the Democratic party on +record for woman suffrage in this Democratic stronghold of the "solid +South."</p> + +<p>In public opinion woman suffrage was largely associated with the +Abolition movement. In 1900 Miss Gordon had accepted an invitation to +address the convention of the National Association in Washington on +the famous Sewerage and Drainage Campaign of women in New Orleans. +Then and there she decided that the most important work before +Louisiana suffragists was to bring this conservative State under the +influence of a national convention. In 1901 she attended another +convention and was elected corresponding secretary of the National +Association. In 1903 she brought its convention to New Orleans and it +proved to be one of the most remarkable in the history of the +association.<a name="FNanchor_59_59" id="FNanchor_59_59"></a><a href="#Footnote_59_59" class="fnanchor">[59]</a> So impressed was Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, vice-president +at large, with the possibilities in the South that she volunteered a +month's series of lectures in the next autumn and many places in +Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas came under the spell of her +eloquence.</p> + +<p>The influence of this convention was immediately seen in the +increasing membership of the Era Club. Its leaders recognized that the +best policy to rouse both men and women to the value of suffrage to +the individual and the community was by applied politics in social +service. It had already secured a partial franchise for taxpaying +women and its achievements in the following years made it an +acknowledged power.<a name="FNanchor_60_60" id="FNanchor_60_60"></a><a href="#Footnote_60_60" class="fnanchor">[60]</a> In 1910 a great charity and educational +benefit was launched for the Anti-Tuberculosis League and the Woman's +Dispensary. A complete plan of organizing with Era Club members as +ward and precinct leaders taught them political organization.</p> + +<p>By 1913 the movement for a Federal Suffrage Amendment was growing so +insistent that southern women who were opposed to this method felt the +necessity of organizing to combat it and to uphold the State's rights +principle of the Democratic party. Through the initiative of Miss +Gordon a Call for a conference<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> was sent in August to leading women in +every southern State and signed by twenty-two from almost as many +States asking the Governors to meet in New Orleans for a conference. +It said:</p> + +<blockquote><p>We are united in the belief that suffrage is a State right and +that the power to define a State's electorate should remain the +exclusive right of the State. We recognize that Woman Suffrage is +no longer a theory to be debated but a condition to be met. The +inevitable "votes for women" is a world movement and unless the +South squarely faces the issue and takes steps to preserve the +State's right the force of public opinion will make it mandatory +through a National Constitutional Amendment....</p> + +<p>While as Southerners we wish to see the power of the State +retained, yet as women we are equally determined to secure, as of +paramount importance, the right which is the birthright of an +American citizen. We, therefore, appeal to you gentlemen vested +with the power largely to shape conditions to confer with us and +influence public opinion to adopt woman suffrage through State +action. Failing to accomplish this, the onus of responsibility +will rest upon the men of the South if southern women are forced +to support a National Amendment, weighted with the same +objections as the Fifteenth.</p></blockquote> + +<p>It was not expected that the Governors would come, but the desired +publicity was secured and several of them sent representative women. +At the invitation of the Era Club the conference was held in New +Orleans Nov. 10-11, with an excellent attendance. The Southern States +Woman Suffrage Conference was organized with Miss Gordon president. On +May 1, 1914, headquarters were opened in New Orleans in charge of Mrs. +Ida Porter Boyer of Pennsylvania, as executive secretary, who had had +long experience in suffrage organization and press work. For the next +three years Miss Gordon went regularly to these headquarters and gave +her entire time to the promotion of the Southern Conference without +financial remuneration. In October a 20-page magazine, the <i>New +Southern Citizen</i>, made its appearance, which became self-supporting +and proved to be a most valuable factor in the work of the conference. +The first convention was held in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Nov. 10, 1914, +just before that of the National American Association in Nashville, +which its delegates attended. It was welcomed by the Mayor, the +president of the Chamber of Commerce and many club presidents. +Delegates were present from twelve States and in addition a number of +distinguished visitors. Mrs. Oliver H. P.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> Belmont brought with her +Miss Christabel Pankhurst of Great Britain and both made addresses. +About $1,500 were pledged.</p> + +<p>Miss Gordon said in her president's address: "The Southern States +Woman Suffrage Conference has for its immediate object to make the +Democratic party declare itself in favor of votes for women in its +next national platform. This, we southern suffragists believe, is the +first step in what will prove a veritable landslide in the South. The +conference therefore recommends to the suffragists of the South the +adoption of a policy of concentration upon the Democratic party to +declare itself."</p> + +<p>In December, 1915, a national conference was held in Richmond, Va. +Smaller conferences were held in Atlanta, Greenville, S. C., and +Little Rock. Miss Gordon visited most of the cities of the South to +organize the women. In July, 1916, an executive meeting was held in +St. Louis at the time of the national Democratic convention. Its +Resolutions Committee gave a hearing to the representatives of the +conference, Miss Clay, Mrs. O. F. Ellington of Little Rock, Mrs. +Boyer, Mrs. Wesley Martin Stoner of Washington. Miss Gordon made an +extended appeal for an endorsement of woman suffrage in the party +platform and presented a resolution to "secure for women +self-government while preserving to the State a like self-government." +This was not adopted, but the platform did recommend "the extension of +suffrage to the women of the country by the States."</p> + +<p>Although the principal object of the conference had been attained, its +leaders hesitated to dissolve it because of its excellent magazine and +work yet to be done. It was maintained until May, 1917, when the +entrance of this country into the World War made its discontinuance +seem advisable.<a name="FNanchor_61_61" id="FNanchor_61_61"></a><a href="#Footnote_61_61" class="fnanchor">[61]</a></p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action.</span> Prior to 1904 it was an unheard of thing for women +in Louisiana to take an active part in legislative procedure. A +woman's club, the Arena, had been instrumental in obtaining the first +"age of consent" legislation, but a Unitarian minister had entirely +managed the Legislature. Therefore the tyros who formed the first +Legislative Committee of the Era Club showed their ignorance and +enthusiasm when their program<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> included at least twelve bills which +they proposed to have enacted into law in one session.<a name="FNanchor_62_62" id="FNanchor_62_62"></a><a href="#Footnote_62_62" class="fnanchor">[62]</a> Without any +friends at court it was with considerable relief that they followed +advice to put them all in the hands of an influential lobbyist. Reform +bills were not in his line and the session was drawing to a close with +nothing done when the Gordon sisters cast precedent and propriety to +the winds, telegraphed to the Senator from their district for an +audience, boarded a morning train for Baton Rouge and descended upon +the Capitol. Article 210 of the State constitution adopted in 1898 +made women ineligible to serve in any official capacity. One of the +first acts of the Era Club had been to try to have it amended so as to +allow the appointment of a woman to fill a vacancy on the School +Board. The surprised Senator met them on their arrival, learned the +object of their visit and they will never know whether sympathy, +amusement or curiosity actuated the Committee on Judiciary to whom he +appealed for a hearing, but a few minutes after their arrival they +were pleading their cause before its members. They then called on +Governor Newton Blanchard, who offered to have Article 210 amended to +enable the appointment of a factory inspector, but in their zeal for +the larger object they declined.</p> + +<p>1906. Wiser by two years' experience, the Legislative Committee was +glad to accept Lieutenant Governor Jared Y. Sanders's offer of an +amendment for the above purpose, and Miss Jean Gordon was appointed +factory inspector for the city of New Orleans. It was not long before +she realized that the Child Labor law, under which she must operate, +was not worth the paper on which it was written. She then studied the +child labor laws of every State and selected what was best suited to +southern conditions, and put it into form for submission.</p> + +<p>1908. The legislative program was limited to the attempt to amend +Article 210, pass a School suffrage bill and the Child Labor bill. The +School suffrage bill, under the skillful management of Senator R. E. +Gueydan, assisted by Senators Albert Estinopal and James Brady and +Lieutenant Governor Thos. C.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> Barrett, passed the Senate but failed in +the House. The Child Labor bill passed the House but not the Senate.</p> + +<p>1910. Senator Gueydan introduced the amendment of Article 210. +Representative S. O. Shattuck introduced the first resolution to +strike out the word "male" from the State constitution, with +instructions from the women to substitute a School or Municipal +suffrage bill if a favorable report was more likely to result. By this +time the women had sufficiently progressed to address a joint suffrage +committee hearing in the House in the presence of an immense audience, +Miss Belle Van Horn, Mrs. Parker, Mrs. Douglas, Miss Gordon and labor +representatives presenting suffrage arguments. The School suffrage +bill was substituted and received a unanimous favorable report, but +not the necessary two-thirds vote.</p> + +<p>1912. The amendment to Article 210 was introduced by Martin Manion in +the House and William Byrnes in the Senate. In the interim between the +sessions Mrs. O. W. Chamberlain, legislative chairman, had rolled up a +monster petition from all sections of the State and the favorable +report of the committee was followed by the required two-thirds vote +in the House. There seemed no hope in the Senate, but Miss Gordon +appealed to Senator Byrnes to call it from the calendar. There was +active lobbying among the opponents, but it finally passed and was +sent to the voters! In the campaign for it the Newcomb College +Alumnae, the State Nurses' Association and the Federation of Women's +Clubs were very active, but it was defeated.</p> + +<p>An interesting phase of this year's session in connection with the +suffrage amendment was the presenting of the idea of Primary suffrage +for women by Miss Gordon at the hearing. She had grown so tired of +hearing from the opponents of woman suffrage that their objection +rested solely upon the fact that negro women would be enfranchised, +that on the part of the Legislative Committee she offered as a +substitute for the full suffrage bill one limiting it to the white +primary elections. This novel offer was received with great applause +by the assembled members of the two Houses, but was not accepted. [See +Arkansas and Texas chapters for Primary suffrage for women.]</p> + +<p>1914. The full suffrage bill was introduced by Representative<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> Manion +and a quiet committee hearing held, with representatives from the +State Suffrage Association and the Woman Suffrage Party. It received +60 ayes, 41 noes in the House, but not the necessary two-thirds. +Amending Article 210 had become a city administration measure and was +slated for success. A donation towards a Tuberculosis Hospital in New +Orleans had been made by Mrs. John Dibert and the gift was +municipalized by a condition which required a certain annual revenue +from the city. She desired to be a member of the hospital board, but +was ineligible under this article. The Era Club gave notice that it +would challenge her eligibility and she supported its position. The +long desired amendment was on the way to a successful passage, but +went on the rocks because of the club's campaign against a financial +measure for refunding the city debt known as the Nine Million Bond +issue, in which the provisions for the public schools and the +teachers' pay were totally inadequate and it was to be in effect for +fifty years! The Era Club and the Mothers' Co-operative Club protested +and worked against this political-financial alliance. In retaliation +twenty-four hours before the election the order went to the voters to +defeat the amendment to Article 210, which would have made women +eligible to serve on school and charity boards, and they did so.</p> + +<p>1918. Governor Ruffin G. Pleasant recommended in his message the +submission of a woman suffrage amendment to the State constitution. +The State association had a resolution for it introduced in the House +by Frank Powell; the Woman Suffrage Party one in the Senate by Leon +Haas, and it passed in both.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Campaigns.</span> There have been two campaigns in the interest of woman +suffrage in Louisiana, one for preparing for an expected +constitutional convention which would have met in 1915, and the other +in 1918 to amend the State constitution by striking out the word +"male." A special session of the Legislature in 1915 proposed a +convention to revise the constitution and submitted the question to +the voters. Immediately Miss Jean Gordon, president of the State +Suffrage Association, accompanied by Miss Lilly Richardson and Mrs. +Ida Porter Boyer, visited the various parishes and formed working +committees in 40 of the 63. The enthusiastic reception wherever they +went was practical<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> testimony to the sentiment for woman suffrage that +they knew existed and could be utilized if the politicians could be +made to submit the amendment to the voters. The latter rejected the +proposal to hold a convention, but the work done by the women laid the +foundation for the campaign three years later.</p> + +<p>In 1918 there was finally submitted for the first time the long +desired amendment to the State constitution to enable women to vote. +To Governor Pleasant is due a great debt of gratitude, for every +influence that he could bring to bear was exerted, not alone to secure +its submission but also its ratification. He had particularly urged in +his Message at the opening of the Legislature the great importance of +the South's realizing the danger threatened from the proposed +submission of the Federal Suffrage Amendment. The State Suffrage +Association was in the midst of opening the campaign when the Woman +Suffrage Party announced that they would retire from all suffrage +activity and devote themselves to Red Cross work. Robert Ewing, member +of the Democratic National Committee, owner of the New Orleans <i>Daily +States</i> and Shreveport <i>Times</i>, and a political power, offered his +support if the Woman Suffrage Party would unite with the State +association and leave the Federal Amendment question entirely out of +the campaign. They finally agreed to this and a joint committee was +formed of the president and three capable women in each organization. +Headquarters were opened in New Orleans; the parish committees which +were organized in 1915 were found to be ready for active work. A +petition to be signed was sent to each with a strong official letter +from the Campaign Committee. A bitter three-cornered Senatorial fight +was under way and the women were asked to delay action until after the +September primaries, which they consented to do.</p> + +<p>All was ready for beginning a whirlwind campaign on October 1, when +suddenly just before that date the influenza epidemic broke out and no +assembling of people was allowed. To add to the difficulties, instead +of the usual dry, clear weather of this season there came a deluge of +rains that lasted for six weeks and the condition of the roads made it +wholly impossible to do any work in the outlying districts. Thus there +was practically no campaign in the way of making personal appeals to +the voters,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> but in New Orleans and other cities thousands received +urgent letters from Miss Gordon and other leaders. Notwithstanding +these adverse conditions, the majority against the amendment was only +3,600, nearly all of it in New Orleans, where it was the result of +direct orders from Mayor Martin Behrman, through the ward "bosses" of +a perfectly controlled "machine." From parish after parish in the +State came reports of precincts not even being opened on account of +the epidemic and the weather. There is no doubt that others which +reported an adverse majority were really carried for the amendment. At +a public meeting of protest immediately after Miss Gordon made an +address recalling the glorious history of the Democratic party and +comparing it with this election which had repudiated its highest +principles.</p> + +<p>In 1920 the State Suffrage Association stood alone in again having a +resolution introduced for amending the State constitution, all the +other suffrage societies concentrating on the ratification of the +Federal Amendment, which had been submitted by Congress on June 4. It +was presented in the Lower House by L. L. Upton, in the Senate by J. +O. Stewart. They were followed immediately by Representative S. O. +Shattuck and Senator Norris C. Williamson with one to ratify the +Federal Amendment. At the close of the session Miss Jean Gordon issued +the following statement:</p> + +<blockquote><p>To the Friends of Woman Suffrage:</p> + +<p>Now that the smoke of battle has cleared ... as president of the +State association I feel that an unbiased statement of facts +should be given in order that the history of woman suffrage in +this State may be correctly recorded. Having been at Baton Rouge +from the opening day of the Legislature until its adjournment I +can give all the facts and some of the reasons for one of the +most remarkable controversies ever held in Louisiana.</p> + +<p>The proposed amendment to the State constitution having been +defeated in 1918 by the malevolent influences of the influenza +throughout the State and Mayor Behrman in New Orleans, it was +necessary to have another sent to the voters in 1920.</p> + +<p>Congress having submitted a Federal Amendment to the Legislatures +it was to be expected that men and women who believe in +centralizing the voting power in Congress would work for its +ratification, but that those who claimed to be ardent suffragists +would work to defeat State submission after they found the +sentiment for ratification amounted to almost nothing in both +Houses seems incredible. The fact remains, however, that while +the actual defeat of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> State amendment was due primarily to +personal animosity on the part of Senator Leopold of Plaquemine +parish, when he realized what he had done he said that if it was +possible to have it re-introduced he would vote for it, thus +giving the necessary twenty-eight votes. After all arrangements +for re-consideration had been made, Senator Louque, a faithful +suffragist of many years' standing, provoked because one of his +bills had been defeated, slipped away and it was again deprived +of the one vote needed.</p> + +<p>In the Senate Chamber were those nine Senators who proclaimed all +through the session their intense belief in woman suffrage—so +intense that they wanted the women enfranchised immediately and +they wished to help all the women of the United States—these and +many other reasons were given by them for standing firmly for a +Federal Amendment but they voted against State submission, +knowing the Federal Amendment had been killed overwhelmingly. +Therefore the real defeat of the State amendment must be +accredited to the following nine Senators: Bagwell, Brown, +Cunningham, Hood, Johnston of Bossier, Lawrason, Wear, Williamson +and Wood....</p> + +<p>Very different was the spirit among the proponents of the Federal +Amendment in the House. Men who have always been suffragists +voted for both Federal and State suffrage.... When Senators +Craven, Johness, Johnson of Franklin and Durr saw the Federal +Amendment was hopelessly defeated they voted for State +submission. When Mayor Behrman caught the vision of how a Federal +Amendment could help him in the September primary, he had +Senators Davey, Thoele and Roberts vote for it, though it was +reported that all had said no power on earth could ever make them +do it. After it was defeated they continued to vote against the +State amendment. The interpretation put upon their attitude was +that they would not help it because its success would be +considered a victory for Mr. Ewing, as his <i>Daily States</i> had +been the only city paper to stand for State submission. Be it +said to the credit of Senators Boyer, Butler, Clinton, Doussan, +Domengeaux, Dugas, Weil and Wilbert that although avowed +anti-suffragists, they worked hard to secure the submission of +the State amendment while so-called ardent suffragists worked +overtime for its defeat.</p></blockquote> + + +<h3>LOUISIANA. PART II.<a name="FNanchor_63_63" id="FNanchor_63_63"></a><a href="#Footnote_63_63" class="fnanchor">[63]</a></h3> + +<p>Louisiana had no State organization for woman suffrage when in March, +1913, Mrs. A. B. Singletary of Baton Rouge organized there the State +Equal Suffrage League,<a name="FNanchor_64_64" id="FNanchor_64_64"></a><a href="#Footnote_64_64" class="fnanchor">[64]</a> and in April Mrs. John T. Meehan organized +the Woman Suffrage Party of Louisiana<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> in New Orleans.<a name="FNanchor_65_65" id="FNanchor_65_65"></a><a href="#Footnote_65_65" class="fnanchor">[65]</a> Both +enrolled men as well as women, affiliated with the National American +Suffrage Association and worked harmoniously for the enfranchisement +of Louisiana women by State and national legislation. Later the League +became the Sixth District branch of the Party. When the Woman Suffrage +Party was organized its platform contained only a pledge to work for +an amendment to the State constitution, but after affiliating with the +National Association it was pledged to work also for a Federal +Suffrage Amendment, and this was fully understood by the members.</p> + +<p>By June 15 the Party, with Mrs. Edgar M. Cahn as State chairman, had +enrolled 300 members. It held open air rallies, organized by +legislative districts, which are known as "parishes," and in the +seventeen wards of Orleans parish congressional chairmen were +appointed by the beginning of 1914. This year the Teachers' Political +Equality Club and the Newcomb College Suffrage Club became branches of +the Party, and the Orleans Parish Branch was organized. Delegates were +sent to the national suffrage convention at Nashville in November.</p> + +<p>The first State convention of the Party was held in April, 1915, at +Baton Rouge and Mrs. Meehan was elected chairman. Throughout the +summer suffragists of all groups campaigned vigorously for the +recognition of woman suffrage in the State constitutional convention +expected in the autumn, but the convention itself was voted down at +the polls. A Men's League was formed and among its members were Dr. +Henry Dickson Bruns, W. A. Kernaghan, M. J. Sanders, Solomon Wolff, +Oscar Schumert, I. A. Strauss, J. J. Fineran, Lynn Dinkins, James +Wilkinson, Louis J. Bryan, Captain James Dinkins, L. H. Gosserand, +Rabbi Max Heller and Rabbi Emil Leipziger.</p> + +<p>In 1916 the resolution for a constitutional amendment to eliminate the +word "male" again failed to pass when introduced by Frank E. Powell of +De Ridder in the Lower House, though<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> asked for by all the suffrage +organizations, which now included a new group—the Equal Rights +Party—formed by Miss Florence Huberwald. Owing to the absence of Mrs. +Meehan, Mrs. H. B. Myers, vice-chairman, was active head of the party +most of the year. In November Mrs. Lydia Wickliffe Holmes of Baton +Rouge was elected State chairman at the annual convention in New +Orleans. Under her leadership all the groups in accord with the policy +of the National Suffrage Association were merged before the close of +1917, so that the Woman Suffrage Party now included the Equal Suffrage +League, the Equal Rights Party and the Louisiana League for Equal +Suffrage, formed the winter before in New Orleans by Mrs. W. J. +O'Donnell. At the annual convention in New Orleans Mrs. Holmes was +re-elected.</p> + +<p>State headquarters, known as Suffrage House, were established in New +Orleans in February, 1918, a large house on St. Charles Avenue, which +was furnished largely through the efforts of Mrs. O'Donnell, who was +in charge. In May a resolution for a State suffrage amendment, +introduced in the Upper House by Senator Leon Haas of Opelousas, was +combined with one brought by Representative Powell in the House, and +passed on June 18, to be submitted to the voters in November. Active +campaigning for its adoption at the polls began in September under a +Joint Campaign Committee of the Woman Suffrage Party and the State +Suffrage Association. In spite of the influenza epidemic thousands of +signatures were obtained to a petition asking Governor Ruffin G. +Pleasant to issue a proclamation calling on the electors to vote for +it. This he did and those in the State at large responded favorably, +but their voice was nullified by the adverse votes cast in the +machine-controlled wards of New Orleans at the behest of Mayor Martin +Behrman, and the amendment was lost by 3,605 votes. The annual +convention held at Suffrage House in New Orleans after the election +chose Mrs. Holmes again for president.</p> + +<p>In the winter of 1919 an attempt was made to secure such a +modification of the Federal Suffrage Amendment before Congress as +might meet the objections of southern opponents by removing the fear +of federal interference with elections. An amendment was devised by +Assistant Attorney General Harry<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> Gamble and National Committeeman +Robert Ewing, which would leave its enforcement to the States. They +went to Washington accompanied by Mrs. Holmes and obtained the consent +of the officers of the National Suffrage Association. Senator Gay of +Louisiana introduced it and it was unanimously reported out of the +Committee on Woman Suffrage, but the session was just closing and +consent for a vote on it was refused.</p> + +<p>On the social side an "inquiry" dinner dance given at the Country Club +in New Orleans in May to discuss why Louisiana women were not yet +enfranchised was attended by the Governor and many other prominent +politicians from all parts of the State. The annual convention was +held in the autumn at the headquarters, now removed to 417 Royal +Street, and Mrs. Holmes was elected to her fourth term.<a name="FNanchor_66_66" id="FNanchor_66_66"></a><a href="#Footnote_66_66" class="fnanchor">[66]</a></p> + +<p>The Woman Suffrage Party conducted a vigorous fight for ratification +of the Federal amendment from the opening of the Legislature May 10, +1920, until its defeat on June 15. The final vote for ratification was +given by the Legislature of Tennessee in August, which insured the +complete suffrage for women in all the States. At the annual +convention of the Woman Suffrage Party in New Orleans, December 8-9, +its formal dissolution took place, followed immediately by the +organization of the State League of Women Voters, a branch of the +National League, with Mrs. Philip Weirlein as chairman. The Party's +seven years of work for the enfranchisement of Louisiana women by +State and national legislation were fittingly recognized at a dinner +in the Restaurant de la Louisiane, at which the men and women who had +aided the cause in various ways were honored. Prominent men predicted +happy results of woman's political freedom. Gifts in appreciation of +services were made to Martin H. Manion, Marshall Ballard and Norris C. +Williamson. General Robert Georges Nivelle, the hero of Verdun, was +present and congratulated the women, expressing the hope that ere long +the women of France would gain their political liberty. A silver vase +was presented<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> to the retiring chairman, Mrs. Holmes, from her fellow +workers, and she was unanimously chosen honorary chairman of the new +league.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> On the eve of departure for the national convention in +February, 1920, Mrs. Holmes, chairman of the Woman Suffrage Party, +went to John M. Parker, who had just been nominated for Governor by +the Democratic party, and asked: "If the thirty-sixth State ratifies +the Federal Suffrage Amendment while we are in Chicago will you send +Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt a telegram of congratulations?" To this he +answered: "You write a message and sign my name to it—I'll stand for +anything you may say." "If, however, the amendment is not ratified and +it becomes necessary for Louisiana to make the fight for it," Mrs. +Holmes continued, "what must I tell Mrs. Catt you will do?" "Just say +to her," he replied, "that I am a suffragist, and she will +understand." Mr. Parker had joined the Progressive party in 1912 and +in 1916 he had made a campaign as its candidate for vice-president on +a platform that strongly endorsed the Federal Suffrage Amendment, so +his support of ratification was fully expected.</p> + +<p>On their return from the convention the leaders of the Party began to +line up the important men of the State by letter and by personal +interviews. Beginning with the ex-Governors, they secured the +endorsement of L. E. Hall, H. C. Warmoth, N. C. Blanchard, Jared Y. +Sanders and W. W. Heard. Against these, however, was the present +Governor, Ruffin G. Pleasant, who took an aggressive stand for State's +rights, although at a public banquet eight months earlier he had told +the women that 'if Louisiana women could not obtain the ballot by +State enactment he would favor Federal action.' Among those who +declared for ratification were J. J. Bailey, Paul Capdeville, F. R. +Grace, T. R. Harris, A. V. Coco, Semmes Walmsley, Rufus E. Foster, +Howell Morgan, Percy Saint, E. N. Stafford, Phanor Breazeale, +Donaldson Caffery and many other men of affairs. The New Orleans +<i>Item</i> had always advocated woman suffrage and the Federal Amendment +especially; the <i>Times-Picayune</i> now approved ratification, as did +nearly all the papers in the State. The Orleans Democratic +Association, which had put Governor Parker in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> office, passed a +resolution endorsing it. The State Central Committee chairman, Frank +J. Looney, and the National Democratic Committeeman, Arsene Pujo, were +in favor, and North Louisiana was almost solid for it. The opposition +was chiefly in New Orleans, where certain elements under ward-boss +leadership were opposed to woman suffrage in any form.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Holmes had a number of interviews with Governor-elect Parker +alone, with other women and with Marshall Ballard, editor of the +<i>Item</i>, one of his valued supporters. She was always led to believe +that he would help when the time for it came, although some of his +strongest adherents were opposed to ratification. It was deemed best +to make the fight along non-partisan lines, and so he was asked if it +would be wiser to have two of his own supporters take charge of it or +to have one who had opposed him in the primary campaign. He advised +the latter course and Norris C. Williamson of East Carroll parish, his +opponent, was selected to introduce the bill in the Senate, and S. O. +Shattuck of Calcasieu, a supporter and the introducer of the first +woman suffrage bill in the Legislature in the Lower House. The day +Mayor Martin Behrman came out for ratification, Mr. Parker said to +Mrs. Holmes: "I have always been for woman suffrage any way it could +be obtained and I have never understood a suffragist's taking any +other stand."</p> + +<p>Early in March Governor-elect Parker told a group of suffragists that +the women should get together on a program for the Legislature if they +wished to be successful. Acting on this suggestion the Party publicly +invited all suffrage organizations to come together and form a Joint +Ratification Committee. Men and women from all parts of the State +attended this meeting on April 7 and one of the speakers, Charles +Rosen, pledged Parker to ratification, while Marshall Ballard vouched +for the authenticity of his statement. The bodies that composed this +committee were the Natchitoches Equal Rights Club, represented by Mrs. +S. J. Henry; the Shreveport Suffrage Club by Mrs. J. D. and Mrs. W. A. +Wilkinson; the Louisiana branch of the National Woman's Party, by Mrs. +M. R. Bankston, Mrs. E. J. Graham, Mrs. Rosella Bayhi; the Woman +Suffrage Party by Mrs. Joseph Devereux, Mrs. J. E. Friend. Mrs. Holmes +was made chairman,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> headquarters were taken in Baton Rouge and 46 +lobbyists were at the Capitol day and night during the session.</p> + +<p>On reaching Baton Rouge the women saw the "anti" forces lining up with +the "State's rights" advocates and witnessed the curious spectacle of +women who had worked for woman suffrage for a generation allying +themselves with the paid organizers of the National Association +Opposed to Woman Suffrage, headed by Miss Charlotte Rowe of Yonkers, +N. Y., its field secretary. Ex-Governor Pleasant and his wife came out +as leaders of the opposition, assisted by the Misses Kate and Jean +Gordon and other advocates of State action.<a name="FNanchor_67_67" id="FNanchor_67_67"></a><a href="#Footnote_67_67" class="fnanchor">[67]</a> It was early seen that +the fight for the Speakership might endanger the ratification program +and the women were careful to take no part in it. R. F. Walker was +chosen, an unfortunate choice for the suffragists, for he leaned +strongly toward the "anti" side in his rulings, as did Lieutenant +Governor Hewitt Bouanchaud.</p> + + +<p>Although in his campaign speeches in the autumn Mr. Parker had +repeatedly said: "I am for suffrage; it is almost here, and we must +have it," his platform as sent into some of the parishes had contained +a "State's rights" plank, designed, with or without his knowledge, by +some of his backers, to placate those who feared the Federal Amendment +on account of its supposed effect on the negro question. This was not +known to the ratification leaders and therefore he created great +consternation by announcing shortly before his inauguration that he +"was going to keep his hands off the suffrage fight; that it was a +matter for the Legislature." After the Speakership contest was over he +refused to receive a delegation of women and declined to allow any +member of the Ratification Committee to approach him. On May 10, 1920, +the General Assembly convened in Baton Rouge and on the 11th the rival +woman suffrage bills were introduced. Representative L. L. Upton +presented the State amendment in the House. The Federal amendment +measure was a joint resolution. The attention of the country was +centered on the fight in Louisiana. Thirty-five State Legislatures had +ratified and the Republicans were claiming the credit. Democratic +leaders were very desirous of having it for the final ratification. +Appeals were sent out to prominent Democrats within and without the +State<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> for help in putting it through. Colonel William J. Bryan was +one of the first to respond, urging it to help the Democratic party in +the coming campaign. Senator Williamson called on the new "convert," +Mayor Behrman, and he appealed to the New Orleans "organization" +Senators, but was not entirely successful.</p> + +<p>On May 13 Governor Pleasant submitted the Federal Amendment to both +Houses, with a message which filled several columns of print, urging +them not to adopt it but to pass in its stead the resolution for a +State amendment. On the 16th, Senator N. C. Simmons, a former leader +of the anti-suffrage forces, issued an appeal for ratification, +ridiculing Governor Pleasant's "negro peril" bugaboo. This same day +Mrs. George Bass, chairman of the Women's National Democratic +Committee, came to Baton Rouge at the request of the Joint +Ratification Committee and addressed a large meeting in the Istrouma +Hotel in favor of it.</p> + +<p>John M. Parker was inaugurated Governor May 17. The next day he +received a telegram from President Woodrow Wilson which said: "May I +not very respectfully urge your favorable interest and influence in +the matter of the Federal Suffrage Amendment? It seems to be of the +deepest national significance and importance." The Governor answered +that he found a great difference of opinion among the legislators, +large numbers opposed to any form, and, all being Democrats, any +dictation on his part would be unwise.</p> + +<p>Efforts made by the "antis" to force an immediate vote on the Federal +Amendment failed and it was decided that all suffrage bills should +take the usual course and be referred to committees for hearings. +Women thronged the capital. On June 2 the House passed the Upton bill +for State suffrage by 93 ayes to 17 noes. That same night a hearing +before the Joint Committees on Federal Relations was held, which +lasted five hours, with some notable speeches. S. O. Shattuck, Phanor +Breazeale, Percy Saint, Judge Rufus E. Foster, Congressman Jared Y. +Sanders, Mrs. Holmes, Mrs. Bass, Mrs. E. J. Graham, Miss Florence +Huberwald, Mrs. Joseph Devereux and Mrs. M. R. Bankston appeared for +the Federal Amendment, while the opposition was voiced by Senator +Stewart, ex-Governor Pleasant, Miss Kate Gordon, and Miss Charlotte +Rowe. On June 4, the Federal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> Amendment was reported favorably in the +Senate. "Get suffrage out of the way" became the slogan, but neither +side was ready to risk a vote. The Federal bill was passed to third +reading. On June 8 former Speaker of Congress Champ Clark addressed +the General Assembly and urged its ratification as an act of justice +to women and a great benefit to Louisiana and the Democratic party. +The next day the vote on ratification was indefinitely postponed by a +vote of 22 to 19 in the Senate while the Upton bill was returned to +the House calendar.</p> + +<p>On June 14, Homer Cummings, chairman of the Democratic National +Committee, wired Behrman urging his help on the ground of party +advantage, to which the Mayor replied that he was doing all he could. +On June 15 the ratification of the Federal Amendment was defeated in +the House by a vote of 67 noes to 44 ayes, and Representative Jordan +then introduced a resolution definitely rejecting it, which was passed +by 60 ayes to 29 noes. The House declined to hear Congressman John E. +Raker of California on the ground that they had heard enough on woman +suffrage. The Upton bill for a State amendment was defeated in the +Senate by 23 noes to 16 ayes on June 17.</p> + +<p>On June 18, Representative Conrad Meyer sought to re-introduce the +Federal measure but permission was refused by 61 to 18, while a motion +to re-consider the Upton bill passed the Senate by 18 to 12. Every +possible pressure was brought to bear by the Governor's forces to +secure its passage. All kinds of tactics and tricks were employed but +on July 7 it was again defeated, lacking one vote of the necessary +two-thirds. Those who were making the fight for the Federal Amendment +finally appealed to Governor James M. Cox of Ohio, Democratic nominee +for President, to use his influence. On July 7 he sent a telegram +urging the ratification and saying that "the Legislature owed such +action to the Democratic party." A strong effort was made to obtain +another vote but it failed by 46 ayes, 52 noes, and the Legislature +adjourned on July 8 with the record of having defeated both +ratification and a resolution to let the voters decide on amending the +State constitution for woman suffrage. Senator Williamson issued a +statement saying: "There was never a time during the entire session +when Governor Parker could not have had the Federal Amendment +ratified<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> and he is the only man in the State who could have done it. +He had control of both House and Senate and when he went after +anything with all his force he did not fail to get it."</p> + +<p>The last day of the session Mrs. Holmes, chairman of the Joint +Ratification Committee, went to Governor Parker and told him that she +would place the blame where it belonged; that the women had helped put +him in office and he had not stood by them, to which he answered: "Go +to it." She therefore issued a statement on July 15 saying in part: +"The responsibility for the failure of this Federal Amendment to +enfranchise 27,000,000 women, including those of Louisiana, rests on +Governor John M. Parker. This assertion is borne out by every woman +who lobbied at Baton Rouge and by all the fair-minded men. It was in +his power to secure ratification the day the session opened; it was in +his power the day Woodrow Wilson wired and asked his support; it was +in his power when Governor Cox sent his request. The women, who, in +their zeal for a broad-visioned progressive leader of clean, honest +characteristics, did all in their power to elect him Governor—those +are the women who in sorrow today must realize that it is the only +thing he stood for that he did not 'put across.'"...</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_57_57" id="Footnote_57_57"></a><a href="#FNanchor_57_57"><span class="label">[57]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Miss Kate M. +Gordon, corresponding secretary of the National American Woman +Suffrage Association from 1901 to 1909; president of the State +Suffrage Association from 1904 to 1913; president of the Southern +States Woman Suffrage Conference from its founding in 1914 to its end +in 1917.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_58_58" id="Footnote_58_58"></a><a href="#FNanchor_58_58"><span class="label">[58]</span></a> The gaining of partial suffrage for taxpaying women and +this campaign are fully described in the +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29870/29870-h/29870-h.htm#CHAPTER_XLII">Louisiana chapter in Volume +IV of the History of Woman Suffrage</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_59_59" id="Footnote_59_59"></a><a href="#FNanchor_59_59"><span class="label">[59]</span></a> For full report see +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29878/29878-h/29878-h.htm#CHAPTER_III">Chapter III of Volume V</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_60_60" id="Footnote_60_60"></a><a href="#FNanchor_60_60"><span class="label">[60]</span></a> Among the accomplishments of the Era Club were the +following: Publication of the assessment rolls of New Orleans; +admission of women to the School of Medicine in Tulane University; +first legislation in the State against white slavery; the Southern +States Woman Suffrage Conference; equalized division of Tulane +scholarships between boy and girl students.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_61_61" id="Footnote_61_61"></a><a href="#FNanchor_61_61"><span class="label">[61]</span></a> Further matter on the Conference will be found in +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29878/29878-h/29878-h.htm#CHAPTER_XXI">Vol. V, Chapter XXI</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_62_62" id="Footnote_62_62"></a><a href="#FNanchor_62_62"><span class="label">[62]</span></a> Among those specially identified with legislative work +were Mrs. Celeste Claiborne Carruth, Mrs. McBride, Mrs. Hackenjos, +Mrs. Fred W. Price, Mrs. Wooten, Mrs. Wallace Sylvester, Mrs. George +Wesley Smith, Mrs. Lawless.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_63_63" id="Footnote_63_63"></a><a href="#FNanchor_63_63"><span class="label">[63]</span></a> The History is indebted for this part of the chapter to +Miss Ethel Hutson, chairman of publicity for the State Woman Suffrage +Association from its organization in 1913 to its close in 1920.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_64_64" id="Footnote_64_64"></a><a href="#FNanchor_64_64"><span class="label">[64]</span></a> Other workers were Mrs. Lydia, Wickliffe Holmes, +Professor W. O. Scroggs, Mrs. C. C. Devall, Mrs. C. Harrison Parker, +Mrs. Horace Wilkinson, Mrs. Elmo Bodly, Mrs. D. R. Weller, Alma +Sabourin, Nellie Spyker.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_65_65" id="Footnote_65_65"></a><a href="#FNanchor_65_65"><span class="label">[65]</span></a> Among charter members of the Woman Suffrage Party were +Mrs. E. C. G. Ferguson, Mr. and Mrs. O. W. Chamberlain, Mr. and Mrs. +H. B. Myers, Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Graham, Mrs. Rosella Bayhi, Mrs. M. M. +Reid, Mrs. Margaret Hunt Brisbane, Miss Florence Huberwald, Edward +Wisner, Marshall Ballard, James M. Thomson, Lynn Dinkins, Mr. and Mrs. +J. E. Edmonds, Trist Wood, Ethel Hutson, Mr. and Mrs. N. J. Cosu, all +of New Orleans; Mrs. J. R. Mouton, of Jennings, Katherine Channelle +and W. E. Krebs, of Lake Charles, Mrs. M. M. Bodenbender of +Covington.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_66_66" id="Footnote_66_66"></a><a href="#FNanchor_66_66"><span class="label">[66]</span></a> Among other officers and workers were: Mrs. H. +Aschaffenburg, Mrs. Eva C. Wright, Mrs. J. G. Skinner, Mrs. C. A. +Meissner, Mrs. C. G. Robinson, Mrs. Lee Benoist, Miss E. J. Harral, +Mrs. W. W. Van Meter, Miss Anna Morrell, Mrs. L. B. Elliott, Mrs. J. +E. Friend, Mrs. J. E. Wilkinson, Mrs. A. F. Storm, Mrs. James M. +Thomson, Mrs. Reuben Chauvin.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_67_67" id="Footnote_67_67"></a><a href="#FNanchor_67_67"><span class="label">[67]</span></a> For their further efforts see Tennessee chapter in this +volume.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>MAINE.<a name="FNanchor_68_68" id="FNanchor_68_68"></a><a href="#Footnote_68_68" class="fnanchor">[68]</a></h3> + + +<p>There were meetings and some organized work for woman suffrage in +Maine from the early '70's but little activity until toward the close +of the century. In August, 1900, a convention of the State association +with a "suffrage day" was held at Ocean Park, Old Orchard Beach, +attended by Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, president of the National +American Woman Suffrage Association. This year under the presidency of +Mrs. Lucy Hobart Day, organized work was systematically begun, with +meetings in eight or ten towns. State conventions were held annually +for the next twenty years, in October with but four exceptions.</p> + +<p>In 1901 special attention was given to enrollment and new sections of +the State were reached in this way. The literature and press +departments also extended their work. The summer assembly at Ocean +Park made "suffrage day" a part of its regular program. At the +convention held at Saco in 1902 plans were made to ask the next +session of the Legislature to grant Municipal suffrage to taxpaying +women. The State Grange passed a resolution in favor of this measure, +placed woman suffrage on its convention program and from that time +gave active support to the movement.</p> + +<p>The State convention took place at Auburn in 1903 and the association +became an incorporated body that year. The organization of county +leagues was begun in 1904 and a successful convention was held in +Portland. In 1905 after eight years of efficient service, Mrs. Day +retired from the presidency. She had organized several departments in +the association and was in charge of the campaign to secure Municipal +suffrage for taxpaying women. Mrs. Fannie J. Fernald was elected as +her successor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> at the convention held at Old Orchard Beach. She +travelled extensively over the State, speaking before Granges and +other organizations and securing their interest and endorsement. She +also had charge of the legislative work.</p> + +<p>In 1906 woman suffrage was endorsed by the Maine Federation of Labor, +an important accession. The annual convention again was welcomed in +Saco. At the convention of 1907 in Farmington it was voted to support +the National American Association in its efforts to secure a Federal +Suffrage Amendment. A department of church work was established. In +1908 at the convention in Portland it was arranged to petition +Congress for the submission of this amendment. In 1909 and 1910 the +usual propaganda work was continued under the presidency of Mrs. +Fernald and the usual State conventions were held at Old Orchard and +Portland. In 1911 Mrs. Fernald left the State and the Rev. Alfreda +Brewster Wallace was elected president at the convention in Portland.</p> + +<p>The association increased in size and interest and at the convention +of 1912 in Portland Miss Helen N. Bates of that city was elected +president with a very capable board. At this time the association +began to do more aggressive work in personally urging the members of +Congress to support the Federal Amendment. Miss Bates acted as +chairman of the Congressional Committee until the submission of the +amendment, when the favorable vote of every member of the Maine +delegation had been secured.</p> + +<p>In 1913 the College Equal Suffrage League was formed to help the +association in its legislative work, with Mrs. Leslie R. Rounds as +president. The annual convention took place at Portland this year and +the next, and in 1915 at Kennebunk. Many newspapers in the State had +become favorable to suffrage and propaganda was carried on through +fairs, moving pictures, street speaking, etc. In 1914 the Men's Equal +Suffrage League was formed with Robert Treat Whitehouse of Portland +president and Ralph O. Brewster secretary. Many leading men of the +State joined this League, which helped in the legislative and campaign +work. The Methodist Episcopal Church endorsed woman suffrage at its +state conference.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span></p> + +<p>In February, 1916, a Congressional conference was held in Portland in +the interest of the Federal Amendment, with Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt +in attendance and speaking at public meetings with Mrs. Maud Wood Park +and Mrs. Glendower Evans. It was attended by women from all parts of +the State and as a result of the great interest aroused many new +leagues were organized. Miss Bates resigned on account of ill health +in March and her term of office was finished by Mrs. Augusta M. Hunt +of Portland, who had always been deeply interested in the suffrage +cause. The National Association sent Mrs. Augusta Hughston, one of its +field directors, to put into operation a state-wide plan of +organization. At the State convention in Portland in October Mrs. +Katharine Reed Balentine, daughter of the Hon. Thomas B. Reed, was +elected president. The outlook seemed favorable for securing the +submission of a suffrage amendment to the voters. This year Mrs. +Deborah Knox Livingston of Bangor was appointed State organizer and +legislative chairman and work begun for this purpose.</p> + +<p>From January 8th to 20th, 1917, the National American Association held +a suffrage school in Portland to prepare for the expected campaign. +The instructors were Mrs. Nettie R. Shuler and Mrs. Halsey W. Wilson, +its corresponding and recording secretaries, and Mrs. T. T. Cotnam. +The subjects taught were Suffrage History and Argument, Organization, +Publicity and Press, Money Raising and Parliamentary Law. This school +was attended by suffragists from different sections of the State. +Later Mrs. Edward S. Anthoine and Mrs. Henry W. Cobb of the State +association carried on suffrage schools in other towns and cities. On +February 9, 10, Mrs. Catt went to Portland to attend a board meeting +of the association at the home of the president, Mrs. Balentine, to +confer on the approaching campaign.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Campaign.</span> In February, 1917, urged by the suffrage leaders, the +Legislature submitted the amendment. This had been done against the +urgent advice of Mrs. Catt, the national president, who knew of the +slight organization there, and she wrote to them Oct. 9, 1916: "If +Maine goes into a campaign for 1918 with the chances largely against +success, we feel that it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> would be a general damage to the cause and a +waste of money. If it would plan instead to go into a campaign in +1919, taking three years for preparation, we should feel that it was +far more certain of victory. Let us look at the resources you need to +get and which you have not yet secured: (1) a fund to begin with of at +least $5,000 or $6,000; (2) at least five State officers who can give +practically all of their time, with the determination to win as many +other people to the same sacrifice as they are making themselves. I +most earnestly recommend that you ask your Legislature this year for +Municipal and Presidential suffrage, making a good strong campaign for +this, which it can grant without referring it to the voters."</p> + +<p>A copy of this letter was sent to the president of the association and +at its annual convention held in October it was read and a long +discussion followed. A delegate thus reported it: "Only a few +delegates agreed with her. Many women never having been in a campaign +declared that victory was sure. The convention almost unanimously +voted for the referendum and when the vote had been taken and the +cheers had subsided, the grand sum of $500 was raised for the +campaign...." Nevertheless the National Association at its next +convention (still believing that the referendum would not be submitted +until 1918), voted to back the Maine campaign, although against the +judgment of Mrs. Catt.<a name="FNanchor_69_69" id="FNanchor_69_69"></a><a href="#Footnote_69_69" class="fnanchor">[69]</a></p> + +<p>At the request of the Maine association the National Association made +it possible for Mrs. Deborah Knox Livingston to take the position of +campaign manager. Through her extensive work for the Woman's Christian +Temperance Union she was widely acquainted in church, club and +suffrage circles, was experienced in campaigning and an eloquent +speaker. In her report after the election she said: "Maine presented +as difficult a field for the conducting of a suffrage campaign as has +ever been faced by any group of suffragists in any part of the +country. The referendum was submitted the very last of February and as +the election came so early in September only about six months' time +was given us for the campaign. Deducting from this time the months of +April<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> and May, on account of the almost impossible condition of the +roads, and June with its heavy rains, there was left but little more +than three months for active work. Early in the campaign our country +entered the World War, and the whole thought and attention of the +people were given to securing support for the Liberty Bonds, Red +Cross, Navy League and other patriotic and preparedness work. This +greatly handicapped us in the raising of finances and the creating of +organization, the two foundations upon which the structure of a +successful campaign must be built, and the two things which more than +anything else the State of Maine needed, so far as the amendment was +concerned."</p> + +<p>A campaign committee was formed from members of organizations in the +State in favor of suffrage, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, +Federation of Women's Clubs, Men's Suffrage League, Civic League, +Referendum League, the Grange and the State Suffrage Association, and +headquarters were established in Bangor. There were only fourteen +suffrage societies in the State, not all active. Eleven of the sixteen +counties had an organizer in charge for the last six weeks and 269 +local committees were formed in the different towns but many of them +were ineffectual, as they were made up of untrained women and the time +was too short to train them. The argument for suffrage, however, was +put before the voters very thoroughly. One hundred thousand were +circularized with the convincing speeches of U. S. Senator Shafroth of +Colorado and later with a leaflet Have You Heard the News? which +carried the strong appeal of the suffrage gains over the entire world. +House to house distribution of "fliers" was made in many communities. +Altogether 1,500,000 leaflets were distributed, ten to every voter in +the State. In hundreds of towns there was absolute ignorance on the +subject. The clergy were circularized three times—over a thousand of +them—the State Grange twice, committees of the political parties and +members of the Legislature twice.</p> + +<p>As soon as a committee was organized petition blanks were sent to it +and in this short space of time the names of over 38,000 women of +voting age asking for the suffrage were obtained, nearly all by +volunteer canvassers. The names from each county were sent to the +voters from that county and 100,000<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> received these lists. The +petitions did a vast amount of educational work among the women and +answered the men who insisted that the women did not want to vote.</p> + +<p>The newspapers on the whole were favorable. Especial mention should be +made of the valuable assistance continued throughout the campaign of +the Lewiston <i>Journal</i>, Portland <i>Argus</i>, Kennebec <i>Journal</i>, +Brunswick <i>Record</i> and Waldo County <i>Herald</i>. The Portland Express +gave editorial support. The Bangor Commercial, owned and edited by +John P. Bass, made a bitter fight against the amendment and refused +generally to publish even letters on the other side. It would not +publish President Wilson's letter even as a paid advertisement. From +July 1 to September 10 Mrs. Rose L. Geyer, a member of the staff of +the <i>Woman Citizen</i>, official organ of the National Suffrage +Association, conducted the publicity work in connection with Miss +Florence L. Nye, the State press chairman. On August 18 the Lewiston +<i>Journal</i> issued a supplement for the State association, edited by +Miss Helen N. Bates, of which 65,000 copies were distributed through +twenty-two newspapers.</p> + +<p>President Wilson sent a letter to Mrs. Livingston on September 4 +appealing to Democratic voters as follows: "May I not express through +you my very great interest in the equal suffrage campaign in Maine? +The pledges of my party are very distinct in favor of granting the +suffrage to women by State action and I would like to have the +privilege of urging all Democrats to support a cause in which we all +believe." On September 8 former President Roosevelt sent the following +telegram addressed to the Campaign Committee: "I earnestly hope that +as a matter of plain justice the people of Maine will vote 'yes' on +woman suffrage."</p> + +<p>The letter and telegram were put on the moving picture screens, which +were also used in other ways for propaganda. The poster sent by the +National Association and those printed by the Campaign Committee, +fastened on trees, fences, windows and every available space, carried +the message to all passers by. Mrs. Livingston said in her report: "We +can not express too gratefully our appreciation of the value of the +work accomplished by the experienced organizers sent to us by the +National Association<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> and by Massachusetts, New Hampshire, +Pennsylvania and Rhode Island; of that of Mrs. Mary G. Canfield of +Vermont, who gave her services for one month; and of the untiring and +successful labors of Mrs. Augusta M. Hunt, who had charge of York and +Cumberland counties."</p> + +<p>The entire State was thoroughly covered by public meetings, over 500 +being held during the last three months. It would be impossible to +give the names of all who spoke at these meetings but among the more +prominent were Governor Carl E. Milliken, U. S. Senator Bert Fernald, +former Senator Charles F. Johnson, Representative Ira G. Hersey, +former Representative Frank E. Guernsey; among the members of the +Legislature and other influential men, former Attorney General W. R. +Pattangall, Judge Robert Treat Whitehouse, Ralph O. Brewster, Frank W. +Butler, Daniel A. Poling, the Rev. Arthur L. Weatherly. On July 23, +24, in Augusta, and July 25, 27, in Bangor, Mrs. Catt and Mrs. Shuler +addressed mass meetings in the evenings and held conferences with the +workers through the days. In September Mrs. Catt gave a week to +speaking at public meetings in various cities. Other speakers were +Mrs. Lucia Ames Mead, Miss Elizabeth Upham Yates, Dr. Lee Anna Starr, +Mrs. Sara A. Gilson, Miss Emma L. McAlarney, Miss Anne E. Coughlin and +the Misses Loitman. The members of the Men's League were active and +helpful. The mass meetings were well attended and in all the cities +and many of the towns street meetings were very successful. Mrs. +Livingston travelled more than 20,000 miles in the State, delivered +150 addresses and raised over $4,000.</p> + +<p>Not in any other State campaign had the women anti-suffragists taken +so conspicuous a part. There was a society of considerable social +prominence in Portland and the associations in Massachusetts and New +York sent nearly twenty speakers and workers, all women except J. B. +Maling of Colorado and Charles McLean of Iowa, whose utterances had +more than once been repudiated by the men and women of their States. +Mrs. James W. Wadsworth, Jr., president of the National Association, +addressed parlor meetings. Toward the end of the campaign their +numbers became much less, as they learned that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> "machines" of both +political parties expected to defeat the amendment.</p> + +<p>The election took place Sept. 10, 1917, and the amendment received +38,838 noes, 20,684 ayes—lost by 18,154, the negative majority nearly +two to one. About half as many men voted for it as the number of women +who signed a petition for it. Mrs. Livingston gave as the principal +reasons for the defeat: 1. Inherent conservatism and prejudice. 2. +Resentment at the "picketing" of the White House by the "militant" +suffragists. 3. Briefness of the campaign. 4. Inability because of +lack of organization to reach the rural vote. 5. Reactionaries of both +parties uniting in opposition.<a name="FNanchor_70_70" id="FNanchor_70_70"></a><a href="#Footnote_70_70" class="fnanchor">[70]</a></p> + +<p>In her summing up Mrs. Livingston said: "Without the aid of the +National American Association the campaign would have been impossible. +The magnificent generosity with which it furnished speakers, +organizers, posters and literature will make the women of Maine +forever its debtors.<a name="FNanchor_71_71" id="FNanchor_71_71"></a><a href="#Footnote_71_71" class="fnanchor">[71]</a></p> + +<p>At the convention of the State Association in September, 1917, in +Augusta, Miss Mabel Connor was chosen president and at the conventions +of 1918 in Lewiston and 1919 in Portland was re-elected. At the +convention in October, 1918, having recovered somewhat from its +defeat, the association voted to introduce a bill for the Presidential +suffrage in the next Legislature in 1919. The Legislative Committee +consisted of Mrs. Balentine, chairman; Miss Connor, Miss Bates, Mrs. +Pattangall, Mrs. Cobb and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> Mrs. Guy P. Gannett, with Miss Lola Walker +as executive secretary to the chairman.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action.</span> The State Suffrage Association and the State +Woman's Christian Temperance Union always worked for woman suffrage +measures in the Legislature in cordial cooperation, beginning in 1887.</p> + +<p>1901. Suffrage bills did not come out of committee.</p> + +<p>1903. A bill was introduced for Municipal suffrage for tax-paying +women by Representative George H. Allan of Portland. The Joint +Standing Committee eliminated "taxpaying" and reported a bill giving +Municipal suffrage to all women. The State Suffrage Association did an +enormous amount of work in behalf of this bill, sending letters to +15,000 women representing 239 cities and towns who were paying taxes +on approximately $25,000,000. Several thousand answers urging the bill +were received, coming from every county and from 237 of the cities and +towns. It was lost in the Senate by a tie and in the House by a vote +of 110 noes, 29 ayes.</p> + +<p>1905, 1907, 1909, no suffrage bills were reported out of committee.</p> + +<p>1911. Four members of the Judiciary Committee made a minority report +in favor of the suffrage measure and the House voted to substitute the +minority report but the Senate refused to concur.</p> + +<p>1913. A new resolve asking for submission of a suffrage amendment was +drafted by George H. Allan and introduced in the Senate by Ira G. +Hersey, which gave a vote of 23 ayes, 6 noes. In the House the vote +was 89 ayes, 53 noes—only six more votes needed for the necessary +two-thirds.</p> + +<p>1915. A joint resolution to submit a full suffrage amendment passed +the Senate by 26 ayes, 4 noes; the House vote by 88 ayes, 59 noes—ten +more votes needed for the two-thirds. Introduced by Representative +Lauren M. Sanborn.</p> + +<p>1917. The resolution was adopted in the House February 21 by 112 ayes, +35 noes; unanimously adopted by the Senate February 22. In signing it +the next day Governor Carl E. Milliken said to the suffrage leaders: +"You have appealed to reason and not to prejudice. Your campaign has +been a very fine example of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span> what a campaign should be." The amendment +was defeated at the polls in September.</p> + +<p>1919. In March an Act granting women the right to vote for +Presidential Electors, prepared by George H. Allan, was introduced in +the Senate by Guy P. Gannett of Augusta and in the House by Percival +P. Baxter of Portland. The joint committee by 8 to 2 reported "ought +to pass." The hearing before the Judiciary Committee was called one of +the best ever held. Lewis A. Burleigh of Augusta, editor of the +Kennebec <i>Journal</i>, and Professor Frank E. Woodruff of Bowdoin College +made the principal speeches. Telegrams were read from U. S. Senator +Fernald and Representatives Ira G. Hersey, John A. Peters and Wallace +H. White, Jr., urging the passage of the bill. The "antis" were +present in force and made a hard fight. They were fully answered by +Mrs. Nancy M. Schoonmaker of Connecticut. An effort was made to attach +a clause to the bill referring it to the voters but it was thwarted, +Senator Leroy R. Folsom of Norridgewock making a strong speech against +it. In the House a still more determined effort was made to secure a +referendum but it did not succeed. Speeches were made by Frederick W. +Hinckley, Percival F. Baxter and Elisha W. Pike, legislators, and Mrs. +Katharine Reed Balentine, chairman of the Legislative Committee, and +Miss Mabel Connor, president of the State Suffrage Association. On +February 26 the bill passed the Senate by a vote of 25 ayes, 6 noes. +On March 19 it passed the House by 85 ayes, 54 noes.</p> + +<p>The favorable vote was obtained after six months of quiet, continuous +and intensive political work by the Legislative Committee. Members of +the Legislature worked for the success of the bill; the Governor +supported it and the press was largely in favor.</p> + +<p>The anti-suffragists immediately announced their proposal to bring the +Presidential Suffrage Law before the voters under the initiative and +referendum, upon petition of at least 10,000 legal voters filed within +a specified time. The effort to secure these names lagged and without +doubt would have been given up had it not been for Frank E. Mace, +former State Forest Commissioner, who organized committees all over +the State at the eleventh hour<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> and petitions bearing 12,000 +signatures were filed July 3, within 90 days after the Legislature +adjourned, as required. As there was doubt about the constitutionality +of this referendum, the State Supreme Court, on July 9, 1919, was +requested by Governor Milliken to decide. On August 6 the Court +rendered its decision that the Act came within the provisions of the +initiative and referendum. As the petition did not ask for a special +election the Governor sent out a proclamation for the referendum to be +submitted at the next general election Sept. 13, 1920. The Federal +Suffrage Amendment was declared to be adopted on August 26 but there +was no way in which the referendum could legally be omitted from the +ballot. Therefore on September 13 the women, already having full +suffrage, went to the polls to vote on getting partial suffrage and +the official count showed 88,080 ayes, 30,462 noes.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> Governor Milliken called a special session of the +Legislature for November, 1919. In his message he recommended the +ratification of the Federal Amendment in the strongest possible +manner, saying that if only one woman in Maine wanted to vote she +should have the chance. The anti-suffrage forces of the entire country +were concentrated on Maine at this time to prevent ratification and it +was with the greatest difficulty that a movement to postpone action +until the regular session was defeated. The amendment was ratified in +the Senate on November 4 by 24 ayes, 5 noes; in the House on November +5 by 72 ayes, 68 noes. After the vote was taken an attempt to +reconsider was made but was unsuccessful.</p> + +<p>The same Legislative Committee of women that had charge of the +Presidential bill had charge of the ratification.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>At the annual convention of the State Suffrage Association in Portland +in October, 1919, it was voted to hold a School for Citizenship at +Bates College in August, 1920. Mrs. George M. Chase was made chairman +of the Committee of Arrangements and the work was largely carried out +by Miss Rosamond Connor, 100 women from many parts of the State +attending and deriving much benefit. Mrs. Nancy M. Schoonmaker was the +principal instructor. At a meeting of the association in Augusta on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> +November 12 it was merged into the League of Women Voters with Miss +Mabel Connor as chairman.</p> + +<p>Suffrage work in Maine was carried on for many years in the face of +the greatest obstacles but there was always a small group of devoted +women willing to make any sacrifice for the cause, who carried the +torch until another group could take it, and every step gained was +fought for. The history would be incomplete without mention of the +Portland Equal Franchise League, of which Mrs. Arthur L. Bates was +president, which for many years was the backbone of the State +association. The list of State officers who freely gave their services +is too long to publish. Among other prominent workers not already +mentioned were Dr. Jennie Fuller of Hartland; Mrs. Zenas Thompson and +Miss Susan Clark of Portland; Mrs. Isabel Greenwood of Farmington; +Miss Anna L. Dingley and Miss Alice Frost Lord, connected with the +Lewiston <i>Journal</i>.<a name="FNanchor_72_72" id="FNanchor_72_72"></a><a href="#Footnote_72_72" class="fnanchor">[72]</a></p> + +<p>Among the men not mentioned elsewhere, who advocated woman suffrage in +the face of criticism and with no advantage to be gained, were Judge +William Penn Whitehouse and Obadiah Gardner of Augusta; Leonard A. +Pierce of Portland; L. B. Dessy of Bar Harbor; E. C. Reynolds of South +Portland.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_68_68" id="Footnote_68_68"></a><a href="#FNanchor_68_68"><span class="label">[68]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Miss +Caroline Colvin, Professor of History in the State University, Miss +Helen N. Bates, president of the State Woman Suffrage Association, +1912-1916, and Miss Mabel Connor, president, 1917-1919.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_69_69" id="Footnote_69_69"></a><a href="#FNanchor_69_69"><span class="label">[69]</span></a> The above paragraphs have been copied for the sake of +historical accuracy from an official report of the national +corresponding secretary.—Ed.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_70_70" id="Footnote_70_70"></a><a href="#FNanchor_70_70"><span class="label">[70]</span></a> Mrs. Clarence Hale, State president of the anti-suffrage +organization, issued the following: "The large majority vote cast +against suffrage today must indicate, as did the great vote of +Massachusetts in 1915, that the East is not in favor of the entrance +of women into political life. The result should satisfy the +suffragists for all time and they should now practice the principles +of democracy and fairness, which they are so ready to preach, by +refraining from further disputing the will of the people.... We can +now return to give our services to the State and the nation in woman's +normal way." +</p><p> +On November 7 the "East" spoke again when the voters of New York by a +majority of 102,353 gave full suffrage to women.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_71_71" id="Footnote_71_71"></a><a href="#FNanchor_71_71"><span class="label">[71]</span></a> Besides paying the expenses of the suffrage school, the +National Association paid the salary of Mrs. Deborah Knox Livingston +as campaign manager; the salary of Miss Lola Walker from February 10 +to September 10; the salaries of eight other organizers who worked for +varying periods and the expenses of four; for 120,000 Shafroth +speeches; circularized 1,200 of the Protestant and Catholic clergy; +prepared especially for Maine 125,000 baby fliers and 100,000 copies +of Have You Heard? and furnished envelopes and stamps for them; 14,000 +pieces of literature for advanced suffragists; 1,000 copies of Do You +Know? to circularize the politicians; 400 each of thirteen different +kinds of posters; 500 war measure fliers; 2,000 blue and yellow +posters. The Leslie Commission contributed the services of Mrs. Geyer +for press work from July 1 to September 10. This campaign cost the +National Association $10,282 and the Leslie Commission $4,986, a total +of $15,268.—Ed.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_72_72" id="Footnote_72_72"></a><a href="#FNanchor_72_72"><span class="label">[72]</span></a> Among the active workers in the Anti-Suffrage +Association were Mesdames John F. A. Merrill, Morrill Hamlin and +George S. Hobbs, all of Portland; Norman L. Bassett, John F. Hill, and +Charles S. Hichborn, all of Augusta; George E. Bird, Yarmouth; Miss +Elizabeth McKeen, Brunswick. +</p><p> +Among the men actively opposed were the Rev. E. E. Newbert, Benedict +F. Maher, Samuel C. Manley, Charles S. Hichborn, all of Augusta; +ex-Governor Oakley C. Curtis, of Portland; Governor-elect Frederick H. +Parkhurst, of Bangor; U. S. Senator Hale, opposed but finally voted +for the Federal Suffrage Amendment.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<h3>MARYLAND. PART I.<a name="FNanchor_73_73" id="FNanchor_73_73"></a><a href="#Footnote_73_73" class="fnanchor">[73]</a></h3> + + +<p>When the fourth volume of the History of Woman Suffrage closed in 1900 +it left the Maryland association just eleven years old. Since 1894, +when the Montgomery County and the Baltimore City Associations united, +it has been represented by accredited delegates in every national +convention. These thirty-one years of organized effort by no means +represent all of the suffrage agitation in the State.<a name="FNanchor_74_74" id="FNanchor_74_74"></a><a href="#Footnote_74_74" class="fnanchor">[74]</a></p> + +<p>As Baltimore is the only large city and contains more than half the +population of the State it is not surprising that this city has been +the real battleground of the movement. Twenty-five State conventions +have been held here, continuing one or two days, and two State +conferences of two days each. The first of the conferences was +arranged by Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, the new national president, and +held in Baltimore in 1900, at which time Miss Susan B. Anthony was the +guest of honor and was presented with a purse of gold for her 80th +birthday by the Maryland women. The second conference was held in +1902. The speakers at these conferences besides the national officers +were Helen Morris Lewis of North Carolina, Annie L. Digges of Kansas, +Clara Bewick Colby of Washington, D. C., Dr. Cora Smith Eaton of +Minneapolis and Catharine Waugh McCulloch of Chicago. The day sessions +were devoted to business and discussions, followed by addresses in the +evening. The State<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> convention of 1901 met in the Friends' Meeting +House; that of 1902 in Heptasophs Hall, with a bazar and supper; that +of 1903 in the Friends' Meeting House. The local speakers were Dr. O. +Edward Janney, R. Henry Holme, Lizzie York Case, Annie Davenport, Emma +Maddox Funck and Mary Bentley Thomas. Out of town speakers were Mrs. +Catt, Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, national vice-president at large; Harriet +May Mills of New York and Emma M. Gillett, a lawyer of Washington, D. +C. The convention of 1904 met in the Church of the Disciples. A supper +was served between sessions and Dr. Shaw and the Rev. Peter Ainslie +spoke to crowded houses at night.</p> + +<p>The convention of 1905 was held in the Harlem Avenue Christian Church. +Memorial services were held for George W. Catt, husband of the +national president. The following departments of work were adopted: +Peace and Arbitration, Church, Enrollment, Finance, Legislation and +Press. Dr. Shaw spoke in the evening on The New Democratic Ideal. +Invitations were given in 1904 and 1905 to the National American +Suffrage Association to hold its annual convention in Baltimore. The +second was accepted and the convention took place Feb. 7-13, 1906. +Half of the $1,200 raised for it was given to the National +Association. Most of the delegates were entertained in homes. The +meetings were held in the Lyric Theater and the audiences at the +evening sessions numbered from 1,500 to 3,000. The State association +sent out 20,000 invitations. Music was provided for every session by +the Charles M. Stieff Piano Company and clergymen came from various +churches for the opening devotional services. Three men gave unlimited +time and assistance to the work of the convention, Dr. J. William +Funck, Dr. Janney and Charles H. Holton. As this was the native city +of Miss Mary Garrett and Dr. M. Carey Thomas they united as hostesses +of the association during the convention and thereafter became +important factors in the national work.<a name="FNanchor_75_75" id="FNanchor_75_75"></a><a href="#Footnote_75_75" class="fnanchor">[75]</a> This was the last +convention attended by Miss Anthony, who died a month later. A +memorial service was held in Baltimore, the following taking part: the +Rev. Alexander Kent of Washington, Mary Badders Holton, Mrs. Funck, +Mrs. Janney, Mrs. Holme and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> Miss Maddox. Music was furnished by the +Cecilian quartette of women's voices.</p> + +<p>The State convention of 1906 was held in the Friends' Meeting House, +addressed by Ellen Spencer Mussey of Washington. In 1907 the +convention met in Arundell Hall November 21 and in the Hampden +Methodist Church the 22nd. The afternoon program included interesting +talks by six Baltimore men—Henry White, Dr. Funck, Dr. Janney, R. +Henry Holme, State Forester Albert M. Beasley and the Rev. B. A. +Abbott, pastor of the Harlem Avenue Christian Church. A large number +of fraternal delegates were present. The Rev. Ida C. Hultin of Boston +spoke at both evening sessions.</p> + +<p>In 1908 the annual meeting was held in McCoy Hall, Johns Hopkins +University, with Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Maud Nathan of New York +and Rachel Foster Avery of Philadelphia as speakers. Dr. Lewellys F. +Barker presided at the evening meeting. In 1909 the convention took +place in the Baltimore Business College, Nov. 23, 24, with Dr. Barton +O. Aylesworth of Colorado and the Rev. John Roach Straton of the +Seventh Baptist Church as the orators at the evening sessions. +Memorial services were held for Henry B. Blackwell. A supper and bazar +were pleasant features. In 1910 the convention was held in Osler Hall, +Cathedral Street, with both sessions devoted to business. A noteworthy +event of the year was the election of Miss Sarah Richmond, a pioneer +suffragist, as president of the State Teachers' Association, the first +woman to be accorded this honor in the fifty years of its existence. +Prizes of $25 were offered for essays on woman suffrage by girls in +the high school.</p> + +<p>At the convention of 1911 in Heptasophs Hall the California victory of +October 11 was celebrated with a banquet attended by 400 men and +women, Mrs. Belva A. Lockwood of Washington presiding. The meeting on +the next evening was addressed by Miss A. Maud Royden of London on The +Economic, Spiritual and Religious Aspect of Woman Suffrage. During the +year a leaflet had been issued entitled Opinions of Representative Men +of Maryland on Woman Suffrage, through Miss Mary B. Dixon, chairman of +publicity, and 600 suffrage posters were placed in the counties. In +Baltimore they were made into double faced<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> placards and men were +employed to carry them through the business sections. Suffrage +petitions and resolutions had been endorsed by the State Federation of +Labor, Woman's Christian Temperance Union, Ladies of the Maccabees, +Grange and Jewish Council of Women.</p> + +<p>The convention of 1912 was held in the Baltimore Business College, the +afternoon devoted to discussions of plans of work, reports, etc., +followed by a supper and bazar. A report was given of the organization +of a Men's League for Woman Suffrage by Dr. Donald R. Hooker, Dr. +Funck, Dr. Janney, the Rev. James Gratten Mythen, Dr. Warren Lewis, +Jacob M. Moses, S. Johnson Poe, Frank F. Ramey and William F. Cochran. +In the evening there was a debate on the enfranchisement of women by +the boys of the Polytechnic Institute, Samuel M. North, a member of +the faculty and a pioneer suffragist, presiding. At the convention of +1913 the twenty-fourth anniversary of the State association was +celebrated in Veteran Corps Hall with a supper, dance and addresses by +Laura Clay of Kentucky, Clara Bewick Colby of Washington, Ella S. +Stewart of Illinois and Lucy Burns of New York. The convention of 1914 +was held in the Royal Arcanum Building. The speakers were Mrs. Robert +LaFollette of Wisconsin, Mrs. Nathan of New York, Mrs. Louis F. Post +of Illinois and Mr. Western Star. It was reported that at the great +suffrage parade held the preceding March in Washington Maryland had +the largest delegation.</p> + +<p>The business session of 1915 was held in the W. C. T. U. Building and +the evening session in the Universalist Church, whose pastor, the Rev. +C. Clifton Clark, spoke on the pro-suffrage side. This year a union of +all the organizations in the State was effected under the name of the +Woman Suffrage Party of Maryland. Mrs. Funck was elected president and +served two years.</p> + +<p>The annual meeting of 1916 was held on the lawn at the home of +Elizabeth Bruce Gwynn; that of 1917 on the grounds of the Young +Woman's Christian Association; in 1918 at Tolchester Beach and in 1919 +at the home of Evelyn Albaugh Timanus. The workers during these years +always were volunteers, who served without financial compensation. The +association is indebted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> for the past ten years to Mary Elizabeth Ward +for all stenographic work and to Margaret A. Maddox for most of the +publicity work.</p> + +<p>Among those who have represented their counties in State conventions +are the following: Montgomery county, Mary Bentley Thomas, Sarah +Miller, Rebecca Miller, Mary E. Moore, Mary Magruder; Baltimore +county, Elizabeth Herring, Josephine E. Smith, Julia F. Abbott, Anna +S. Abbott, Ella Warfield, Kate Vanhorn, Mrs. Charles Weed, Mrs. James +Green, Mary C. Raspe, Ethel C. Crosby; Harford, Annie H. Hoskins, +Lydia Reckord, Eliza Edell; Carroll, Maggie Mehring; Cecil, Alice +Coale Simpers; Somerset, Florence Hoge; Caroline, Miss Eliza +Messenger; Anne Arundel, Mrs. Wilhelmina Nichols; Howard, Miss +Elizabeth B. Wilson.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Baltimore City Club.</span> For more than twenty years this club averaged +from four to twenty public meetings annually in theaters, churches and +suffrage headquarters. Scores of business and executive meetings were +held and sociables, suppers, lawn fetes, banquets, excursions and +bazars were given. The club opened the first headquarters in 1902 at +107 West Franklin Street, one of the city's noted thoroughfares. In +1908 they were established on North Gilmore Street, West Baltimore, +and in 1912 on the corner of Baltimore and Carey Streets. At both +localities the plate glass windows were decorated with pictures of +suffrage leaders, cartoons, platforms of political parties and +literature; afternoon tea was served and public meetings held at +night. It also inaugurated Sunday afternoon meetings which became very +popular and it was responsible for bringing to Baltimore many men and +women of national and international distinction. The first English +"militant" to speak in Baltimore was Mrs. Annie Cobden Sanderson, on +My Experience in an English Jail, in January, 1908, in the Christian +Temple, the Rev. Peter Ainslie, the pastor, introducing the speaker, +who made a profound impression. Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst came next, +speaking in Osler Hall on Ideal Democracy, followed by Sylvia +Pankhurst and Mrs. Philip Snowden, the latter speaking at the Seventh +Baptist Church, the pastor presiding.</p> + +<p>In 1909 at a mass meeting one Sunday afternoon in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> Lyric Theater +an audience of over 2,000 was present, more than half of them men, +with Dr. Shaw and Mrs. Florence Kelley the speakers; Judge Jacob M. +Moses of the Juvenile Court presided and a number of men of +distinction were seated on the platform. Mrs. Catt spoke at a mass +meeting in the Academy of Music in March, 1913, at which Miss Eliza H. +Lord of Washington, D. C., presided and Senator William E. Borah of +Idaho was a guest. Other Sunday afternoon meetings were held in +Ford's, Albaugh's, the Garden and the New Theaters with well known +speakers. Baltimore clergymen assisting at these meetings, besides +those already mentioned, were the Rev. Dr. Frank M. Ellis and the Rev. +Dr. J. W. Wills; the Reverends Kingman Handy, Henry Wharton and W. H. +Baylor of the Baptist Church; George Scholl and Thomas Beadenkoph of +the Lutheran Synod; Richard W. Hogue and George W. Dame of the +Episcopal, E. L. Hubbard of the Methodist and Wynne Jones of the +Highlandtown Presbyterian Churches.</p> + +<p>Through the State Woman Suffrage Association and the Baltimore City +Club much educational work was done from 1900 to 1910 in the way of +public and parlor meetings. The pictures of suffrage leaders were +placed in the public schools. The History of Woman Suffrage and the +Life of Susan B. Anthony were given to public libraries. Boys and +girls were trained for suffrage debates and prizes given for essays. +Subscriptions were solicited for <i>Progress</i> and the <i>Woman's Journal</i>; +press work was pushed; opportunities were sought to speak before all +kinds of organizations and there was a wide distribution of suffrage +literature. Handsomely engrossed resolutions were presented in 1902 to +Senator Jacob M. Moses in appreciation of his having introduced the +bill in the Legislature to permit women to practice law in Maryland; +and to Miss Maddox, the first to be admitted to the bar, a gold pin +bearing the State coat-of-arms as an expression of esteem for her +onerous work in securing its passage.</p> + +<p>In 1906 and thereafter by specially appointed committees suffrage +planks were requested in the platforms of the political parties but +with no success. In 1907 a delegation appeared before the State +Federation of Labor asking for its endorsement of woman suffrage, +which was refused.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span></p> + +<p>For 1908 the slogan was, Convert the public school teachers. To this +end a mass meeting was held in Baltimore with Miss Grace C. Strachan, +a district superintendent of the public schools of New York; the Rev. +Olympia Brown of Wisconsin and Mrs. Emma Smith Devoe of the State of +Washington as speakers. Mrs. Funck attended tri-county conventions of +teachers, speaking on woman suffrage and distributing 5,000 leaflets. +Three women attended the hearing before the House Judiciary Committee +of Congress in the interest of the Federal Amendment, Mrs. Funck +addressing the committee. Independence Day was observed by a parade +and street speaking by Mrs. Colby, Mrs. Timanus and others.</p> + +<p>In 1911 the first debate on woman suffrage took place before the Men's +Club of the Harlem Park Methodist Church, Mrs. Funck taking the +affirmative side against two members of the Anti-Suffrage Society, +Mrs. Francis T. Redwood and Mrs. Haslup Adams. The following year +another debate was held at the State Normal School by the pupils. In +both instances the affirmative won.</p> + +<p>In 1914 a large suffrage bazar was held under the auspices of all the +clubs in the Fifth Regiment Armory with good financial results. This +year the association entered the political arena, the logical +culmination of previous years of work. Legislation and Publicity was +the slogan. It specialized in ward work, besieged legislative and +political leaders with telegrams and letters, visited their offices +and homes, watched at the polls, worked to defeat anti-suffrage +candidates; addressed shop and factory employees, spoke on street +corners and at county fairs, made use of suffrage posters and unique +advertisements and had parades.</p> + +<p>The State Woman Suffrage Association has had but two presidents, Mary +Bentley Thomas of Ednor, 1894-1904 and Emma Maddox Funck, 1904-1920. +The latter was president of the Baltimore City Society 1897-1920. +Others who served as State officers ten years and more were Mary +Badders Holton, Evelyn Albaugh Timanus, Etta H. Maddox, Anne Webb +(Mrs. O. Edward) Janney, Pauline W. Holme, Mary Young Taylor, Edna +Annette Beveridge, Nellie C. Cromwell, Florence E. Barnes, Mary E. +Moore, Margaret Smythe Clark and Annie H. Hoskins.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> Space will not +permit the names of the many women who were loyal and helpful during +these years. Women were not left entirely alone to fight the battle +and many men besides those mentioned assisted and encouraged.</p> + +<p>The Maryland Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage was organized in +Baltimore in 1911, opening its first headquarters in North Charles +Street with Mrs. N. C. Talbott as executive secretary. Later there was +some organization in the counties. The members through public +meetings, legislative hearings and distribution of literature +vigorously carried on their opposition to women's enfranchisement. The +society was affiliated with the National Anti-Suffrage Association and +was organized for the purpose of fighting the movement to enfranchise +women by both Federal and State amendments. The presidents were Mrs. +John Redwood, Mrs. Oscar Leser, Mrs. Rufus Gibbs and Mrs. Robert +Garrett, the last named serving until after the Federal Amendment was +adopted. Other women active in opposition were Mrs. Michael Wild, Mrs. +Rosalie Strauss, Mrs. W. P. E. Wyse, Mrs. P. Lea Thom, Mrs. Coyle +Haslup Adams, Mrs. George A. Frick and Mrs. William L. Marbury. This +association gave substantial aid in money and other ways to the +Maryland legislators who went to Virginia, North Carolina and +Tennessee to work against the ratification of the Federal Amendment by +their Legislatures.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action.</span> The Maryland Woman Suffrage Association in +connection with its suffrage activities worked in the Legislature for +other progressive measures, among them the use of the public schools +for social centers; equal pay for equal service; appointment of women +on boards of education and on all public institutions; the abolition +of capital punishment; initiative and referendum; co-education; +abolition of child labor.</p> + +<p>1906. Legislators declined to introduce any suffrage measure and +treated the request as a joke.</p> + +<p>1907. A special committee appointed by the Legislature to revise the +election laws was asked that the word "male" be stricken out. No +attention was paid to the request.</p> + +<p>1910. The resolution for submitting an amendment was framed by Etta H. +Maddox, introduced by Delegate William<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> Harry Paire, the Republican +floor leader, and referred to the Committee on Constitutional +Amendments. The hearing was held in the House of Delegates at +Annapolis on February 24 before the committee and an audience that +taxed the chamber's capacity. Miss Maddox presided and introduced the +speakers—Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, president of the National Suffrage +Association; the Rev. John Roach Straton, the Rev. Peter Ainslie, +Attorney John Grill, Dr. Flora Pollack, Mrs. Mary Badders Holton, Mrs. +Funck, the Rev. Olympia Brown of Wisconsin, Dr. J. William Funck and +Miss Belle Kearney of Mississippi. An evening meeting also was held in +the same place in the interest of the amendment. On March 24 Carville +D. Benson of Baltimore county moved to lay it on the table which was +done by a vote of 61 ayes, 18 noes. No action was taken by the Senate.</p> + +<p>1912. All the suffrage societies united in asking for the submission +of a State amendment for full suffrage. Their best speakers appeared +before the committees. A petition was presented to both Houses, signed +by 30,000 voters, but it polled only 22 affirmative votes in the +House. Soon after a limited suffrage bill, sponsored by the Equal +Suffrage League, failed by a vote of 16 noes, 9 ayes in the Senate.</p> + +<p>1914. The amendment resolution was introduced in the House by Charles +H. McNab of Harford county and in the Senate by William Holmead of +Prince George county. It was supported by all the suffrage societies, +and ably advocated but lost by 34 ayes, 60 noes in the House and +defeated in the Senate. A resolution introduced in the Senate asking +for the full suffrage for women with an educational and property +qualification, endorsed only by the Equal Suffrage League, failed to +get a hearing. One in the Senate requiring a literacy test only was +not reported.</p> + +<p>1916. The constitutional amendment for full suffrage was introduced in +the House by Lloyd Wilkinson (Democrat) of Baltimore and in the Senate +by Sydney Mudd (Republican) of Charles county and strongly supported. +House vote was 36 ayes, 64 noes. The Senate committee reported +favorably and the vote stood 17 ayes, 7 noes, William F. Chesley the +only Republican<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> who voted no. The lobbyists were Mrs. Hooker, Mrs. +Dora Ogle, Mrs. Robert Moss, Miss Lucy Branham, Miss Maddox, Miss +Gwendolyn Willis, the Rev. Olympia Brown, Mrs. Charles E. Ellicott, +Mrs. Ross Thompson, Miss Emma Weber, Mrs. William H. Maloy, Mrs. +Calvin Gabriel, Mrs. Timanus, Mrs. Howard Schwartz, Mrs. Funck. This +was the last time a State amendment was asked for.</p> + +<p>1917. At the special session a bill for Presidential suffrage, +supported by the State association and the Just Government League, +passed the Senate by a vote of 18 ayes, 6 noes, after a joint hearing +held in the State House, where the outside speakers, were Dudley Field +Malone, U. S. Senator Shafroth and Representative Jeannette Rankin. In +the House it failed by a vote of 41 ayes, 56 noes.</p> + +<p>1918. The Presidential suffrage bill received in the House 42 ayes, 53 +noes; in the Senate 12 ayes, 13 noes.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> For twenty-five years the women of Maryland tried to get +some form of suffrage from their Legislature without success and it is +not surprising that they felt obliged to look to a Federal Amendment +for their enfranchisement. The delegation in Congress was divided on +its submission, Senator Joseph I. France (Republican) voting in favor +and Senator John Walter Smith (Democrat) in opposition; two +Representatives in favor and five in opposition. After it had been +sent to the Legislatures for ratification in June, 1919, pressure was +brought to bear on Governor Emerson C. Harrington to call a special +session, as it was reported that a majority in favor might be secured. +U. S. Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer urged it in a letter July +10, saying: "Pennsylvania has already ratified and it will be a +service to our party if a Democratic State like Maryland will promptly +follow suit." The Governor advised waiting till the regular session as +"this Legislature was not elected with the question of this amendment +before the people."</p> + +<p>The regular session convened Jan 7, 1920, and Albert Cabell Ritchie +had been elected Governor. Mrs. William Milnes Maloy was chairman of +the Suffrage Campaign Committee and Mrs. Robert Moss of the +legislative work in Annapolis, and the committee was composed of +prominent suffragists from all the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> societies. A mass meeting took +place on January 20 in the State Armory at Annapolis, with addresses +by U. S. Senator Kenneth McKellar of Tennessee, State Senator Oliver +Metzerott and Mrs. Donald R. Hooker. State Senator George Q. Bartlett +read letters from Senator France advocating ratification. Many members +of the Legislature were seated on the platform. At the close of the +meeting Mrs. Maloy offered a resolution in favor of ratification, +which was carried by a large majority.</p> + +<p>On Friday, February 6, Governor Ritchie submitted the Federal Woman +Suffrage Amendment to the General Assembly. Senator Metzerott +(Republican) introduced a resolution for ratification in the Senate +and Representative Cobourn (Democrat) in the House. It was sent to the +Senate Committee on Federal Relations, Senator Grason, chairman; to +the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments, Mr. Roberts +chairman. A hearing was set for February 11 but on being informed that +most of the suffrage leaders would be in Chicago attending the +national suffrage convention at that time and that others of their +speakers could not be present, Senator Grason said that, with Mr. +Robert's consent, the hearing would be postponed until the 18th.</p> + +<p>The suffragists heard no more and great was the surprise of those of +the committee who were left to find on returning to Annapolis February +10, when the session reconvened, that Mr. Roberts absolutely refused +to delay and the hearing would take place on February 11. A hasty +canvass of his committee showed that a majority was in favor of +deferring it until the 18th, so the suffragists returned to their +homes. The next morning the Baltimore papers announced that it would +be held that day. The suffragists learned that the preceding night +Speaker Tydings had transferred the suffrage amendment from the +Committee on Constitutional Amendments, which was favorable to it, and +had put it into the Committee on Federal Relations, which was hostile! +There were of course no members of the suffrage committee present at +the hearing. Mrs. Rufus Gibbs, president of the State Anti-Suffrage +Association, urged the defeat of ratification. William F. Marbury made +a strong argument against it. Senator Legg of Queen Anne's, who had +announced that he "would do just what Governor Ritchie desired," spoke +against it.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span> Delegates Cobourn, Shartzer, Curry and the minority floor +leader, Vernon Simmons, explained how the suffragists had been +deceived and made an earnest plea for fair play.</p> + +<p>It had been intended to bring the measure to a vote immediately but +the feeling against this was so intense that it was finally set for +the 17th. The suffragists demanded a hearing but the House committee +refused it and made an adverse report on the resolution to ratify. The +Senate committee granted one for the morning of the 17th. Long before +the hour set suffragists from many places began to gather. At 10:30 +the larger delegations arrived, heralded by Farson's band, and marched +straight into the State House. Their number was so large that Chairman +Grason adjourned from the committee room to the Senate Chamber. Mrs. +Hooker presented resolutions and petitions for ratification from +organizations representing over 125,000 residents of Maryland. They +were from many State labor associations, patriotic societies, the +Grange, Federation of Women's Clubs, Women's Trade Union League, +Teachers' Association, Graduate Nurses, Goucher College Alumnae, clubs +for every conceivable purpose. She was followed by Mrs. Edward +Shoemaker, chairman of the women's State branch of the National +Council of Defense, who made an eloquent appeal for the proposed +amendment. Judge J. Harry Covington, member of Congress, gave a strong +legal and political argument, answering that of Mr. Marbury. Mrs. +Henry Zollinger represented the Women's Anti-Suffrage Association and +Judge Oscar Leser spoke in opposition. The Hon. Thomas Parran summed +up for the suffragists.</p> + +<p>At twelve o'clock the suffragists went to the reception room of the +Governor, who announced that he wished to give them all the time that +they desired to present their case. The speakers were Mrs. Sydney M. +Cone, Mrs. Shoemaker, Miss Kate McLane, prominent in war work; Mrs. +Robert Moss, Guion Miller representing the Society of Friends; Mrs. +Robert H. Walker, the college women; Miss Hunt, the nurses; Miss Mary +Dubrau, the eastern shore. The Governor, answering, said that the +ratification was a question for the Legislature alone to determine; +that the platform on which he ran pledged the Democratic party +against<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span> it and that he could not ask the legislators to repudiate the +platform. Mrs. Hooker in vigorous language held him wholly responsible +for the action they took on it.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon Representatives Cobourn, McBride, Shartzer, Demarco, +Jones and Gambrill spoke for ratification. The vote stood 64 noes, 36 +ayes. The same afternoon Senators Metzerott, Gibson, Bartlett and +Robins earnestly urged ratification; Senators J. Frank Parran, +McIntosh and Legg spoke against it. The vote stood 18 noes, 9 ayes, +seven Republicans and two Democrats. In the House 32 of the 45 +Republicans and 4 of the 56 Democrats voted in favor.</p> + +<p>Undaunted by their defeat the suffragists gathered in front of the +State House and with colors flying and band playing martial airs +marched two by two around the Capitol, receiving many cheers and good +wishes from the spectators. A brief meeting was then held at which +resolutions of appreciation were passed for all the brave men who had +fought so valiantly for democracy.</p> + +<p>Committees of both Houses had reported a resolution of definite +rejection, which the Senate passed, and a delegation of women from the +Anti-Suffrage Association, headed by Mrs. Gibbs, carried it to +Washington and presented it to the Acting Secretary of State, serving +formal notice that "the State of Maryland denies the lawful right and +power of Congress to propose the amendment for woman suffrage and the +validity of such an amendment as part of the Federal Constitution even +if ratified by three-fourths of the States."</p> + +<p>The Maryland Legislature was by no means satisfied with its +demonstration of State's rights in defeating the ratification of the +Federal Suffrage Amendment but it undertook to interfere with the +rights of other States. On February 24 the House of Delegates voted by +54 to 44 for a joint resolution to send a delegation of seven +anti-suffrage members to West Virginia to urge its General Assembly to +follow the course of Maryland in rejecting the amendment. This was +adopted by the Senate with little delay and three of its members were +appointed to accompany four selected by the House. The next day two +resolutions drawn up by Mr. Marbury were introduced in the +Legislature. One was to "repeal, rescind and recall the resolutions +ratifying the so-called<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution of +the United States." The other authorized and requested the Governor to +call on the national government, in behalf of the State of Maryland, +to "have the so-called Eighteenth Amendment and the Volstead Act +declared null and void." The reason for his opposition to woman +suffrage was clearly apparent.</p> + +<p>On March 30 by a vote of 20 ayes, 7 noes, the Senate passed a joint +resolution introduced by George Arnold Frick authorizing and directing +the Attorney General of Maryland to bring suit or suits to prevent the +Secretary of State of the United States from proclaiming the Federal +Amendment prior to the holding of a referendum thereon in certain +States, and to test the validity, should the same be ratified by the +elected Legislatures of three-fourths of the States. This also passed +in the House. The opponents thought that now they had spiked every gun +but in September it was discovered that the vote on ratification had +been pigeonholed instead of being sent by the Governor to the +Secretary of State in Washington. Immediately there was hustling to +bring it again before the two Houses and on September 22 it was +rejected in the Senate by a vote of 17 to 8 and in the House by 51 to +42, nearly a month after the Federal Amendment had been proclaimed!</p> + +<p>A Men's Anti-Suffrage Association had been formed under the name of +the Maryland League for State Defense and a suit was brought by its +board of managers. This was called the case of Leser vs. Garnett, +Judge Leser and his associate lawyers representing this League, Mr. +Garnett representing the Board of Registry of the 7th Precinct of the +11th Ward of Baltimore. On Oct. 12, 1920, Judge Leser challenged the +registration there of Cecilia S. Waters (white) and Mary D. Randolph +(colored) in order to test the validity of what the "antis" called the +"alleged" 19th Amendment. The plea was that it exceeded the amending +power of Article V in the Federal Constitution and that it was not +legally ratified by 36 States. The States arraigned as having +illegally ratified were West Virginia and Missouri. The case came +before the court of common pleas, Judge Heuisler presiding. Besides +Mr. Marbury the attorneys for the petitioners were Thomas Cadwalader, +Senator Frick and Everett P. Wheeler<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span> of New York. The defendants were +represented by George M. Brady, Roger Howell, Jacob M. Moses and +Assistant Attorney General Lindsay C. Spencer. The case occupied four +full days and the petitioners lost. Judge Heuisler ruled that the +power to amend the Constitution of the United States granted by the +Fifth Article thereof is without limit except as to the words, "equal +suffrage in the Senate." He added: "The court is further of the +opinion from all the exhibits and other evidence submitted that there +was due, legal and proper ratification of the amendment by the +required number of State Legislatures." Mr. Wheeler contended that +three-fourths of the States had not legally ratified, to which the +Court answered: "There was one legal and proper ratification of the +amendment by the required number of State Legislatures."</p> + +<p>The case was carried up to the State Court of Appeals and argued on +April 7. On June 28 the Judge affirmed the decision of the lower +court. The case was then taken to the U. S. Supreme Court, which gave +a decision adverse to all these claims and established the validity of +the Federal Suffrage Amendment beyond all further controversy.</p> + + +<h3>MARYLAND. PART II.<a name="FNanchor_76_76" id="FNanchor_76_76"></a><a href="#Footnote_76_76" class="fnanchor">[76]</a></h3> + +<p>The Woman Suffrage League of Maryland was organized Feb. 27, 1917, in +Baltimore at a meeting called with the approval of the National +American Woman Suffrage Association. Mrs. J. Ross Thompson of Garrett +Park was elected president and served for two years. The league +started with a sustaining membership of 1,400, including organizations +in Baltimore and thirteen counties. By 1920 the city was organized by +congressional districts and some of these by wards; twenty of the +twenty-three counties had organizations, some of them strong branch +leagues, others merely small groups with a chairman.</p> + +<p>The history of the league must be traced through its mother, the Equal +Suffrage League of Baltimore, back to the Mary A. Livermore League, a +society of Friends, which had been founded<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span> in 1905 with Mrs. Edward +O. Janney as president. In the spring of 1909 this league, in order to +broaden its scope, became the Equal Suffrage League of Baltimore. Mrs. +Elisabeth King Ellicott was elected president and filled this office +with wisdom and rare executive ability until her death in May, 1914. +The league, as a branch of the State Suffrage Association, sent Miss +Julia Rogers as a delegate to the national convention held in Seattle +in 1909. This year a mass meeting was held in McCoy Hall, Johns +Hopkins University, Dr. Thayer of the Medical School presiding. Miss +Ethel Arnold of England was the speaker and made many converts.</p> + +<p>In 1910 the league had a bill introduced in the Legislature giving +Municipal suffrage to "every bona fide resident of the city of +Baltimore, male or female, 21 years of age.... (a) If such person is +qualified to vote for members of the House of Delegates; or (b) can +read or write from dictation any paragraph of more than five lines in +the State constitution; or (c) is assessed with property in said city +to the amount of $300 and has paid taxes thereon for at least two +years preceding the election...." The league was fortunate in securing +as attorney Judge Jacob M. Moses of the Juvenile Court. He conducted a +hearing on February 16 in the House of Delegates attended by both +branches of the Legislature. Six hundred women and men went on a +special train to Annapolis, carrying a petition for the bill +representing 173,000 names. The speakers were Dr. Howard Kelly of +Johns Hopkins, president of the Men's League; Dr. Mary Sherwood of the +medical department; Judge Moses, Mrs. Ellicott, Mrs. Ida Husted Harper +of New York, Miss Janet Richards of Washington, Misses Julia Rogers, +Mary E. Lent, Ellen La Mott and Sarah Brookes. The House committee +reported eight to one in favor. The advocates in the House were Robert +H. Carr, who introduced the bill, H. Pairo, R. F. Beacham and Mr. +Henderson. It received 67 noes, 24 ayes and did not come before the +Senate. Three other woman suffrage bills were defeated this session.</p> + +<p>In 1909-1910 Mrs. Donald R. Hooker, chairman of the Lecture Committee, +was instrumental in securing many noted speakers for public meetings. +In 1910 she formed the Just Government<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> League of Maryland, which was +affiliated with the National Association for six years. Miss Lent was +president two years and then Mrs. Hooker continuously.</p> + +<p>In 1910 a field secretary was engaged by the Equal Suffrage League, +ward organization progressed and money was raised through rummage +sales, lawn fetes, suppers at headquarters, etc. In 1911 the <i>New +Voter</i> was started, a lively suffrage paper, with Miss Anne Wagner as +editor-in-chief. A committee was appointed, with Mrs. Charles E. +Ellicott chairman, to investigate methods in the Criminal Court of +conducting trials when young girls were witnesses in cases of assault, +etc. This committee attended trials and employed a woman to keep +records of cases and decisions. Later it had the first woman probation +officer appointed and paid her salary until 1916, when Mayor Preston +agreed to its payment by the city temporarily.</p> + +<p>The State Equal Franchise League was founded in 1911 and became +auxiliary to the National American Association. Mrs. Elisabeth King +Ellicott was the president for two years and she was succeeded by Mrs. +W. J. Brown, who was president for one year. The affiliated societies +were the Equal Suffrage League of Baltimore, Woman Suffrage Club of +Montgomery county, Just Franchise League of Talbot county, Junior +Suffrage League of Walbrook, College Suffrage League of Frederick, +Equal Franchise Leagues of Thurmont and Emmitsburg, Junior Suffrage +League of Bryn Mawr School and Political Equality League of Baltimore +county. It joined in the work of the other associations for various +bills in the Legislature until 1914, when it disbanded, and, the +constitution of the National Association now permitting the direct +affiliation of any suffrage society numbering 200 members, the Equal +Suffrage League of Baltimore became a direct auxiliary. In May, 1914, +it met with a great loss in the death of Mrs. Ellicott, who had +organized and held it firm for the non-partisan, non-political, +educational principles of the National Association. She left $25,000 +in the hands of trustees, the interest to be used by the league until +equal suffrage had been obtained in Maryland. Mrs. Charles E. Ellicott +then became president and successfully continued the work. The +extensive<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span> development of the Children's Playground Association under +her leadership is well known throughout the State.<a name="FNanchor_77_77" id="FNanchor_77_77"></a><a href="#Footnote_77_77" class="fnanchor">[77]</a></p> + +<p>The Woman Suffrage League of Maryland was formed in February, 1917, +and the Baltimore City Committee took the active place of the Equal +Suffrage League, which became a funding body to carry out the bequest +of Mrs. Ellicott, with Miss Caroline Roberts as president, whose +unwearying and ceaseless service had been for years an inspiration to +her fellow workers. Mrs. Nettie Rogers Shuler, chairman of Campaigns +and Surveys for the National Association, went to Baltimore this +month, meeting there Miss Emma MacAlarney and Miss Eleanor Furman, two +of the national organizers, and planning a speaking and organization +route. The organizers remained in Maryland two months and were very +successful in interesting new groups of people all over the State, who +joined the new Woman Suffrage League. Later Miss Alice Hunt, a +national organizer, took up this work for four weeks. The total cost +to the National Association was over $600.</p> + +<p>In the spring of 1917 a Suffrage School was held in Baltimore by the +league to which all were invited. The National Association sent some +of its best teachers, among them Mrs. Arthur L. Livermore, Mrs. Halsey +W. Wilson and Mrs. Shuler, members of its official board. The climax +of the week was a parade, street speeches and a mass meeting, at which +Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, national president, was the principal +speaker. An outcome of the school was the printing in Maryland +newspapers of the suffrage literature supplied by the National +Association.</p> + +<p>When the United States entered the World War Mrs. Ellicott, president +of the league, was appointed by the Governor a State member of the +Woman's Council of National Defense and the league cooperated in all +of the departments of war work created by the National Suffrage +Association. A Red Cross Circle was established in its headquarters +and it entered actively into the sale<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> of Liberty Bonds. Its war work +brought into it many new members.</p> + +<p>In the work for ratification of the Federal Amendment the League +joined the other suffrage societies in the headquarters at Annapolis +and in public meetings, house to house canvass, interviews with +legislators and the other work of a vigorous campaign. The officers +were: Mrs. Ellicott, president; Mrs. Edward Shoemaker, Mrs. William +Milnes Maloy and Mrs. Sidney Cone, vice-presidents; Miss Julia Rogers +and Mrs. Robert Moss, corresponding and recording secretaries; Mrs. +Frank Ramey, treasurer; Mrs. George Crawford and Mrs. William Silver, +auditors.</p> + +<p>The officers of the Equal Suffrage League of Baltimore were Miss +Caroline Roberts, president; Miss Clara T. Waite, vice-president; Mrs. +William Chatard, secretary; Miss Mary Claire O'Brien, treasurer: with +eight directors.<a name="FNanchor_78_78" id="FNanchor_78_78"></a><a href="#Footnote_78_78" class="fnanchor">[78]</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action.</span> This has been described. A Ratification Committee +of Men was formed in 1919 with N. Winslow Williams chairman, De Courcy +W. Thom vice-chairman, Arthur K. Taylor secretary, Donald R. Hooker, +treasurer. Prominent members of the Allied Building Trades Council, +Carpenters' Union and other labor organizations were on the committee +and every county had a chairman. In Allegany it was Francis J. Drum, +president of the Maryland and D. C. Federation of Labor; in Baltimore +county B. John Black, master of the State Grange. In other counties it +was a member of Congress or the Legislature or a Judge or some one of +influence.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_73_73" id="Footnote_73_73"></a><a href="#FNanchor_73_73"><span class="label">[73]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Emma +Maddox Funck, president of the Baltimore Suffrage Club twenty-five +years and of the State Woman Suffrage Association eighteen years.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_74_74" id="Footnote_74_74"></a><a href="#FNanchor_74_74"><span class="label">[74]</span></a> Dr. William Tindall, of Washington, has the records to +prove that in 1838, when the people of Georgetown voted on a proposal +to withdraw from the State of Maryland, 63 women cast their ballots. +As early as 1867, through the efforts of Lavinia C. Dundore, a large +equal rights society of men and women was organized in Baltimore, +which continued until 1874 and was represented in the national +conventions by its president, Mrs. Dundore. A Baltimore paper of April +4, 1870, says: "A petition, asking for the right of suffrage and +political justice, was presented to the House of Delegates, signed by +Eliza S. White, Lavinia C. Dundore, Ellen M. Harris and 150 other +ladies. It was referred to the Committee on Federal Relations."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_75_75" id="Footnote_75_75"></a><a href="#FNanchor_75_75"><span class="label">[75]</span></a> For full account of the convention see +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29878/29878-h/29878-h.htm#CHAPTER_VI">Chapter VI, Volume V</a>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_76_76" id="Footnote_76_76"></a><a href="#FNanchor_76_76"><span class="label">[76]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Miss Clara +Turnbull Waite, vice-president of the Equal Suffrage League of +Baltimore.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_77_77" id="Footnote_77_77"></a><a href="#FNanchor_77_77"><span class="label">[77]</span></a> Additional names of women who held office or were +prominent in work of the Equal Suffrage League of Baltimore or the +State Equal Franchise League of Maryland are Drs. Fannie Hoopes, +Lillian Welsh, Mary Sherwood, Florence Sabin, Claribel Cone, Nellie +Mark; Mesdames Pauline Holme, George Lamb, S. Johnson Poe, J. Williams +Lord, Frank Ramey, C. C. Heath, George H. Wright, J. H. Webb-Peploe, +Jacob M. Moses, Mary N. Parry and W. W. Emmart; Misses Mary Bartlett +Dixon, Elisabeth Gilman, A. Page Reid, Henrietta Norris, Romaine +McIlvaine and Emma Weber.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_78_78" id="Footnote_78_78"></a><a href="#FNanchor_78_78"><span class="label">[78]</span></a> Among these directors, active members of the city +committee, chairmen of standing committees and devoted workers not +elsewhere mentioned were Mesdames Edwin Rouse, Jr., chairman of the +city committee; Caleb Athey, Harvey Bickel, C. C. Peffer, J. W. Putts, +John Parker, A. Morris Carey, C. C. Heath; Esther Moses and Esther +Katz.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<h3>MASSACHUSETTS.<a name="FNanchor_79_79" id="FNanchor_79_79"></a><a href="#Footnote_79_79" class="fnanchor">[79]</a></h3> + + +<p>From the beginning of the present century the Massachusetts Woman +Suffrage Association, organized in 1870, steadily gained in membership +year after year. Its annual conventions for many years were held in +Boston in January and those of the New England Woman Suffrage +Association in May, when the two united in a great Festival, which +generally took place in Faneuil Hall. The day sessions usually were +held in the rooms of the New England Women's Club, the evening +sessions in some large place, in 1901 at Faneuil Hall.</p> + +<p>At the State annual meeting Jan. 23, 1901, Mrs. Mary A. Livermore, who +had been president since 1893, presided and among the speakers were +Mrs. Helen Campbell, the Rev. Charles W. Wendte, Dr. Emily B. Ryder +and the Rev. Ida C. Hultin. Mrs. Livermore was re-elected and Mrs. +Maud Wood Park succeeded Miss Alice Stone Blackwell as chairman of the +State Board of Directors. The office of president had always been +mainly honorary and the actual work was done by the chairman of this +board. The other officers chosen were Henry B. Blackwell, +corresponding secretary; William Lloyd Garrison, treasurer; Miss Eva +Channing, clerk; Miss Amanda M. Lougee, Richard P. Hallowell, +auditors; Mrs. Judith W. Smith, member National Executive Committee. +There was a long list of distinguished vice-presidents. Mr. Blackwell +had been secretary for over twenty years and was re-elected.</p> + +<p>At the Festival on May 22, Mrs. Julia Ward Howe presided, Miss Sarah +Cone Bryant was toastmistress and there were addresses by William M. +Salter, the Hon. William Dudley Foulke<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span> and others of note. On May 23 +at the annual meeting of the New England Association, organized in +November, 1868, reports were made from the New England States, and +addresses by the Rev. Florence Kollock Crooker, Mrs. Isabel C. +Barrows, Mrs. Inez Haynes Gillmore and others. Mrs. Howe, who had been +its president since 1893, was re-elected, with a board composed of +eminent men and women.</p> + +<p>During the year the State association sent out 1,246 press articles, +circulated many thousand pages of literature and printed several +leaflets. It held well-attended fortnightly meetings at its +headquarters, No. 3 Park Street, and gave a brilliant reception in +honor of Mrs. Livermore's 80th birthday. It compiled a list of about +forty persons ready to give addresses on suffrage and sent a speaker +free to every woman's club or other organization willing to hear the +subject presented. It held ten public meetings and sent out 11,000 +circulars to increase the women's registration and school vote in +Boston. Many addresses under its auspices were given by Mrs. Abby +Morton Diaz, Professor Anna May Soule of Mt. Holyoke and Seńorita +Carolina Holman Huidobro of Chile. Massachusetts contributed +four-fifths of the money given to the Oregon campaign of 1900 from +outside that State, and the Massachusetts booth (named the Lucy Stone +booth) at the National Suffrage Bazar that year took in more money +than that of any other State except New York. The College Equal +Suffrage League's prize of $100, for the best essay in favor of +suffrage by a college student, was won by Ava M. Stoddard of the +Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The above is a sample of the +activities carried on year after year by the association during the +first decade of the century.</p> + +<p>In 1901 the Boston Equal Suffrage Association for Good Government was +organized through the efforts of Mrs. Mary Hutcheson Page, with +Pauline Agassiz (Mrs. Quincy A.) Shaw as president, Mrs. Fanny B. +Ames, chairman of Executive Committee, and Mrs. Park as executive +secretary.<a name="FNanchor_80_80" id="FNanchor_80_80"></a><a href="#Footnote_80_80" class="fnanchor">[80]</a> It continued to be a power in the State till suffrage +was won and aimed to devote<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span> itself not only to suffrage but to all +activities in which women could be especially useful to the community.</p> + +<p>The National Woman Suffrage Association of Massachusetts, a smaller +organization, disbanded in 1901 after nearly twenty years of +existence. Mrs. Sarah A. P. Dickerman was acting president, Miss +Lavina A. Hatch secretary. It had held eleven monthly meetings during +the past year, done congressional work and contributed to the Susan B. +Anthony table at the national bazar in New York.</p> + +<p>1902. At the annual meeting on January 23, Mrs. Park presided and a +work conference was substituted for the usual public meeting. The +Festival was held on May 28 with the Rev. Anna Garlin Spencer +presiding. Other speakers were the Rev. Dr. James H. Ecob, Professor +John Graham Brooks, the Rev. Ida C. Hultin, Colonel T. W. Higginson +and the Rev. Charles F. Dole. Miss Vida Goldstein of Australia +addressed a number of meetings this year. An enrollment of suffragists +was begun. There was an increase of women's registration for the +school vote in fourteen cities, in Boston of about 5,000. An +investigation of the tax records by Mr. Blackwell showed that in +Boston alone 18,500 women paid taxes on several hundred million +dollars' worth of property.</p> + +<p>1903. At the annual meeting of the State association on January 13, +Mrs. Shaw and Mrs. Park presided. Mrs. Livermore was made honorary +president and Mrs. Lucia Ames Mead president, Mrs. Mary Schlesinger, +vice-president; Miss Harriet E. Turner, corresponding secretary; +William Lloyd Garrison, treasurer; Mrs. Otto B. Cole, clerk; Mr. +Blackwell, member of the National Executive Committee. Mrs. Page, +chairman of the Organization Committee, reported that forty towns had +been visited. There were speeches by Mrs. Livermore and Mrs. Enid +Stacy Widdrington of England. Miss Blackwell presided at the New +England annual meeting May 27 and the Rev. Charles G. Ames at the +Festival the next day. On August 13 Lucy Stone's birthday anniversary +was celebrated by a pilgrimage to the old farm house near West +Brookfield where she was born. About 400 persons gathered from various +States, even California being represented. Her niece, Mrs. Phebe Stone +Beeman, president of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span> Warren Political Equality Club, presided and +there were addresses by Mrs. Livermore, Mr. Blackwell, the Rev. Mary +A. Safford and others. The beautiful weather and the beautiful scenery +combined with the beautiful memories to make it a memorable occasion. +Mrs. Livermore wrote afterwards: "It was greater and grander than any +public day, not specially devoted to religion, that I have ever known. +The hill was a Mount of Transfiguration, the faces of the people +shone."</p> + +<p>The Rev. Anna Howard Shaw addressed a series of meetings throughout +the State. Mrs. Page, Mrs. Park, Mrs. Diaz, Mrs. Esther F. Boland, +Miss Bryant and George H. Page spoke repeatedly for the association. +Work conferences were held in various counties and equal rights plays +by Mr. Page were performed for the benefit of the cause. The State +headquarters were moved from Park Street to a house at No. 6 Marlboro +Street, the use of which was given by Mrs. Quincy A. Shaw. +Massachusetts this year contributed more money to the National +Association than did any other State. The time of the State annual +meeting was changed to October and it began to be held outside of +Boston, a second one for this year in the Newtons, October 29 and 30. +It opened with a reception by the Newton League at the Hunnewell Club +House, where Mrs. Electa N. L. Walton presided and Mayor Weeks of +Newton and the Hon. Samuel L. Powers gave addresses of welcome. The +following day at West Newton Mrs. Livermore presided, the Hon. Gorman +D. Gilman gave the address of welcome and Mrs. Florence Kelley and Dr. +Shaw spoke. The Enrollment Committee reported obtaining 11,169 +signatures. A resolution of tribute was passed to Miss Harriet E. +Turner, who retired after 21 years' devoted service at headquarters, +where she had suggested some of the most successful lines of work. +Mrs. Page was chosen as chairman of the State board, Mrs. Susan S. +Fessenden succeeding her later in the year.</p> + +<p>1904. The Festival was held on May 10, Mrs. Howe presiding. The +speakers were Judge Edward E. Reynolds of Portland, Maine, the Rev. +Florence Kollock Crooker of Michigan, Frank K. Foster of the State +Federation of Labor, Mrs. Livermore, Professor George E. Gardner of +the Boston University<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span> Law School, Mrs. May Alden Ward, president of +the State Federation of Women's Clubs, Mr. Blackwell and Mrs. Mead. +The State meeting was held at Attleboro, October 21, in the Opera +House, with the usual list of well known speakers. The International +Peace Congress, held in Boston this year, gave an impetus to the +movement. The men from abroad were much impressed by the American +women. Other notable events were the celebration by the State W. C. T. +U. of the quarter centennial of the granting of School suffrage and a +conference of women ministers of different denominations, called by +Mrs. Howe. There was a Suffrage Day at the big Mechanics' Fair in +Boston, with addresses by Miss Jane Addams, Miss Sheriff Bain of New +Zealand and W. P. Byles of England. A library of books bearing on the +woman question was started at headquarters with a fund given by Miss +M. F. Munroe in memory of Mary Lowell Stone.</p> + +<p>1905. There was a very large attendance at the Festival on May 10, +with Mrs. Mead presiding. Professor Edward Cummings was toastmaster, +ex-Governor Garvin of Rhode Island and Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt spoke +and the Festival then resolved itself into a celebration of Mr. +Blackwell's 80th birthday (May 4), with the presentation of a silver +pitcher from the State association and addresses by William Lloyd +Garrison and Mrs. Livermore. She had insisted upon coming, although by +no means able. She said, "Mr. Blackwell and I have worked together for +nearly half a century; we have gone anywhere and everywhere for woman +suffrage. This evening he has been doing his best to persuade me to go +out to the Oregon convention. I can not say half that ought to be said +of his character, his devoted service, his fraternal spirit." She died +a few days later and there was profound sorrow for her loss.</p> + +<p>At the meeting of the New England Association on May 11 Miss Blackwell +presided. Francis J. Garrison was elected treasurer. The State annual +meeting was held at Holyoke, October 24, 25, in the Second Baptist +Church and Mayor Nathan P. Avery gave the address of welcome. Miss +Blackwell was made chairman of the board of directors; Mrs. Mead was +elected president; Mrs. Schlesinger vice-president. The association +took part in the celebration of the centennial of William Lloyd<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span> +Garrison on December 10. He had been a life-long champion of equal +rights for women and his last public speech was made at a suffrage +hearing in the State House. There was a noteworthy memorial meeting +for Mrs. Edna D. Cheney, long a pillar of the suffrage association and +of the New England Hospital for Women and Children. Catherine +Breshkovsky, "the little grandmother of the Russian revolution," +visited Massachusetts this year and addressed a number of meetings +arranged by the suffragists, including a large one in Faneuil Hall.</p> + +<p>The convention was held in October, 1906, at Lowell in the Trinitarian +Congregational Church. Harriet A. Eager gave a stone from the pavement +of the little church at Delft Haven in Holland, where the Pilgrims +attended their last religious service before sailing for America and +the association presented it to the Cape Cod Memorial Association to +be placed in the monument. The World's W. C. T. U. convention in +Boston this month aroused much interest and enthusiasm. At the opening +banquet Miss Blackwell gave the address of welcome in behalf of the +women's organizations.</p> + +<p>1907. The annual meeting took place in Worcester at Trinity Church. +Letters were read from Colonel Thomas W. Higginson and Mrs. Elizabeth +Smith Miller, the only two survivors of the 89 men and women who +signed the Call for the first National Woman's Rights Convention, held +in Worcester in 1850; and a poem from the Rev. Antoinette L. Brown +Blackwell, D. D., the only survivor of the speakers on that occasion. +Dr. Shaw gave an address and conducted a question box and there was a +symposium on Why I am a Suffragist by five young women, one a +grandniece and namesake of Margaret Fuller.</p> + +<p>A noteworthy meeting was held on March 23, 1907, by the Boston Equal +Suffrage Association to consider "the indebtedness of women of +collegiate and professional training to the leaders of the suffrage +movement." Every woman's college in the State was represented, as well +as law and medicine. Mrs. Fanny B. Ames presided and college girls in +cap and gown acted as ushers. The speakers were Mrs. Howe, Miss +Georgia L. White, Assistant Professor of Economics at Smith College; +Professor Helen M. Searles of Mt. Holyoke; Dr. Emma Culbertson of the +New<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span> England Hospital for Women and Children; Miss Emily Greene Balch, +Associate Professor of Economics and Sociology at Wellesley; Miss +Caroline J. Cooke, instructor in Commercial Law at Simmons, and Mrs. +Park of Radcliffe.</p> + +<p>On August 13 suffragists from different parts of the State again made +a pilgrimage to Lucy Stone's old home, West Brookfield, to celebrate +her birthday. Mrs. Cobden Sanderson, a daughter of Richard Cobden, one +of the "militant" English suffragettes, spoke at the women's colleges +and elsewhere. The Boston association, in connection with the Women's +Educational and Industrial Union, gave courses in citizenship, +addressed by heads of State and city departments. Mrs. Fessenden +conducted many classes in Parliamentary practice (these were continued +year after year), and there was a "suffrage day" in the woman's +department of the great Food Fair.</p> + +<p>The Association of Collegiate Alumnć celebrated its quarter centennial +in Boston November 5-9, which brought many distinguished suffragists +from other States. In 1872 the New England Women's Club had given a +reception for the only three college women then in this city. In 1907 +this association had 3,147 members, several hundred of them in Boston +alone. At the Whittier Centennial celebration at Amesbury on December +17 the poet's championship of equal rights for women was recalled with +his work for other reforms. The Boston Federation of Suffrage +Societies was organized by the Association for Good Government. The +State Federation of Labor and the State Letter Carriers' Association +endorsed woman suffrage.</p> + +<p>The Massachusetts Association Opposed to the Further Extension of +Suffrage to Women changed its organ <i>The Remonstrance</i> from an annual +to a quarterly and sent out a copy broadcast. The suffragists followed +with an answer. The <i>Woman's Journal</i> pointed out that the M. A. O. F. +E. S. W., according to its own official reports, had sold $40.86 worth +of literature in 1905, $13.50 worth in 1906 and $12.30 worth in 1907, +and that in 1906 the total receipts were $2,907, of which $2,018 were +expended on salaries.<a name="FNanchor_81_81" id="FNanchor_81_81"></a><a href="#Footnote_81_81" class="fnanchor">[81]</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span></p> + +<p>1908. The State annual meeting was held in Boston October 27, 28. Mrs. +Mead presided and Mrs. Ethel Snowden of England was the chief speaker. +There was a reception to Mrs. Howe, with addresses by Mrs. Maud Howe +Elliott, Mrs. Carota Von Koch of Sweden and Mrs. Howe. Miss Jane +Addams gave suffrage lectures this year at Radcliffe, Smith, Mt. +Holyoke and Wellesley colleges and Boston University, arranged by the +College Equal Suffrage League, with large audiences and much +enthusiasm. Mrs. Snowden spoke for the State association at Faneuil +Hall and a reception was given by the College and Boston suffrage +associations. Another large suffrage meeting in Faneuil Hall was +addressed by Professor Charles Zueblin. Mrs. Park and Mrs. Eager held +a series of meetings in Berkshire county, arousing much interest. At +the suffrage booth in the Boston Food Fair, in charge of the Newton +League, 6,255 names were added to the enrollment. The association by +this time had more than 100 local branches. This year 145 labor unions +endorsed equal suffrage. The association carried on a "poster +campaign," putting up posters in towns and at county fairs. Mrs. +FitzGerald composed the inscriptions and Mrs. George F. Lowell with a +group of friends put them up. At the Biennial of the General +Federation of Women's Clubs held in Boston every mention of suffrage +was cheered and no one got such an ovation as Mrs. Howe, the fraternal +delegate from the National American Woman Suffrage Association.</p> + +<p>1909. The College Equal Suffrage League of Massachusetts attained a +membership of 320 this year and a suffrage club was formed at +Radcliffe College. At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology any +notices put up by the suffragists were at once torn down. The State +annual convention was held in Boston October 22, 23, with the evening +meeting in Tremont Temple, and Miss Blackwell was elected president. +For the first time the report of the Legislative Committee was given +by Mrs. Teresa A. Crowley, who continued to be its chairman for +years.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span></p> + +<p>Ex-Governor Long presided at a memorial meeting for Henry B. +Blackwell, with addresses by Edwin D. Mead, Julia Ward Howe, the Rev. +Charles G. Ames, Professor Sumichrast, Moses H. Gulesian, Francis J. +Garrison, James H. Stark of the Victorian Club, Meyer Bloomfield and +Mrs. Isabel C. Barrows. Mr. Blackwell was called by Mrs. Catt "one of +the world's most heroic men." He was the only man of large abilities +who devoted his life to securing equal rights for women. In his youth +a reward of $10,000 was offered for his head at a public meeting in +the South because of his leading part in the rescue of a young slave +girl. He made his first speech for woman's rights at a suffrage +convention in Cleveland in 1853. Two years later he married Lucy +Stone. She had meant never to marry but to devote herself wholly to +the women's cause but he promised to devote himself to the same cause. +He was the unpaid secretary of the American Woman Suffrage Association +for twenty years, of the Massachusetts association for thirty years +and of the New England association for nearly forty years. He traveled +all over the country organizing suffrage societies, getting up +conventions and addressing Legislatures. He attended the Republican +national conventions year after year trying to get a suffrage plank +and in 1872 secured a mild one in the national platform and a strong +one in that of Massachusetts. He took part in constitutional amendment +campaigns in Kansas, Vermont, Colorado, Michigan, Rhode Island and +South Dakota. In 1889, when Washington, Montana and North Dakota were +about to enter the Union as States, he attended the constitutional +convention of each to urge equal suffrage. He was an editor of the +<i>Woman's Journal</i> from its founding in 1870 till his death. An able +writer, an eloquent speaker, he was widely beloved for his kindness, +humor and geniality.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst, the leader of the "militant" suffragettes of +England, visited Boston this year. She was met at the station by the +suffragists with automobiles and flags and was taken through the +streets to the headquarters—Boston's first suffrage procession—and +later addressed in Tremont Temple a huge audience, critical at first, +highly enthusiastic at the close. A reception was given by prominent +suffragists to Miss Ethel M.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span> Arnold of England, and there were +lectures by her and Mrs. Charlotte Perkins Gilman; a series of +"petition teas" and meetings addressed by Dr. Shaw, Miss Leonora +O'Reilly, a labor leader of New York; Judge Ben Lindsey of Denver; +Charles Edward Russell, the Rev. Thomas Cuthbert Hall; and by Mrs. +Snowden, Dr. Stanton Coit and the Misses Rendell and Costello, all of +England.</p> + +<p>In June the first of the open-air meetings that later became so +important a feature of the campaign was held on the Common at Bedford. +The speakers were Mrs. FitzGerald, Mrs. Leonora S. Little, Mrs. Mary +Ware Dennett, Mrs. Katharine Dexter McCormick and Mrs. Crowley. The +attendance was small; people were shy at first of seeming to +countenance such an innovation but the crowds grew as the meetings +continued and it was found to be the best if not the only way to reach +the mass of voters. A summer campaign of 97 open-air meetings was +held, the speakers traveling mainly by trolley, covering a large part +of the State and reaching about 25,000 persons.<a name="FNanchor_82_82" id="FNanchor_82_82"></a><a href="#Footnote_82_82" class="fnanchor">[82]</a> Suffrage buttons +and literature were distributed, posters put up, and sometimes mammoth +kites flown to advertise the meetings. Mrs. H. S. Luscomb had +presented a kite big enough to hold up a banner six feet wide by forty +deep. The campaigners were resourceful. At Nantasket, when forbidden +to speak on the beach, they went into the water with their Votes for +Women banner and spoke from the sea to the audience on the shore.</p> + +<p>1910. Among the speakers at the Festival in May were Mrs. Frances +Squire Potter, former Professor of English at the University of +Minnesota; Professor Max Eastman of Columbia University, secretary of +the New York Men's League for Woman Suffrage, and Professor Henry S. +Nash of the Episcopal Theological School. At the State annual meeting +in Lowell, October 27, 28, Philip Snowden, M. P., of England was a +speaker. In connection with the convention Mrs. Park spoke before the +Woman's Club; Rabbi Fleischer before the Board of Trade; Miss Alice +Carpenter at the Congregational Church in Tewksbury;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span> four factory +meetings were held; the suffrage slides were exhibited twelve times at +the Merrimac Theater; Miss Foley and Miss Anne Withington addressed +seven trade unions; 27,000 fliers were distributed and four street +meetings held.</p> + +<p>An eight-weeks' summer campaign of open-air meetings was conducted +through the great industrial cities of eastern Massachusetts, with +from four to six regular and occasional special speakers. Three +Englishwomen, Miss Margaret G. Bondfield, Miss M. M. A. Ward and Miss +Emily Gardner, reinforced the American speakers, Miss Foley, Mrs. +FitzGerald, Mrs. Glendower Evans, Miss Emily Pierson of Connecticut, +and others. In each city, besides the outdoor meetings, there was some +special feature; in two, garden parties; in Brockton, the women joined +the circus parade, driving in a decorated team and giving out fliers. +In Fall River they got two popular stores to wrap a colored flier in +every parcel. In Taunton they had an evening band concert on the +Common, accompanied with red fire and speeches. In Lawrence Miss Foley +made a balloon ascension and showered down rainbow literature upon an +eager crowd. Several times the women spoke from the vaudeville stage +and showed colored lantern slides. They spoke in parks and pleasure +resorts and outside the factories as well as in the streets and at one +Yiddish and one French meeting. They held 200 meetings and talked to +about 60,000 persons. Afterwards they held outdoor meetings in and +about Boston and sent an automobile of speakers and literature to the +Aviation Meet. A fall campaign of open-air speaking followed. Mrs. +Park came home from a tour around the world and lectured on the women +of different countries. Mrs. A. Watson-Lister of Australia and Mrs. +Dora B. Montefiore of England addressed a number of meetings.</p> + +<p>A week of meetings took place in Springfield, State speakers +cooperating with the local suffragists, among them Mrs. Henry +Phillips, president of the suffrage league; Mrs. McDuffie and Mr. +Myrick, publisher of the "Farm and Home" and "Good Housekeeping." +Headquarters were opened in a vacant store with daily meetings and +teas; addresses were given before the Board of Trade, the teachers, +the Woman's, the Mothers', the Socialist and the College Clubs, the Y. +M. C. A. training school and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span> other groups; colored slides of suffrage +events were shown and prominent local women opened their homes for +social affairs. Much interest was aroused and permanent Springfield +headquarters were opened soon afterwards. Boston started to organize +by wards and invitations were printed in various languages. The first +meeting, in Ward 8, arranged by Mrs. Leonard, was attended by nearly +1,000 women and there were speeches in English and Yiddish. A class to +train suffrage speakers was started. A suffrage club was organized in +the College of Liberal Arts of Boston University. The suffragists sent +Alfred H. Brown to help the campaign in the State of Washington.</p> + +<p>The general sorrow for the death of Julia Ward Howe on October 17 +brought support to the suffrage movement. In her later years people +had revered her as they revered the flag and all her great influence +had been placed unreservedly at the service of this cause. A large +memorial meeting was held in Faneuil Hall on December 16.</p> + +<p>1911. The State convention was held in Boston October 27, 28, the +evening meeting at Tremont Temple addressed by Dr. Shaw and Professor +Edward Howard Griggs. The Boston association raised $1,100 for the +campaigns in Oregon, Kansas, Wisconsin and Michigan and gave Mrs. +Park's services to Ohio and Michigan. A Men's League for Woman +Suffrage was organized at Harvard University under the presidency of +A. S. Olmstead. At the meeting of the New England Association Miss +Blackwell was elected president. Mrs. Howe had held the office +twenty-six years.</p> + +<p>Colonel Thomas Wentworth Higginson, one of the few surviving pioneers, +passed away this year. He had been a champion of women's rights for +more than sixty years. When a young minister he spoke for the cause. +He signed the Call for the First National Woman's Rights Convention in +1850. He married Lucy Stone and Henry B. Blackwell in 1855 and +prefixed an approving foreword to their published protest against the +inequalities of the marriage laws. He took part in organizing the +American Woman Suffrage Association, was its president for a year and +an officer in the New England and Massachusetts associations until his +death. For years he was a great power as a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> lecturer and writer and +addressed suffrage conventions in many States. Beginning with 1870 he +contributed a long series of brilliant editorials to the <i>Woman's +Journal</i>. He wrote four books on the woman question and gave 1,000 +books about women to the Boston Public Library. The founder of Smith +College said she was led to leave her fortune for that purpose by +reading his article, Ought Women Learn the Alphabet?</p> + +<p>1912. The State annual meeting was held in Boston, October 11, with an +unusually large attendance from western Massachusetts. In 1913 it met +in Boston May 27, 28. The executive secretary, Mrs. Marion Booth +Kelley, reported that 111 indoor meetings and 45 outdoor meetings had +been held in the past six months. It was voted to have a suffrage +parade in Boston the following spring. There was much doubt of the +propriety of this but when a rising vote of the women present was +taken to see how many would march almost the whole convention rose.</p> + +<p>1914. The State annual meeting was held in Boston May 1 and 2, and +again in 1915 on May 13-15. The latter opened with a brilliant banquet +at the Hotel Somerset, attended by about 800. Mrs. Park presided and +among the speakers were ex-Governor Bass of New Hampshire, ex-Governor +Foss of Massachusetts, Dr. Hugh Cabot and Mrs. Judith W. Smith, aged +93. Suffrage clubs were reported at Wellesley, Smith and Mt. Holyoke +Colleges, the last formed largely through Miss Mildred Blodgett, +assistant professor of geology. A band concert and a mass meeting on +the Common closed the convention.</p> + +<p>1916. At the State annual meeting in Boston May 18, 19, dues were +abolished and provision made for organizing the State along political +party lines, as recommended by the National Association. Mrs. B. F. +Pitman of Brookline gave a large reception. The treasurer reported +receipts of $67,232, expenditures of $63,483.<a name="FNanchor_83_83" id="FNanchor_83_83"></a><a href="#Footnote_83_83" class="fnanchor">[83]</a></p> + +<p>1917. At the annual State meeting on May 10 resolutions were adopted +calling upon the 125,000 enrolled members to "show their patriotism by +doing their utmost to help their country<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span> and the world," especially +along the five lines recommended by the National Suffrage Association; +urging nation-wide prohibition as a war measure and commending the +efforts to minimize moral dangers at the training camps; protesting +against "any attempt to lower educational standards or to weaken the +laws safeguarding the workers, especially women and children," because +of the war emergency. The Twentieth Century Club rooms were crowded at +the New England Conference and Festival. Miss Blackwell presided. A +greeting from the National Association was brought by Mrs. Nettie +Rogers Shuler, its corresponding secretary, and speakers were present +from all the New England States. Pledges and a collection were taken +for the Maine campaign and it was voted to give $2,000, a bequest from +Miss Marian Shannon, to the National Association, to help it.</p> + +<p>1918. At the winter business meeting held in Fitchburg February 26 +Mrs. Pitman reported that more than $30,000 had been raised by the +association for war work. The State annual meeting in Boston on May +24, 25 was crowded and exciting. A resolution pledging the +association's support to the country in the war was passed by +acclamation, and it responded to the request of Mrs. Catt, president +of the National American Suffrage Association, to follow its program +of war work. The convention voted with enthusiasm to take up the +circulation of the national petitions for the Federal Amendment and +also to give $600 to the National Association to finance an organizer +in Oklahoma, where a suffrage campaign was in progress and the +Massachusetts "antis" were financing the opposition. In the evening a +magnificent meeting was held in the Opera House with Mrs. Grace A. +Johnson presiding and addresses by Mrs. Catt and Dr. Shaw. The +collection of $1,124 was given to the Red Cross.</p> + +<p>On August 13 the State and Boston associations celebrated the +centenary of Lucy Stone's birth by a luncheon at the Hotel Somerset, +Mrs. Charles Sumner Bird presiding, with addresses by ex-Governor +Walsh, the Rev. Antoinette Brown Blackwell, D. D., 93 years of age; +Mrs. Judith W. Smith, almost 97; Miss Blackwell and Mrs. Maud Howe +Elliott. Letters and telegrams of appreciation were received from +President Wilson's secretary in his behalf; from Theodore Roosevelt, +ex-Governor McCall,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span> Mrs. Catt, Mayor Andrew James Peters of Boston +and many others. The fall meeting was held in Boston November 30, when +Miss Mary Garrett Hay, national vice-president, spoke on the national +suffrage situation and there were addresses by heads of civic and +philanthropic organizations.</p> + +<p>1919. The mid-winter meeting was held in Worcester February 15 and +eight young girls presented to Miss Blackwell the national petition +bearing 16,434 names, many more than the quota for this city. The +State meeting was held May 21, 22, in Boston. While it was in session +the news came that the Federal Suffrage Amendment had passed the U. S. +House of Representatives. This called out great enthusiasm and it was +voted to telegraph Mrs. Maud Wood Park: "Three cheers for our +Congressional Chairman! Very proud that Mrs. Park is a Massachusetts +woman!" The following Sunday the Boston association held a meeting in +Tremont Theater to rejoice, with Samuel L. Powers, a prominent +Republican lawyer, presiding, and addresses by Mrs. Park, Joseph +Conry, a prominent Democrat, and Secretary of State Langtry for +Governor Coolidge.</p> + +<p>1920. The annual meeting was again held in Boston, May 27, 28, Mrs. +Bird presiding. She stated that it was the 100th anniversary of the +birth of Julia Ward Howe, to whose work for suffrage and other good +causes a heart-felt tribute was paid. Mrs. Bird presented Miss +Blackwell with a laurel wreath as representing the pioneers and as +having been at the head of the association when victory was won. As +the complete ratification was almost at hand it was voted to take +legal steps to dissolve the Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association. +Later it was decided, in accordance with the policy of the National +Association, to continue it as a skeleton organization with the same +officers until all possible need for it should be over. The State +League of Women Voters was organized, with Mrs. George R. Fearing, +Jr., as chairman and Miss Blackwell as honorary president, the +delegates and members of the association enrolling in the new society. +The New England Woman Suffrage Association never formally disbanded +but simply ceased to meet.</p> + +<p>From 1910 onward what had tended most to increase membership was the +formation of the Woman Suffrage Party to work<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span> as the State +association, with a non-dues-paying membership of men and women, +similar to the political parties, having district leaders, precinct +captains and ward chairmen, strictly non-partisan and solely to +promote woman suffrage. The first chairman was Mrs. Gertrude Halladay +Leonard. A convention was held in Faneuil Hall on March 5, 1912, at +which time twenty-three of the twenty-six Boston wards had been +organized, also Brookline, Cambridge, Somerville, Newton and many +other cities and towns. The membership was 25,000 and by the +referendum campaign in 1915 it had advanced to about 250,000.</p> + +<p>This change in the type of organization was indicative of a change in +the whole suffrage movement. It was recognized that more widely +diffused education on the subject was needed and that suffrage must +become a political issue. The suffrage leagues were changed into +political district organizations; the parlor meeting gave place to the +outdoor meeting; State headquarters were moved from No. 6 Marlboro +Street, a residential section, to 585 Boylston Street in a business +building, and local societies were kept in touch. Every effort was +made to reach labor unions and other organizations of men with +speakers and educational propaganda and to carry information to the +man in the street, who often had never heard of the Woman Suffrage +Association. The executive board met every two weeks and later every +week or oftener. Mrs. Page, its chairman, was followed in 1911 by Mrs. +Marion Booth Kelley; in 1912 by Mrs. Gertrude B. Newell, and in May, +1913, Mrs. Leonard was elected and served to October, 1917. Upon her +resignation Mrs. Grace A. Johnson was chosen, who was succeeded by +Mrs. Charles Sumner Bird.</p> + +<p>In 1912 a new State organization, called the Political Equality Union, +was formed, with Miss Mabel Gillespie as chairman, Mrs. FitzGerald as +secretary and Dr. Lily Burbank as treasurer, which made a special +effort to reach the labor men and women. As the vote on the +constitutional amendment approached, in order that there might be no +overlapping, ten per cent. of the State was assigned as a field for +the work of the Union and the rest for that of the State association. +The two cooperated in legislative work. The Union disbanded in +November, 1916, advising its members to join the State association.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Campaign.</span> Through the campaign year of 1914, preceding the vote on a +constitutional amendment, which had been submitted by the Legislature, +the association kept five salaried speakers continually in the field, +besides numerous volunteers. On the list of the speakers' bureau there +were 125 women and 76 men. The State and the Boston headquarters had a +large office force, and in the field were nine organizers, giving full +or half time. The State College Equal Suffrage League handled the +retail literature for the association and took charge of the office +hospitality. The Equal Franchise Committee, Mrs. Robert Gould Shaw, +president, had an important part in the campaign. The Men's League for +Woman Suffrage was reorganized with Oakes Ames as president and Joseph +Kelley as secretary. The Harvard Men's League cooperated in many ways. +The use of one of the University Halls for a speech by Mrs. Pankhurst +was refused to it, much to the chagrin of liberal-minded graduates and +undergraduates, but she held a very successful meeting in a nearby +hall. The use of a hall was refused also for Mrs. Florence Kelley, +although she had spoken at Harvard on other subjects. In order to +avoid further trouble the Harvard Corporation voted that thereafter no +woman should be allowed to lecture in the college halls except by its +special invitation. This rule was abandoned later and Miss Helen Todd +of California spoke on suffrage in Emerson Hall before a large +audience.</p> + +<p>Other suffrage organizations sprang up or were enlarged, the Writers' +League, the Players' League, etc. Local branches were built up rapidly +under the leadership of Mrs. Pinkham, State organization chairman, and +by the spring of 1914 there were 138 leagues and committees. Just +before the vote in November, 1915, these had grown to 200. Monthly +conferences of the district leaders were held at State headquarters. A +systematic effort was made to build up strong suffrage organizations +in the cities outside of Boston. Workers and speakers were sent +through the State to help the local workers. In 1914 a series of +two-day conferences was held in eleven of the sixteen counties, the +first day devoted to discussion of work with local leaders and the +second to holding often as many as twenty meetings by a corps<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span> of +speakers, at factories, stores, men's clubs, labor unions, church +organizations, on the street, etc.</p> + +<p>To educate the men who were to vote upon the question, a State-wide +canvass of voters was begun by Mrs. Crowley, which was carried on up +to election day. A body of from five to seven intelligent women, +informed on the question, re-enforced by local volunteers, called from +house to house, talking to the voter or his wife, leaving suffrage +literature and if possible getting the voter's signature to a card +pledge to vote yes. These canvassers moved from city to city and from +town to town, reaching from one-half to two-thirds of the registered +voters, averaging about 1,500 calls per week and leaving the rest of +the work to be carried on by local women. By election day over 250,000 +voters had been interviewed, 100,000 had signed pledge cards and more +than 50,000 others had expressed themselves as favorable.</p> + +<p>Much of this work was made possible by the activities of the Ways and +Means Committee of the State Association, under the chairmanship of +Mrs. B. F. Pitman, who, during the many years that she served in that +capacity, repeatedly rescued the association from the verge of debt +and filled up its treasury. Her committee accomplished this by a Bay +State Bazaar held every year at the Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston; by +balls, theatrical performances, outdoor fętes, pageants and other +entertainments.</p> + +<p>As an extra provision for the campaign of 1915, the Bay State Finance +Committee was formed in 1914 by Mrs. Park, chairman, which with the +State association raised and spent about $54,000 in the campaign. This +was exclusive of the money spent by the various leagues and branches +throughout the State, including $10,820 by the Boston Association for +Good Government.</p> + +<p>For two years educational work was pushed in every way. It was carried +into the country districts by systematic trolley and automobile trips, +parties of workers carrying out well planned itineraries in different +parts of the State, involving usually from two to four open-air +meetings per day. Audiences were secured in all the small and +scattered places, even the most remote, by postal notices mailed from +State headquarters several days in advance to every registered voter.</p> + +<p>Among the means employed to draw attention were huge<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span> "Votes for +Women" kites, voiceless speeches (a series of placards held up to view +in a store window or other public place), distribution of literature +in the baseball parks; a suffrage automobile or a section in the +parades on Labor Day, Columbus Day, etc.; a pilgrimage to Worcester on +the anniversary of the First National Woman's Rights Convention, led +by Miss Florence Luscomb in old-fashioned costume, in Lucy Stone's +carriage; the running of propaganda films in the moving pictures and +the placing of 100,000 brightly painted tin Blue Birds in conspicuous +places throughout the State, each bird bearing the words "Votes for +Women, Nov. 2, 1919." There were speakers and debates at men's clubs, +church organizations, labor unions, in factories, granges, at cattle +shows and at conventions of all sorts.</p> + +<p>Large indoor meetings were held, addressed by distinguished visitors +to the State, among them Philip Snowden and Mrs. Snowden, Senator +Helen Ring Robinson of Colorado, U. S. Senators Clapp of Minnesota, +Kenyon of Iowa and Thomas of Colorado. Mrs. Pankhurst and her daughter +Sylvia spoke in Boston and Cambridge with great success. Louis D. +Brandeis, afterwards Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court, came out for +woman suffrage. In Boston, under the direction of Miss Mabel Caldwell +Willard, innumerable street meetings were held for a year before the +vote, with mass meetings every Sunday in the Tremont Theater and on +the historic Common.</p> + +<p>Press material was supplied to city and country papers. The newspapers +as a whole grew more favorable as time went by but their editorial +pages were much more friendly than the news columns, which frequently +carried stories that were unfair or wholly untrue. The Boston <i>Sunday +Herald</i> printed regular suffrage notes for some months before the vote +and once the daily edition gave the suffragists a full page. The +Boston <i>American</i> let them issue a special supplement, in charge of +Mrs. Jennette A. S. Jeffrey and Mrs. Leonard, and this example was +followed by other papers in the State. As always, the <i>Woman's +Journal</i> did much to hold together, encourage and stimulate the +workers. A special committee distributed more than 100,000 copies of +suffrage speeches made in Congress and more than 300,000 pieces of +other literature within the last few months before the election.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span></p> + +<p>The most impressive publicity put forth by the State association was +the two parades in Boston; the first held May 2, 1914, and the second, +Oct. 16, 1915, just before the election. The first one caused a +sensation. It contained about 12,000 women, with a small section of +men, and was conducted under the chairmanship of Mrs. Leonard, with +Mrs. Page, Mrs. Johnson and nine sub-committee chairmen. It was +extremely well organized and the large mass of totally untrained +marchers was handled so efficiently as to surprise all who saw it. +Delegations from all over New England took part and one from +Australia; women in national costumes; nurses in uniform; delegations +from all the women's colleges in the State and men and women from the +universities; also a singing chorus trained by Dr. Archibald Davidson, +Jr., of Appleton Chapel, Harvard. In the procession were a son, three +grandsons, a granddaughter and two granddaughters-in-law of William +Lloyd Garrison; the daughter of Abby Kelley Foster, the +daughter-in-law of Angelina Grimké and Theodore Weld and the daughter +of Lucy Stone and Henry B. Blackwell. The Concord banner was carried +by the grandniece of Louisa M. Alcott. Arrangements had been made for +a delegation from the Boston Central Labor Union but when the time +came the sole marcher to appear was the president, who courageously +marched alone carrying the banner of the union.</p> + +<p>The second, called the Victory Parade, was even more successful. It +included about 15,000 marchers with a substantial men's section and +was viewed by 500,000 people. It was reviewed by Governor David I. +Walsh in front of the State House and Mayor James Michael Curley in +front of the City Hall and was followed by a tremendous mass meeting +in Mechanics' Building, addressed by the Mayor and others. Parades +were held also in other large cities.</p> + +<p>The State Federation of Women's Clubs at its annual meeting in 1915 +endorsed woman suffrage, on motion of Mrs. Herbert J. Gurney, by a +vote of 203 to 99. The extreme to which bitter feeling ran was shown +by a widely advertised attempt to organize a Non-partisan League among +the club women in consequence but only a few hundred joined out of a +federation membership of 65,000. It had been endorsed by the General +Federation and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span> by 28 State federations but in no other had the +defeated minority undertaken to organize another society.</p> + +<p>Thirty county fairs out of thirty-seven were covered systematically. +Special help in the campaign work was given by Ohio, Nebraska, Nevada, +New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Connecticut. The question of woman +suffrage was presented before 621 organizations of men through the +efforts of a committee formed for that purpose, under Mrs. Evelyn +Peverly Coe's chairmanship. Women attended nearly all the primaries +and town meetings, distributing literature and urging the men to vote +yes.</p> + +<p>As the election approached the work along all lines grew more +intensive. Well-organized victory automobile tours ran steadily +throughout the summer and fall, in the eastern part of the State under +the direction of Mrs. Walter G. Morey and in the western under Miss +Luscomb. Meetings were held at the fashionable hotels on the north and +south shores and outdoor meetings at the popular beach resorts. +Comparatively few were held indoors but 1,675 were supplied with +speakers. Big meetings were addressed in Boston and other large cities +by U. S. Senator William E. Borah and Dr. Anna Howard Shaw. An +elaborate luncheon was given by the Men's League and the State +association at the Hotel Bellevue to the Governors' conference held in +Boston. Valuable help at this time was rendered by Governor Walsh and +the favorable opinions of the Governors of equal suffrage States were +published at length in the Boston papers by the Men's League. At the +last moment mass meetings were held in Boston at Symphony Hall and in +the largest halls of many other cities. A symbolical and picturesque +flag-raising took place on Boston Common. A last-minute circular was +sent to each of the State's 600,000 registered voters. The day before +the vote the railroad stations in Boston were visited morning and +evening and thousands of pieces of literature were given to the +commuters.</p> + +<p>On election day, Nov. 2, 1915, practically all the polling places in +the State were covered by 8,000 women, who stood for hours holding +aloft placards reading, "Show your Faith in the Women of +Massachusetts; vote 'Yes' on Woman Suffrage." And yet after all this +strenuous effort and self-sacrificing devotion the amendment was +defeated by a vote of 295,489 to 163,406, a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span> majority of 132,000. The +vote in Boston was: Noes, 53,654; ayes, 31,428; opposing majority, +22,226.</p> + +<p>Louis D. Brandeis said in an address on Columbus Day: "I doubt if +there has been carried on ever in Massachusetts—certainly not in my +lifetime—a campaign which for intelligence, devotion and intensity +surpassed the campaign of the women for suffrage. It should silence +any doubt as to their fitness for enfranchisement." The suffragists, +however, had to contend with serious and insuperable difficulties. The +population of the State had changed radically since the early days +when Massachusetts had been the starting point of liberal movements. +For more than half a century its most progressive citizens had been +going west and their places had been filled by wave after wave of +immigration from Europe, largely ignorant and imbued with the Old +World ideas as to the subjection of women. The religious question also +entered in, and, while the Catholic Church took no stand as to woman +suffrage, many Catholics believed that it would be a step toward +Socialism, against which the church was making a vigorous contest. On +the other hand, many Protestants believed that the Catholic women's +votes would be unduly influenced by the priests.</p> + +<p>Massachusetts was the home of the oldest and most influential +anti-suffrage organization of women in the United States under the +leadership of Mrs. Charles Eliot Guild, Miss Mary Ames, Mrs. James +Codman, Mrs. Charles P. Strong and others. Few of its members did any +active work but they were connected through the men of their families +with the richest, most powerful and best organized groups of men in +the State, who worked openly or behind the scenes against woman +suffrage. They had an influence out of all proportion to their +numbers. Most of the literature, most of the money and a liberal +supply of speakers for anti-suffrage campaigns all over the country +had emanated from this association. While always posing as a woman's +protest, the real strength of the movement was in the men.</p> + +<p>In May, 1912, a Man's Anti-Suffrage Association had been organized, +its Executive Committee consisting of ten lawyers, one cotton broker, +one Technology Professor, the treasurer of Harvard College and the +treasurer of the Copley Society. Other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span> societies were organized +later. All through the summer and fall of 1915 the women's and the +men's organizations and various groups and combinations of men, who +for one reason or another did not want equal suffrage, worked publicly +and privately in every conceivable way against the amendment. They +held meetings, mostly indoor, sent out speakers, advertised in street +cars, prepared and mailed to every voter at great expense an elaborate +pamphlet, The Case Against Woman Suffrage, full of misrepresentations, +and did all an active opposition could do, and they had an efficient +and highly paid Publicity Committee. The liquor interests fought the +amendment from start to finish. Pink slips were passed out in saloons +on election day, saying, "Good for two drinks if woman suffrage is +defeated."</p> + +<p>The vote was curiously uniform. Every part of the State gave an +adverse majority; so did every city and town except Tewksbury and +Carver; and generally in about the same proportion—places with strong +suffrage organizations and places with none; whether the work done in +them had been much or little; even towns where a majority of the +voters had signed pledge cards promising to vote for the amendment +voted adversely and in about the same ratio. The vote was the largest +ever cast on any amendment in the State. By appealing adroitly to all +kinds of prejudices, as on the religious question, the opposition got +out an enormous number of men who generally did not vote at all.</p> + +<p>Both sides were required by law to file at the State House a record of +their campaign expenses. An analysis of the lists showed that the bulk +of the anti-suffrage campaign fund was made up of personal +contributions, four-fifths of them from men, and more than +three-fifths of the total from 135 men, whose average donation was +$235. The slogan of their campaign had been that women did not want to +vote. The official figures showed that those who claimed to speak for +"80 per cent. of the women" received 80 per cent. of their +contributions from men, and not from the rank and file of men but +chiefly from bankers, brokers and powerful directors of the monied +section of Boston. The bulk of the suffrage campaign fund came from +fairs, sales and entertainments and of the personal contributions more +than four-fifths were from women, their average donation being $17.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span></p> + +<p>After the election in 1915 there was started a State branch of the +Congressional Union, later called the National Woman's Party, formed +some years before to push the Federal Amendment. It was under the +leadership of Mrs. Morey, chairman, and other women most of whom had +been active with the State association during the campaign. The defeat +of the State amendment caused the work of all organizations to be +directed toward the submission of the Federal Amendment.</p> + +<p>At the annual meeting of the State association in May, 1916, a budget +of $30,000 was adopted and $20,000 toward it was pledged on the spot. +Through the preceding winter the association had five paid organizers, +two of them working in Boston, and a large number of volunteer field +workers, at least 230 in Boston alone. Besides the chairmen for the +sixteen congressional districts, each of the forty senatorial +districts had its chairman, all working under the State Chairman of +Organization, Mrs. Sara S. Gilson. She was followed by Mrs. Mary P. +Sleeper and by Mrs. Elizabeth Tilton, who formed an Advisory Council +of 100 influential men in preparation for the campaign to ratify the +Federal Amendment.</p> + +<p>After the United States entered the World War in 1917 the suffrage +organizations, State and local, devoted their efforts largely to +various forms of war work, called for by the Government. They served +on all committees, took part in all "drives," sold Liberty Bonds and +continued their service till the last demand had been met.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action.</span> The Massachusetts Legislature began in 1869 to +grant hearings to women asking for the franchise and it continued to +do so every year thereafter. These hearings usually crowded the +largest committee room at the State House, the throng often extending +far out into the hall. Able arguments were presented by eminent men +and women but it was impossible to obtain favorable action. There was +at least one hearing every year and often several on different +measures. In later years they were generally conducted by Mrs. Maud +Wood Park, Miss Amy F. Acton, a young woman lawyer, or Miss Alice +Stone Blackwell for the petitioners; and by Thomas Russell, Aaron H. +Latham, Charles R. Saunders or Robert Luce, as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span> attorney for the +Anti-Suffrage Association. Miss Blackwell usually replied for the +petitioners. In recent years the suffragists had influential +politicians of both parties to speak at the hearings, thus making +woman suffrage a political question.</p> + +<p>1901. The State association asked for the Municipal and Presidential +franchise and for the submission to the voters of a constitutional +amendment giving full suffrage. At the hearing on the latter, held +February 18, the crowd broke all records and members of the committee +who came late had to reach their seats by walking on top of the long +table. Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt was among the speakers.<a name="FNanchor_84_84" id="FNanchor_84_84"></a><a href="#Footnote_84_84" class="fnanchor">[84]</a> The +measure was defeated March 11 by a vote, including pairs, of 156 to +53. Individuals petitioned for Municipal suffrage for women taxpayers, +which was referred to the next Legislature without a roll call.</p> + +<p>1902. The association's petition for a constitutional amendment was +debated in the House on March 5 and defeated by a vote (including +pairs) of 153 to 61. Petitions from individuals for Municipal suffrage +for taxpaying women and that women qualified to vote for school +committee might vote in the primaries on the nominations for it and a +petition of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union that women might +vote on licenses, were all rejected, after lively hearings. The +Anti-Suffrage Association opposed all of them.</p> + +<p>The great legislative triumph of 1902 was the passage of the Equal +Guardianship bill. Ever since Lucy Stone in 1847 began to urge the +amendment of the old law, which gave the father<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> absolute control, the +suffragists had endeavored to have it changed. Bill after bill, drawn +by Samuel E. Sewall and others, had been introduced and rejected and +it required a tragedy to obtain a new law. Mrs. Naramore of Coldbrook, +Mass., went insane and killed her six young children when she learned +that their father intended to give them away and could legally do so. +This deeply stirred the Rev. Charles H. Talmage, who had conducted the +funeral service, with the six little coffins ranged before the pulpit. +He made a careful inquiry into all the circumstances and gave a full +account of them in the Boston <i>Herald</i> of April 15, 1901 (republished +in the <i>Woman's Journal</i> of April 27). He gave his time and the State +Suffrage Association paid his expenses while he went through the State +enlisting the support of different organizations of women to secure a +change in the law. Mr. Blackwell also put in much time for this +purpose.</p> + +<p>When the Equal Guardianship bill was introduced by Representative +George H. Fall of Malden it was backed not only by the suffrage +association but by the State Federation of Women's Clubs, the State W. +C. T. U., the Women's Relief Corps, the Boston Children's Friend +Society and more than a hundred other organizations, aggregating +34,000 women. Among them the Anti-Suffrage Association was not +included. For six years it had been circulating, under its official +imprint, a leaflet against the proposal to give mothers equal custody +and control of the children and in defense of the law as it stood.</p> + +<p>The Committee on Probate and Chancery reported adversely by 8 to 3. +The outlook for its passage seemed so dark that Mr. Fall came to the +<i>Woman's Journal</i> office and asked if it might not be better to drop +it and await a more propitious time. Miss Blackwell urged him to push +it to a test. On May 27 it was debated in the House. Representative +Marshall of Gloucester said that the Probate Judges were all opposed +to it; that its advocates were "sentimentalists" and that "it would +create strife, separation and divorce." He added: "Those who appeared +for it before the committee were practically the same crowd that +appeared for woman suffrage." Representative Sleeper exclaimed: "If +you want to enact legislation which will disrupt the home and sunder +the tenderest and most sacred relations,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span> pass this bill!" The House +rejected the committee's adverse report by a viva voce vote and the +next day passed the bill without further debate. It passed the Senate +by a large majority. Thanks and praises were showered upon +Representative Fall, who modestly said that two-thirds of the credit +for working up the case belonged to his wife, Mrs. Anna Christy Fall.</p> + +<p>1903. The bill for taxpayers' Municipal suffrage was defeated February +5 without a roll call; the association's petition for a constitutional +amendment by 99 to 87.</p> + +<p>1904. Governor John L. Bates recommended woman suffrage in his +Message. The association asked for Municipal suffrage for women having +the same qualifications required of men. The bill was debated in the +House on February 16 and defeated without a roll call. The bill to let +women vote on nominations for school trustees was defeated by 62 to +30.</p> + +<p>1905. The association's petition for a constitutional amendment was +rejected without a division and without even discussion. Petitions +were rejected for License suffrage, for a vote on school nominations +and to enable women to vote for the appointing officer if the Boston +school board should be made appointive instead of elective. The +association always joined with other societies in asking for measures +for the public welfare.</p> + +<p>1906. The association's petition for a constitutional amendment was +debated March 23 and defeated without a roll call. One headed by John +Golden, president of the Textile Workers, for Municipal suffrage for +wage-earning women was also defeated without a division, as were the +petitions for License suffrage and for a vote on school nominations.</p> + +<p>1907. The constitutional amendment was debated February 20 and +defeated by 125 to 14. The Good Templars asked for License suffrage +for women. At the hearing the bill was supported by representatives of +the Anti-Saloon League, the W. C. T. U., the Christian Endeavorers, +etc., and opposed by the Anti-Suffrage Association and the attorney of +the Wine and Spirits Wholesale Dealers' Association. A bill requiring +that the same measures be taken to keep the names of women voters +(school) on the register as the names of men failed to pass.</p> + +<p>1908. Municipal suffrage for all women, asked for by the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span> association, +was vigorously debated and voted down by 99 to 30. Municipal suffrage +for women taxpayers, asked for by individuals, was defeated without a +roll call.</p> + +<p>1909. At the hearing on February 23 the Boston <i>Herald</i>, which was not +in favor of equal suffrage, estimated that 2,000 women besieged the +State House. They crowded the corridors and the large portico until +two great overflow meetings were held in the open air at either end of +the broad stairway leading up to the entrance. Later the overflow +meeting moved on to the Common. The huge crowd of women made a deep +impression and was largely featured in the press, which said that +nothing like it had ever been seen in Boston.<a name="FNanchor_85_85" id="FNanchor_85_85"></a><a href="#Footnote_85_85" class="fnanchor">[85]</a> The hearing was +conducted for the petitioners by Mrs. Crowley and for the "antis" by +Mr. Saunders. He was so impressed by the crowd that his usual sneering +and jeering manner was wholly changed. The suffrage speakers were Dr. +Shaw, John F. Tobin, president of the Boot and Shoe Workers' Union; +Rabbi Charles Fleischer, Miss Josephine Casey, secretary of the +Women's Trade Union League; Henry Abrahams of the Central Labor Union; +Miss Rose Brennan of Fall River, Miss Blackwell, Miss Eleanor Rendell +of England, Winfield Tuck and Mrs. Belle Davis. Mrs. Gorham Dana, +Professor Sedgwick and Mrs. George spoke for the "antis." Mrs. Julia +Ward Howe and Ex-Governor Bates, who were to have spoken for suffrage, +could not get into the room.<a name="FNanchor_86_86" id="FNanchor_86_86"></a><a href="#Footnote_86_86" class="fnanchor">[86]</a> The constitutional amendment was +debated March 23. The galleries were reserved for women, yet many were +turned away. The vote stood 171 noes to 54 ayes, including 11 pairs.</p> + +<p>1910. The hearing February 23 on a constitutional amendment was +unusually impressive. It was held in the evening to enable women busy +by day to attend. In the past two or three members of the Legislature +not on the committee had sometimes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span> dropped in. This year about sixty +were present. Mrs. Crowley and Mrs. Luce conducted the hearing for the +two sides. The petitioners had arranged delegations representing +different groups of women—mothers, home-makers, leisure women, +lawyers, mission and church workers, artists, authors and journalists, +doctors and nurses, Socialists, W. C. T. U., the "unrepresented" +(widows and single women), business women, trade unions, teachers, +social workers, taxpayers, saleswomen, clerks and stenographers and +college women. These 1,500 or more marched to the State House from +Ford Hall, each group under its own banner, and presented themselves +before the committee in turn, the spokeswoman of each group telling +briefly why she, and women like her, wanted the ballot. Then they went +over to Ford Hall, where a big rally was held and the main address was +made by Mrs. Fanny Garrison Villard. An overflow meeting was held on +the State House steps addressed by Edwin D. Mead and others. In order +to line up the labor vote in the Legislature, resolutions by different +labor unions, signed by their secretaries, were sent to each +legislator, under the direction of Mrs. Page. The measure was defeated +March 31 by 148 to 47.</p> + +<p>1911. For the first time in many years, the Legislative Committee of +the State association, Mrs. Crowley, chairman, appeared, before the +Resolutions Committee of the political parties to urge the adoption of +a suffrage plank. The Democratic party inserted one favoring the +submission of the question to the voters; the Republican party ignored +it. The legislators were interviewed both at the State House and by +representative suffragists within their districts, and they received +suffrage literature. The hearing on February 23 was unusually +successful from a political and publicity standpoint. It was conducted +by Mrs. Crowley and was addressed by Mrs. Park and Mrs. Katharine +Dexter McCormick; John Sherman Weaver, representing the State branch +of the American Federation of Labor, and Henry Abrahams for the Boston +Central Labor Union. Sylvia Pankhurst addressed the committee in a +simple and effective way. Two of the opposition speakers were Mrs. +George and Professor Sedgwick. The debate was spirited and was +conducted for the suffragists by prominent Senators and +Representatives. Four members spoke in opposition.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span> The vote in the +House was ayes, 69, noes, 161; in the Senate, ayes, 6, noes, 31. +During all these years a quiet but effective opposition had been +working at the State House under the direction of Charles R. Saunders, +legislative counsel for the Anti-Suffrage Association.</p> + +<p>One of the most significant features in the fall of 1911 was the +political work of Miss Margaret Foley, as it marked the beginning of a +new type of effort. She had made a special trip to England the year +before with Miss Florence Luscomb and Miss Alice Carpenter to observe +the methods of the English suffragettes, who were then receiving great +publicity. After her return she began by attending with other women +the political rallies of the various candidates for the State +Legislature and at the close of each rally asking the candidate how he +stood on the question of Votes for Women. By her knowledge of crowd +psychology and gift as a speaker, she was able not only to handle but +to win the roughest crowd to the consternation of the candidates. When +the candidates for Governor started on their campaign, Miss Foley, +with a group of workers, followed the Republican candidate in a fast +automobile, attended all his meetings, spoke to the crowd on suffrage +after the Republican speeches were over and questioned the candidates +for Governor and other State officers as to their stand on suffrage. +This unique and somewhat sensational method was taken up with avidity +by the newspapers, which gave it front-page articles with +illustrations. Later she turned her attention to the Democratic +candidates. This was kept up until election and suffrage facts and +arguments were presented to thousands of voters who would never +otherwise have heard them.</p> + +<p>In 1912 the Legislative Committee, Miss Mary Gay, chairman, conducted +the hearing on February 26. Afterwards a special letter of thanks was +sent to Professor Lewis J. Johnson of Harvard and the Hon. Joseph +Walker for their help at the hearing. The amendment had able support +from members and the campaign work began to show results. The vote in +the House was ayes, 96, noes, 116; in the Senate, aye's, 14, noes, 17.</p> + +<p>In the autumn the method was introduced which many believed was +ultimately responsible for putting the amendment through the +Legislature. It was the defeating of individual<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span> legislators who had +been prominent opponents by making an active political campaign in +their districts. The first was begun at the primaries against State +Senator Roger Wolcott of Milton, chairman of the Constitutional +Amendments Committee in the preceding Legislature. The women compiled +a record of his negative votes on many liberal measures, including +suffrage, and spread this record before his constituents. This work +was done at the suggestion and under the direction of Mrs. Fitzgerald, +who conducted open-air meetings in the district. The effort to defeat +his renomination in the primary failed, however, largely through their +inexperience. The Legislative Committee at the time consisted of Mrs. +Crowley, chairman, Mrs. Leonard, Mrs. Park, Mrs. Page, Miss Foley and +Mrs. Mary Agnes Mahan and remained substantially the same during the +next two or three years, with the addition of Mrs. Marie Burress +Currier, Miss Cora Start and Mrs. Evelyn Peverley Coe. Then they made +a fight against Mr. Wolcott's election and by a most thorough campaign +defeated him at the polls and a Democrat was returned from that +district for the first time in many years.</p> + +<p>This year marked the high tide of the Progressive party in +Massachusetts. It had put a straight suffrage plank in its platform +and its members in the Legislature were very helpful. The defeat of +Wolcott, the publicity, the increasing vote in the Legislature and the +general stirring of the suffrage question, had caused the opponents to +fear that the constitutional amendment would be submitted. +Consequently a bill was filed calling for another referendum like the +one in 1895 which would have no effect after it was taken. The +Executive Board of the State association protested against it but the +situation looked extremely dark. Levi H. Greenwood, President of the +Senate, and Grafton D. Cushing, Speaker of the House, were bitter +opponents of woman suffrage and on the Committee on Constitutional +Amendments there was only one avowed friend, Lewis H. Sullivan of +Dorchester. The association's Legislative Committee worked strenuously +to pledge votes against the bill. A visit to every editor in the city +by Mrs. Page and Mrs. Crowley enlisted them against it and the +numerous editorials that followed were sent day by day to the +legislators: The bill's support dwindled, and on April 18<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span> it was +defeated in the House by 117 to 73, although the Speaker left the +chair for the only time that session to argue in favor of it.</p> + +<p>At the hearing on the submission of the constitutional amendment, +Louis D. Brandeis, ex-Congressman Samuel L. Powers, Joseph Walker and +Professor Albert Bushnell Hart of Harvard spoke in favor and letters +were read from Samuel W. McCall, afterwards Republican Governor; +Charles Sumner Bird, the Progressive leader, and Thomas W. Riley, an +influential Democrat. For the first time since 1895 woman suffrage +commanded a majority in the House, the vote standing ayes, 144, noes, +88, but this was not the necessary two-thirds and the Legislative +Committee consented that it might be voted down in the Senate, +provided the "straw" vote bill was defeated at the same time.</p> + +<p>It now seemed practically certain that the amendment would pass the +next Legislature. In the fall of 1913 the Boston Equal Suffrage +Association defeated Walter R. Meins of the 21st Suffolk District; the +Legislative Committee of the State Association defeated +Representatives Butler of Lowell and Underhill of Somerville at the +primaries, and Bliss of Malden and Greenwood, president of the Senate, +at the election. This being the first time for many years that a +Democrat had been returned from Greenwood's district, his defeat +caused a sensation.</p> + +<p>In 1914 the Progressive party, the State Federation of Labor, the +Socialists and the State Suffrage Association all introduced suffrage +measures. The Progressive and Democratic parties had planks in their +platforms recommending the submission of the constitutional amendment +to the voters and Governor Walsh was in favor of it. The suffragists +were unable to get a plank in the Republican platform. For reasons of +political expediency, Mrs. Crowley turned over the conduct of the +hearing to John Weaver Sherman, representing the State Federation of +Labor. There were speeches in favor by Guy A. Ham, chairman of the +Resolutions Committee of the State Republican convention; Henry +Sterling, representing the American Federation of Labor; Mrs. William +Lloyd Garrison, Jr., Mrs. Pinkham and Mrs. Katherine Lent Stevenson, +president of the W. C. T. U. Letters were read from ex-Governor Bates +and Sherman K. Whipple, Republican and Democratic leaders. The Women's +Political<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span> Equality Union had speakers from the Textile Workers' Union +of Boston and the unions of the telephone operators, candy-makers and +street-car men. The debate in the House was successfully led by +Sanford Bates, chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments. +The resolution to submit the amendment passed by 168 to 39 in the +House and 34 to 2 in the Senate, commanding the required two-thirds +for the first time, but it had to pass a succeeding Legislature.</p> + +<p>In 1915 the legislative work was less onerous and the amendment passed +the House by 193 to 33, the Senate by 33 to 3 and was signed by +Governor Walsh, who presented the pen to Mrs. Crowley. His signature +was not necessary but he wished to show his approval.</p> + +<p>Under the Corrupt Practices Act a political committee, so-called, of +at least five men, had to be formed to handle the funds of any group +that spent more than $20 to carry or defeat a constitutional +amendment. A bill was passed which allowed women to form the committee +in the case of the equal suffrage amendment and the following were +named: Miss Blackwell, chairman; Mrs. Blanche Ames, treasurer; Mrs. +Crowley, Mrs. Leonard and Miss Foley. The strenuous campaign and the +defeat of the amendment after a struggle of more than half a century +to have it submitted, have been described.</p> + +<p>In 1916 no suffrage bill of any kind was presented to the Legislature +by the State Association but it turned its attention to congressional +work. This was skilfully conducted by Mrs. Grace A. Johnson, chairman; +members of Congress were interviewed, letters and telegrams sent to +the Congressional Judiciary Committee and delegates to the National +party conventions were urged to support suffrage planks. When these +planks were secured in the national platforms of all parties during +the summer the victory was celebrated with a mass meeting in Faneuil +Hall.</p> + +<p>In 1917 Massachusetts held a Constitutional Convention. The Act +calling it, in describing those to whom its recommendations should be +submitted for ratification, used the word "people." A bill drawn by +Mrs. Crowley was filed in the Legislature by the State Suffrage +Association asking that women be considered people within the meaning +of this Act. The Senate asked the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span> opinion of the State Supreme Court +as to its constitutionality and she filed a brief. The Supreme Court +decided adversely and in view of the rapid advance of the Federal +Suffrage Amendment the association decided that no State amendment +should be submitted by the convention.</p> + +<p>The directions of the National Suffrage Association for congressional +work were carried out. Federal Amendment meetings were held, thousands +of letters sent to members of Congress from their districts and about +500 telegrams sent just before the vote was taken in 1918. The +amendment lacked but one vote of passing the U. S. Senate and it +became necessary to defeat at least one among the anti-suffrage +Senators who were coming up for re-election, so it was decided to +defeat Senator John W. Weeks in Massachusetts. His reactionary record +was spread before the Republican voters by 370,000 circulars and +advertisements in Republican papers. A special campaign among the +working men was made by members of the Women's Trade Union League, +under the leadership of Miss Mabel Gillespie, and among the Jewish +voters, who were normally Republican, under the leadership of Mrs. +Joseph Fels and Mrs. Lillian E. deHaas of New York. The great +popularity of President Wilson at this time was of assistance and also +that of the Democratic candidate for the Senate, ex-Governor Walsh. A +special letter was sent to every listed member of the State +association asking that at least one vote be secured against Mr. +Weeks, with a spirited appeal by Mrs. Ames, who belonged to a +prominent Republican family. Mr. Walsh was elected by about 20,000 +majority, the first Democratic U. S. Senator from Massachusetts since +the Civil War.</p> + +<p>The Congressional Committee, Mrs. Ames, chairman, sent more than 5,000 +letters and telegrams asking suffragists in the State to write and +telegraph the Massachusetts Senators and members of Congress to vote +for the Federal Amendment. Concentrated work was done upon three +doubtful Representatives, one of whom was secured, Carter of Needham. +This proved most fortunate as the House gave exactly the two-thirds +vote.</p> + +<p>The work done in 1918 on the great petition for the Federal Amendment +was very successful despite the influenza epidemic. In Worcester, +Springfield, Pittsfield and North Adams women<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span> signed numbering more +than 51 per cent. of the men's last vote for President and in Boston +62,000 names were secured or 60 per cent. of that vote. The +anti-suffragists in twenty-four years had accumulated only a little +over 40,000 signatures in the whole State, according to their own +figures. In less than one year the suffragists obtained 70,792 in the +above cities and over 100,000 in the State.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> When the Federal Amendment was submitted by Congress on +June 4, 1919, the Legislative Committee of the State Association, Mrs. +Anna C. M. Tillinghast, chairman, was expanded into a Ratification +Committee. It had already polled the Legislature, which was in +session. A hearing was held before the Federal Relations Committee +conducted by Mrs. Tillinghast for the suffragists and by Mrs. Henry +Preston White for the "antis," who asked for a referendum to the +voters in place of ratification. The suffrage speakers were Frank B. +Hall, chairman of the Republican State Committee; Joseph Walker, +Progressive Republican; Josiah Quincy, Democrat, Joseph Walsh, +Democrat, of the Senate; Mrs. Bird, Mrs. FitzGerald, Mrs. Pinkham, who +presented a petition of 135,000 names from representative sections of +the Commonwealth; Mrs. Mary Thompson, representing the working women; +Miss Margaret Foley, a prominent Catholic; a representative of the +State W. C. T. U.; Charles J. Hodgson, legislative agent for the +American Federation of Labor. The speakers for the Woman's Party were +Mrs. Morey, Miss Betty Gram, Michael O'Leary, chairman of the +Democratic State Committee, and Mrs. Louise Sykes. On the +anti-suffrage side sixteen women representing the sixteen +congressional districts told of their vote against suffrage in 1915. +Miss Blackwell spoke in rebuttal for the suffragists, Miss Charlotte +Rowe of Yonkers, N. Y., for the "antis." B. Loring Young, Republican +floor leader in the House, acted as chairman of the suffrage Steering +Committee in the House and Joseph Knox in the Senate. The committee +reported in favor of ratification with two dissenting.</p> + +<p>The debate in the House on June 25 was notable, about fifteen members +speaking on each side. An amendment calling for a referendum was +defeated by 166 to 67 and ratification carried by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span> 185 ayes to 47 +noes. The Senate ratified by 34 ayes, 5 noes. Massachusetts was the +eighth State to ratify. Mrs. Tillinghast expressed especial gratitude +for the assistance given by Governor Calvin Coolidge, Lieutenant +Governor Channing M. Cox, Edwin T. McKnight, President of the Senate, +Joseph E. Warner, Speaker of the House, B. Loring Young, Republican, +and William H. McDonnell, Democratic floor leader, Leland Powers of +the House, Joseph Knox of the Senate and the chairmen of the +Republican and Democratic State committees.</p> + +<p>After women had been enfranchised the State and the Boston suffrage +associations conducted citizenship schools in every county to instruct +them in their new duties.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Laws.</span> [The very complete digest of the legislation of the past twenty +years in relation to women and children, especially to those in the +industries, prepared by Mrs. Teresa A. Crowley, attorney at law, and +filling nine typewritten pages, has to be omitted for lack of space.]</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_79_79" id="Footnote_79_79"></a><a href="#FNanchor_79_79"><span class="label">[79]</span></a> The History is indebted for the first part of this +chapter to Miss Alice Stone Blackwell, an officer of the National +American Woman Suffrage Association from 1890 to 1912 inclusive; +president of the New England Woman Suffrage Association from 1911, and +president of the Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association almost +continuously from 1909 to 1920; and for the second part of the chapter +to Mrs. Teresa A. Crowley, chairman of the Legislative Committee of +the State association from 1909 for many years.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_80_80" id="Footnote_80_80"></a><a href="#FNanchor_80_80"><span class="label">[80]</span></a> Later presidents were Mrs. Page, Mrs. Teresa A. Crowley, +Mrs. Robert Gould Shaw and Mrs. J. Malcolm Forbes. When Mrs. Park was +called to Washington to become national congressional chairman in 1916 +Mrs. Wenona Osborne Pinkham succeeded her as executive secretary.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_81_81" id="Footnote_81_81"></a><a href="#FNanchor_81_81"><span class="label">[81]</span></a> At the annual meeting of the M. A. O. F. E. S. W. on May +1, officers were elected as follows: President, Mrs. G. Howland Shaw; +vice-presidents, Mrs. J. H. Coolidge, Miss Anna L. Dawes, Mrs. Charles +D. Homans, Miss Agnes Irwin, Mrs. Henry M. Whitney; corresponding +secretary, Miss L. C. Post; recording secretary. Miss Elizabeth +Johnson; treasurer, Mrs. James M. Codman; executive committee, the +officers and Miss Sarah H. Crocker, Mrs. Gorham Dana, Mrs. Charles +Eliot Guild, Miss Katherine E. Guild, Miss Elizabeth H. Houghton, Miss +Sarah E. Hunt, Mrs. Francis C. Lowell, Mrs. J. H. Millet, Mrs. B. L. +Robinson, Mrs. R. H. Saltonstall, Miss E. P. Sohier and Mrs. Henry M. +Thompson.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_82_82" id="Footnote_82_82"></a><a href="#FNanchor_82_82"><span class="label">[82]</span></a> Additional speakers through the summer were Miss +Margaret Foley, Miss Gertrude Y. Cliff, Miss Edith M. Haynes, Mrs. +Marion Craig Wentworth, Miss Florence Luscomb, Miss Katherine Tyng, +Miss Alfretta McClure and Miss Rosa Heinzen, the last four college +girls.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_83_83" id="Footnote_83_83"></a><a href="#FNanchor_83_83"><span class="label">[83]</span></a> Much help was given for years by the steady financial +support of Mrs. R. D. Evans, Mrs. Robert Gould Shaw and Mrs. Quincy A. +Shaw. The last named paid the rent of the suffrage headquarters during +many years and her heirs continued this assistance for some time after +her death in 1917.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_84_84" id="Footnote_84_84"></a><a href="#FNanchor_84_84"><span class="label">[84]</span></a> Many of the same persons appeared at these hearings year +after year. Among those not mentioned who spoke for suffrage between +1900 and 1910 were Mrs. Lucia Ames Mead, Henry B. Blackwell, the Rev. +Charles G. Ames, Mrs. Fanny B. Ames, Miss Sarah Cone Bryant, the Rev. +Charles F. Dole, Mrs. Anna Christy Fall, Mrs. Helen Campbell, Miss +Mary Ware Allen, Miss Eva Channing, Mrs. Abby Morton Diaz, Miss +Lillian Freeman Clarke, Mrs. Maud Howe Elliott, Frank B. Sanborn, Mrs. +Eliza R. Whiting, Mrs. Mary Kenney O'Sullivan, Mrs. A. Watson Lister, +of Australia; ex Governor John D. Long. Letters in favor were read +from Professor Borden P. Bowne, of Boston University, U. S. Senator +George F. Hoar, ex Governor George S. Boutwell, Dr. J. L. Withrow of +Park Street Church, Congressman Samuel W. McCall, Professor W. O. +Crosby of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mrs. Sarah Platt +Decker, president of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, Mrs. May +Alden Ward, president of the State Federation, Mrs. F. N. Shiek, +president of the Wyoming Federation, and Judge Lindsey of the Denver +Juvenile Court. +</p><p> +Among those who spoke in opposition were Professor William T. Sedgwick +of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Mrs. Sedgwick, Mrs A. +J. George, Mrs. Barrett Wendell, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Foxcroft and Dr. +Lyman Abbott of New York. A number of women spoke every year who +opposed the suffrage because it would take women into public life.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_85_85" id="Footnote_85_85"></a><a href="#FNanchor_85_85"><span class="label">[85]</span></a> The suggestion to get out a record-breaking crowd was +made by Representative Norman H. White of Brookline, the first man for +some years to lead a serious fight in the Legislature for woman +suffrage. The work of getting it out was engineered by Mrs. Crowley, +Mrs. Page and Mrs. Mary Ware Dennett, who also arranged the great +procession at the hearing of the following year.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_86_86" id="Footnote_86_86"></a><a href="#FNanchor_86_86"><span class="label">[86]</span></a> Among the speakers at the overflow meetings on the steps +were the Misses Rendell and Costello, Miss Foley, Mrs. George F. +Lowell, Mr. Blackwell, Mrs. Fitzgerald, John Golden and Franklin H. +Wentworth. At the overflow meeting on the Common Mrs. Fitzgerald +presided and Dr. Shaw was the chief speaker. A great meeting in +Faneuil Hall had been addressed by Dr. Shaw and others the night +before.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<h3>MICHIGAN.<a name="FNanchor_87_87" id="FNanchor_87_87"></a><a href="#Footnote_87_87" class="fnanchor">[87]</a></h3> + + +<p>The Michigan Equal Suffrage Association is almost as old as any in the +United State, having been organized in January, 1870, eight months +after the National Association was formed, and its work has been long +and arduous. It has had triumphs and disappointments; gained partial +suffrage at two periods and ended in a complete victory in 1918.</p> + +<p>In 1900-1901 the principal efforts of the association, which consisted +of 14 auxiliaries, were along educational lines. At the annual +convention in 1902 a petition was sent to President Theodore Roosevelt +to recommend a woman suffrage amendment to the National Constitution +in his message to Congress, which was heartily endorsed by the +National Grange then in session in Lansing. Little active work was +being done with the Legislature but it is the pride of the suffragists +that no Legislature ever convened which they did not memorialize and +only two years passed without a State convention—1912, and two were +held in 1913; and 1917, when a congressional conference was held +instead.<a name="FNanchor_88_88" id="FNanchor_88_88"></a><a href="#Footnote_88_88" class="fnanchor">[88]</a> The presidents during these years were Mrs. Emily Burton +Ketcham, Grand Rapids, 1901 (at intervals from 1892); Mrs. Martha E. +Snyder Root, Bay City, 1902-3; Mrs. Guilielma H. Barnum, Charlotte, +1904-6; Mrs. Clara B. Arthur, Detroit, 1906-1914; Mrs. Orton H. Clark, +Kalamazoo, 1914-1918; Mrs. Belle Brotherton, Detroit, acting +president, 1918; Mrs. Percy J. Farrell, Detroit, 1918-1919.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span></p> + +<p>From 1902 to 1906 the work was largely confined to the preparing of +public opinion for the probable revision of the State constitution. +Legislatures refused to submit a woman suffrage amendment to the +voters on the plea that a new constitution would soon be in force. It +was decided to make an intensive educational campaign, especially +among the club women. To this end suffragists served on club +committees working for legislative or civic ends, and the rebuffs of +the measures urged by them finally resulted in the endorsement of +woman suffrage by the State Federation of Women's Clubs with 8,000 +members, at Battle Creek in October, 1908.</p> + +<p>In 1906 speakers were sent over the State for lectures and debates. +Prizes for suffrage essays were offered in high schools with material +supplied. At county and State fairs, church bazars, picnics and +meetings of various societies, literature was freely distributed. The +<i>Woman's Journal</i> was placed in all public libraries and small +suffrage tracts kept in interurban waiting rooms and in rest rooms of +churches, societies and dry-goods stores. Birthdays of pioneer +suffragists were celebrated by special meetings, local clubs always +responding to a call with so concrete an object. A committee of +members in all parts of the State attended constantly to press work, +sending in items of interest concerning the progress of women, +educationally and politically, and answering attacks on woman +suffrage.</p> + +<p>This year the Supreme Court decided that Mrs. Merrie Hoover Abbott, +who had been elected prosecuting attorney of Ogemaw county, could not +serve because no woman was entitled to hold office. The association +used this decision as a practical lesson on the position of women +under the present constitution. Finally the Legislature of 1907 +arranged for a constitutional convention. The annual convention of the +association promptly met the situation by appointing a Constitutional +Revision Committee headed by Mrs. May Stocking Knaggs of Bay City, a +former president, and each auxiliary was invited to appoint one woman +to serve on an advisory committee. The purpose of this committee was +to urge upon the convention the omission of the word "male" from the +suffrage clause as a qualification for voting.</p> + +<p>The Committee on Elective Franchise of the constitutional<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span> convention +reported unanimously in favor and on Jan 8. 1908, granted the +suffragists a hearing in Representatives Hall. Ten societies +cooperating with the State suffrage association were represented—the +Grange, two organizations of the Maccabees, Woman's Christian +Temperance Union, State Federation of Labor, Detroit Garment Workers, +State Woman's Press Association and several women's and farmers' +clubs. A petition representing 225,000 names, 175,000 of individual +women of voting age, was presented. The State president, Mrs. Clara B. +Arthur, introduced the speakers, Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, president of +the National American Woman Suffrage Association, and Mrs. Catharine +Waugh McCulloch, a lawyer of Chicago, who made earnest addresses. The +Governor came in to hear them. The women "antis" circulated a leaflet +opposing the change. On January 29 the debate took place in the +convention on the proposed revision, and, although not a voice had +been raised in protest, the vote stood 38 ayes, 57 noes. Some members +who voted "no" did so because they believed that the whole +constitution would be defeated at the polls if it proposed to +enfranchise women. The hard work of the association was not, however, +barren of results, for a clause was inserted in the new constitution +giving taxpaying women the right to vote on any public question +relating to the public expenditure of money or the issuing of bonds. +[In 1915 the Legislature extended it to the granting of public +franchises.]</p> + +<p>In the spring Mrs. Arthur with Mrs. Maud Wood Park, organizer for the +National College Suffrage League, formed branches in the colleges at +Albion, Hillsdale, Olivet and Ann Arbor and among the collegiate +alumnae in Detroit, of which Dr. Mary Thompson Stevens was made +president. In June the fifty-six State delegates to the National +Democratic convention were petitioned for a woman suffrage plank in +the platform.</p> + +<p>The next task was to try to comply with the request of the National +Suffrage Association to secure 100,000 names to a nation-wide petition +to be presented to Congress for a Federal Suffrage Amendment. Mrs. +Fern Richardson Rowe, Grand Rapids, was chairman of the work, which +took up the greater part of the year 1909 and went over into 1910. +This last year<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span> the State association obtained the consent of the Hon. +Levi L. Barbour, former U. S. Senator Thomas W. Palmer and the Rev. +Lee S. McCollester, pastor of the Church of Our Father (Universalist), +all residents of Detroit, to act as an invitational committee in +organizing a Men's State League for Woman Suffrage. The charter +membership consisted of 100 influential men well known throughout the +State. In March a committee of the association went to the Republican +State convention to have a woman suffrage resolution adopted but were +unsuccessful.</p> + +<p>In March, 1912, the association was thrown unexpectedly into a turmoil +when Governor Chase S. Osborn called a special session of the +Legislature to consider, among other things, the submission of a woman +suffrage amendment to the State constitution to the voters at the +general election on November 5, urged by the Detroit branch of the +College Suffrage League. The time was not propitious but the +Legislative Committee of the association, under the direction of Mrs. +Jennie C. Law Hardy, went immediately to work, receiving able +assistance from the Governor, the Rev. Eugene R. Shippen (Unitarian) +of the Men's League and Dr. Mary Thompson Stevens of the College +League. The State Grange immediately appropriated $1,000 for their +Woman's Committee, directed by Miss Ida L. Chittenden. These united +efforts were vigorously opposed by representatives of the liquor +dealers but the measure passed the Senate and House. This big contest +Michigan entered almost single-handed. Campaigns in other States which +had been months in progress and gave greater promise of success were +engaging nearly all of the organizers and speakers from outside the +State. There was less than $250 in the treasury. This amount was +augmented by $1,340 from the National Association; $211 from various +States and the State Association raised $6,322. It was not until early +June that plans were completely under way. The five months remaining +were devoted to an intensive educational campaign, made possible only +by the organizing work since 1906.</p> + +<p>State headquarters were opened in Detroit and subsidiary headquarters +in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. County suffrage societies cooperated +heartily and much help came from the press. The Men's League, the +College League, the powerful State<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span> Grange, the Farmers' Clubs and +many labor organizations helped and all that was possible was done in +this short and unexpected campaign. When the returns began to come in +they were overwhelmingly in favor of the amendment. The newspapers +fixed its majority at figures varying from 3,000 to 12,000. +Immediately following these reports came rumors of large errors in the +count. Ballot boxes were mysteriously lost and every artifice known to +the politicians was employed to delay the official returns.</p> + +<p>Governor Osborn was quoted in the press as follows: "If the liquor +interests defeat the suffrage amendment by fraud, proved or suspected, +the people of Michigan will retaliate, in my opinion, by adopting +state wide prohibition. The question seems to be largely one as to +whether these interests own, control and run Michigan. Those most +feared are certain election 'crooks' in certain Detroit precincts, who +would not hesitate to do anything they thought they could get away +with." The Governor demanded that the returns be sent to Lansing at +once. When at the end of three weeks the official count was published +it showed that the amendment had been defeated by 762 votes, ayes, +247,373; noes, 248,135. Clear evidence of fraud was apparent in Wayne, +Kent, Saginaw and Bay counties. The State association engaged the best +legal talent and in Genesee county the courts threw out the vote on +the amendment. It developed, however, that there was no law allowing a +recount in a vote on a constitutional amendment and in the face of +glaring fraud the defeat had to be accepted.</p> + +<p>No State convention was held in November, 1912, because of the stress +of campaign work but a postponed convention was held Jan. 15, 16, +1913. Indignation ran high over this defeat and an immediate +resubmission of the amendment was decided upon as the result of +favorable answers to questionnaires which had been sent to all county +chairmen and the heads of all cooperating societies. During the +campaign no open or organized opposition among women had been in +evidence. A legislative hearing was arranged by the suffragists and +the State and College League presidents on starting to Lansing found a +special car attached to their train bearing about thirty prominent +women members of a new Anti-Suffrage Association. Their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span> only speaker +was Miss Minnie Bronson of New York, secretary of the National +Anti-Suffrage Association. As Mrs. Arthur rose to answer her hour's +speech she remarked that for the first time the voice of a woman was +heard in this State in protest against her own enfranchisement and she +rejoiced that it was not the voice of a Michigan woman.</p> + +<p>Despite determined opposition the proposal passed both Houses to be +voted on at the spring election just five weeks ahead. Owing to the +social position of the "antis," the State press gave much prominence +to their association, published pages of the members' pictures and +quoted their reasons for organizing it. Branches were at once formed +in ten adjoining towns; State offices were opened on Woodward Avenue, +near the suffrage headquarters, books opened for registration and +great quantities of literature sent over the State. Several debates +were attempted but few materialized, as they had no home talent.<a name="FNanchor_89_89" id="FNanchor_89_89"></a><a href="#Footnote_89_89" class="fnanchor">[89]</a></p> + +<p>A placard printed in English and German and posted in saloons in +various parts of the city by the Michigan Staatterbund announced that +if the amendment should be adopted in Michigan, foreign born women +would have to take out naturalization papers at a large price. This +and the Royal Ark, an association of 1,100 liquor dealers in Detroit, +were the only organizations in the State to pass resolutions against +the amendment. A Men's Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage was +organized on March 15 at a meeting in the University Club; President, +Charles A. Kent; vice-president, William A. Livingston, Jr.; +treasurer, Garvin Denby; secretary, Henry C. Bulkley. A well known +lawyer, William E. Heinze, wrote very bitter articles for the press +and undoubtedly influenced the German-American vote. The Rev. Wm. +Byron Forbush, pastor of the North Woodward Congregational Church, +spoke at anti-suffrage meetings.</p> + +<p>On March 29, with the election less than a week away, John Dohrinan +and Senator James R. Murtha, representing Mr. Livingston, and Carl +Bauer of the Staatterbund appeared before the Circuit Court with a +petition to have the suffrage amendment<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span> printed on a separate ballot. +The Court denied the petition. The case was immediately carried to the +State Supreme Court which decided that all amendments must be on +separate ballots.</p> + +<p>Necessarily the campaign was short for the vote was to be taken April +7. Unlike the one preceding, three-fourths of the financial support +came from without the State. Mrs. Ida Porter Boyer of Pennsylvania was +engaged for press and executive work. The National Association +furnished speakers, among them its president, Dr. Shaw, Mrs. Carrie +Chapman Catt, Mrs. Park, Mrs. Celia J. White, Mrs. Susan W. +FitzGerald, Mrs. Glendower Evans, Mrs. Priscilla D. Hackstaff, Mrs. +Ella S. Stewart, Miss Doris Stevens, Mrs. Clara Laddey, Mrs. Clara +Bewick Colby and Mrs. Beatrice Forbes Robertson Hale. Miss Laura Clay +came from Kentucky at her own expense. The State was organized by +counties and the speaking and circularizing were done under the +immediate direction of the county chairmen. In the report of Mrs. Edna +S. Blair, chairman of organization, she stated that there were but +eight counties in the State which had no working committees and only +three of these were in the Lower Peninsula, their total voting +strength being less than 2,500. The amendment was defeated by 96,144, +receiving 168,738 ayes, 264,882 noes. Her analysis of the vote, +prepared from county returns, showed that there was a gain of a little +more than 16,000 negative votes over those of 1912, and 13,000 of +these were in counties having a "wet" and "dry" issue.</p> + +<p>The preceding year the liquor forces had not realized the need of +active work. Never in any other State campaign did these forces make +so open a fight as in this one. They paid for columns of space in the +newspapers and circulated vast quantities of the literature prepared +by the women's Anti-Suffrage Association. This was in piles on the +bars of the saloons and, according to reports, in even more +questionable places. The defeat was not due so much to a change in +public opinion as it was to an absence of the favorable vote which had +been called out in the previous year by reason of the presidential +election.</p> + +<p>After the election county chairmen and all suffragists were asked to +urge their representatives in Congress to support the Federal +Amendment. This was followed by a trip through the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span> State by Mrs. +Blair, who contributed her services, and at the convention in Jackson, +in 1913, she reported that there were now only four counties, all in +the Upper Peninsula, where there was no record of active workers. Mrs. +Arthur was reelected.<a name="FNanchor_90_90" id="FNanchor_90_90"></a><a href="#Footnote_90_90" class="fnanchor">[90]</a></p> + +<p>Although recovering from two successive defeats the association found +itself in 1914 able to carry on more systematic work than had ever +been attempted. In February a monthly magazine, the <i>Michigan +Suffragist</i>, was established with Mrs. Blair editor. At the convention +in Traverse City Nov. 4-6, 1914, Mrs. Orton H. Clark was elected +president and the State board adopted her scheme for financing the +association, which was successfully carried forward by the finance +chairman, Mrs. J. G. Macpherson of Saginaw. It consisted in the +apportionment of a fixed revenue on the basis of ten cents from each +taxpaying woman, of whom there were 100,302 in the State. More than +one-third of the counties met all or a part of their apportionment, +which enabled the president to open headquarters in a business +building in Kalamazoo, employ an executive secretary and an organizer +and engage Mrs. Robertson Hale for a series of lectures.</p> + +<p>Much of the effort during the early months of 1915 was directed toward +securing Municipal suffrage, which necessitated active work by the +Legislative Committee, Dr. Blanche M. Haines of Three Rivers, +chairman. An attempt was made to organize according to congressional +districts; chairmen were found for ten of the thirteen and a number of +district conferences were held. All State and national candidates were +interviewed on woman suffrage personally or by letter. Many meetings +were addressed by national and international speakers.</p> + +<p>This program was continued through 1915 and 1916. The State +conventions were held in November in Saginaw and Grand Rapids and Mrs. +Clark was re-elected president. Following the plan made by the +National Association, suffrage schools were held in Kalamazoo, Grand +Rapids and Detroit in March, 1917, with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span> Mrs. Halsey W. Wilson, Mrs. +T. T. Cotnam and Mrs. Nettie R. Shuler as instructors. Upon America's +entry into the World War in April, communities, counties, the State +and even the nation made demands on the association. Mrs. Clark called +together the heads of nearly forty organizations to coordinate the war +activities of Michigan women. The Rev. Caroline Bartlett Crane was +made chairman of the State committee, which afterwards became the +State Division of the Woman's Committee of the Council of National +Defense, Dr. Crane chairman.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding this situation, however, a bill to give a vote for +Presidential electors to women was introduced in the Senate and almost +simultaneously one in the House asking for another referendum on a +constitutional amendment by Representative Flowers, who had fought the +suffrage battle for nearly a quarter of a century. The association +protested but the sponsors of both bills were adamant. As a result +both bills were passed in March and April and it found itself in the +midst of a campaign on the referendum at this most inopportune time. +There was nothing to do but to plunge into it. Interest lagged, +however, as the women were absorbed in war work and there was a wide +belief that in recognition of this work the men would give the +suffrage without a campaign for it. Mrs. Catt, now national president, +did not share this view and she requested a conference with the State +workers. They decided to hold a State convention in Detroit, March +25-27, 1918, and she and Mrs. Shuler, national chairman of +organization, came to it. Mrs. Brotherton was serving as president and +it was one of the largest ever held. The names of the honorary +committee filled two pages of the program. It was welcomed by Mayor +Marx and many organizations of women were represented. Mrs. Catt +addressed the evening meetings and Mrs. Shuler spoke at the banquet in +Hotel Statler, where the convention took place.</p> + +<p>The State Board presented a full report and program for war activities +but no plan for campaign. Most of the delegates believed the men would +give them the vote without any activity on their part. Mrs. Catt made +a stirring appeal in which she pointed out that war work would be +expected as their duty and that the vote would not be given as a +recognition.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span> Before the end of the convention she had thoroughly +aroused the delegates and the force of her appeal was evident when the +campaign plans providing for the budget, petition and political work, +which had been prepared by the National Association as a basis of work +for the three States then in campaign, was cheerfully adopted. The +budget called for $100,000 to be raised equally by Detroit and the +congressional districts. At the dinner on the 26th $50,000 were +quickly subscribed, $24,000 by the districts. Detroit women, who had +already secured $6,000, partly to pay back debts, pledged $10,000 +more. Mrs. Catt promised the equivalent of $10,000 in help from the +National Association if the full budget were raised. Mrs. Percy J. +Farrell of Detroit was elected president of the association and +chairman of the campaign committee and the following women were named +chairmen of congressional districts; Mrs. Brotherton, Mrs. G. W. +Patterson, Dr. Haines, Mrs. Huntley Russell, Mrs. Alice B. Locke, Mrs. +Macpherson and Mrs. Alberta Droelle. The delegates went away from the +convention filled with enthusiasm and ready for an active campaign.</p> + +<p>Press work was again under the direction of Mrs. Boyer who was the +adviser and right hand of Mrs. Farrell, giving unstintedly of her +large experience. Mrs. Henry G. Sherrard was chairman of literature +and Mrs. Myron B. Vorce of political work. Dr. Haines supervised +eleven counties, which gave 15,000 majority. Mrs. Boyer said of Mrs. +Brotherton: "Her faith, devotion and work extended through three +campaigns and she was one of those who could remain steadfast through +the sowing until the reaping time." Mrs. Russell, the State +vice-president, was a recognized force. Mrs. E. L. Caulkins, president +of the W. C. T. U., devoted its full organization to the amendment, +especially to the petitions and at the polls on election day. The most +telling feature of the campaign was the petition under the direction +of Mrs. Emerson B. Davis of Detroit, signed by more than 202,000 women +over twenty-one years old and addressed to voters, urging them to vote +"yes" on the referendum. The work was finished in October and +interesting uses were made of the names. Those in Grand Rapids were +published in the daily papers of that city from day to day; in Saginaw +they were hung as a frieze on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span> walls of the woman's section at the +State Fair; in other places they were exhibited in store windows. Mrs. +Catt had stipulated for this petition because of its educational value +and its influence on the voters and the public. The work was done by +volunteers.</p> + +<p>Few campaigns ever had so much help from organizations outside of +those for suffrage, among them were the W. C. T. U., Federation of +Women's Clubs, State Grange, State Farmers' Clubs, Gleaners, American +Federation of Labor, Anti-Saloon League, and Woman's Committee of the +Council of National Defense. The Men's League was an important factor. +The clergy almost as a unit gave generous endorsement and constant +help. The support of the press was nearly unanimous, many papers +refusing pay for space from the "antis."</p> + +<p>Most valuable assistance came from the two great fraternal insurance +organizations of women, Ladies of the Maccabees and the Women's +Benefit Association of the Maccabees, Miss Bina M. West supreme +commander, which had had the experience of having to defeat two +referenda aimed at crippling their form of insurance. Partly for this +reason they were especially interested in securing the franchise for +women. The Ladies of the Maccabees confined their work mainly to the +women in their own large organization. The Women's Benefit Association +assumed the responsibility of organizing six congressional districts. +They financed their own work entirely, using their own skilled +organizers whenever it was necessary, especially in the Upper +Peninsula, where no other workers were sent. The story of Mrs. Locke +and Mrs. Droelle reads like that of the pioneers in the far western +countries. This contribution, if measured in dollars, would have +represented many thousands.</p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ford, Mr. and Mrs. Willard Pope, Mr. and Mrs. +Gustavus Pope, Mrs. John B. Ford, Mrs. Delphine Dodge Ashbaugh and +Mrs. Sherrard contributed nearly half of the amount required for the +entire campaign. The teachers of Detroit financed a worker for several +months, as did the Detroit business women. Many of the larger cities +financed their own campaigns for the last six weeks. Among the +individual men who gave great financial assistance at this time were +James Couzens, Chas. B. Warren, member of the Republican National<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span> +Committee and William A. Comstock of Alpena, who as treasurer of the +Men's Suffrage League, collected the major part of their donations, +nearly $9,000.</p> + +<p>The National Suffrage Association gave in cash $1,400, paid the bill +for literature and posters, $1,335, and made other contributions +amounting to $6,000. It paid salaries and part of the expenses from +Jan. 1, 1918, of Mrs. Augusta Hughston and the organizers, Miss Lola +Trax, Miss Edna Wright, Miss Marie Ames, Miss Alma Sasse and Miss +Stella Crossley, until the State was able to assume them. Mrs. +Hughston became the campaign manager of Detroit. Mrs. Shuler came +three times and campaigned all over the State. Mrs. Mary E. Craigie of +New York gave assistance. The magnitude of the detail work of the +campaign may be understood from the report of Mrs. Hughston, who said: +"In Detroit alone there were distributed 500,000 pieces of literature; +50,000 buttons, 13,000 posters put in windows, 1,000 street car +advertisements, 174 large billboard posters and 1,766 inches of paid +advertisements in newspapers."</p> + +<p>The election took place on Nov. 5, 1918, when the suffrage amendment +received 229,790 ayes and 195,284 noes—carried by a majority of +34,506. Four strong factors influenced the vote; first, prohibition, +which had been adopted in 1916, was in effect and the forces that had +led past opposition were badly disorganized; second, the astute +politicians saw the trend of events, and few, if any, openly opposed +it; third, the war work of women, which, although it lessened the +number of workers for suffrage, yet made forceful appeal to the +voters; fourth, the activity of all organizations of women.</p> + +<p>This summary of the work of Michigan women for their political freedom +is most incomplete without the names of hundreds of workers who +toiled, suffered, sacrificed, gave of their time, their strength, +their money, year after year, but the list is too long. Every city, +every locality had its special difficulties, which had to be overcome +and their women were equal to the task. All contributed to the great +victory. The <i>Woman Citizen</i>, official organ of the National American +Suffrage Association, in its edition of Nov. 30, 1918, gave a detailed +summary of this campaign and the workers.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span></p> + +<p>After a brief respite, the suffragists took up the work of a +registration "drive" for the spring election in April, when an +amendment to weaken the prohibition law was to be voted on. The +registration by women in some places was larger than that of men. +Prohibition had been carried in 1916 by a majority of 68,624. At this +election in 1919, with women voting, the majority was over three times +as large—207,520—and the amendment was defeated.</p> + +<p>The convention of the State Equal Suffrage Association met in Grand +Rapids, April 3, 4, 1919, Mrs. Farrell presiding. The name was changed +to the State League of Women Voters and Mrs. Brotherton was elected +chairman. Plans for the approaching ratification campaign were made +and she was authorized to secure chairmen for the new departments of +work. The willingness of women to accept the various chairmanships was +in marked contrast to the difficulties encountered during suffrage +campaigns.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> The Federal Suffrage Amendment was submitted by Congress +June 4, 1919, and fortunately Governor Albert E. Sleeper had called a +special session of the Legislature to convene on June 3. He was at +once requested to submit the amendment for ratification and soon +announced his willingness to do so. A recess had been taken over +Sunday but each member received a letter from the League of Women +Voters asking for a favorable vote and many cordial answers were +received. The Legislature assembled at 2 o'clock on Tuesday, June 10. +The Senate and House at once voted unanimously in favor of +ratification. The same day the Wisconsin and Illinois Legislatures +also ratified. These three States were the first to take action.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action.</span> 1903. A joint resolution to amend the State +constitution by striking out the word "male" as a qualification for +voters was introduced by Representative Nathan A. Lovell but was not +reported out of the committees.</p> + +<p>1905. A similar resolution was introduced by Representative George E. +Dewey but failed to pass by seven votes.</p> + +<p>1911. The same resolution received in the House 55 ayes, 44 noes, +lacking the necessary two-thirds, and failed in the Senate by two +votes.</p> + +<p>1912. In the call for a special session Governor Osborn included<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span> the +consideration of a woman suffrage amendment. It was introduced in the +Senate by Robert Y. Ogg and in the House by Representative Charles +Flowers. The Senate opposition was led by James A. Murtha and Charles +M. Culver, while William M. Martz sought to block it in the House. The +vote in the Senate was 23 ayes, 5 noes; in the House 75 ayes, 19 noes. +It was submitted to the voters and defeated.</p> + +<p>1913. A hearing on the amendment resolution was arranged by the State +board in February. Without the knowledge of the suffragists the +"antis" secured one to precede theirs. The president, Mrs. Arthur, Dr. +Mary Thompson Stevens, Dr. Caroline Bartlett Crane and Mrs. Jennie C. +Law Hardy spoke for the amendment. The vote in the Senate was 24 ayes, +5 noes; in the House, 73 ayes, 19 noes. Submitted and defeated at the +polls.</p> + +<p>1915. The bill for Municipal suffrage was rejected as +unconstitutional.</p> + +<p>1917. Two measures were introduced, one for the amendment by +Representative Flower and the other for Presidential suffrage by +Senator John M. Damon of Mt. Pleasant. At last the officers of the +State Association had to withdraw their opposition to the referendum +in order to save the Presidential bill. The vote on the referendum +March 28 was, House 71 ayes, 21 noes; April 19, Senate, 26 ayes, 4 +noes; a two-thirds vote required. The Presidential suffrage vote on +March 21 in the Senate was 22 ayes, 7 noes; on April 18 in the House, +64 ayes, 30 noes. There was no strong opposition. The amendment was +carried by a large majority on Nov. 5, 1918.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_87_87" id="Footnote_87_87"></a><a href="#FNanchor_87_87"><span class="label">[87]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Clara +B. Arthur, vice-president of the State Equal Suffrage Association +1895-1906; president, 1906-1914, and Mrs. Belle Brotherton, acting +president, 1918; chairman of the League of Women Voters, 1919.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_88_88" id="Footnote_88_88"></a><a href="#FNanchor_88_88"><span class="label">[88]</span></a> Following are the times and places of holding State +conventions: Oct. 23-25, 1901, Saginaw; Oct. 29-31, 1902, Charlotte; +Nov. 10-12, 1903, Paw Paw; Oct. 25-27, 1904, Jackson; Nov. 1-3, 1905, +Port Huron; Oct. 9, 10, 1906, Kalamazoo; Sept. 18-20, 1907, Charlotte; +Nov. 5, 6, 1908, Bay City; Dec. 7, 8, 1909, Grand Rapids; Nov. 6-8, +1910, Kalamazoo; Nov. 16, 17, 1911, Kalamazoo; no convention in 1912; +Jan. 15, 16, 1913, Lansing; Nov. 5-7, 1913, Jackson; Nov. 4-6, 1914, +Traverse City; Nov. 10, 11, 1915, Saginaw; Nov. 15-17, 1916, Grand +Rapids; no convention in 1917; March 26, 27, 1918, Detroit; April 3, +4, 1919, Grand Rapids.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_89_89" id="Footnote_89_89"></a><a href="#FNanchor_89_89"><span class="label">[89]</span></a> The officers of the Association Opposed to Equal +Suffrage as published in the press were: President, Mrs. Henry F. +Lyster; secretary, Miss Helen Keep; publicity committee, Miss Julia +Russell, Mrs. A. A. Griffiths, Mrs. J. A. McMillan, Mrs. Fred +Reynolds, Mrs. Edward H. Parker, Mrs. Richard Jackson and Miss +Caroline Barnard.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_90_90" id="Footnote_90_90"></a><a href="#FNanchor_90_90"><span class="label">[90]</span></a> Mrs. Brotherton writes: "Special tribute should be paid +to the splendid administrative ability of Mrs. Arthur. Her conduct of +the 1912 and 1913 campaigns and the years of effort that preceded them +deserve the unending gratitude of Michigan women. Her greatest +monument was the vote of taxpaying women on bond issues. Mrs. Orton H. +Clark, who succeeded Mrs. Arthur in 1914, brought to the work the same +patient and consecrated zeal and to her is largely due the gaining of +Presidential suffrage.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<h3>MINNESOTA.<a name="FNanchor_91_91" id="FNanchor_91_91"></a><a href="#Footnote_91_91" class="fnanchor">[91]</a></h3> + + +<p>The great event for the Minnesota Woman Suffrage Association in 1901 +was the convention of the National American Woman Suffrage Association +May 30-June 5 in Minneapolis. Large audiences night after night filled +the First Baptist Church to listen to the eloquent addresses of Miss +Susan B. Anthony, honorary president; Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, +president, and Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, vice-president of the +association; Henry B. Blackwell, editor of the <i>Woman's Journal</i>, +Rachel Foster Avery and other speakers of national fame. The officers +were entertained at West Hotel and the 200 delegates in the homes of +suffragists. Dr. Cora Smith Eaton, who was the chairman of +arrangements, was elected second auditor of the National Association.</p> + +<p>The State convention of 1901 was held in Mankato in October, with Mrs. +Catt as the principal speaker. Mrs. Maud C. Stockwell and Mrs. Jennie +Knight Brown were re-elected president and vice-president and Mrs. A. +H. Boostrom appointed chairman of press. Through the generosity of +Mrs. E. A. Russell of Minneapolis Miss Anna Gjertsen was engaged to +organize the Scandinavian women. Among the names enrolled in the +suffrage booth at the State Fair were those of Theodore Roosevelt, +Vice-President of the United States; Gen. Nelson Miles, Gov. Samuel R. +Van Sant and Archbishop Ireland. The annual convention of 1902 was +entertained in June by the St. Paul Club, which had been organized a +few months before. Mrs. Hannah Egelston was elected vice-president. +The press chairman stated that fifteen newspapers were using suffrage +articles and the enrollment and the petition work for Presidential +suffrage was being successfully<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span> carried on. The association was +incorporated this year.</p> + +<p>In September, 1903, the State convention was held in Austin with Dr. +Shaw the chief speaker. The former officers were re-elected. Reports +showed old clubs revived and new ones formed through the efforts of +Miss Gail Laughlin, one of the national organizers. Mrs. Eugenia B. +Farmer was this year appointed chairman of press and held the office +till 1915 when she was made honorary chairman. She did not relinquish +the work but continued to assist her successor, Mrs. W. H. Thorp. For +eight years Mrs. Farmer kept press headquarters in the Old Capitol, +St. Paul. She added new papers to the list which accepted suffrage +matter till it had 500, about all of them, and much of the suffrage +sentiment in the State can be traced to her years of work. The +quarterly bulletin was edited by Mrs. Julia B. Nelson.</p> + +<p>In October, 1904, the convention met in Anoka and Dr. Shaw addressed +large audiences. Miss Marion Sloan of Rochester was made +vice-president. During the year the association offered prizes for the +best essay on woman suffrage to the students of the four Normal +Schools, many competing. The annual meeting for 1905 was held in +Minneapolis in November. In answer to the many calls a Lecture Bureau +of twenty well-known speakers directed by Dr. Annah Hurd had been +organized; a generous contribution was sent to Oregon for its +campaign.</p> + +<p>In March, 1906, an impressive memorial service was held in Minneapolis +for the beloved leader, Susan B. Anthony. Another was held in +Monticello in November during the State convention. It was reported +that the Governor had appointed Dr. Margaret Koch, one of the active +suffragists, to the State Medical Board; that many organizations had +passed resolutions endorsing suffrage and that in June Mrs. Stockwell +had presented the greetings of the National Association to the General +Federation of Women's Clubs in convention in St. Paul. In October, +1907, the convention met in Austin. During the year a Scandinavian +association had been formed by Dr. Ethel E. Hurd, with Mrs. Jenova +Martin president, and a College Equal Suffrage League at the State +University by Professors Frances Squire Potter and Mary Gray Peck, +with Miss Elsa Ueland president. Miss Laura Gregg, sent by the +National Association, had organized suffrage<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span> committees in twelve +towns. It was decided to circularize the teachers of the State.</p> + +<p>In November, 1908, the convention was held in Minneapolis with Dr. +Shaw and Professor Potter as speakers. Mrs. Martin was elected +vice-president. The energy of all suffrage workers had been turned +toward the great petition to Congress for the Federal Amendment +planned by the National Association and directed in the State by Mrs. +F. G. Corser of Minneapolis. Mrs. Maud Wood Park made a tour of the +State in March speaking in eight colleges in the interest of the +National College Equal Suffrage League. In October, 1909, the State +convention went to St. Paul. The <i>Bulletin</i>, official organ of the +association and a valuable feature of its work, had had to be +abandoned because of lack of funds. It had been edited for ten years +by Dr. Ethel E. Hurd, recording secretary, who sometimes mimeographed +it herself, sometimes had it typewritten and when possible printed, +always herself addressing and mailing copies to the State members. An +important event of the year was the unanimous endorsement of woman +suffrage by the State Editorial Association, secured by Miss Mary +McFadden, a journalist. For the first time a speaker was supplied to +the State convention of the Federation of Women's Clubs.</p> + +<p>In November, 1910, the State convention was entertained by the +Minneapolis Political Equality Club, organized in 1868. Mrs. +Stockwell, who had served as president for ten years, asked to be +relieved from office and Miss Emily Dobbyn of St. Paul was elected +president with Dr. Margaret Koch, who had been treasurer ten years, +first vice-president. The petition was reported as finished with +20,300 names. It was sent to Washington and presented to Congress by +Senator Moses E. Clapp with an earnest plea for its consideration. In +October, 1911, the convention again went to St. Paul and Mrs. A. T. +Hall of this city was elected president.</p> + +<p>The convention of 1912 was held in Minneapolis in September. Under +direction of Mrs. A. H. Bright of this city the first automobile +suffrage parade took place, the route extending from the court house +where the convention was held to the Fair grounds where addresses were +made. Eleven new clubs were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span> reported. The Woman's Welfare League of +St. Paul joined the State association and did excellent work for +suffrage. Mrs. Hall was re-elected president and removing from the +State later Mrs. P. L. De Voist of Duluth was selected to fill out her +term.<a name="FNanchor_92_92" id="FNanchor_92_92"></a><a href="#Footnote_92_92" class="fnanchor">[92]</a></p> + +<p>In October, 1913, at the annual convention in St. Paul, Mrs. Bright +was elected president. The Minneapolis Equal Suffrage Club, which had +been organized independently by Mrs. Andreas Ueland, joined the State +association and later became the Hennepin County suffrage +organization. A Women Workers' Suffrage Club was formed with Mrs. +Gertrude Hunter, president.</p> + +<p>In November, 1914, at the convention in Minneapolis, Mrs. Ueland was +elected president and served for the next five years.<a name="FNanchor_93_93" id="FNanchor_93_93"></a><a href="#Footnote_93_93" class="fnanchor">[93]</a> It was +reported that the Everywoman Suffrage Club of colored women had been +organized in St. Paul with Mrs. W. T. Francis president. The clubs of +St. Paul and Minneapolis, at the request of the National Association, +had joined in the nation-wide demonstration May 2 with mass meetings +in each city, a street meeting and parade in St. Paul at noon and a +joint parade in Minneapolis in the afternoon with 2,000 men and women +in line.</p> + +<p>In October, 1915, the convention took place in St. Paul. Up to this +time headquarters had been maintained free of charge in Minneapolis, +at first in the office of Drs. Cora Smith Eaton and Margaret Koch and +for many years in the office of Drs. Ethel E. and Annah Hurd. This +year they were opened in the Essex Building of that city and a paid +secretary installed. Organization by districts was arranged for. In +conformity with plans sent out from the National Association, +quarterly conferences were held in different sections of the State. +"Organization day" on February 15, Miss Anthony's birthday, was +celebrated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span> in fifteen legislative districts with meetings and +pageants. During the national convention in Washington this year +deputations of suffragists from Minnesota called on the State's two +Senators and ten Representatives asking them to promote the Federal +Suffrage Amendment. To assist the campaign the services of the State +organizer, Mrs. Maria McMahon, were given to New York for September +and October; Mrs. David F. Simpson and Miss Florence Monahan +contributed their services as speakers and $400 were sent to the New +Jersey campaign.<a name="FNanchor_94_94" id="FNanchor_94_94"></a><a href="#Footnote_94_94" class="fnanchor">[94]</a></p> + +<p>In October, 1916, at the convention in Minneapolis, a delightful +feature was a banquet of 500 covers at the Hotel Radisson, where +President George E. Vincent of the State University made his maiden +speech for woman suffrage. Mrs. Simpson presided. There were favorable +reports from officers, committee chairmen and organizers. At the +request of the National Association deputations had called upon the +State delegates to the national Republican and Democratic conventions +urging them to work for suffrage planks in their party platforms. +Twenty-five Minnesota women marched in the parade in Chicago at the +time of the Republican National Convention and many went to the +National Democratic Convention in St. Louis on a "suffrage barge," +holding meetings on the boat and at a number of stopping places. In +May the Mississippi Valley Suffrage Conference was entertained in +Minneapolis and a mass meeting of 2,000 was held. Automobile speaking +trips were made. Money, organizers and speakers were contributed to +the Iowa campaign.</p> + +<p>In December, 1917, the convention again met in Minneapolis with Mrs. +Nellie McClung of Edmonton, Alberta, as speaker. Pledges were made of +$8,000 for State work and $3,000 to the National Association as the +State's apportionment. In order to push Federal Amendment work +chairmen were secured for the ten congressional districts. Resolutions +for it were passed at many conventions. In May Dr. Effie McCollum +Jones of Iowa had made a lecture tour of the State, contributed by the +National Association, and addressed 10,000 people. An attractive<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span> +concrete building had been erected on the State Fair grounds by the +Scandinavian Association and presented to the State association.<a name="FNanchor_95_95" id="FNanchor_95_95"></a><a href="#Footnote_95_95" class="fnanchor">[95]</a> +This was known as the Woman Citizen Building and a tablet was placed +in it in memory of Mrs. Julia B. Nelson, one of Minnesota's staunchest +pioneer suffragists.</p> + +<p>Owing to the influenza epidemic all meetings were forbidden in 1918. +This year district organization was completed. With three organizers +in the field, Mrs. Rene F. Stevens, Mrs. James Forrestal and Mrs. John +A. Guise, ratification committees in 480 towns outside of the three +large cities had been appointed and 90,000 signatures obtained for the +national petition under the leadership of Miss Marguerite M. Wells. In +March the following plank had appeared in the platform of the +Democratic Statewide Conference held in St. Paul: "We believe in the +principle of State woman suffrage as supported and commended by our +leader, Woodrow Wilson." This was the only official Democratic +endorsement ever received and there was none from the Republicans.<a name="FNanchor_96_96" id="FNanchor_96_96"></a><a href="#Footnote_96_96" class="fnanchor">[96]</a></p> + +<p>A State conference was held at Minneapolis in May, 1919, with Mrs. +McClung as the principal speaker. On June 9 in the rotunda of the +Capitol at St. Paul an impressive program of addresses and ringing +resolutions was given, 3,000 people taking part in this celebration of +the submission of the Federal Suffrage Amendment by Congress on the +4th. A. L. Searle marshalled the 250 gaily decorated automobiles +carrying the Minneapolis delegates, accompanied by a band.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> Monday, September 8, was a beautiful and spirited +occasion. Automobile parades assembled in the two cities and started +for the Capitol with cars gay with sunflowers, goldenrod,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span> yellow +bunting and the word "suffrage" on the windshields. By 10 o'clock the +galleries and the corridors were filled to overflowing with +enthusiastic suffragists. Out-of-town women flocked in to join the +festivities. The Federal Amendment came up immediately after the +organization of both Houses in special session but the lower House won +the race for the honor of being first to ratify, for it took up the +amendment without even waiting for Governor Burnquist's message, and +when it was presented by Representative Theodore Christiansen it was +ratified by a vote of 120 to 6. The Senate considered it immediately +after hearing the Governor's message. It was presented by Senator Ole +Sageng, called the "father of woman suffrage" in Minnesota, and with +no debate went through by 60 to 5.</p> + +<p>The moment the Senate vote was polled the corridors, floors and +galleries of both Houses were in an uproar, hundreds of women cheered +and laughed and waved the suffrage colors, while in the rotunda a band +swung into the strains of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic." Then +Representatives and Senators became the guests of the State Suffrage +Association, whose members having leased the Capitol restaurant for +the day cooked and served an appetizing chicken dinner. There was a +banquet at the St. Paul Hotel in the evening with 400 guests.</p> + +<p>On that memorable day the curtain was rung down on the last act of the +many years' long drama participated in by a vast host of consecrated +women with inspired faith in the ultimate attainment of justice.</p> + +<p>A conference was called for Oct. 28, 29, 1919, in Minneapolis and a +State League of Women Voters was formed with Mrs. Ueland as chairman. +It was voted to delay the dissolution of the State association until +the 36 States had ratified the Federal Amendment and the date was set +at the first annual meeting of the League.<a name="FNanchor_97_97" id="FNanchor_97_97"></a><a href="#Footnote_97_97" class="fnanchor">[97]</a> Mrs. Ueland soon +resigned to take the chairmanship<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span> of the Legislative Committee and +was succeeded by Miss Wells, the vice-chairman.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action.</span> 1903. A Presidential suffrage bill was introduced +in the House and energetically pushed but was not reported by the +Judiciary Committee.</p> + +<p>1905. A large delegation headed by Mrs. Stockwell, State president, +called on Governor John A. Johnson and urged him to recommend woman +suffrage in his message to the Legislature but he failed to do so. The +resolution to submit a constitutional amendment was introduced in the +House but not reported by the Judiciary Committee.</p> + +<p>1907. After the resolution for a suffrage amendment was presented a +hearing was granted by the Senate Elections Committee and the Senate +Chamber secured for it through Senator Virgil B. Seward, who had +charge of it. The college women were represented by Professor Frances +Squire Potter of the University of Minnesota and the committee +reported favorably. It was defeated in the Senate and not brought up +in the House.</p> + +<p>1909. At the hearing before the Joint Committee on Elections on the +resolution for a State amendment, which was the largest ever held by +the association, convincing addresses were made by eminent lawyers, +educators and other public men. It was defeated in the Senate by a +vote of 30 to 26; in the House by 50 to 46.</p> + +<p>1911. The chairman of the Legislative Committee was Miss Mary +McFadden, who carried out a demonstration on Susan B. Anthony's +birthday—February 15—the presenting by large delegations from the +Twin Cities of a Memorial to a joint gathering of the two Houses with +pleas for a State amendment. The resolution for it, sponsored by Ole +Sageng, passed the House a few days later by a majority of 81 but the +liquor interests and public service corporations defeated it in the +Senate by two votes.</p> + +<p>1913. Senator Sageng again had charge of the suffrage resolution, +which passed the House by a majority of 43 votes but failed in the +Senate by three.</p> + +<p>1915. Mrs. Andreas Ueland was chairman of the Legislative Committee +from 1915 to 1919 inclusive. Senator Sageng presented the amendment +resolution in the Senate and Representative<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</a></span> Larson in the House. An +impressive hearing was held in a crowded Senate chamber, with Senators +J. W. Andrews, Richard Jones, Frank E. Putnam, F. H. Peterson and Ole +Sageng making speeches in favor. Those who spoke against it were +Senators George H. Sullivan, F. A. Duxbury and F. H. Pauly.<a name="FNanchor_98_98" id="FNanchor_98_98"></a><a href="#Footnote_98_98" class="fnanchor">[98]</a> It +failed by one vote and was not brought up in the House. A Presidential +suffrage bill was also introduced but did not come to a vote.</p> + +<p>1917. The suffrage work was confined to the Presidential suffrage bill +which was defeated in the Senate by two votes.</p> + +<p>1919. This Legislature adopted a resolution calling upon Congress to +submit the Federal Suffrage Amendment; House 100 to 28 in favor, +Senate 49 to 7. It was decided not to introduce an amendment +resolution but to work for Presidential suffrage. The resolution was +introduced, however, by a small group of women outside the +association. It passed the House by 96 ayes, 26 noes, but was +indefinitely postponed in the Senate. The bill giving women the right +to vote for Presidential electors passed the House March 5 by 103 +ayes, 24 noes; and the Senate March 21 by 49 ayes, 11 noes. It was +signed by Governor J. A. A. Burnquist two days later in the presence +of a group of suffragists.<a name="FNanchor_99_99" id="FNanchor_99_99"></a><a href="#Footnote_99_99" class="fnanchor">[99]</a></p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_91_91" id="Footnote_91_91"></a><a href="#FNanchor_91_91"><span class="label">[91]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Maud C. +(Mrs. S. A.) Stockwell, for ten years president of the State Suffrage +Association and for over twenty years a member of its executive board. +Mrs. Stockwell wishes to acknowledge assistance from Mrs. David F. +Simpson and Mrs. John A. Guise.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_92_92" id="Footnote_92_92"></a><a href="#FNanchor_92_92"><span class="label">[92]</span></a> A State Anti-Suffrage Association was organized in +Minneapolis in 1912 and later branches were formed in other cities. +The president was Mrs. J. B. Gilfillan of Minneapolis and other active +workers were Mrs. E. L. Carpenter, Mrs. Edmund Pennington and Mrs. +Frank Reed of Minneapolis, Mrs. J. W. Straight of St. Paul and Mrs. J. +L. Washburn of Duluth. Time was given to their speakers at the last +three hearings granted the State Suffrage Association by the +Legislature. Miss Minnie Bronson, secretary of the National +Anti-Suffrage Association, came from New York for one.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_93_93" id="Footnote_93_93"></a><a href="#FNanchor_93_93"><span class="label">[93]</span></a> Too much credit for the final success of woman suffrage +in Minnesota can not be given to Mrs. Ueland, president of the +association for the last five years of its existence. She organized +the entire State, raised large sums of money each year, induced many +prominent women to join in the work, carried out the instructions of +the National Association to the letter, secured legislation, and not +only took advantage of every opportunity for propaganda but created +opportunities.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_94_94" id="Footnote_94_94"></a><a href="#FNanchor_94_94"><span class="label">[94]</span></a> In 1915 the Congressional Union, afterward the National +Woman's Party, formed an organization in St. Paul with Mrs. Alexander +Colvin chairman. The members were recruited from the State association +and for a few years were active in both organizations.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_95_95" id="Footnote_95_95"></a><a href="#FNanchor_95_95"><span class="label">[95]</span></a> During the twenty years covered by this chapter the Twin +City suffragists never failed to keep open house during the State +Fair, where speakers were heard and literature was distributed.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_96_96" id="Footnote_96_96"></a><a href="#FNanchor_96_96"><span class="label">[96]</span></a> Following are the names of State officers besides the +presidents who served over three years: Vice-presidents, Mrs. Jenova +Martin, four years; Mrs. David F. Simpson, three years; Mrs. H. G. +Harrison, five years; Mrs. E. A. Brown, four years; Mrs. C. L. Atwood, +six years; Dr. Margaret Koch, vice-president, three years and +treasurer, ten years; Dr. Ethel E. Hurd of Minneapolis served on the +board in different capacities for twenty-two years, as corresponding +secretary for four years and recording secretary four; Mrs. Eva W. +Morse, recording secretary five years; Mrs. Victor H. Troendle, +treasurer five years. Those who served from four to ten years as +directors on the State board were: Mesdames A. T. Anderson, Julia B. +Nelson, Margaret K. Rogers, E. A. Russell, C. F. Lutz, Elizabeth +McClary, A. H. Bright and A. B. Jackson.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_97_97" id="Footnote_97_97"></a><a href="#FNanchor_97_97"><span class="label">[97]</span></a> Following are a few names not mentioned elsewhere in the +chapter of the many devoted friends and workers during the score of +years: Dr. Cyrus Northrup, Professor Maria Sanford, Judge A. C. +Hickman, Professor A. W. Rankin, Dr. Elizabeth Woodworth, Mesdames +Margaret K. Rogers, Martha A. Dorsett, May Dudley Greeley, M. A. +Luley, Eva S. Jerome, Alice Taylor, Lilla P. Clark, Milton E. Purdy, +C. P. Noyes, Adelaide Lawrence, O. J. Evans, George M. Partridge, J. +W. Andrews, C. M. Stockton, Stiles Burr, J. M. Guise, J. W. Straight; +Misses Ella Whitney, A. A. Connor, Nellie Merrill, Hope McDonald, +Josephine Schain, Blanche Segar, Cornelia Lusk, Martha Anderson +(Wyman); Messrs. C. W. Dorsett, S. R. Child, A. H. Bright.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_98_98" id="Footnote_98_98"></a><a href="#FNanchor_98_98"><span class="label">[98]</span></a> For ten years Senator Sullivan of Stillwater, and for +twenty-two years Senator W. W. Dunn, attorney for the Hamm Brewing +Company of St. Paul, worked actively against all suffrage legislation, +in late years being able to defeat bills by only two or three votes.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_99_99" id="Footnote_99_99"></a><a href="#FNanchor_99_99"><span class="label">[99]</span></a> Among legislators not mentioned who were helpful during +these years were Senator S. A. Stockwell and Representatives W. I. +Norton, H. H. Harrison, W. I. Nolan, Sherman Child, John Sanborn and +Claude Southwick.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<h3>MISSISSIPPI.<a name="FNanchor_100_100" id="FNanchor_100_100"></a><a href="#Footnote_100_100" class="fnanchor">[100]</a></h3> + + +<p>From 1899 to 1906 no State convention of the Mississippi Woman +Suffrage Association was held. Mrs. Hala Hammond Butt, who was elected +president at its second annual convention in Clarksdale in 1899, acted +as president during this time but the editing of a weekly newspaper in +addition to other duties left her little time for its trying demands +at this early stage of its existence. Among the few other women +consecrated in their hearts to woman suffrage some were barred from +leadership by ill health, some by family cares, while others were +absent from the State most of the time. No definite progress, +therefore, was made during the early years of the century.</p> + +<p>In 1901 Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, president of the National American +Woman Suffrage Association, gave addresses in six cities in the State, +arrangements for which were made by local suffragists, and a great +deal of interest was aroused. In 1903 a business conference was held +in Jackson, at which Mrs. Butt and three other women were present, to +consider whether anything could be done for the cause of woman +suffrage. In 1904 enrollment cards were distributed in a limited and +unsystematic way, letters were sent to members of the Legislature, +State officials and others and literature was distributed. An +inspiring feature was the visit of Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, +vice-president at large of the National Association, who spoke in +three cities.</p> + +<p>Early in December, 1906, Miss Belle Kearney of Flora, formerly +organizer for the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, at this time a +public lecturer, returned from an absence in Europe and on the 21st, +in response to a call sent out by her, a meeting was held in the +parlor of the Edwards House in Jackson. Those in attendance were Miss +Kearney, Mrs. Butt, Mrs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</a></span> Edward Sloan and Dr. Delia Randall. By +invitation Dr. William La Prade of the First Methodist Church opened +the meeting with prayer, after which he retired leaving these four +women to reorganize the State Suffrage Association. Mrs. Nellie Nugent +Somerville of Greenville was in touch with the conference by telegraph +and Mrs. Lily Wilkinson Thompson of Jackson, physically unable to +attend, received reports from the meeting at her telephone. In this +historic hour the breath of a new life was blown into the expiring +association and from that time it grew and thrived. The officers +elected were Miss Kearney, president; Mrs. Somerville, vice-president; +Mrs. Thompson, treasurer.</p> + +<p>During the following spring Miss Kearney, lecturing in the State on +sociological subjects, spoke unfailingly for suffrage and wherever +possible organized clubs. Press work was taken up earnestly by the +newly elected superintendent of that department, Mrs. Thompson. All of +the over two hundred editors in the State were interviewed by letter +in regard to their attitude towards woman suffrage and space was +requested for suffrage items. Twenty-one agreed to publish them, only +two openly declining. Among the friendly editors were L. Pink Smith of +the Greenville <i>Democrat</i>, J. R. Oliphant of the Poplarville <i>Free +Press</i>, Frank R. Birdsall of the Yazoo <i>Sentinel</i>, C. E. Glassco of +the Cleveland <i>Enterprise</i>, Joseph Norwood of the Magnolia <i>Gazette</i>, +James Faulk of the Greene County <i>Herald</i>.</p> + +<p>Adverse articles were carefully answered and private letters were +sent, the enemy quietly reasoned with and in most cases converted. +News bulletins furnished by the national press department were used +but most of the matter sent out was prepared at home in the belief +that an ounce of Mississippi was worth a pound of Massachusetts. +Articles published in leaflet form and distributed broadcast were +written by Mrs. Somerville, Miss Kearney, Mrs. Thompson, the Rev. +Thomas K. Mellen and the Rev. H. Walter Featherstun, Methodist +ministers. One of the most valuable contributions was The Legal Status +of Mississippi Women, by Robert Campbell, an attorney of Greenville.</p> + +<p>In November, 1907, a conference lasting five days was held at Jackson +in the home of Charles H. Thompson, a devoted suffragist, and his +wife, Lily Wilkinson Thompson. Among those<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</a></span> attending were Miss +Kearney, Mrs. Somerville, Mrs. Harriet B. Kells, president of the +State W. C. T. U. and a life-long suffragist; Miss Laura Clay of +Kentucky and Miss Kate Gordon of Louisiana. The advisability of +attempting to have a woman suffrage measure introduced in the next +session of the Legislature was considered. Two men besides the host +appeared at this conference, a reporter, who regarded the meeting as +something of a joke, and the Hon. R. H. Thompson of Jackson, an +eminent lawyer, who came to offer sympathetic advice. Visits were made +to the Governor, James K. Vardaman, and other State officials; to the +Hinds county legislators who had recently been elected and to others. +Most of these gentlemen were polite but bored and it was decided to +defer legislative action. When two months later Governor Vardaman sent +his farewell message to the Legislature he mentioned woman suffrage as +one of the questions "pressing for solution in a National +Constitutional Convention."</p> + +<p>In the spring of 1908 the State convention was held in the Governor's +Mansion at Jackson, Governor and Mrs. Edmund Favor Noel giving the +parlors for the meeting. Six clubs were reported and State members at +twelve places. Three or four women from outside of Jackson were +present, Mrs. Pauline Alston Clark of Clarksdale having come from the +greatest distance, and about fourteen were in attendance. The officers +elected were: President, Mrs. Somerville; vice-presidents, Mrs. +Thompson, Mrs. Fannie Clark, Mrs. Kells; corresponding secretary, Mrs. +Pauline Clark; recording secretary, Dr. Randall; treasurer, Mrs. Sarah +Summers Wilkinson. Superintendents were appointed for Press, +Legislative, Enrollment, Industrial, Educational and Bible Study +departments.</p> + +<p>In the spring of 1909, the convention was held in the ladies' parlor +of the Capitol at Jackson. It lasted two days, a public evening +session being held in the Senate Chamber, at which Miss Kate Gordon, +corresponding secretary of the National American Woman Suffrage +Association, told of the work of the Era Club of New Orleans; Miss +Jean Gordon, factory inspector for that city, spoke in behalf of child +labor regulations and Mrs. Thompson gave a report of the press work, +which had grown to such proportions that it was considered very +significant of advance in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</a></span> suffrage sentiment throughout the State. +The Rev. George Whitfield, a venerable Baptist minister, came from the +neighboring town of Clinton and conducted devotional exercises and +gave a talk on woman's position from a Biblical standpoint. R. K. +Jayne of Jackson, an early suffragist, also spoke. At this time +dues-paying members were reported from seventeen towns. Mrs. +Somerville was re-elected president.</p> + +<p>The annual convention was held in Greenville in 1910. Dr. Shaw and +Miss Ray Costello of England made addresses; Judge E. N. Thomas of +Greenville presided at one of the evening meetings; John L. Hebron, a +Delta planter and afterwards State Senator, made an earnest speech of +endorsement. It was reported that hundreds of letters were written and +the association had gained a hold in fifty places, ranging from rural +neighborhoods and plantation settlements to the largest towns. +Frederick Sullens, editor of the Jackson <i>Daily News</i>, had given space +for a weekly suffrage column edited by Mrs. Thompson. Mrs. J. C. +Greenley edited a similar column in the Greenville <i>Democrat</i>. Mrs. +Madge Quin Fugler supplied five papers and Mrs. Montgomery two. Miss +Ida Ward of Greenville wrote articles for the papers of that town and +Mrs. Mohlenhoff edited a column in the Cleveland <i>Enterprise</i>. Among +other papers publishing suffrage material were the McComb City +<i>Journal</i> and the <i>Enterprise</i> and the Magnolia <i>Gazette</i>. From the +press superintendent there had gone out 1,700 articles, ranging in +length from a paragraph to a half page, many of them written by her, +and they were given prominence in special editions. Ten copies of the +<i>Woman's Journal</i> which came from the national press department for +years were forwarded to college, town and State libraries and to +editors. How far and deep the influence of those <i>Journals</i> reached is +beyond computation.</p> + +<p>In the fall of 1910 the State association joined the Tennessee Equal +Suffrage Association in a booth at the Tri-State Fair in Memphis. An +interesting feature was the press exhibit, consisting of a width of +canvass many yards long on which had been pasted clippings from +Mississippi newspapers, suffrage argument and favorable comment. The +annual convention was held in Cleveland in 1911. Miss Gordon and Judge +Thomas spoke<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</a></span> at the evening session. Editor C. E. Glasco gave an +earnest talk at a morning session. The department chairmen brought +encouraging reports of their work. A letter was read from Colonel Clay +Sharkey of Jackson, which later was published in leaflet form.</p> + +<p>The State meeting was held at Flora in April, 1912. Mrs. Judith Hyams +Douglas, president of the Era Club of New Orleans, and Omar Garwood of +Colorado, secretary of the National Men's League for Woman Suffrage, +were the principal speakers. The president, Mrs. Somerville, +recommended that the various State organizations of women be invited +to unite with the suffrage association in forming a central committee +to secure such legislation as should be agreed upon by all. This was +afterwards accepted by the Federation of Women's Clubs and the United +Daughters of the Confederacy. Resolutions were passed regretting the +retirement from the presidency of Mrs. Somerville, to whose good +generalship during the past four years the success of the association +was in a large part due. Mrs. Lily Wilkinson Thompson was elected +president.</p> + +<p>In response to the call to take part in the parade in Washington March +3, 1913, Mrs. Avery Harrell Thompson, temporarily residing there, was +put in charge and with her husband, Harmon L. Thompson, arranged for a +handsome float, on which Miss Fannie May Witherspoon, daughter of the +member of Congress, represented Mississippi. Mr. Gibbs, a +Mississippian, carried the purple and gold silk banner of the State +Suffrage Association and four other young Mississippians, Judge Allen +Thompson and his brother, Harmon, Walter and Edward Dent, marched +beside the float, preforming valiant volunteer police duty when it +became necessary. During this year the enrolled membership increased +four-fold. Quarterly reports, nearly a thousand, were printed for the +first time instead of written. A letter from the Irish Women's League +of Dublin and one from the English Women's Equal Rights Union to the +State president indicated the world-wide spirit of fraternalism which +embraced even Mississippi's modest organization. Good work was done by +the new superintendent of press work, Mrs. Dent. Not only did editors +by this time willingly accept material but some of them wrote +favorable editorials. The Yazoo City <i>Herald</i>, edited by N. A. Mott, +was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</a></span> a new recruit. The <i>Purple and White</i>, a Millsaps College paper, +was supplied with suffrage material by a bright senior, Janie +Linfield.</p> + +<p>For the first time suffrage headquarters were maintained at the State +Fair by the Equity League of Jackson. Furnishings were loaned by Mr. +and Mrs. C. C. Warren from their beautiful home "Fairview." A rest +room for mothers and babies was provided, other tired visitors were +also welcomed and the suffrage booth was the most popular place on the +grounds. For the first time the association was invited to take part +on Woman's Day at the State Fair, when representatives from the +women's State organizations held a joint meeting, and the president, +Mrs. Thompson, spoke for the suffragists.</p> + +<p>Letters were sent to the Mississippi members of Congress urging them +to vote for the Federal Suffrage Amendment and to President Wilson, +pleading for his favorable consideration. Motion pictures were +utilized in three ways—suffrage plays were shown, local clubs selling +tickets received a part of the proceeds and suffrage slogans were +thrown on the slides between pictures.</p> + +<p>The State convention was held in the Senate Chamber of the new Capitol +at Jackson in April, 1913. At the evening sessions all seats on the +floor were taken, the galleries filled and chairs brought from +committee rooms to accommodate the audiences. Music was furnished by +the Chaminade Club of Jackson. Mayor Swepson I. Taylor gave the +address of welcome. Others who spoke were Mrs. Fannie S. Clark, Mrs. +E. T. Edmonds, president of the Equity League, and Mrs. +Royden-Douglas, president of the State Federation of Women's Clubs. In +her president's address Mrs. Thompson recommended that the association +ask the next Legislature to submit to the voters a State +constitutional amendment giving women the ballot, and this was +unanimously adopted. The Rev. E. T. Edmonds of the First Christian +Church of Jackson spoke on Woman Suffrage in New Zealand, where he had +been a resident.</p> + +<p>Letters to the president and secretary from U. S. Senators John Sharp +Williams and James K. Vardaman were read in reply to appeals that they +vote for the Federal Amendment. Senator Vardaman said that when the +amendment came up he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</a></span> would "be glad to vote for it." Senator Williams +said that he thought "the federal government ought not attempt to +control a State in the exercise of this privilege," that he favored a +"white woman's primary, in which the women of the State might say +whether they wanted the ballot or not" and that he thought women just +as competent to use it as men but did not approve of "forcing it upon +them." He was "inclined to woman suffrage" and believed that "with +safeguards it might be made a bulwark of white supremacy in the +State." The large reception planned by Governor and Mrs. Earl Brewer +had to be omitted because of the sudden illness of Mrs. Brewer. On +account of home demands Mrs. Thompson declined re-election and Mrs. +Dent was made president.</p> + +<p>Under Mrs. Dent's administration the work prospered and advanced in +popular favor. In the fall "woman suffrage day" was for the first time +on the calendar of the State Fair. Headquarters were again maintained, +for which space three times as large as that used the previous year +was occupied. Mrs. Dent, a successful cotton planter, brought a bale +of cotton from her plantation and presented it to the headquarters, +where it afforded a unique platform for the speakers. Women from +different parts of the State came to act as hostesses and take part in +the speaking. This year a college contest was conducted by Mrs. +Thompson, who offered a gold medal for the best argument for woman +suffrage written by a college student of the State. Six of the largest +colleges were represented and the medal was won by Mrs. Pearl Powell, +of the Industrial Institute and College.</p> + +<p>In April, 1914, the State convention was again held in Jackson. Among +the speakers were Rabbi Brill of Meridian and Mrs. Alex Y. Scott of +Memphis. Mrs. Dent was re-elected president. In the fall for the first +time there was a suffrage section in the parade that marked the +opening of the State Fair. Six women, gowned in white and wearing +yellow silk Votes for Women badges marched—Mrs. Ella O. Biggs and +Miss Sadie Goeber bearing a banner inscribed Women vote in twelve +States, why not in Mississippi? followed by Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Avery +Harrell Thompson, Mrs. Sarah C. Watts and Mrs. R. W. Durfey and they +were generously cheered along the way.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the spring of 1915 the State convention was held in Greenville. Dr. +Shaw was a guest, stopping on her way to Jackson, where under the +auspices of the Equity League she spoke in the House of +Representatives to a large audience, many standing throughout her +address, which made a profound impression. The convention was well +attended. Some of the interesting features were "an hour for men" +presided over by Congressman B. G. Humphries, with excellent speeches; +a five o'clock tea, given by the Belvidere Chapter of the Daughters of +the American Revolution, and the presentation of the motion picture +play, Your Girl and Mine. Miss Pauline V. Orr was elected president. +Miss Orr served as president for two years, widely extending the +influence of the association through the hundreds of young women who +came under her instruction at the Industrial Institute and College, +where for many years she held the chair of English.</p> + +<p>The annual convention was held in 1916 in the city hall in Meridian, +where nineteen years before the State Woman Suffrage Association was +organized, and Mrs. Pattie Ruffner Jacobs of Alabama, auditor of the +National Association, made an address on the opening evening. During +the following year eight new leagues were formed. The convention met +in Starkville in April, 1917, and addresses were made by Dr. Shaw, +Miss Margaret Hamilton Erwin, president of the Tennessee Equal +Suffrage Association; Mrs. Walter McNab Miller, first vice-president +of the National Association; Mrs. W. H. Price, president of the +Mississippi Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and +Mrs. Edward F. McGehee, president of the State Federation of Women's +Clubs. Miss Orr, the president, declining re-election was succeeded by +Mrs. McGehee. The United States had now entered the war and the +suffragists began to concentrate on war work. As chairman of the +Woman's Committee, Mississippi Division of the National Council of +Defense, she was able to help popularize woman suffrage.<a name="FNanchor_101_101" id="FNanchor_101_101"></a><a href="#Footnote_101_101" class="fnanchor">[101]</a></p> + +<p>In April, 1918, a one-day conference was held in the Capitol<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</a></span> at +Jackson, when Mrs. Marion B. Trotter of Winona was elected president +and brought a great deal of energy and enthusiasm into her office. No +convention was held in 1919 but at the close of the meeting of the +State Federation of Women's Clubs in Clarksdale in November a +conference of the suffragists present was called. It was there decided +to organize to support the ratification of the Federal Amendment, +which had been submitted by Congress and was to come before the +Legislature the following January. Mrs. B. F. Saunders of Swan Lake, +retiring president of the federation, was made chairman of the +Ratification Committee; Mrs. Trotter, treasurer; Mrs. Somerville +chairman of Petition and Press Work; Mrs. McClurg chairman of Finance. +By request the National Association sent into the State its +organizers, Miss Watkins of Arkansas and Miss Peshakova of New York. +Mrs. Cunningham, president of the Texas Equal Suffrage Association and +a national worker, also came to assist. Petitions were circulated, +leaflets published and distributed, newspapers enlisted and +legislators systematically interviewed. The organization thus speedily +effected worked during the session of 1920. In April of this year the +convention of the State Federation, held in Gulfport, closed with a +"suffrage luncheon," a brilliant affair attended by 125 prominent men +and women. Speeches were made by the Hon. Barney Eaton, a lawyer of +Gulfport; Mrs. S. P. Covington, its president, and others. The State +League of Women Voters was organized at this time with Miss Blanche +Rogers chairman.</p> + +<p>It had been the hope for years to have an endorsement of woman +suffrage from the Federation of Women's Clubs, a strong and popular +organization numbering over 3,000 of the State's leading women. During +its annual meeting in 1916 Miss Orr, president of the State Suffrage +Association, had introduced a favorable resolution and with Mrs. +Somerville, Mrs. J. W. McGrath of Canton, Mrs. William Baldwin of +Columbus and Mrs. W. S. Lott of Meridian led the fight for suffrage. +Mrs. William R. Wright of Jackson headed the opposition, which asked +for the postponement of the question until the next year and won. At +the next convention, held in Meridian in 1917, the resolution was +introduced by Miss Ann Rothenberg (now Mrs. Rosenbaum)<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</a></span> of Meridian +and passed almost unanimously. In 1919 at the annual meeting held in +Clarksdale, during the presidency of Mrs. Saunders, a resolution +endorsing the ratification of the Federal Suffrage Amendment was +carried with but one dissenting vote, that of Mrs. Lizzie George +Henderson of Greenwood, daughter of the late U. S. Senator J. Z. +George. When the League of Women Voters was formed the next year Mrs. +Henderson was among the first to join it.</p> + +<p>In 1919, the State Teachers' Association passed unanimously a +resolution endorsing woman suffrage introduced by Professor Frederick +Davis Mellen of the State Agricultural and Mechanical College, the son +of the late Reverend Thomas L. Mellen, one of Mississippi's earliest +suffragists. The Woman's Christian Temperance Union here as elsewhere +was a great school for women, teaching them the need of the ballot, +and the majority of its members were suffragists but all through the +years the minority, who did not want the question brought into the +Union, overruled their wishes. Mrs. Harriet B. Kells, the president +for many years and a lifelong suffragist, was not able to overcome +this situation and it never endorsed woman suffrage.</p> + +<p>There never has been any organized opposition among Mississippi women. +During the session of the Legislature in 1920 there was an open +attempt to organize opposition to ratification of the Federal +Amendment but it failed.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action.</span> After the suffrage association in 1913 decided to +ask for the submission of an amendment to the State constitution to +enfranchise women the preliminary work of interviewing legislators and +distributing appropriate literature was conducted by the chairman of +the Legislative Committee, Mrs. Nellie Nugent Somerville, the +president, Mrs. Annie Kinkead Dent, and other members. The president +at her own expense sent the <i>Woman's Journal</i> and other literature to +all legislators for three months. The concurrent resolution asking for +the submission was introduced in the House Jan. 9, 1914, by N. A. Mott +of Yazoo county. Senator Hall Sanders of Tallahatchie county offered +it in the Senate three days later. The House Committee on +Constitution, to which the bill was referred, granted a hearing, at +which speeches were made by Mrs. Monroe<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</a></span> McClurg, Miss Belle Kearney, +Mrs. Somerville, Miss Kate Gordon (La.), Judge Allen Thompson and +Colonel Clay Sharkey. The committee reported unfavorably by a majority +of one. A minority report was made by the chairman, Henry A. Minor of +Noxubee county, and others. Representative Mott offered a resolution +inviting the women to present their case in the House the next day, +which was carried by a close vote about one o'clock in the afternoon +and the hearing was set for ten the next morning. The <i>Daily News</i> had +gone to press and the <i>Clarion Ledger</i>, a morning paper, had some time +before forbidden its columns to any news or notices in any way +favoring woman suffrage or advertising it.</p> + +<p>The president of the Equity League of Jackson, Mrs. J. W. Tucker, with +her assistants, announced the hearing over the telephone, the +legislators spread the story and when the women who were to speak +filed into the House on that memorable morning of January 21 they +found all available space occupied and the galleries overflowing. An +invitation was sent to the Senators to come over but so many had +already deserted their posts for the House that there was not a quorum +to vote on the invitation. Hilary Quin of Hinds county, Speaker of the +House, presided, introducing the speakers and extending every possible +courtesy. They were Mrs. McClurg, Miss Kearney, Miss Orr, Miss Gordon, +Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Dent and Mrs. Somerville. The speeches made so +profound an impression that hardly had the last word been spoken when +there came a loud and insistent call from the enemies for adjournment. +The bill was presented next day. Emmett Cavette of Noxubee county +strongly championed it and Speaker Quin left the chair to make a +speech in its favor. Representative S. Joe Owen of Union county +vigorously led the fight against it and it was lost by 80 noes, 42 +ayes.</p> + +<p>In 1916 the women's organizations united in a bill making women +eligible to serve as county school superintendents and on the boards +of educational and benevolent institutions. During the session of 1918 +the suffrage association being in the midst of war work took no +initiative in behalf of legislation but Senator Earl Richardson of +Neshoba county on his own account introduced in the Senate a +concurrent resolution to amend the State<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</a></span> constitution. The members of +the Equity League gave assistance; Mrs. Isaac Reese of Memphis was +invited to come to the Capitol and on the day the vote was taken she +and Miss Kearney made brief speeches before the Senate. On motion of +Senator P. E. Carothers the question was submitted without debate, +which was a disappointment to its friends, H. H. Casteel of Holmes +county declaring that he had remained up nearly all of the night +before preparing his speech. The vote was a tie, 21 to 21. The House +took no action.</p> + +<p>Through the years the officers and members of the State and local +suffrage associations united with those of other women's organizations +to obtain laws. The age of consent was raised first to 12, then to 16 +and in 1914 to 18; better child labor laws were secured; the law +permitting a father to dispose of the children by will at his death +was repealed. It is a fact not generally known that Mississippi was +the pioneer State in securing to married women the right to own and +dispose of property. This was done by an Act of the Legislature on +Feb. 15, 1839.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> Congress submitted the Federal Amendment in June, and +the Ratification Committee was organized in November. It opened its +headquarters in Jackson at the beginning of the legislative session in +January, 1920, after having made a whirlwind campaign. At the initial +meeting of the committee in Clarksburg there had been great enthusiasm +and women gave money as they never had done before. Mrs. B. F. +Saunders was made chairman and among those who worked with her in +Jackson were Mrs. Somerville, Mrs. Trotter, Mrs. Sam Covington, Miss +Blanche Rogers, Mrs. Thompson, Miss Kearney, Mrs. Annie Neely and Mrs. +Cunningham of Texas. The legislators were systematically interviewed, +literature distributed, petitions circulated and the press kept +supplied with arguments and news.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Thompson, in charge of the Jackson press, wrote innumerable +articles, and Mrs. Somerville and others contributed to the press +work. Letters, telegrams and petitions from all over the State urging +ratification poured in daily upon both Houses. Delegations of women +came to urge their representatives to vote for ratification. Nine +influential women came from Lauderdale county bringing a petition of +2,100 names of prominent people<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</a></span> obtained in a day and a half and +begged their representatives to vote for the amendment but not one of +them did so.</p> + +<p>Many of the State's leading newspapers were in favor of ratification. +The <i>Daily News</i> of Jackson, in keeping with its policy for years, +gave editorial support and generously of its space. The <i>Clarion +Ledger</i>, also a Jackson daily, boasted of being the only paper in the +State which openly fought ratification. The editor, Colonel Hiram +Henry, a veteran journalist of the State, always bitterly opposed to +any form of woman suffrage, began his attack weeks before the +Legislature met and daily during the session the pages of his paper +reeked with hatred for the cause. The literature of the "antis" was +largely copied and extracts from negro journals published in the North +were reproduced in glaring headlines, extracts so offensive that had +they been used against any cause save that of disfranchised women +would have been suppressed. It was through his influence that Mrs. +Cola Barr Craig, once a resident of Jackson, and Mrs. James S. +Pinckard of Alabama came early in January to organize a branch of what +they called the Southern Women's Rejection League. They held a public +meeting in the Carnegie library, at which besides the two speakers, +there were nineteen women present, many of them the old friends of +Mrs. Craig. No one would take even the temporary chairmanship and the +attempt to organize failed ignominiously. Not daunted Mr. Henry sent +for Miss Kate Gordon of New Orleans, a veteran suffragist who had +joined hands with the "antis" in fighting ratification. She was +advertised for a speech at the Carnegie library and all legislators +were urged to attend. Two legislators and fifteen women were present, +six of the latter State workers for ratification.</p> + +<p>The retiring and incoming State officials were almost to a man +outspoken in their advocacy of ratification. Governor Theodore G. +Bilbo, the retiring Governor, instead of having the clerk of the House +read his farewell message, according to time honored custom, delivered +it in person. Woman suffrage was its conspicuous feature and after a +profound argument for ratification of the Federal Amendment, he closed +his remarks with the solemn statement: "Woe to that man who raises +his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</a></span> hand against the onward march of this progressive movement!" The +newly elected Governor, Lee M. Russell, in his inaugural address, +delivered in front of the Capitol to an audience of thousands, devoted +more time to woman suffrage than to any other topic, making a clear +cut, logical argument for ratification and a powerful plea for the +enfranchisement of women.</p> + +<p>On January 21, W. A. Winter, Representative from Grenada county, +offered the following resolution: "Resolved that the proposed +amendment to the Constitution of the United States be and hereby is +rejected as an unwarranted, unnecessary and dangerous interference +with the rights reserved to the States, or to the people, in both +State and Federal Constitutions...." This came without warning to the +friends of ratification and was not referred to a committee but rushed +to a vote after Representative Guy W. Mitchell of Lee county had +spoken strongly against it. It was carried by a vote of 94 ayes to 25 +noes and the announcement received with cheers and laughter. Sennett +Conner of Covington county was the Speaker of the House whose ruling +permitted this unparliamentary action.</p> + +<p>Sent to the Senate the Winter Resolution of Rejection was referred to +the Committee on Constitution, of which Senator Minor was chairman. At +the meeting of the committee W. B. Mixon of Pike county was authorized +to draft a resolution ratifying the amendment, to be offered in the +Senate as a substitute. This was done and Senators Minor, Mixon and +Fred B. Smith made a majority report. This resolution was earnestly +advocated by Senators Percy Bell and Walton Shields of Washington +county, W. B. Roberts of Bolivar, Fred B. Smith of Union, A. A. Cohn +of Lincoln and E. F. Noel of Holmes. It failed of adoption and the +Winter resolution was recommitted to the Committee on Constitution, +where it remained.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Senator Mixon had introduced a bill in the Senate +giving the right to women to vote in Primary elections and +Representative A. J. Whitworth of Pike county a similar one in the +House. In Mississippi a nomination is equivalent to an election. Both +bills were defeated. A resolution for a woman suffrage amendment to +the State constitution to be submitted to the voters at the election +of November, 1920, passed both<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</a></span> Houses with very little opposition. +During the last three weeks of the session Senator Mixon introduced a +bill giving the right of suffrage to women in the event of the +ratification of the Federal Amendment by thirty-six Legislatures, thus +enabling them to vote in the August primaries, and Representative +Whitworth introduced two bills, one giving suffrage to women in +primary elections and the other in general elections, both contingent +upon ratification. These bills passed without opposition.</p> + +<p>During the last week of the Legislature Senator Roberts called out of +the committee the original Winter Resolution of Rejection and in +Committee of the Whole it was amended by striking out the word +"reject" and substituting the word "ratify." Thus amended the vote in +the Senate stood 21 ayes, 21 noes and Lieutenant Governor H. H. +Casteel broke the tie in favor of its adoption. News of the Senate's +favorable action spread all over the country in a few hours. Telegrams +came pouring in to the Governor and Legislature offering +congratulations and appealing to the House to make Mississippi the +36th State to ratify.</p> + +<p>The Senate substitute was presented to the House the next afternoon, +March 31. Representative Winter moved that the House "do not concur +with the Senate Resolution of Ratification." Immediately there came +calls for the vote. Telegrams were on the Speaker's stand from William +Jennings Bryan, Homer Cummings, chairman of the Democratic National +Committee, Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels, Attorney General A. +Mitchell Palmer and many other prominent Democrats. A vote was taken +as to whether these should be read to the House. Representative E. M. +Lane of Smith county, although an opponent of ratification, made an +earnest appeal that the courtesy of a hearing should be accorded these +national party leaders. A vote of 65 to 32 decided that the telegrams +should not be read. Governor Russell had stated that he desired the +privilege of the floor to make an appeal in behalf of ratification but +this courtesy was denied him. Representatives T. D. Rees of Prentiss +county and Walter Sillers of Bolivar spoke in favor of ratification +but were poorly heard so great was the confusion and so loud and +insistent the calls for the vote. Representative Mitchell was absent. +Dr. Whitworth (author of three suffrage bills at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</a></span> this session) spoke +against ratification and while he was speaking Representative R. H. +Watts of Rankin county interpolated, "I would die and go to hell +before I would vote for it." The substitute was defeated by 94 noes, +23 ayes.</p> + +<p>Thus was banished forever the dream of Mississippi suffragists that +the women would receive the ballot from the men of this great State. +Speaker Sennett Conner was responsible above every one else for the +defeat of ratification. Its chance was weakened by the fact that +Mississippi's entire delegation in Congress, including Senators John +Sharp Williams and "Pat" Harrison had voted against submitting the +Federal Amendment.</p> + +<p>Did space permit there would be added to the names mentioned in this +chapter many others who gave "aid and comfort" to the cause. Among +those who never failed when asked to help with financial burdens was +the late Major R. W. Millsaps, founder of Millsaps College for men and +women. The army of active suffragists was never large. Many women +wanted the ballot but comparatively few were under conviction to work +for it. To those who did, especially in early, trying days, belongs +that indescribable exultation which is the portion of those who help +onward a great revolutionary movement for the uplift of the race.</p> + +<p>The amendment to the State constitution was voted on at the general +election in November, 1920, and received 39,186 ayes, 24,296 noes but +it was not carried, as the law requires a majority of all the votes +cast at the election. As the women were already enfranchised by the +Federal Amendment they did not make a campaign for it but as +registration is necessary four months before election and the +ratification did not take place until two months before this one, they +were not able to vote, Mississippi and Georgia being the only two +States that denied this privilege.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_100_100" id="Footnote_100_100"></a><a href="#FNanchor_100_100"><span class="label">[100]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Lily +Wilkinson Thompson, an officer in the State Suffrage Association from +its organization until its work was finished.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_101_101" id="Footnote_101_101"></a><a href="#FNanchor_101_101"><span class="label">[101]</span></a> Besides those mentioned the following served on the +official board: Mrs. Jimmie Andrews Lipscomb, Mrs. Nella Lawrence Lee, +Miss Mattie Kirkpatrick, Mrs. Annie Kinkead Dent, Mrs. Ella O. Biggs, +Mrs. Alma Dorsey Birdsall, Mrs. Durrant, Mrs. Edith Marshall Tucker, +Mrs. Mary Powell Crane, Miss Ethel Clagett, Mrs. C. C. Miller, Mrs. T. +F. Buntin, Miss Estelle Crane, Miss Nannie Herndon Rice.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + +<h3>MISSOURI.<a name="FNanchor_102_102" id="FNanchor_102_102"></a><a href="#Footnote_102_102" class="fnanchor">[102]</a></h3> + + +<p>When the last volume of the history of woman suffrage was written in +1900 Missouri was one of the blackest spots on the suffrage map and +there was little to indicate that it would ever be lighter. The able +and courageous women who inaugurated the movement in 1867, Mrs. +Virginia L. Minor, Mrs. Beverly Allen, Mrs. Rebecca Hazzard, Miss +Phoebe Couzins and Mrs. Sarah Chandler Coates, were no longer living +or past the age for strenuous work. A few women kept up a semblance of +a State organization, met annually and in 1901 Mrs. Addie Johnson was +elected president; in 1902 Mrs. Louis Werth and in 1903 Mrs. Alice +Mulkley, but there was great apathy among women in general. From 1903 +to 1910 no State convention was held. In St. Louis, which comprised +one-fourth of the inhabitants of the State, there was no visible +organization working for woman suffrage. The largest and most +influential woman's club refused to allow the subject on its programs. +During the decade to 1910 only one speaker of national prominence came +into the State—Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, the president of the +National American Woman Suffrage Association—and evidently at the +national headquarters Missouri was considered too hopeless to +consider.</p> + +<p>The movement was only smoldering, however, and needed but a spark to +burst into flame and that spark came from afar—from the torch held +high by the "militant" suffragists of England. In no State perhaps was +there more bitter invective hurled at them than by the press and +people of Missouri but the conscience of the convinced suffragists was +aroused. Stirring addresses in St. Louis by Stanton Coit of London and +John Lovejoy Elliott of New York in defense of the English +"militants"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</a></span> brought matters to a crisis and a few bold spirits +decided to reorganize the scattered suffrage forces.</p> + +<p>In March, 1910, Mrs. Florence Wyman Richardson, Miss Marie R. Garesche +and Miss Florence Richardson (later Mrs. Roland R. Usher) barely out +of her teens, renounced society and invited twenty or twenty-five +women, whom they thought might be interested, to meet in Miss +Garesche's home. Only five responded, Miss Bertha Rombauer, Miss +Jennie M. A. Jones, Mrs. Robert Atkinson, Miss Lillian Heltzell and +Mrs. Dan Knefler. Not at all daunted it was decided as a first step to +engage a prominent lecturer. Miss Ethel Arnold, the well-known +Englishwoman, a suffragist but not a "militant," was then touring this +country and before the meeting adjourned a telegram was sent to her +and the eight women present guaranteed the sum to cover her charge and +the rent of a hall. As her itinerary would bring her to St. Louis +about the middle of April it was thought best to organize immediately, +so that the publicity which would undoubtedly be given to Miss Arnold +would be shared by the infant society. A circular letter outlining the +project was sent broadcast and April 8 about fifty women gathered at +the residence of Mrs. Richardson and effected an organization. Thus +came into being the St. Louis Equal Suffrage League, which was +destined to play the principal part in winning the vote for the women +of the State. The following officers were elected: President, Mrs. +Richardson; first vice-president, Miss Garesche; second, Mrs. +Atkinson; corresponding secretary, Miss Rombauer; recording secretary, +Miss Heltzell; treasurer, Mrs. Knefler; auditor, Mrs. Leslie Thompson.</p> + +<p>Miss Arnold's lecture took place April 11 and her charm, culture and +cogent reasoning won many friends to the cause and disarmed many of +its opponents. Branch organizations were soon formed in the northern +and southern parts of the city with Mrs. Atlanta Hecker and Miss +Cecilia Razovsky as presidents. Meetings were held in the Cabanne +Branch Library and before the end of the year the members had +increased to 275.<a name="FNanchor_103_103" id="FNanchor_103_103"></a><a href="#Footnote_103_103" class="fnanchor">[103]</a> During<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[Pg 344]</a></span> the first year the league brought a +number of lecturers to the city, realizing that this was the most +valuable form of propaganda in a community so entrenched in +conservatism. Among them were Mr. and Mrs. Philip Snowden of England; +Professor Frances Squire Potter of the University of Minnesota; Mrs. +Lucia Ames Mead of Boston; Professor Nathaniel Schmidt of Cornell and +Professor Earl Barnes of Philadelphia.</p> + +<p>On Nov. 3, 1911, Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst of England, at the invitation +of the league, lectured in the Odeon, the largest hall in the city, to +an audience that taxed its capacity. Her charming personality set at +rest all fears as to the ill effect of suffrage, even of the +"militant" variety, on feminine grace and refinement. Soon afterwards +the Mary Institute Alumnae Association invited Miss Sylvia Pankhurst +to lecture and the result was most gratifying to the friends of +suffrage.</p> + +<p>The old State organization having ceased to exist the St. Louis league +with its branches and the recently formed Webster Groves Suffrage +League, Mrs. Lee Roseborough, president, met in St. Louis Feb. 14, +1911, and organized a State Woman Suffrage Association, which +affiliated with the National American Association. The officers were: +President, Mrs. Atkinson; vice-president, Mrs. Morrison-Fuller; +corresponding secretary, Mrs. Boyd; recording secretary, Miss +Rombauer; treasurer, Miss Jane Thompson; auditor, Mrs. R. D. McArthur. +Owing to various causes this board was in a few months reduced to +three working members, Mrs. Atkinson, Mrs. Boyd and Miss Rombauer. +Realizing that it must enlist the support of the press they sent out +letters to a long list of the State editors and favorable replies were +received from twenty-six, who promised to give a weekly column in +their papers for suffrage news and propaganda. All the libraries were +written to and a number of them induced to procure the four large +volumes of the History of Woman Suffrage, generously offered by the +National Association. The librarians, who were often women, were asked +to keep on hand a supply of suffrage literature. The St. Louis public +library, at the suggestion of the board, made a special exhibit of +this literature, much of which was new. In the center of the exhibit +was a large picture of William T. Harris, former superintendent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[Pg 345]</a></span> of +schools in St. Louis and later U. S. Commissioner of Education, with +his strong testimony in favor of woman suffrage.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Atkinson was permitted to make an address on suffrage before the +State Federation of Women's Clubs at Sedalia but no action was taken. +She also addressed a large audience at the dedication of the Woman's +Building which had been erected by the Legislature on the State Fair +grounds near that city and Mrs. Walter McNab Miller of Columbia also +made an address. The board paid a lawyer to compile the State laws for +women under the direction of E. M. Grossman. Mrs. Atkinson, Mrs. Boyd +and Mrs. John L. Lowes of St. Louis and Mrs. Virginia Hedges of +Warrensburg went as delegates to the convention of the National +Association in 1911 at Louisville, where much satisfaction was +expressed that Missouri had at last come into the fold. The Kansas +City League was organized this year with Mrs. Henry N. Ess, president; +Miss Helen Osborn, secretary; and Mrs. Helena Cramer Leavens, +treasurer. The women of Warrensburg, under the leadership of Miss +Laura Runyon, organized a club of fifty members. There was the State +Normal School, to whose faculty Miss Runyon belonged, and through her +the support of the students was obtained and suffrage propaganda +extended gradually to every section of the State. Mrs. Knefler, +president of the St. Louis Women's Trades Union, organized a league +among its members, which, under the leadership of Mrs. Sarah Spraggon +and Miss Sallie Quick, did excellent work in the campaigns that +followed.</p> + +<p>In 1912 a Business Woman's Suffrage League was formed in St. Louis +under the leadership of Miss Mary McGuire, a graduate of the St. Louis +University Law School, and Miss Jessie Lansing Moller, which starting +with 50 members, eventually numbered 250. The same year the Junior +Branch of the St. Louis League was organized, which included many of +the younger society girls and matrons. Miss Ann Drew (later Mrs. James +Platt) was president. In Kansas City in the autumn the Southside Equal +Suffrage League was formed with Mrs. Cora Kramer Leavens, president, +and Miss Cora Best Jewell, secretary. A Men's Equal Suffrage League +was also organized with D. H. Hoff president; J. H. Austin, +vice-president; David Proctor, secretary, which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[Pg 346]</a></span> did a large work in +securing the big vote given to the suffrage amendment in Kansas City +and Jackson county in 1914.</p> + +<p>In 1912 the first State convention was held in September at Sedalia, +where Mrs. George Gellhorn was elected president and Mrs. John W. +Barringer vice-president, both of St. Louis. They went to Jefferson +City in September and tried to get a suffrage plank into the platform +of the Democratic State convention. Though unsuccessful it was the +initial step in bringing the subject out of the parlor and +lecture-room into the sphere of politics, the arena where the battle +ultimately had to be fought. Twenty-eight leagues were formed this +year. Miss Amelia C. Fruchte, member of the St. Louis Central High +School faculty, went before the State Teachers' Association and +secured its endorsement of woman suffrage.</p> + +<p>In 1913 at the State convention held at St. Louis in September, Mrs. +Walter McNab Miller, formerly of Ohio, was elected State president. +She had been the leading spirit in work for suffrage in Columbia, the +seat of the State University, where her husband was a professor, and +in November, 1912, an organization was formed with Dr. R. H. Jesse, +former president of the university, at its head. Though the State in +general was still apathetic the women in the large places, especially +in St. Louis and Kansas City, were alert and active. Mrs. Richardson, +after two strenuous years, had been succeeded by Mrs. David O'Neil as +president of the St. Louis League. She was followed in October by Mrs. +John L. Lowes, who had to resign from exhaustion and Mrs. O'Neil was +again elected.</p> + +<p>The hard work that had been done was beginning to bear fruit and the +Farmers' Alliance, the Prohibitionists, the Single Taxers and other +organizations were seeking the cooperation of the suffrage societies. +The press was giving more and more space to suffrage news. Mrs. Emily +Newell Blair of Carthage was a powerful influence with country +editors. The St. Louis <i>Post Dispatch</i> offered prizes amounting to +$100 for the best arguments in favor and often contained strong +editorials. Thanks largely to Miss Jane Winn, on the editorial staff +of the <i>Globe Democrat</i>, suffrage news was seldom refused by that +paper. The Kansas City <i>Star</i> and the <i>Post</i> gave strong support. +Best<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[Pg 347]</a></span> of all, the women were gaining in courage and confidence. In +September the managers of a Merchants' and Manufacturers' Street +Exposition in St. Louis invited the suffragists to conduct a parade +under their auspices and a large number of automobiles and auto-trucks +gaily decorated with white and yellow bunting and accompanied by +several bands of music went through the principal downtown streets. +The crowds were respectful and occasionally enthusiastic. The +enthusiasm of the paraders reached such a pitch that they left their +protecting cars and marched boldly down the middle of the street, +preceded by a band playing "Everybody's doing it." The details were +arranged by Mrs. W. W. Boyd, Jr.</p> + +<p>The time was judged to be ripe for an organized effort to secure +action at the general election of 1914 and two plans presented +themselves: First, to ask the Legislature to submit to the voters an +amendment to the State constitution giving full suffrage to women; +second, to secure the necessary number of signatures under the newly +enacted initiative petition law to place the amendment on the ballot +regardless of action by the Legislature. The former method was tried +first but the latter was found to be necessary. A finance committee +was appointed by the league to raise funds for the campaign and at a +luncheon in St. Louis amid great enthusiasm $11,000 were pledged, +which were turned over to Mrs. B. B. Graham, campaign treasurer. +Headquarters were opened down town with Mrs. Knefler, campaign +manager, in charge. The interest aroused throughout the State by the +circulating of the petition was manifested at the State convention in +Columbia, in May, 1914, which was attended by a number of delegates +from the country districts. Mrs. Miller was re-elected president. On +"suffrage day," May 1, men and women addressed crowds between acts at +different theaters and on the steps of public buildings. Miss Fola +LaFollette was the speaker at a large evening meeting and addressed +the Men's City Club at luncheon the next day. The slogan was sent out +far and wide, "Suffrage for Missouri in 1914." After the heavy task of +obtaining 14,000 names to the petition and a strenuous campaign the +amendment was defeated at the polls.</p> + +<p>In 1915 an offer was made by a newspaper man in Monet to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[Pg 348]</a></span> publish a +suffrage magazine and eagerly accepted, the suffragists agreeing to +furnish the material and to work up the subscriptions. Mrs. Blair was +the first editor of the <i>Missouri Woman</i> and all went well for a few +months, then the publisher failed. This was a keen disappointment but +through the efforts of Miss Mary Bulkley and Percy Werner of St. +Louis, Flint Garrison, president of the Garrison-Wagner Printing +Company, a prominent Democrat and an ardent suffragist, became +interested and agreed to publish the magazine. It was adopted as the +organ of the State Federation of Women's Clubs and was endorsed by the +State branch of the National Congress of Mothers and the State Parent +Teachers' Association. In March, 1916, Mrs. Blair, owing to the +difficulty of editing the magazine from her home in Carthage while it +was published in St. Louis, resigned as editor and was succeeded by +Miss Mary Semple Scott of St. Louis, who continued in that office +during the remaining three years of its useful existence, until the +women of the State had been partially enfranchised and the Federal +Suffrage Amendment had been ratified by the Legislature.</p> + +<p>During 1916 the St. Louis Equal Suffrage League reorganized on +political lines with a Central Committee composed of a member from +each of the twenty-five wards. Mrs. William C. Fordyce, who for a long +time had urged this action, was unanimously elected chairman. At the +convention held in Springfield in May Mrs. John R. Leighty of Kansas +City succeeded Mrs. Miller, who had been elected first vice-president +of the National Association and would reside in Washington. At the +meeting of the board held in St. Louis in June the State association +also was reorganized on political lines and a Congressional Committee +of sixteen members representing the sixteen congressional districts +was appointed. The St. Louis League subscribed $500 to carry on the +work and Mrs. Charles Passmore was made chairman. The committees +appealed to the Republican State convention to put a plank for woman +suffrage in its platform but with no success. Later, after the two +national parties had adopted suffrage planks, an effort was made to +have the State committees adopt the same plank but they refused.</p> + +<p>The National Democratic Convention held in St. Louis in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[Pg 349]</a></span> June, 1916, +offered a splendid opportunity which both State and city suffragists +eagerly seized. Some unique schemes were evolved, among them the +"golden lane," the idea of Mrs. Blair. It has been described as "a +walkless, talkless parade" and consisted of about 7,000 women arranged +in a double line on both sides of the street, the front row sitting, +the back row standing, all dressed in white with yellow sashes and +each one carrying a yellow parasol. They held their places on the +opening day of the convention, June 14, from 10 a. m. till noon, on +both sides of Locust Street for a distance of ten blocks, the route +the delegates had to take in going from their headquarters in the +Jefferson Hotel to the Coliseum, where the convention was held.</p> + +<p>Another striking appeal was in the form of a beautiful and imposing +tableau staged on the steps of the old Art Museum, also on the route +of the delegates, which was given with an occasional interval of rest +for two long hours. The details were managed by Miss Virginia +Stevenson. Under a canopy of gold cloth, which cast a glow over the +group below, there stood at the top of the steps "Liberty," posed by +handsome Mrs. O'Neil. Grouped about her were thirteen women dressed in +white representing the twelve equal suffrage States and Alaska. +Farther down on the steps were the States in which only partial +suffrage had been granted, impersonated by women dressed in gray. At +the bottom were figures in black, representing the States where women +were wholly disfranchised, extending their manacled arms to Liberty. A +mass meeting was held later in the day in the auditorium of the +Museum, when Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, William Jennings Bryan, U. S. +Senator John F. Shafroth and Mrs. Miller addressed large and +enthusiastic audiences. The Town Club, an organization of women, gave +a dinner with covers laid for 300, which was followed by music and +speaking in front of the Jefferson Hotel. On the same night there was +street speaking on the principal down town corners for two hours, one +speaker relieving another as the crowds called for more. Miss Scott +brought out an impressive number of the <i>Missouri Woman</i> during the +convention. William Burns, a well-known artist on the <i>Post Dispatch</i>, +designed an attractive and significant cover and Miss Marguerite +Martin illustrated a story by Mrs. Blair; editors of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[Pg 350]</a></span> the St. Louis +dailies, Louis Ely, Casper Yost and Paul W. Brown, contributed +editorials and William Marion Reedy, editor of the St. Louis <i>Mirror</i>, +wrote a charming article. The edition of 10,000 was sold at the +bookstands and by volunteers who acted as "newsies." The business men +advertised generously.</p> + +<p>The result partially of all the hard work and enthusiasm was a woman +suffrage plank in the platform according to the Democratic principle +of State's rights, which, though not entirely satisfactory to the +suffragists, was regarded as a decided victory.</p> + +<p>The entrance of the United States in the World War in 1917 acted as a +deterrent of suffrage activities, as the various organizations threw +themselves whole-heartedly into war work. Mrs. Leighty, State +chairman, Mrs. Stix, chairman of the St. Louis League, and other heads +of suffrage societies throughout the State, had the difficult task of +directing their activities in war work and at the same time keeping at +the front the idea that, while working to make the world safe for +democracy abroad, the cause of democracy at home demanded the speedy +enfranchisement of the women of America. Missouri's quota for the +Oversea Hospitals organized by the National Suffrage Association was +$1,000. At a luncheon given by the St. Louis League May 8, where Mrs. +Charles L. Tiffany of New York was the speaker, $4,331 were subscribed +in fifteen minutes. Mrs. Miller was chairman of the Food Conservation +Committee of the National Association and Mrs. George Gellhorn +organized its work for Missouri. All demands of the Government were +fully met.</p> + +<p>In May, 1917, the State convention was held at Kansas City and Mrs. +Miller having returned from Washington was again elected president. +This year a Men's Advisory Committee in St. Louis was formed composed +of 147 well-known residents organized under the following leaders: +Jackson Johnson, N. A. McMillan, Ernest W. Stix, Joseph Woracek, +Edward F. Goltra, E. N. Grossman, Benjamin Gratz, J. L. Babler. A +teachers' division including many thousand was formed, with Miss +Tillie Gecks as president. Largely through the efforts of the +executive secretary of the St. Louis league, Mrs. Lucille B. +Lowenstein, its membership in 1918 was increased to 8,000. Mrs. Stix, +resigning because of illness, Mrs. Gellhorn was elected.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[Pg 351]</a></span></p> + +<p>At the State convention held at Macon in May, 1918, Mrs. Miller was +re-elected. Owing to the splendid organization of the St. Louis League +it was able to invite the National Suffrage Association to hold its +Golden Jubilee in this city in 1919. It was held March 23-29 inclusive +at the Statler Hotel with two evening mass meetings at the Odeon, and +was declared by Mrs. Catt to have been "the best convention ever held +anywhere." A large group of women worked indefatigably for weeks in +advance to make it a success but to Mrs. Gellhorn, chairman of the +Local Arrangements Committee, must go the chief honor. Second must be +placed the name of Mrs. Stix, who had raised the funds to defray the +local expenses.</p> + +<p>On the evening of March 28 was held one of the mass meetings. The +large auditorium of the Odeon, beautifully decorated for the occasion +under the supervision of Mrs. Fred Taussig and Mrs. Everett W. +Pattison, was filled to overflowing. On the stage were Mrs. Catt, Dr. +Shaw and the other national officers, also the speakers of the +evening, among whom were Governor Henry J. Allen of Kansas and Miss +Helen Frazier of England. Suddenly music was heard from the back. It +heralded the Missouri delegation, composed of Mrs. Miller, Mrs. David +O'Neil, Mrs. W. R. Haight and Miss Marie B. Ames, who had been in +Jefferson City for ninety-six days working in the interest of the +Presidential suffrage bill and had just returned with the joyful +tidings that it had passed both Houses! The delegation was met at the +door and escorted down the center aisle by Mrs. Gellhorn, holding +aloft a banner bearing the words, "Now we are voters." The large +audience rose spontaneously and amidst deafening cheers and wild +waving of handkerchiefs and hats the women ascended to the stage, +where they were individually presented to the audience by the +presiding officer, Dr. Shaw, who congratulated them and the rest of +the women of Missouri on the great victory. [Full account of +convention in <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29878/29878-h/29878-h.htm#CHAPTER_XVIII">Chapter XVIII, Volume V</a>.]</p> + +<p>To celebrate the success of this great convention and especially the +winning of Presidential suffrage, the St. Louis League at its annual +meeting in April gave a "victory tea" in the Statler Hotel. The guests +of honor were Senator James W. McKnight and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[Pg 352]</a></span> Representative Walter E. +Bailey, who had so successfully led the suffrage forces in the Senate +and House. With music and the presentation to Mrs. O'Neil, in +acknowledgment of her long and faithful services, of an illuminated +testimonial, it was a delightful afternoon. Mrs. Fred English was +elected president of the league. At the State convention held at St. +Louis Mrs. Gellhorn was elected president, Mrs. Miller honorary +president, Mrs. David O'Neil honorary vice-president of the +association.</p> + +<p>With Presidential suffrage won, the work before both State and city +association was obviously the organization and education of the new +voters. At a State meeting held in Kansas City May 3, a "budget" +system was adopted and a definite quota assigned to each county. +Kansas City raised $3,000 at a banquet in the Muehlbach Hotel, Mrs. J. +B. White presiding. St. Louis then raised its quota of $6,000 and +another $6,000 was pro-rated throughout the remainder of the State, +giving $15,000.</p> + +<p>The next step in order was the establishment of Citizenship Schools +and the slogan "Every Missouri Woman an Intelligent Voter in 1920" was +adopted. Under the direction of Mrs. Olive B. Swan, executive +secretary of the State association, citizenship schools were arranged +for in every one of the sixteen congressional districts. Miss Ames and +Miss Lutie Stearns, two expert organizers, traveled through the State +holding meetings and conducting schools. Mrs. Leighty and Mrs. Alfred +Buschman assisted in this work. Mrs. English and Mrs. Clarke conducted +all those in St. Louis. The Young Women's Christian Association +allowed them the use of its auditorium for the first suffrage normal +school. Some mothers of families got up at five o'clock and did part +of their day's work in order to be able to attend; some women traveled +miles in order to do so; others came to night classes after a hard +day's work in office or school room. The St. Louis Board of Education +recognized the importance of this work and offered to incorporate the +citizenship schools in the night school system. It furnished the +building and paid the instructors, the St. Louis League managed the +schools. The response of the colored women to these opportunities was +especially noteworthy; in one school over 300 were in constant +attendance. Mrs. McBride, secretary of the Jackson county<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[Pg 353]</a></span> suffrage +league, conducted classes throughout the county. Kansas City secured +Professor Isador Loeb of the University of Missouri for a course of +lectures on government. All the women's clubs united into one school. +The course included principles of government, organization, publicity, +public speaking, suffrage history and argument, parliamentary law and +use of literature.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>The submission of the Federal Suffrage Amendment by Congress in June, +1919, was celebrated with the greatest joy throughout the State. +Prominent suffragists in St. Louis waited upon Mayor Keil, the board +of aldermen and other city officials and escorted them in gaily +decorated automobiles to the steps of the Post Office, where the +Mayor, an old friend of woman suffrage, made a rousing speech. Mrs. +Miller and Mrs. Gellhorn also spoke and Charles M. Hay closed the +meeting with an eloquent address. In Kansas City a similar meeting was +held in one of the large theaters.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> Steps were at once taken to secure the ratification of +the amendment by the Legislature. Edward F. Goltra, National +Democratic Committeeman, a proved friend, and Ben Neals, State +Democratic chairman, were often asked for advice and other help. Jacob +Babler, Republican National Committeeman, and W. L. Cole, Republican +State chairman, Mayor Keil and many others of both political parties +assisted the suffrage associations in placing before Governor Gardner +the urgency of calling a special session. He was not slow in +responding and one was called for July 2, 1919. All the suffrage +organizations in the State, with the Federated Clubs and the Woman's +Christian Temperance Union, started to work immediately to make sure +of a large majority. Legislators were visited by their constituents +and letters and telegrams were showered on them by prominent men and +women from other sections of the State.</p> + +<p>On July 1 the suffragists gathered in Jefferson City and opened a +State board meeting with a luncheon and speeches at the New Central +Hotel to which every one was welcome. At 7 o'clock the ratification +dinner took place, with members of the Legislature as the invited +guests of the State association. Every foot of space in the +dining-room, ante-room and lobby of the hotel was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[Pg 354]</a></span> filled with tables. +The Governor and Lieutenant Governor were escorted to the hall by +prominent suffragists and both made stirring appeals.</p> + +<p>At 10 o'clock the morning of July 3, a procession of women wended its +way from the hotel to the beautiful new Capitol. The yellow parasols, +which had figured in every suffrage celebration since the time of the +historic Golden Lane in 1916, were everywhere in evidence and yellow +banners, ribbons and flowers gave the dominant note of color to the +scene. The galleries in both Senate and House were filled. The +resolution passed the House by a vote of 125 to 4; the Senate by a +vote of 29 to 3.</p> + +<p>A great sorrow came in the midst of the rejoicing, as the news was +received that Dr. Anna Howard Shaw died the evening before the +ratification. She had addressed the Legislature in other years and +both Houses passed resolutions of regret.</p> + +<p>Missouri women will forever remember gratefully the 50th General +Assembly, as it did all possible for it to do toward their +enfranchisement. It memorialized Congress urging the passage of the +Federal Suffrage Amendment; it passed the Presidential suffrage bill +and it promptly ratified the Amendment.</p> + +<p>A called convention of the State association was held October 16-18, +at the Hotel Statler in St. Louis and the name was changed to the +Missouri League of Women Voters. Mrs. Gellhorn was elected chairman. +Every district was represented by the 122 delegates present.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action.</span> 1913. A petition signed by 14,000 voters of the +State, of whom 8,000 were from St. Louis, was presented to the +Legislature asking it to submit an amendment for woman suffrage at the +election of 1914. The women who had had charge of the petition were +Mrs. David O'Neil, president, Miss Mary Bulkley, Miss Charlotte +Rumbold and Mrs. William C. Fordyce of the St. Louis Equal Suffrage +League and Mrs. St. Clair Moss and Mrs. Rose Ingels of Columbia. A +letter had been sent to every legislator saying that all he was asked +to do was to help get the amendment before the voters. The resolution +was introduced by Representative Thomas J. Roney and Senator Anderson +Craig. It was referred to the House and Senate Committees on +Constitutional Amendment<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[Pg 355]</a></span> and a joint hearing was set for February 6. +A number of women from different parts of the State appeared before +these committees and Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, president of the National +Suffrage Association, disarmed all prejudice. There was a unanimous +favorable report from the Senate Committee and only one adverse vote +in the House Committee. A week later the resolution was sent to +engrossment by both Houses with but five dissenting votes in the +Senate while in the House the "ayes" were so overwhelming that the +"noes" were not counted. The women went home feeling that the fight +was won but the last week of the session the resolution was taken off +the calendar, referred back to the committees and pigeon-holed.</p> + +<p>The women then decided to resort to the newly created device of the +"initiative petition," by which the amendment could be submitted +without legislative action. Mrs. Walter McNab Miller was urged to take +charge of the work, the St. Louis Suffrage League agreeing to look +after the three most difficult congressional districts. She began the +latter part of August to canvass a State that has 114 counties, in +many of which there are no railroads and the other roads are almost +impassable. After six weeks of constant travel and hard work she +obtained only 1,000 names. The cooperation of Mrs. Nellie Burger, +president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, the only woman's +organization in the State outside of the regular suffrage societies +which had endorsed suffrage, was then secured. The St. Louis and +Kansas City leagues took the most thickly populated districts and the +others were apportioned among little bands of suffragists, who, under +the leadership of Mrs. Miller, worked steadily for the next six +months. At last the required 14,000 signatures were obtained and +representatives from each district went to Jefferson City to present +the petitions to Secretary of State Cornelius Roach. He received them +in a most friendly manner, saying that he hoped this work, which had +been done at such great cost, would bring the desired reward.</p> + +<p>It had only begun and the task during the next six months was to +induce the men to vote for the amendment, which now had an assured +place on the ballot. Help came from the outside, as well as within the +State. Ruth Hanna (Mrs. Medill) McCormick<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[Pg 356]</a></span> of Chicago, chairman of the +Congressional Committee of the National Association, sent an organizer +and paid her expenses for four months. From friends outside $3,264 +were sent and about $1,800 were raised in various ways in the State. +Dr. Shaw and Miss Jane Addams spoke in several cities and other +prominent speakers were Mrs. Desha Breckinridge of Kentucky, Miss +Helen Todd of California, Mrs. McCormick and "General" Rosalie Jones +of New York. The State and county fairs were utilized. Headquarters +were rented in a big downtown building in St. Louis with Miss Rumbold +as director of publicity, Miss Genevieve Tierney and Mrs. R. L. +Sanford in charge of the business part, Mrs. Alice Curtis Moyer-Wing +head of the speakers' bureau and Miss Bulkley treasurer. Mrs. Blair +had charge of the press work for the State, Miss Clara Sommerville for +St. Louis.<a name="FNanchor_104_104" id="FNanchor_104_104"></a><a href="#Footnote_104_104" class="fnanchor">[104]</a> The St. Louis <i>Times</i>, the Kansas City <i>Post</i> and the +Warrensburg <i>Daily Star</i> allowed the women to get out a special +suffrage edition.</p> + +<p>All the hard work of a year and a half was in vain. On Nov. 3, 1914, +the woman suffrage amendment went down to defeat with fourteen other +amendments on the ballot. More votes were cast on this one than on any +other—182,257 ayes; 322,463 noes; lost by 140,206. In Kansas City the +adverse majority was only 1,000. Thirteen counties were carried.</p> + +<p>1915. It had been decided at the first State board meeting after the +defeat to attempt again to have an amendment submitted by the +Legislature. Mrs. Miller took charge of the work and remained six +weeks in Jefferson City. The resolution was written by Judge Robert +Franklin Walker, now Chief Justice of Missouri, and was introduced by +Senator Craig and Representative Roney, as before. A joint hearing was +arranged at which twelve Missouri women, representing various +professions and occupations, spoke five minutes each. It passed the +House by 88 ayes to 42 noes. Through the efforts of Senator William +Phelps, who was showered with letters and telegrams from his +constituents, the committee, a majority of whom were violently<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[Pg 357]</a></span> +opposed to woman suffrage, was persuaded to report it favorably but it +did not come to a vote in the Senate.</p> + +<p>1916. As the Federal Amendment was now well advanced and the bad +effect on it of the loss of a State campaign was clearly recognized, +the National Board asked the officers of each State association to +refrain from entering into one. Therefore it was agreed at the State +convention in May, 1916, to give up the projected campaign.</p> + +<p>1917. A bill for Presidential suffrage, which was approved by the +national officers, was introduced. Headquarters were opened in the +Capitol with Miss Geraldine Buchanan of California, Mo., in charge and +a strong lobby of State women remained there during the session—Mrs. +Leighty, Mrs. Fordyce, Mrs. O'Neil, Mrs. Passmore and Mrs. Grossman of +St. Louis. Mrs. Katherine Smith, daughter of Judge Walker, and Miss +Matilda Dahlmeyer of Jefferson City gave effective aid. Percy Werner, +a lawyer of St. Louis, agreed to defend its legal status before the +Legislature if necessary and in January it was introduced by Senator +Robert J. Mitchell of Aurora and Representative Nick Cave of Fulton. +It was reported favorably by the House Committee but when it came to a +hearing before the Senate committee there appeared Miss Minnie Bronson +from New York, secretary of the National Anti-Suffrage Association. +The speaker in favor was Mrs. Fordyce, a granddaughter of the pioneer +suffragist, Mrs. Beverly Allen. The House passed it by 87 to 37 but +the Senate defeated it.</p> + +<p>Missouri women now turned their attention to furthering the Federal +Suffrage Amendment. The Congressional Committee appointed for this +purpose worked indefatigably and early in January, armed with two +large bundles of petitions for it, one from the State and one from St. +Louis, aggregating 75,000 names, a delegation went to Washington. Mrs. +Miller, vice-president of the National Association, arranged, with the +assistance of Miss Mabel Stone, daughter of the Missouri Senator, +William R. Stone, for a meeting in his office between them and the +State's members of Congress. They presented their petitions and made +earnest appeals for the amendment.</p> + +<p>Suffragists throughout the State kept up a constant stream of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[Pg 358]</a></span> +telegrams and letters to the Missouri members and Governor Gardner +used his influence. Senator Stone, and after his death Senator +Xenophon P. Wilfley, were pledged to the amendment, and Senator Selden +P. Spencer, who later was elected, could positively be depended upon. +All possible efforts were concentrated upon Senator James A. Reed but +to no avail. To disprove his statements that his constituents were not +in favor of woman suffrage, the Jackson county campaign committee, +with Mrs. J. B. White of Kansas City chairman, sent him the signatures +of 47,382 women and 12,583 men from his district, asking for it. When +the amendment came to a vote in 1918, Senator Wilfley and all the +Representatives voted in the affirmative except Meeker of St. Louis, +who died soon afterwards. In 1919 Senator Spencer and the entire +delegation in the House voted in favor. Senator Reed fought it every +time it came before the Senate.</p> + +<p>Delegations of women appeared before the State conventions of both +parties on the same day in August, 1918, and asked for a suffrage +plank. Mrs. Miller, Mrs. O'Neil and Mrs. Stix attended the Democratic +convention in Jefferson City; Mrs. Gellhorn and Mrs. Grossman, +assisted by others, looked after the Republican convention in St. +Louis. They were invited to speak and each party put a very good +suffrage plank in its platform.</p> + +<p>1919. Work for Presidential suffrage was continued. Extra pressure was +brought to bear on the Senate. Two national organizers, Miss Ames and +Miss Alma Sasse, were sent into various senatorial districts to enlist +the help of influential people and when the time came for a vote it +undoubtedly was favorable pressure from home that kept some of the +Senators in line. When the General Assembly convened Jan. 8, 1919, +Governor Gardner recommended such suffrage legislation as the women +might desire. Through the courtesy of Lieutenant Governor Crossley, +President of the Senate, and S. F. O'Fallon, Speaker of the House, it +was the first bill introduced.</p> + +<p>On February 6 the Presidential bill was put on the calendar over the +adverse report of the Election Committee, an action almost without +precedent. On the 11th the Speaker left the chair and delivered a +powerful address urging its passage. Representative Frank Farris also +made a strong speech in its<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[Pg 359]</a></span> favor and the final vote was 122 ayes, 8 +noes. The opposition used every device to prevent it from being +brought up for the final reading in the Senate but finally the time +was set for March 28. On that date two of the Senators favoring it +were absent and their votes were absolutely necessary. Senator David +W. Stark was at his home in Westline and Senator Howard Gray had been +called on important business to Caruthersville. On the 27th Mrs. +Miller, Mrs. O'Neil, Mrs. Haight and Miss Ames, who had been in +Jefferson City for over three months, met for final consultation. +Senator Stark responded to a telephone call and promised to be in his +seat the next morning. It was found it would be impossible for Senator +Gray to arrive on time. They were in despair but a savior was at hand. +Democratic National Committeeman Edward F. Goltra offered to charter a +special train to bring Senator Gray, a Republican, to Jefferson City +in time to cast his vote. This offer was gladly and gratefully +accepted and the Senator left Caruthersville that night. The next +morning all the other Senators were in their seats, the opposition +complacent and confident that the bill could not pass. While Senator +McKnight was reading a telegram from the National Suffrage Convention +in session at St. Louis urging the immediate passage of the +Presidential suffrage bill Senator Gray quietly walked in and took his +seat! The opposition, out-witted and out-generaled, threw up their +hands and the bill was passed by a vote of 21 to 12, some of its +former opponents voting for it. On April 5 in the presence of the +board of the State association it was signed by Governor Gardner.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_102_102" id="Footnote_102_102"></a><a href="#FNanchor_102_102"><span class="label">[102]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Miss Marie +R. Garesche, a founder and first vice-president of the St. Louis Equal +Suffrage League.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_103_103" id="Footnote_103_103"></a><a href="#FNanchor_103_103"><span class="label">[103]</span></a> Thirteen men were enrolled this year, Eugene Angert, +George Blackman, R. W. Boysselier, Dr. W. W. Boyd, Mr. Chauvenet, E. +M. Grossman, Charles Haanel, Stephen Hart, Charles Van Dyke Hill, Dr. +John C. Morfit, H. J. Peifer, Judge R. E. Rombauer and Percy Werner.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_104_104" id="Footnote_104_104"></a><a href="#FNanchor_104_104"><span class="label">[104]</span></a> Because of lack of space it has been impossible to +include the long lists of names prepared of women who worked all over +the State.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">[Pg 360]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + +<h3>MONTANA.<a name="FNanchor_105_105" id="FNanchor_105_105"></a><a href="#Footnote_105_105" class="fnanchor">[105]</a></h3> + + +<p>Before 1900 the National American Woman Suffrage Association, under +the presidency of Miss Susan B. Anthony, helped to organize suffrage +societies in Montana and several conventions were held. In 1899 Dr. +Maria M. Dean was elected president. She was succeeded by Mrs. Clara +B. Tower, whose report to the national suffrage convention of 1903 +said:</p> + +<blockquote><p>On May 1, 1902, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, National president, +Miss Gail Laughlin and Miss Laura A. Gregg, organizers, arrived +in Helena and in conjunction with the State officers planned a +campaign to include a meeting in every town of any importance. +Mrs. Catt re-organized the Helena Suffrage Club and remained two +weeks, conducting a large correspondence, addressing all the +women's organizations in the city and a mass meeting. Miss +Laughlin spent these two weeks in Butte, where she spoke to a +number of labor unions and obtained resolutions strongly +endorsing woman suffrage from the Silver Bow Trades and Labor +Assembly, a delegate body representing 10,000 men. Mrs. Catt then +went to Butte and for ten days she and Miss Laughlin delivered +addresses before the principal organizations of the city, among +which were the Woman's Club and the Trades Council. Their visit +closed with a mass meeting at which a large number of names were +secured for membership in the Equal Suffrage Club, which was +organized immediately afterward. The campaign was then placed in +charge of Miss Laughlin, who did the field work, and Miss Gregg, +who arranged the dates from the headquarters in Helena. The +speaking before labor unions was continued through the State and +not a union or delegate body of laboring men failed to endorse +woman suffrage. Miss Laughlin, by invitation, addressed the State +labor convention, representing all the labor unions, and +resolutions strongly endorsing woman suffrage and the submission +of an amendment were passed with only one dissenting voice on a +roll-call vote.</p> + +<p>Miss Laughlin spent the summer and fall visiting every town of +importance, organizing more than thirty clubs, and securing +committees to circulate petitions where organization was +impracticable.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">[Pg 361]</a></span> The State convention was held in Butte in +September in preparation for work in the Legislature during +January and February, 1903, for submission to the voters of a +woman suffrage amendment to the State constitution, which had +been strongly recommended by Governor Toole in his Message. A +considerable sum was raised for press work and Miss Mary E. +O'Neill was appointed superintendent. A resolution asking the +National Association for the services of Miss Laughlin for +legislative work was adopted and she remained.<a name="FNanchor_106_106" id="FNanchor_106_106"></a><a href="#Footnote_106_106" class="fnanchor">[106]</a></p></blockquote> + +<p>The bill for full suffrage was introduced in both Houses; public +hearings were granted by the Judiciary Committee of each and the House +took a recess that its members might attend in a body. Miss Laughlin +and others spoke and the measure had strong advocates in Dr. O. M. +Lanstrum, J. M. Kennedy, John Maginness, Colonel James U. Sanders, F. +Augustus Heinze (the copper magnate), Colonel C. B. Nolan, State +Senators Whipple, Myers and Johnson. State officers and members of the +Helena Club assisted in the legislative work, which continued two +months. The vote in the House was 41 ayes, 23 noes, but two-thirds +were necessary. The resolution introduced in the Senate by H. L. +Sherlock was also defeated.</p> + +<p>At the session of 1905 the amendment resolution was again introduced +and Mrs. Tower travelled from Boston to be present at the hearing. +Mrs. J. M. Lewis, Mrs. Walter Matheson and Miss O'Neill addressed the +committees but the vote was adverse.</p> + +<p>For a number of years little was done except in a desultory way. The +suffrage resolution was presented at almost every session of the +Legislature but there was no intensive work for it. Some of the +political equality clubs lived on, the strongest one in Missoula with +J. Washington McCormick president and Miss Jeannette Rankin +vice-president. In 1911 Dr. J. M. Donahue had introduced the suffrage +resolution in the Legislature but no work had been done for it and +this club sent Miss Rankin to Helena to press for its passage. It +found champions in Colonel J. B. Nolan, W. W. Berry and D. G. O'Shea +and opponents in James E. McNally and Joseph Binnard. Miss Rankin +obtained permission to address the House. The Senate refused to +attend<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">[Pg 362]</a></span> officially but adjourned and was present almost in a body. +House members brought flowers and the room resembled anything but a +legislative hall, as masses of hats hid the legislators and people +were banked in the doorways. Miss Rankin was escorted to the reading +desk by a number of old-time suffragists, Dr. Dean, Dr. Atwater, Mrs. +Sanders, Mrs. Mary Long Alderson and Miss May Murphy. As +Representative Binnard was the strongest opponent he was delegated by +the members to present Miss Rankin with a corsage bouquet of violets. +He made a flowery speech and attempted to turn the meeting into a +facetious affair but when Miss Rankin spoke his purpose was defeated +and she received much applause. The bill was, however, reported out of +the committee without recommendation and neither House took any +action.</p> + +<p>At the State Fairs of 1911 and 1912 the suffragists erected attractive +booths, giving out suffrage literature and buttons to all passers-by. +They were in charge of Ida Auerbach, Frieda Fligelman and Grace Rankin +Kinney. In 1912 a State Central Committee was formed with Miss Rankin +as temporary chairman and Miss Auerbach as temporary secretary. Later +Mrs. Grace Smith was made treasurer. The first meeting was called in +the studio of Miss Mary C. Wheeler of Helena. These women attended the +State conventions of the Republican, Democratic and Progressive +parties and succeeded in getting planks in their platforms for a +suffrage amendment to the State constitution. Then all nominees were +circularized and asked to stand by their party platforms. Miss Rankin +went over the State quietly, stopping in every county seat and +searching out women willing to work. She secured the consent of Thomas +Stout to introduce the bill at the next session.</p> + +<p>In January, 1913, the women met in Helena and formed a permanent State +organization, electing the following officers: Chairman, Miss Rankin, +Missoula; assistant chairmen, Mrs. Louis P. Sanders, Butte; Mrs. G. M. +Gillmore, Glendive; secretary, Mrs. Harvey Coit, Big Timber; +treasurer, Mrs. Wilbur L. Smith, Helena; finance chairman, Mrs. +Wallace Perham, Glendive; press chairman, Miss Auerbach. The +organization never had any constitution or by-laws. Letters from all +over the State<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">[Pg 363]</a></span> were written to Governor S. V. Stewart and on January +7 the women went in a body to hear his Message, in which he +recommended that Montana women should be enfranchised. With no +discussion the resolution to submit an amendment to the voters passed +the Senate by 26 ayes, two noes—J. E. Edwards and I. A. Leighton—and +was signed by the president, Lieutenant Governor W. W. McDowell, in +open session. In the House the vote was 74 ayes, two noes—Ronald +Higgins and John W. Blair. On January 25 it was signed by the +Governor.</p> + +<p>On June 27 the second meeting of the State Central Committee was held +in Livingston, immediately following that of the State Federation of +Women's Clubs. Great progress in interest and organization was +reported from all parts of the State. The only new officers elected +were: Recording secretary, Mrs. John Willis of Glasgow; chairman of +literature, Miss Mary Agnes Cantwell of Hunters' Hot Springs. Chairmen +were appointed in each county and workers were sent into every +precinct. The third meeting of the Central Committee was held in Butte +September 22, 23, just before the State Fair, where it had a booth. It +was decided to open headquarters in Butte Feb. 1, 1914.</p> + +<p>The fourth meeting was held in Big Timber February 14 and the fifth in +Lewiston June 6. Miss O'Neill was made assistant chairman and press +chairman; Mrs. Edith Clinch, treasurer; Miss Eloise Knowles chairman +of literature.</p> + +<p>Headquarters were opened in Butte in January, 1914. Letters were sent +to granges, labor unions, women's clubs and other organizations asking +them to pass resolutions in favor of the amendment and aid the +campaign as far as they could. Every newspaper in the State received +each week a letter of suffrage news and items from Miss O'Neill and +occasionally some propaganda material. Letters were sent regularly to +the county chairmen and other workers giving instructions and keeping +them in touch with the campaign. Large quantities of literature were +distributed with many leaflets for special occasions. A short time +before election personal letters and a leaflet especially for farmers +were sent to 20,000 voters in the country districts. The +house-to-house canvass of the women in the towns and cities was the +most effective work done. Montana women spoke in every<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">[Pg 364]</a></span> county and +women from outside the State in all but a few of the smaller ones.</p> + +<p>In the spring Mr. and Mrs. James Lees Laidlaw of New York City stopped +off en route to California and spoke in a number of places. The women +were charmed with her beauty and style and some men who had considered +the movement as only carried on by women were surprised that a man of +Mr. Laidlaw's standing should be at the head of a National Men's +Suffrage League. He organized a Montana branch of it with Wellington +D. Rankin (now Attorney General) as president.</p> + +<p>Miss Rankin in her report to the national suffrage convention of +November 12-17, expressed the highest appreciation of the women who +came into Montana, either sent by the National Association or at their +own expense, and campaigned for weeks under the instructions of the +State board. They were headed by Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, the national +president, and included Miss Katharine Devereux Blake, Miss Ida Craft +and Miss Rosalie Jones of New York; Mrs. Antoinette Funk, Miss Jane +Thompson, Miss Gratia Erickson and Miss Florence Lord of Chicago; Mrs. +Root of Los Angeles. During May and June Mrs. Cotterill of Seattle, +and during July and August Miss Margaret Hinchey of Boston, gave their +time to labor unions. A number of large demonstrations were held in +various cities. Campaigning in a State of such distances and +geographical formation presented great difficulties.</p> + +<p>A precinct organization was perfected wherever possible but to the +far-off places word was simply sent to the women to work to get votes +for the amendment and they did so with splendid results. The usual +program of party campaigning in rural districts was adopted of holding +a rally followed by a dance. Miss Rankin, Miss Fligelman, Miss Grace +Hellmick, Mrs. Maggie Smith Hathaway, Miss O'Neill, Dr. Dean, Mrs. +Topping and many other volunteer speakers went into every little +mining camp and settlement that could be reached. They spoke from the +steps of the store and the audience, composed entirely of men, would +listen in respectful silence, applaud a little at the close, too shy +to ask questions, but on election day every vote was for suffrage. Old +prospectors back in the mountains when approached and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">[Pg 365]</a></span> asked for their +votes would say: "Do you ladies really want to vote? Well, if you do, +we'll sure help all we can." Many old-timers said: "What would our +State have been without the women? You bet you can count on us." The +campaigners spoke in moving picture theaters, from wagons and +automobiles and wherever they could obtain an audience however small. +There were no rebuffs but some of the Southerners would say that it +would be a bad thing for the South. All these outlying districts that +could be reached gave a favorable majority. The money for the campaign +was raised in many ways, by donations, food sales, dances, +collections, the sale of suffrage papers on the street, etc. The loss +of the funds collected for the campaign through the closing of the +State bank was a heavy blow and it could not have succeeded without +the help of the National Association and friends in outside States. +The campaign cost about $9,000, of which over half was contributed by +the association and other States.</p> + +<p>To the women specifically mentioned the names of the following +especially active in the campaign should be added: Miss Mary Stewart, +Mrs. W. I. Higgins, Mrs. J. F. Kilduff, Mrs. Tyler Thompson, Jean +Bishop, Mrs. Wm. Roza, Mrs. J. W. Scott, Mrs. John Duff, Mrs. Bertha +Rosenberg, Mrs. Mary Tocher, Mrs. J. M. Darroch, Mrs. W. E. Cummings, +Mrs. Stevens, Mrs. A. E. Richardson, Mrs. Frank D. O'Neill, Mrs. J. B. +Ellis, Mrs. M. E. Hughes, Mrs. Delia Peets, Mrs. C. P. Irish, Mrs. J. +R. E. Sievers, Mrs. A. P. Rooney, Mrs. Sarah M. Souders, Mrs. +Sherrill, Mrs. Nathan Lloyd, Mrs. Burt Addams Tower, Mrs. Mary Meigs +Atwater, Mrs. Helen Fitzgerald Sanders, Mrs. Charles N. Skillman, Mrs. +Charles S. Haire, Mrs. J. M. Lewis, Mrs. H. W. Child, Miss Susan +Higgins. Among the men the best friends besides those already +mentioned were Miles Romney, Joseph H. Griffin, Lewis J. Duncan, W. W. +McDowell, Lieutenant Governor, and the two U. S. Senators, Thomas J. +Walsh and Henry L. Myers.</p> + +<p>At the beginning of the campaign a travelling organizer of the +National Anti-Suffrage Association came to Butte, and, saying that she +acted officially, had an interview with the editors of the <i>National +Forum</i>, the organ of the liquor interests. She told<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">[Pg 366]</a></span> them their open +opposition was helping the amendment, urged them to carry it on in +secret and said she would return later and lay before them a plan of +campaign. Afterwards when the Butte papers exposed this scheme the +<i>National Forum</i> described the interview. Before the election the +National Anti-Suffrage Association sent its executive secretary, Miss +Minnie Bronson, and Mrs. J. D. Oliphant of New Jersey to campaign +against the amendment. They succeeded in forming only one society in +the State and that was at Butte, with a branch in the little town of +Chinook. The officers were Mrs. John Noyes, president; Mrs. Theodore +Symons, secretary; Mrs. W. J. Chrystie, press chairman; Mrs. David +Nixon, active worker; Mrs. Oliphant challenged Miss Rankin to a +debate, which was held in the old auditorium in Helena. At the +meeting, which had been packed by the liquor interests, Mrs. Oliphant +was noisily applauded and the confusion was appalling.</p> + +<p>Although the speakers travelled to remote districts up to the night +before election in November, the instructions from headquarters were +to have loose ends gathered up by the opening of the State Fair +September 25, at Helena. Headquarters were maintained a week at the +fair and in the city and each day <i>The Suffrage Daily</i> was issued. The +editors were Mrs. L. O. Edmunds, Miss O'Neill, Mrs. M. E. McKay and +Miss Belle Fligelman, all newspaper women. The most picturesque and +educative feature of the whole campaign and the greatest awakener was +the enormous suffrage parade which took place one evening during the +week. Thousands of men and women from all parts of the State marched, +Dr. Anna Howard Shaw was at the head, and next, carrying banners, came +Dr. Dean, the past president, and Miss Rankin, the present State +chairman. A huge American flag was carried by women representing +States having full suffrage; a yellow one for the States now having +campaigns; a large gray banner for the partial suffrage States and a +black banner for the non-suffrage States. Each county and city in the +State had its banner. The Men's League marched and there were as many +men as women in the parade.</p> + +<p>During the entire campaign the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, one +of the strongest organizations in the State, conducted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">[Pg 367]</a></span> a vigorous +fight for the amendment, sending its speakers to every locality. For +many years it had worked for woman suffrage.</p> + +<p>At the election Nov. 3, 1914, the amendment received 41,302 ayes; +37,588 noes, a majority of 3,714, and women were enfranchised on equal +terms with men.</p> + +<p>The various suffrage societies merged into Good Government Clubs with +the avowed purpose of obtaining political action on many needed +measures. The next year they secured mother's pension and equal +guardianship laws, and others equally important in following years. +The Executive Committee continued in existence and directed the work. +At its meeting in 1916 it was decided to conduct an intensive campaign +for prohibition in 1917; to elect a woman to Congress and a woman +State Superintendent of Schools. Prohibition was carried; Miss +Jeannette Rankin was elected the first Congresswoman in the United +States and Miss May Trumper was elected Superintendent of Schools. +That year an eight-hour-day for women was secured. This record was +continued. Mrs. Maggie Smith Hathaway and Mrs. Emma A. Ingalls have +served two terms each as State Representatives. All the county +superintendents of schools are women.</p> + +<p>After the Federal Amendment was submitted by Congress the societies +met on June 22, 1919, and formed a State branch of the National League +of Women Voters with Mrs. Edwin L. Norris chairman.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> Governor Samuel V. Stewart called a special session of +the Legislature to meet in August, 1920, and the Federal Suffrage +Amendment was ratified on the 2nd by unanimous vote in the House and +by 38 to one in the Senate—Claude F. Morris of Havre, Hill county. +The resolution was introduced in the House by Mrs. Ingalls.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_105_105" id="Footnote_105_105"></a><a href="#FNanchor_105_105"><span class="label">[105]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Lucile +Dyas Topping, formerly Lewis and Clark county superintendent of +schools and prominent in the work of the campaign of 1914, when +Montana women obtained the suffrage.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_106_106" id="Footnote_106_106"></a><a href="#FNanchor_106_106"><span class="label">[106]</span></a> In the intensive work that followed, Mrs. Tower was +assisted by Dr. Dean, Mrs. Ellen Maria Dean, Mrs. James U. Sanders, +Mrs. T. J. Walsh, Mrs. Bessie Hughes Smith, Mrs. Martha Dunkel, Mrs. +Ella Knowles Haskell, Mrs. Adelaide Staves Reeder, Dr. Bertha Mackal +McCleman, Mrs. C. B. Nolan, Mrs. Donald Bradford, Madame F. Rowena +Medini, Miss Sarepta Sanders, Dr. Mary B. Atwater, Mrs. H. L. +Sherlock, Mrs. Hughes and Miss Mary C. Wheeler.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">[Pg 368]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + +<h3>NEBRASKA.<a name="FNanchor_107_107" id="FNanchor_107_107"></a><a href="#Footnote_107_107" class="fnanchor">[107]</a></h3> + + +<p>The History of the movement for woman suffrage in Nebraska from 1900 +to 1920 naturally divides itself into three periods. The first period +extends from 1900 to 1912. During those years the organization was +supported by a small but faithful group whose continuous effort at +educating public sentiment prepared the way for the work that +followed. The second period included the years from 1912 to 1915, +during which time a campaign for full suffrage by an amendment to the +State constitution was carried on. The third period from 1915 to 1920 +was marked by the passage of a partial suffrage law in 1917, which was +an issue during the preceding two years; an attack on that law through +the initiative and referendum; the successful defense of it by the +State Suffrage Association and the ratification of the Federal +Amendment at a special session in 1919, which marked the end of a long +contest.</p> + +<p>Miss Laura Gregg, a Nebraska woman, was put in charge of the State +suffrage headquarters at Omaha in October, 1899, by Mrs. Carrie +Chapman Catt, chairman of the Organization Committee of the National +American Suffrage Association, and remained four years. During that +time conventions and conferences were held, much field work was done +and the membership was increased to nearly 1,200. At the annual +convention at Blair in October, 1900, Mrs. Catt, now national +president, was present. Mrs. Clara A. Young of Broken Bow was elected +State president, relieving Mrs. Mary Smith Hayward of Chadron, who had +pressing business obligations. Her section of the State, however, +remained one of the suffrage strongholds and she was always one of the +largest contributors. Other officers elected<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">[Pg 369]</a></span> were, vice-president, +Mrs. Amanda J. Marble of Broken Bow; corresponding secretary, Miss +Nelly Taylor of Merna; recording secretary, Mrs. Ida L. Denny of +Lincoln.</p> + +<p>In 1901 the State convention was held in Lincoln November 12-14, +welcomed by Mayor T. C. Winnett. A reception was given at the Lindell +Hotel to the fifty-six delegates and Mrs. Catt, who had spent sixteen +days in the State, attending conferences in Omaha and eleven other +places. An address by Governor E. P. Savage, one by Mrs. Catt, and a +debate between Miss Gregg and A. L. Bixby, editor of the <i>State +Journal</i>, who took the negative, were the evening attractions. There +was a work conference led by Mrs. Catt and reports were given by the +officers and by State workers, including Mrs. Maria C. Arter of +Lincoln; Mrs. K. W. Sutherland of Blair, Miss Taylor, Mrs. Mary G. +Ward of Tecumseh, Mrs. Jennie Ross of Dakota City, Mrs. Hetty W. Drury +of Pender, with a "question box" conducted by Mrs. Catt. The next +afternoon the speakers in a symposium were Mrs. Anna A. Wells of +Schuyler, J. H. Dundas of the <i>Auburn Granger</i>, Mrs. Emma Shuman of +Nebraska City, Mrs. Rosa Modlin of Beaver City, Mrs. C. W. Damon of +Omaha, Mrs. Mary E. Jeffords of Broken Bow, Mrs. Alice Isabel Brayton +of Geneva and Mrs. Belle Sears of Tekamah.</p> + +<p>The sum of $1,312 had been expended during the year, including the +cost of headquarters and field work. Pledges to the amount of $1,000 +were made for the next year. The large dailies of Omaha and Lincoln +had given much attention to the subject of woman suffrage and over 150 +weeklies had published matter furnished by the press departments. Mrs. +Young, Mrs. Marble, Miss Taylor and Mrs. Denny were re-elected; other +officers were: Treasurer, Mrs. Mary E. Dempster, Omaha; first auditor, +Mrs. Hayward, second, Mrs. Sears; press chairman, Mrs. Lucie B. Meriom +of Beaver City.</p> + +<p>This convention was a type of those held during the next three or four +years. County conventions were frequent and local clubs were active. A +small printed sheet called the <i>Headquarters Message</i>, edited by Miss +Gregg, filled with State suffrage news, club reports, National +recommendations, etc., was sent monthly to the workers. During the +spring of 1902 Miss Gail Laughlin,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">[Pg 370]</a></span> a national organizer, spent two +weeks organizing new clubs and arousing old ones and Miss Gregg and +Mr. Bixby debated in towns in eastern Nebraska. A series of parlor +meetings in Omaha increased the interest there. Mrs. Marble was +chairman of the Committee on Assemblies and during the summer the +suffrage question was presented at the State Fair, the Epworth +Assembly, Chautauquas, pioneer picnics and other gatherings. The +committee included later Mrs. O. B. Bowers, Tekamah; Mrs. Ellen A. +Miller, Beatrice; Mrs. Ollie King Carriker, Nebraska City; Mrs. Anna +Pickett, Broken Bow. Miss Gregg spent the autumn in field work +throughout the State. The annual convention was held at Tecumseh +December 1-3, with a large attendance. The program included the Mayor, +Governor-elect J. H. Mickey, the Hon. C. W. Beal, Senator O'Neill, and +other prominent citizens. A memorial hour was given to Elizabeth Cady +Stanton and to Nebraska suffragists who had died during the year. It +was resolved to push press work, county organization, new memberships +and work before assemblies.</p> + +<p>In 1903 branch headquarters were established at the Lindell Hotel, +Lincoln, for work with the Legislature. The delegates to the national +convention in New Orleans in March were accompanied home by Miss +Laughlin for organizing work. Assisted most of the time by Miss Gregg +she visited thirty-five cities and towns, speaking from one to three +times in each place, gained 403 new members and collected about $200. +She spoke at five Normal Schools during the summer and had +headquarters at the Northwest G. A. R. encampment and several +Chautauquas. The State convention was held at Nebraska City, October +6-8. The program was enriched by the address of Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, +national vice-president, on The Fate of Republics. Miss Laughlin made +a strong speech and there were many new names on the program. To the +previous plan of work had been added suffrage contests, literature in +libraries and church work; the peace and industrial work of the +National Association had been endorsed and committees formed.</p> + +<p>In January, 1904, Miss Gregg was sent by Mrs. Catt to Oklahoma, where +her services as organizer were very much needed. The State +headquarters were transferred to Tecumseh with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">[Pg 371]</a></span> secretary, Mrs. +Mary G. Ward, in charge. Mrs. Young edited the <i>Headquarters Message</i> +and Mrs. Myrtle W. Marble of Humboldt attended to the publishing and +mailing. A Suffrage Cook Book was prepared and published and became a +source of considerable revenue. Mrs. Lulu S. Halvorsen of Nebraska +City was press chairman. Miss Laughlin spent a month speaking and +organizing. The State convention was held at Geneva November +21-December 1, Mrs. Ellis Meredith of Denver a principal evening +speaker. With the withdrawal of Miss Gregg and the conviction that no +amendment of any kind could be carried under the existing law, the +interest of the local organizations began to decline and the two brave +and faithful women who had carried the heaviest part of the burden +were now finding it too heavy for their strength. Mrs. Young took the +headquarters to her own home in Broken Bow and Mrs. Marble did all +kinds of work at all times if it helped the cause.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Young kept the clubs at work during 1905 and a full delegation of +fourteen was sent to the national convention at Portland, Oregon, but +her health began to fail and at the State convention held at Broken +Bow October 10-12 she was compelled to give up the presidency. The +executive board needed her counsel and experience and she accepted the +position of honorary president. Mrs. Marble was made president and the +other officers were re-elected with Miss Mary H. Williams as +historian. Mrs. Mary C. C. Bradford of Colorado was the principal +speaker. There were seventeen addresses of welcome from representative +citizens.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Marble kept up the work in 1906 as far as it was possible. She +began publishing an annual report of the year's work, a pamphlet of +about 70 pages, containing a roster of the clubs and much useful +information, and continued it during the four years of her presidency. +With Miss Williams she attended the national convention at Baltimore. +The State convention met at Lincoln, October 2, 3, in All Souls' +Church with Dr. Shaw as evening speaker. A memorial meeting was held +for Susan B. Anthony, with the Rev. Newton Mann of Omaha, her former +pastor in Rochester, N. Y., as speaker.</p> + +<p>The State convention of 1907 met in Kenesaw October 1, 2.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">[Pg 372]</a></span> The +legislative work had been to obtain a memorial to Congress asking for +a Federal Suffrage Amendment. More conventions passed woman suffrage +resolutions during the summer than ever before. On October 7 the +beloved leader, Mrs. Young, passed away. In November Miss Gregg was +sent by the National Association to assist Mrs. Marble and remained +until the middle of January, doing office and field work.</p> + +<p>In February, 1908, Mrs. Maud Wood Park of Boston made a visit to the +State and formed College Woman Suffrage Leagues in the State and +Wesleyan Universities and among graduates in Lincoln. Miss Williams +was made chairman of a committee to raise Nebraska's pledge of $300 to +the Anthony Memorial Fund. At the State convention in Lincoln Nov. 5, +6, Mrs. Marble was obliged to decline the presidency and was made +vice-president. The Rev. Mary G. Andrews of Omaha was elected in her +place; but from this time until her death, April 6, 1910, Mrs. Marble +never ceased to do everything in her power to forward the success of +the suffrage movement.</p> + +<p>Early in 1909 the petition of the National Association to Congress for +an amendment of the Federal Constitution was begun with Miss Williams +chairman of the committee and 10,386 signatures were secured. Mrs. +Philip Snowden of England lectured in Lincoln during the session of +the Legislature and many of the members heard her. The annual +convention was held in Lincoln November 18, 19. Mrs. Andrews had gone +to Minneapolis and Dr. Inez Philbrick of Lincoln was elected +president. A lecture tour was arranged for Dr. B. O. Aylesworth of +Denver for the autumn of 1909 and again in 1910; Men's Suffrage +Leagues were organized in Omaha and Lincoln and many new clubs formed +of people of influence. The convention was postponed to March, 1911. +The regular convention of 1911 was held in Lincoln November 20-22. +Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst was the speaker and the audience filled the +largest assembly room.</p> + +<p>The convention of 1912 met in Omaha December 4-6, and it was decided +to go into an active campaign to secure the submission of a +constitutional amendment by petition in 1914. The Initiative and +Referendum Law had been adopted the preceding month, which required +the signature of 15 per cent. of the total<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">[Pg 373]</a></span> vote cast at the last +election, the signers coming from two-fifths of the counties. This +meant 37,752 names from thirty-eight counties. Nebraska has +ninety-three counties and an area of 77,520 square miles. Officers +elected to serve throughout the campaign were: Henrietta I. (Mrs. +Draper) Smith, president; Mrs. Kovanda, vice-president; Miss Williams, +corresponding secretary; Miss Daisy Doane, recording secretary; +Gertrude Law (Mrs. W. E.) Hardy, treasurer; Mrs. Grace M. Wheeler, +first and Elizabeth J. (Mrs. Z. T.) Lindsey, second auditor; committee +chairmen; Mrs. Wheeler, Education; Mrs. A. E. Sheldon, Finance; Mrs. +Hardy, Publicity; Mrs. Edna M. Barkley, Speakers; Mrs. A. H. Dorris, +Press.</p> + +<p>Headquarters were opened Jan. 3, 1913, in the Brandeis Theater +Building, Omaha, and maintained through the winter of 1912-13. Mrs. +Draper Smith had at once assumed her duties as president and appointed +Mrs. W. C. Sunderland chairman for the second congressional district, +including Douglas, Sarpy and Washington counties. She had asked Mrs. +Lindsey to be chairman of Douglas county in which Omaha is situated, +who soon had ten precincts organized under capable chairmen, and a +little later every ward in Omaha and South Omaha. On February 8 Dr. +Shaw, the national president, arrived in Omaha for a conference with +the workers. On Sunday afternoon she addressed a mass meeting in the +Brandeis Theater at which there was not even standing room. John L. +Kennedy presided. The committee of arrangements included the Rev. +Frederick T. Rouse of the First Congregational Church; Judge Howard +Kennedy, Superintendent of City Schools; E. U. Graff, City Attorney; +John E. Rine, C. C. Belden and the officers of the suffrage +association. A resolution was before the Legislature to submit an +amendment to the voters but it was so evident that it would not be +passed that the work for the initiative petition went on rapidly. The +last of February thirty-six Omaha women and others from over the State +went to Lincoln to see the vote taken in the House. The proposal was +defeated, only one man from Douglas county voting for it.</p> + +<p>In the early spring the headquarters were moved to Lincoln and the +petition work for the State was managed from there,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">[Pg 374]</a></span> with the +exception of that of Omaha. Throughout the year the task was continued +of obtaining the signatures in the various counties, all done by +volunteers. It was necessary at the same time to create public +sentiment and organize clubs in preparation for the campaign for the +submission of the amendment which would follow. In Omaha Mrs. +Sunderland soon turned the district organization over to Mrs. James +Richardson and took the position of city chairman. Meetings were held +with prominent local speakers. On November 5 Chancellor Avery of the +State University spoke for woman suffrage before the State Teachers' +Association in the First Methodist Church. Two days later Dr. Shaw +addressed it in the auditorium. She spoke at noon before the +Commercial Club, a distinction given by it to a woman for the first +time. On Nov. 6, 7, the State convention was held in Lincoln and Mrs. +Clara Bewick Colby, formerly of Beatrice, was made honorary president.</p> + +<p>In January, 1914, a Men's Suffrage League was formed in Omaha with E. +H. Geneau, T. E. Brady, Henry Olerichs and James Richardson promoting +it. On February 2 a thorough canvass of the business part of the city +was begun by the women. Mrs. Lindsey thus described it:</p> + +<blockquote><p>With a blizzard raging and the thermometer at 5 degrees below +zero women stood in drug stores and groceries, and visited office +buildings, factories and shops, wherever permission could be +obtained, soliciting signatures for six consecutive days. Mrs. C. +S. Stebbins, nearly seventy years of age, stood at the street car +barns and filled several petitions and Mrs. Isaac Conner, a +suffrage worker since 1868, made a similar record. Mrs. W. P. +Harford and Mrs. George Tilden arranged to have people standing +at the church doors for names at the close of service on Sunday. +Many ministers offered their churches to the committee and spoke +of the matter from their pulpits. Of all the Protestant churches, +only the Episcopal refused the committee's request, Dean James A. +Tancock of Trinity Cathedral and the Rev. T. J. Mackay of All +Saints declining. Petitions were kept open at the <i>Daily News</i> +office and other offices and places of business. Fifteen of the +leading drug stores offered space to the women under the +direction of Mrs. E. S. Rood, and it was decided to continue the +intensive campaign until the 12th, when the county chairman had +called a meeting at the city hall to celebrate Lincoln's +birthday, to hear Medill McCormick of Chicago and to announce +results. A large crowd of petition workers, sympathizers and +members of the Men's League was present. While the goal for +Douglas<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">[Pg 375]</a></span> county was 5,000 signatures over 9,000 had passed +through the hands of the county chairmen on their way to the +Secretary of State.</p> + +<p>Three days later Mrs. J. W. Crumpacker of Kansas appeared in +Omaha to organize the opposition forces. The anti-suffragists, +led by Mrs. Arthur Crittenden Smith, announced a meeting at +Turpin's Hall on the afternoon of February 23. Mrs. Arthur M. +Dodge, president of the National Association Opposed to Woman +Suffrage, and Miss Minnie Bronson, secretary, both of New York, +addressed the meeting. Forty people were present, including five +reporters and a number of suffragists. Those who joined at that +meeting were Mesdames Edward P. Peck, William Archibald Smith, T. +J. Mackay, E. A. Benson and Misses Ada Alexander, Genevra March +and Minnie Martison. A temporary committee on organization was +appointed consisting of Mesdames Arthur C. Smith, J. C. Cowin, +Herman Kountze, J. W. Crumpacker, E. A. Benson; Misses Wallace, +Riley, Alexander and McGaffney.... The next evening a public +meeting was held at the American Theater, addressed by Mrs. Dodge +and Miss Bronson, who were introduced by John L. Webster.<a name="FNanchor_108_108" id="FNanchor_108_108"></a><a href="#Footnote_108_108" class="fnanchor">[108]</a></p></blockquote> + +<p>On March 11 the district chairman, Mrs. Richardson, and county +chairman, Mrs. Lindsey, with a group of workers, sorted, checked and +made into neat parcels the precious sheets of paper, which Mrs. Draper +Smith carried to Lincoln that afternoon. Possibly half a dozen men had +circulated petitions but the bulk of the 11,507 names were obtained in +Omaha by women. On March 14 the completed petition for submitting the +amendment was filed with the Secretary of State in the presence of the +Governor. Although only 37,752 signatures were required it had 50,705 +and these represented sixty-three counties instead of the required +thirty-eight. They were accepted without question and the amendment +was submitted to the voters at the general election, Nov. 4, 1914.</p> + +<p>From that time until the election strenuous and unceasing efforts were +made to secure votes for the amendment. Many prominent Nebraska men +and women spoke and worked for it and a number were brought into the +State. On July 6 was issued<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">[Pg 376]</a></span> in Omaha the famous Manifesto by the +Nebraska Men's Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage, a pamphlet of +nine pages, signed by thirty prominent men, all of Omaha.<a name="FNanchor_109_109" id="FNanchor_109_109"></a><a href="#Footnote_109_109" class="fnanchor">[109]</a> Early +in July Park Commissioner J. B. Hummel of Omaha refused to grant any +more permits for meetings in the parks and the suffragists arranged a +voiceless automobile parade through all of them when they were filled +with people, the cars decorated with banners and pennants carrying +suffrage sentiments. Later the commissioner spoke for the amendment. +On August 4 the first street meeting was held by "General" Rosalie +Jones of New York, who spoke from the steps of the county court house +at noon and on a corner in the evening. This was followed by street +meetings in an endless number of towns. County fairs and all possible +forms of publicity were utilized. An outstanding feature of the +campaign was the automobile tours, the plan of Mrs. F. M. Hall, +chairman of Lancaster county. They covered 20,000 miles and included +500 places containing one-half of the population. Several of the +longest were made and financed by J. L. Kennedy and James Richardson +of Omaha and W. E. Hardy of Lincoln.</p> + +<p>Miss Jane Addams came from Chicago and spoke several times in October. +William Jennings Bryan, who was making a political canvass of the +State, never failed to make an appeal for the amendment and on October +31 gave a rousing suffrage speech in Brandeis Theater, Omaha. Dr. Shaw +ended her tour of the State on the 30th, with an address in the +auditorium.</p> + +<p>The anti-suffragists were well financed and active. Their National +Association sent Miss Marjorie Dorman to Omaha the last of September, +who opened headquarters on the first floor of the City National Bank. +Mrs. A. J. George was sent in October. On November 2 there appeared in +the morning papers a double-column appeal to the Catholics to vote +against the amendment because back of it were the Socialists, +feminists, etc. It was signed by Mrs. L. F. Crofoot, wife of the Omaha +attorney for the Northern Pacific R. R.</p> + +<p>During the campaign a committee of business men was formed by the +brewing interests, which visited the husbands of various women engaged +in the effort for the amendment. They said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">[Pg 377]</a></span> "suffrage means +prohibition" and threatened the husbands in a business way unless +their wives retired from the work. This committee watched the papers +and when names of women were given as interested in suffrage, even to +the extent of attending a luncheon for some celebrity, the husbands +promptly were visited. Through this intimidation many women were +forced to withdraw and many men who would have subscribed generously +did not dare give more than $25, as the State law required the +publication of names of all contributing over this sum.</p> + +<p>Three days before election an "appeal" to its members was sent by the +German-American Alliance, a large and powerful organization. It was +written in German and began as follows:</p> + +<blockquote><p>We consider the proposed amendment to the constitution granting +the right of suffrage to women as the most important question +which will be decided at the coming election. Our State Alliance +took a most decided stand against woman suffrage at its annual +convention held in Columbus August 25. Our German women do not +want the right to vote, and since our opponents desire the right +of suffrage mainly for the purpose of saddling the yoke of +prohibition on our necks, we should oppose it with all our +might.... We most earnestly urge our friends of German speech and +German descent not to permit business or other considerations to +prevent them from going to the polls and casting their ballots as +above directed.</p></blockquote> + +<p>On November 4 the Omaha suffragists stood all day at the polls handing +slips to the voters calling attention to the amendment on the ballot. +The total State vote on it was 100,842 noes, 90,738 ayes; adverse +majority of 10,104. The result of the splendid campaign in Douglas +county, the stronghold of the opponents of all kinds, was seen in the +small adverse majority of 1,188. Throughout the campaign the Omaha +<i>Daily News</i> valiantly championed the amendment and the <i>Bee</i> and the +<i>World Herald</i> as strongly opposed it. The National American Suffrage +Association contributed $4,000 in cash, the services of two +organizers—Miss Jane Thompson and Miss Elsie Benedict—and paid the +travelling expenses of a number of national speakers.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>The State convention of 1914 was held in Omaha in December and it was +decided to organize more thoroughly and to seek the advice of the +National Association as to how and when to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378">[Pg 378]</a></span> try again. The board which +had served throughout the campaign was re-elected. When it had begun +there were not fifty clubs in the State; when it ended there were +nearly 500 and it was desired to hold them together as far as +possible. The opponents had insisted that women did not want the +ballot and it was arranged to have an enrollment under the direction +of Mrs. Wheeler. This was continued until the names of 30,000 women +had been enrolled as desiring the suffrage. The press work was +continued and the never-ending effort to educate the people.</p> + +<p>The convention of 1915 was held at Columbus in October, was well +attended, with a good program. Mrs. Edna M. Barkley was elected +president. In October, 1916, the convention was held at Hastings. Mrs. +William Jennings Bryan was guest of honor and gave the opening address +on Sunday evening in the Congregational church. Mrs. Catt, now +national president, was present and remained two days. The association +expected to appeal to the voters again in 1918 for full suffrage and +she thought it was in good condition to do so. Her inspiring presence +and her very able address given to a large evening audience made this +one of most notable conventions. Mrs. Barkley was re-elected +president.<a name="FNanchor_110_110" id="FNanchor_110_110"></a><a href="#Footnote_110_110" class="fnanchor">[110]</a></p> + +<p>In January, 1917, the National Association was beginning the "drive" +to obtain partial suffrage from the Legislatures and Nebraska was +urged to undertake it. The board agreed to concentrate on a bill which +would be constitutional and would permit women to vote for all +officers not specified in the State constitution and upon all +questions not referred to in it.</p> + +<p>The bill was introduced by Senator C. E. Sandell of York county and +Representative J. N. Norton of Polk county. Mrs. Barkley was chairman +of the Legislative Committee and no measure ever had more careful and +persistent "mothering" than she gave this one, watching over it for +months. The bill passed the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379">[Pg 379]</a></span> House the middle of February by the +magnificent vote of 73 to 24 in the presence of an audience of +applauding women that filled the galleries. In the Senate the bill +went to the Committee on Privileges and Elections, which granted a +hearing on February 15. After a luncheon with enthusiastic speeches +the entire body of 250 women, including 65 from Omaha, marched to the +State House, where even the aisles were already crowded with women. +Among the speakers were George W. Howard, the eminent professor of +history in the State University, and a number of prominent Nebraska +men and women. Six "antis" were present and their spokesman was Miss +Bronson of New York. The hearing lasted three hours. The bill was held +two months in the committee and finally was reported out and passed by +a vote of 20 to 13 on April 19. It was signed by Governor Keith +Neville on the 21st and gave women the suffrage for presidential +electors, all municipal and most county officers.<a name="FNanchor_111_111" id="FNanchor_111_111"></a><a href="#Footnote_111_111" class="fnanchor">[111]</a></p> + +<p>The opponents immediately started an initiative petition to have the +law submitted to the voters and on July 22 it was suspended in +operation by the filing of a petition for a referendum on it by the +Anti-Suffrage Association. Mrs. Barkley with others after inspection +concluded it was not a bona fide petition. Accordingly she summoned +her board to discuss taking the proper legal steps to prove that it +was fraudulent and invalid. There was no money in the treasury with +which to undertake expensive litigation and there were those who +thought it wiser not to attempt it. The courage and determination of +Mrs. Barkley were the deciding factor and it was the same brave and +persistent effort that finally won the long-drawn-out legal battle. A +full account was given by Mrs. Draper Smith in the <i>Woman Citizen</i> of +which the following is a part:</p> + +<blockquote><p>For the larger part of the session in 1917 the Senate had been +under great pressure from the public and the press to pass the +bone dry law that the House had almost unanimously adopted. +Nineteen members of the Senate belonged to the clique led by +representatives<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380">[Pg 380]</a></span> of the brewing interests. They fought for weeks +to secure the consent of the House to a bill that would have made +prohibition impossible of enforcement. Into this maelstrom the +limited suffrage law was plunged. Only the most careful +leadership secured its final passage....</p> + +<p>On the 21st of July the opponents caused to be filed with the +Secretary of State a petition asking that the law be referred to +the voters at the general election in 1918 for approval or +rejection. This petition contained the signatures of 32,896 +persons who claimed to be legal voters of the State and to live +at the places designated as their legal residence.... Tact and +patience were employed to get Secretary of State Pool to the +point where he permitted the suffragists to make a copy. Eighteen +thousand names bore the marks of an Omaha residence. The others +were apparently gathered from two-fifths of the counties and +presumptively represented 5 per cent. of the legal voters, as +required by law. Suspicion that fraud and deception had been +used, both in getting genuine signatures and in padding the +lists, early gave way to positive conviction. When the +investigation was complete it was found that 16,460 of the 32,896 +signatures were subject to court challenge and that at least +10,000 of them were the product of fraud, forgery and +misrepresentation. Prominent members of the bar volunteered their +services—T. J. Doyle, C. A. Sorenson, John M. Stewart and H. H. +Wilson of Lincoln, and Elmer E. Thomas and Francis A. Brogan of +Omaha. A petition to enjoin the Secretary of State from placing +the referendum on the election ballot was filed in February, +1918.</p> + +<p>The Omaha workers were under the leadership of Mrs. H. C. Sumney, +vice-president of the State association, and Mrs. James +Richardson. They discovered that many of the residence addresses +given were in railroad yards, cornfields or vacant lots. Many +others were of men who had never lived at the addresses given; +many affirmed that they had never signed any such petition; +others that they had been induced to sign by the representation +of the solicitor that it was to submit the question of full +suffrage. The work of running down each of the 18,000 names +consumed days of arduous labor. It was also found that page after +page of the names were written by the same hand. Experts in +handwriting from the various banks in Lincoln spent night after +night poring over the original petitions in the office of the +Secretary of State, picking out and listing the forgeries, which +were found to have been scattered all over the State.</p> + +<p>The request of the suffragists to the Secretary of State said +that the circulators had committed perjury in certifying that +these fictitious persons had affixed their names in their +presence; that many of the names written thereon were not placed +there, as the law required, in the presence of the circulator, +but that the petitions had been left in pool halls, soft drink +parlors, cigar stores and barber shops where everybody, including +minors, was invited to sign, the circulator later coming around +and gathering them up. It also said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381">[Pg 381]</a></span> that many of the signatures +were obtained by infants incapable at law of properly circulating +or certifying to the petition sheets and that a number of +circulators named had engaged in a systematic course of fraud and +forgery, thereby making invalid all of the names. Attached were +twenty pages of exhibits in proof of these charges.</p> + +<p>The evidence in Omaha was matched by that in fifty-nine other +counties taken by the referee and attorney.</p></blockquote> + +<p>The attorneys enjoined the Secretary of State from putting the +referendum on the ballot. Nineteen suffragists appeared as plaintiffs +in the case as follows: Edna M. Barkley, Gertrude L. Hardy, Katharine +Sumney, Ida Robbins, Grace Richardson, Margaretta Dietrich, Grace M. +Wheeler, Ella Brower, Ellen Ackerman, Henrietta Smith, Inez Philbrick, +Harriet M. Stewart, Mary Smith Hayward, Mamie Claflin, Margaret T. +Sheldon, Alice Howell, Ellen Gere, Eliza Ann Doyle, Katharine McGerr. +As the suit had been brought against the Secretary of State the +Attorney General appeared for him and was joined by the attorneys of +the women's Anti-Suffrage Association. They argued that the plaintiffs +were not legally entitled to sue because they were not electors. The +court upheld their right. The Secretary of State became convinced that +the petition was fraudulent and did not appear in the further +litigation. The suffrage forces were prepared with their evidence and +wished to proceed at once with the case but all the dilatory tactics +possible were used and it was not until the full legal time was about +to expire that the opponents were brought to the point on May 17, +1918. Mrs. Draper Smith's account continued:</p> + +<blockquote><p>Inspection of the original petition showed that of 116 petitions +secured by A. O. Barclay 68 were in the same handwriting.... The +name of one Omaha business man who had died three months previous +to the circulation of the petition was found; another who was +killed two months before, and another who had been dead for three +years. Witness after witness testified that his name on it was +forged.</p> + +<p>Several other circulators forged so many names we asked that all +their work be thrown out. The hearing developed that forty +ex-saloon keepers and bartenders had these petitions on the bars +in their soft drink places; 831 names were secured by Dick +Kennedy, a negro who could neither read nor write. He appeared in +court in jail clothes, being under indictment for peddling +"dope," and was unable to identify the petitions certified by +him. Ten boys, ranging in age from 8 to 15, were circulators. +Several men who could not read or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382">[Pg 382]</a></span> write testified that they +supposed their names were being taken for a census. Many thought +the petition was to "bring back beer." One man was told it was to +pave an alley. At one hearing interpreters had to be used for all +but two men. The treasurer of the Anti-Suffrage Association, Mrs. +C. C. George, whose name appears as witness to the signatures of +81 certificates on the back of Barclay's petitions, testified +that she did not remember him. On the back of each petition is a +certificate in which the circulator certifies that each man +signed in his presence and the signature must have two witnesses. +The soft drink men and others testified that although the name of +Mrs. George appeared as witness to their signatures they had +never seen her. She testified that the petitions went through the +hands of her association.</p> + +<p>The following question was asked of another "anti," wife of a +rector: "Had you known that co-workers with you were Dick +Kennedy, an illiterate negro; Abie Sirian; Gus Tylee, employee of +Tom Dennison and a detective of doubtful reputation; 40 soft +drink men; Jess Ross, colored porter for Dennison; Jack +Broomfield, a colored sporting man and for twenty years keeper of +the most notorious dive in Omaha, and many others of this +character, would you have worked with them and accepted the kind +of petition they would secure?" She replied: "It would have made +no difference to me. I was working for a cause and would not have +cared who else was working for the same."</p> + +<p>The testimony showed that the anti-suffrage association of Omaha, +under the leadership of Mrs. Crofoot, president, had at first +endeavored to employ to take charge of the work of circulating +the petitions the man who had conducted the publicity department +for the brewers in 1916.</p></blockquote> + +<p>The allegations of fraud were proved to the satisfaction of the +District Court. The opponents appealed from its decision, which was +confirmed by the Supreme Court in June, and the women entered into +possession of this large amount of suffrage. By order of the court the +anti-suffragists, together with the State, had to pay the costs of the +long legal battle which ended on January 25, 1919, in a glorious +victory for the suffragists. The costs were approximately $5,000.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> The State convention of 1917 was held in Omaha in +December and it was omitted in the fall of 1918 on account of the +influenza, and none was held until 1919. The Federal Amendment had +been submitted by Congress on June 4 and a Ratification Committee had +been appointed consisting of Mrs. Barkley, Mrs. Hardy and Mrs. Wheeler +to secure an early calling of a special session of the Legislature. +It<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383">[Pg 383]</a></span> was arranged for the State convention to meet in Lincoln at the +time Governor Samuel R. McKelvie had called this special session to +ratify the amendment. The convention <i>en masse</i> saw the ratification +of both Houses on August 2 by unanimous vote and had the joy of being +present when it was signed by the Governor, who had been a consistent +friend of the cause. The regular session had memorialized Congress by +joint resolution to submit the Federal Suffrage Amendment and +requested Senator Gilbert M. Hitchcock of Nebraska to vote for it. He +voted against it every time it became before the Senate. The other +Senator, George W. Norris, voted in favor each time and was always a +helpful friend of woman suffrage.</p> + +<p>The last State convention met in Omaha June 13-15, 1920, with 104 +delegates in attendance. With Mrs. Charles H. Dietrich, who had been +elected president the preceding year, in the chair, the association +was merged into the Nebraska League of Women Voters and Mrs. Dietrich +was made chairman.</p> + +<p>On Saturday, Aug. 28, 1920, at noon, whistles were sounded and bells +were rung for five minutes in Omaha and South Omaha to celebrate the +proclamation by the Secretary of State at Washington that the woman +suffrage amendment was now a part of the constitution of the United +States and the struggle was over.</p> + +<p>In December, 1919, there assembled in Lincoln a convention to rewrite +Nebraska's constitution, to be submitted to the electors Sept. 21, +1920. This convention put a clause in the new constitution giving full +suffrage to women. Using the power delegated to it by the Legislature +it provided that women should vote on the constitution and that the +suffrage amendment should go into effect as soon as the adoption of +the constitution was announced by the Governor. The rest of it was to +wait until Jan. 1, 1921. This was done in order that women might vote +at the general election in November, 1920. Before the constitution +went to the voters the Federal Amendment was proclaimed and women were +fully enfranchised. With women voting the constitution received 65,483 +ayes, 15,416 noes.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_107_107" id="Footnote_107_107"></a><a href="#FNanchor_107_107"><span class="label">[107]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Grace +M. Wheeler, historian of the State Woman Suffrage Association, and +Miss Mary H. Williams, member of the State Board from 1905.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_108_108" id="Footnote_108_108"></a><a href="#FNanchor_108_108"><span class="label">[108]</span></a> A State Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage was +formed, whose Executive Committee consisted of Mesdames Edward Porter +Peck, chairman; Henry W. Yates, John C. Cowin, J. W. Griffith, W. H. +Koenig, L. F. Crofoot, Gerrit Fort, John L. Webster, Helen Arion +Lewis, Arthur Crittenden Smith, T. J. Mackay, F. N. Conner; Miss Janet +M. Wallace, with Mrs. William Archibald Smith, secretary, and Mrs. +Frank J. Noel treasurer; Mrs. S. H. Burnham of Lincoln, Mrs. J. D. +Whitmore and Mrs. Fred W. Ashton of Grand Island, Mrs. A. D. Sears, +Mrs. Charles Dodge and Miss Maud May of Fremont, with Mrs. Crumpacker +as special representative of the National Association in the +headquarters at 536 Bee Building.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_109_109" id="Footnote_109_109"></a><a href="#FNanchor_109_109"><span class="label">[109]</span></a> This Manifesto will be found in the Appendix.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_110_110" id="Footnote_110_110"></a><a href="#FNanchor_110_110"><span class="label">[110]</span></a> Besides those mentioned the following served on the +official board: Miss Lincola S. Groat, Mrs. Alice I. Brayton, Mrs. +Stearns, Mrs. Myrtle W. Marble, Dr. Emma Warner Demaree, Mrs. Ida +Ensign, Mrs. Rosa Modlin, Mrs. F. B. Donisthorpe, Mrs. Mary P. Jay, +Mrs. Theresa J. Dunn, Mrs. Margaret J. Carns, Mrs. Julia N. Cox, Mrs. +Ada Shafer, Mrs. Frank Harrison, Mrs. E. L. Burke, Miss Ida Bobbins, +Mrs. M. Bruegger, Mrs. E. S. Rood, Mrs. Lydia Pope, Mrs. Jessie Dietz, +Mrs. J. H. Corrick, Mrs. Halleck F. Rose, Mrs. H. C. Sumney, Mrs. +Dietrich, Mrs. Ellen Ackerman, Mrs. Ella I. Brower, Miss May Gund, +Mrs. E. F. Bell, Miss Edith Tobitt, Mrs. Kate Chapin House.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_111_111" id="Footnote_111_111"></a><a href="#FNanchor_111_111"><span class="label">[111]</span></a> In March under the auspices of the National Association +suffrage schools were held in Omaha and Lincoln. The instructors were +Mrs. Nettie R. Shuler, chairman of organization, Mrs. Halsey W. +Wilson, its recording secretary, and Mrs. T. T. Cotnam and the +subjects taught were Suffrage History and Argument, Organization, +Publicity and Press, Money Raising and Parliamentary Law. Of the +nineteen schools held by the National Association in various States +none was larger. By request night schools were opened with a crowded +attendance at all sessions.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384">[Pg 384]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> + +<h3>NEVADA.<a name="FNanchor_112_112" id="FNanchor_112_112"></a><a href="#Footnote_112_112" class="fnanchor">[112]</a></h3> + + +<p>Towards the close of the last century, through the efforts of Miss +Susan B. Anthony and Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, president and +vice-president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, a +Nevada association had been formed with Mrs. Frances A. Williamson +president and later Mrs. Elda A. Orr was elected. Mrs. Mary A. Boyd +was an officer. It held three or four successful conventions and had +bills before the Legislature but no record exists of any activities +after 1899.</p> + +<p>In November, 1909, Mrs. Clarence Mackay, who had organized an Equal +Franchise Society in New York City, of which she was president, wrote +to Miss Jeanne Elizabeth Wier, professor of history in the University +of Nevada, asking if a branch society could not be organized in that +State. Later Professor Wier conferred with Mrs. Mackay in New York. In +the autumn of 1910 an agreement to assist in such an organization was +signed by a large number of prominent men and women in Reno and +finally in January, 1911, Professor Wier issued a call for a meeting +to be held in her home to form a society. Mrs. O. H. Mack, president +of the Federation of Women's Clubs, sent an invitation to each club to +be represented at this meeting. It was soon evident that it would be +too large for a private house and on January 24 a conference was held +in the law office of Counsellor C. R. Reeves to arrange for a Saturday +evening mass meeting. There were present Mr. Reeves, who was made +temporary chairman; Professor Wier, Mrs. Mack, Mrs. Henry +Stanislawsky, Professor Romanzo Adams, Judge William P. Seeds, +Assemblyman Alceus F. Price, J. A. Buchanan, Mrs. Frank Page, Mrs. +Frank R. Nicholas, who was made secretary, and J. Holman Buck, who was +elected permanent chairman. A telegram of greeting was read from Mrs. +Mackay.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_385" id="Page_385">[Pg 385]</a></span></p> + +<p>A general meeting for organization was held the evening of February 4 +in Odd Fellows' Hall, which was far too small for the audience. The +name State Equal Franchise Society was adopted. Mrs. Stanislawsky was +elected president; Colonel Reeves, Mr. Price, Mrs. Mack and Miss +Felice Cohn, vice-presidents; Mrs. Nicholas, Mrs. Grace E. Bridges and +Mrs. Alice Chism, recording and corresponding secretary and treasurer. +A membership of 177 was reported. The board of twenty-one directors +included most of those who have been named and in addition Dr. J. E. +Stubbs, president of the university; Mrs. A. B. McKinley, Dr. Morris +Pritchard, W. D. Trout, Mrs. Nettie P. Hershiser, Mrs. George +Armstrong, Mrs. Florence H. Church, Mrs. G. Taylor, Mrs. Frank +Stickney.<a name="FNanchor_113_113" id="FNanchor_113_113"></a><a href="#Footnote_113_113" class="fnanchor">[113]</a> Plans were made for a legislative lobby. A report of +the organization was sent to Mrs. Mackay, who consented that her name +should be used as honorary president but took no further interest in +it or in the amendment campaign which soon followed and made no +contribution.</p> + +<p>Between the above meetings Assemblymen Arnold and Byrne of Esmeralda +county had introduced a joint resolution on January 30 to submit to +the voters an amendment to the State constitution to give full +suffrage to women. It was referred to the Committee on Elections, +which on February 7 reported it unfavorably. Assemblyman J. A. Denton +of Lincoln county secured a hearing before the Committee of the Whole +on February 20 and a large lobby from the society was present. Mrs. +Stanislawsky and Miss Cohn addressed the committee, emphasizing the +fact that each of the political parties had declared in its State +platform for this referendum and all the women asked was to have the +question sent to the voters. The resolution was put on file but at the +bottom and every attempt to advance it failed but on March 6 it +appeared in regular order. Speaker pro tem. Booth wanted it +indefinitely postponed but was overruled. After numerous parliamentary +tactics it was at length passed by 31 ayes, 13 noes, four absent and +the Speaker not voting. The resolution was first read in the Senate on +March 7<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_386" id="Page_386">[Pg 386]</a></span> and referred to the Committee on Education. Three days later +it was reported without recommendation. It came before the Senate +March 13 and after considerable "fencing" it passed by 16 ayes, 2 +noes, one absent. Mrs. Stanislawsky, Mrs. Mack, Professor Wier, Mrs. +Chism, Miss Cohn and Mrs. Nicholas had worked strenuously in the two +Houses.</p> + +<p>The constitution requires that a resolution for an amendment must pass +two successive Legislatures and the new association saw the task +before it of getting the approval of another session in 1913. It +received national and international attention about this time through +a banner six feet high and four wide, presented by Mrs. Arthur Hodges +of New York, with the words, Nevada, Votes for Women, brought out in +sage brush green letters on a field of vivid orange. This was shipped +to New York and carried by Miss Anne Martin of Reno in a big parade in +that city and then taken to London and carried by her and Miss Vida +Milholland of New York at the head of the American group in the great +procession of the Social and Political Union.</p> + +<p>Headquarters were opened in the Cheney Building in Reno, Mrs. Hodges +assuming the rent, where visitors were made welcome and literature +given out. A series of lectures until November were arranged, the +first one in the Congregational church, where Mrs. Stanislawsky gave +an address to a crowded meeting. Later she moved to California and in +February, 1912, Mrs. Mack called a meeting and Miss Anne Martin was +unanimously elected president. Mrs. Bridges, Mrs. Chism and Mrs. Mack +were re-elected. The other members of the board chosen were: +Vice-presidents, Mrs. F. O. Norton, Mrs. J. E. Church, Mrs. Jennie +Logan, Mrs. Charles Gulling, Mrs. J. E. Bray, Miss B. M. Wilson; +recording secretary, Mrs. Burroughs Edsall. An active executive +committee was appointed and plans were made for a vigorous campaign. +Mrs. Hodges continued to pay the rent of headquarters and a +substantial bank account was built up by dues, subscriptions and +collections at meetings.</p> + +<p>Miss Martin attended the national suffrage convention at Philadelphia +in November, where she told of the need of funds to further the +campaign and secured many pledges and donations. Dr. Shaw, the +president, promised $1,000 from the association after<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_387" id="Page_387">[Pg 387]</a></span> the amendment +was submitted. Mrs. Oliver H. P. Belmont and Mrs. Joseph Fels had +become honorary presidents and the former gave $100; the latter made +her contribution of $500 later. The Massachusetts association, through +Mrs. Maud Wood Park, $100; the National Association, $100 in cash and +$100 in literature; the <i>Woman's Journal</i> $45. California and Arizona +gave funds and literature. A pamphlet entitled Woman Under Nevada +Laws, by Miss B. M. Wilson, an attorney, had been published in a +special edition of 20,000 and proved effective in rousing the women to +a sense of their rights and wrongs.</p> + +<p>The rapid organization had its effect on legislators and politicians. +The resolution for submitting an amendment was presented in both +Houses in 1913 and reported favorably by the Judiciary Committees. It +passed in the House on January 24 by 49 ayes, 3 noes, one absent; in +the Senate on January 30 by 19 ayes, 3 noes. On March 3 it was signed +by the Governor.</p> + +<p>The educational work was done through the press, the platform and +entertainments. Speakers of national note were secured, among them Dr. +Shaw, Mr. and Mrs. James Lees Laidlaw, and Mrs. Charlotte Perkins +Gilman, of New York; Dr. Charles F. Aked, of San Francisco; Miss Jane +Addams of Chicago, and Miss Mabel Vernon of Washington. The meetings +were attended by about three men to one woman. Mr. Laidlaw assisted in +organizing a Men's Suffrage League, among whose members were Supreme +Court Justice Frank Norcross, Dr. Stubbs, Superintendent of Public +Instruction John Edwards Bray, S. W. Belford, Charles Gulling, A. A. +Hibbard, Professor J. E. Church, Captain Applewhite, the Rev. Mr. +Adams, the Rev. Mr. Sheldon, George Taylor and John Wright.</p> + +<p>At the annual meeting Feb. 25, 1913, it was announced that there were +nearly 1,000 paid up members, with most of the counties organized and +many town societies. "Nevada, the black spot on the map! To make it +white, give women the suffrage," was the constant slogan. Miss Martin, +Mrs. Church, Mrs. Bray, Miss Wilson and Mrs. Bridges were re-elected. +Other members chosen were: Vice-presidents, Mrs. Hugh Brown, Mrs. +Alexander Orr, Mrs. George West, Mrs. Lyman D. Clark, Jr., Mrs. E. E. +Caine, Mrs. Harry Warren; recording<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_388" id="Page_388">[Pg 388]</a></span> secretary, Mrs. J. B. Menardi; +treasurer, Mrs. Mabel Redman; auditors, Mrs. P. B. Kennedy, Mrs. W. T. +Jenkins.</p> + +<p>In the little span of days that lay between the election of the State +Executive Committee in 1912 and the legislative session of 1913 the +sixteen counties were organized, each under a chairman. Mrs. M. S. +Bonnifield as chairman of Humboldt county, with her helpers, Mrs. A. +W. Card, Mrs. Mark Walser of Lovelock and Dr. Nellie Hascall of +Fallon, led their branches into the mining fields. It is not easy to +realize the difficulties under which these women labored. Mrs. H. C. +Taylor, chairman of Churchill county, had to drive many miles from her +ranch to attend every meeting. Some of the chairmen were Mrs. A. J. +McCarty, Mineral county; Mrs. Rudolph Zadow, Eureka; Mrs. Sadie D. +Hurst, Washoe; Mrs. Bray, Ormsby; Mrs. F. P. Langdon, Storey; Mrs. +Caine, Elko; Mrs. Minnie Comins MacDonald, White Pine.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Church, Miss Mary Henry, Mrs. Hurst, Mrs. Belford, and Mrs. Maud +Gassoway were an active force in organizing societies at Sparks, Verdi +and Wadsworth in Washoe county, the largest in the State. Mrs. W. H. +Bray organized study classes in Sparks and gave prizes for the best +suffrage essays. Mrs. Hurst addressed large street crowds in Reno +every Saturday night. An important feature of the campaign was the +complete circularization of the voters with suffrage literature by the +county organizations and from State headquarters by Mrs. Bessie +Eichelberger, State treasurer for two years, assisted by Miss +Alexandrine La Tourette of the State University; Mrs. Belford, Mrs. P. +L. Flannigan, Mrs. Alf. Doten, Miss Minnie Flannigan, Mrs. Charles E. +Bosnell and Mrs. John Franzman. Mrs. Hood, the second vice-president, +and chairman of civics in the State Federation of Women's Clubs, was +the leading factor in getting its endorsement at its meeting in Reno, +Oct. 30, 1913.</p> + +<p>Nevada's population of only 80,000 is scattered over an area of +110,000 square miles, a territory larger than the whole of New +England. Of these, 40,000 are men over twenty-one years of age, of +whom only 20,000 remained in the State long enough to vote at the last +general election—an average of one voter to every five square miles. +Nevada has the smallest urban and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_389" id="Page_389">[Pg 389]</a></span> the most scattered rural population +in the United States. Reaching and winning this vote was done mostly +by press work and literature. The new voters on the registration lists +were circularized. The personal contact with the voter was +accomplished by street meetings in the cities and towns; in the rural +communities by train, automobile, stage and even on horseback.</p> + +<p>All the political parties but the Republican endorsed the amendment in +their platforms and it was supported by labor unions representing +6,000 members. Prestige and assistance were given by an Advisory Board +consisting of U. S. Senators Francis G. Newlands and Key Pittman, +Congressman E. E. Roberts, Governor Tasker H. Oddie, Lieutenant +Governor Gilbert C. Ross, President Stubbs, Bishop Robinson and many +professional and business men. There was fierce opposition from some +newspapers, including the Reno <i>Evening Gazette</i>, the leading +Republican paper of the State, but active support from the <i>State +Journal</i>, owned and edited by George Darius Kilborn, formerly of New +York, who was always in favor of woman suffrage. The <i>Western Nevada +Miner</i>, owned and edited by J. Holman Buck, gave much assistance in +that part of the State.</p> + +<p>In canvassing and speaking tours over the State Miss Martin travelled +over 3,000 miles and talked personally to nearly every one of the +20,000 voters. There are 240 election precincts and over 180 were +organized with a woman leader. On Nov. 3, 1914, every county was +carried for the amendment but four, each of these a county with one of +the largest and oldest towns in the State. The vote in Washoe county +was 1,449 for, 2,047 against; in Reno, the county seat, 938 for, 1,587 +against. Ormsby county with Carson City gave an adverse majority of +only 141; Storey county with Virginia City of only 31. The total vote +was 10,936 ayes, 7,257 noes—the amendment carried by 3,679. The cost +of the whole three years' campaign was only a little more than $7,000.</p> + +<p>At the annual meeting of the Washoe county Equal Franchise Society +after the election it was evident that, having won suffrage, women +recognized their new and enlarged responsibilities and were anxious to +do something for the public welfare and their own development. A mass +meeting was held in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_390" id="Page_390">[Pg 390]</a></span> Y. W. C. A. building and the Woman Citizens' +Club was organized with a charter membership of 80. Mrs. Hurst was +elected president. Other officers were: Vice-presidents, Mrs. Belford, +Mrs. C. H. Burke, Mrs. Hood; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Mack; +recording secretary, Mrs. Bessie Mouffe; financial secretary, Mrs. +Harold Duncan; treasurer, Mrs. Eichelberger; auditor, Mrs. Katherine +Flett; librarian, Mrs. F. C. MacDiarmid. This club succeeded in +getting a year as a required residence for those from other States +seeking divorce and later another Legislature proposed to repeal it +and restore the six months. Mrs. George F. Nixon, wife of the former +U. S. Senator, was made legislative chairman and headed the women of +Reno who went almost <i>en masse</i> to Carson City to protest but the +pressure on the other side was too strong and the old law was +restored.</p> + +<p>In August, 1918, The Woman Citizens' Club endorsed Mrs. Sadie D. Hurst +of Reno for the Assembly, in recognition of what she had done for +suffrage and for the club. She won at the primaries and also at the +polls in November and was the first woman member. The submission of +the Federal Woman Suffrage Amendment to the Legislatures by Congress +seemed near and at the request of Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, the +national president, a Ratification Committee was formed in December. +Helen T. (Mrs. S. W.) Belford was acting chairman with Mesdames +Walser, Hood, McKenzie, Mack, Church, Boyd, Bray, Franzman, Fannie B. +Patrick and Emma Vanderlith members. At the request of this committee +a resolution was presented to the Legislature by Mrs. Hurst on Jan. +22, 1919, asking this body to memorialize Congress in favor of the +amendment. It passed the Assembly January 23 with but one dissenting +vote; the Senate January 29 unanimously and the Nevada U. S. Senators +were requested to present and actively support it.</p> + +<p>In March the committee elected Mrs. Patrick delegate to the national +suffrage convention in St. Louis and in April it met to hear her +report and details of the proposed League of Women Voters. The +following July a meeting was held to listen to Mrs. Minnie S. +Cunningham of Texas and Mrs. Ben Hooper of Wisconsin, who were touring +certain States under the auspices<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_391" id="Page_391">[Pg 391]</a></span> of the National Association, to +consult the Governors on the question of special sessions for the +ratification of the Federal Amendment, which had been submitted in +June. Mrs. Patrick and Mrs. Belford accompanied them to Carson City +and had an interview with Governor Emmet D. Boyle. In September the +committee considered the offer of a conference of officers and +chairmen of the National League of Women Voters to be held in Reno. It +was arranged for November 20-21, with Mrs. McKenzie chairman of +program, Mrs. Walser of finance, Mrs. Hurst of halls and Mrs. Belford +of publicity.</p> + +<p>The conference met in the Century Club House. Mrs Catt, Miss Jessie R. +Haver, Dr. Valeria H. Parker, Mrs. Jean Nelson Penfield and Miss +Marjorie Shuler, national chairman of publicity, were the guests of +honor. A luncheon at the Riverside Hotel was attended by about 70 men +and women. An evening meeting was held in the Rialto Theater with Mrs. +Patrick presiding. Governor Boyle introduced Mrs. Catt, who gave a +rousing speech, Wake up America, and the others were heard at this and +other times on the various departments of the league's work. At the +last session a State League of Women Voters was organized and later +Mrs. Belford was elected chairman.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> Governor Boyle issued a call for the Legislature to meet +in special session Feb. 7, 1920, for the express purpose of acting on +the Federal Amendment, and in his Message when it convened he said: +"While no certainty exists that the favorable action of Nevada will in +1920 assure to the women of the United States the same voting +privileges which our own women enjoy by virtue of our State law, it +does appear certain that without our favorable action national +suffrage may be delayed for such a time as to withhold the right to +vote in a presidential election from millions of the women of +America."</p> + +<p>To Mrs. Hurst, the one woman member, was given the honor of +introducing the resolution to ratify in the House. On her motion the +rules were suspended, the resolution was read the second time by title +and referred to the Committee on Federal Relations. A recess of ten +minutes was taken and when the Assembly reconvened a message from the +Senate was received stating that the resolution had passed +unanimously. The House<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_392" id="Page_392">[Pg 392]</a></span> committee recommended it and Mrs. Hurst moved +that it be placed on third reading and final passage. After this had +been done she thanked the Assembly for the honor accorded her and +closed a brief but eloquent speech by saying: "There is no necessity +of asking you to ratify, for I am proud of the men of the West and of +Nevada." As the vote was about to be taken W. O. Ferguson of Eureka +county announced that he would vote against the ratification; that he +was opposed to having the people of this State telling the women of +the Union whether or not they should vote and that he came to Carson +City especially to vote against the resolution. At this stage Speaker +Fitzgerald stated that twenty-seven Legislatures had already ratified +the amendment but so far as he was aware no woman had presided over +one taking such action and he had great pleasure in being able to +request Mrs. Hurst to take charge of proceedings during roll call. +Twenty-five members answered in favor of ratification, and one, Mr. +Ferguson, against it.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hurst declared the resolution carried. At the suggestion of +Assemblyman Sanai an opportunity was given to the women to address the +legislators. Those speaking were Mrs. Patrick, chairman, and Mrs. +Belford, secretary of the Ratification Committee; Mrs. Church, +president of the State Federation of Women's Clubs, and Mrs. +Eichelberger, chairman of its suffrage committee; Mrs. Hood, regent of +the State University; Mrs. Maud Edwards, president of the W. C. T. U., +and Mrs. L. D. Gassoway. All expressed their appreciation of the +special session, to which most of the members had paid their own +expenses. Governor and Mrs. Boyle invited the legislators and the +Ratification Committee to the Mansion for luncheon. And thus was +closed the Nevada chapter on woman suffrage.</p> + + +<h3>A STORY OF THE NEVADA SUFFRAGE CAMPAIGN.<a name="FNanchor_114_114" id="FNanchor_114_114"></a><a href="#Footnote_114_114" class="fnanchor">[114]</a></h3> + +<p>In February, 1912, Miss Anne Martin of Reno, who had spent the years +1909-11 in England, during which she worked for suffrage under Mrs. +Pankhurst, was elected president of the State Equal Franchise Society. +Miss Martin, a native of Nevada,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_393" id="Page_393">[Pg 393]</a></span> was a graduate of the State +University; had the degrees of A.B. and A.M. from Leland Stanford +University and had been professor of history in the former. She had +studied abroad and travelled widely but her whole interest had now +centered in woman suffrage. Miss B. M. Wilson of Goldfield was elected +vice-president and Mrs. Grace Bridges of Reno, secretary. Mrs. +Stanislawsky had removed to California and the organization, with the +long wait between Legislatures and no definite work, had but a small +membership, no county organizations and no funds. It was obvious to +Miss Martin and her associates that, judging by the experience of +other States, the legislative vote of 1911 must be regarded as merely +complimentary and the real battle must be fought in 1913. Miss Martin +therefore began the campaign by organizing the State in 1912. She paid +her own expenses on speaking trips to every county for this purpose, +also on journeys to California, to the Mississippi Valley Suffrage +Conference at St. Louis in April and to the National Suffrage +Convention in Philadelphia in November. Here she enlisted the interest +and financial support of national and State leaders and an advisory +board of influential women outside of Nevada was formed.</p> + +<p>In February, 1913, her report made to the State suffrage convention in +Reno showed that the Equal Franchise Society had been developed in one +year into a State-wide body, with practically every county organized +and a large number of auxiliary town societies, and with nearly one +thousand paid-up members. There was a bank balance of several hundred +dollars, from collections at meetings, monthly pledges of members and +gifts from Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, Mrs. Joseph Fels, Mrs. Oliver H. P. +Belmont, Miss Alice Stone Blackwell, Mrs. George Day (Conn.), and +Connecticut and Massachusetts suffrage associations and other eastern +supporters, and from suffrage leagues of California, Oregon, Arizona +and Colorado. Reports also showed that a press bureau had been +organized at State headquarters (principally Miss Martin and Mrs. +Bridges) by which Nevada's forty-five newspapers, chiefly rural +weeklies, were supplied regularly with a special suffrage news +service; that every editor, all public libraries and railroad men's +reading rooms, more than<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_394" id="Page_394">[Pg 394]</a></span> one hundred school districts and three +hundred leading men and women throughout the State received the +<i>Woman's Journal</i> (Boston) every week, which always contained Nevada +suffrage news; that every voter on the county registration lists had +been circularized with suffrage literature.</p> + +<p>An advisory council of the State's most prominent men had been formed. +Every legislative candidate had been asked to vote for the suffrage +amendment, if elected, and, as a result of the favorable public +opinion created by the new State organization, more than the necessary +number had pledged themselves in writing, so the day after the +election in November it was known that there was a safe majority in +the coming Legislature if all pledges were kept. The Legislative +Committee of the Equal Franchise Society was on duty and within the +first two weeks of the session, in January, 1913, the amendment was +passed by both Houses and approved by Governor Oddie.</p> + +<p>The problem before the State convention at Reno in February was how to +educate the voters and overcome the active opposition of the liquor +and other vested interests, which were determined to continue Nevada +"wide-open" by "keeping out the women." The convention re-elected Miss +Martin and left in her hands the supervision of building up a majority +for the amendment at the election in November, 1914. During 1913 she +had kept the State organization actively at work by trips through the +northern and southern counties and by securing the help of suffrage +speakers from other States. Miss Wilson, the vice-president and also +president of the Esmeralda County League, with headquarters at +Goldfield, was in general charge of the southern counties, which had a +very large miners' vote. In November Miss Martin had gone as delegate +to the National Woman Suffrage Convention in Washington, and there, in +addition to promises of an organizer and money from Dr. Shaw, the +national president, she secured from Miss Alice Paul, chairman of the +Congressional Union, the services of Miss Mabel Vernon, perhaps its +most capable organizer. She also obtained pledges of $1,000 from +Senator Newlands; $1,000 from Mrs. Quincy A. Shaw of Boston through +Mrs. Maud Wood Park; $1,000 from the National American Woman Suffrage +Association;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_395" id="Page_395">[Pg 395]</a></span> $500 from Mrs. Fels, $300 from Miss Eileen Canfield; +also $250 from Mrs. W. O'H. Martin of Reno and many smaller sums from +individuals and organizations.</p> + +<p>With the assurance of an adequate fund, amounting to over $7,000 in +all, the final "drive" for suffrage for Nevada women was begun after +the State convention. Miss Vernon arrived, as promised, in April and +at once made a trip around the State to strengthen the county and +local organizations. At State headquarters in Reno Miss Martin kept in +touch with the work in every section of the State, wrote suffrage +leaflets and planned the final campaign. Its concrete object was to +secure the endorsement of labor unions, women's clubs and political +parties; to rouse as many women as possible to active work and to have +at least one in charge of every voting precinct; to reach every voter +in the State with literature and by a personal message through a +house-to-house canvass, and to appeal to both men and women everywhere +through press work and public meetings addressed by the best speakers +in the country.</p> + +<p>The 20,000 voters were scattered over the enormous area of 110,000 +square miles. There was only one large town, Reno, with about 15,000 +inhabitants, and three or four others with a population of a few +thousands each; the rest of the people lived far apart in families or +small groups, in mining camps on distant mountains and on remote +ranches in the valleys. Nothing could prevent a heavy adverse vote in +Reno and other towns where the saloons, with their annexes of gambling +rooms, dance halls and "big business" generally, were powerful, so +everything depended on reducing their unfavorable majority by building +up the largest possible majorities in the mining camps and rural +districts. "Every vote counts" was the slogan.</p> + +<p>In July, 1914, Miss Martin and Miss Vernon started out on their final +canvass of the State, "prospecting for votes" in the mines, going +underground in the vast mountains by tunnel, ladder or in buckets +lowered by windlass to talk to the miners who were "on shift" and +could not attend the street or hall meetings. To reach less than 100 +voters at Austin, the county seat of Lauder county, required a two +days' journey over the desert, and many places were a several days' +trip away from a railroad.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_396" id="Page_396">[Pg 396]</a></span> By automobile, wagon, on horseback, +climbing up to mining camps on foot, the canvassers went; making a +house-to-house canvass of ranches many miles apart; travelling 150 +miles over the desert all day to speak to the "camp," which was always +assembled on the street in front of the largest and best lighted +saloon, on their arrival at dusk. Many were the courtesies they +received from shirt-sleeved miners and cowboys. They were also greatly +assisted by the suffrage association's local chairmen, who would +hastily secure substitutes to cook for their "hay crews" and drive +miles to arrange meetings. They always tried to reach a settlement or +hospitable ranch house for the night. Where this was not possible they +slept on blankets in hayfields or on the ground in the heart of the +desert itself. The trip covered 3,000 miles.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile at State headquarters in Reno leaflets that had been +carefully written as appeals to "give Nevada women a square deal" were +addressed to voters' lists as they registered for the approaching +election, under the direction of the society's treasurer, Mrs. Bessie +Eichelberger.</p> + +<p>A State labor conference representing 6,000 members endorsed the +amendment and every labor union that took a vote on it. The official +endorsements of the Democratic, Progressive and Socialist parties were +obtained. Individual Republicans supported it but the party refused +its approval and the leading Republican newspaper, the Reno <i>Evening +Gazette</i>, under the orders of George Wingfield, multi-millionaire, +with other newspapers he controlled, bitterly fought the amendment to +the last. Only one or two newspapers, notably the <i>Nevada State +Journal</i>, actively supported it but many published campaign news. Reno +papers contained over 200 columns of suffrage matter. Fremont Older, +editor of the San Francisco <i>Bulletin</i>, gave to State headquarters the +valuable services and paid the expenses of Miss Bessie Beatty, a +member of its staff, to direct the State-wide press campaign of news +and advertisements planned for September and October. With the +assistance of President Stubbs and in spite of the opposition of +Regent Charles B. Henderson, a College Equal Suffrage League was +formed at the State University, under the leadership of Miss Clara +Smith, and a suffrage<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_397" id="Page_397">[Pg 397]</a></span> essay contest was promoted in the schools of +the State. Through Judge William P. Seeds' and Miss Martin's efforts a +Men's Suffrage League was formed, to counteract the so-called Business +Men's League, organized to fight the amendment.</p> + +<p>A state-wide Anti-Suffrage Society was organized during the last +months, led by Mrs. Jewett Adams and Mrs. Paris Ellis of Carson, Mrs. +Frank M. Lee of Reno and Mrs. John Henderson of Elko. Miss Minnie +Bronson of New York and Mrs. J. D. Oliphant of New Jersey, sent by the +National Anti-Suffrage Association, toured the State under their +auspices. In contrast with the hardships of travel to remote places +endured by the loyal workers for suffrage and the economic problems +always to be solved, the speakers for the "antis" only visited the +large towns, were provided with every obtainable luxury and the +meetings well advertised and arranged.</p> + +<p>The organizer promised by the National Suffrage Association, Mrs. +Laura Gregg Cannon, arrived in September and was sent at once to +organize more thoroughly the southern counties, as success depended on +an overwhelming vote from the miners and ranchers there. Miss Margaret +A. Foley of Boston also came, as arranged by Miss Martin, for constant +speaking through the northern and southern counties during the last +two months. Miss Jane Addams gave a priceless four days to a whirlwind +tour. The Overland Limited was stopped for her to speak at Elko and +Winnemucca. She ended her trip at Reno, where she addressed an +overflow mass meeting at the Majestic Theater just two weeks before +election day. A large public dinner was given in her honor at the +Riverside Hotel by the State Franchise Society. Dr. Shaw, tireless +crusader and incomparable speaker, travelled swiftly through the State +by train and automobile during the eight days she gave in October, +which were filled with receptions and crowded meetings. Mrs. Martin +gave a reception in her home in Reno, whose hospitality was extended +throughout the campaign to those who came from outside the State to +help it. Dr. Shaw's strenuous itinerary included meetings at Battle +Mountain, Winnemucca, Lovelocks, Reno, Washoe, Carson City, Virginia +City, Tonopah, Goldfield, Las Vegas and Caliente. She made many +hundreds of votes for the amendment.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_398" id="Page_398">[Pg 398]</a></span></p> + +<p>Other notable outside speakers and workers, whose interest was aroused +by Miss Martin and who gave their services during the nearly three +years' sustained effort, were Miss Annie Kenney of London, Mr. and +Mrs. James Lees Laidlaw, Miss Ida Craft and "General" Rosalie Jones of +New York; Mrs. Antoinette Funk of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. William Kent, +Dr. Charles F. Aked, J. Stitt Wilson, Miss Gail Laughlin, Dr. Mary +Sperry, Mrs. Sara Bard Field, Miss Maud Younger, Miss Charlotte Anita +Whitney, Mrs. Alice Park, Mrs. Eleanor Stewart, Mrs. Mary Ringrose of +California. The last named did valuable work among the Catholics. Miss +Mary Bulkley and Mrs. Alice Day Jackson, a granddaughter of Isabella +Beecher Hooker, whom Miss Martin had interested on her visit to +Connecticut, came at their own expense and for three weeks canvassed +Reno, Carson City, Virginia City and other places. Miss Vernon's work +in organization and her many strong speeches on the streets of Reno +and in meetings throughout the State were an important factor in +winning votes. While many splendid Nevada women worked with enthusiasm +and great efficiency in every county, yet without Miss Martin's +leadership in organizing them and direction of the campaign during the +years 1912-13-14, and without the money she gave and raised, woman +suffrage in Nevada would probably have been delayed for several years. +She personally contributed in her travelling expenses and other ways +over $2,000. Aside from this sum the entire three years' campaign was +made at a cost of $7,000.</p> + +<p>Out of the 240 precincts in the State every one that had ten votes in +it was canvassed and open air or hall meetings held before election. +More than 180 were organized, each with a woman leader, who, with her +committee, "picketed the polls" every hour during election day, +handing out the final appeal to give women a square deal by voting for +the amendment. The suffrage map showing Nevada as the last "black +spot" in the West was printed in every newspaper and on every leaflet, +put up in public places and on large banners hung in the streets.</p> + +<p>The amendment received the largest proportionate vote for woman +suffrage on record. Reno and Washoe county, as had been anticipated, +went against it by a majority that was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_399" id="Page_399">[Pg 399]</a></span> brought down to 600. Of the +remaining fifteen counties, three others, the oldest in the +State—Ormsby, Storey and Eureka—also defeated the amendment, but the +favorable majorities of the other northern counties and the staunch +support of the miners in the south won the victory. Esmeralda, a +mining county and one of the largest in population, gave a majority +for the amendment in every precinct. Out of 18,193 votes cast on it, +it had a majority in favor of 3,679, and Nevada gave its leverage on +Congress for the Federal Amendment.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>At the annual convention of the State Equal Franchise Society in Reno +in February, 1915, the Nevada Woman's Civic League was formed as its +successor. It continued an affiliated member of the National American +Woman Suffrage Association, pledged to support the Federal Amendment. +Its object was to meet a general demand of the newly enfranchised +women for information about the wise use of the ballot.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_112_112" id="Footnote_112_112"></a><a href="#FNanchor_112_112"><span class="label">[112]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. O. H. +Mack, vice-president of the State Equal Franchise Society.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_113_113" id="Footnote_113_113"></a><a href="#FNanchor_113_113"><span class="label">[113]</span></a> Charter members besides those already mentioned were +Mrs. J. E. Stubbs, J. D. Layman, C. A. Jacobson, Mrs. Jennie Blanche +Taylor, Mrs. Julia F. Bender, J. E. Church, Miss Laura de Laguna, +Grant Miller, Miss Kate Bardenwerper, Mrs. W. H. Hood, Mrs. Orr, Mrs. +Boyd, Mrs. George McKenzie, Mrs. May Gill.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_114_114" id="Footnote_114_114"></a><a href="#FNanchor_114_114"><span class="label">[114]</span></a> The History is indebted for this sketch to Miss B. M. +Wilson, vice-president of the State Equal Franchise Society during the +campaign, 1912-1914.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_400" id="Page_400">[Pg 400]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2> + +<h3>NEW HAMPSHIRE.<a name="FNanchor_115_115" id="FNanchor_115_115"></a><a href="#Footnote_115_115" class="fnanchor">[115]</a></h3> + + +<p>There has been a woman suffrage association in New Hampshire since +1868 with some of the State's most eminent men and women among its +members. In 1900 it took on new life when the New England Association, +with headquarters in Boston, sent Mrs. Susan S. Fessenden to speak and +organize. In 1901 Miss Mary N. Chase of Andover spent a month forming +societies and a conference was held at Manchester in December, +addressed by Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, president of the National +American Woman Suffrage Association, and Henry B. and Miss Alice Stone +Blackwell, editors of the <i>Woman's Journal</i>.</p> + +<p>In 1902 the National Board engaged Miss Chase as organizer for a +month. A State Suffrage Association was formed with seven auxiliary +clubs and the following officers were elected: President, Miss Chase, +honorary president, Mrs. Armenia S. White, Concord; honorary +vice-presidents, ex-U. S. Senator Henry W. Blair, U. S. Senator Jacob +H. Gallinger; vice-president, Miss Elizabeth S. Hunt, Manchester; +secretary, Miss Mary E. Quimby, Concord; treasurer, the Rev. Angelo +Hall, Andover; auditors, Miss Caroline R. Wendell, Dover; Sherman E. +Burroughs (afterwards member of Congress), Manchester.</p> + +<p>A convention met in Concord December 2 to revise the State +constitution and on the 4th Captain Arthur Thompson of Warner offered +an amendment which struck out the word "male" from the suffrage +clause. A hearing on it was granted on the 9th and Mrs. Catt and Mr. +and Miss Blackwell addressed the convention. After long discussion by +the delegates it was voted on the 11th, by 145 to 92 that this +amendment should be submitted to the voters with the revised +constitution in March, 1903. The State suffrage convention was held in +December at the time the hearing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_401" id="Page_401">[Pg 401]</a></span> took place. The officers of the +State association did a great deal of work before the constitutional +convention met to influence its action. Miss Chase spoke 103 times +before the local Granges, an important factor in State politics. Miss +Quimby circularized the delegates, prepared a leaflet of opinions from +prominent citizens and aided in securing a petition of 2,582.</p> + +<p>In January, 1903, Mrs. Catt came and took charge of the campaign, +remaining until the vote was taken in March. Others from outside who +gave their services without pay, speaking throughout the State, were +Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, vice-president of the National Association; Mrs. +J. Ellen Foster, Mrs. Harriot Stanton Blatch, Mrs. Mary D. Fiske, Mrs. +Priscilla D. Hackstaff, Mrs. Maud Wood Park and Mrs. Mary E. Craigie. +The National Association contributed $3,255 to the campaign and +various States sent generous donations. Among the New Hampshire +speakers were Captain Arthur Thompson, the Rev. Charles W. Casson +(Unitarian) of Milford; the Hon. Oliver E. Branch of Manchester; the +Hon. Clarence E. Carr of Andover. Miss Chase continued her work among +the Granges, addressing thirty-seven. Miss Quimby circularized 87,000 +voters. Mrs. White gave the headquarters in Concord. Seventy-five +ministers preached sermons in favor of the amendment.</p> + +<p>So much interest was aroused that the opponents wrote for Dr. Lyman +Abbott of New York to come to Concord. Among the signers of the letter +were former Governor Nahum Batchelder of Andover; Judge Edgar Aldrich +of the district court of Littleton; Winston Churchill of Cornish; +Irving W. Drew of Lancaster and George H. Moses of Concord.<a name="FNanchor_116_116" id="FNanchor_116_116"></a><a href="#Footnote_116_116" class="fnanchor">[116]</a> On +March 4 Representatives' Hall was packed to hear addresses against the +amendment by Miss Emily P. Bissell of Delaware; Mrs. A. J. George of +Brookline, Mass.; Judge David Cross of Manchester and Dr. Abbott. The +Concord <i>Monitor</i> of that date in a leading editorial said: "Through a +maudlin sense of false sentiment the constitutional convention sent +this question to the people ... and the people will deal with it as it +deserves." On March 5 came<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_402" id="Page_402">[Pg 402]</a></span> the speeches of the suffragists. +Representatives' Hall was even more crowded than before and scores +were turned away. The Hon. James O. Lyford of Concord presided and the +speakers were Mrs. Catt, Mr. Branch, one of the ablest lawyers in the +State, and Henry H. Metcalf of Concord, founder and editor of the +<i>Granite Monthly</i>. The amendment was submitted to the voters March 10 +with the constitution. The votes in favor were 14,162; against, +21,788, lost by 7,626.</p> + +<p>During the year the membership of the association more than doubled. +The annual meeting was held in the Unitarian Church, Milford, November +18, 19. In 1904 the National Association engaged Miss Chase to do +three months' organization work and the membership increased 137 per +cent. The annual meeting was held in the Christian Church at Franklin +November 14, 15, with addresses by the Rev. Nancy W. Paine Smith +(Universalist) of Newfields and other State speakers. On Oct. 30, 31, +1905, the State convention was held at Claremont with Dr. Shaw as the +principal speaker. The most important work of the year had been the +effort to secure a Municipal suffrage bill. Mrs. Mary I. Wood of +Portsmouth, president of the State Federation of Women's Clubs, had +been the chief speaker at the hearing.</p> + +<p>In 1906 the convention was held at Concord, October 30, 31, with +addresses by Dr. Shaw, Mrs. Wood, vice-president, and Mrs. Fannie J. +Fernald of Old Orchard, president of the Maine Suffrage Association. +Mrs. White, now 89 years old, gave reminiscences of the early days of +the suffrage movement. Among the clergymen taking part were the +Reverends Edwin W. Bishop (Congregationalist); John Vannevar, D.D. +(Universalist); Daniel C. Roberts, D.D. (Episcopalian); L. H. +Buckshorn (Unitarian); E. C. Strout (Methodist); John B. Wilson +(Baptist), all of Concord; and the Rev. Olive M. Kimball +(Universalist) of Marlboro.</p> + +<p>In 1907 the convention was held in Manchester October 25 with Dr. +Shaw, national president, as the inspiring speaker. The State +Federation of Labor had unanimously endorsed woman suffrage. On +January 2 at Washington, D. C., had occurred the death of Mrs. Henry +W. Blair of Plymouth and Manchester, whose husband, U. S. Senator +Henry W. Blair, had secured the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_403" id="Page_403">[Pg 403]</a></span> first vote in the Senate on the +Federal Suffrage Amendment. Both were lifelong friends of the cause.</p> + +<p>In 1908 prizes were offered in the State Granges for the best essays +in favor of Woman Suffrage and excellent ones were sent in. A lecture +bureau had been organized and eighteen men and women were speaking at +public meetings. On October 23 Mrs. Mary Hutchinson Page of Boston +addressed a meeting at the home of Agnes M. (Mrs. Barton P.) Jenks, +president of the Concord society. The State convention was held in +Portsmouth November 11, 12, where Dr. Shaw as usual made the principal +address and Miss Aina Johanssen, a visitor from Finland, gave an +interesting account of woman suffrage there.</p> + +<p>By 1909 there was considerable advance in favorable sentiment and +people of influence were seeing the justice of the cause. Governor +Henry B. Quinby and his wife gave their support. The Rev. Henry G. +Ives (Unitarian) of Andover and his wife were strong advocates. +Intensive work had been done in the 275 Granges, their State lecturer +sending out instructions to discuss woman suffrage at April meetings. +Fifty-four Grange essays were submitted for the prizes by the State +association. Resolutions in favor of woman suffrage were passed by the +State Woman's Christian Temperance Union and the Universalist State +Convention. The annual convention was held in Manchester November 11, +addressed by Mrs. Fernald and the Rev. Ida C. Hultin (Unitarian), +Sudbury, Mass.</p> + +<p>In February, 1910, Miss Ethel M. Arnold of England lectured for the +Concord society in the Parish House (Episcopalian). The annual meeting +was held in the Free Baptist Church at Franklin November 15, 16. Among +the speakers was the Rev. Florence Kollock Crooker (Universalist) of +Roslindale, Mass. Miss Chase had given addresses in thirty-one towns +and cities and organized nine new committees.</p> + +<p>In 1911 an attractive booth at the Rochester Agricultural fair, made +possible by Miss Martha S. Kimball of Portsmouth, drew crowds and +10,000 leaflets were distributed and hundreds of buttons and pennants +sold. The Free Baptist convention passed a resolution favoring +suffrage. Mrs. Jenks attended the congress of the International Woman +Suffrage Alliance at Stockholm,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_404" id="Page_404">[Pg 404]</a></span> Sweden, as delegate. At a meeting of +the Concord society where the special guest was the Woman's Club, +addresses were made by Judge Charles R. Corning, Mrs. Winston +Churchill and Mrs. Jenks. The noted English suffragist, Miss Sylvia +Pankhurst, spoke there on March 30. In 1912 the convention was held in +Portsmouth December 4, 5 in the chapel of the old North Congregational +Church. The Rev. Lucius Thayer, pastor since 1890, and his wife were +strong suffragists. Mrs. Maud Wood Park of Boston made the principal +address. Miss Chase after having held the presidency ten years +declined re-election and was succeeded by Miss Kimball, who was +re-elected for the next seven years.<a name="FNanchor_117_117" id="FNanchor_117_117"></a><a href="#Footnote_117_117" class="fnanchor">[117]</a></p> + +<p>In 1913 a brilliant suffrage banquet, the first of its kind, was given +at the Eagle Hotel, Concord, on February 28, attended by notables from +all parts of the State. Mrs. Wood was toast mistress. Among the +speakers were Governor Samuel D. Felker, Mrs. Josiah N. Woodward, +president of the State Federation of Women's Clubs, and William J. +Britton, Speaker of the House. On May 9 a debate was held in the +Woman's Club of Newport, between Miss Frances M. Abbott of Concord, +press agent of the State association, and Mrs. Albertus T. Dudley of +Exeter, president of the State Society Opposed to Woman Suffrage. The +large audience voted in favor of woman suffrage. The convention was +held at Concord, December 10, 11, with addresses by Mrs. Katherine +Houghton Hepburn, president of the Connecticut association; Witter +Bynner of Cornish, the poet and playwright, and Senator Helen Ring +Robinson of Colorado. Miss Kimball subscribed $600, the largest +individual contribution yet received. Mrs. Jenks gave a report of the +meeting of the International Suffrage Alliance at Budapest, which she +attended. This year the charters of Manchester and Nashua were changed +by the Legislature to give School suffrage to women.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_405" id="Page_405">[Pg 405]</a></span></p> + +<p>In 1914 the convention was held in the Y. M. C. A. Hall, Manchester, +November 11, 12, with able State speakers. Major Frank Knox, head of +the Manchester <i>Union</i>, always strong for suffrage, presided in the +evening. Ten county chairmen were appointed. The association +cooperated with that of Vermont in a booth at the State fair at White +River Junction.</p> + +<p>In 1915 State headquarters in charge of Miss Abbott were opened in +Concord and continued five months during the legislative session. +Public meetings were addressed by Mrs. Marion Booth Kelley and Mrs. +Park of Boston; Mrs. Antoinette Funk of Chicago, member of the +National Congressional Committee; Mrs. Deborah Knox Livingston of +Bangor and U. S. Senator Hollis of New Hampshire. Miss Jeannette +Rankin of Montana made a few addresses. A large illuminated "suffrage +map" was framed and put in the State House and other public places. +Quantities of suffrage literature were sent out, including 400 +suffrage valentines and tickets for the suffrage film Your Girl and +Mine to the legislators. At the 150th anniversary celebration of the +naming of Concord on June 8 an elaborate suffrage float and several +decorated motor cars filled with suffragists, two of college women in +caps and gowns, were in the procession. Many members marched in the +parade in Boston October 6. Through Miss Kimball's generosity Mrs. +Mary I. Post of California was sent for six months' work in the New +Jersey campaign. Later she took charge of headquarters in Manchester +and in Concord. The State convention was held at Nashua December 2, 3. +Among the speakers were Miss Zona Gale, the novelist; U. S. Senator +Moses E. Clapp of Minnesota, and John R. McLane, son of former +Governor McLane of New Hampshire.</p> + +<p>On May 7, 1916, Mrs. Armenia S. White passed away at the age of 98. To +her more than to any one person was the suffrage cause in New +Hampshire indebted. With her husband, Nathaniel White, she had been +from the first identified with the unpopular reforms, anti-slavery, +temperance and equal suffrage. More men and women of national +prominence had been entertained under their roof than in any other +home in the State. A successful conference was held in Manchester +February 28, addressed by Mrs. Catt, president again of the National<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_406" id="Page_406">[Pg 406]</a></span> +Association, and Mrs. Susan Walker Fitzgerald of Massachusetts. The +State convention was held at Concord November 9, 10, with Dr. Effie +McCollum Jones of Iowa as the chief speaker.</p> + +<p>In February, 1917, ten newspapers issued special suffrage editions +with plate matter furnished by the National Association and 3,000 +extra copies were mailed, besides thousands of suffrage speeches and +circulars. In March and April 371 Protestant, 81 Catholic and four +Jewish clergymen were circularized. The services of Mrs. Post were +given to Maine for two weeks' and to New York for six weeks' campaign +work. Money also was sent to the Maine campaign. The State convention +was held at Portsmouth, November 8, 9, with addresses by Mrs. Park, +Mrs. Post, Mrs. Wood, Congressman Burroughs and Huntley L. Spaulding +of Rochester, Government Food Administrator.</p> + +<p>In 1918 as chairmen of committees, the State officers were almost +submerged in war work, as were the other members of the association, +but although no State convention was held they did not cease their +suffrage duties. Mrs. Halsey W. Wilson, national recording secretary, +addressed a number of the leagues, urging them to keep alive their +interest and be ready for the next step, which would be the +ratification of the Federal Amendment. On August 17 occurred the death +of U. S. Senator Jacob H. Gallinger. A staunch friend of woman +suffrage for fifty years, much of the time vice-president of the State +association, it seemed the irony of fate that death intervened when +his vote and influence as Republican leader would have carried the +Federal Suffrage Amendment without delay. Senator Hollis and +Representatives Mason and Burroughs were in favor of it.</p> + +<p>Irving W. Drew of Lancaster, an avowed "anti," was appointed by +Governor Henry W. Keyes as Senator until the fall election. It was +said that he was urged to appoint an opponent by Senator Henry Cabot +Lodge when he came to Concord to deliver Senator Gallinger's funeral +address. The situation was tense at the November election. Senator +Hollis (Democrat) declined to stand for another term and Governor +Keyes (Republican) was elected in his place. The two candidates for +Senator Gallinger's unexpired term were George H. Moses (Republican) +and John B. Jameson (Democrat). Mr. Moses was known as an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_407" id="Page_407">[Pg 407]</a></span> +uncompromising opponent while Mr. Jameson was a sincere suffragist. +The prospects were good for Mr. Jameson's election when President +Wilson issued an appeal for the election of a Democratic Congress, +which had the effect of stiffening the Republican ranks and Mr. Moses +was elected by a small majority. After his election the National +Association sent a representative to interview him. He told her that +he was not interested in the question but that if the Legislature +should instruct him by resolution to vote for the Federal Amendment he +would do so. It would not sit for some time and therefore Mrs. Anna +Tillinghast of Boston, Miss Eva S. Potter and Mrs. Arthur L. Livermore +of New York were sent by the National Association, and in cooperation +with the State association, secured a petition from more than +two-thirds of the Legislature, which numbered 426 members, asking +Senator Moses to vote for the amendment. When it was presented he said +that he must insist on a resolution.</p> + +<p>When the Legislature convened in 1919 Senator Moses made a trip to +Concord, took a room in a hotel and made it his office, where he was +visited by members of the Legislature. It was current opinion that he +was using his influence against a resolution and the results bore out +the conclusion. The resolution was introduced in the House January 8 +by Robert M. Wright of Sanbornton and on the 9th in Committee of the +Whole it granted a hearing. The galleries were crowded with people +from all parts of the State and many women were invited to sit with +the legislators. The speakers urging the resolution were: Mrs. Catt, +Mrs. Wood, Mrs. Winfield L. Shaw of Manchester, also Miss Doris +Stevens representing the National Woman's Party. Those opposing it +were Mrs. Albertus T. Dudley of Exeter, president of the State +Anti-Suffrage Association; James R. Jackson of Littleton; Mrs. John +Balch of Milton, Mass., and Miss Charlotte Rowe of Yonkers, N. Y., +representing the National Anti-Suffrage Association. The resolution +was carried by 210 to 135 votes.</p> + +<p>It was now most important to win the Senate. The twenty-four members +were again interviewed by the suffragists and seventeen declared their +intention to vote for the resolution. On January 14 it was introduced +by Senator John J. Donahue of Manchester and six Senators voted for +it, fifteen against it!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_408" id="Page_408">[Pg 408]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was generally believed and freely charged that Senator Moses, +astounded at the vote in the House, had used all the influence he +possessed to prevent the Senate from concurring. It was publicly +stated that Senator Lodge and other Republican U. S. Senators urged +the members not to vote for the resolution. When the vote was to be +taken three men, Merrill Shurtleff of Lancaster, alleged to be the +personal representative of U. S. Senator John W. Weeks of +Massachusetts, and the best lobbyist in the State, assisted by Burns +P. Hodgman, clerk of the District Court, and John Brown of Governor +Bartlett's Council, appeared to confer with the legislators. At this +time U. S. Senators Dillingham of Vermont and Wadsworth of New York +published a letter in the papers of the State protesting against the +action of the Republican National Committee in favor of the Federal +Suffrage Amendment. Nothing was left undone to secure an adverse vote +in the New Hampshire Senate. Mrs. Catt issued to the press a detailed +record of each State Senator, showing that 11 of the 15 who voted +against the resolution had signed the petition to Senator Moses asking +him to vote for the Federal Amendment. The adverse vote stood 12 +Republicans, 3 Democrats; the Republican president of the Senate not +voting.</p> + +<p>Senator Moses returned to Washington and voted against the Federal +Suffrage Amendment every time it came before the Senate; in February, +1919, when it lacked only one vote, he disregarded an urgent appeal +from Theodore Roosevelt made a few days before his death.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>In March, 1919, the National Association sent one of its best +organizers, Miss Edna Wright, to interest the leagues in ratification +and the State Association retained her for the remainder of the year. +Invitations for a Citizenship School at Durham, July 8-12, were sent +out by the association and President Hetzel of the State College, the +first time in history that a State College had cooperated with women +in such an undertaking. The school was organized by Miss Wright and +presided over by Mrs. Wood, with the publicity and press conference in +charge of Miss Marjorie Shuler, sent by the National Association.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> The Federal Suffrage Amendment had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_409" id="Page_409">[Pg 409]</a></span> submitted by +Congress to the Legislatures in June and the vital question now was +ratification. A mass meeting was held in Manchester at which Governor +Bartlett announced that he was willing to call a special session to +ratify. Realizing from past experience that the association could have +little influence with it, the board appointed Huntley N. Spaulding, a +prominent citizen, chairman of a Men's Committee for Ratification, and +he called to his aid Dwight Hall, chairman of the State Republican +Committee, and Alexander Murchie, chairman of the State Democratic +Committee. The Governor can not call a session without the consent of +his Council, which consists of five men. It met on August 13 and the +Governor arranged to have a hearing for the women. Mrs. Olive Rand +Clarke, Mrs. Winfield Shaw of Manchester, Mrs. Charles Bancroft of +Concord and Mrs. Vida Chase Webb of Lisbon made short speeches. After +the hearing the Council voted to call a special session for September +9.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hall and Mr. Murchie immediately got in touch with the members of +the Legislature belonging to their respective parties. Under the +direction of Mr. Spaulding a remarkable publicity campaign was +inaugurated and the leading men of the State, many of whom had been +extremely opposed to woman suffrage, gave interviews in favor of +ratification. The Manchester <i>Union</i> devoted its front pages to these +interviews for three weeks. Marked copies were sent not only to +members of the Legislature but to the 750 committeemen of each of the +parties. James O. Lyford, dean of the Republicans, put his political +knowledge at the disposal of the committee. Miss Betsy Jewett Edwards +came from the National Woman's Republican Committee and did splendid +work among the Republicans, who made up a large majority of both +Houses. Miss Kimball, State president, gave devoted service and much +financial assistance. Miss Wright had entire charge of the office +work, publicity, organization, etc.</p> + +<p>The special session met on September 9 and the Governor sent a strong +message calling for ratification. The House voted on the opening day, +212 ayes to 143 noes. The real test was in the Senate, which on +September 10 gave forty minutes to outside speakers. Mrs. Mary I. Wood +spoke for the suffragists and Mrs. F. S. Streeter of Concord, Miss +Charlotte Rowe and two<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_410" id="Page_410">[Pg 410]</a></span> Senators for the opponents. The Senate +ratified by 14 to 10 and Governor Bartlett signed the bill without +delay.</p> + +<p>The last meeting of the State Association, its work accomplished, took +place in Manchester, November 21, 22, 1919. Mrs. Nettie Rogers Shuler, +national corresponding secretary, described the aims of the League of +Women Voters, and, after discussion, it was decided to merge the +association into a State League. Miss Kimball was elected chairman. +The National Association had contributed to New Hampshire during the +last year about $3,000.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action</span>: 1905. A bill for Municipal suffrage was introduced +in the House by William F. Whitcher of Haverhill, a hearing granted +and it was reported out of the Judiciary Committee by a vote of 7 to 2 +but got no farther.</p> + +<p>1907. The bill was introduced by Mr. Whitcher but the House Judiciary +Committee reported against it 8 to 7. An attempt to have the minority +report substituted was defeated February 20 by a vote for indefinite +postponement of 224 to 77.</p> + +<p>1909. The chairman of the Legislative Committee, Mrs. Barton P. Jenks, +conducted an energetic campaign for the bill and a hearing was held +before the Judiciary Committee, which reported 8 to 7 against it, and +in the House on the question of substituting the minority report the +vote was 86 ayes; 115 noes.</p> + +<p>1911. Bills for Municipal suffrage were introduced by Mr. Whitcher and +George S. Sibley of Manchester. The large committee room was crowded +for the hearing. The speakers were Mrs. Jenks, the Rev. John Vannevar, +Mrs. Wood and Miss Chase, the latter presenting a petition of 1,100 +names headed by Governor and Mrs. Quinby and Clarence E. Carr, recent +candidate for Governor. The committee reported the bill favorably but +on January 26 the House voted to postpone indefinitely by 160 to 121.</p> + +<p>1913. The association had two bills, one for Municipal and one for +Presidential and County suffrage. The latter, introduced by Raymond B. +Stevens of Landaff, Congressman-elect, had a hearing February 19, at +which one of the chief affirmative speakers was Dean Walter T. Sumner +of Chicago, later Bishop of Oregon, who was in town for the Conference +of Charities and Corrections. The Judiciary Committee reported the +bill favorably<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_411" id="Page_411">[Pg 411]</a></span> but six out of fifteen members signed an adverse +report. The debate in the House on March 18 was particularly acrid. +Among the speakers in favor were Levin J. Chase of Concord and Edward +C. Bean of Belmont, later Secretary of State. The saloon element as +usual was prominent in the opposition. The roll call showed 98 ayes; +239 noes.</p> + +<p>1915. The bill for Municipal suffrage was unfavorably reported by the +Committee on Revision of Statutes. On March 17 when the vote to +substitute the minority report was taken the State House was crowded +with eager throngs from all parts of the State. Mr. Chase, Benjamin W. +Couch and James O. Lyford spoke in favor. Dr. Thomas Manley Dillingham +of Roxbury represented the "antis." The vote was 121 ayes; 230 noes. A +bill for Presidential suffrage had previously been killed in +committee.</p> + +<p>1917. Bills for Presidential and for County and Municipal suffrage +were introduced into both Houses. The former was favorably reported by +Joseph P. Perley, Daniel J. Daley and Clarence M. Collins of the +Senate Committee with a minority report by Obe G. Morrison and Michael +H. Shea, which was substituted February 7 by a vote of 16 to 7. The +favorable report of eight of the fifteen members of the House +Committee was submitted by John G. Winant, afterward vice-rector of +St. Paul's School, Concord. The struggle came on March 7 when it was +debated for several hours with galleries crowded and finally defeated +by 205 to 152. On March 16 the bill for Municipal suffrage was +defeated without debate or roll call.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_115_115" id="Footnote_115_115"></a><a href="#FNanchor_115_115"><span class="label">[115]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Miss +Frances M. Abbott, treasurer of the State College Equal Suffrage +League, writer and genealogist.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_116_116" id="Footnote_116_116"></a><a href="#FNanchor_116_116"><span class="label">[116]</span></a> Mr. Drew and Mr. Moses as U. S. Senators in 1918 were +able to defeat the passage of the Federal Suffrage Amendment, which +lacked just two votes. Mr. Churchill afterwards became an earnest +advocate of woman suffrage.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_117_117" id="Footnote_117_117"></a><a href="#FNanchor_117_117"><span class="label">[117]</span></a> It has been impossible to obtain a complete list of +those who have served as officers but the following is a partial list +of those not mentioned elsewhere. Vice-presidents: Mrs. Ella H. J. +Hill, Concord; Mrs. Frank Knox, Manchester; secretaries: the Rev. +Olive M. Kimball, Marlboro; Mrs. Henry F. Hollis, Concord; Dr. Alice +Harvie, Concord; Mrs. Edna L. Johnston, Manchester; Mrs. Arthur F. +Wheat, Manchester; treasurers: Henry H. Metcalf, Harry E. Barnard, +Frank Cressy, Miss Harriet L. Huntress, all of Concord; auditors: Mrs. +Charles P. Bancroft, Concord; the Rev. H. G. Ives, Andover; members +National Executive Committee: Mrs. Ida E. Everett and Dr. Sarah J. +Barney, Franklin; Witter Bynner, Cornish; Mrs. Churchill.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_412" id="Page_412">[Pg 412]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2> + +<h3>NEW JERSEY. PART I.<a name="FNanchor_118_118" id="FNanchor_118_118"></a><a href="#Footnote_118_118" class="fnanchor">[118]</a></h3> + + +<p>The first women in the United States to vote were those of New Jersey, +whose State constitution of 1776 conferred the franchise on "all +inhabitants worth $250." In 1790 the election law confirmed women's +right to the suffrage and in 1807 the Legislature illegally deprived +them of it. In 1867 Lucy Stone, then a resident of New Jersey, +organized a State society, one of the first in the country, which +lapsed after her removal to Massachusetts a few years later. In 1890 a +new State association was organized, which held annual meetings and +was active thereafter, although interest diminished after women lost +their School suffrage in 1897. [See <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29870/29870-h/29870-h.htm#CHAPTER_LIV">New Jersey chapter Volume IV</a>.]</p> + +<p>Mrs. Florence Howe Hall, a daughter of Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, was +president from 1893 until 1900, when she declined re-election. Mrs. +Minola Graham Sexton of Orange was elected president at the annual +meeting in Moorestown in November. At that time there were but five +local societies, which she soon increased to fifteen. With her during +the five years of her presidency were the following officers: +Vice-presidents, Mrs. Susan W. Lippincott of Cinnaminson; Catherine B. +Lippincott, Hartford; corresponding secretaries, Dr. Mary D. Hussey +and Mrs. Bertha L. Fearey, East Orange, Mrs. Fanny B. Downs, Orange; +recording secretaries, Miss Jennie H. Morris, Moorestown, Miss Helen +Lippincott, Riverton; treasurer, Mrs. Anna B. Jeffery, South Orange; +auditors, Mrs. Mary C. Bassett and Mrs. Emma L. Blackwell, East +Orange; Mrs. Anna R. Powell and Mrs. Louise M. Riley, Plainfield. Mrs. +Riley had started the first woman's club in the State in Orange in +1872.</p> + +<p>The Orange Political Study Club was the first suffrage club to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_413" id="Page_413">[Pg 413]</a></span> join +the State Federation in 1901, which invited other clubs to hear Mrs. +Carrie Chapman Catt, president of the National American Suffrage +Association, give one of her convincing lectures. Mrs. Cornelia C. +Hussey of East Orange held a meeting in her park to hear the reports +of the four delegates who attended the national convention at +Minneapolis. Dr. Hussey gave out suffrage leaflets to the farmers on +their "salt water day" at Sea Girt and to the Congress of Mothers at +Trenton. Mrs. Eliza Dutton Hutchinson, press superintendent, got some +of the plate matter from the National Association for the first time +into four newspapers. Letters were sent to 400 progressive women +telling them how the ballot would aid them in all good work and +inviting them to join the association and many did so. The annual +meeting was held in Newark and Mrs. Howe Hall was elected honorary +president.</p> + +<p>In July, 1902, Mrs. Sexton in cooperation with the National +Association, held the first of the seashore meetings that were +continued every summer as long as she was president. They were held +for two days in the Tabernacle at Ocean Grove and welcomed by Bishop +Fitzgerald and Dr. A. E. Ballard, heads of the Camp Meeting +Association. The speakers were Mrs. Catt, Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, +vice-president of the National Association, Miss Kate Gordon, its +corresponding secretary, and Miss Mary Garrett Hay, a national +organizer. The Mayor and two editors became advocates of the cause. At +the Friends' conference at Asbury Park in September a day was devoted +to political equality and Mrs. Catt and Mrs. Mariana W. Chapman, +president of the New York State Association, spoke. The annual meeting +was held at Orange and a board of directors was elected: the Rev. +Antoinette Brown Blackwell, Elizabeth; Mrs. Katherine H. Browning, +West Orange; Mrs. Phebe C. Wright, Sea Girt; Mrs. Joanna Hartshorn, +Short Hills; Miss Susan W. Lippincott and Mrs. Elizabeth Vail, East +Orange. Memorials were read for Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Mrs. +Cornelia C. Hussey and Mrs. Sexton told of the $10,000 Mrs. Hussey had +left the National Association and of her constant generosity to the +suffrage work in New Jersey for many years. Mrs. Howe Hall and Henry +B. Blackwell gave addresses. Women's clubs were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_414" id="Page_414">[Pg 414]</a></span> urged to devote a +meeting to the discussion of woman suffrage and the Woman's Club of +Orange, the largest in the State, heard Mrs. Catt and the Outlook Club +of Montclair heard Mrs. Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Mrs. Florence +Fenwick Miller of England addressed a number of leagues. Miss Susan B. +Anthony was heard early in May at the Political Study Club of Orange.</p> + +<p>In 1903 large audiences again attended the two-day suffrage rally +under the auspices of the Camp Meeting at Ocean Grove. Dr. Shaw, Mrs. +Hall, Miss Harriet May Mills of New York and Mrs. Lucretia L. +Blankenburg of Philadelphia were the speakers and the interest +resulted in the starting of several leagues along the coast. With the +help of the National Association Miss Mills was engaged for a month, +during which she formed ten new leagues, speaking twenty-four times in +nineteen places. The leagues studied local government and found that +women paid about one-third of the taxes. Mrs. Catt, Mrs. Ellis +Meredith of Denver, Mrs. Stanton Blatch of New York and Miss Alice +Stone Blackwell of Boston were heard by different leagues. The +convention this year was held for the first time in Trenton.</p> + +<p>In 1904 a special effort was made to bring the question of woman +suffrage before other organizations and Mrs. Sexton spoke to the +Federation of Women's Clubs, the Conference of Charities and +Corrections and the State W. C. T. U.; Dr. Hussey spoke before the +convention of the Epworth League and the subject was presented to the +State Grange. At the Ocean Grove meeting Mrs. Emma Bourne brought +greetings from the State's 8,000 white ribboners. Mrs. Sexton and Miss +Mills spoke at seaside meetings and five new leagues were formed. The +State convention was held in the public library in Jersey City and +welcomed by Dr. Medina F. DeHart, president of the Political Study +Club; Miss Cornelia F. Bradford, head worker of Whittier House; Mrs. +Spencer Wiart, president of the Woman's Club and Mrs. Andrew J. +Newberry, president of the State Federation of Women's Clubs.</p> + +<p>At the Ocean Grove meeting in 1905 resolutions were adopted in memory +of Mrs. Mary A. Livermore. The State convention was held in Orange. +Mrs. Emma L. Blackwell, a niece of Lucy Stone, was elected president +and the other officers were re-elected.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_415" id="Page_415">[Pg 415]</a></span> In 1906 Miss Anthony passed +away and many leagues held memorial meetings. The Woman's Club of +Orange joined the suffrage association in holding one addressed by Dr. +Shaw, preceding the State convention held there in Union Hall in +November. Henry B. Blackwell traced the history of woman suffrage in +New Jersey from 1776 and made a plea for the Presidential franchise +for women, for which a committee was appointed. Resolutions thanking +the American Federation of Labor for its stand on woman suffrage and +expressing sympathy with the imprisoned "suffragettes" in England were +passed.</p> + +<p>In 1907 little suffrage work was done by the association owing to the +absence of the president from the State. The leagues worked along many +lines, for police matrons; for "school cities"; studied the lives of +the pioneers and the constitution and laws of the State and held +public meetings with good speakers. The annual convention met in the +public library in Newark and it was voted to petition Congress for a +Federal Suffrage Amendment. Dr. DeHart was elected president and the +other new officers were Mrs. Ella A. Kilborn and Miss Mary D. +Campbell, secretaries. Miss Mary Willits and Mrs. Mary B. Kinsley were +the only other officers who had been added in the past seven years.</p> + +<p>In 1908 at the State convention in Bayonne Mrs. Clara S. Laddey of +Arlington was elected president and Miss Emma L. Richards of Newark +recording secretary. Dr. Hussey was made chairman of the Committee on +Literature and Petitions and the Rev. Mrs. Blackwell was appointed to +write to President Roosevelt in behalf of the Federal Suffrage +Amendment, as requested by the National Association. Public lectures +by Dr. Shaw, Miss Janet Richards of Washington and others were +arranged for Newark. Dr. Emily Blackwell, of the New York Infirmary +for Women, was made honorary president.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Laddey visited all the leagues and spoke before many societies, +including the large German Club at Hoboken. With Dr. Hussey she +attended the State convention of the Federation of Labor and obtained +its endorsement of the Federal Suffrage Amendment. She put new life +into the association and was re-elected at the State convention in +1909 at Newark. Over fifty delegates were present and it was reported +that 5,000 names<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_416" id="Page_416">[Pg 416]</a></span> were on the petition to Congress which the +Socialists, Granges, W. C. T. U.'s and Trade Unions had helped secure, +and they had given an opportunity for much educational work. +Committees on legislation and organization were formed. Mrs. Sexton +was elected honorary president; Mrs. Elizabeth T. Bartlett of +Arlington was made historian and Mrs. Mary L. Colvin of East Orange, +corresponding secretary. Resolutions were adopted in memory of Henry +B. Blackwell and William Lloyd Garrison. Professor Francis Squire +Potter, corresponding secretary of the National Association, delivered +a very able address.</p> + +<p>In the fall of 1909 two young women in East Orange, Dr. Emma O. Gantz +and Miss Martha Klatschken, started the Progressive Woman Suffrage +Society and held the first open air meetings in the State. The first +one took place on a Saturday night at the corner of Main and Day +streets in Orange, the speakers Mrs. J. Borrman Wells of England, Miss +Klatschken and Miss Helen Murphy of New York. The next was in Newark. +The crowds were always respectful, listened and asked questions. Much +literature was given out. A Political Equality League of Self +Supporting Women, a branch of the one in New York organized by Mrs. +Stanton Blatch, was formed by Mrs. Mina Van Winkle, later called +Women's Political Union.</p> + +<p>At the January board meeting in 1910 Mrs. Ulilla L. Decker was made +chairman of organization and Mrs. Minnie J. Reynolds of the press +committee. Mrs. Laddey reported having received an invitation to bring +greetings to a meeting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Stevens at +Castle Point, Hoboken, to form a New Jersey branch of the Equal +Franchise League which Mrs. Clarence Mackay had organized in New York. +At an adjourned meeting on February 3 Mrs. Decker reported having +consulted Mrs. Catt, Dr. Shaw, Miss Mary Garrett Hay and others in New +York and also in New Jersey about the proposed new league. Mrs. Laddey +urged harmony among all workers and she, Dr. Hussey, Miss Emma L. +Richards and others attended the meeting at Castle Point. The Equal +Franchise Society of New Jersey was formed there with Mrs. Thomas S. +Henry of Jersey City president; Mrs. Caroline B. Alexander, Hoboken, +Mrs. Everett Colby, West Orange, Mrs. George Harvey, Deal, and Miss +Alice<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_417" id="Page_417">[Pg 417]</a></span> Lakey, Cranford, vice-presidents; Mrs. Harry Campton, Newark, +corresponding secretary; Miss Richards, Newark, recording secretary; +Mrs. Charles Campbell, Hoboken, treasurer.</p> + +<p>The delegation of the State association to the national convention in +Washington in April rode in the procession to the Capitol and +presented a petition to Congress for a Federal Amendment containing +over 9,000 signatures from New Jersey. At the great parade held in New +York on the last Saturday in May it was represented by its president +and seven members. Its first experience with street speaking was in +Military Park in June with Mrs. Priscilla D. Hackstaff of Brooklyn as +the speaker and a respectful audience. Open air meetings were also +held in Asbury Park at which Mrs. Laddey and Mrs. Emma Fisk spoke. +Miss Richards took charge of a booth at the Olympic Park Fair, +assisted by Mrs. Campton. Charles C. Mason was thanked for reviewing +the laws of the State relating to women compiled by Miss Laddey. Lucy +Stone's birthday was celebrated August 13 in six places in memory of +her pioneer work in the State. Mrs. Laddey organized leagues in +Montclair and Asbury Park and spoke at seven public meetings. Money +was contributed to the South Dakota, Washington and Oklahoma campaigns +and to the national treasury. Congressmen were questioned as to their +stand on woman suffrage. Dr. Shaw was heard at the Conference of +Governors at Spring Lake.</p> + +<p>The convention of 1910 was held in Plainfield welcomed by Mrs. C. R. +Riley, the local president. The Rev. Mrs. Blackwell paid a tribute to +Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, who had passed away, and after resolutions by +Mrs. Colvin the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" was sung. Mrs. Decker +presented a flag to the association in honor of Mrs. Sexton, the +former president. Mrs. Kinsley gave a greeting from the Equal +Franchise Society. How it Works in Wyoming was told by Mrs. May +Preston Slosson, Ph.D., and Dr. Edwin A. Slosson. In the evening Mayor +Charles J. Fisk welcomed the convention. Professor Earl Barnes, who +had resided two years in England, gave an address on The Englishwoman. +Champlain Lord Riley of Plainfield announced the organization in +Newark on March 23 of the Men's League for Woman Suffrage with Dr. +William L. Saunders of Plainfield,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_418" id="Page_418">[Pg 418]</a></span> president; Merton C. Leonard, +Arlington, vice-president; Dr. Edward S. Krans, Plainfield, secretary; +Edward F. Feickert, Dunellen, treasurer and 17 members.<a name="FNanchor_119_119" id="FNanchor_119_119"></a><a href="#Footnote_119_119" class="fnanchor">[119]</a></p> + +<p>Mrs. Laddey was re-elected. Four new committees were appointed on +Church Work, Mrs. Bartlett, chairman; Industrial Problems relating to +Women and Children, Miss Bessie Pope; Endorsement by Organizations, +Mrs. Laddey; Education, Mrs. Riley. Public meetings were held in the +various cities; prizes for school essays were awarded and a year book +published. With the Equal Franchise Society the association had a +hearing before the State Senate Committee on Education, Joseph S. +Frelinghuysen, chairman in behalf of a School suffrage bill. Mrs. +Laddey, Mrs. George T. Vickers, Mrs. Philip McKim Garrison, Mrs. +Frederick Merck, and Mrs. Kinsley appeared for the suffragists. The +committee approved it but the Legislature rejected it.</p> + +<p>In January, 1911, a luncheon was given by the association in Newark to +Mrs. Minnie J. Reynolds, who had returned from work in the victorious +campaign in the State of Washington. At a board meeting it was decided +that some plan must be adopted for enrolling non-dues-paying members +similar to that of the Woman Suffrage Party of New York. This name was +taken for New Jersey and an Enrollment Committee was formed with Mrs. +Lillian F. Feickert of Dunellen chairman, to organize by political +districts. Over a hundred New Jersey women marched in the second New +York parade on May 4. The Life and Work of Susan B. Anthony was placed +in libraries. The three associations agreed to unite in work for a +suffrage measure in the Legislature and Dr. Luella Morrow, Miss +Laddey, Miss Grace Selden and Mrs. Howe Hall were appointed to have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_419" id="Page_419">[Pg 419]</a></span> +charge of it. Mrs. Bartlett secured the favorable opinions of twelve +New Jersey clergymen and had them printed for circulation. The Equal +Justice League of young women was started in Bayonne with eighty +members, Miss Dorothy Frooks, president. At this time the State +association had fourteen branches and about 500 members.</p> + +<p>The convention of 1911 was held in Willard Hall, Passaic, in November. +All rose to greet the Rev. Antoinette Brown Blackwell when she +entered. Mayor George N. Seger in his welcome said that all women who +paid taxes should vote and with the ballot women could help many +needed reforms. A hundred copies of the New York <i>American</i> with an +editorial on woman suffrage in New Jersey sent by Arthur Brisbane were +distributed.</p> + +<p>It was voted to ask Governor Woodrow Wilson, as a Presidential +candidate, if he favored woman suffrage. Mrs. Rheta Childe Dorr of the +editorial staff of <i>Hampton's Magazine</i> appealed for legislation in +behalf of working girls. Miss Emma McCoy, president of the New +Brunswick Teachers' Association, made a plea for equal pay for women +teachers. Addresses were given by Robert Elder, assistant district +attorney of Kings county, N. Y.; Mrs. Raymond Brown of New York, Miss +Melinda Scott of Newark, treasurer of the National Women's Trade Union +League, and Judge William H. Wood of New York. Dr. Hussey told of +10,000 leaflets distributed.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Feickert described the successful house-to-house canvass in +Jersey City by Miss Pope and herself, by which the membership had +increased to 1,400. Mrs. Decker announced the opening of the first +State headquarters the next week in Newark with a volunteer committee +in charge, Mrs. George G. Scott, chairman. Mrs. Vernona H. Henry of +Newark was elected recording secretary and no other change was made in +the board, most of whom had served over ten years. With the +cooperation of all the societies the meeting at the auditorium in +Newark addressed by Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst of England was a great +success.</p> + +<p>This record of details, much condensed, represents the seed-sowing in +the first decade of the century in preparation for the harvest which +came at the end of the second decade.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_420" id="Page_420">[Pg 420]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>NEW JERSEY. PART II.<a name="FNanchor_120_120" id="FNanchor_120_120"></a><a href="#Footnote_120_120" class="fnanchor">[120]</a></h3> + +<p>In December, 1911, a Joint Legislative Committee, representing the +four woman suffrage organizations in New Jersey was formed with Mrs. +George T. Vickers as chairman, and in January, 1912, a resolution for +a submission to the voters of a woman suffrage amendment to the State +constitution was first introduced in the Legislature at the request of +this committee.</p> + +<p>On Oct. 25, 1912, a parade was given in Newark under the auspices of +the State Suffrage Association with all four organizations represented +among the marchers, who numbered about 1,000 men and women. This was +followed by a well-attended mass meeting at Proctor's Theater, +arranged by the Women's Political Union, at which Dr. Anna Howard +Shaw, president of the National Suffrage Association, was the +principal speaker.</p> + +<p>The twenty-second annual convention of the association was held in +Trenton in November, when the following officers were elected: +President, Mrs. E. F. Feickert; first vice-president, Mrs. F. H. +Colvin; second, Miss Elinor Gebhardt; corresponding secretary, Mrs. +Charles P. Titus; recording secretary, Mrs. Charles P. Eaton; +treasurer, Mrs. Anna B. Jeffery; auditor, Miss Bessie Pope. +Twenty-five local branches were reported with a total membership of +2,200.</p> + +<p>In December the Legislative Committee was re-organized on the basis of +equal representation for each of the four organizations. Mrs. Everett +Colby was elected chairman and Mrs. Minnie J. Reynolds was engaged as +legislative secretary, who resigned in six months to become field +organizer for the Women's Political Union. This committee continued to +function until 1917, when the Women's Political Union, the Equal +Franchise Society and the Men's League having disbanded and their +branches having joined the State association the political work was +taken over by its Legislative Committee. In 1914 Mrs. Philip McKim +Garrison succeeded Mrs. Colby and she was succeeded by Mrs. Robert S. +Huse in 1916. Among those who served actively were Miss Bessie Pope, +who gave valuable and continuous service to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_421" id="Page_421">[Pg 421]</a></span> completion of +suffrage work in 1920; Champlain Lord Riley, William L. Saunders, +Everett Colby, Mrs. Mina C. Van Winkle, Mrs. Reynolds, Mrs R. T. +Newton, Miss Belle Tiffany, Mrs. Colvin, Mrs. James Billington and +Mrs. Feickert.</p> + +<p>In June, 1913, the Women's Political Union held its first State +conference, at which the following officers were elected: President, +Mrs. Van Winkle; vice-presidents, Miss Julia S. Hurlbut, Mrs. E. T. +Lukens, Mrs. H. R. Reed, Mrs. W. H. Gardner, Miss Edna C. Wyckoff, +Mrs. R. T. Newton, Miss Louise Antrim, Mrs. Carl Vail, Miss Louise +Connolly; recording secretary, Miss Sara Crowell; executive secretary, +Mrs. Reynolds; financial secretary, Mrs. Amelia Moorfield; treasurer, +Mrs. Stewart Hartshorne. This was the only state-wide conference held +until after the referendum election in 1915 and these officers +continued to serve. The Equal Franchise Society's president, Mrs. +Vickers, served from 1911 until it disbanded in 1915. Other active +members were Mrs. H. Otto Wittpen and Mrs. Mary B. Kinsley.</p> + +<p>On March 25, 1913, the State association held a jubilee mass meeting +in Newark to celebrate submission of a State suffrage amendment by the +Legislature. This spring it held a large and successful school for +suffrage workers in Newark and the expenses of two volunteer +organizers were paid for several months, Mrs. U. L. Decker and Miss +Dille Hastings. In August its representatives took part in the +demonstration at Washington, arranged by the National Congressional +Committee, when petitions were presented to the Senate asking for the +immediate submission of the Federal Amendment, Mrs. Champlain Lord +Riley, Mrs. Colvin, Miss Helen Lippincott, Miss Edith Abbott and Mrs. +Feickert. The New Jersey petitions of several thousand names were +unwillingly presented by Senator James E. Martine, who made a speech +against woman suffrage at the same time.</p> + +<p>At the annual convention held in Newark in November reports showed +that the membership had more than doubled during the year, there being +now 44 local branches with over 6,000 members. Three changes took +place in the board, Miss Lippincott, elected second vice-president; +Mrs. Edward Olmsted, treasurer and Mrs. Arthur Hunter, auditor. Just +after this convention a delegation of 58 from the association and 17 +from the Political Union went<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_422" id="Page_422">[Pg 422]</a></span> to Washington at the request of the +National Congressional Committee to interview President Wilson in +behalf of favorable action on the Federal Amendment by the House of +Representatives. The committee could not arrange for a special +interview but finally saw him by going to the White House at the hour +set aside for the reception of the general public and made their +request. The President was cordial and said that he was giving the +matter careful consideration and hoped soon to take a decided stand +which he thought the suffragists would find satisfactory. The speakers +were its chairman, Mrs. Feickert, Mrs. Van Winkle and Miss Melinda +Scott, who represented the organized working women of New Jersey.</p> + +<p>In April, 1914, the State headquarters were transferred to Plainfield, +the home of the president, who took charge of them. Board meetings +were held in different sections of the State each month, followed by +open conferences for suffragists from the nearby towns. Each of these +was attended by from 50 to 250 and resulted in greatly increased +activity in the branches. During the summer a number of county +automobile tours were made, a "flying squadron" of decorated cars +going from town to town, holding meetings and distributing literature. +These tours were well worked up and advertised and very successful. A +great deal of the work connected with them was done by Miss Florence +Halsey, a volunteer field organizer.</p> + +<p>During July a week of suffrage meetings was held in Asbury Park, the +auditorium there given free on condition that there should be debates +and not merely presentations of suffrage. Over a hundred columns of +publicity were secured for them in the New Jersey papers and during +the week the hotels of Asbury Park and nearby resorts were canvassed +and thousands of leaflets and circulars given out. This year over +300,000 pieces of literature were distributed by the State association +and the Political Union. A weekly press service was established by the +association and news bulletins and special stories were sent regularly +to over one hundred papers. The local branches of the association +increased to 96 and of the Political Union to 15, with a membership of +22,000 and 4,000 respectively. At the annual convention of the +association held in Camden in November the new officers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_423" id="Page_423">[Pg 423]</a></span> elected were, +second vice-president, Mrs. Robert P. Finley; corresponding secretary, +Mrs. Bayard Naylor; recording secretary, Mrs. L. H. Cummings. All +attention and action were centered on the approaching campaign.</p> + +<p>The resolution to submit the amendment had passed two Legislatures and +was to go to the voters at a special election Oct. 19, 1915. A +Cooperative Committee was formed of three from the State association +and the Women's Political Union each and one each from the Equal +Franchise Society and the Men's League. A Committee of One Hundred was +also organized to raise money for the campaign, Mrs. Colby chairman. +It obtained $9,000 which were used for the expenses of the Press +Committee, that had its office at the National Suffrage headquarters +in New York, for news bulletins every day, plate matter, interviews, +stories, advertising cards and posters in the trolley cars and the +stations of the Hudson Tunnels system; illuminated signs and street +banners in New Jersey cities and a half-page advertisement in all the +papers of the State at the end of the campaign. The executive +secretary was Mrs. Flora Gapen Charters. The total amount of money +raised and spent by the State and local organizations was +approximately $80,000, obtained by dues and pledges, by collections at +mass meetings, special luncheons and very largely by personal +contributions from men and women.</p> + +<p>The State association increased to 200 branches in twenty-four cities. +The Political Union maintained a large headquarters in Newark. Over +3,000,000 pieces of literature and 400,000 buttons were distributed. +The association circularized all the women's organizations of the +State, the fraternal organizations, clergymen, grange officers, +lawyers, office-holders and other special groups. Speakers were sent +to grange picnics and county fairs. Street meetings took place +regularly in all the principal cities and towns and automobile tours +over the State. Over 4,000 outdoor and 500 indoor meetings were held. +Four paid and thirty volunteer organizers were kept in the field for +eight months.</p> + +<p>The association arranged a conference of the leaders of the four +campaign States, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New Jersey, +which was held in East Orange in connection with the celebration on +August 13 of the birthday of its founder,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_424" id="Page_424">[Pg 424]</a></span> Lucy Stone. There was a +pilgrimage of suffragists from almost every county, and, after +exercises at her old home and the unveiling by her daughter, Alice +Stone Blackwell, of a tablet placed in front of the house, there was +an automobile parade through the nearby towns, winding up with a mass +meeting in the park in East Orange, where Dr. Shaw and ex-Governor +John Franklin Fort were the principal speakers.</p> + +<p>The Women's Political Union conducted a "handing on the torch" +demonstration which was quite effective. The New York Union supplied a +large torch of bronze, which Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, representing New +York, took with her on a tugboat half way across the Hudson River, +where she was met by a New Jersey tug bearing Mrs. Van Winkle, to whom +the torch was delivered. It was sent about the State to twenty or more +towns where the Union had branches and its arrival was made the +occasion for an outdoor reception and mass meeting.</p> + +<p>The Women's Anti-Suffrage Association was also busy. It paid the +salaries and expenses of two New Jersey speakers, Mrs. O. D. Oliphant +of Trenton and John A. Matthews of Newark, an ex-Assemblyman, and +brought in a number of outside speakers. It never claimed to have more +than fifteen local branches and 18,000 members. Among the more +prominent were the president, Mrs. E. Yarde Breese of Plainfield; Mrs. +Thomas J. Preston, Mrs. Garrett A. Hobart, Mrs. Carroll P. Bassett, +Miss Anna Dayton, Robert C. Maxwell, Miss Clara A. Vezin, Mrs. +Hamilton F. Kean, Mrs. Alexander F. Jamieson, Mrs. Charles W. +MacQuoid, Mrs. Thomas B. Adams, Miss Anne McIlvaine and Mrs. Sherman +B. Joost.</p> + +<p>James R. Nugent of Newark, prominent as the champion of the "wets" and +the "antis," paid the salary of Edward J. Handley, an ex-newspaperman +of Newark, and gave him a suite of offices in the Wise building with +several clerks. His "publicity" kept the amendment on the front pages +of the papers and the suffragists were always able to refute and +disprove his statements. The intensive campaign carried on among the +editors for the past two or three years bore fruit and 80 per cent. of +the newspapers by actual canvass favored the amendment, and frequently +when the front page carried a story against suffrage it was +contradicted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_425" id="Page_425">[Pg 425]</a></span> on the editorial page. Among editors who were +particularly strong friends were James Kerney and John E. Sines of the +Trenton <i>Evening Times</i>; Joseph A. Dear and Julius Grunow of the +Jersey City <i>Journal</i>; John L. Matthews of the Paterson <i>Press +Guardian</i>; George M. Hart of the Passaic <i>Daily News</i>; the Boyds of +the New Brunswick <i>Home News</i>; J. L. Clevenger of the Perth Amboy +<i>Evening News</i>; William H. Fischer of the New Jersey <i>Courier</i>; George +W. Swift of the Elizabeth <i>Daily Journal</i> and E. A. Bristor of the +Passaic <i>Herald</i>.</p> + +<p>Three weeks before the election President Wilson announced himself in +favor of the amendment, and he and his private secretary, Joseph P. +Tumulty, made a special trip to New Jersey to vote for it. This had a +marked effect over the country.</p> + +<p>The Legislative Committee having secured a bill allowing women to +watch at the polls, watchers' schools were held in every important +city under the direction of Mrs. Colvin, with the result that at the +election 1,657 of the 1,891 polling places in the State were supplied +with trained women watchers.</p> + +<p>On election day Nugent and his lieutenants worked all day at the +Newark polling places and the suffragists were positive that hundreds +of voters were imported from New York and other places, which was +possible because men could vote on the amendment without having +previously registered. Nugent is reported to have said: "We knew we +had the amendment beaten when the election was put on registration +day." This was done against the protests of the suffragists. Men voted +on it at the same time they registered and in the police canvass made +before the general election, the names of several thousand illegally +registered were taken off the books in Essex and Hudson counties, all +of whom had a chance to vote on the amendment. All day in all the +cities the women watchers saw little groups of men taken into saloons +opposite the polling places by persons avowedly working to defeat it, +instructed how to vote on it, marshalled to the polling place and +after voting taken back to the saloon to be paid.</p> + +<p>Finding at the last moment that no provision was made by the State to +pay for sending in returns from special elections, the State +association arranged with the Associated Press to obtain its own +returns and a wire was run into the suffrage headquarters in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_426" id="Page_426">[Pg 426]</a></span> Jersey +City. By midnight complete returns were in from 70 per cent. of the +State, due to the splendid cooperation of the county and local +suffrage chairmen, who knew only one day in advance that this work +would be required of them. A manager of the Associated Press said that +they had never handled an election where the returns came in faster or +more accurately and few where they came in as well.</p> + +<p>The election resulted in a vote of 317,672, a very large one +considering that the Presidential vote in 1912 had been only 459,000. +The vote in favor of the suffrage amendment was 133,281, or 42 per +cent. of the whole; against, 184,391, defeated by 51,110. Ocean county +was the only one carried but 126 cities and towns were carried and a +number of counties gave from 46 to 49 per cent. in favor.</p> + +<p>Two weeks after their defeat several hundred New Jersey suffragists +went to New York and Philadelphia to march in the suffrage parades, +taking the biggest and best band in the State and carrying at the head +of their division a runner twenty feet long reading: New +Jersey—Delayed but not Defeated.</p> + +<p>The State convention of 1915 was postponed until January, 1916, when +it was held in Elizabeth. There were then 215 local branches with a +membership of over 50,000. No discouragement was visible but a program +of educational work and intensive organization was adopted, money was +pledged for the salaries of three field organizers and it was decided +to have a bill for Presidential suffrage introduced in the +Legislature. Mrs. Ward D. Kerlin, second vice-president, was the only +new officer elected. A new constitution was adopted putting the +association on a non-dues-paying basis, providing for an annual budget +and re-organization of the State by congressional districts.</p> + +<p>In June New Jersey was represented at the National Republican +convention in Chicago by Mrs. Feickert, Miss Esther G. Ogden, Mrs. E. +G. Blaisdell, Miss A. E. Cameron and Mrs. Joseph Marvel. All of the +New Jersey delegates were interviewed and twelve of the twenty-eight +promised to support a suffrage plank in the platform.</p> + +<p>In July the Women's Political Union disbanded and its local branches +joined the State association. The national suffrage<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_427" id="Page_427">[Pg 427]</a></span> convention held +at Atlantic City in September gave a great impetus to the State work. +The annual convention met in Jersey City in November, where it was +decided to conduct a strenuous campaign during 1917 for Presidential +suffrage and for the Federal Amendment and to employ four field +organizers. The new officers elected were Mrs. John J. White, Miss +Lulu H. Marvel, Mrs. J. Thompson Baker, vice-presidents; Miss Anita +Still, auditor. The Rev. Antoinette Brown Blackwell and Dr. Mary D. +Hussey were added to the list of honorary presidents.</p> + +<p>A bill for Presidential suffrage was introduced in the Legislature in +February, 1917, and everything was going finely when war was declared. +The suffrage association was the first women's organization in the +State to offer its services to the Governor and was publicly thanked +by him for its patriotic stand. At his request it conducted a canvass +of women nurses, doctors and clerical workers and received letters of +thanks from him and the Adjutant General for this very successful +piece of work. It cooperated in the organization of a Woman's Division +of the State Council of National Defense and its president, Mrs. +Feickert, was vice-chairman of the Council. The association purchased +and operated a Soldiers' Club House and canteen in the town of +Wrightstown, near which Camp Dix was located. It was opened in +November, 1917, and was kept open until June, 1919, by volunteer +workers. Over $30,000 were raised for it, one-fifth of this amount +being contributed by Mrs. White. More than 250,000 men were +entertained there. Officers and members of the association responded +to all demands of the war.</p> + +<p>The annual convention was held in the Capitol at Trenton in November. +Reports showed that only thirty of the hundreds of local branches had +dropped suffrage work because of their war activities, and the spirit +was one of determination that the battle for real democracy in the +United States should be kept up just as actively as the war against +autocracy abroad. Mrs. Wells P. Eagleton was elected a vice-president, +Mrs. E. G. Blaisdell a secretary and Mrs. F. W. Veghte an auditor. The +State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs was accepted as an +affiliated organization and its president, the Rev. Florence Randolph, +was made a member of the State Board. The convention voted to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_428" id="Page_428">[Pg 428]</a></span> make +its special work for the year the collecting of a monster petition of +women, to be so worded that it could be used in Congressional work for +the Federal Amendment and with the Legislature for ratification.</p> + +<p>In the summer of 1918 U. S. Senator William Hughes, who was pledged to +vote for the Federal Amendment, died and the candidate for the office +was David Baird, a strong anti-suffragist. As only one more vote in +the Senate was needed to pass the amendment the National Association +asked the New Jersey association to do its best to defeat him. An +active campaign was carried on for two months but he was too powerful +a party leader, though he ran 9,000 votes behind the rest of the +ticket. He voted against the amendment every time it came before the +Senate.</p> + +<p>Because of the Baird campaign and the general unsettled feeling around +the time of the signing of the armistice the annual convention was +postponed to May, 1919, when it was held in Atlantic City. The +ratification petitions collected the preceding year had over 80,000 +names of women not previously enrolled as suffragists. Mrs. H. N. +Simmons, vice-president, and Mrs. F. T. Kellers, auditor, were the +only new officers elected. It was voted that the other State +organizations of women should be asked to join in the campaign for +ratification of the Federal Amendment by the Legislature. The +committee was organized in July, 1918, with the following +organizations represented: Woman Suffrage Association, Federation of +Women's Clubs, Federation of Colored Women's Clubs, Woman's Christian +Temperance Union, Public Health Nursing, Teachers' Association; +chairman, Mrs. Feickert; secretary, Mrs. James Simister; treasurer, +Mrs. Olmsted. A Finance Committee was appointed—Mrs. Seymour L. +Cromwell, Mrs. Colby and Mrs. Hunter—which raised over $10,000. The +principal contributors were Mrs. Cromwell, Mrs. Colby, Judge and Mrs. +John J. White, Mrs. Wittpenn, Mrs. Hartshorne, Mrs. Lewis S. Thompson +and Mrs. Robert Stevens.</p> + +<p>A very active primary and general election campaign was made in 1919 +for the election of men pledged to vote for ratification, in which +110,000 personal letters were sent out, all kinds of organizations +were circularized and about 1,000,000 pieces of literature were +distributed. A State ratification mass meeting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_429" id="Page_429">[Pg 429]</a></span> at Asbury Park in +August opened the campaign and local meetings were held in every +county. A Governor and a majority in both Houses were elected who were +pledged to ratification.</p> + +<p>A Men's Council for Ratification was organized in December with +Everett Colby as chairman, Governor Edward I. Edwards and U. S. +Senators Joseph S. Frelinghuysen and Walter E. Edge as honorary +chairmen and 54 of the most prominent Democrats and Republicans in the +State as vice-chairmen. This was not an active organization but the +fact that the leaders of their parties allowed their names to be used +had considerable influence upon many legislators. In January, 1920, +campaign headquarters were opened in Trenton near the State House in +charge of Miss Julia Wernig, field organizer of the association, where +a great deal of literature was given out and other work done.</p> + +<p>On January 27 in Crescent Temple, Trenton, the Ratification Committee +staged the most spectacular suffrage mass meeting ever held in New +Jersey. Its special purpose was to present to the Governor, the +President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House the huge suffrage +petition containing almost 140,000 names of women, arranged by +counties and towns. The hall was beautifully decorated with American +flags and suffrage banners and a fine band played at intervals. The +speakers were Governor Edwards, President of the Senate Clarence E. +Case, Speaker of the Assembly W. Irving Glover and Mrs. Carrie Chapman +Catt, president of the National Suffrage Association. The twenty-one +county chairmen and representatives of the women's organizations +composing the committee were seated on the platform and at the proper +time each came forward with her petitions and was presented to the +Governor and the legislative officials by Mrs. Feickert, who presided. +About 1,200 women and most of the Legislature were present and there +was much enthusiasm.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> The Federal Suffrage Amendment was submitted by Congress +June 4, 1919. The resolution for ratification was the first measure +introduced when the Legislature convened in 1920, by Senator William +B. MacKay, Jr., of Bergen county and Assemblyman Henry G. Hershfield +of Passaic county. A public hearing was held February 2 with Mrs. +Feickert chairman. The principal suffrage speakers were U. S. Senator<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_430" id="Page_430">[Pg 430]</a></span> +Selden Spencer of Missouri, Mrs. Robert S. Huse, Mrs. Harriman N. +Simons and the Rev. Florence Randolph. Each of five others +representing various women's organizations spoke for two minutes. That +day the Senate ratified by 18 ayes, 2 noes, two men voting in favor +who had been pledged against it.</p> + +<p>The opposition then concentrated its efforts upon the Assembly, where +various tricks were played which in the end were unsuccessful. U. S. +Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer had written to each of the +Democratic members urging his support. The evening that ratification +was to be voted on, February 9, the chamber was jammed and it was +evident that the opposition intended to "filibuster" all night rather +than allow the resolution to pass. One motion after another was made +by the leader of the opposition, Assemblyman Hugh Barrett of Essex, +Nugent's special representative, and after a hot fight and much +talking they were defeated. Mr. Nugent was outside in the corridor +constantly sending in messages to his delegation and it was understood +that he was offering anything the Assemblymen might ask for their +votes against ratification. The women suffragists were present in +force helping their friends to maintain their determination to vote on +the resolution that night. It was a stormy session, the "filibuster" +going on steadily from 8 p. m. Finally the opposition gave up the +fight and at ten minutes to 1 o'clock in the morning the Assembly +passed the resolution by 34 ayes, 24 noes. The gallery was still +filled with women, who were most enthusiastic.</p> + +<p>The resolution was signed promptly by the President of the Senate and +the Speaker of the House and the Governor sent it to Washington by a +special messenger. The suffragists felt especially indebted to +Senators William N. Runyon, C. D. White and Arthur Whitney and to +Assemblymen William A. Blair, Emmor Roberts, Henry G. Hershfield and +William George for their work in party caucuses as well as on the +floor. Governor Edwards and Mayor Frank Hague of Jersey City (the +Democratic leader of the State) were responsible for the solid vote of +all the Democrats except those under the control of Nugent. U. S. +Senators Frelinghuysen and Edge and Attorney General McCran also +rendered most valuable assistance.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_431" id="Page_431">[Pg 431]</a></span></p> + +<p>The State Suffrage Association celebrated the successful termination +of its over fifty years of continuous effort by a Victory Convention +held in Newark on April 23, 24. Leading features were a Victory +banquet with prominent men of both political parties as speakers, and +a Pioneers' luncheon, at which Dr. Mary D. Hussey, Mrs. Florence Howe +Hall, Mrs. Minola Graham Sexton, Mrs. Clara S. Laddey and other early +workers spoke. Before the close of the convention the State League of +Women Voters was organized to carry on the work for good government +and better conditions through the use of the power which had been +secured for them by the older association. Mrs. John R. Schermerhorn +was elected chairman.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action: 1912.</span> The first resolution for the submission of a +woman suffrage amendment to the voters was introduced in February by +Senator William C. Gebhardt in the Senate and Assemblyman A. R. +McAllister in the House. A public hearing was held on March 12 at +which Mrs. Vickers presided and the speakers for the suffrage side +were Mrs. Hall, Mrs. Henry Villard, Mrs. Charlotte Perkins Gilman, +Mrs. Clara S. Laddey, George T. Vickers and Linton Satterthwaite. Miss +Anna Dayton presided for the "antis" and Mrs. E. N. Loomis was their +principal speaker. The vote in the Senate was 18 noes, 3 +ayes—Senators Gebhardt of Hunterdon county, J. Warren Davis of Salem +and G. W. F. Gaunt of Gloucester. In the Assembly the resolution was +finally forced out of an unfavorable committee but was tabled by a +vote of 31 ayes, 19 noes.</p> + +<p>1913. In January the resolution was introduced by Senator J. Warren +Davis and Assemblyman Charles M. Egan. A hearing was held February 18 +at which Mrs. Everett Colby presided and the speakers were Dr. Anna +Howard Shaw, president of the National American Suffrage Association; +U. S. Senator Shafroth of Colorado, Everett Colby, George La Monte and +Cornelius Ford, president of the State Federation of Labor. The +resolution passed the Senate by 14 ayes, 5 noes, and the Assembly by +45 ayes, 5 noes. A few weeks later it was discovered that the word +"or" appeared in the printed resolution instead of "and," making it +necessary to have a new one introduced, which went through by the same +vote.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_432" id="Page_432">[Pg 432]</a></span></p> + +<p>The New Jersey law in regard to constitutional amendments provides +that after being submitted by one Legislature they must be advertised +in every county for three months prior to the next election, acted +upon favorably by the succeeding Legislature and then voted on at a +special election, the date of which it decides. After the passage of +the referendum resolution in 1913 the Legislative Committee took up +with the Secretary of State the matter of advertising and were assured +that it would be attended to and they could go home and "forget it," +which they trustingly did. When no advertisements appeared members of +the committee hurried to Trenton and learned that Governor James F. +Fielder was responsible. His excuse was that his secretary had mislaid +the resolution and forgotten to remind him of it.</p> + +<p>1914. The resolution was introduced in January by Senator Charles M. +Egan and Assemblyman Joseph M. Branegan, both of Hudson county. It +passed the Senate by 15 ayes, 3 noes, and the Assembly by 49 ayes, 4 +noes.</p> + +<p>1915. The advertising was properly done for this year and the +resolution came up for second passage in January, introduced by +Senator Blanchard H. White and Assemblyman Robert Peacock, both of +Burlington county. A hearing was held January 25, Mrs. Philip McKim +Garrison chairman and speakers Dr. Shaw, E. G. C. Bleakley, city +counsel of Camden; Mrs. Reynolds and Mrs. Feickert. The Senate passed +the resolution by 17 ayes, 4 noes, and the Assembly by unanimous vote.</p> + +<p>1916. A bill for Presidential suffrage for women was introduced by +Senator Charles O'Connor Hennessy of Bergen county and was lost by a +vote of 10 noes, 3 ayes—Senators Hennessy, Austen Colgate of Essex +county and Carlton B. Pierce of Union county. No effort was made to +press the bill in the Assembly.</p> + +<p>1917. Another bill for Presidential suffrage was introduced by Senator +Edmund B. Osborne of Essex county and Assemblyman Roy M. Robinson of +Bergen. In both Houses the presiding officers were strongly opposed to +woman suffrage and put the bill into unfavorable committees, who +refused to report it for action. A hearing was held with Mrs. Robert +S. Huse chairman and Mrs. Antoinette Funk the chief speaker. Finally +by using what is known as the "rule of fifteen," in the Assembly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_433" id="Page_433">[Pg 433]</a></span> its +friends got the bill out of committee on March 15 but with an +unfavorable report. Majority leader Oliphant moved that the House +concur and Speaker Edward Schoen of Essex county ruled that the motion +was carried. Many members demanded a roll call but the Speaker paid no +attention to them. Pandemonium reigned, members shouting and banging +their desks until finally he declared a recess and fled to his private +room.</p> + +<p>1918. It was hoped that the Federal Amendment would be submitted in +the spring and it was decided not to complicate ratification by +introducing a Presidential suffrage bill. In February a bill providing +that the Legislature should not act on the ratification of Federal +Amendments until after they had been referred to the voters was +introduced by Assemblyman Arthur N. Pierson of Union county. It was +designed especially to prevent action on the Prohibition Amendment but +would also apply to the one for woman suffrage. The Legislative +Committee went at once to Trenton, where the Anti-Saloon workers were +already busy. Sufficient force was brought to keep the bill in +committee for three weeks, at the end of which time 46 votes were +pledged against it and it was killed in committee at the request of +its introducer. In 1919 a similar bill was introduced by Assemblyman +David Young of Morris county but the suffragists made so strong a +demonstration against it that it was killed in committee.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_118_118" id="Footnote_118_118"></a><a href="#FNanchor_118_118"><span class="label">[118]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Dr. Mary D. +Hussey, a founder of the State Woman Suffrage Association in 1890 and +continuously an officer for the next twenty years.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_119_119" id="Footnote_119_119"></a><a href="#FNanchor_119_119"><span class="label">[119]</span></a> Afterwards Mr. Riley became president and Arthur B. +Jones, secretary. Among the League's prominent members were the Hon. +Everett Colby, Governor John Franklin Fort, J. A. H. Hopkins, Jesse +Lynch Williams, Charles O'Connor Hennessy, the Hon. John W. Westcott, +the Rev. Dr. Arthur E. Ballard, the Rev. Edgar S. Weirs, Colonel +George Harvey, the Hon. Edmond B. Osbourne, the Hon. Ernest R. +Ackerman, Emerson P. Harris, Richard Stevens, the Hon. James C. +Connally and Mayor Victor Mavalag of Elizabeth. They passed +resolutions "reaffirming their sympathy with the great world movement +for woman suffrage"; "heartily approved" of the Federal Amendment; +pledged their "untiring support" of the State referendum; spoke at +legislative hearings; raised money; addressed meetings; appointed a +State committee of 63 members which met monthly; appointed a committee +with George M. Strobell, chairman, that marched in the parade in +Newark, Oct. 25, 1913; held a mass meeting in Elizabeth at which Mayor +George L. LaMonte and Mrs. Forbes-Robertson Hale spoke, and helped in +many ways.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_120_120" id="Footnote_120_120"></a><a href="#FNanchor_120_120"><span class="label">[120]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. +Lillian F. Feickert, president of the State Woman Suffrage Association +1912-1920.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_434" id="Page_434">[Pg 434]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX"></a>CHAPTER XXX.</h2> + +<h3>NEW MEXICO.<a name="FNanchor_121_121" id="FNanchor_121_121"></a><a href="#Footnote_121_121" class="fnanchor">[121]</a></h3> + + +<p>As the railroads were few and automobiles almost unknown in New Mexico +in the first decade of the present century, and as the distances were +great and cities and towns widely separated, there was no attempt to +organize for woman suffrage. In 1910 the Women's Clubs were called in +convention at Las Cruces through the efforts of Mrs. George W. +Frenger, secretary of the General Federation, and Mrs. Philip North +Moore, then its president, was in attendance. A State Federation was +formed with Mrs. S. P. Johnson of Palomas Springs, president; Mrs. Sam +J. Nixon of Portales secretary, and several department chairmen were +named, Mrs. W. E. Lindsey being chosen for the Legislative Department.</p> + +<p>This department through its bold stand for woman suffrage and better +laws for women and children easily became the foremost factor in the +federation. At each yearly convention one evening was given to the +discussion of the benefits which women would receive from the +suffrage. Almost before it was realized suffrage had become popular +with both men and women. The delegates carried the messages from the +State conventions to their own clubs; suffrage discussions became the +regular program for one meeting each year in almost every club and +generally made converts of those taking the opposition. Women began +searching the statutes and questioning their attorneys and husbands in +regard to laws. Their interest became such that no Legislature during +the federation's existence has proposed any law derogatory to the +rights of women and children, but when attention has been called to +unfair laws, some of them have been replaced by better ones.</p> + +<p>Under direction of the executive board of the federation this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_435" id="Page_435">[Pg 435]</a></span> +department sent out questionnaires to all of the State candidates for +office in 1916 as to whether they would work for placing women on the +State boards and use their influence to bring the Federal Amendment to +a successful vote in the United States Senate and House. Their members +were also interrogated as to whether they would work and vote for it. +Therefore the Legislative Department of the Federated Clubs really did +the work that any suffrage organization would do and had the backing +of the women of the State in general. Suffrage was unanimously +endorsed in the convention of the federation at Silver City in 1914. +It is to the credit of the work of the Federated Clubs in the State +that its members of Congress, with one exception, have needed no +lobbying from suffrage forces in Washington. Senator Andrieus A. +Jones, as chairman of the Suffrage Committee, made the submission of +the amendment possible in the present Congress by his systematic and +forceful course in the last one.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Lindsey remained chairman of this department six years. In 1913 +she was appointed State chairman for the National American Woman +Suffrage Association by its president, Dr. Anna Howard Shaw. In 1914 +the suffragists had a "float" in the parade at the State fair in +Albuquerque. In May, 1916, the National Association under the +presidency of Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, sent one of its organizers, +Miss Lola Walker of Pittsburgh, for ten days to look over the +situation and she visited Albuquerque, Santa Fé, Portales and Las +Vegas. In the last place she spoke before the Woman's Club with about +eighty present and at the close of her talk a vote was taken which +stood unanimous for suffrage. At Portales a society was formed and a +large evening reception was held to which both men and women were +invited. Miss Walker gave a very interesting résumé of woman suffrage +which aroused much interest. An appeal was sent to the National +Association to return her for a fall campaign to organize the State as +an auxiliary. She went to Maine, however, and Miss Gertrude Watkins of +Little Rock was sent to New Mexico in January, 1917. She visited the +eastern and central parts of the State organizing leagues in most of +the towns. In Santa Fé one was formed of about thirty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_436" id="Page_436">[Pg 436]</a></span> members with +Mrs. Paul A. F. Walter president; Mrs. R. W. Twitchell secretary, and +Mrs. Ellen J. Palen treasurer.</p> + +<p>The Congressional Union also sent an organizer into the State in 1916, +Mrs. Thompson, who spent some time in Santa Fé, Albuquerque and Las +Vegas. The Santa Fé women were sufficiently aroused to hold a street +parade and march to the home of U. S. Senator Catron, an opponent, +where they gathered on the lawn and made speeches to convince the aged +Senator of the wishes of the women as to his conduct in the Senate. +Mrs. Joshua Reynolds was made State chairman of the Congressional +Union and afterwards Mrs. Nina Otero Warren, and Mrs. A. A. Kellan was +legislative chairman, all of Albuquerque. Miss Mabel Vernon came from +Washington to hold meetings that year and Miss Anne Martin in 1917, +and active work was done.</p> + +<p>Washington E. Lindsey was Governor in 1917-18, and in November, 1918, +all the suffrage forces in Albuquerque and Santa Fé were invited by +Mrs. Lindsey to meet at the Executive Mansion and form a committee to +work for suffrage at the coming session of the Legislature. This +meeting elected the following officers: Mrs. R. P. Barnes chairman; +Mrs. A. B. Stroup secretary; Mrs. Warren legislative chairman; Mrs. +John W. Wilson party platform chairman; Mrs. Walter congressional +chairman. This committee did good work for suffrage in both the +regular and special sessions.</p> + +<p>In December, 1919, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt and her party of speakers +for the ratification of the Federal Amendment came to Albuquerque for +the last of several western State conferences. It was arranged by Mrs. +Barnes and was carried out with great success. Mrs. Catt spoke at a +large luncheon held in the Y. M. C. A. building, which many of the +Judges, newspaper representatives and other prominent men and women +attended. On account of the great distances few except from +Albuquerque and Santa Fé were present but Mrs. Catt's appeal was +carried from one end of the State to the other through the public +press and created an atmosphere of hope. This was changed to rejoicing +as word came that Governor Octaviano A. Larrazolo would call a special +session of the Legislature for the ratification.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_437" id="Page_437">[Pg 437]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> When the time came the Legislature had adjourned and +would not meet again until 1921, so a special session would be +necessary if it ratified before the presidential election. The +opponents concentrated their forces to prevent it and were successful +until 1920 but finally were obliged to yield and Governor Larrazolo +called the special session for February 16. When it met there was a +determined effort by one member, Dan Padillo of Albuquerque, to have a +referendum to the voters of the State. All the city was up in +arms—men's organizations, the Y. W. C. A., the W. C. T. U., the +Woman's Committee, the Woman's Party, individual men and women—until +at last he declared that he would vote for the immediate ratification. +The vote in the Senate February 18 was 17 ayes, 8 Republicans, 9 +Democrats; 5 noes, all Republicans—Gallegos, Mirabel, Lucero +(Emiliano), Salazar and Sanchez. The vote in the House February 19 was +36 ayes, 23 Republicans, 13 Democrats; 10 noes, 8 Republicans, 2 +Democrats.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action.</span> Beginning with 1915 the Federation of Women's +Clubs was able to secure some legislation favorable to women and +children. In 1916 the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, through its +president, Mrs. Harriet L. Henderson, had a Prohibition Amendment +endorsed by the State Republican platform which the Legislature +submitted to the electors in November, 1917. Both parties, all women's +organizations and everybody of influence from the Governor down worked +with zeal for its passage. Miss Anna A. Gordon, national president of +the W. C. T. U., came to the State in October and was a guest at the +convention of the Federated Clubs in Gallup, which voted unanimously +to give all the time until the election to work for its success, and +parades and much individual effort followed. Women went to the polls +with their lists of voters, checking them off as they came and then +going for those who had not voted. It was carried by 20,000 majority, +the largest percentage vote ever given by any State for prohibition.</p> + +<p>As the State constitution rendered it impossible to carry an amendment +for woman suffrage the women made no attempt to have the Legislature +submit one, but in 1917 some of the Representatives brought an +amendment resolution before the House,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_438" id="Page_438">[Pg 438]</a></span> which promptly killed it. As +the State conventions of both political parties this year had declared +in favor of woman suffrage, the committee appointed at the meeting in +the Governor's mansion asked for the Presidential and Municipal +franchise, which the Legislature had power to grant without a +referendum to the voters. They made a spirited campaign with all the +assistance that Governor Lindsey could give and the suffrage societies +throughout the State poured in letters upon the legislators. The vote +in the Senate was 9 ayes, 14 noes. Before it was taken in the House a +conference was held in the office of the Governor at the Capitol +attended by the following workers for the bill: Senator Isaac Barth, +National Committeeman; Charles A. Spiess, Holm O. Bursum, Supreme +Justice Clarence J. Roberts, Charles Springer, Mrs. Kellam, Mrs. +Walter, Mrs. Hughey, chairman of the State suffrage legislative +committee; Mrs. Kate Hall, president of the Santa Fé branch of the +Congressional Union; Mrs. N. B. Laughlin and Mrs. Lindsey.</p> + +<p>The leaders of the two political parties admitted that they could not +control their legislators and tried to hold the Spanish-Americans +responsible. The House voted on the bill March 7, after a loud, +disorderly and acrimonious debate, 26 noes, 21 ayes. The Speaker +afterwards explained his affirmative vote by saying that he thought it +was to submit the question to the electors! Of the 29 Republican +members 10 voted for the bill; of the 18 Democratic members, 11 voted +for it.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Suffrage.</span> The convention to prepare a constitution for statehood, +which met in 1910, was the battle ground for School suffrage for +women. The question was very seriously debated in the Elective +Franchise Committee, which many times voted it down only to renew it +upon appeal to do so. Mrs. S. F. Culberson, then county school +superintendent in Roosevelt county, argued the matter before the +committee, and its chairman, Nestor Montoya, cast the deciding vote +for it to come before the convention. Both Democrats and Republicans +rallied to its support but José D. Sena, Clerk of the Supreme Court, a +member of the convention, strenuously opposed it and finally carried +it back to be caucused upon by the Republican majority. After a stormy +caucus it was returned to the convention and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_439" id="Page_439">[Pg 439]</a></span> passed. The president of +the convention, Charles A. Spiess, spoke urgently in Committee of the +Whole to save women's eligibility to the county superintendency from +being eliminated. The clause gave women the right to vote for school +trustees, on the issuing of bonds and in the local administration of +public schools but not for county or State superintendents. It +provided that "if a majority of the qualified voters of any school +district shall, not less than thirty days before any school election, +present a petition to the county commissioners against woman suffrage +in that district it shall be suspended and only renewed by a petition +of the majority!"</p> + +<p>No effort could obtain any larger extension of the franchise to women +but the new State constitution gave universal suffrage to men and +carefully protected the right to vote of those who could not speak, +read or write either the English or Spanish language. It then provided +that the suffrage clause could only be amended by having the amendment +submitted by a vote of three-fourths of each House of the Legislature. +In order to be carried, it must have a three-fourths majority of the +highest number voting at a State election and a two-thirds majority of +the highest number voting in every county. This was expressly designed +to prevent woman suffrage and it destroyed all possibility of it until +conferred by a Federal Amendment.</p> + +<p>Among the women who worked for woman suffrage in addition to those +mentioned in the chapter were Mesdames Margaret Cartright, S. F. +Culberson, George W. Carr, Josie Lockard, J. R. Kinyon, H. F. LaBelle, +N. J. Strumquist, Margaret Medler, William J. Barker, Lansing Bloom, +C. E. Mason, R. P. Donahoe, Ruth Skeen, John W. Wilson, S. C. Nutter, +Catherine Patterson, Minnie Byrd, Howard Huey, Alfred Grunsfeld, Edgar +L. Hewett, I. H. Elliot and I. H. Rapp.</p> + +<p>As all women were fully enfranchised by the Federal Amendment a State +branch of the National League of Women Voters was formed with Mrs. +Gerald Cassidy as chairman.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_121_121" id="Footnote_121_121"></a><a href="#FNanchor_121_121"><span class="label">[121]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Deane H. +(Mrs. Washington E.) Lindsey, State chairman of the National Woman +Suffrage Association.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_440" id="Page_440">[Pg 440]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXI" id="CHAPTER_XXXI"></a>CHAPTER XXXI.</h2> + +<h3>NEW YORK.<a name="FNanchor_122_122" id="FNanchor_122_122"></a><a href="#Footnote_122_122" class="fnanchor">[122]</a></h3> + + +<p>New York was the cradle of the movement for woman suffrage not only in +this State but in the world, for here in 1848 was held the first +Women's Rights Convention in all history. Except during the Civil War +there was no year after 1850 when one or more such conventions did not +take place until 1920, when all the women of the United States were +enfranchised by an amendment to the National Constitution. This State +was the home of the two great leaders for half a century—Elizabeth +Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. The first appeal ever made to a +Legislature for woman suffrage was made by these two women in 1854 and +there was never a year afterwards when this appeal was not made by the +women of New York except during the Civil War. The State Woman +Suffrage Association was organized in 1869 and its work never ceased. +Notwithstanding this record no suffrage for women had ever been +obtained in this State, except a fragment of a School franchise for +those in villages and country districts, up to 1901, when this chapter +begins.</p> + +<p>The cause had gradually gained in strength, however, and a factor +which had strong influence was the splendid cooperation of many other +organizations. The president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union +often spoke at the suffrage conventions and legislative hearings and +the superintendent of franchise, Dr. Lavinia R. Davis, sent out +thousands of suffrage leaflets and appeals to the women of the local +unions every year. The State Grange, with its membership approaching +100,000, passed favorable resolutions many times and gave the +president and vice-president of the suffrage association, who were +members, opportunities to speak at its meetings. The State Federation<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_441" id="Page_441">[Pg 441]</a></span> +of Labor granted the vice-president time for an address at its +convention in Troy as early as 1908 and thereafter endorsed the +suffrage bills and sent speakers to the hearings on them. Women from +labor unions spoke at conventions of the State Suffrage Association, +which had a Committee on Industrial Work. The Western New York +Federation of Women's Clubs, under the leadership of Mrs. Nettie +Rogers Shuler of Buffalo, its president, was the first federation to +admit suffrage clubs and a suffrage resolution was passed at its +convention in 1909, at which time it had 35,000 members.</p> + +<p>The annual conventions of the State association always were held in +October. The thirty-third in the long series met at Oswego in the +Presbyterian Church in 1901 and was welcomed by Mayor A. M. Hall. +Addresses were made by Miss Susan B. Anthony, honorary president of +the National American Woman Suffrage Association; Dr. Anna Howard +Shaw, its vice-president-at-large; Alice Stone Blackwell, its +recording secretary; Harriet May Mills and Julie R. Jenney of +Syracuse. A memorial service was held for one of the pioneers, +Charlotte A. Cleveland of Wyoming county, Mrs. Jean Brooks Greenleaf, +former State president, and Mrs. Ella Hawley Crossett, vice-president, +offering testimonials of her ability and helpfulness. She left the +association a legacy of $2,000, the first it ever had received. Mrs. +Mariana W. Chapman, president since 1896, was re-elected.</p> + +<p>The convention of 1902 was held in Buffalo at the Church of the +Messiah. The wife of the Mayor, Erastus Knight, represented him in +giving a welcome from the city. Owing to the illness of Mrs. Chapman, +Mrs. Crossett presided. She was elected president, after having served +four years as vice-president. Miss Mills was chosen for that office +and they served for the next eight years.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/v6_442.jpg" width="500" height="318" alt="THE SUSAN B. ANTHONY MEMORIAL BUILDING + +At Rochester (N. Y.) University." title="" /> +<p class="center bold">THE SUSAN B. ANTHONY MEMORIAL BUILDING</p> + +<p class="center">At Rochester (N. Y.) University.</p> +</div> + +<p>In 1903 the convention was held in the Presbyterial Church at +Hornellsville welcomed by Mayor C. F. Nelson and the Rev. Charles +Petty, pastor of the church. Mrs. Crossett responded and gave her +annual address, which showed much activity during the year. Miss +Mills, chairman of the State organization committee, said that she had +arranged for fifty-five meetings. Dr. Shaw had spoken in thirty +different counties, the president<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_442" id="Page_442">[Pg 442]</a></span> or vice-president accompanying her +and organizing clubs at many places. The chairmen of the standing +committees—Organization, Press, Legislative, Industries, Work Among +Children, Enrollment, School Suffrage—and also the county presidents +reported effective work. The addresses of Miss Anthony, Dr. Shaw and +Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, national president, were highly appreciated +by large audiences. During the summer of 1903, as in many others, Miss +Anthony and Dr. Shaw attracted large gatherings at the Chautauqua and +Lily Dale Assemblies.</p> + +<p>The convention of 1904 met at Auburn. Mrs. Eliza Wright Osborne, +daughter of Martha Wright and niece of Lucretia Mott, two of those who +had called the first Woman's Rights Convention, entertained the +officers and many chairmen in the annex of the hotel, a stenographer, +typewriter and every convenience being placed at their disposal. In +her own home she had as guests Miss Anthony, Dr. Shaw, Mrs. William +Lloyd Garrison (her sister), Emily Howland, Mrs. William C. Gannett, +Lucy E. Anthony and others. One evening her spacious house was thrown +open for the people of the city to meet the noted suffragists. The +convention was held in Music Hall, a gift of Mrs. Osborne to the city, +and her son, Thomas Mott Osborne, welcomed it as Mayor.</p> + +<p>The old Political Equality Club of Rochester, of which Miss Mary S. +Anthony was president for many years, invited the convention for 1905. +To go to the home city of the Anthony sisters was indeed a pleasure. +They opened their house one afternoon for all who desired to take a +cup of tea with them. It was crowded and many expressed themselves as +feeling that they were on a sacred spot. A large number went to the +third story to see the rooms where Mrs. Ida Husted Harper spent +several years with Miss Anthony writing her biography and Volume IV of +the History of Woman Suffrage. A reception was given at Powers Hotel +attended by over 600 people. During the meetings Miss Anthony +introduced a number of women who had attended the first Woman's Rights +Convention, which adjourned from Seneca Falls to Rochester, Mary +Hallowell, Sarah Willis, Mary S. Anthony and Maria Wilder Depuy.</p> + +<p>The convention was held in the Universalist Church. Mayor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_443" id="Page_443">[Pg 443]</a></span> James G. +Cutler, who welcomed the delegates, spoke very highly of his "esteemed +fellow citizen, Susan B. Anthony" and presented her with a large +bouquet of American Beauty roses. Mrs. Crossett in her annual address +compared the convention held at Rochester in 1890, when there were but +seven local clubs in the State, with this one representing 100 local +and 31 county clubs. Elnora M. Babcock, press chairman, reported 500 +papers in the State using articles favorable to woman suffrage.</p> + +<p>The convention for 1906 met at Syracuse in the (Samuel J.) May +Memorial Church. Miss Anthony had passed away the preceding March. +Over the entrance door of the church was a large banner with the last +words of the beloved leader, "Failure is Impossible." The afternoon +meeting closed with tributes of reverence and appreciation by Mrs. +Osborne, Anne Fitzhugh Miller, Marie Jenney Howe, Mrs. Crossett, Miss +Mills and Dr. Shaw. Large audiences gathered for the evening meetings, +among the speakers being Mrs. Florence Kelley, Mrs. Henry Villard and +Mrs. Rachel Foster Avery. Dr. Shaw and Mrs. Avery spoke in the +University Chapel to the students.</p> + +<p>The convention of 1907, which met in Geneva, received a warm welcome; +stores displayed the suffrage colors in their windows and many +citizens hung flags over their doorways. The gracious presence of Mrs. +Elizabeth Smith Miller and her daughter Anne, president of the Geneva +Political Equality Club, the largest in the State, made the convention +especially memorable. The delegates were invited to Lochland, the +Miller home on the lake, one afternoon where a memorial service was +held on the big porch, the place of many suffrage meetings, in memory +of Mary S. Anthony, who had died the preceding February. Affectionate +tributes were paid.<a name="FNanchor_123_123" id="FNanchor_123_123"></a><a href="#Footnote_123_123" class="fnanchor">[123]</a> The convention was welcomed by Mayor Arthur +P. Rose, City Attorney W. Smith O'Brien, Miss Miller and Mrs. +Charlotte A. Baldridge, county president. Speakers were President +Langdon C. Stewardson of Hobart<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_444" id="Page_444">[Pg 444]</a></span> College and Professors F. P. Nash and +Nathaniel Schmidt of Cornell University.</p> + +<p>The 40th State convention was held in 1908 in Buffalo, whose suffrage +club invited the National American Association to hold its convention +there the same week, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first +Woman's Rights Convention. For eight years Mrs. Richard Williams, +president of the club, had carried on the work in this city and had +built up an excellent organization. Mrs. George Howard Lewis and Mrs. +Dexter P. Rumsey were valuable members. Mrs. Lewis gave $10,000 to Dr. +Shaw for suffrage work. The State convention, which met two days +before the National, voted to have headquarters at Albany during the +legislative session. It also voted to continue the State headquarters +in Syracuse. Dr. Shaw had presented the suffrage question at the State +Federation of Women's Clubs; Miss Mills had addressed the World's +Temperance Congress; members had spoken before the resolution +committees of the political State conventions and before many +different organizations, institutions, etc. On May 26, 27, Mrs. +Stanton Blatch had arranged a meeting in Seneca Falls to commemorate +the 60th Anniversary of the first Women's Rights Convention, called by +Elizabeth Cady Stanton and that noble band of women in 1848. Addresses +were made by their descendants and a number of the pioneer suffragists +and a bronze tablet was placed on the Wesleyan Methodist Church, where +the convention was held.</p> + +<p>This year Mrs. Clarence Mackay became interested in the work for woman +suffrage and organized in New York an Equal Franchise League of which +she was president, with headquarters in the Metropolitan Tower. She +opened her house for lectures, interested a great many prominent and +influential people and also arranged a course of public lectures in +one of the theaters, which attracted large audiences. The papers gave +columns of space to her efforts and the movement received a great +impetus.</p> + +<p>It had always been Miss Anthony's strong desire to have headquarters +in this large center from which news of all kinds was sent to the four +quarters of the globe. She realized the vast numbers of people who +could be reached and the great prestige which would be given to the +movement but even with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_445" id="Page_445">[Pg 445]</a></span> her wonderful ability for getting money she +never could secure anywhere near enough to carry out this plan in the +city where everything must be done on a large scale to be successful. +The longed-for opportunity did not come in her lifetime but in 1909 +Mrs. Oliver H. P. Belmont decided to take an active part in the work +for woman suffrage and inquired of the leaders what was the most +important thing to be done. They answered quickly: "Establish State +headquarters in New York City and also bring the National headquarters +here." With the executive ability for which she was noted Mrs. Belmont +at once rented the entire floor of a big new office building at 505 +Fifth Avenue, corner of 42nd Street, and invited both associations to +take headquarters there for two years. They did so and the movement +received a strong impulse not only in New York but in the country at +large. The State association paid no rent and the national press +bureau was maintained by Mrs. Belmont.</p> + +<p>While in New York City women of the highest character and ability had +sponsored the suffrage work it had not attracted the women who could +give it financial support. When Mrs. Mackay and Mrs. Belmont +identified themselves with it, opened their homes for lectures and +interested their friends public attention was aroused. The meetings +given in August by Mrs. Belmont at Marble House, Newport, which never +before had been opened to the public, received an immense amount of +space in the New York papers and those outside. The big headquarters +soon were thronged with women; magazines, syndicates and the daily +press had articles and pictures; mass meetings and parades followed +and thousands of women entered the suffrage ranks. At the end of two +years the State association was sufficiently well financed to maintain +its headquarters, which remained in New York until its work was +finished. Mrs. Belmont never lost her interest in the cause and +continued to make large contributions. In a few years Mrs. Mackay +turned her attention to other matters but her society was continued +under the presidency of Mrs. Howard Mansfield. In 1909, under the +direction of Mrs. Catt, its chairman, the Inter-Urban Council of +twenty societies became the Woman Suffrage Party and organization +along the lines of the political parties was begun.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_446" id="Page_446">[Pg 446]</a></span></p> + +<p>The delegates came to the State convention at Troy in 1909 with high +hopes that with headquarters established in New York City the suffrage +work could be promoted as never before. It was held in the Y. M. C. A. +building and greeted by representatives of the Emma Willard +Association, City Federation of Women's Clubs, Daughters of the +American Revolution and Teachers' Association. Mayor E. P. Mann +extended an official welcome. Among the speakers was Professor Frances +Squire Potter, national corresponding secretary. Mrs. William M. Ivins +gave her impression of the suffrage movement in England and Miss +Carolyn Crossett spoke on the meeting of the International Woman +Suffrage Alliance in London, which she attended with Dr. Shaw. Not +since the constitutional convention in 1894 had so much work been +reported. The State president or vice-president had attended meetings +in 41 counties. All-day meetings were held in all the cities on the +Hudson River with excellent speakers, including Dr. Shaw. The +president, vice-president and corresponding secretary, Miss Alice +Williams, remained at Albany for three months, speaking and working in +the towns in the eastern part of the State. Three large +Self-Supporting Women's Suffrage Leagues joined the association.</p> + +<p>In 1910 both the State association and the Woman Suffrage Party wrote +Chairman Timothy Woodruff of the Republican and Chairman John A. Dix +of the Democratic State Committees requesting a hearing at the +conventions. They were politely referred to the Resolutions +Committees. They went to the Republican convention at Saratoga +Springs, carrying their literature and the printed resolution which +they wished the committee to put in the platform: "We believe that the +question of woman suffrage has reached such a degree of importance +that the Legislature should submit an amendment for it to the voters +of the State." The committee allowed ten minutes; Mrs. Crossett +presided and presented Mrs. Mary Wood, national organizer of the +Republican women; Miss Mary Garrett Hay, a leader of the New York +Woman Suffrage Party and other able speakers but no attention was paid +to their request. This program was repeated at the Democratic +convention in Rochester with the same result, and this had been the +experience for years. At this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_447" id="Page_447">[Pg 447]</a></span> time candidates all over the State were +being interviewed and women went to many county and city political +conventions asking for endorsement of equal suffrage, seldom with +success, although the politicians admitted that the time for acting +was not far off.</p> + +<p>The convention met at Niagara Falls in October, 1910, in the +auditorium of the Shredded Wheat Biscuit Company, and was welcomed by +Mayor Peter Porter. Mrs. Crossett responded and gave her annual +address, which, she said, would be her last as president. Her home was +in Warsaw in the western part of the State and when headquarters in +New York City were given to the association she promised to make that +her home for one year but could not do so longer. Over 1,000 persons +had registered at the headquarters, she said, but these probably were +not over one-third of those who called. Most of them came for speakers +or help in some way; others came to volunteer assistance. Meetings had +been held in nearly every unorganized county and there were 37 county +societies. There were 155 clubs in the association, which had begun to +make the assembly district the unit in the State, as Mrs. Catt had +done in New York City. These clubs had held 695 public and 1,614 local +meetings. The State board had arranged for 241 public meetings making +2,550. The association had now a membership of 58,000.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Belmont, who had rooms on the same floor with the State and +national associations, had formed eight clubs and given some of them +headquarters. The city had headquarters and altogether there were ten. +A Men's League had been organized. A Cooperative Service Club of over +100 business women was formed and met evenings at the State +headquarters. The association sponsored the work of securing names to +the National petition to Congress and they were tabulated at +headquarters. Greater New York women secured 24,114 names and there +were 72,086 signers in the State. A lecture bureau was established; +Miss Carolyn Crossett went over the State arranging meetings; Miss +Mills spoke in 28 counties. Dr. B. O. Aylesworth of Colorado +University was spending the summer in New York and gave over twenty +lectures for the association before clubs and public meetings. It +seemed as if every woman's club in New York City asked for speakers +and many of note were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_448" id="Page_448">[Pg 448]</a></span> supplied. The association had published +thousands of pieces of literature and used thousands prepared by the +National.</p> + +<p>It was in this flourishing condition that the State association passed +from the hands of Mrs. Crossett into those of her successor, Miss +Harriet May Mills, who had served with her as vice-president +throughout the preceding eight years. The other officers during this +period were Mrs. Shuler, Mary T. Sanford, Ada M. Hall, Ida A. Craft, +Isabel Howland, Alice Williams, Anna E. Merritt, Georgiana Potter, +Nicolas Shaw Fraser, Mrs. Ivins, Eliza Wright Osborne, Mariana W. +Chapman and Mrs. Villard. The lack of space prevents naming the +hundreds of women who gave unceasing service through these years when +faith and courage were required and there were no victories as a +reward. In all the cities of the State the local women arranged +courses of lectures with prominent speakers and kept suffrage +continually before the people through the press and in other ways. By +this quiet, persistent work of comparatively few women the foundation +was laid for the majorities in the many "up-State" counties when the +amendment came to a vote.</p> + + +<h3>1910-1913.<a name="FNanchor_124_124" id="FNanchor_124_124"></a><a href="#Footnote_124_124" class="fnanchor">[124]</a></h3> + +<p>At the annual convention of the State Association held in Niagara +Falls, Oct. 18-21, 1910, the following officers were chosen: +President, Miss Mills; vice-president, Mrs. Arthur L. Livermore, +Yonkers; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Roxana B. Burrows, Andover; +recording secretary, Mrs. Nicolas Shaw Fraser, Geneseo; treasurer, +Mrs. Ivins, New York; auditors, Mrs. Osborne, Auburn, Mrs. Villard, +New York. During the three following years there were but few +changes.<a name="FNanchor_125_125" id="FNanchor_125_125"></a><a href="#Footnote_125_125" class="fnanchor">[125]</a></p> + +<p>The convention of 1911 met in Ithaca; that of 1912 in Utica and that +of 1913 in Binghamton. This period was one of great activity, leading +to the submission of an amendment to the State<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_449" id="Page_449">[Pg 449]</a></span> constitution by the +Legislature in January, 1913, the object of the association for over +forty years. Its paying membership had steadily increased from 5,252 +in October, 1910 to 8,139 in October, 1913, with over 50,000 enrolled +members in addition. New York was thus enabled to continue its record +of having the largest delegation each year in the national convention. +The receipts from membership were respectively $8,182, $11,836 and +$14,230, the gains in membership and money amounting to about 60 per +cent. The enrolled membership was finally adopted in place of the paid +individual membership through suffrage clubs. For fourteen years the +association maintained the <i>News Letter</i>, edited for ten years by Miss +Mills and afterwards by Mrs. Minnie Reynolds and Miss Cora E. Morlan +successively.</p> + +<p>One part of the work which helped build up the association was the +great campaigns through the summers of 1911-12, covering the eastern, +northern and western counties and Long Island. Over 200 of these +open-air rallies were held and thousands of enrolled members as well +as new clubs and workers were secured. At the large Delhi meeting, +held as an exception in the opera house, Mrs. Henry White Cannon came +into the ranks, formed a strong organization and continued to be one +of the valued leaders. Mrs. Gertrude Nelson Andrews for two years +conducted classes in public speaking and knowledge of suffrage +principles at the New York headquarters. She also went out into the +State, rousing the women to the need of training themselves and others +to speak for the cause and prepared a valuable book for her students.</p> + +<p>In 1911 the State headquarters were moved into a beautiful old mansion +at 180 Madison Avenue, just south of 34th Street in the heart of the +shopping district, where they remained during 1912-13. Through the +generosity of Mrs. Frances Lang, of whom they were leased, a +comparatively low rent was paid. The new quarters were opened with a +brilliant house-warming and in February a big State bazar and fair +were held to raise funds. The preceding year the association +celebrated Miss Anthony's birthday with a bazar in the roof garden of +the Hotel Astor, with articles contributed from all parts of the State +and several thousand dollars were realized. Never was this anniversary +on February 15 allowed to pass without a special observance.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_450" id="Page_450">[Pg 450]</a></span> In 1913 +it was celebrated by a reception at the Hotel Astor with speeches by +Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, Mrs. Ida Husted +Harper, Miss Anthony's biographer, and others. A bust of the great +leader was unveiled by the sculptor, Mrs. Adelaide Johnson. +Contributions of $2,500 were made.</p> + +<p>In May the State association united with all the suffrage societies of +New York (except the Women's Political Union, Mrs. Harriot Stanton +Blatch, president, which did not wish to take part), in a meeting and +pageant at the Metropolitan Opera House arranged by Mrs. Mansfield. +Former President Theodore Roosevelt and Dr. Shaw made notable +addresses to an enthusiastic audience which crowded the vast +amphitheater and the great prima donna, Madame Nordica, a strong +advocate of woman suffrage, sang magnificently. The pageant was +beautiful and was accompanied by an orchestra composed entirely of +women led by David Mannes. The association cooperated in a number of +big parades during these years, representatives coming from societies +throughout the State and from neighboring States. On the last Saturday +in May, 1910, there was a night procession down Fifth Avenue with Mrs. +James Lees Laidlaw as the efficient chairman of arrangements. One on +the first Saturday in May, 1911, will ever be remembered, all the +thousands of women dressed in white, headed by Mrs. C. O. Mailloux and +Miss Carolyn Fleming carrying the flag of the State association, white +satin with a heavy gold fringe and a golden wreath of laurel in the +center with the name and date of organization. The fund for it was +collected by Mrs. Ivins, the State treasurer, who gave so generously +of her money, time, thought and effort to strengthen the association +through the years of her service. At the head of the great parade the +first Saturday in May, 1912, marched the handsome and stately Mrs. +Herbert Carpenter, carrying the Stars and Stripes. Miss Portia Willis +as grand marshal, robed in white and mounted on a white horse, made a +picture never to be forgotten. These two led several processions. The +pioneers rode in handsomely decorated carriages. In these processions +tens of thousands of women were in line and they marched with many +bands from Washington Square to Central Park, a distance of several +miles. Delegates<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_451" id="Page_451">[Pg 451]</a></span> from Men's Suffrage Leagues walked with them. Half a +million people lined the streets, orderly and respectful.</p> + +<p>In 1912 representatives of the association attended the State +conventions of all the parties and extended hearings were granted by +the Resolutions Committees. Their treatment was in great contrast to +that of earlier days when they could scarcely obtain five or ten +minutes before a committee. This year every party declared for woman +suffrage in its platform. It was a gratification to sit in the great +convention hall at Saratoga and hear the Hon. Horace White of +Syracuse, who throughout his long years in the State Senate had +constantly opposed the amendment, report in his capacity as chairman +of the Resolutions Committee that the Republican party favored a +speedy referendum on woman suffrage. Many dramatic features of +propaganda characterized these years, which marked the awakening of +the women of the entire State and brought into the ranks many +wide-awake, independent young women, who wanted to use aggressive and +spectacular methods, and these the older workers did not discourage. +Those that attracted the most attention were the suffrage "hikes," in +which Miss Rosalie Jones, a girl of wealth and position, was the +leading spirit. She sent a picturesque account of these "hikes," which +has had to be condensed for lack of space.</p> + +<blockquote><p>The idea originated with Rosalie Gardiner Jones, who began by +making a tour of Long Island, her summer home, in a little cart +drawn by one horse and decorated with suffrage flags and banners, +stopping at every village and town, giving out literature and +talking to the crowds that gathered. "If you once win the hearts +of the rural people you have them forever. That is why I decided +to organize a pilgrimage from New York City to Albany before the +opening of the legislative session, when it was hoped a woman +suffrage amendment would be submitted to the voters," she said.</p> + +<p>Miss Jones recruited a small army of brave and devoted members, +of which she was the "General" and Miss Ida Craft of Brooklyn the +"Colonel" and the three others who walked every step to the end +of the journey were Miss Lavinia Dock—"little Doc Dock"—a +trained nurse, department editor of the <i>American Journal of +Nursing</i> and author of The History of Nursing; Miss Sybil Wilbur +of Boston, biographer of Mary Baker Eddy, and Miss Katharine +Stiles of Brooklyn. They carried a message to Governor William +Sulzer expressing the earnest hope that his administration might +be distinguished by the speedy passage of the woman suffrage +amendment,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_452" id="Page_452">[Pg 452]</a></span> signed by the presidents of the various New York +suffrage organizations, engraved on parchment and hand illumined +by Miss Jones. The "hike" began Monday morning, Dec. 16, 1912, +from the 242nd street subway station, where about 500 had +gathered, and about 200, including the newspaper correspondents, +started to walk.</p> + +<p>From New York City to Albany there was left a trail of propaganda +among the many thousands of people who stopped at the cross roads +and villages to listen to the first word which had ever reached +them concerning woman suffrage, and many joined in and marched +for a few miles. The newspapers far and wide were filled with +pictures and stories. The march continued for thirteen days, +through sun and rain and snow over a distance of 170 miles, +including detours for special propaganda, and five pilgrims +walked into Albany at 4 p. m., December 28. Whistles blew, bells +rang, motor cars clanged their gongs, traffic paused, windows +were thrown up, stores and shops were deserted while Albany gazed +upon them, and large numbers escorted them to the steps of the +Capitol where they lifted their cry "Votes for Women." They were +received at the Executive Mansion on the 31st and "General +Rosalie" gave the message in behalf of the suffragists of New +York State. The newly-elected Governor answered: "All my life I +have believed in the right of women to exercise the franchise +with men as a matter of justice. I will do what I can to advance +their political rights and have already incorporated in my +Message advice to the legislators to pass the suffrage measure."</p> + +<p>The "hike" had resulted in such tremendous advertising of woman +suffrage that another on a larger scale to Washington was +planned. "General" Jones and "Colonel" Craft were reinforced by +"little Corporal" Martha Klatschken of New York and a large +group, who were joined by others along the route. The "army" was +mustered in at the Hudson Terminal, New York, at 9 a. m. on +Lincoln's birthday, Feb. 12, 1913, and the start was made a +little later at Newark, N. J. Each marcher wore a picturesque +long brown woolen cape. The little yellow wagon with the good +horse "Meg," driven by Miss Elizabeth Freeman, was joined at +Philadelphia by Miss Marguerite Geist, with a little cart and +donkey, and she helped distribute the suffrage buttons, flags and +leaflets.</p> + +<p>Thousands of people were gathered at Newark to see the start of +this "army of the Hudson," which now was known as the "army of +the Potomac," and hundreds marched with them the first day. After +this about a hundred fell in at each town and marched to the next +one. Alphonse Major and Edward Van Wyck were the advance agents +who arranged for the meetings and the stopping places for the +night. They were constantly attended by the press correspondents, +at one time forty-five of them with their cameras, besides the +magazine writers. The Mayors of the places along the route would +send delegations to meet them and escort them to the town hall, +where the speech-making would begin. At Wilmington, Del., the +city council declared a half-holiday; the Mayor and officials met +them at the edge<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_453" id="Page_453">[Pg 453]</a></span> of town and escorted them to the town hall, +which was crowded, and they were obliged also to hold street +meetings for hours. They reached Philadelphia at 7 o'clock Sunday +evening, where the streets had been packed for hours awaiting +them, and it was only by holding street corner meetings on the +way that they could get to the hotel.</p> + +<p>The Princeton University students had been roaming around all the +afternoon waiting for them, as there were a number of young +college boys and girls with them, and the speakers held the crowd +of boys for several hours. The next day a delegation of students +walked with them for miles. At all of the other university towns +they were received with the same enthusiasm. At the University of +Pennsylvania they were detained hours for speeches in the +grounds. At Baltimore they were received by Cardinal Gibbons in +his mansion, an extraordinary courtesy, as they were not +Catholics.</p> + +<p>The "hikers" reached Hyattsville, four miles from Washington, the +evening of February 27 and spent the night there. The next +morning, escorted by a delegation of suffragists from the city, +they marched down Pennsylvania Avenue. The streets had been +thronged for several hours with a cosmopolitan crowd, from the +highest to the lowest. At the headquarters of the Congressional +Committee of the National American Suffrage Association, across +from the Treasury building, "General" Jones was presented with +flowers and disbanded her army. Fourteen had walked the entire +distance from New York—295 miles with some detours—and two had +walked from Philadelphia.<a name="FNanchor_126_126" id="FNanchor_126_126"></a><a href="#Footnote_126_126" class="fnanchor">[126]</a></p> + +<p>A message to President Taft, similar to the one which had been +sent by the New York officers to Governor Sulzer, had been +entrusted by the board of the National Suffrage Association to +the pilgrims, who expected to march in a body to the White House +to deliver it. Before they reached Washington they were notified +that the board itself would present it to the incoming President +Wilson at a later date. Miss Florence Allen, the well known Ohio +lawyer, who had been marching for several days, returned to New +York, to try to obtain the recall of this decision but was +unsuccessful. Afterwards the board informed "General" Jones that +they would go together to the White House but all had separated, +the psychological moment had passed and the message was never +presented.</p></blockquote> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action.</span> The legislature of New York meets annually and +from 1854 to 1917 a woman suffrage measure was presented only to be +rejected, with two exceptions. The first was in 1880, when the +Legislature undertook to give women the right to vote at school +meetings, but the law was ineffective and this great privilege was +confined to women in villages and country<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_454" id="Page_454">[Pg 454]</a></span> districts. The charters of +a number of third class cities granted School suffrage to women and +some of them included the right to vote on special appropriations for +those who paid taxes. This was the situation at the beginning of the +century.<a name="FNanchor_127_127" id="FNanchor_127_127"></a><a href="#Footnote_127_127" class="fnanchor">[127]</a></p> + +<p>1901. When Theodore Roosevelt was Governor he advised the suffragists +to drop the effort for a constitutional amendment awhile and work for +something the Legislature could grant without a referendum to the +voters. For five years, therefore, they tried to get some form of +partial suffrage that could be obtained without amending the +constitution. The total result was a law in 1901 giving to taxpaying +women in the towns and villages a vote on propositions to raise money +by special tax assessment, which was signed by Governor Benjamin F. +Odell. Miss Susan B. Anthony considered this of little value but it +covered about 1,800 places and when she saw the interest aroused in +the women by even this small concession she came to think that it was +worth while. In 1910 a legislative enactment increased this privilege +to a vote on the issuing of bonds.</p> + +<p>During the legislative sessions of 1902-3-4-5 the effort was +concentrated on a bill to give a vote on special taxation to taxpaying +women in all third class cities—those having less than 50,000 +inhabitants. Mrs. Mary H. Loines of Brooklyn was chairman of the +committee, as she had been since 1898. The special champions of the +bill were Senators Leslie B. Humphrey, H. S. Ambler, John Raines; +Representatives Otto Kelsey, George H. Smith, Louis C. Bedell, E. W. +Ham. Among the strongest opponents were Senators Edgar Truman +Brackett, George A. Davis, Thomas F. Grady and Nevada M. Stranahan. +Governors Odell and Frank M. Higgins recommended it and Speaker +Frederick S. Nixon urged it. Committee hearings were granted at every +session and among its advocates were Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, +national president, Mrs. Crossett and Miss Harriet May Mills, State +president and vice-president; Mrs. Harriot Stanton Blatch, Mrs. +Margaret Chanler Aldrich, Mrs. Mary E. Craigie and Miss Anne Fitzhugh +Miller. Mrs. Arthur M. Dodge, president of the Anti-Suffrage<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_455" id="Page_455">[Pg 455]</a></span> +Association, and Mrs. George Phillips, secretary, spoke in opposition. +During these four years neither House voted on the bill and it was +seldom reported by the committees.</p> + +<p>In 1906 after consulting with Miss Anthony, the State leaders decided +to return to the original effort for the submission to the voters of +an amendment to the State constitution, which was presented by Senator +Henry W. Hill of Buffalo and Representative E. C. Dowling of Brooklyn. +Mrs. Henry Villard, Mrs. John K. Howe and Mrs. Helen Z. M. Rodgers +were among the suffrage speakers and Mrs. Winslow W. Crannell was +added to the "antis." No committee reports were made. The taxpayers' +bill was also presented in 1906 and 1907 with no results of six years' +work.</p> + +<p>Thenceforth the resolution for the constitutional amendment was +introduced every year, in 1908 by Senator Percy Hooker of LeRoy. The +club women had now become interested and the legislators were deluged +with letters and literature. Miss Mary Garrett Hay, Miss Helen Varick +Boswell and Mrs. Harry Hastings headed the large delegation from New +York City for the hearing. Mrs. Crossett informed the Judiciary +Committee that during the past year woman suffrage had been officially +endorsed by the New York City Federation of Labor with 250,000 +members; State Grange with 75,000; New York City Federation of Women's +Clubs with 35,000; Woman's Christian Temperance Union with 30,000 and +many other organizations. F. A. Byrne spoke for the City Central Labor +Union. Mrs. Francis M. Scott represented the Anti-Suffrage +Association. Morris Hilquit and Mrs. Meta Stern spoke independently +for the Socialists, making a strong appeal for the amendment. The +Senate took no action and Speaker James W. Wadsworth, Jr., was able to +defeat any consideration by the Lower House. During the following +summer mass meetings were held in every city on the Hudson River +addressed by Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, now president of the National +Suffrage Association, and other noted speakers and a vast amount of +work was done in the State.</p> + +<p>In the Legislature of 1909 Senator Hill and Representative Frederick +R. Toombs introduced the resolution. At the hearing the Assembly +Chamber was filled to overflowing. Mrs. Villard,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_456" id="Page_456">[Pg 456]</a></span> chairman of the +Legislative Committee, presided.<a name="FNanchor_128_128" id="FNanchor_128_128"></a><a href="#Footnote_128_128" class="fnanchor">[128]</a> People stood four hours +listening to the speeches and returned to a suffrage mass meeting at +night. Mrs. William Force Scott and Miss Margaret Doane Gardner spoke +for the "antis." Mrs. Crossett asked of the committee: "Does it mean +nothing to you that 40,000 women in this State are organized to secure +the franchise; that a few years ago 600,000 people signed the petition +for woman suffrage to the constitutional convention; that associations +formed for other purposes representing hundreds of thousands of +members have endorsed it?" Mrs. Graham, president of the State W. C. +T. U.; Mrs. John Winters Brannan and Mrs. Pearce Bailey, representing +the Equal Franchise Society; Miss Mills, speaking for the State +League; Leonora O'Reilly, presenting the resolution of the Women's +Trade Union League of New York for the amendment; Mrs. Dexter F. +Rumsey, speaking for Mrs. Nettie Rogers Shuler, president of the +Western New York Federation of Women's Clubs; Mrs. Lillie Devereux +Blake, a pioneer suffragist, president of the Legislative League; Mrs. +Florence Kelley, executive secretary of the Consumers' League; Mrs. +George Howard Lewis of Buffalo, a well known philanthropist; Mrs. Maud +Nathan, president of the New York Consumers' League; Mrs. Rodgers and +Mrs. Gabrielle Mulliner, lawyers—all urged the legislators to submit +the question to the voters. Dr. Shaw held the audience spellbound +until 6 o'clock. John Spargo, the well known socialist, spoke +independently with much power, demanding the vote especially for +working women. The use of the Assembly Chamber was granted for an +evening suffrage meeting which attracted a large audience. The +Legislature took no action.<a name="FNanchor_129_129" id="FNanchor_129_129"></a><a href="#Footnote_129_129" class="fnanchor">[129]</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_457" id="Page_457">[Pg 457]</a></span></p> + +<p>Members of the large legislative committee met weekly during the +session of 1910 at the State headquarters in New York to assist in +promoting the work. All the workers as usual contributed their +services. Mrs. Crossett and Miss Mills remained in Albany. A notable +meeting was held there at Harmanus-Bleecker Hall, with excellent +speakers. The boxes were filled with prominent women, who had invited +many of the State officials as guests; seats were sent to all the +members of the Legislature, most of whom were present, and the house +with a capacity of 2,000 was crowded. Mrs. Clarence Mackay defrayed +most of the expenses. On January 22 Governor Charles E. Hughes granted +a hearing to George Foster Peabody, Oswald Garrison Villard, Mrs. Ella +H. Boole, Mrs. Villard, Mrs. Crossett, Mrs. Frederick R. Hazard and +Miss Anne F. Miller, who urged him to recommend the submission of an +amendment. He seemed much impressed by the statements made but they +had no effect. The hearing on March 9 broke all records. The Assembly +Chamber was filled to the utmost and surging crowds outside tried to +get in. Members of both Houses stood for hours listening to the +speeches. Jesse R. Phillips, chairman of the Assembly Judiciary +Committee, presided. The suffrage speakers were headed by the eminent +lawyer, Samuel Untermeyer. The anti-suffragists had a long list, +including Mrs. Henry M. Stimson, wife of a New York Baptist minister, +and Mrs. William P. Northrup of Buffalo. Both Judiciary Committees +refused to let the resolution come before the two Houses, admitting +that it would be carried if they did.</p> + +<p>The most thorough preparation was made for the session of 1911 by all +the suffrage societies. The Assembly committee refused to report and +on May 10 Representative Spielberg, who had charge, moved to request +it to do so. The vote was 38 in favor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_458" id="Page_458">[Pg 458]</a></span> to 90 against his motion. On +May 15 the Senate Judiciary Committee by 6 to 2 reported in favor but +not until July 12 was the vote taken in the Senate and the measure was +lost by a vote of 14 ayes, 17 noes.</p> + +<p>In 1912 a remarkable hearing was held in a crowded Assembly Chamber. +Senator Stillwell, a member of the Judiciary Committee, again +introduced the amendment resolution and its chairman, Senator Bayne, +was a staunch friend but after the committee had reported it favorably +the Senate could not be moved. In the Assembly, on the final day of +the session, for the first time since 1895 and the second time on +record, the resolution was adopted. Just as it was about to be taken +to the Senate for action, Representative Cuvellier of New York blocked +further progress by moving to reconsider the vote and lay the +resolution on the table. This was carried by a vote of 69 to 6 and +doubtless had been prearranged.</p> + +<p>By 1913 the sentiment in favor of letting the voters pass on the +question had become too strong to be resisted. Mrs. Katharine Gavit of +Albany, representing the Cooperative Legislative Committee, had charge +of the resolution. On January 6, the opening day, a delegation from +all the suffrage societies sat in the Senate Chamber and heard it +introduced by Senator Wagner, the Democratic floor leader, who said +that, while not personally in favor of it he was willing to sponsor it +because his party had endorsed it in their platform, and it was +favorably reported. In the Assembly it was promptly introduced by A. +J. Levy, chairman of the Judiciary Committee. The form of the proposed +amendment had been changed from that of all preceding years, which had +intended simply to take the word "male" from the suffrage clause of +the constitution. As alien women could secure citizenship through +marriage and would thus immediately become voters it provided that +they must first live in the country five years. The Senate struck out +this naturalization clause; in the Assembly the Democratic members +wanted it, the Republicans objected to it. On January 20 the Assembly +passed the measure without it. The Senate put back the clause and +passed it January 23 by 40 ayes, two noes—McCue and Frawley of New +York—and returned it to the Assembly, which passed it four days later +by 128 ayes,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_459" id="Page_459">[Pg 459]</a></span> 5 noes. The resolution had still to pass another +Legislature two years later but this was the beginning of the end for +which two generations of women had worked and waited.</p> + +<p>[<span class="smcap">Laws.</span> A complete digest of the laws relating to women and children +during the first twenty years of the century was prepared for this +chapter by Miss Kathryn H. Starbuck, attorney and counsellor at law in +Saratoga Springs. It comprises about 3,600 words and includes laws +relating to property, marriage, guardianship, domestic relations, etc. +Much regret is felt that the exigencies of space compel the omission +of the laws in all the State chapters. Miss Starbuck gave also +valuable information on office holding and occupations, which had to +be omitted for the same reason.]</p> + + +<h3>NEW YORK CITY CAMPAIGNS.<a name="FNanchor_130_130" id="FNanchor_130_130"></a><a href="#Footnote_130_130" class="fnanchor">[130]</a></h3> + +<p>The story of the growth of the woman suffrage movement in Greater New +York is one of the most interesting chapters in the history of this +cause, for while it advanced slowly for many years, it rose in 1915 +and 1917 to a height never attained elsewhere and culminated in two +campaigns that in number of adherents and comprehensive work were +never equaled.</p> + +<p>The Brooklyn Woman Suffrage Association was formed May 13, 1869, and +the New York City Society in 1870. From this time various +organizations came into permanent existence until in 1903 there were +fifteen devoted to suffrage propaganda. In Manhattan (New York City) +and Brooklyn these were bound together by county organizations but in +order to unite all the suffragists in cooperative work the Interurban +Woman Suffrage Council was formed in 1903 at the Brooklyn home of a +pioneer, Mrs. Priscilla D. Hackstaff, with the President of the Kings +County Political Equality League, Mrs. Martha Williams, presiding. The +Interurban began with a roster of five which gradually increased to +twenty affiliated societies, with an associate membership besides of +150 women. Under the able leadership of Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, +chairman, it established headquarters in the Martha Washington Hotel, +New York City, Feb.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_460" id="Page_460">[Pg 460]</a></span> 15, 1907, with a secretary, Miss Fannie Chafin, +in charge, and maintained committees on organization, literature, +legislative work, press and lectures; formed clubs, held mass meetings +and systematically distributed literature. The Council was the first +suffrage organization in New York City to interview Assemblymen and +Senators on woman suffrage and it called the first representative +convention held in the big metropolis.</p> + +<p>The Woman Suffrage Party of Greater New York was launched by this +Council at Carnegie Hall, October 29, 1909, modelled after that of the +two dominant political parties. Its first convention with 804 +delegates and 200 alternates constituted the largest delegate suffrage +body ever assembled in New York State. The new party announced that it +would have a leader for each of the 63 assembly districts of the city +and a captain for each of the 2,127 election districts, these and +their assistant officers to be supervised by a borough chairman and +other officers in each borough, the entire force to be directed by a +city chairman assisted by city officers and a board of directors. Mrs. +Catt, with whom the idea of the Party originated, and her co-workers +believed that by reaching into every election district to influence +its voters, they would bring suffrage close to the people and +eventually influence parties and legislators through public opinion.</p> + +<p>The population of Greater New York was 4,700,000 and the new party had +a task of colossal proportions. It had to appeal to native Americans +of all classes and conditions and to thousands of foreign born. It +sent its forces to local political conventions; held mass meetings; +issued thousands of leaflets in many languages; conducted street +meetings, parades, plays, lectures, suffrage schools; gave +entertainments and teas; sent appeals to churches and all kinds of +organizations and to individual leaders; brought pressure on +legislators through their constituents and obtained wide publicity in +newspapers and magazines. It succeeded in all its efforts and +increased its membership from 20,000 in 1910 to over 500,000 in 1917.</p> + +<p>In 1915, at the beginning of the great campaign for a suffrage +amendment to the State constitution, which had been submitted by the +Legislature, the State was divided into twelve campaign districts. +Greater New York was made the first and under the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_461" id="Page_461">[Pg 461]</a></span> leadership of Miss +Mary Garrett Hay, who since 1912 had served as chairman, the City +Woman Suffrage Party plunged into strenuous work, holding conventions, +sending out organizers, raising $50,000 as a campaign fund, setting a +specific task for each month of 1915 up to Election Day, and forming +its own committees with chairmen as follows: Industrial, Miss Leonora +O'Reilly; The Woman Voter, Mrs. Thomas B. Wells; Speakers' Bureau, +Mrs. Mabel Russell; Congressional, Mrs. Lillian Griffin; the French, +Mrs. Anna Ross Weeks; the German, Miss Catherine Dreier; the Press, +Mrs. Oreola Williams Haskell; Ways and Means, Mrs. John B. McCutcheon.</p> + +<p>The City Party began the intensive work of the campaign in January, +1915, when a swift pace was set for the succeeding months by having 60 +district conventions, 170 canvassing suppers, four mass meetings, 27 +canvassing conferences and a convention in Carnegie Hall. It was +decided to canvass all of the 661,164 registered voters and hundreds +of women spent long hours toiling up and down tenement stairs, going +from shop to shop, visiting innumerable factories, calling at hundreds +of city and suburban homes, covering the rural districts, the big +department stores and the immense office buildings with their +thousands of occupants. It was estimated that 60 per cent of the +enrolled voters received these personal appeals. The membership of the +party was increased by 60,535 women secured as members by canvassers.</p> + +<p>The following is a brief summing up of the activities of the ten +months' campaign.<a name="FNanchor_131_131" id="FNanchor_131_131"></a><a href="#Footnote_131_131" class="fnanchor">[131]</a></p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table class="smallprint" summary="Campaign Summary"> +<tr><td class="left" colspan="2">Voters canvassed (60 per cent of those enrolled)</td><td class="right">396,698</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left" colspan="2">Women canvassed</td><td class="right">60,535</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left" colspan="2">Voters circularized</td><td class="right">826,796</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left" colspan="2">Party membership increased from 151,688 to</td><td class="right">212,223</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left" colspan="2">Watchers and pickets furnished for the polls</td><td class="right">3,151</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left" colspan="2">Numbers of leaflets printed and distributed</td><td class="right">2,883,264</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left" colspan="2">Money expended from the City treasury</td><td class="right">$25,579</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left">Number of outdoor meetings</td><td class="right">5,225</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left">Number of indoor meetings (district)</td><td class="right">660</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left">Number of mass meetings</td><td class="right">93</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left indent">Political meetings addressed by Congressmen,<br />Assemblymen and Constitutional Convention delegates</td><td class="right">25</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left" colspan="2">Total number of meetings</td><td class="right">6,003</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left" colspan="2">Night speaking in theaters</td><td class="right">60<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_462" id="Page_462">[Pg 462]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="left" colspan="2">Theater Week (Miner's and Keith's)</td><td class="right">2</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left" colspan="2">Speeches and suffrage slides in movie theaters</td><td class="right">150</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left" colspan="2">Concerts (indoor, 10, outdoor, 3)</td><td class="right">13</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left" colspan="2">Suffrage booths in bazaars</td><td class="right">6</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left" colspan="2">Number of Headquarters (Borough 4, Districts, 20)</td><td class="right">24</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left indent" colspan="2">Campaign vans (drawn by horses 6, decorated autos 6,<br />district autos 4), vehicles in constant use</td><td class="right">16</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left" colspan="2">Papers served regularly with news (English and foreign)</td><td class="right">80</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left" colspan="2">Suffrage editions of papers prepared</td><td class="right">2</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left" colspan="2">Special articles on suffrage</td><td class="right">150</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left" colspan="2">Sermons preached by request just before election</td><td class="right">64</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<blockquote> +<p>A <i>Weekly News Bulletin</i> (for papers and workers) and the <i>Woman +Voter</i> (a weekly magazine) issued; many unique features like +stories, verses, etc.; hundreds of ministers circularized and +speakers sent to address congregations; the endorsements of all +city officials and of many prominent people and big organizations +secured.</p></blockquote> + +<p>In order to accomplish the work indicated by this table a large number +of expert canvassers, speakers, executives and clerical workers were +required. Mrs. Catt as State Campaign chairman was a great driving +force and an inspiration that never failed, and Miss Hay in directing +the party forces and raising the money showed remarkable ability. +Associated with her were capable officials—Mrs. Margaret Chandler +Aldrich, Mrs. Wells, Mrs. Martha Wentworth Suffren, Mrs. Robert +McGregor, Mrs. Cornelia K. Hood, Mrs. Marie Jenney Howe, Mrs. Joseph +Fitch, Mrs. A. J. Newbury, and the tireless borough chairmen, Mrs. +James Lees Laidlaw, Manhattan; Mrs. H. Edward Dreier, Brooklyn; Mrs. +Henrietta Speke Seeley, Bronx; Mrs. Alfred J. Eno, Queens, and Mrs. +William G. Willcox, Richmond.</p> + +<p>The spectacular activities of the campaign caught and held public +attention. Various classes of men were complimented by giving them +"suffrage days." The appeal to the firemen took the form of an +automobile demonstration, open air speaking along the line of march of +their annual parade and a ten dollar gold piece given to one of their +number who made a daring rescue of a yellow-sashed dummy—a suffrage +lady. A circular letter was sent to 800 firemen requesting their help +for all suffragists. "Barbers' Day" produced ten columns of copy in +leading New York dailies. Letters were sent in advance to 400 barbers +informing them that on a certain day the suffragists would call upon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_463" id="Page_463">[Pg 463]</a></span> +them. The visits were made in autos decorated with barbers' poles and +laden with maps and posters to hang up in the shops and then open air +meetings were held out in front. Street cleaners on the day of the +"White Wings" parade were given souvenirs of tiny brooms and suffrage +leaflets and addressed from automobiles. A whole week was given to the +street car men who numbered 240,000. Suffrage speeches were given at +the car barns and leaflets and a "car barn" poster distributed.</p> + +<p>Forty-five banks and trust companies were treated to a "raid" made by +suffrage depositors, who gave out literature and held open meetings +afterward. Brokers were reached through two days in Wall Street where +the suffragists entered in triumphal style, flags flying, bugles +playing. Speeches were made, souvenirs distributed and a luncheon held +in a "suffrage" restaurant. The second day hundreds of colored +balloons were sent up to typify "the suffragists' hopes ascending." +Workers in the subway excavations were visited with Irish banners and +shamrock fliers; Turkish, Armenian, French, German and Italian +restaurants were canvassed as were the laborers on the docks, in +vessels and in public markets.</p> + +<p>A conspicuous occasion was the Night of the Interurban Council Fires, +when on high bluffs in the different boroughs huge bonfires were +lighted, fireworks and balloons sent up, while music, speeches and +transparencies emphasized the fact that woman's evolution from the +campfire of the savage into a new era was commemorated. Twenty-eight +parades were a feature of the open air demonstrations. There were +besides numbers of torchlight rallies; street dances on the lower East +Side; Irish, Syrian, Italian and Polish block parties; outdoor +concerts, among them a big one in Madison Square, where a full +orchestra played, opera singers sang and eminent orators spoke; open +air religious services with the moral and religious aspects of +suffrage discussed; a fęte held in beautiful Dyckman Glen; flying +squadrons of speakers whirling in autos from the Battery to the Bronx; +an "interstate meet" on the streets where suffragists of +Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York participated. Ninety original +features arranged on a big scale with many minor ones brought great +publicity to the cause and the suffragists ended their campaign +valiantly with sixty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_464" id="Page_464">[Pg 464]</a></span> speakers talking continuously in Columbus Circle +for twenty-six hours.</p> + +<p>On the night of November 2, election day, officers, leaders, workers, +members of the Party and many prominent men and women gathered at City +headquarters in East 34th Street to receive the returns, Mrs. Catt and +Miss Hay at either end of a long table. At first optimism prevailed as +the early returns seemed to indicate victory but as adverse reports +came in by the hundreds all hopes were destroyed. The fighting spirits +of the leaders then rose high. Speeches were made by Dr. Anna Howard +Shaw, Mrs. Catt, Miss Hay, Dr. Katherine Bement Davis, Mrs. Laidlaw +and others, and, though many workers wept openly, the gathering took +on the character of an embattled host ready for the next conflict. +After midnight many of the women joined a group from the State +headquarters and in a public square held an outdoor rally which they +called the beginning of the new campaign.</p> + +<p>The vote was as follows:</p> + +<div class="center"> +<table class="smallprint" summary="Vote Results"> +<tr><td class="left"> </td><td class="center">For</td><td class="center">Against</td><td class="center">Lost by</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left">Manhattan Borough</td><td class="right">88,886</td><td class="right">117,610</td><td class="right">28,724</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left">Brooklyn Borough</td><td class="right">87,402</td><td class="right">121,679</td><td class="right">34,277</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left">Bronx Borough</td><td class="right">34,307</td><td class="right">40,991</td><td class="right">6,684</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left">Richmond Borough</td><td class="right">6,108</td><td class="right">7,469</td><td class="right">1,361</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left">Queens Borough</td><td class="right">21,395</td><td class="right">33,104</td><td class="right">11,709</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left" colspan="4">Total opposed, 320,853; in favor, 238,098; adverse majority, 82,755.</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p>Two days after the election the City Party united with the National +Association in a mass meeting at Cooper Union, where speeches were +made and $100,000 pledged for a new campaign fund. The spirit of the +members was shown in the words of a leader who wrote: "We know that we +have gained over half a million voters in the State, that we have many +new workers, have learned valuable lessons and with the knowledge +obtained and undiminished courage we are again in the field of +action." In December and January the usual district and borough +conventions for the election of officers and then the city convention +were held. At the latter the resolution adopted showed a change from +the oldtime pleading: "We demand the re-submission of the woman +suffrage amendment in 1917. We insist that the Judiciary Committee +shall present a favorable report without delay and that the bill shall +come to an early vote." Much legislative work was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_465" id="Page_465">[Pg 465]</a></span> necessary to obtain +re-submission, for which the City Party worked incessantly until the +amendment was re-submitted by the Legislatures of 1916 and 1917 and +preparations were again made for a great campaign.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>The campaign of 1915 had been one of the highways, and of spectacular +display. That of 1917 was of the byways, of quiet, intensive work +reaching every group of citizens. The campaign was launched at a +meeting in Aeolian Hall, March 29, where the addresses of Mrs. Catt +and Miss Hay aroused true campaign fervor, the former saying: "Some +foreign countries have given the franchise to women for their war +work; we ask it that our women may feel they have been recognized as +assets of the nation before it calls on them for war work."</p> + +<p>The suffragists offered their services to the Government, even before +it declared war; the State Party to the Governor, the City Party to +the Mayor. The later said in a resolution adopted February 5: "We +place at the disposal of the Mayor of this city for any service he may +require our full organization of over 200,000 women, thoroughly +organized and trained and with headquarters in every borough." The +mass of the members stood solidly behind this offer. A War Service +Committee was appointed with Mrs. F. Louis Slade as its chairman and +it accomplished work that was not exceeded, if indeed equalled, in any +city of the United States. Nine other committees were also appointed.</p> + +<p>The leading features of the campaign of 1917 were the war work and the +enrolling of women. In 1916 when Mrs. Catt started a canvass to obtain +a million signatures of women to a petition to answer the argument, +"Women do not want to vote," the City Party took as its share the +securing of 514,555 in Greater New York. This accomplished, the +signatures mounted on big placards were placed on exhibition at Party +headquarters, now in East 38th Street, and a little ceremony was +arranged during which Mayor John Purroy Mitchel and other prominent +men made commendatory speeches. Debarred from outdoor meetings during +the summer of 1916 on account of an epidemic and during the summer of +1917 because of war conditions, the following was nevertheless +accomplished:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_466" id="Page_466">[Pg 466]</a></span></p> + +<div class="center"> +<table class="smallprint" summary="Accomplishments"> +<tr><td class="left">Meetings</td><td class="right">2,085</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left">Leaflets distributed</td><td class="right">5,196,884</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left">Money expended</td><td class="right">$151,438</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left">Canvassed and enrolled women</td><td class="right">514,555</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left">Women secured to watch at polls</td><td class="right">5,000</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left">Campaign headquarters maintained</td><td class="right">40</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left">Newspapers (English and foreign) served daily</td><td class="right">153</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left">Suffrage editions and pages edited</td><td class="right">10</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left">Special suffrage articles</td><td class="right">200</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left">Other suffrage articles and interviews</td><td class="right">400</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left">Posters placed in shop windows</td><td class="right">2,000</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<blockquote> +<p>Maintained Letter Writing Committee to send letters to the press; +issued Weekly News Bulletin; printed suffrage news in papers in +ten languages; circularized all churches and business men in 75 +per cent of the 2,060 election districts; conducted hundreds of +watchers' schools; exhibited suffrage movies in hundreds of +clubs, churches and settlements; had series of suppers and +conferences for working-women; held captains' rally at the +Waldorf-Astoria and a patriotic rally at Carnegie Hall; gave a +series of suffrage study courses; raised funds at sacrifice +sales, entertainments, lectures, etc.; sent speakers to hundreds +of Labor Union meetings; held four pre-election mass meetings and +as a wind-up to the campaign staged eight hours of continuous +speaking by 40 men and women at Columbus Circle.</p></blockquote> + +<p>The Party leaders had to meet attacks and misrepresentations from the +Anti-Suffrage Association, whose national and State headquarters were +in New York City. The Party had also to combat the actions of the +"militant" suffragists, whose headquarters were in Washington and +whose picketing of the White House and attacks on President Wilson and +other public men displeased many people who did not discriminate +between the large constructive branch of the suffrage movement and the +small radical branch. The Party leaders had often publicly to +repudiate the "militant" tactics. In the parade of Oct. 28, 1917, the +Party exhibited placards which read: "We are opposed to Picketing the +White House. We stand by the Country and the President."</p> + +<p>During the campaign, Miss Hay had associated with her on the executive +board, Mrs. Slade, Mrs. Aldrich, Mrs. George Notman, Miss Annie +Doughty, Mrs. F. Robertson-Jones, Mrs. Wells, Miss Adaline W. +Sterling, Mrs. Herbert Lee Pratt, Mrs. Charles E. Simonson, Dr. +Katherine B. Davis, Miss Eliza McDonald, Mrs. Alice P. Hutchins, Mrs. +Louis Welzmiller. Borough chairmen who assisted were Mrs. John +Humphrey Watkins, Manhattan;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_467" id="Page_467">[Pg 467]</a></span> Mrs. Dreier, Brooklyn; Mrs. Daniel +Appleton Palmer, Bronx; Mrs. David B. Rodger, Queens; Mrs. Wilcox, +Richmond.</p> + +<p>On the evening of November 6, election day, the City Party +headquarters were crowded with people waiting for the returns. Mrs. +Catt, Miss Hay, Mrs. Laidlaw and other leaders were present. Mr. +Laidlaw and Judge Wadhams were "keeping the count." Walter Damrosch +and other prominent men came in. From the beginning the returns were +encouraging and as the evening wore on and victory was assured, the +room rang with cheers and applause and there were many jubilant +speeches.</p> + +<p>The election brought a great surprise, for the big city, whose adverse +vote suffragists had always predicted would have to be outbalanced by +upstate districts, won the victory, the latter not helping but +actually pulling down its splendid majority. The final vote in Greater +New York read:</p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table class="smallprint" summary="Greater New York Vote"> +<tr><td class="left"> </td><td class="center"><i>Yes</i></td><td class="center"><i>No</i></td><td class="right"><i>Majority</i><br /><i>in Favor</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class="left">New York County</td><td class="right">129,412</td><td class="right">89,124</td><td class="right">40,288</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left">Kings (Brooklyn)</td><td class="right">129,601</td><td class="right">92,315</td><td class="right">37,286</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left">Bronx</td><td class="right">52,660</td><td class="right">36,346</td><td class="right">16,314</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left">Richmond</td><td class="right">7,868</td><td class="right">5,224</td><td class="right">2,644</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left">Queens</td><td class="right bb">34,125</td><td class="right bb">26,794</td><td class="right bb">7,331</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left"> Total</td><td class="right">353,666</td><td class="right">249,803</td><td class="right">103,863</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left" colspan="4"> Upstate districts, 349,463 ayes; 350,973 noes, lost by 1,510.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left" colspan="4"> Majority in the State as a whole, 102,353.</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p>Immediately opponents made the charge that suffrage won in the City +because of the pro-German, pacifist and Socialist vote. An analysis +showed that in many districts where the Germans and Socialists +predominated there was not as great a suffrage majority as in +Republican or Democratic districts; that some of the conservative +residential sections were more favorable than radical districts and +that the soldiers in the field had voted for suffrage in the ratio of +two to one.</p> + +<p>Those who were best informed attributed the victory to many causes—to +the support of voters in all the parties; to the help of the labor +unions; to recognition of women's war work; to the example set by +European countries in enfranchising their women; to the endorsement of +prominent men and strong organizations. Most of all, however, it was +due to the originality, the dauntless energy, the thorough +organization methods and the ceaseless<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_468" id="Page_468">[Pg 468]</a></span> campaigning of the suffrage +workers, who in winning the great Empire State not only secured the +vote for New York women but made the big commonwealth an important +asset in the final struggle for the Federal Suffrage Amendment.</p> + + +<h3>THE TWO STATE CAMPAIGNS.<a name="FNanchor_132_132" id="FNanchor_132_132"></a><a href="#Footnote_132_132" class="fnanchor">[132]</a></h3> + +<p>At the 45th convention of the State Woman Suffrage Association held in +Binghamton Oct. 14-17, 1913, Miss Harriet May Mills declined to stand +for re-election to the presidency. The following officers were +elected: President, Mrs. Raymond Brown, New York City; corresponding +secretary, Mrs. Henry W. Cannon, Delhi; recording secretary, Mrs. +Nicolas Shaw Fraser, Geneseo; treasurer, Mrs. Edward M. Childs, New +York City; directors; Miss Mills, Syracuse; Mrs. Arthur L. Livermore, +Yonkers; Mrs. Helen Probst Abbott, Rochester; Mrs. Dexter P. Rumsey, +Buffalo; Mrs. George W. Topliff, Binghamton; Mrs. Luther Mott, Oswego; +Mrs. Chanler Aldrich, Tarrytown.</p> + +<p>This convention had before it work of the gravest importance. The +submission of a woman suffrage amendment had passed one Legislature +and it was almost certain that it would pass a second and be voted on +at the fall election of 1915. New York was recognized as an immensely +difficult State to win. It contained great areas of sparsely settled +country and also many large cities. It had a foreign born population +of 2,500,000 in a total of 9,000,000. The political "machines" of both +Republican and Democratic parties were well intrenched and there was +no doubt that the powerful influence of both would be used to the +utmost against a woman suffrage amendment. Party leaders might allow +it to go through the Legislature because confident of their ability to +defeat it at the polls. The vital problem for the suffragists was how +to organize and unite all the friendly forces.</p> + +<p>While the State Suffrage Association was the one which was organized +most extensively there were other important societies. For some years +the Women's Political Union, Mrs. Harriot Stanton Blatch president, +had carried on an effective campaign. The Woman Suffrage Party, a +large group, existed principally in New<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_469" id="Page_469">[Pg 469]</a></span> York City, organized by +assembly districts. The Men's League for Woman Suffrage comprised a +considerable number of influential men, now under the presidency of +James Lees Laidlaw. The College Equal Suffrage League, Mrs. Charles L. +Tiffany, president, was an active body of young women. The Equal +Franchise Society, organized originally among the society women of New +York City by Mrs. Clarence Mackay had Mrs. Howard Mansfield as +president and had helped make the movement "fashionable." This was the +case with Mrs. Oliver H. P. Belmont's Political Equality League.</p> + +<p>On April 15, 1913, Miss Mills had invited representatives of these +organizations to a conference at the State headquarters in New York to +consider concerted action at which Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt was urged +to become chairman of a State Campaign Committee composed of their +presidents. Before accepting, Mrs. Catt, in order to learn conditions +in the State, sent out a questionnaire to county presidents and +assembly district leaders asking their opinion as to the prospect of +success. Of the forty-two who answered twelve believed that their +counties might be carried for the amendment if enough work was done; +sixteen thought it doubtful, no matter how much work was done, and +fourteen were certain they could not be carried under any conditions. +Not a single county believed it could organize or finance its own +work. In spite of the discouraging situation, Mrs. Catt on her return +in the autumn from the meeting in Budapest of the International Woman +Suffrage Alliance, of which she was president, accepted the +chairmanship on the condition that $20,000 should be raised for the +work. The Empire State Committee organized November 11 was composed of +Mrs. Raymond Brown, representing the State Association; Miss Mary +Garrett Hay, the Woman Suffrage Party of New York City; Mrs. +Mansfield, the Equal Franchise Society; Mrs. Tiffany, the College +League and Mr. Laidlaw, the Men's League, with the following chairmen: +Miss Rose Young, Press; Mrs. Warner M. Leeds, Finance; Mrs. Norman +deR. Whitehouse, Publicity; Mrs. John W. Alexander, Art; Mrs. +Mansfield, Literature.<a name="FNanchor_133_133" id="FNanchor_133_133"></a><a href="#Footnote_133_133" class="fnanchor">[133]</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_470" id="Page_470">[Pg 470]</a></span></p> + +<p>For convenience of work the State was divided into twelve campaign +districts, whose chairmen were, 1st, Miss Hay, New York City; 2nd, +Mrs. Brown, Bellport, Long Island; 3rd, Miss Leila Stott, Albany; 4th, +Mrs. Frank Paddock, Malone; 5th, Mrs. L. O. McDaniel, succeeded by +Miss Mills, Syracuse; 6th, Mrs. Helen B. Owens, Ithaca; 7th, Mrs. +Alice C. Clement, Rochester; 8th, Mrs. Nettie Rogers Shuler, Buffalo; +9th, Mrs. Carl Osterheld, Yonkers; 10th, Mrs. Gordon Norrie, +Staatsburg; 11th, Miss Evanetta Hare, succeeded by Mrs. George Notman, +Keene Valley; 12th, Miss Lucy C. Watson, Utica. Under all of these +chairmen came the 150 assembly district leaders and under these the +5,524 election district captains. From the first it was realized that +organization was the keynote to success and that to be effective it +must extend into every polling precinct of the State. Mrs. Catt had no +superior in organizing ability. The plan followed the lines of the +political parties and was already in use by the Woman Suffrage Party +of New York City, which she had founded.</p> + +<p>In January, 1914, Campaign District Conferences and Schools of Method +were held, followed by a convention and mass meetings in every county. +During the year twenty-eight paid organizers were constantly at work. +Mrs. Catt herself visited fifty of the up-state counties. The annual +State convention October 12-16, was preceded by a state-wide motor car +pilgrimage. On every highway was a procession of cars stopping along +the route for street meetings and converging in Rochester for the +convention. There was little change in officers. Three vice-presidents +were added, Mrs. Alfred E. Lewis of Geneva, Mrs. Livermore, Mrs. +Notman. Mrs. Cannon was succeeded as corresponding secretary by Miss +Marion May of New York. Mrs. Abbott and Mrs. Shuler were added to the +board of directors. A comprehensive program of work for 1914-15, laid +out by Mrs. Catt, gave a definite task for each month and included +raising a $150,000 campaign fund, each district being assigned a +proportion; school for suffrage workers, special suffrage edition of a +newspaper in every county, automobile campaign, work at county fairs +and a house to house canvass to enroll the names of women who wanted +the suffrage. Mrs. Catt's plan also included parades<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_471" id="Page_471">[Pg 471]</a></span> in all the large +cities and schools in every county to train watchers for the polls.</p> + +<p>As was expected the resolution for the suffrage amendment was passed +by the Legislature of 1915, the vote to be taken on the day of the +regular election, November 2. Forty paid organizers were kept in the +field and a convention was held again in each county. By autumn each +of the 150 assembly districts was organized and in addition there were +565 clubs and 183 campaign committees. About 2,500 women held official +positions, serving without pay. It was estimated that about 200,000 +women worked in some capacity in this campaign. Twelve thousand New +York City public school teachers formed a branch under Katharine +Devereux Blake as chairman. Each paid fifty cents dues and many gave +their summer vacation to work for the amendment.</p> + +<p>The Equal Franchise Society, in charge of the literature, printed +7,230,000 leaflets, requiring twenty tons of paper; 657,200 booklets, +one full set sent to every political leader in the State; 592,000 +Congressional hearings and individual speeches were mailed to voters; +149,533 posters were put up and 1,000,000 suffrage buttons were used; +200,000 cards of matches with "Vote Yes on the Suffrage Amendment" on +the back were distributed and 35,000 fans carrying the suffrage map.</p> + +<p>The value of street speaking had long since been learned. A woman +speaking from an automobile or a soap box or steps, while she might +begin by addressing a few children would usually draw a crowd of men +of the kind who could never be gotten inside a hall, and these men +were voters. The effect of these outdoor meetings was soon seen all +over the State in the rapidly changing sentiment of the man in the +street. During the six months preceding the election 10,325 meetings +were recorded besides the countless ones not reported. Mass meetings +were held in 124 different cities, sixteen in New York, with U. S. +Senators and Representatives and other prominent speakers. The week +before election in New York, Buffalo, Rochester and other large cities +Marathon speeches were made continuously throughout the twenty-four +hours, with listening crowds even during the small hours of the night. +Suffrage speeches were given in moving picture shows and vaudeville +theaters and a suffrage motion<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_472" id="Page_472">[Pg 472]</a></span> picture play was produced. Flying +squadrons of trained workers would go into a city, make a canvass, +hold street meetings, attract public attention and stimulate newspaper +activity.</p> + +<p>A remarkable piece of work was done by a Press and Publicity Council +of one hundred women in New York City organized by Mrs. Whitehouse. +They established personal acquaintance with the editors and owners of +the fifteen daily papers; answered the anti-suffrage letters +published; communicated with the editors of 683 trade journals, 21 +religious papers, 126 foreign language papers and many others—893 in +all—and offered them exclusive articles; they suggested special +features for magazines and planned suffrage covers; they secured space +for a suffrage calendar in every daily paper. This council placed +suffrage slides in moving picture houses and suffrage posters in the +lobbies of theaters; and had a page advertisement of suffrage in every +theater program. Comedians were asked to make references to suffrage +in their plays and jokes were collected for them and appropriate lines +suggested.</p> + +<p>A sub-committee of writers was organized which assembled material for +special suffrage editions of papers, wrote suffrage articles and made +suggestions for stories. The Art Committee illustrated the special +editions and made cartoons. They held an exhibit of suffrage posters +with prizes and raised money through an exhibition and sale of the +work of women painters and sculptors. A new suffrage game was invented +and installed at Coney Island. They supplied the posters for $70,000 +worth of advertising space on billboards and street cars which was +contributed by the owners during the final weeks of the campaign. They +organized and managed the suffrage banner parade, the largest which +had yet taken place.</p> + +<p>Among the other publicity "stunts" of the council were suffrage +baseball games, a Fourth of July celebration at the Statue of Liberty +and Telephone and Telegraph Day, when the wires carried suffrage +messages to politicians, judges, editors, clergymen, governors, +mayors, etc., all of these "stunts" receiving a large amount of +newspaper publicity. The most effective was the One Day Strike, to +answer the argument used by the "antis" that "woman's place was in the +home" by asking all women to stay at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_473" id="Page_473">[Pg 473]</a></span> home for only one day. The +suggestion was never intended to be carried out and did not go further +than a letter sent by Mrs. Whitehouse to the presidents of women's +clubs and some other organizations, asking them to come to a meeting +to consider the plan, copies of which were sent to the newspapers. The +effect was extraordinary. Department stores, telephone company +managers, employers of all kinds of women's labor, hospitals and +schools, protested loudly against the crippling of public service, the +loss of profits and the disruption of business which would result from +even one day's absence of women from their public places. Editorial +writers devoted columns to denouncing the proposal. Suffrage leaders +were bitterly criticized for even suggesting such a public calamity. +The favorite argument of the "antis" was answered for all time.</p> + +<p>At the very end of the campaign the anti-suffragists began to +advertise extensively in the subway and on the elevated roads in New +York City but the firm that controlled this space refused to accept +any advertising from the suffragists. Woman's wit, however, was equal +to the emergency. For the three days preceding the election one +hundred women gave their time to riding on elevated and subway trains +holding up large placards on which were printed answers to the "anti" +advertisements. The public understood and treated the women with much +courtesy.</p> + +<p>It is difficult to give even the barest outline of the work of the +Press Bureau, at first under the management of Mrs. Haryot Holt Dey +and later of Miss Rose Young, with a volunteer force of 214 press +chairmen over the State. There were 2,136 publications in the State, +211 dailies, 1,117 weeklies, 628 monthlies, and 180 foreign +publications printed in twenty-five languages. To the weeklies a +bulletin from the central bureau went regularly; 3,036 shipments were +made of pages of plate matter. The American Press Association and the +Western Newspaper Union for many weeks sent out columns of suffrage +news with their regular service for the patent inside page used by +country papers. The bureau furnished material for debates and answered +attacks against suffrage. The support given by the newspapers was of +great value. Of the fifteen dailies of New York City ten were +pro-suffrage, while the rural press was overwhelmingly in favor.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_474" id="Page_474">[Pg 474]</a></span> Most +of the papers of the larger cities up-state were opposed, although +there were notable exceptions.</p> + +<p>There were several high water marks. On Nov. 6, 1914, just a year +before the election, at a mass meeting which packed Carnegie Hall, +$115,000 were pledged, the largest sum ever raised at a suffrage +meeting, a visible proof of the great increase in favorable sentiment +since the campaign had begun a year ago, when the $20,000 which Mrs. +Catt wanted as the original guarantee seemed almost impossible of +attainment. In May, 1915, a luncheon attended by 1,400 people pledged +$50,000. On October 23, ten days before election, there occurred in +New York City the largest parade ever organized in the United States +for suffrage, called the "banner parade" because of the multitude of +flags and banners which characterized it, only those for suffrage +being permitted. There were 33,783 women who marched up Fifth Avenue, +past a crowd of spectators which was record-breaking, taking from 2 +o'clock in the afternoon until long after dark. The rear was brought +up by scores of motor cars gaily decorated with Chinese lanterns and +after darkness fell the avenue was a solid mass of moving colored +lights. There seemed no end to the women who were determined to win +the vote and a multitude of men seemed to be ready to grant it.</p> + +<p>On Nov. 2, 1915, the vote took place. Every preparation had been made +and every precaution taken, as far as the strength of the organization +would permit, to secure a fair election and an honest count. A law had +been obtained which permitted women to act as watchers at any election +on woman suffrage, which proved an important safeguard. Wherever +possible, watchers were provided for the polling places all over the +State. The result of the election was: For the suffrage amendment, +553,348; against, 748,332; adverse majority 194,984.</p> + +<p>The disappointment was almost crushing. Although the task of +persuading the huge cosmopolitan population of New York State to grant +equality to women had been recognized as being almost superhuman, the +work done had been so colossal that it would have been impossible not +to hope for success. Mrs. Catt had planned and seen carried out a +masterly campaign never before approached anywhere in the history of +suffrage. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_475" id="Page_475">[Pg 475]</a></span> devotion and self-sacrifice of thousands of women were +beyond praise but there were not enough of them. If every county and +every town had raised its proportion of the funds and done its share +of the work, the amendment might have been carried, but this first +campaign laid the foundation for the victory that the next one would +bring.</p> + +<p>This was the largest vote ever polled for suffrage at any +election—553,348 out of a vote of 1,300,880, being 42½ per cent. +The vote in the State outside of New York City was 427,479 noes, +315,250 ayes, opposing majority, 112,229; in this city 320,853 noes, +238,098 ayes, opposing majority 82,755; total opposed, 194,984. The +amendment received a larger favorable vote than the Republican party +polled at the Presidential election of 1912, which was 455,428. In +1914 this party swept the State and it could have carried the suffrage +amendment in 1915.</p> + + +<h3>SECOND NEW YORK CAMPAIGN.</h3> + +<p>With 42½ per cent. of the vote cast in November, 1915, in favor of +the woman suffrage amendment the leaders were eager to start a new +campaign at once and take advantage of the momentum already gained. +Two nights after election the campaign was started at a mass meeting +in Cooper Union, New York City, where $100,000 were pledged amid +boundless enthusiasm. The reorganization of the State took place +immediately, at the annual convention held in this city, November +30-December 2, and all the societies that had cooperated in the Empire +State Campaign Committee became consolidated under the name of the +State Woman Suffrage Party, into which the old State association was +merged. The demand was so overwhelming that Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, +who had led the two years' fight so magnificently, should continue to +be leader, that she was obliged to accept the chairmanship.</p> + +<p>The other officers elected were Mrs. Norman deR. Whitehouse, Mrs. +James Lees Laidlaw, Mrs. Henry W. Cannon, first, second and third +vice-chairmen; Mrs. Michael M. Van Beuren and Miss Alice Morgan +Wright, secretaries; Mrs. Ogden Mills Reid, treasurer; Mrs. Raymond +Brown, Mrs. Dexter P. Rumsey,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_476" id="Page_476">[Pg 476]</a></span> Miss Harriet May Mills and Mrs. Arthur +L. Livermore, directors. A few weeks later the convention of the +National Association called Mrs. Catt even more insistently to accept +its presidency and Mrs. Whitehouse became chairman and therefore the +leader of the new campaign. Mrs. Catt headed the list of directors; +Mrs. Laidlaw was made chairman of legislative work and Mrs. Brown of +organization.</p> + +<p>The next State convention was held in Albany, Nov. 16-23, 1916, and +the same officers were elected except that Mrs. Charles Noel Edge +succeeded Mrs. Van Beuren as secretary. The chairmen of the twelve +campaign districts were continued with the following changes: Second, +Mrs. Frederick Edey, Bellport; fourth, Mrs. Robert D. Ford, Canton; +fifth, Mrs. William F. Canough, Syracuse; sixth, Miss Lillian Huffcut, +Binghamton; eighth, Mrs. Frank J. Tone, Niagara Falls; ninth, Mrs. +Frank A. Vanderlip, Scarborough.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action.</span> The determination to enter immediately into +another campaign met with much opposition, even from many suffragists. +The Legislature had submitted the amendment in 1915 confident that it +would be overwhelmingly defeated but the ability and persistence of +the women and the big vote secured made the opponents afraid to take +another chance. That it was finally forced through both Houses was +due, first, to the brilliant legislative work of Mrs. Whitehouse and +Mrs. Laidlaw, assisted by Mrs. Helen Leavitt, chairman of legislative +work for the Albany district; second, to the extraordinary support +given by the organizations throughout the State, through delegations, +mass meetings, letters and telegrams, 6,000 from the 9th district +alone. The Men's League gave invaluable help.</p> + +<p>The resolution was introduced in both branches on Jan. 10, 1916. The +fight centered in the Senate and had as determined opponents Senator +Elon F. Brown, floor leader of the Republicans, and Senator Walters, +Republican chairman of the Judiciary Committee. The Democratic +minority gave it a lukewarm support. Every subterfuge was directed +against it. Finally it was reported out of the Assembly Judiciary +Committee February 15 by a vote of 11 to one and then there was a +standstill. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_477" id="Page_477">[Pg 477]</a></span> Senate Judiciary Committee constantly postponed +action. At last 500 women came to the Capitol on March 14 to urge +immediate action and the resolution was adopted in the Assembly that +day by 109 ayes to 30 noes.</p> + +<p>The Senate Committee had promised that it would report that same day, +and at 2 p. m. it went into executive session and the suffrage leaders +camped outside the door. That evening a suffrage ball was to take +place in Madison Square Garden, New York City, which they were to +open, and the last train that would reach there in time left Albany at +6 o'clock. The Committee knew this but hour after hour went by without +word from it. After time for the train a friendly Senator appeared and +announced that it had adjourned sometime before without taking action +and had gone out the back way in order to escape from the waiting +watchers! Taking the next train and arriving in New York at 10 o'clock +at night the suffragists drove direct to Madison Square Garden. As +they approached it they saw great throngs outside storming the doors, +which had been closed by the police as it was dangerously crowded. +They succeeded in getting in and were greeted by cheers as they led +the grand march, which had been awaiting their arrival. At midnight +Mrs. Whitehouse and Mrs. Laidlaw took the sleeper back to Albany and +were on hand at the opening of the session the next morning. Such +undaunted spirit caught the public imagination and the newspapers did +it full justice, with big headlines and columns of copy, but still the +bill did not pass.</p> + +<p>The final pressure which put the amendment through was a clever bit of +strategy due to Mrs. Whitehouse. In answer to her appeal editorials +appeared in newspapers throughout the State saying that no group of +men in Albany had the right to strangle the amendment or refuse the +voters the privilege of passing on it. On March 22 the Senate +Committee reported the resolution by 11 ayes, one no. On April 10 it +passed the Senate by 33 ayes, 10 noes.</p> + +<p>In 1917 the amendment was passed again to go to the voters at the +regular election November 6. The State Woman Suffrage Party +strengthened its organization with the goal of a captain for every +polling precinct, each with a committee of ten women<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_478" id="Page_478">[Pg 478]</a></span> to look after +the individual voters. Larger cities had a chairman and board of +officers combined with the assembly and election district +organization. In Buffalo, Mrs. Thew Wright headed a capable board; in +Rochester one was led by Mrs. Alice Clement, later by Mrs. Henry G. +Danforth; in Syracuse by Mrs. Mary Hyde Andrews; in Utica by Miss Lucy +C. Watson. By the end of the campaign, in addition to volunteers, 88 +trained organizers were at work in the 57 counties outside of Greater +New York. The National Suffrage Association contributed four of its +best workers and paid their salaries. Connecticut, New Jersey, +Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and some of the southern +and western States sent valuable workers.</p> + +<p>Early in 1917 the entire organization was well developed and suffrage +work was at its height when it was suddenly stopped short by the +entrance of the United States into the World War. At once everything +else became of secondary importance. The Suffrage Party, like all +organizations of women, was eager to serve the country and seized the +first opportunity, which came with the order from Governor Charles S. +Whitman for a military census of all the men and women of the State +over 21 years of age. Entire responsibility for organizing and +carrying on this work in several counties was given to the party. From +April to August the suffrage campaign was almost entirely suspended +while its leaders took a prominent part in war activities. It was only +about three months before election that the suffrage issue again +became dominant. The amendment must come before the voters at the +November election. With the United States engaged in a World War for +democracy it seemed impossible to allow democracy to be defeated at +home, and therefore it was decided that the suffrage campaign must be +carried on.</p> + +<p>In spite of some opposition Mrs. Whitehouse called a State conference +at Saratoga the end of August. Besides the distraction caused by the +war other difficulties had arisen. The White House at Washington had +been "picketed" by the National Woman's Party and the President burned +in effigy as a protest because the Federal Suffrage Amendment had not +been submitted by Congress. The press was filled with the story and +the public was indignant. Because the country was at war and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_479" id="Page_479">[Pg 479]</a></span> +President burdened with heavy responsibilities, reproaches of +disloyalty and pro-Germanism were hurled at suffragists in general. +The officers of the National Association had repeatedly condemned the +"militancy" and repudiated all responsibility for it but to the public +generally all suffragists looked alike and people did not at first +recognize the difference between the small group of "pickets" and the +great suffrage organization of almost countless numbers. New York +workers were very resentful because a direct appeal to suspend the +"picketing" until after the election was refused by the leaders of the +Woman's Party. The Saratoga conference adopted a resolution of +disapproval.</p> + +<p>At a mass meeting in New York soon afterwards Governor Whitman, Mayor +Mitchel and other prominent men spoke most encouragingly, but on +September 10 a suffrage amendment was defeated in Maine by a vote of +two to one and this had a disastrous effect on the New York situation. +It discouraged the workers and many newspapers which had been +friendly, anticipating a similar defeat in New York, became hostile in +tone; also because of the pressure of war news, the papers were almost +closed to suffrage matter. Mass meetings which formerly were crowded +were now so poorly attended that many had to be abandoned.</p> + +<p>In order to help the chances of the amendment President Wilson on +October 25 received a delegation of one hundred of the most prominent +women of the Party, headed by Mrs. Whitehouse. He expressed his +appreciation of the war work of women and his thorough belief that +they should have the suffrage, praising the New York campaign and +saying: "I am very glad to add my voice to those which are urging the +people of your State to set a great example by voting for woman +suffrage. It would be a pleasure if I might utter that advice in their +presence, but, as I am bound too close to my duties here to make that +possible, I am glad to ask you to convey that message to them...."</p> + +<p>This address was published far and wide and had a marked effect on the +voters. Later the President wrote Mrs. Catt that he hoped no voter in +New York would be influenced by anything the so-called "pickets" had +done in Washington. The suffrage meetings were soon again crowded. On +October 27 the final<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_480" id="Page_480">[Pg 480]</a></span> parade took place in New York City. The +signatures of 1,014,000 women citizens of the State, of voting age, +asking for suffrage had been obtained. Those from up-State were pasted +on huge cardboards and carried in the parade by delegations from the +various counties. Those from the city were placed in 62 huge ballot +boxes, one for each assembly district, with the number of them on the +outside, and carried by the "captains" of the districts and their +helpers.</p> + +<p>The largest registration of men voters in the State was 1,942,000; +there were nearly 100,000 more men than women of voting age and many +more men than women were naturalized, therefore it was evident that +1,014,000 signatures represented a good majority of women eligible to +vote. This enormous piece of work was done almost entirely by +volunteers. For many months women in every county went from door to +door, preaching suffrage, asking wives to talk to their husbands about +it and leaving literature. The effect of this personal education was +undoubtedly great and the petition influenced public opinion.</p> + +<p>The propaganda carried on by the Educational section under Mrs. Howard +Mansfield was enormous, including training schools, travelling +libraries and 8,000 sets of correspondence courses sent out. Women +were trained in watchers' schools for work at the polls and 15,000 +leaflets of instructions were furnished. Over 11,000,000 pieces of +literature, 7 million posters and nearly 200,000 suffrage novelties +were used, in addition to the 5,000,000 pieces used in New York City. +The Industrial Section, under Miss Mary E. Dreier, president of the +Women's Trade Union League, made effective appeals to organized labor. +A series of letters setting forth the conditions under which women +work and their relation to the vote were distributed at factory doors +as men left for home during the last fifteen weeks of the campaign. +Organizers and speakers from their own ranks, men and women, spoke at +trade union meetings, in factories and on the street. The State +Federation of Labor endorsed the work and the Women's Trade Union +League gave constant help. The Church Section, under Miss Adella +Potter, was very successful in its appeal with specially prepared +literature and the churches were an active force.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_481" id="Page_481">[Pg 481]</a></span></p> + +<p>Every registered voter was circularized at least once and many twice. +Special letters and literature were prepared for picked groups of men, +198,538 letters in all, and speakers were sent to the military camps +where this was permitted. The Speakers' Bureau, conducted by Mrs. +Victor Morawetz, had 150 speakers on its lists and a record of 2,015 +speakers placed in the State. Besides these more than 7,000 meetings +were arranged independently. In New York City 58 speakers held 2,085 +meetings, a total of 11,100. Senators and Representatives from the +equal suffrage States were to speak in the closing days of the +campaign but the war held Congress constantly in session and most of +the other prominent men who had promised to speak were prevented by +service for the Government.</p> + +<p>The Publicity Section, under Mrs. John Blair, advertised the amendment +in every way that human ingenuity could devise. Huge street banners +exhorting men to vote for suffrage hung across the most crowded +streets in New York and in all the large cities. Every kind of +advertising medium was used, billboards, street cars, subway and +elevated cars and stations, railroad cars and stations; large electric +signs and painted illuminated signs flashed weeks before election, the +slogan most often used being, "1,014,000 Women ask you to Vote for +Woman Suffrage November 6."</p> + +<p>For the last two weeks a great campaign of newspaper advertising was +carried on. There appeared almost daily in 728 morning and evening +papers, including many in foreign languages, pages of suffrage +argument, and as a result the news columns began to be filled again +with suffrage. The Press Bureau, Miss Rose Young, director, assisted +by local press chairmen, continued as in the first campaign but with +an increased output, news bulletins, editorial matter, special +articles, material for special editions, photographs, newspaper cuts, +statements from one hundred leading New York City and State men +headed, Why I am for Woman Suffrage, etc. About 20,000 columns of free +plate material were provided for the newspapers.</p> + +<p>It would be impossible to give the total cost of the campaign with +accuracy. As far as possible each district supported its own work. The +central State treasury spent $413,353; New<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_482" id="Page_482">[Pg 482]</a></span> York City, $151,504; the +counties outside of the city $127,296; a total of $692,153, besides +the large amount spent locally. The raising of the central State funds +was the work of the treasurer, Mrs. Ogden Mills Reid, assisted by Mrs. +Whitehouse. A budget was prepared to which a group of prominent men, +including several bankers, gave their endorsement, and, armed with +their letter and helped by them in making appointments, Mrs. Reid and +Mrs. Whitehouse called on one man and woman after another of a +carefully selected list, solicited contributions, and many large +amounts were given by persons who had not before been brought in touch +with suffrage work. New York City led with $183,387; Yonkers came next +with $41,748 and Buffalo with $30,163.</p> + +<p>The supreme test of the organization came on election day. It was +hoped to cover every polling space with women watchers and probably +about 80 per cent. of the total number of election districts of the +State were so covered. A total of 6,330 women served, many being on +duty from 5 a. m. till midnight.</p> + +<p>On election night all over the State suffrage headquarters were open +and victory seemed in the air. Bulletin boards in New York City showed +the amendment winning in every borough and wires from up-State gave +encouraging reports. The State headquarters, an entire floor of the +large office building at 303 Fifth Avenue, New York, and the city +headquarters were thronged with happy crowds. Before midnight it +seemed certain that the four years of continuous campaign had resulted +in final victory for New York State, the stronghold of opposition, the +key to a Federal Suffrage Amendment because of its large +representation and power in Congress. When the complete returns came +in it was found that suffrage had lost up-State by 1,510 votes and +that it was New York City which carried the amendment by its majority +of 103,863, which reduced by 1,510 left a total majority of 102,353.</p> + +<p>There were some evidences of fraud but the change of sentiment in +favor of suffrage was State-wide, and every county showed a gain. The +cities gave a better vote than the rural communities. The greatest +overturn was in Buffalo which changed an adverse majority of 10,822 in +1915 to a favorable<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_483" id="Page_483">[Pg 483]</a></span> one of 4,560 in 1917! The saloons of this city +displayed placards, "Vote No on Woman Suffrage," some putting them on +the outside of the building. Albany, in spite of the fight against the +amendment made by the Barnes "machine," although lost, registered a +gain of nearly fifty per cent. Rochester, which was lost, was +dominated by George W. Aldrich, the Republican leader, and Monroe and +adjoining counties were also influenced by their newspapers, which +nearly all were anti-suffrage. In Livingston county, the home of +Senator James W. Wadsworth, Jr., and his wife, who was president of +the National Anti-Suffrage Association, his influence was so strong +and his financial hold on the county so powerful that even men who +were in sympathy with woman suffrage were afraid to vote for it. This +influence materially reduced the favorable vote in adjoining counties. +There were several bitter local "wet" and "dry" fights that were very +bad for the suffrage vote.</p> + +<p>The Republican Governor, Charles S. Whitman, spoke for the amendment. +Herbert Parsons, the Republican National Committeeman for New York, +and many individual Republicans gave valuable help but the "machine" +all over the State did everything possible to defeat the amendment. A +week before election, when their object was clearly apparent, the +chairman of the Republican State Committee was requested by the women +to write an official letter to its members reminding them of the +endorsement given by the Republican party at its State convention. He +refused to write it except as an individual and not as State chairman. +In Rochester an anti-suffrage poster was kept on display in Republican +headquarters. Among prominent members of the party who used their +influence in opposition were Elihu Root, Henry L. Stimson and George +Wickersham.</p> + +<p>The two great figures of the suffrage movement, Mrs. Catt and Dr. +Shaw, gave royally to the campaign. Even after Mrs. Catt became +president of the National Association, she remained on the State Board +of Directors and was a constant help and inspiration. Dr. Shaw +contributed many weeks of speech making to the first campaign and +almost as many to the second, although her time in 1917 was much +occupied as chairman of the Woman's Division of the National Council +of Defense. It would be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_484" id="Page_484">[Pg 484]</a></span> impossible to give the names of the thousands +of women who rendered devoted service during these campaigns and it +would be equally impossible to mention the names of the men who +helped. Behind many a woman who worked there was a man aiding and +sustaining her with money and personal sacrifice. "Suffrage husbands" +became a title of distinction.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Whitehouse said in reviewing the causes of the failure of the +first campaign, "We worked like amateurs." Such a charge could not be +brought in the second, for the suffragists became an army of seasoned +veterans, quick to understand and to obey orders, giving suffrage +precedence over everything else except patriotic work. The amendment +as adopted gave complete suffrage to women on the same terms as +exercised by men and provided that "a citizen by marriage shall have +been an inhabitant of the United States for five years." This simply +required the same term of residence for wives as for unmarried women +and all men.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>From 1910 to 1917 the Men's League for Woman Suffrage was an +influential factor in the movement in New York. It was believed to be +the first of the kind and the idea was said to have originated with +Max Eastman, a young professor in Columbia University, but in a sketch +of the league by him in <i>The Trend</i> in 1913 he said that in 1909, when +he went to consult Oswald Garrison Villard, editor of the New York +<i>Evening Post</i>, he found that Mr. Villard had received a letter from +Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, president of the National American Woman +Suffrage Association, asking him to organize such a league; that he +had conferred with Rabbi Stephen S. Wise and they had "agreed to share +the ignominy" if some one would undertake the organizing. This was +done by Mr. Eastman, who, armed with letters of introduction by Mr. +Villard, succeeded in getting the names of twelve men of civic +influence. Using these names he sent out several thousand letters to +such men over the State and finally obtained twenty-five members. In +November, 1910, the first meeting was held at the New York City Club +and officers were elected. By good fortune George Foster Peabody was +one of the earliest members, a Georgian by birth and one of New +York's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_485" id="Page_485">[Pg 485]</a></span> prominent bankers and financiers. He consented to serve as +president and with this prestige many members were secured. "The +league owed its pecuniary life to him," said Mr. Eastman, "and a great +part of its early standing before the public."</p> + +<p>After the first year the league was equally fortunate in having James +Lees Laidlaw, another New York banker and man of affairs, take the +presidency. He retained it for the next six years, and when the +National Men's League was formed he consented to serve also as its +president until the contest for woman suffrage was finished, giving +active and constant assistance. Mr. Eastman was secretary of the New +York League for a year or more, assisted by Ward Melville, and was +succeeded by Robert Cameron Beadle, general manager of the U. S. +Stoker Corporation. He gave valuable and continuous service to the +league until just before the campaign of 1917, when the pressure of +business required his time and he became vice-president and George +Creel ably filled the office of secretary during that strenuous +period.</p> + +<p>In 1910 the league took part in the first big suffrage parade and no +act of men during the whole history of woman suffrage required more +courage than that of the 87 who marched up Fifth Avenue on that +occasion, jeered by the crowds that lined the sidewalks. It was a body +of representative citizens, led by Mr. Peabody, Mr. Laidlaw and Mr. +Villard. The league became a large organization, enrolling among its +members such men as Governor Charles S. Whitman, Mayor John Purroy +Mitchel, Frank A. Vanderlip, Colonel George Harvey, William M. Ivins, +Dr. Simon Flexner, Professor John Dewey, Hamilton Holt, William Dean +Howells, John Mitchell, Charles Sprague Smith, Samuel Untermeyer, +Herbert Parsons, President Schurman of Cornell University, President +McCracken of Vassar College and many Judges, public officials and +others of note. In the suffrage parade of 1912 the league four abreast +extended five blocks along Fifth Avenue. Under its auspices mass +meetings were held, district rallies, public dinners with 600 guests, +balls and theatrical performances, and campaign activities of various +kinds were carried on. Men's leagues were formed in many States. The +<i>Woman Voter</i> of October, 1912, published in New York City, issued a +special league number, with sketches, pictures, etc.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_486" id="Page_486">[Pg 486]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Women's Political Union, which under the name of the Equality +League of Self-Supporting Women was formed in New York City in the +autumn of 1906 by Mrs. Harriot Stanton Blatch, was an active force for +many years. Its object was to bring to suffrage the strength of women +engaged in wage-earning occupations and under its aegis trade-union +women first pleaded their cause before a legislative committee on Feb. +6, 1907. That spring the league held two suffrage mass meetings, the +first for many years in Cooper Union, and the following year Carnegie +Hall was for the first time invaded by woman suffrage with a meeting +in honor of Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst, the leader of the English +"militant" suffragists.</p> + +<p>The league sent over 300 women to Albany by special train on Feb. 19, +1908, to a hearing on a woman suffrage amendment. The same year it +started open air meetings throughout the State. On election day in +1909 the Union distributed literature at the polls and five members +tested the right of women to act as watchers. It made the innovation +of interviewing candidates and pledging them to vote, if elected, for +the submission of a suffrage amendment to the electors.</p> + +<p>In 1910 the Union organized in New York the first suffrage foot parade +of 400 women, and other larger ones afterwards. In September it began +a vigorous campaign against Artemus Ward, Republican candidate for +re-election to the Assembly in a banner Republican district in New +York City, because of his hostility to the suffrage amendment. +Pedestrians could not go a block in the district without hearing a +soap box orator trying to defeat him. The night before election +eighty-six out-door meetings were held. Although it could not defeat +him his former majority of 2,276 was reduced to 190. In 1911 it +engineered campaigns against Cuvillier in Manhattan and Carrew in +Brooklyn for the same reason, distributing over 100,000 pieces of +literature in opposing the latter, who had an adverse majority of over +2,000.</p> + +<p>In 1911 the Union took 400 women to Albany and in 1912 the largest +suffrage delegation which had ever gone there. They practically +compelled consideration of the suffrage resolution and after its +defeat campaigned against the enemies, ending the political<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_487" id="Page_487">[Pg 487]</a></span> careers +of some of them. Before election day the files of the Union contained +signed pledges from every candidate for the Legislature in 45 of the +51 Senate districts and in 85 of the 150 Assembly districts. On Jan. +23, 1913, the Senate voted 40 to 2 for the amendment and on the 27th +the Assembly concurred with but five adverse votes. On May 3, the +Union organized a parade of victory in New York City.</p> + +<p>During the great campaign of 1915 the Union was constantly evolving +new features to draw attention to the amendment. It closed its +activities with a luncheon of a thousand covers at the Hotel Astor +just before election day in honor of the 100th anniversary of the +birth of Elizabeth Cady Stanton. After the defeat it amalgamated with +the Congressional Union, abandoned State work and centered its efforts +on an amendment to the Federal Constitution. Throughout its existence +Mrs. Blatch was president, Elizabeth Ellsworth Cook, vice-president, +Marcia Townsend, treasurer, Eunice Dana Brannan, chairman of finance, +Nora Stanton Blatch, editor of the <i>Women's Political World</i>, the +organ of the society; Caroline Lexow, field secretary and Alberta Hill +and Florence Maule Cooley, executive secretaries. [Information +furnished by Mrs. Blatch.]</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>An important feature of the campaign in New York City and in other +parts of the State was the work of the St. Catherine Welfare +Association of Catholic women, organized by Miss Sara McPike, +executive secretary of the advertising department of a large +corporation, and Miss Winifred Sullivan, a lawyer. Its object was +better social and economic conditions for women and children and the +extension of the suffrage to women as a means to this end. Its leaders +and prominent members worked with the State and city suffrage +associations also but through their own they could carry the message +into the different sodalities and fraternal organizations of the +church and to its summer schools and conventions. Bishops and priests +were interviewed and a number of the latter were persuaded to speak at +the meetings held in twenty-six prominent parish school halls in New +York City. Ten meetings were held in Brooklyn and others in +surrounding towns.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_488" id="Page_488">[Pg 488]</a></span></p> + +<p>Leaflets of opinions favorable to woman suffrage by the Catholic +clergy were prepared and widely circulated among priests, educators +and laymen. Space was secured in the Catholic press. Letters without +number were written. A delegation was received by Cardinal Gibbons in +Baltimore to explain the desire of its members for the vote. Many of +the clergy looked with favor on their work, which encouraged Catholic +women to take part in it, and 500 marched under the banner of the +association in the last suffrage parade in New York in October, 1917. +Miss McPike devoted every hour of her time outside of business hours +and gave $800 to the work of the association. Mrs. Mary C. Brown was a +generous contributor. Among the countless members who helped +unceasingly by writing, speaking and in many other ways were Elizabeth +Jordan, Janet Richards, Mrs. William A. Prendergast, Countess Mackin, +Mrs. Schuyler Warren, Sara H. Fahey, Mrs. William H. Yorke, Anne Sands +O'Shea, Catharine G. Hogan, Helen Haines, Aimee Hutchinson, Mary C. +Larkin, May H. Morey, Frances Gallogly, Annie Nolan, Rose and Fanny +Flannelly. The activities of the association were extended into +Pennsylvania, New Jersey and other States.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>The success of the suffrage amendment did not mean the disbanding of +the organization. At the 49th State convention, held in New York City, +Nov. 20-22, 1917, Mrs. Whitehouse was re-elected chairman, Mrs. +Laidlaw vice-chairman, and most of the old officers were retained. It +was decided to make the Federal Suffrage Amendment the chief object +and in order to work more effectively the State was organized by +Congressional districts, with the Assembly district organization +retained. Early in 1918 Mrs. Whitehouse, because of her remarkable +work in the suffrage campaign, was selected by the Government's +Committee on Public Information to go to Switzerland. Mrs. Laidlaw was +elected chairman at the convention and the name of the State Woman +Suffrage Party was changed to the State League of Women Voters. Even +before the war was ended an enormous work was begun throughout the +State, under Mrs. Laidlaw, toward the political training of the more +than a million women who had been enfranchised. This was continued +under<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_489" id="Page_489">[Pg 489]</a></span> Mrs. Frank A. Vanderlip, who was elected chairman of the State +League of Women Voters, officially formed April 8, 1919.</p> + +<p>The Federal Suffrage Amendment was submitted by Congress June 4, 1919. +Senator William M. Calder voted in favor, Senator Wadsworth continuing +his opposition to the end. Of the Representatives, 35 voted in favor; +five were absent; three, Riordan of New York, Dunn of Rochester and +Sanders of Stafford, voted no.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> The ratification of this amendment by the State +Legislatures became the pressing question and as most of them had +adjourned for two years it would be necessary to have this done by +special sessions if women were to vote in the November election of +1920. That of New York would meet in January, 1920, so there was no +need of haste, but Mrs. Catt at once took up the matter with Governor +Alfred E. Smith, pointing out the excellent effect on other States if +New York should have a special session for this purpose. Without +hesitation he issued the call on June 10, with a strong appeal for +ratification. The Legislature met on June 16 and immediately the +Assembly ratified by unanimous vote of 137. The resolution went at +once to the Senate, where Henry M. Sage made a speech against it and +asked to be excused from voting. It was then passed by unanimous vote, +the Legislature being in session less than a day.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_122_122" id="Footnote_122_122"></a><a href="#FNanchor_122_122"><span class="label">[122]</span></a> The History is indebted for this part of the chapter to +Mrs. Ella Hawley Crossett, president of the State Woman Suffrage +Association, 1902-1910.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_123_123" id="Footnote_123_123"></a><a href="#FNanchor_123_123"><span class="label">[123]</span></a> Mary Anthony left to Mrs. Crossett, Miss Mills and +Isabel Howland $1,000 to be used for State work as they thought best. +The interest for three years was given as prize money for the best +essays in the colleges of the State. When the headquarters were opened +in New York City some of the money helped to furnish them and the rest +was put in the State work the following year.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_124_124" id="Footnote_124_124"></a><a href="#FNanchor_124_124"><span class="label">[124]</span></a> The History is indebted for this part of the chapter to +Miss Harriet May Mills, vice-president of the State Woman Suffrage +Association, 1902-1910; president, 1910-1913.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_125_125" id="Footnote_125_125"></a><a href="#FNanchor_125_125"><span class="label">[125]</span></a> In 1911 Mrs. Livermore was succeeded by Mrs. William L. +Colt, who later resigned on account of illness and Mrs. Marie Jenney +Howe was unanimously elected. After the death of Mrs. Osborne, Mrs. +Rumsey of Buffalo was appointed second auditor. Mrs. Katharine Gavit +of Albany succeeded Mrs. Burrows and served to 1913. Mrs. Ivins +resigned in the winter of 1913 and Mrs. Maud Ingersoll Probasco of New +York was chosen for the remainder of the year.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_126_126" id="Footnote_126_126"></a><a href="#FNanchor_126_126"><span class="label">[126]</span></a> From New York: Misses Jones, Craft, Klatschken, +Constance Leupp, Phoebe Hawn, Minerva Crowell, Amalie Doetsch, +Elizabeth Aldrich, Mrs. George Wend and her son, Milton Wend, Mrs. +George Boldt, Master Norman Spreer, Ernest Stevens and A. C. Lemmon. +From Philadelphia: Miss Virginia Patache and Mrs. George Williams.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_127_127" id="Footnote_127_127"></a><a href="#FNanchor_127_127"><span class="label">[127]</span></a> Mrs. Ella Hawley Crossett, president of the State +Suffrage Association, sent a complete résumé of the legislative action +from 1900 to 1913, comprising many thousand words, but the exigencies +of space compelled condensation to the bare details.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_128_128" id="Footnote_128_128"></a><a href="#FNanchor_128_128"><span class="label">[128]</span></a> The Legislative Committee was composed of Mrs. George +Howard Lewis, Miss Miller, Mrs. L. Cuyler, Mrs. Villard, Mrs. Harry S. +Hastings, Mrs. Craigie, Mrs. Rodgers, Miss Jenney. A Cooperating +Committee representing the entire State was of great assistance. Among +its members were Mrs. Catt, Mrs. Blatch, Mrs. Graham and Mrs. Shuler, +each president of a large organization of women; the Rev. Josiah +Strong, president American Institute of Social Science; Oswald +Garrison Villard, proprietor of the New York Evening Post; Dr. +Stewardson, president Hobart College; Professor Schmidt, of Cornell +University; Colonel A. S. Bacon, treasurer of the American Sabbath +Union; Edwin Markham, William G. Van Plank, Dr. John D. Peters, D.D.; +Florence Kelley, Elizabeth Burrill Curtis, Caroline Lexow, president +College Women's League; Mrs. Osborne and others.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_129_129" id="Footnote_129_129"></a><a href="#FNanchor_129_129"><span class="label">[129]</span></a> Among those added to the Cooperating Suffrage Committee +during this and the preceding year were Mrs. Belmont, president of the +Political Equality Suffrage Association; Mrs. Mackay, president of the +Equal Franchise Society; Jessie Ashley, president of the College Equal +Suffrage League; Mary E. Dreier, president of the Women's Trade Union +League; Anna Mercy, president of the East Side Equal Rights League; +Ella A. Boole, president State W. C. T. U.; George Foster Peabody, +president, and Max Eastman, secretary of the Men's League for Woman +Suffrage; Ida Husted Harper, chairman National Press Bureau; Mrs. +William C. Story, president State Federation of Women's Clubs; Lucy P. +Allen, president of the Washington county and Lucy P. Watson, +president of the Utica Political Equality Clubs; Mrs. William C. +Gannett, president of the Susan B. Anthony Memorial Association; Alice +Lewisohn, noted for her social work in New York, Dr. Charles F. Aked, +Rabbi Stephen S. Wise and William M. Ivins.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_130_130" id="Footnote_130_130"></a><a href="#FNanchor_130_130"><span class="label">[130]</span></a> The History is indebted for this part of the chapter to +Mrs. Oreola Williams Haskell, former president of the Kings County +Political Equality League; head of the Press Bureau of the New York +City Woman Suffrage Party through the two campaigns, 1915-1917, and of +the League of Women Voters from its beginning until the present time.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_131_131" id="Footnote_131_131"></a><a href="#FNanchor_131_131"><span class="label">[131]</span></a> Extended space is given to the two New York campaigns +because they were the largest ever made and were used as a model by a +number of States in later years.—<span class="smcap">Ed.</span></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_132_132" id="Footnote_132_132"></a><a href="#FNanchor_132_132"><span class="label">[132]</span></a> The History is indebted for this part of the chapter to +Mrs. Raymond Brown, president of the State Woman Suffrage +Association.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_133_133" id="Footnote_133_133"></a><a href="#FNanchor_133_133"><span class="label">[133]</span></a> Before the committee was fully organized Mrs. Blatch +and the Women's Political Union withdrew to carry on its work +independently and Mrs. Belmont with her Political Equality League also +ceased cooperation.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_490" id="Page_490">[Pg 490]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXII" id="CHAPTER_XXXII"></a>CHAPTER XXXII.</h2> + +<h3>NORTH CAROLINA.<a name="FNanchor_134_134" id="FNanchor_134_134"></a><a href="#Footnote_134_134" class="fnanchor">[134]</a></h3> + + +<p>Previous to 1913 interest in woman suffrage in North Carolina was +still dormant and no attempt had been made at organization. This year, +without any outside pressure, a handful of awakening women met on July +10 at the home of Dr. Isaac M. Taylor of Morgantown to arrange for +gathering into a club those in sympathy with the woman suffrage +movement. Those present were Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. Hosfeldt, Mrs. Hughson, +Miss Allen, Miss Riddell, Miss Julia Erwin and Miss Kate Pearsall, who +was elected secretary. Mrs. Hosfeldt was chosen for president and Miss +Mamie Collett for vice-president. Mrs. Hughson, Mrs. Taylor and Miss +Erwin were appointed to formulate the purposes of the society which it +was agreed to call the Morgantown Equal Suffrage Association.</p> + +<p>At the next meeting in Miss Erwin's home July 14 Miss Coffey acted as +recording secretary and the organization was completed. Societies were +formed in Greenville and Charlotte and through the efforts of Miss +Susanne Bynum and Miss Anna Forbes Liddell of Charlotte a meeting was +called in that city in November to form a State Association. The +following officers were chosen: President, Mrs. Archibald Henderson, +Chapel Hill; vice presidents, Mrs. Eugene Reilley, Charlotte; Miss +Gertrude Weil, Goldsboro; Mrs. Malcolm Platt, Asheville; corresponding +secretary, Miss Bynum; recording secretary, Miss Liddell; treasurer, +Mrs. David Stern, Greensboro. Mrs. Lila Meade Valentine, president of +the Virginia Equal Suffrage League, was the principal speaker. A +charter was subsequently obtained for the Equal Suffrage League of +North Carolina, Inc., the charter members numbering about 200 men and +women, representing every class and section in the State. The League +became<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_491" id="Page_491">[Pg 491]</a></span> auxiliary to the National Association. At this time, when it +was far from popular to stand for this cause, Judge Walter Clark, +Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; Gen. Julian S. Carr, Archibald +Henderson, Wade Harris and E. K. Graham acted as Advisory Committee +and gave freely of their time and money to help the new league.</p> + +<p>The first annual State convention was held in Charlotte, Nov. 9-10, +1914, Mrs. Henderson presiding. During this first year Mrs. Medill +McCormick, chairman of the Congressional Committee of the National +Association, was of the greatest assistance in many ways. She sent an +organizer, Miss Lavinia Engle, who, with Mrs. Henderson, distributed +literature throughout the State and organized a number of branches. +The State League recorded itself as opposed to "militancy" in any form +and as desiring "to gain the vote by appeal to reason and fair play." +The Charlotte <i>Observer</i> carried a four-page suffrage section +advertising the convention. Keener interest throughout the State, +together with the existence of fourteen leagues, represented the net +result of this first year's work. The officers were re-elected except +that Mrs. Palmer Jerman of Raleigh was made recording secretary and +Miss Mary Shuford of Hickory corresponding secretary. Delegates +appointed to the national convention at Nashville, Tenn., were: Misses +Bynum, Liddell and Mary Henderson.</p> + +<p>The second annual convention met at the Battery Park Hotel, Asheville, +Oct. 29, 1915. Mrs. Nellie Nugent Somerville of Mississippi, a +vice-president of the National Association, gave an address. During +the year Mrs. Desha Breckinridge of Kentucky, also a national +vice-president, spoke several times in the State. Mrs. Henderson had +sent a vigorous protest in the name of the league to Miss Alice Paul, +chairman of the Congressional Union, against her coming into North +Carolina to organize branches, saying that its policy was +diametrically opposed to that of the State Suffrage League, whose +arduous work of the past year would be undone. The outstanding feature +of the year's work was the special hearing in the Legislature on the +Act to Amend the Constitution so as to Give Woman Suffrage. In +November, 1914, the legislators had been polled on the suffrage +question, A few did not answer; fifteen were flatly opposed;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_492" id="Page_492">[Pg 492]</a></span> twelve +were in favor; the majority declared themselves open to argument. At +the hearing held in the hall of the House with a large audience +present Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, president of the National Association, +was the chief speaker. Others included Mrs. Henderson, Mrs. Reilley, +Mrs. Adelaide Goodno, president of the Woman's Christian Temperance +Union; Mrs. Al Fairbrother and Mrs. Thomas W. Lingle. Miss Henderson, +Legislative Committee chairman, presided. The measure was defeated. +The committee recommended that future efforts be concentrated on +Presidential and Municipal suffrage bills. Mrs. Charlotte Malcolm of +Asheville was elected president.<a name="FNanchor_135_135" id="FNanchor_135_135"></a><a href="#Footnote_135_135" class="fnanchor">[135]</a></p> + +<p>There was no convention in 1916 but two were held in 1917. The first +met in the auditorium of the Carnegie Library, Greensboro, Jan. 12, +13. Mrs. Walter McNab Miller, first vice-president of the National +Association, was the principal speaker, addressing a mass meeting of +representative people in the Opera House. Mrs. J. S. Cunningham was +elected president. During 1916 Mrs. Pattie Ruffner Jacobs of Alabama +made addresses in the State and Miss Gertrude Watkins and Miss Stokes, +national organizers, assisted in forming clubs.</p> + +<p>The second convention for 1917 met in the Wayne county Court House, +Goldsboro, Oct. 30, 31, Mrs. Cunningham presiding and speaking. +Colonel Joseph E. Robinson and J. F. Barrett made addresses. The +principal speaker was Mrs. Jacobs, then auditor of the National +Association. A fine collection of suffrage literature was presented +from Chief Justice Clark. During the year Mrs. Miller had spoken +several times in the State and delivered the commencement address at +the North Carolina College for Women. Mrs. Jerman cautioned the +various leagues against affiliation with the Congressional Union, now +called the Woman's Party, whose representatives were then at work in +the State. Mrs. Cunningham was re-elected president.</p> + +<p>At the annual convention in the Woman's Club Building, Raleigh,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_493" id="Page_493">[Pg 493]</a></span> Jan. +10, 1919, Miss Gertrude Weil was elected president and Mrs. Josephus +Daniels honorary president. The chief speaker was the Hon. William +Jennings Bryan, who addressed in the city auditorium an immense +gathering of all classes. The past year had been a busy one. On April +9, 1918, the State Republican convention included a suffrage plank in +its platform. On the 10th representative suffragists appeared at the +Democratic State convention urging one but the plea fell upon dull +ears and unresponsive hearts. The latter part of May the State +Federation of Women's Clubs with 8,000 members endorsed equal suffrage +with but two dissenting votes. In June the State Trained Nurses +Association unanimously endorsed it. During September petitions signed +by hundreds of college students and letters and telegrams representing +hundreds of individuals were dispatched to U. S. Senators Simmons and +Overman in Washington urging them to vote for the Federal Suffrage +Amendment. On the petition from one college the names represented 107 +cities and towns in the State. The one from the State Normal College +carried the signatures of 576 out of the 650 women students. The +petition of citizens from Raleigh bore the names of two daughters of +Senator Simmons. The Senators were not moved. In all that memorable +struggle only one North Carolina Representative, Zebulon Weaver, a +Democrat of Asheville, voted "aye." Edwin C. Webb of Cleveland county, +as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, was a powerful foe.</p> + +<p>Attempts were made to form suffrage leagues in different women's +colleges, where the students were eager to be organized, but in no +case would the trustees permit it. In November the State League +telegraphed President Wilson urging the appointment of Mrs. Carrie +Chapman Catt, national president, on the Peace Commission. In December +the Farmers' Union, representing 17,000 farmers, endorsed equal +suffrage. During the year the cause was advanced by the addresses of +Dr. Shaw and Miss Jeannette Rankin, the first woman Representative in +Congress. At this time the State League carried on its letterhead an +Advisory Committee of Men such as never had been formed in any other +State. The list of ninety-six names included Secretary of the Navy +Josephus Daniels, Mr. Bryan, Chief Justice<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_494" id="Page_494">[Pg 494]</a></span> Clark, the most eminent +members of the legal, medical and clerical professions, public +officials and business men.</p> + +<p>The annual convention met in the O. Henry Hotel, Greensboro, Jan. 27, +28, 1920, Miss Weil presiding. A brilliant banquet was attended by a +large number of representative men and women. The honorary president, +Mrs. Daniels, made a brief speech and Miss Marjorie Shuler, national +director of publicity, was a speaker. Mrs. Raymond Brown, +vice-president of the National Association, and Miss Shuler addressed +the convention and the public meeting in the evening, over which Mrs. +Daniels presided. Twenty-four leagues were reported, largely the fruit +of the organization work done during the year by Mrs. Mary O. Cowper +of Durham, who had the assistance of Miss Mary E. Pidgeon, a national +organizer. During the year a series of related suffrage papers were +prepared by members of the Greensboro league and distributed by the +State league among the different branches. Miss Weil was continued as +president. Reports of all committees and of the work in general +throughout the State, were so encouraging that Miss Shuler frequently +voiced the common feeling, "North Carolina will ratify."</p> + +<p>Among the North Carolina women who have made addresses for suffrage in +the State are: Dr. Delia Dixon-Carroll, Miss Louise Alexander, Miss +Clara B. Byrd, Mrs. Cunningham, Miss Harriet Elliott, Mrs. +Fairbrother, Mrs. Henderson, Mrs. Jerman, Mrs. Lingle, Mrs. T. D. +Jones, Mrs. Platt, Miss Weil.</p> + +<p>When the State Equal Suffrage League was organized in 1913 many of the +newspapers refused to carry stories about it or assist in advertising +it in any way. Gradually, however, they have been won over almost +without exception, not only to the publishing of news but many of the +most influential papers contained during 1920 convincing editorials in +behalf of equal suffrage, so that the women who are working for it +regard the newspapers as among their strongest allies. Special mention +should be made of the vigorous support of ratification of the Federal +Suffrage Amendment by the Raleigh <i>News and Observer</i>, the Greensboro +<i>Daily News</i> and the Charlotte <i>Observer</i>.</p> + +<p>The workers are greatly indebted to Chief Justice Clark, who for years +has been an unfailing champion of equal suffrage and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_495" id="Page_495">[Pg 495]</a></span> real democracy. +Deep indebtedness is acknowledged to Dr. Shaw, who a number of times +came to speak and whose memory is held in deep affection by North +Carolina suffragists. Her last visit was made when she gave the +commencement address at the College for Women at Greensboro in May, +1919, wearing the medal for distinguished service given by Secretary +of War Baker the preceding day. A few years ago a beautiful residence +for the women students was erected on the college grounds. She had +spoken several times to the students, who were devoted to her, and +after her death on July 2 the alumnć officially requested that the +residence be named the Anna Howard Shaw building, which was done.<a name="FNanchor_136_136" id="FNanchor_136_136"></a><a href="#Footnote_136_136" class="fnanchor">[136]</a></p> + +<p>On Oct. 7, 1920, after the Federal Amendment had been proclaimed, the +State League held its last meeting and was merged into the League of +Women Voters, with Miss Gertrude Weil chairman. Mrs. Maud Wood Park, +chairman of the National League, addressed a large and appreciative +audience.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> The Legislature of 1919 had instructed Governor Thomas +W. Bickett to call a special session in 1920 to consider matters +connected with taxation and it was understood that the ratification of +the Federal Woman Suffrage Amendment would be considered at that time. +By March, 1920, it had been ratified by 35 States and it was evident +that North Carolina might be the one to give the final affirmative +vote. This did not seem impossible, as the most prominent men in the +State were favorable, including the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker +of the House, several members of Congress, the Secretary of State and +other officials; the presidents of most of the colleges and of various +organizations; Judges, Mayors and many others. The Republican State +convention in March seated two women delegates for the first time and +put a woman on the ticket for State Superintendent of Public +Instruction, Mrs. Mary Settle Sharpe of the North Carolina College for +Women, who was on two State Republican Committees. The Democrats at +their State convention, April 8, seated about forty women<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_496" id="Page_496">[Pg 496]</a></span> delegates. +Before the convention U. S. Senator Simmons, always a strong opponent +of woman suffrage, announced himself in favor of ratification on the +ground of political expediency. Governor Bickett issued a similar +statement and A. W. McLean, member of the Democratic National +Committee, declared publicly for it. Clyde Hoey, member of Congress, +temporary chairman of the convention, made the key-note speech in +regard to State issues, in which he said: "I hope to see our General +Assembly at its special session ratify the Federal Suffrage Amendment. +There is no one thing you can do here that will be worth so much to +the party in the nation as to recommend to the Legislature the +ratification of this amendment." It was supposed that U. S. Senator +Overman would fall in line but in his speech he said: "I have been and +still am opposed to woman suffrage. It is fundamental with me, deep +and inborn ... but I recognize the fact that it seems inevitable."</p> + +<p>The plank in the platform, as it came from the committee, recommended +that the amendment should not be ratified but a State amendment should +be submitted to the voters. A minority report called for the +submission to the convention of the question whether the platform +should contain a plank for ratification. A second minority report was +offered to eliminate all reference to woman suffrage. Never in the +history of the party was there such a fight over the platform. Colonel +A. D. Watts and Cameron Morrison led the opposition to ratification; +W. P. Glidewell and John D. Bellamy the affirmative. Finally F. P. +Hobgood, Jr., one of the earliest champions of woman suffrage, after a +fiery speech, presented the following substitute for all the reports: +"This convention recommends to the Democratic members of the General +Assembly that at the approaching special session they vote in favor of +the ratification of the proposed 19th Amendment to the Federal +Constitution." This was carried by a vote of 585 to 428. Mrs. John S. +Cunningham, former president of the State Equal Suffrage League, was +elected by a large majority as honorary delegate to the Democratic +National convention and Miss Mary O. Graham as delegate. She had +already been made a member of the National Committee.</p> + +<p>The attention of the country was focussed on North Carolina.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_497" id="Page_497">[Pg 497]</a></span> In the +early summer President Wilson telegraphed to Governor Bickett: "I need +not point out to you the critical importance of the action of your +great State in the matter of the suffrage amendment." The Governor +replied in part: "I hope the Tennessee Legislature will meet and +ratify the amendment and thus make immediate action by North Carolina +unnecessary. We have neither the time nor the money and such action on +the part of Tennessee would save this State the feeling of bitterness +that would surely be engendered by debate on the subject that would +come up in the Legislature. I have said all I intend to say on the +subject of ratification. While I will take my medicine I will never +swear that it tastes good, for it doesn't."</p> + +<p>Just before the assembling of the Legislature suffrage headquarters +were opened in Raleigh with Miss Gertrude Weil, president of the State +Equal Suffrage League, and Mrs. Palmer Jerman, chairman of its +legislative committee, in charge. Miss Engle and Miss Pidgeon, +national organizers, were also members of the headquarters group. Miss +Martha Haywood did invaluable work as publicity chairman. A booth with +literature, posters, etc., was established in the Yarborough Hotel.</p> + +<p>Among the prominent men who during the struggle for ratification +strongly urged it were: Secretary Daniels, Gen. Julian S. Carr; Col. +Wade Harris, editor of the Charlotte <i>Observer</i>; J. W. Bailey, +collector of Internal Revenue; Clyde R. Hoey, member of Congress; Max +O. Gardner, Lieutenant Governor; J. C. Pritchard, Judge of the U. S. +Circuit Court of Appeals; Dennis G. Brummitt, Speaker of the House; +ex-Governor Locke Craig, A. W. McAlister and many others. Senator +Simmons, who was asked to come to Raleigh to assist in the fight, +refused to do so but issued another statement that, although he had +always been opposed to suffrage and his position was unchanged, he +realized that its coming was inevitable and believed that it would +help the Democratic party to ratify. Later, in response to a request +from the Raleigh <i>News and Observer</i>, he stressed the point that, +since the rest of the country was practically unanimous for +ratification, he feared sectional antagonism might be aroused if North +Carolina did not ratify. Mr. Bryan<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_498" id="Page_498">[Pg 498]</a></span> sent a message urging +ratification. Mrs. Daniels came to Raleigh to assist personally in the +struggle to ratify.</p> + +<p>On August 10 the session convened. The outlook was encouraging but the +enemies had been busy and the very next day a "round robin" signed by +63 members of the House was sent to the General Assembly of Tennessee, +where a bitter fight on ratification was in progress, which said: "We, +the undersigned, members of the House of Representatives of the +General Assembly of North Carolina, constituting the majority of said +body, send greetings and assure you that we will not ratify the Susan +B. Anthony amendment interfering with the sovereignty of Tennessee and +other States of the Union. We most respectfully request that this +measure be not forced upon the people of North Carolina."</p> + +<p>On August 13 the Governor, accompanied by Mrs. Bickett, Mrs. Daniels +and Mrs. Jerman, appeared in person before the joint assembly in the +hall of the House of Representatives, where the gallery was crowded +with women, and began his address by saying: "From reports in the +public press it seems that sentiment in the General Assembly is +decidedly against the ratification of the amendment. With this +sentiment I am in deepest sympathy and for the gentlemen who entertain +it I cherish the profoundest respect but this does not lessen my +obligation to lay before you a photographic copy of my mind on this +important subject. It is well known that I have never been impressed +with the wisdom of or the necessity for woman suffrage in North +Carolina." After a long speech setting forth the arguments in +opposition and quoting poetry he said: "But in the words of Grover +Cleveland, a condition not a theory confronts us. Woman suffrage is at +hand. It is an absolute moral certainty that inside of six months some +State will open the door and women will enter the political forum. No +great movement in all history has ever gone so near the top and then +failed to go over. The very most this General Assembly can do is to +delay for six months a movement it is powerless to defeat. I am +profoundly convinced that it would be the part of wisdom and grace to +accept the inevitable and ratify the amendment."</p> + +<p>On the same day Senator Scales introduced the resolution to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_499" id="Page_499">[Pg 499]</a></span> ratify, +which was referred to the Committee on Constitutional Amendments. +Within a quarter of an hour the committee reported favorably by 7 to +1—Senator Cloud. This prompt action was said to be not a tribute to +Governor Bickett but to Lieutenant Governor Gardner. It was introduced +into the House by minority leader H. S. Williams (Republican) and +referred to the Committee on Constitutional Amendments.</p> + +<p>Senator Scales, floor leader in the Senate for ratification, and +Senator Lindsay Warren, floor leader for the opposition, agreed that +the resolution to ratify should come up for discussion August 17. So +great was the excitement that by order of the Senate the gallery space +was divided, the east wing being assigned to the ratificationists, the +west wing to the rejectionists. An impassioned debate continued about +five hours, Senator Carr opening for ratification, followed by +Senators Sisk, Long of Halifax, Lovell and Glidewell, with Scales +closing. The opposition was led by Senator Warren, followed by +Senators Beddingfield, Thompson and Conner. When agreement to vote was +reached and the prospect for ratification was favorable, Senator +Warren suddenly interposed a resolution to defer action until the +regular meeting of the Legislature in 1921. Senator Scales had no +intimation that this move would be made until it was too late to +prevent it and the vote stood 25 ayes, 23 noes. Blame for the defeat +was placed to a large extent upon Senator Stacy. Had he remained true, +there would have been a tie and the Lieutenant Governor would have +voted in favor.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile it was generally understood that Representative W. W. Neal +had been sent to Tennessee for a conference with the opponents in the +Legislature there to arrange for the defeat of ratification by the +House in each State. Speaker Seth Walker of the Tennessee House +telegraphed Speaker Brummitt: "Have the amendment defeated +overwhelmingly in the Lower House. We are proud of our mother State of +North Carolina. God grant that she stand true to her glorious +tradition and history." All kinds of canards were in circulation and +Governor James M. Cox, Democratic candidate for President, had to send +a personal telegram denying that he was opposed to the ratification. +A<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_500" id="Page_500">[Pg 500]</a></span> Rejection League of Women had been formed with Miss Mary Hilliard +Hinton as chairman, which was very active.</p> + +<p>August 16 a resolution to reject was introduced in the House by +Representative Grier. After the unexpected action of the Senate +interest abated in the House. The question was taken up on the 19th +and the resolution to ratify was considered first. Representative +Everett led the ratification forces with Representative Gold and +others giving strong support. Representatives Crisp and Dawson led the +opponents. The vote stood 41 ayes, 71 noes. The rejection resolution +was laid on the table.</p> + +<p>In her report on ratification Mrs. Jerman made the significant +statement that, although individual men in both parties had stood true +to their pledges as loyal supporters, yet both parties had repudiated +their State platforms, and, therefore, the women were free so far as +any feeling of allegiance to either for what it may have done for +suffrage was concerned.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action.</span> 1897. The first bill for woman suffrage was +introduced by Senator James L. Hyatt, Republican, of Yancey county. +Referred to Committee on Insane Asylums.</p> + +<p>1913. Municipal suffrage bill introduced by David M. Clark of Pitt +county. Tabled. Walter Murphy, Speaker of the House, left his chair to +talk against it.</p> + +<p>1915. Constitutional woman suffrage amendment introduced by Senator F. +P. Hobgood, Jr., of Guilford county. Senate vote: 11 for, 37 against. +Introduced in the House by Gallatin Roberts of Buncombe county; 39 +for, 68 against.</p> + +<p>1917. Bill for Presidential electors, county and city officers, +introduced by Senator H. B. Stevens of Buncombe county; vote, 20 for, +24 against.</p> + +<p>State amendment resolution, introduced by G. Ellis Gardner of Yancey +county, an anti-suffragist, was tabled, as desired.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_134_134" id="Footnote_134_134"></a><a href="#FNanchor_134_134"><span class="label">[134]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Miss Clara +Booth Byrd, a member of the faculty of the North Carolina College for +Women.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_135_135" id="Footnote_135_135"></a><a href="#FNanchor_135_135"><span class="label">[135]</span></a> Those besides the presidents who held office during the +subsequent years were: Vice-presidents: Mrs. Lingle, Mrs. Jerman, Mrs. +Taylor, Mrs. Fairbrother, Mrs. C. A. Shore, Miss Weil, Miss Julia +Alexander; corresponding secretaries: Miss Susan Frances Hunter, Miss +Elizabeth Hedrick, Miss Eugenia Clark; recording secretaries: Mrs. +Lalyce D. Buford, Miss Margaret Berry, Miss Exum Clements; treasurers: +Miss Lida Rodman, Mrs. E. J. Parrish, Mrs. Julius W. Cone.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_136_136" id="Footnote_136_136"></a><a href="#FNanchor_136_136"><span class="label">[136]</span></a> In this college women are at the head of the +departments of mathematics, Latin, chemistry, political science and +home economics. The situation is similar in all colleges for women. +The State University and some others are co-educational.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_501" id="Page_501">[Pg 501]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXIII.</h2> + +<h3>NORTH DAKOTA.<a name="FNanchor_137_137" id="FNanchor_137_137"></a><a href="#Footnote_137_137" class="fnanchor">[137]</a></h3> + + +<p>The Equal Suffrage Association of North Dakota held its annual +convention at Devil's Lake July 17, 1901, where it was a prominent +feature of the Chautauqua Assembly. The auditorium was hung with huge +banners reading, "Equality at the Ballot Box," "Taxation Without +Representation is Tyranny," etc. Dr. Cora Smith Eaton addressed a +large audience on The Status of Woman Suffrage in our Country. +Officers elected were, Mrs. Flora B. Naylor, president; Mrs. Janette +Hill Knox, vice-president; Mrs. Mazie Stevens, treasurer; Mrs. +Katharine F. King, recording secretary.</p> + +<p>From 1901 to 1912 there are no records of an active suffrage +organization but individuals and small groups of women in different +parts of the State kept alive the suffrage spirit. On Feb. 4, 1912, +twenty-four men and women were invited to meet Miss Sylvia Pankhurst +of England at the home of Mrs. Mary Darrow Weible in Fargo. After an +informal discussion the Votes for Women League of Fargo was organized +with Mrs. Clara L. Darrow president. A strong league was organized in +Grand Forks by Mrs. R. M. Pollock. On June 13, at the call of the +Fargo League, an earnest group of men and women from different parts +of the State met at the Public Library and formed a State Votes for +Women League. Officers: President, Mrs. Darrow; vice-president at +large, Mrs. M. L. Ayers, Dickinson; corresponding secretary, Mrs. +Alice Nelson Page, Grand Forks; recording secretary, Mrs. Kate Selby +Wilder, Fargo; treasurer, Mrs. Helen de Lendrecie, Fargo; Committee on +Permanent Organization, Mrs. Ayers, Mrs. James Collins, Mrs. W. J. +Holbrook, N. C. McDonald, W. L. Stockwell; Resolutions, Mrs. Page, +Mrs. Wilder, Mrs. W. F. Cushing; Constitution, Miss<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_502" id="Page_502">[Pg 502]</a></span> Candis Nelson, +Mr. McDonald; Promotion, Mrs. C. F. Amidon. Steps were taken to +affiliate with the National American Woman Suffrage Association and it +was decided to introduce a resolution for the submission of a State +suffrage amendment to the voters at the next session of the +Legislature. Mrs. de Lendrecie gave headquarters in the de Lendrecie +Building at Fargo.</p> + +<p>The first convention was held at the Civic Center, Fargo, Oct. 18, +1913. The Promotions Committee reported the circularization of the +entire press and the legislators and a number of towns organized. A +woman suffrage bill had been passed by the Legislature and would be +submitted to the voters on Nov. 4, 1914. With the following State +officers the campaign was launched: Mrs. Darrow, president; Mrs. +Weible, vice-president; Mrs. Emma S. Pierce, treasurer; Mrs. Francis +S. Bolley, congressional chairman; Mrs. Elizabeth Darrow O'Neil, +campaign manager.</p> + +<p>A plan to divide the State into its judicial districts with district, +county and township chairmen was only partially carried out. One +hundred leagues were formed with approximately 2,000 members. Wherever +there was an efficient worker she was given a free hand to get the +votes in her locality in the most effective way. From four to six +organizers were in the field continually; seven speakers, including +Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, its president, were sent by the National +Association and five were furnished by the State. Chautauquas, fairs, +theaters and all kinds of meetings were everywhere utilized and there +were automobile speaking tours to outlying districts; plate matter was +furnished to the press and political party members were circularized. +A fund of $6,000 was raised, $3,000 of which came from the National +Association and other outside sources.</p> + +<p>It was a hard and hopeless campaign because of an impossible +requirement. When the framers of the constitution for statehood in +1889 refused to include woman suffrage a provision was put in the +constitution whereby the Legislature at any time could submit a bill +for it at the next general election. If approved by a majority of +voters "voting upon the question" it became a Law. How, when or where +the words "voting at the election" were substituted for "voting upon +the question" no one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_503" id="Page_503">[Pg 503]</a></span> seemed to know but they got into the +constitution. They meant that the suffrage referendum must poll a +majority of all the votes cast at the election and not just on the +measure itself. If the ballot was not marked at all it was counted in +the negative. The official returns gave the affirmative vote on +suffrage 40,209; blanks and noes together 49,348, making a total of +89,557, or 251 more votes than were cast for Governor, who polled the +largest number. It was generally conceded that if the unmarked ballots +had not been counted against the measure it would have been carried. +The entire western part of the State went for suffrage. The chief +opponents were the German Russians in Emmons and surrounding counties +and a handful of anti-suffragists who came from outside the State.</p> + +<p>The same Legislature that sent this bill to the electors also +submitted a woman suffrage amendment to the State constitution, which +would be more secure than a law. This resolution had to pass two +Legislatures but it required only a majority at the polls of the votes +actually cast on the question. The suffragists felt sure that the +Legislature of 1915 would pass for the second time this resolution for +an amendment but it refused to do so. They soon sustained a great loss +in the death of Mrs. Darrow, the much loved president, on April 23, +1915. She had sacrificed her life in her ceaseless work for woman +suffrage. Her husband, Dr. E. M. Darrow, a pioneer physician, two +daughters and three sons ardently supported her efforts.</p> + +<p>On account of the campaign the convention of 1914 had been postponed. +It was held at Valley City in June, 1915, and Mrs. Grace Clendening of +Wimbledon was elected president. Undaunted the suffragists made plans +to hold together the converts won during the campaign. The +organization had been of mushroom growth and they now had to +strengthen it.</p> + +<p>The annual convention was held at Minot Oct. 10, 1915, and Mrs. +Clendening was re-elected. Extensive educational work was done the +following year, at Chautauquas by holding "suffrage days," and through +booths maintained at the Fargo and Grand Forks fairs, with a wide +distribution of literature. The Votes for Women League and the Woman's +Christian Temperance Union opposed Governor Hanna and Lieutenant +Governor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_504" id="Page_504">[Pg 504]</a></span> Fraine at the June primaries because they were responsible +for the unfair treatment of the suffrage resolution in the Legislature +and both were defeated.</p> + +<p>The annual convention was held Oct. 13, 1916, at Valley City, the +National Association sending as a representative its first +vice-president, Mrs. Walter McNab Miller of Missouri. It was planned +to organize the State on the lines of its three Congressional +districts, which made a smaller executive board and facilitated its +meetings. The following officers were elected: President, Mrs. +Clendening; treasurer and press chairman, Mrs. Pierce; national and +first congressional district chairman, Mrs. O'Neil; educational and +second district chairman, Mrs. Charles Rathman; third district +chairman, Mrs. Emma Murray; legislative chairman, Mrs. Weible; +publicity chairman, Miss Aldyth Ward. An active campaign was started +to influence legislators for a Presidential and Municipal suffrage +bill and a constitutional amendment. The National Association sent two +organizers to tour the State, arouse interest and raise money. In +February, 1917, one-fifth of the newspapers of the State, representing +four-fifths of the counties, published suffrage editions, and in May a +60-page suffrage edition of a Labor magazine was edited and 5,000 +copies distributed. In April the headquarters were largely used for +war work.</p> + +<p>The annual convention was held at Bismarck Sept. 25-26, 1917. The +Presidential and Municipal suffrage bills having passed both Houses +and become law the convention decided to concentrate on the Federal +Suffrage Amendment. An emergency executive committee of Fargo women +was elected to cooperate from the State headquarters without delay in +carrying out instructions from the National Association. The following +resolution was adopted: "The North Dakota Votes for Women League, +reaffirming its steadfast loyalty and support to our President and our +Government, will continue to carry on the patriotic work assigned us +by the Government through our National Association, and will redouble +our efforts to gain enfranchisement for the women of the United States +in order that we may do more effective war work." Mrs. Clendening, who +was State president from 1915 to 1920, was now also vice-president<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_505" id="Page_505">[Pg 505]</a></span> of +the State Committee of the Woman's Division of the National Council of +Defense.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action.</span> From the time the convention for statehood failed +to put equal suffrage into the constitution the Women's Christian +Temperance Union kept up the agitation for it. In every Legislature a +suffrage bill was introduced and its president, Mrs. Elizabeth Preston +Anderson, attended each session. Although working separately, Mrs. +Anderson and the suffrage legislative committees were always in +perfect harmony. In 1911 the Union had a resolution introduced to +submit a woman suffrage amendment to the State constitution. Mrs. +Darrow and Mrs. de Lendrecie of the State Suffrage League lobbied for +it. It was lost in the Senate by 23 to 25 votes; referred to the +Committee on Woman Suffrage in the House, which recommended indefinite +postponement and the report was accepted by 54 ayes, 42 noes.</p> + +<p>1913. The Legislative Committee consisted of Mrs. Darrow, Mrs. Fannie +D. Quain, Mrs. Ella C. Boise and Miss Ward. Two suffrage measures +drawn up by Senator R. M. Pollock passed both Houses. The resolution +for an amendment to the State constitution, which would have to pass +two consecutive Legislatures before submission to the voters, received +in the Senate 31 ayes, 19 noes; in the House 79 ayes, 29 noes; 5 +absent. A legislative bill, which would go to the voters at the next +election, received in the Senate, 27 ayes, 22 noes; 1 absent; in the +House, 104 ayes; 1 no. Another bill introduced at this same session, +providing that the question be submitted to a vote of the women, was +passed in the Senate by 41 to 9 and indefinitely postponed in the +House.</p> + +<p>1915. Legislative Committee Mrs. Darrow, Mrs. Quain and Mrs. Weible. +It is a significant fact that of the nearly 800 bills introduced every +one had honest treatment, passed or failed to pass on roll call or was +indefinitely postponed by vote, except the one which vitally affected +the women. The concurrent resolution for a woman suffrage amendment, +which had passed the Legislature of 1913 and had to be ratified by +that of 1915, was passed in the Senate on February 13 by 31 ayes, 15 +noes, more than two to one, and the so-called "clincher" applied to it +which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_506" id="Page_506">[Pg 506]</a></span> prevented its reconsideration by less than a two-thirds vote. +The House had appeared more favorable than the Senate and it seemed +certain that it would pass that body. On February 18, five days after +the measure had passed the Senate, Senator Jacobson moved that it be +recalled from the House, where it had had its first and second +readings and been referred to the Committee on Elections. This motion +was carried by 26 to 22. The opponents at once gathered their forces. +Judge N. C. Young of Fargo, attorney for the Northern Pacific Railway, +and Mrs. Young, president of the State Anti-Suffrage Association, +arrived immediately and began lobbying, Judge Young even appearing on +the floor of the Senate chamber.<a name="FNanchor_138_138" id="FNanchor_138_138"></a><a href="#Footnote_138_138" class="fnanchor">[138]</a> The German vote was promised to +ambitious politicians and a desired change of the county seat was +offered. The Senate not having the necessary two-thirds to kill the +resolution refused by a majority vote to take action upon it. It +should then have gone automatically back to the House but the +president of the Senate, Lieutenant Governor Fraine, withheld it until +the Legislature adjourned. The chief opponents during these years were +the old Republican "stand-patters," who controlled the political +"machine," and Judge Young was one of the most prominent. Success came +with its overthrow.</p> + +<p>1917. The Legislative Committee consisted of Mrs. Clendening and Mrs. +Weible. On January 14 Senator Oscar Lindstrom introduced a +Presidential and Municipal suffrage bill, written by Senator Pollock +at Mrs. Anderson's request. It was modelled on the Illinois bill and +beginning with July 1 it entitled women to vote for Presidential +electors, county surveyors and constables and for all officers of +cities, villages and towns excepting police magistrates and city +justices of the peace. A concurrent resolution providing for an +amendment to the State constitution to give full suffrage to women was +also introduced. Both were passed on January 16 by the same vote, 37 +ayes, 11 noes in the Senate; 89 ayes, 19 noes in the House, and were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_507" id="Page_507">[Pg 507]</a></span> +the first measures signed by Governor Lynn J. Frazier, on the 23rd.</p> + +<p>This Legislature and also the one of 1919 adopted a resolution calling +upon Congress to submit the Federal Woman Suffrage Amendment. Four of +the five North Dakota members were then in favor of it and in 1918 the +hesitating Senator made the delegation unanimous.</p> + +<p>The State Referendum Association and the Anti-Suffrage Association +made an attempt to secure a petition for a referendum to the voters of +the Presidential and Municipal suffrage bill, but although less than +11,000 names were required only a few thousand were filed with the +Secretary of State and there was considerable difficulty in securing +those. Affidavits were sent to the Suffrage Association proving that +many names were obtained by fraud.</p> + +<p>1919. The Legislature passed the concurrent resolution providing for +an amendment to the constitution giving women full suffrage, which had +gone through that of 1917. The vote in the Senate was 43 ayes, 1 no, +with 5 absent; in the House 98 ayes, no negative, with 15 absent. It +was to be voted on Nov. 2, 1920. Before that date the Federal +Amendment had been submitted by Congress and ratified by thirty-seven +Legislatures.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> The Legislature met in special session Dec. 2, 1919, and +ratified by the following vote: Senate, 41 ayes, 4 noes with 3 absent; +House 102 ayes, 6 noes. Nevertheless the vote on the State amendment +had to be taken on Nov. 2, 1920, and it stood: Ayes, 129,628; noes, +68,569. Thousands of women voted at this election.</p> + +<p>On April 1, 1920, the State Votes for Women League met and was +re-organized as the League of Women Voters, with Mrs. Kate S. Wilder +of Fargo chairman.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_137_137" id="Footnote_137_137"></a><a href="#FNanchor_137_137"><span class="label">[137]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Emma +S. Pierce, vice-president of the State Votes for Women League.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_138_138" id="Footnote_138_138"></a><a href="#FNanchor_138_138"><span class="label">[138]</span></a> A field worker for a philanthropic organization, who +had a room in a hotel in Bismarck, the capital, next to one occupied +by the representative of the liquor interests, heard him send a long +distance telephone message to Mrs. Young for her and the Judge to come +on the first train, as they were needed. She heard another one say: +"If the d——n women get the ballot there will be no chance of +re-submitting the prohibition amendment."</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_508" id="Page_508">[Pg 508]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXXIV.</h2> + +<h3>OHIO.<a name="FNanchor_139_139" id="FNanchor_139_139"></a><a href="#Footnote_139_139" class="fnanchor">[139]</a></h3> + + +<p>The history of woman suffrage in Ohio is a long one, for the second +woman's rights convention ever held took place at Salem, in April, +1850, and the work never entirely ceased. Looking back over it since +1900, when the Ohio chapter for Volume IV ended, one is conscious of +the wonderful spirit manifested in the State association. Other States +did more spectacular work and had larger organizations but none +finished its tasks with a stronger spirit of loyalty and love for the +work and the workers.</p> + +<p>The State Woman Suffrage Association was organized in 1885 and held +annual conventions for the next thirty-five years, at which capable +officers were elected who were consecrated to their duties. From 1899 +to 1920 Mrs. Harriet Taylor Upton was president, with the exception of +the three years 1908-1911, when the office was filled by Mrs. Pauline +Steinem of Toledo. During the first twenty years of the present +century but one year, that of 1911, passed without a State +convention.<a name="FNanchor_140_140" id="FNanchor_140_140"></a><a href="#Footnote_140_140" class="fnanchor">[140]</a> For over twenty years the State headquarters were in +Warren, the home of Mrs. Upton.</p> + +<p>On May 4, 5, 1920, the final convention of the Woman Suffrage +Association was held in Columbus and with its work finished the State +League of Women Voters was organized, with Miss Amy G. Maher as +chairman.</p> + +<p>The devotion, the efficiency, the self-sacrifice of the suffrage +workers in Ohio will never be known. Their strength lay in their +cooperation. To give their names and their work would fill all the +space allowed for this chapter but one exception should<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_509" id="Page_509">[Pg 509]</a></span> in justice be +made. Elizabeth J. Hauser from her childhood days until the Federal +Amendment was ratified gave her life to woman's enfranchisement. +Painstaking, fearless, unselfish and able, she labored cheerfully, not +caring for praise or credit for the things she accomplished. A good +executive, organizer, legislative worker, speaker and writer, she was +a power in the counsels of the suffragists. To her more than to any +other woman do Ohio women owe a debt of gratitude.<a name="FNanchor_141_141" id="FNanchor_141_141"></a><a href="#Footnote_141_141" class="fnanchor">[141]</a></p> + +<p>From the first gathering of Ohio suffragists in 1850 until Tennessee +spoke the last word in 1920, few years passed when some suffrage +measure was not asked for and few Legislatures went out of existence +without having considered some legislation referring to women. In 1894 +a law gave them the right to vote for members of the boards of +education. In 1904 and 1905, the Legislature was asked to submit to +the voters an amendment to the State constitution giving full suffrage +to women but the resolution was not reported out of the committees. In +1908 it was reported but no vote was taken. In 1910 it was defeated on +the floor. This was the experience for years.</p> + +<p>Periodically attempts had been made to revise the State constitution +of 1851 without success but the Legislature of 1910 provided for +submitting to the voters the question of calling a convention, which +was carried in the fall of that year. The convention was to be +non-partisan. The suffragists interviewed the delegates on putting +woman suffrage in the new constitution and the poll was complete when +the convention opened. The moment the president was chosen, the +suffrage leaders asked for a friendly committee and from that time to +the very last moment they were at work. The proposition for a woman +suffrage clause was introduced Jan. 22, 1912; a pro-hearing was held +February 8; an anti-hearing followed by a public meeting was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_510" id="Page_510">[Pg 510]</a></span> had +February 14 and the following day it was favorably reported out of +committee by a vote of 20 to 1.</p> + +<p>Interests, vicious and commercial, fought the suffrage amendment from +every possible angle but on March 7 the convention adopted it by a +vote of 76 to 34. If accepted by the voters it would eliminate the +words "white male" from Section 1, Article V, of the present +constitution. The enemies secured the submission of a separate +amendment eliminating the word "white." This was done to alienate the +negro vote from the suffrage amendment and the negroes were told that +it was a shame they should be "tied to the women's apron strings."</p> + +<p>The new constitution was made by adding amendments to the old one and +the suffrage amendment went in with the rest. William B. Kirkpatrick, +chairman of the Equal Suffrage Committee of the convention, more than +any one was responsible for the acceptance of the amendment. Through +the whole convention he fought for it, sacrificing many things near +his heart—they could wait, this was the chance for woman suffrage.</p> + +<p>The amendment was numbered "23" and at that time this number was +considered unlucky. The most illiterate could remember to vote against +that "23." The constitution was ready on May 31 and the special +election was set for Sept. 3, 1912. Three months of vigorous campaign +for the amendment followed. The German-American Alliance and the +Personal Liberty League, two associations representing the brewers' +interests, fought it in the field as they had done in the convention. +It was estimated that the suffragists spent $40,000 and it was learned +that the liquor forces first appropriated $500,000 and later added +$120,000 to defeat the suffrage amendment. The chief work of the +suffragists was done in the cities, although women spoke at picnics, +county fairs, family reunions, circuses, beaches, institutes, labor +meetings, at country stores, school houses and cross roads. More than +fifty workers came into Ohio from all directions to assist, the larger +number from the eastern States. They received no financial recompense +and gave splendid service. In August an impressive suffrage parade of +5,000 took place in Columbus.</p> + +<p>The president of the German-American Alliance at a meeting in +Youngstown boasted openly that it defeated the amendment.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_511" id="Page_511">[Pg 511]</a></span> It +advertised everywhere, by posters and in street cars, and had no +voluntary workers. It was evident that huge sums were being spent. The +amendment was lost by a majority of 87,455—ayes, 249,420; noes, +336,875. Only 24 out of 88 counties were carried and but one +Congressional district, the Eighteenth.</p> + +<p>There was never any state-wide anti-suffrage association of women but +only small groups in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus. Most +of them were rich, well situated, not familiar with organized reform +work and not knowing the viciousness of their associates. The real foe +was the associated liquor men, calling themselves at first the +Personal Liberty League, later the Home Rule Association, appearing +under different names in different campaigns and they had in their +employ a few women who were connected with the Anti-Suffrage +Association. The amendment was lost in 1912 because of the activity of +the liquor interests and the indifference of the so-called good +people. More men voted on this question, pro and con, than had ever +voted on woman suffrage before in any State.</p> + +<p>The amendment eliminating the word "white," left over from ante bellum +days, also was defeated and the new constitution retained a clause +which had been nullified by the 15th Amendment to the National +Constitution forty years before! The initiative and referendum +amendment was carried. The State Suffrage Association, therefore, +early in 1913, decided to circulate a petition initiating a woman +suffrage amendment to the constitution, as there was no hope that the +Legislature would submit one. It required the signatures of ten per +cent. of the voters at the last election, in this instance 130,000 +names. It was drawn by an Ohio member of Congress, received at State +headquarters April 15, submitted to the Attorney General and held many +weeks. When returned, instructions were carefully followed. On +September 15 the first petition heads were received from the printer.</p> + +<p>It was a new law and lawyers and laymen were uncertain about it. The +question of the validity of the petitions if circulated by women was +raised and a ruling was asked for. The Secretary of State decided that +women could circulate them and the Attorney General agreed. It was +feared by some that the petition head was faulty because it did not +contain a repeal clause and after three<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_512" id="Page_512">[Pg 512]</a></span> weeks of anxious waiting the +opinion was given that this was not necessary. Then arose another +point, that the names of the committee standing for the petition must +be on it. This constant objecting and obstructing led the suffrage +leaders, upon advice of their attorney, to withdraw the petition and +await the action of the special session of the Legislature. It passed +the initiative and referendum safeguarding measure, which the Governor +signed Feb. 17, 1914, and all uncertainties seemed over.</p> + +<p>Determined to have a perfect copy for the petition head the +suffragists had it prepared by the State Legislative Reference +Department and the Secretary of State orally approved it. At the +headquarters it was noticed that the words, "Be it resolved by the +people of Ohio," which the constitution specifically provided must be +on petition heads and which had been on the first one, had been +omitted. They asked the Secretary of State whether this jeopardized +the petition and it was his opinion that it did, although he had +approved it. The Attorney General finally gave it official sanction +and the first petitions were put out in March, 1914, after one year's +continuous effort to get them into circulation. Who but women fighting +for their freedom could ever have had the courage to keep on? They had +no money to pay circulators and all was volunteer work. Over 2,000 +women circulated these petitions. To have more than 130,000 men write +their names and addresses on a petition and the circulator see them do +it and swear that she did was no light task but it was accomplished. +On July 30 petitions bearing 131,271 names were filed with the +Secretary of State. A petition was secured in every county, although +the law requires them from a majority only, and each was presented by +a worker from that county. The sight of scores of men and women with +arms laden with petitions marching up to the State House to deposit +them brought tears to the eyes of some of the onlookers.</p> + +<p>The campaign opened in Toledo, April 14, 15, was hectic. Everything +possible was done to bring the amendment to the attention of the +voters. Cleveland suffragists put on a beautiful pageant, A Dream of +Freedom. A pilgrimage was made to the Friends' Meeting House in Salem +where the suffrage convention of 1850 was held and the resolutions of +those pioneers were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_513" id="Page_513">[Pg 513]</a></span> re-adopted by a large, enthusiastic audience. +Women followed party speakers, taking their audiences before and after +the political meeting. State conventions of all sorts were appealed to +and many gave endorsement, those of the Republicans and the Democrats +refusing. Groups of workers would visit a county, separate and canvass +all the towns and then keep up their courage by returning to the +county seat at night and comparing notes. Street meetings and noon +meetings for working people were held. Everything which had been tried +out in any campaign was done.</p> + +<p>From the beginning of 1913 to the election in November, 1914, there +was constant work done for the amendment. The total number of votes +cast on it was 853,685; against, 518,295; for 335,390; lost by 182,905 +votes. There were gains in every county but only 14 were carried, +where there had been 24 in 1912.</p> + +<p>That the liquor interests and the anti-suffragists worked together was +clearly established. The Saturday preceding the election the president +of the State Suffrage association saw in her own city of Warren a man +distributing literature from door to door and accompanied by a witness +she followed him and picked up several packages in different parts of +the city. They contained two leaflets, one giving information on how +to vote on the Home Rule or "wet" amendment, the other giving +instructions how to vote against the suffrage amendment. The latter +had a facsimile ballot marked against it and was signed by five women. +The <i>Liberal Advocate</i> of Oct. 21, 1914, (official organ of the liquor +interests), published at Columbus, had a picture and a write-up of +Mrs. A. J. George of Brookline, a speaker from the Massachusetts +Anti-Suffrage Association, with a headline saying that she would be +present at a luncheon of anti-suffragists on the 27th in that city and +also speak elsewhere in the State.</p> + +<p>After the defeats of 1912 and 1914 the suffragists abandoned the idea +of carrying an amendment. The revised constitution provided for "home +rule" for cities, which allowed them to adopt their own charters +instead of going to the Legislature. Suffragists believed that these +charters could provide for woman suffrage in municipal affairs. In +1916 East Cleveland decided to frame a charter and they saw a chance +to make a test. This campaign was the work of the Woman Suffrage Party +of Greater<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_514" id="Page_514">[Pg 514]</a></span> Cleveland. On June 6 a city charter was submitted to the +voters and adopted including woman suffrage. A suit was brought to +test its constitutionality and it was argued in the Supreme Court, one +of the lawyers being a woman, Miss Florence E. Allen.<a name="FNanchor_142_142" id="FNanchor_142_142"></a><a href="#Footnote_142_142" class="fnanchor">[142]</a> By +agreement between the court and election officials women voted at the +regular municipal election in November. The court upheld its validity +April 3, 1917, and the constitutionality of Municipal woman suffrage +in charter cities was established.</p> + +<p>In the fall of 1917 the women of Lakewood, a city adjoining Cleveland +on the west, gave municipal suffrage to its women by charter after a +vigorous campaign. Columbus undertook to put this in its charter and a +bitter campaign took place. It was the house to house canvass and the +courageous work of the Columbus women and State suffrage officers +which brought the victory when it was voted on at the election in +August, 1917. Sandusky was not successful.</p> + +<p>A partial poll of the Legislature on the subject of Presidential +suffrage for women in 1915 had shown that it would be futile to +attempt it but after endorsements of woman suffrage by the national +party conventions in 1916 it was determined to try.</p> + +<p>The Legislature of 1917 was Democratic and Representative James A. +Reynolds (Cleveland) met the State suffrage workers upon their arrival +in Columbus for the opening of the session and informed them that he +was going to sponsor their bill. On January 16 Representative Pratt, +Republican, of Ashtabula and Mr. Reynolds, Democrat, each introduced a +measure for Presidential suffrage. By agreement the Reynolds bill was +chosen and he fought the battle for it against great odds. He was the +one anti-prohibitionist who worked for it, considering it his duty and +his privilege, and, because of his standing and because his party was +in power, he was the only one perhaps who could have carried it +through. He stood by the suffragists until Tennessee had ratified and +the contest was over.</p> + +<p>On Jan. 30, 1917, the bill to give women a vote for Presidential +electors was reported favorably from the House Committee on Elections, +and on February 1 it passed the House by 72 ayes,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_515" id="Page_515">[Pg 515]</a></span> 50 noes, fifty-five +per cent. of the Democratic members voting for it and sixty-nine per +cent of the Republicans. In the Senate the leader of the "wets" +introduced a resolution for the submission of a full suffrage +amendment in the hope of sidetracking the Reynolds bill but the latter +reached the Senate February 2, before the Holden bill could be +considered. The suffragists, wishing to expedite matters, did not ask +for a hearing but the "antis" did and at Mr. Reynolds' request the +former were present. At this hearing the women leaders of the "antis" +and the liquor men occupied seats together on the floor of the Senate. +The next morning the bill was reported favorably from the Federal +Relations Committee and passed on February 14, by 19 ayes, 17 noes. +Immediately the leader of the opposition changed his vote to yes in +order to move a reconsideration. This he was not permitted to do +because a friend of the measure forced the reconsideration the next +day, and as this was lost by a vote of 24 to 10, the bill itself went +on record as having received the vote of the "wet" leader and having +passed by 20 to 16. Governor James M. Cox signed it Feb. 21.</p> + +<p>Very soon the opponents opened headquarters in Columbus and circulated +petitions to have the Presidential suffrage bill referred to the +voters for repeal. The story of these petitions is a disgraceful one. +Four-fifths of the signatures were gathered in saloons, the petitions +kept on the back and front bars. Hundreds of names were certified to +by men who declared they saw them signed, an impossibility unless they +stood by the bar eighteen hours each day for some weeks and watched +every signature. Some petitions, according to the dates they bore, +were circulated by the same men in different counties on the same day. +Some of them had whole pages of signatures written in the same hand +and some had names only, no addresses. The suffragists copied some of +these petitions after they were filed in Columbus and although the +time was short brought suit to prove them fraudulent in six counties. +In four the court ordered all but a few names thrown out. In Scioto +all the names were rejected and in Cuyahoga county (Cleveland), 7,000 +names were thrown out. The petitions in Franklin county (Columbus), +Lucas (Toledo) and Montgomery (Dayton) were unquestionably fraudulent +but the election boards were hostile to woman suffrage and powerful +with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_516" id="Page_516">[Pg 516]</a></span> courts and refused to bring cases. When suffrage leaders +attempted to intervene the courts declared they had no jurisdiction.</p> + +<p>The suffragists were on duty in Columbus from January to +October,—long, weary, exciting months. It was clearly proved in the +cases brought that the petitions were fraudulently circulated, signed, +attested and certified. In the course of an attempt to bring a case +against Franklin county a ruling of the Common Pleas Court was that +the Secretary of State should be restrained from counting the +signatures from seventeen counties because the Board of Elections had +not properly certified them. The Secretary of State telegraphed these +boards and they certified again, although there is no constitutional +or statutory provision for recertification. Nevertheless when these +corrected certifications were made the Judge dissolved the injunction +and 17,000 names were restored to the petition. U. S. Senator Warren +G. Harding in a Decoration Day speech at Columbus declared himself +decidedly opposed to accepting this referendum.</p> + +<p>Cases were brought to the Supreme Court via the Court of Appeals, one +a general suit demanding that petitions from certain counties be +rejected because they were fraudulent and insufficient, the other to +mandamus the Secretary of State to give the suffragists a hearing to +prove their charges. The first was dismissed, the Supreme Court saying +it had no jurisdiction over a case which had not been finished in the +court from which the appeal had been taken. They returned to the Court +of Appeals and tried one case on the constitutionality of the law of +1915, which gives the Board of Elections and Common Pleas Judges the +right to examine the petitions and pass upon their validity, instead +of the Secretary of State. The court decided to give no decision as +election was so near at hand.</p> + +<p>The law made no provision to meet the expenses of petition suits and +the suffragists had to bear the cost, no small undertaking. The +election boards which were dominated by politicians who had been +notorious for their opposition to suffrage, interposed every possible +obstacle to the attempt of the suffragists to uncover fraud. In some +counties it was impossible to bring cases. Women were absorbed in war +work and thousands of them bitterly resented the fact that at such a +time their right to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_517" id="Page_517">[Pg 517]</a></span> vote should be questioned. The referendum was +submitted with the proposal so worded on the ballot that it was +extremely difficult to know whether to vote yes or no.</p> + +<p>At the election in November, 1917, the majority voted in favor of +taking away from women the Presidential suffrage. The vote for +retaining it was 422,262; against, 568,382; the law repealed by a +majority of 146,120. More votes were polled in 1917 than in 1914. The +law was upheld in 15 counties, in 11 of which suffrage had then +carried three times.</p> + +<p>Ohio suffragists now turned their attention entirely towards national +work. It was apparent that while the liquor interests continued their +fight, women with a few thousand dollars, working for principle, could +never overcome men with hundreds of thousands of dollars working for +their own political and financial interests. Intensive organized +congressional work was carried on henceforth for the Federal Suffrage +Amendment. When the vote on it was taken in the House of +Representatives Jan. 10, 1918, eight of Ohio's twenty-two Congressmen +voted for it. Three years before, Jan. 12, 1915, only five had voted +in favor. In the U. S. Senate, Oct. 1, 1918, Senator Atlee Pomerene +voted No; Senator Warren G. Harding paired in favor. On Feb. 10, 1919, +Senator Harding voted Yes; Senator Pomerene No.</p> + +<p>The Legislature in 1919, Republican by a large majority in both +Houses, endorsed the Federal Amendment by a vote of 23 to 10 in the +Senate, 79 to 31 in the House. When the vote was taken in the National +House of Representatives, May 21, 1919, only two Ohio members voted +No, one a Democrat, Warren Gard of Hamilton, one a Republican, A. E. +B. Stephens of Cincinnati. When the final vote was taken in the Senate +June 4, 1919, Senator Harding voted Yes, Senator Pomerene, No.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> The Legislature was so eager to ratify that it had only +recessed instead of adjourning so that it could come together for that +purpose whenever the amendment was submitted. Representative Reynolds +had again introduced a Presidential suffrage measure, and C. H. Fouts +of Morgan county, to carry out the Republican platform, had presented +a full suffrage proposal. Both were held back until the fate of the +National Amendment should be known. The legislators assembled to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_518" id="Page_518">[Pg 518]</a></span> +ratify on June 16 and the House vote was 76 ayes, 6 noes. In order +that the women might be sure of a vote at the next election the +Presidential suffrage bill was immediately passed by a vote of 75 +ayes, 5 noes. The House was in an uproar, cheering, laughing and +talking. Then a committee came to the suffrage leaders who were now on +the floor, always heretofore in the gallery, and escorted them to the +Senate through the legislative passage way which had always before +been closed to them. The Senate ratified by a vote of 27 ayes, 3 noes. +The Presidential bill was read, debated and passed by the Senate late +that night by 27 ayes, 3 noes.</p> + +<p>Never was there a finer example of cooperation than in this +ratification of the Federal Amendment. The adoption of the joint +resolution was moved by the Republican floor leader and seconded by +the Democratic floor leader. The same spirit characterized the passage +of the Presidential suffrage bill. Mr. Reynolds, fearing some +prejudice might attach to it if it bore his name, as he was a minority +party member, proposed to the Republican leaders that the name of +Speaker Kimball be substituted. The Speaker replied: "No, you deserve +to have it go through with your name attached." Mr. Reynolds then +asked that the name of Mr. Fouts be added because he had introduced a +full suffrage measure, and it became the Reynolds-Fouts Bill. Miss +Hauser, editor of the <i>Bulletin</i>, official organ of the State Suffrage +Association, said in it: "We had just witnessed a perfect exhibition +of team work and a demonstration of loyalty to a cause and to each +other by members of opposing political parties that was heart warming. +We had finished the suffrage fight in Ohio as Mrs. Upton had always +wanted to finish it, with love, good will and harmony in our own +ranks, and, so far as we were able to judge, with nothing but good +will from the men with whom we had worked since the present stage of +the contest was inaugurated in 1912."</p> + +<p>The suffragists believed the fight was over, not so the opponents. +They at once secured referendum petitions on both ratification and +Presidential suffrage. In 1918 the Home Rule Association (the liquor +interests) had initiated and carried at the November election an +amendment to the State constitution providing that Federal amendments +must be approved by the voters<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_519" id="Page_519">[Pg 519]</a></span> before the ratification of the +Legislature was effective. This was designed primarily to secure a +reversal of prohibition in Ohio but also to prevent ratification of +the suffrage amendment.<a name="FNanchor_143_143" id="FNanchor_143_143"></a><a href="#Footnote_143_143" class="fnanchor">[143]</a></p> + +<p>In collecting their petitions the same old tactics were employed. The +personnel of the workers was largely the same, with the addition of a +State Senator from Cincinnati as general manager. The money to finance +the campaign came principally from that city and this time members of +the women's Anti-Suffrage Association were contributors. The saloons +were now closed and pious instructions were given not to have the +petitions circulated by saloon keepers or bar tenders. Nevertheless +nearly 600 of them were circulated by men who had been connected with +the saloon business, some of them now conducting soft drink +establishments, and the signatures were plainly of the most illiterate +elements.</p> + +<p>The State Suffrage Association persuaded the National American +Association to attack the constitutionality of this referendum in the +courts and suit was accordingly brought. Eventually it was sustained +by the Supreme Court of Ohio and was carried to the U. S. Supreme +Court by George Hawk, a young lawyer of Cincinnati. It rendered a +decision that the power to ratify a Federal Amendment rested in the +Legislature and could not be passed on by the voters.</p> + +<p>The Legislature in an adjourned session in 1920 gave women Primary +suffrage in an amendment to the Presidential bill, but the final +ratification of the Federal Amendment in August made all partial +measures unnecessary, as it completely enfranchised women.<a name="FNanchor_144_144" id="FNanchor_144_144"></a><a href="#Footnote_144_144" class="fnanchor">[144]</a> Thus +after a struggle of seventy years those of Ohio received the suffrage +at last from the national government, but they were deeply +appreciative and grateful to those heroic men of the State who fought +their battles through the years.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_139_139" id="Footnote_139_139"></a><a href="#FNanchor_139_139"><span class="label">[139]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. +Harriet Taylor Upton, treasurer of the National Woman Suffrage +Association 1893-1910; president of the Ohio Woman Suffrage +Association 1899-1908 and 1911-1920.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_140_140" id="Footnote_140_140"></a><a href="#FNanchor_140_140"><span class="label">[140]</span></a> These conventions were held in the following order: +Athens, Springfield, Cleveland, Sandusky, London, Youngstown, Toledo, +Warren, Columbus, Elyria, Lima, Columbus, Cincinnati, Columbus, +Cleveland, Lima, Dayton, Columbus (last three years).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_141_141" id="Footnote_141_141"></a><a href="#FNanchor_141_141"><span class="label">[141]</span></a> The executive officers who finished the work of the +State Association were as follows: Honorary president, Mrs. Frances M. +Casement, Painesville; president, Mrs. Upton, Warren; first, second +and third vice-presidents, Zara du Pont, Cleveland; Dora Sandoe +Bachman, Columbus; Mrs. J. C. Wallace, Cincinnati; corresponding +secretary, Mrs. Kent Hughes, Lima; recording secretary, Margaret J. +Brandenburg, Oxford; treasurer, Zell Hart Deming, Warren; member of +the National Executive Committee, Mrs. O. F. Davisson, Dayton. +Chairmen: Organization Committee, Elizabeth J. Hauser, Girard; +Finance, Miss Annie McCully, Dayton; Industrial, Rose Moriarty, +Cleveland; Enrollment, Mrs. C. H. Simonds, Conneaut; member Executive +Committee at Large, Mrs. Malcolm McBride, Cleveland.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_142_142" id="Footnote_142_142"></a><a href="#FNanchor_142_142"><span class="label">[142]</span></a> Miss Allen was counsel in all court cases of the Ohio +suffragists from 1916 to 1920. In 1920 she was elected Judge in the +Common Pleas Court of Cuyahoga county (Cleveland), the first woman in +the United States to fill such an office.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_143_143" id="Footnote_143_143"></a><a href="#FNanchor_143_143"><span class="label">[143]</span></a> Several years before the "wets," this time under the +name of the Stability League, had initiated an amendment, which, if it +had been carried, would have prohibited the submission of the same +amendment oftener than once in six years. Thus the suffragists in +1916, 1917 and 1918 were in the courts for months each year.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_144_144" id="Footnote_144_144"></a><a href="#FNanchor_144_144"><span class="label">[144]</span></a> In the presidential campaign of 1920 Mrs. Upton was +appointed vice-chairman of the Republican National Executive +Committee, the highest political position ever held by a woman, and +she had charge of the activities of women during that campaign. Her +last work for woman suffrage was during the strenuous effort to obtain +the 36th and final ratification of the Federal Amendment from the +Tennessee Legislature in the summer of 1920, when she went to +Nashville at the request of the National Republican Committee.—Ed.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_520" id="Page_520">[Pg 520]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXV" id="CHAPTER_XXXV"></a>CHAPTER XXXV.</h2> + +<h3>OKLAHOMA.<a name="FNanchor_145_145" id="FNanchor_145_145"></a><a href="#Footnote_145_145" class="fnanchor">[145]</a></h3> + + +<p>From the time Oklahoma Territory was opened to settlement in 1889 +efforts were made to obtain the franchise for women, first by the +Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and in 1895 the National American +Woman Suffrage Association sent organizers and an auxiliary was +formed. It held annual conventions and bills were presented to the +Legislature but when one had been grossly betrayed in the Senate after +passing the House in 1899 no further effort was made for a number of +years.<a name="FNanchor_146_146" id="FNanchor_146_146"></a><a href="#Footnote_146_146" class="fnanchor">[146]</a> Finally in answer to requests sent to the National +Association, an organizer, Miss Laura Gregg of Kansas, was sent to the +Territory in March, 1904. She was cordially received and spent the +next eight months in speaking and organizing suffrage clubs. In +December Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, the national president, joined her for +a two-weeks' series of conferences in the large places, in each of +which a society was formed.</p> + +<p>A convention of Oklahoma and Indian Territory delegates was called for +December 15-16 in Oklahoma City. Dr. Shaw presided at the first +session and delivered an address to a large audience. Over sixty +members were added to the city club and from this time it was the most +active in the State. Statehood was being agitated and a letter was +read from Miss Susan B. Anthony, honorary president of the National +Association, which said: "No stone should be left unturned to secure +suffrage for the women while Oklahoma is yet a Territory, for if it +comes into the Union without this in its constitution it will take a +long time and a great deal of hard work to convert over one-half of +the men to vote for it."</p> + +<p>Letters expressing a strong desire for the franchise were read<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_521" id="Page_521">[Pg 521]</a></span> from +women in different parts of the Territories. The Twin Territorial +Association was organized and a resolution was adopted calling for +statehood and saying: "Said statehood shall never enact any law +restricting the right of suffrage on account of sex, race, color or +previous condition of servitude." Prominent at this convention were +Mrs. Kate H. Biggers, Mrs. Julia Woodworth, Mrs. Anna Laskey and Mrs. +Jence C. Feuquay. The officers elected were: president, Mrs. Biggers, +Indian Territory; first vice-president, Mrs. Woodworth; second, Mrs. +Anna M. Bennett; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Laskey; recording +secretary, Mrs. Louisa Boylan McLoud; treasurer, Miss Margaret Rees; +auditors, Mrs. Rebecca Forney and Mrs. Mary B. Green, all of Oklahoma +Territory, and Mrs. Mary C. Harvey of Indian Territory.</p> + +<p>The second annual convention was held Oct. 26-28, 1905, at Chickasha, +Indian Territory. Mrs. Biggers, Mrs. Woodworth, Miss Rees and Mrs. +Green were re-elected. New officers were, Mrs. Minnie Keith Bailey, +Mrs. Cleo Ikard Harris, Mrs. Ida Wood Norvell, Mrs. Jessie Livingston +Parks and Mrs. Hattie Sherman. Vigorous protest had been made by women +throughout the Territories against the bill for statehood which had +been presented to Congress, classifying women in the suffrage section +with illiterates, minors, felons, insane and feeble-minded. The matter +was also taken up by the National Association. [See +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29878/29878-h/29878-h.htm#CHAPTER_V">Chapter V, Volume V</a>.] Later when bills in the Territorial Legislature for a +constitutional convention repeated this clause a conference was held +with the officers of the W. C. T. U. and hundreds of letters of +protest were sent.</p> + +<p>As a constitutional convention seemed near at hand Dr. Frances Woods +of South Dakota was sent by the National Association to organize in +Indian Territory. With the help of Mrs. Woodworth she secured hearings +before women's clubs and W. C. T. U.'s, addressed State Labor and +Press Associations and was invited to speak to a Farmers' Institute +300 miles away with her expenses paid. Miss Gregg continued the +organizing in Oklahoma, addressing an audience of 6,000 at the Grand +Army of the Republic encampment and speaking to teachers' institutes, +business colleges, country school house meetings and women's clubs. +One issue of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_522" id="Page_522">[Pg 522]</a></span> the <i>Messenger</i>, the U. C. T. U. organ, was devoted to +woman suffrage. The membership increased; over 75 papers used suffrage +articles and much literature donated by the National Association was +circulated. The Oklahoma City Club, Mrs. Adelia C. Stephens, +president, was especially active in having the women register for the +school elections, in which they could vote for trustees, in order to +defeat the school book trust, and 600 did so.</p> + +<p>In May Dr. Woods spoke at the annual meeting of the Woman's Relief +Corps in Oklahoma City and a resolution was passed favoring woman +suffrage. The Grand Army of the Republic, in session at the same time, +gave her a place on an evening program at the Opera House, where she +addressed a large, enthusiastic audience. Mrs. Biggers attended the +annual meeting of the Twin Territories Labor Union, which unanimously +adopted a resolution for woman suffrage. In Tulsa on Labor Day the +"float" of the suffragists in the big procession won the prize. At +Chickasha during the agricultural fair the tent of the suffrage club +had the best location on the grounds. Dr. Woods and Mrs. Biggers went +to Muskogee to see Robert L. Owen, a prominent lawyer, and enlist his +strong influence in favor of a woman suffrage clause in the new +constitution. He cordially promised his influence, service and +financial assistance and he made his first great suffrage speech in +Oklahoma City before the convention took place. Dr. Woods left the +last of May and the National Association sent Mrs. Ida Porter Boyer of +Pennsylvania in October, 1906, to establish headquarters. When the +constitutional convention opened in Guthrie they were transferred +there, with Mrs. Biggers and Mrs. Boyer in charge. Miss Laura Clay of +Kentucky, a national officer, went to their assistance at her own +expense and Mrs. Mary C. C. Bradford of Colorado did some very +effective speaking. In February, 1907, a hearing was granted by the +Suffrage Committee of the convention. Later Mr. Owen, former Governor +Alva Adams of Colorado and Miss Clay addressed the entire convention. +Mr. Owen engaged the Opera House for a mass meeting to influence the +delegates and paid for printing handsomely the Memorial which the +State Suffrage Association presented to the convention.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Boyer said. "The woman suffrage measure caused the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_523" id="Page_523">[Pg 523]</a></span> most heated +debate of the convention. It had been arranged by the political +manipulators to apply gag rule and shut off debate as soon as the +opposition had exploited itself but on a motion to discuss the +suffrage resolution the vote stood 41 noes, 42 ayes, and the delegates +favoring it managed to secure the floor and hold it." Peter Hanraty, +the principal representative of the labor organizations, which were +practically solid for a woman suffrage clause in the constitution, led +the debate in its favor. A number of prominent men spoke strongly for +it. Some of the opposing speeches were very coarse. On the final vote +it was lost by 50 nays to 37 ayes. Notwithstanding all that had been +done and said the suffrage clause in the new constitution read: "The +qualified electors shall be male citizens of the State and male +persons of Indian descent, who are over 21 years of age.... +Specifically excepted are felons, paupers, lunatics and idiots."</p> + +<p>The headquarters were returned to Oklahoma City with Mrs. Boyer and +Mrs. Biggers still in charge and Miss Gregg continued her field work, +as the suffragists desired to help some of their friends who were +candidates. Among them at the election in October, 1907, Bird S. +McGuire was elected member of Congress, Mr. Hanraty mine inspector, +Charles L. Daugherty labor commissioner, Jesse L. Dunn and M. J. Kane +Justices of the Supreme Court and fourteen to the Legislature. Charles +W. Haskell, who had been among the bitterest of the opponents in the +convention, was elected Governor. When the first Legislature met in +December, Mr. Owen was unanimously elected U. S. Senator and never +thereafter failed to render assistance to both State and national +suffrage for women. Unsolicited Perry A. Ballard introduced a bill in +the House at the first session giving the Presidential franchise to +women but it never came out of committee.</p> + +<p>The suffrage work done in 1908 was principally through the society in +Oklahoma City. The State Federation of Labor at its annual convention +endorsed woman suffrage and pledged its support to candidates for the +Legislature who would submit the question to the voters. The +Socialists also gave unqualified support. There was no official +recognition by Democrats or Republicans but a considerable per cent. +of their legislative candidates declared themselves in favor of this +action.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_524" id="Page_524">[Pg 524]</a></span></p> + +<p>State suffrage headquarters were opened in Guthrie in January, 1909, +and Mrs. Boyer took charge. Members from clubs over the State came to +assist in lobbying for the amendment and pledges were secured from a +majority in both Houses. Miss Kate M. Gordon of New Orleans, +corresponding secretary of the National Association, came to make the +principal argument at the Senate hearing. One was granted also before +the Committee of the Whole. Mrs. N. M. Carter presided and strong +appeals were made by Mrs. Boyer, Mrs. M. A. Morrison, Mrs. Feuquay and +Mrs. Bailey. A petition of 8,000 names was presented, which had been +quickly collected, but it was treated with discourtesy, one member +tearing up the sheets from his district and throwing them into the +waste basket. The Speaker jestingly referred it to the Committee on +Geological Survey. The attendance was so great the hearing had to be +adjourned to a larger room. Through every possible device and even +conspiracy the measure was lost in the Senate, Governor Haskell using +his influence against it.</p> + +<p>It was already evident that the amendment could be submitted only +through the Initiative and Referendum. This was a new and not well +understood law, there was little money in the treasury and the women +were tired and discouraged, saying, as Mrs. Woodworth expressed it: +"It's of no use, for the whisky ring and the grafters will beat us +every time." Nevertheless an undaunted few decided to begin the +immense work of securing the initiative petition. Mrs. Biggers was +continued as president and Dr. Ruth A. Gay agreed to act as chairman +of finance and conduct the petition work from her office in Oklahoma +City, with the cooperation of Mrs. Stephens, who went personally into +the counties. The National Association again sent Mrs. Boyer, who used +her own room for headquarters in order to save money. She said in +writing of the summer's campaign:</p> + +<blockquote><p>The women circulated the petition and obtained nearly 38,600 +signatures of voters—more than the necessary number. The State +was new; there were few trolleys in cities and still fewer +interurbans to make the rural communities accessible; the +railroads had infrequent and uncertain schedules. That petition +was a marvel in attainment and a monument of sacrifice. The +headquarters work has never been surpassed in devotion of local +suffragists. Do you know of any<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_525" id="Page_525">[Pg 525]</a></span> other State where the entire +campaign was carried on by but two paid workers—a manager and a +stenographer? Mrs. Stephens went into the field and Mrs. Biggers +remained with the office work and spent her money freely. Dr. Gay +sacrificed time from her practice and pressed her father and +mother into service so that literature might be addressed to the +voters. Mrs. Woodworth, Mrs. Feuquay, Mrs. Burt, Mrs. Mattie +Flick, Mrs. Dunham and her daughter Junia and Miss Mary Barber +worked day and night in the office or the field.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Altogether $900 were raised. To this amount Miss Clay contributed +$300; Henry B. and Alice Stone Blackwell (Mass.) $400 and also lent +money. Most of the women worked gratuitously and paid their own +expenses. Oklahoma City was canvassed without cost. When the petition +was ready for filing a representative committee of women carried it to +Guthrie and Secretary of State Cross complimented its excellent +arrangement. So quietly had it been secured that the "machine" +politicians were astounded and dismayed when it was presented and +plans were at once made to attack its validity. Senator Roddie was +chosen to protest it on the ground that 5,000 of the signatures were +fraudulent but he offered no proof of the charge. Three eminent +lawyers, Judge J. B. A. Robertson, Democratic candidate for Governor; +Judge T. L. Brown, a Republican, and P. J. Nagel, a Socialist, gave +their services to the suffragists. The first argued for the justice of +submitting the amendment; the second defended the legality of the +petition and the third demanded recognition of the 38,586 voters who +had signed it. Secretary of State Cross announced a recess until 2 p. +m. At that hour he declared that the petition was "in due form of law +and amply sufficient in all things and that the question thereby +proposed should be certified to the Governor to the end that the same +may be submitted to the electors of the State as is provided by law." +Senator Roddie then appealed to the Supreme Court, which in June, +1910, sustained the petition.</p> + +<p>Believing that the petition would be upheld the suffragists had opened +headquarters in the Lee Huckins Hotel in Oklahoma City February 1. +There was hope of a special election for the amendment, in which case +it could be carried by a majority of those voting on it. If it went to +the regular election it would require<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_526" id="Page_526">[Pg 526]</a></span> a majority of the highest +number of votes cast. It finally went over to the general election. +There was no money for salaries and very little for expenses. Mrs. +Boyer conducted a very efficient publicity service and was obliged to +fill many appointments as a speaker, besides having all the office +work in charge, making it necessary for her to toil far into the +nights. Mrs. Biggers carried on the work during Mrs. Boyer's absences. +Often there was no money for postage and Dr. Gay would go out and beg +a few dollars from some friend of the cause.</p> + +<p>It being a State campaign year there were many opportunities for work +at picnics and tent meetings arranged for the candidates. The +Democrats were the dominant party and principal opposers. Among their +candidates were few avowed friends or active helpers and some were +openly and bitterly opposed. Women who had never made a public speech +had to meet their eloquence and sophistry. Mrs. Stephens and Miss Mary +Barber were sent into the most hostile part of the State and worked +through the heat and dust of almost the entire summer. They spoke from +boxes and wagons; in little dark school houses with only one smoky +kerosene lamp, making it impossible to read their notes or see the +audience; before large, unsympathetic crowds at open air meetings. It +was an experience that tested endurance and loyalty almost to the +breaking point.</p> + +<p>The Socialists were always helpful but they were intensely disliked +and sometimes their friendship only made the way more difficult. The +labor unions were unusually helpful and never antagonistic. Toward the +last of the campaign the secretary of the State Federation of Labor, +J. Luther Langston, with Miss Gordon made a two-weeks' speaking tour +through the State. The vote was taken Nov. 8, 1910, and was announced +as ayes, 88,808; noes, 128,928; lost by 40,120. While the +disappointment was intense yet as an education this campaign could not +be overestimated.<a name="FNanchor_147_147" id="FNanchor_147_147"></a><a href="#Footnote_147_147" class="fnanchor">[147]</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_527" id="Page_527">[Pg 527]</a></span></p> + +<p>There was still a desire to keep the organization alive and be ready +for the next opportunity. In 1911 Mrs. Biggers declined to stand again +for the presidency, after serving seven years, and Dr. Ruth A. Gay, +with a full board, was elected at the annual convention, Mrs. Biggers +taking the office of treasurer. At the State meeting of 1912 Mrs. +Mattie Flick, Miss Jessie Nourse and Mrs. Mattie Cloud were added to +the board. Dr. Gay held the presidency until 1913, when Mrs. Cora B. +Gotchy was elected. The State association became a member of the +Southern Women's Conference. No further effort was made with the +Legislature but the Republican party put a woman suffrage plank in its +State platform and the Progressive party took steps toward another +initiative petition, Mrs. Gotchy assisting, but it did not meet with +support. Mrs. Feuquay was selected for president in 1914 and helped a +resolution for an amendment introduced in the Legislature by the +Socialist Representatives McLemore and Pritchett, which did not come +out of committee.</p> + +<p>In 1915 Mrs. Adelia C. Stephens was elected president. The +vice-president, Miss Mary Crangle, in the northeastern part of the +State, and the recording secretary, Mrs. Frances A. Agnew, in the +southwestern part, did active personal work to keep up the interest. +The Democratic Secretary of State, J. L. Lyon, made strenuous +individual effort to start an initiative petition, which was not +successful. Suffrage resolutions were introduced by legislators +independently in the session of 1915 and the special session of 1916. +Luther Harrison and Charles F. Barrett, now Adjutant General, were +helpful friends in the Legislature. Mrs. Stephens was continued as +president through 1916 and 1917.<a name="FNanchor_148_148" id="FNanchor_148_148"></a><a href="#Footnote_148_148" class="fnanchor">[148]</a> In 1916 the resolution for a +suffrage amendment passed the House by a vote of 62 to 15 but was +adversely reported by the Senate Committee.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_528" id="Page_528">[Pg 528]</a></span></p> + +<p>Since 1910 Mrs. Woodworth had kept the question of woman suffrage +continually before the State Federation of Women's Clubs and in all +organizations of women there was an increasing interest in +legislation, especially for the benefit of women and children, and +they were seeing the necessity of the ballot as a means of attaining +it. Meanwhile most of the States west of the Mississippi River had +enfranchised their women and for months before the Legislature +convened in 1917 letters and telegrams came in announcing that former +foes had become friends, many of them offering to help the cause. +Woman suffrage was the first subject discussed when the Legislature +convened. The resolution to submit an amendment was championed in the +Senate by Senators Fred Tucker of Ardmore, John Golobie of Guthrie, +Walter Ferguson of Cherokee and many others. In the House among the +most earnest supporters were Paul Nesbitt of McAlester and Bert C. +Hodges of Okmulgee. The vote in the Senate February 2 was unanimous +and in the House March 17 was 75 ayes, 12 noes.</p> + +<p>Women over the State watched anxiously the action of the Legislature +and many were in attendance. Mrs. Stephens, Mrs. Frank Mulkey of +Oklahoma City and Mrs. Robert Ray of Lawton were especially active but +the chief credit belongs to Mrs. Frank B. Lucas, legislative +representative of the Federation of Women's Clubs, with wide +experience in legislative procedure. Mrs. Woodworth and Mrs. Lucas had +acted as committee for the State suffrage association, which now +merged with the campaign committee.</p> + +<p>The campaign was made particularly difficult by the fact that Governor +Robert L. Williams, Attorney General S. P. Freeling and the chairman +of the State Election Board, W. C. McAlester, all Democrats, were +avowed and active anti-suffragists, notwithstanding the party had +declared in State convention in favor of the amendment. Encouraged by +eastern women an Anti-Suffrage Committee was formed with Mrs. T. H. +Sturgeon chairman and Miss Maybelle Stuard press chairman and speaker, +both of Oklahoma City. Other women prominent in the movement were Miss +Edith Johnson, of the <i>Daily Oklahoman</i> and Miss Alice Robertson of +Muskogee, who were very active in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_529" id="Page_529">[Pg 529]</a></span> distribution of the usual +"anti" literature, attempting to link the suffragists with Germans and +with the negro vote. Miss Charlotte Rowe of Yonkers, N. Y., +representing the National Anti-Suffrage Association, remained in +Oklahoma during most of the campaign but their work was scattered and +ineffectual.</p> + +<p>The election took place Nov. 8, 1918, and the amendment received a +majority of 25,428 of the votes cast on it. It had a majority of 9,791 +of the highest number of votes cast at the election, a record that +never had been equalled in any State. After the National League of +Women Voters was organized at the convention of the National American +Suffrage Association in March, 1919, a State League was formed in +Oklahoma with Mrs. Phil Brown of Muskogee chairman.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>Report of Mrs. Shuler to the Board of the National American Woman +Suffrage Association on the Oklahoma Campaign.</p> + +<blockquote><p>Against the advice of the National Board with conditions adverse +as they were in Oklahoma the legislative committee of the State +Federation of Women's Clubs and some members of the State +suffrage board secured the submission of an amendment to the +voters in 1917 and appealed for help to the National Association. +It found that the Oklahoma association was not organized as in +other States with the club as the unit but was composed of +individual memberships and was not an auxiliary of the National +Association, not having paid dues for several years. After +obtaining the submission there seemed to be a desire on the part +of the women to waive all responsibility for the campaign, but +they said that if the National Association considered the winning +of it a necessity to its program, it should assume the entire +financial responsibility.</p> + +<p>On Jan. 19, 1918, Mrs. Nettie Rogers Shuler, corresponding +secretary and chairman of campaigns and surveys; Mrs. T. T. +Cotnam of Arkansas and Mrs. Charles H. Brooks of Kansas, +directors of the National American Association, reached Oklahoma +City. Several conferences were held with the State board none of +whose members could give all their time to the campaign, although +two would work for salary and expenses. It was evident<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_530" id="Page_530">[Pg 530]</a></span> that a +Campaign Committee must be formed and new groups interested, to +which the board agreed. Forty-five women met at the Lee Huckins +Hotel on January 21, adopted a plan for work and agreed to raise +a budget of $25,000, Mrs. Shuler stating that no financial +assistance from the National Association could be given until the +Board had taken action on her "survey" of conditions. Mrs. John +Threadgill was elected chairman of the campaign committee with a +salary of $100 a month and Mrs. Julia Woodworth, the former State +secretary, was made executive secretary at a salary of $15 a +week. Mrs. Frank B. Lucas, chairman of finance, agreed to raise +the $25,000 necessary for the campaign with the understanding +that she was to have personally 10 per cent. of the money raised. +She raised a little over $2,000 and resigned April 1.</p> + +<p>An organization of young women was formed in Oklahoma City and +State and city headquarters were opened in the Terminal Arcade. +Two organizers, Miss Josephine Miller who remained one week and +Miss Gertrude Watkins who remained three weeks, were sent by the +National Association. Miss Lola Walker came January 30, Miss +Margaret Thompson, a volunteer, and Miss Edna Annette Beveridge +in February, all remaining through the campaign.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Shuler left April 6 for South Dakota and Michigan, both in +amendment campaigns. While in Oklahoma she had visited +twenty-seven counties out of the seventy-seven and organization +had been effected in thirty-two county seats; also the passage +obtained of a resolution by the Democratic and Republican State +Committees not only endorsing but promising to work for the +amendment. A Campaign Committee had been formed with +representatives from seventeen organizations of men and women +representing different groups with widely diversified interests. +Ten State vice-chairmen had been selected from different sections +and eleven chairmen of active committees. Headquarters had been +opened in Tulsa and Muskogee and others promised in the larger +cities. A canvass had been made of forty-six newspapers showing +only five to be absolutely opposed. The State had been divided +into ten districts and it was hoped that each might have the +services later of an experienced national worker.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_531" id="Page_531">[Pg 531]</a></span></p> + +<p>On April 17, 18, a meeting of the Executive Council of the +National Association was held in Indianapolis. The Board took +action on Oklahoma, agreeing to give organizers, press work and +literature to the amount of $13,650, provided the State would put +two more trained organizers in the field immediately and raise +the rest of the "budget," about $11,000. Mrs. Threadgill +attending this meeting and agreed to the plan.</p> + +<p>On May 1 Miss Marjorie Shuler was sent by the National +Association to take entire charge of press and political work, +and, to quote from Miss Katherine Pierce's report, "to her +effective work with the newspapers of the State was due in a +great measure the success of the campaign." Three hundred were +supplied with weekly bulletins and two-and-a-half pages of plate, +and the last week 126,000 copies of a suffrage supplement sent +from national headquarters in New York were circulated through +the newspapers. As a unit the suffrage organization was used for +the 3rd and 4th Liberty Loans, and a statewide Unconditional +Surrender Club, in which nearly 100,000 members were enrolled, +was organized by Miss Shuler. In the face of these activities the +men paid little heed to the charges of pacifism and lack of +patriotism made against the suffragists by paid "anti" speakers +sent in from outside the State.</p> + +<p>May 1 found the Campaign Committee without funds and a meeting +held in Oklahoma City early in the month passed the following +resolution: "On account of the unusual conditions prevailing at +this time which have caused the Oklahoma State Campaign Committee +to find itself unable to meet the expenses of the campaign, said +committee does hereby dissolve and stands ready to cooperate in +any way possible in any plans that may be evolved by the National +Board, hoping for its continued aid and support and expressing +warmest thanks and most earnest appreciation of the generous aid +and assistance already given." This resolution was unanimously +carried, the committee dissolved and Mrs. Clarence Henley was +made chairman, Mrs. Frank Haskell, vice chairman, Mrs. A.. +Crockett, secretary, Mrs. Blanche Hawley, treasurer, and Mrs. C. +B. Ames, chairman of finance of a new one. As the State had not +put in the two trained organizers, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_532" id="Page_532">[Pg 532]</a></span> National Board sent Mrs. +Mary K. Maule in April and Misses Alice Curtis and Doris Long in +June.</p> + +<p>One of the requirements by the National Association if financial +assistance were given was that States in campaign should secure +signatures of women on petitions. At the meeting in January +officers of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union agreed to take +entire charge of this work but later decided that it might injure +the chances for national prohibition. Its president, however, +Mrs. Abbie Hillerman of Sapulpa, served as an advisory member of +the Campaign Committee and with other members rendered valuable +assistance. Under the direction of Miss Curtis 58,687 signatures +were obtained.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the Oklahoma City organization, which had for +officers a group of young women, was dissolved and their +headquarters given up. Money was needed to maintain State +headquarters, which were an absolute necessity. In June Mrs. +Henley, the chairman, sent a financial plan to all county +chairmen, asking for a certain sum from each county based on +population, wealth, etc. Some county chairmen resigned, which was +a discouragement to Mrs. Henley and to the national workers. +Early in July Mrs. Henley telegraphed her resignation to the +National Board, stating that the campaign must go by default +unless it would assume all financial obligation. Mrs. Catt, the +national president, wrote urging her not to resign and stating +that the National Association would pay salary and expenses of +all national organizers then in the field and would send other +workers as needed, providing Oklahoma would finance its State +headquarters and speakers' bureau and meet the pledge made in +April to pay salary and expenses of two workers. Mrs. Henley +remained chairman; Mary Parke London and Sally Fanny Gleaton were +sent by the board in July; Alma Sasse in August and Isabella +Sanders as headquarters secretary on September 1. Mrs. Shuler +returned from New York and took over the campaign for the final +two months, with headquarters in Oklahoma City.</p> + +<p>All of the prominent suffragists in the State were doing war +work.... There was a depleted treasury. The Campaign Committee +was not able to pay for any workers in the field. Money was +needed for rent, postage, telegrams, stenographers' salaries,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_533" id="Page_533">[Pg 533]</a></span> +etc. It became necessary for Mrs. Shuler and the organizers, in +addition to the detailed work of the campaign, to assume the +financial burden as well. Mrs. Shuler gave her personal check for +rent for August, September and October and with the national +assistants in the field and by personal appeals raised $2,433. +From January 21 to November 5, 1918, there came into the State +Campaign Committee's treasury $4,993 and of this amount $2,559 +were spent from January to June for salaries of Mrs. Threadgill, +the chairman; Mrs. Woodworth, the secretary, and headquarters +expenses. These funds were checked out on warrants signed by them +and the checks signed by Mrs. Hawley, treasurer. From June to +November $2,433 were raised and checked out on warrants signed by +Mrs. Henley and checks signed by Mrs. Hawley for headquarters +expenses—not a penny going for salary or expenses of any +national worker. The sum of $79.92 remaining in the treasury at +the end was turned over to the Ratification Committee.</p> + +<p>The Tulsa suffragists opened headquarters, engaged an executive +secretary and financed their own campaign. They also very +generously paid nearly $500 for the suffrage supplement +distributed through the State. There were other counties no doubt +where money was spent locally, but no record was sent to +headquarters. The National Association expended nearly $20,000 in +Oklahoma, the largest sum it had ever put into a State Campaign. +By September 1 it was paying salaries and expenses of eleven +national workers.<a name="FNanchor_149_149" id="FNanchor_149_149"></a><a href="#Footnote_149_149" class="fnanchor">[149]</a></p> + +<p>When the epidemic regulations forbade meetings of more than +twelve persons, the suffragists resorted to all manner of devices +for voiceless speech and 150,000 fliers with the wording of the +amendment, directions how to vote and the warning that a "silent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_534" id="Page_534">[Pg 534]</a></span> +vote" was a vote against it were distributed by hand and through +the mail. Other circularization, posting of towns at a specified +date and newspaper publicity were pushed. Much political help was +secured. Both Republican and Democratic State conventions passed +suffrage resolutions and preceding the Democratic nearly every +county convention passed such a resolution.</p> + +<p>No work which the women did in the campaign was more effective +than their election day appeal. Nearly every polling place had +women watchers within and women scouts without. Whenever one +party in any place denied women the privilege of watching, they +secured appointments as regular watchers for the other party. An +amendment to the constitution of Oklahoma has to poll a majority +of the highest number of votes cast in the general election. The +"silent vote" is the term applied to the votes cast in the +election but not on the amendment and which are counted against +it. The task of arousing every man to such a degree of interest +that he would remember to mark his ballot on the suffrage +amendment seemed a hopeless task. Those who know the usual +inattention given to any constitutional amendment by the rank and +file of voters can estimate how difficult it was to get a +<i>majority of the ballots correctly marked</i>.</p> + +<p>Early in September it was learned that the Elections Board, +claiming that the Secretary of State had failed to supply the +official wording of the amendment ninety days before election, +did not intend to print the suffrage amendment. Through the +efforts of Judge W. H. Ledbetter of Oklahoma City, who donated +his services, this obstacle was overcome, and then further to +increase the difficulties, the board decided to print the +suffrage amendment on a separate ballot. In October it was found +that soldiers had voted in seven camps but suffrage ballots had +not been furnished them and thus hundreds were prevented from +voting on the amendment, yet all of these were counted as voting +in the negative! The attempt to hold back the returns and to get +a new ruling on the meaning of the so-called "silent vote" are +matters of history.</p> + +<p>On Friday after election it became apparent to the State +Elections Board that the suffrage majority was piling up and +there was every evidence that the amendment had won. On<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_535" id="Page_535">[Pg 535]</a></span> Saturday +it was reported that a member of the State Elections Board in +Oklahoma City had called up some chairmen of county elections +boards, asking that they open the sealed returns and send a +second report counting from the "stubs," which would include the +mutilated and spoiled ballots, so as to increase further the +number of the "silent votes." At that time the suffrage +headquarters had received returns from 63 out of 77 counties, +showing a majority of 21,000 of the votes cast on the amendment, +about 10,000 over the "silent vote." The publication of these +attested returns prevented any further attempt to get them from +"stub" books. When all other resources failed, the +anti-suffragists filed a protest against certification by the +State Elections Board.</p> + +<p>There were really two campaigns in Oklahoma—one to win the +ballot and the other to hold it. Mrs. Shuler remained in the +State until November 14. On that day the <i>Oklahoman</i> printed the +statement by Governor Williams that on the face of the returns so +far suffrage had won.</p> + +<p>Miss Beveridge, who had charge of one of the most difficult +sections of the State and had carried it, remained in Oklahoma +until December 3, when Governor Williams finally called for the +suffrage returns and without certification by the Elections +Board, proclaimed it carried. The vote stood 106,909 ayes, 81,481 +noes, a majority of 25,428 votes on the amendment and of 9,791 +over the total vote cast at the election. This latter requirement +had always been counted on to defeat any measure that the party +"bosses" did not want carried and the politicians now asked, "But +where was the 'silent vote'?" The answer came when a map of the +State was shown almost obliterated with tiny red stars and they +were told, "Every star represents a suffrage committee working +since last January." Organization had reduced the "silent vote" +to five per cent. and won the suffrage for the women of Oklahoma. +[End of Mrs. Shuler's report.]</p></blockquote> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> With the successful closing of the campaign the county +chairmen answered the call of Mrs. Shuler to meet in Oklahoma City and +formed a Ratification Committee to carry on the work of ratifying the +Federal Suffrage Amendment when it should be submitted to the +Legislatures. This committee was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_536" id="Page_536">[Pg 536]</a></span> composed of Miss Katherine Pierce of +Oklahoma City, chairman; Mrs. A. P. Crockett of the same city, +treasurer, and Miss Aloysius Larch-Miller of Shawnee, secretary, with +representative women from the State at large as follows: Mrs. Frank +Haskell, Tulsa; Mrs. E. E. McPherron, Durant; Mrs. Walter Ferguson, +Cherokee; Mrs. Robert J. Ray, Lawton; Mrs. Hardee Russell, Paul's +Valley. The county chairmen for the campaign were retained.</p> + +<p>No active work was done until after the Conference of Governors in +Salt Lake City in the summer of 1919, when the amendment had been +submitted. At this conference the new Governor, J. B. A. Robertson, +gave as a reason for not calling a special session to ratify, the +great expense and the fear of untimely legislation but he consented to +call one if these could be avoided. In September Miss Larch-Miller, +assisted by Miss Marjorie Shuler, sent by the National Association, +asked the legislators to sign a pledge that they would attend a +special session, serve without pay, consider no other legislation and +vote for ratification. Pledges were signed by a majority of both +Houses and presented to the Governor who made no answer. Several weeks +later he addressed the State Federation of Women's Clubs and again +offered the same excuses.</p> + +<p>In January, 1920, the Democratic Central Committee called county +conventions of women to select delegates to a State convention of +women to be held prior to the regular State convention. Many of these +county conventions passed a resolution requesting the Governor to call +a special session and it was also adopted at the State convention of +about 1,500 women. A number of the regular county conventions of men +and women passed it. Miss Larch-Miller attended the convention of her +county, although she had been confined to her room for several days +with influenza. She spoke strongly for the resolution and was opposed +by the Attorney General, S. P. Freeling, one of the ablest orators in +the State, but her enthusiasm and eloquence carried the day and it was +adopted. The exertion proved too much for her frail body and the next +night pneumonia developed and she gave her young life as the supreme +sacrifice for the cause she loved.</p> + +<p>The Democratic State convention met at Muskogee February 5 and Senator +Robert L. Owen's candidacy for President of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_537" id="Page_537">[Pg 537]</a></span> United States had +developed to such an extent that he was its dominating figure. He +insisted on a special session to ratify the amendment. Governor +Robertson stated to the convention that because of its interest in +Senator Owen's candidacy he would call the session and he did so for +February 23. President Wilson sent the following telegram on the 25th +to the Speaker of the House: "May I not take the liberty of expressing +my earnest hope that Oklahoma will join the other suffrage States in +ratifying the Federal Suffrage Amendment, thus demonstrating anew its +sense of justice and retaining its place as a leader in democracy?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Rufus M. Gibbs and Mrs. Mabel G. Millard, presidents of the +Maryland and Iowa Anti-Suffrage Associations, sent urgent telegrams to +defeat ratification, which were read to both Houses. Attorney General +Freeling made a strong State's rights argument against it but the +resolution was finally passed on February 27 by a vote of 84 to 12 in +the House and the next day in the Senate by 25 to 13. Senators Fred +Tucker of Ardmore and J. Elmer Thomas of Lawton sponsored it in the +Senate and Paul Nesbitt of McAlester and Bert C. Hodges of Okmulgee in +the House. Governor Robertson signed it February 28. Attorney General +Freeling immediately started a petition to refer this action to the +voters. The decision of the U. S. Supreme Court that there could be no +referendum of Federal Amendments ended this final effort.</p> + +<p>The Ratification Committee, with a feeling of gratitude to the +National Suffrage Association for the generous assistance that had +been given to Oklahoma affiliated the State with this body and it was +represented at the next national convention by a delegation of eight.</p> + +<p>In 1920 Mrs. Lamar Looney was elected to the State Senate; Miss Bessie +McColque to the House and Miss Alice Robertson to the Lower House of +Congress.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_145_145" id="Footnote_145_145"></a><a href="#FNanchor_145_145"><span class="label">[145]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Adelia +C. Stephens, president of the State Woman Suffrage Association, and +Miss Katherine Pierce, chairman of the Ratification Committee.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_146_146" id="Footnote_146_146"></a><a href="#FNanchor_146_146"><span class="label">[146]</span></a> <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29870/29870-h/29870-h.htm#Page_188">History of Woman Suffrage, Volume IV, page 888.</a></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_147_147" id="Footnote_147_147"></a><a href="#FNanchor_147_147"><span class="label">[147]</span></a> The following testimonial was gratefully offered: Mrs. +Ida Porter Boyer by her tact and never failing kindness not only won +the love of the suffragists of Oklahoma but the respect and confidence +of all others who knew her. By her tireless energy and unselfishness +she did a work which contributed very largely to the final success +that came later. Signed, Kate H. Biggers, president State Suffrage +Association; Jence C. Feuquay, first vice-president; Adelia C. +Stephens, corresponding secretary; Ruth A. Gay, chairman finance +committee.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_148_148" id="Footnote_148_148"></a><a href="#FNanchor_148_148"><span class="label">[148]</span></a> Other State officers through the years were Mrs. N. M. +Carter, Mrs. Julia Dunham, Dr. Edith Barber, Elizabeth Redfield, Mrs. +J. R. Harris, Mrs. Narcissa Owen, Mrs. A. K. McKellop, Martha +Phillips, Minnie O. Branstetter, Mrs. Roswell Johnson, Lucy G. +Struble, Carrie K. Easterly, Kate Stafford, Dora Delay, Ellen McElroy, +Edith Wright, Mrs. Lee Lennox, Mary Goddard, Mrs. John Threadgill, +Blanche H. Hawley, Mrs. A. S. Heany, Mrs. Clarence Davis, Mrs. Carl +Williams, Mrs. C. L. Daugherty, Mrs. John Leahy, Jessie Livingston +Parks, Mrs. N. McCarty, Louise Boylan. +</p><p> +District presidents and chairmen of committees: Dora Kirkpatrick, +Janet C. Broeck, Elizabeth Burt, Ethel Lewis, Mrs. H. J. Bonnell, Mrs. +O. A. Mitscher, Mrs. C. C. Conlan, Effie M. Ralls, E. Irene Yeoman.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_149_149" id="Footnote_149_149"></a><a href="#FNanchor_149_149"><span class="label">[149]</span></a> Many ardent suffragists found they could not stand up +against the statewide comment that the women should be doing only war +work but the cooperation in many counties was splendid and there is +not space enough to name those who stood by throughout the struggle. +To those already mentioned should be added Judge and Mrs. D. A. +McDougal of Sapulpa, Mrs. Robert Ray of Lawton, Mrs. B. W. Slagle of +Shawnee, Mrs. Hardee Russell of Paul's Valley, Mrs. Lamar Looney of +Hollis, Mrs. Francis Agnew of Altus, Mrs. Eugene B. Lawson of Nowata, +Mrs. Annette B. Ahler of Hennessey, Mrs. Olive Snider of Tulsa. Among +the men to be specially mentioned are James J. McGraw of Ponca City, +member of the National Republican Committee; Tom Wade of Marlow, +member of the National Democratic Committee; George L. Bowman of +Kingfisher, Alger Melton of Chickasha, Colonel E. M. McPherron of +Durant and Bird McGuire of Tulsa.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_538" id="Page_538">[Pg 538]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXXVI.</h2> + +<h3>OREGON.<a name="FNanchor_150_150" id="FNanchor_150_150"></a><a href="#Footnote_150_150" class="fnanchor">[150]</a></h3> + + +<p>The advent of 1901 found the suffrage cause in Oregon almost becalmed +upon a sea of indifference. With an ultra conservative population, +defeats in five previous campaigns, the existence of bitter prejudices +and an utter lack of cooperation among the suffragists themselves, the +outlook was almost hopeless, except for the one outstanding fact that +each failure had carried the women a little nearer their goal. An +inactive State organization had been maintained for years and in +1901-1904 the officers were: President, Mrs. Abigail Scott Duniway; +vice-president-at-large, Dr. Annice Jeffreys; vice-president, Mrs. Ada +Cornish Hertsche; corresponding secretary, Miss Frances Gotshall; +recording secretary, Mrs. W. H. Games; treasurer, Mrs. Henry Waldo +Coe. No regular conventions were held.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Duniway, the mother of suffrage in Oregon, always advocated the +"still hunt," preferring to centralize and individualize the effort +through prominent men and women rather than through a large and +general organization. Shortly before her death in 1915, speaking of +her work she said: "Occasionally I would gather a few women together +in a suffrage society but on the whole I did not find my time thus +spent at all profitable. Some traveling lecturer would often come +along and after speaking before the little local band of a dozen +members would receive the contents of the treasury, leaving the +society to ravel out for lack of funds. These experiences led me to +give up organizing suffrage societies, as I had learned that +lecturing, writing serial stories and editorials and correspondence +afforded a more rational means of spreading the light.... The only +time for general, active organization is after a few devoted workers +have succeeded<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_539" id="Page_539">[Pg 539]</a></span> in using the press for getting the movement squarely +before the voters in the shape of a proposed State suffrage +amendment."</p> + +<p>This will answer very largely the many criticisms that came from the +National Association and from equal suffrage States over the apathy of +Oregon women from 1900 to 1904. What the result might have been, with +the State and national growth of suffrage sentiment, had there been a +strong, active organization is problematic, but Oregon might have had +the proud distinction of being first instead of last of the Pacific +Coast States to liberate her women politically. In 1905 the following +officers were elected: Honorary president, Mrs. Duniway; president, +Mrs. Coe; vice-president, Dr. Jeffreys Myers; secretary, Dr. Luema G. +Johnson; treasurer, Mrs. Abbie C. French; auditors, Dr. Mary Thompson, +Mrs. Martha Dalton and Mrs. Frederick Aggert.</p> + +<p>The Legislature had many times submitted the amendment but its +repeated failures had discouraged the most ardent supporters in that +body. The gains in the various campaigns were not sufficient, they +argued, to warrant the expense of resubmission in the near future. +This reason was freely and courageously given from the Chair of the +Senate by one of the staunchest friends suffrage ever had in the +State, the Hon. C. W. Fulton, when he voted "no" on re-submission in +the Legislature of 1899, and the defeat of 1900 intensified this +feeling.</p> + +<p>Hope revived when the Initiative and Referendum Act was adopted by the +voters in 1902. The District Judges decided against its +constitutionality and an appeal was carried to the State Supreme Court +by Attorney Ralph Duniway, whose able argument resulted in a reversal +and the establishment of the legality of the new law. This decision +was rendered Dec. 22, 1903, and on Jan. 2, 1904, a suffrage petition +was issued. This required the signatures of 8 per cent. of the legal +voters of the State based on the highest number of votes cast at the +election of 1902, in round numbers 7,200 names, and compelled the +submission of the amendment. In less than three weeks 7,900 had been +obtained but as only half of them had been verified and classified +before the limited time expired the work was of no avail.</p> + +<p>During the following two years another force had been contributing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_540" id="Page_540">[Pg 540]</a></span> +indirectly to the suffrage cause through the preparations for the +National Exposition which was to celebrate in Portland the Lewis and +Clark Expedition. In 1904 the Hon. Jefferson Myers, president of the +Exposition Commission, with his wife, Dr. Annice Jeffreys, attended +the convention of the National American Woman Suffrage Association at +Washington, D. C., and so eloquently presented the claims of Oregon +that its unanimous decision was to hold its next meeting in Portland. +Stimulated by this prospect the Legislature of 1905 yielded to +pressure and submitted the amendment to be voted on in November, 1906.</p> + +<p>It was a proud day for Oregon when the national convention was called +to order on June 21, 1905, by Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, national +president, in the First Congregational Church. The honorary president, +Miss Susan B. Anthony, then 85 years old, favored every session with +her gracious presence. Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, the vice-president; +Miss Alice Stone Blackwell, the recording secretary, with her father, +Henry B. Blackwell; Miss Kate Gordon, corresponding secretary, and +Miss Laura Clay, auditor, were present and with Mrs. Charlotte Perkins +Gilman, Mrs. Catharine Waugh McCulloch, Misses Gail Laughlin, Mary and +Lucy Anthony, Mrs. Ida Husted Harper, Mrs. Maud Wood Park and other +well known women were heard during the convention. +[See <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29878/29878-h/29878-h.htm#CHAPTER_V">Chapter V, Volume V</a>.]</p> + +<p>Very significant of the changing sentiment toward women was the +unveiling of the Sacajawea statue, in the exposition grounds, which +had been arranged for the time when these visitors could assist the +committee in the ceremonies. Miss Anthony in the opening address paid +a glowing tribute to this Indian woman and exhorted the women of +Oregon to lead the way to women's liberty. Dr. Shaw highly +complimented those who had made this recognition of a woman's services +to her country possible and hailed it as the dawning of a new day for +the cause of woman. Brief words along these lines were spoken by Mrs. +Catt and others. The picture will never fade from the memory of those +who saw Miss Anthony and Dr. Shaw standing on the platform with the +sun lighting up their silver hair like an aureole and their faces +radiant with hope, as "The Star Spangled Banner"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_541" id="Page_541">[Pg 541]</a></span> sung by an Indian +boy raised a tumult of applause while the flag floated away revealing +the idealized mother and babe.<a name="FNanchor_151_151" id="FNanchor_151_151"></a><a href="#Footnote_151_151" class="fnanchor">[151]</a></p> + +<p>The national suffrage convention gave to the cause in Oregon a new +birth. Some of the most prominent men in the State appeared on its +platform and urged another campaign and political leaders in private +conference with its officers assured them that the time was ripe for +success. Encouraged by this assurance and in response to the strong +appeal of the leaders among the women of the State, the National +Association pledged its support. The suffragists for the most part +were now fully convinced that if the amendment was to be carried in +1906 there must be state-wide, systematic organization and in answer +to their request the National Board sent to assist them two of its +best organizers, Miss Mary N. Chase and Miss Gail Laughlin. By the end +of 1905 forty-two clubs had been formed in Portland and committees +outside. Newspapers were giving full reports of meetings and the +Portland <i>Journal</i> was publishing each Sunday articles on suffrage by +Mrs. Sarah A. Evans, editor of the woman's page. At a State convention +held in Portland on November 8 the attendance was so great it was +necessary to adjourn to a larger hall. Mayor Harry Lane welcomed the +convention and took an unequivocal position in favor of woman +suffrage. Statesmanlike addresses were made by Miss Laughlin and Miss +Laura Clay of Kentucky. A special Campaign Committee had been +organized to cooperate with the State and national workers.<a name="FNanchor_152_152" id="FNanchor_152_152"></a><a href="#Footnote_152_152" class="fnanchor">[152]</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_542" id="Page_542">[Pg 542]</a></span></p> + +<p>The great leader of women, Susan B. Anthony, had passed away in March, +1906, her thoughts on the Oregon campaign to the very last, and, +carrying out her wishes, the following group of women came at once to +assist the women of the State: Dr. Shaw, Miss Clay, Miss Blackwell and +Miss Gordon, national officers; her sister and niece, Miss Mary and +Miss Lucy Anthony; Mrs. Ida Porter Boyer of Pennsylvania, Miss Laura +Gregg of Kansas, Mrs. Mary C. C. Bradford of Colorado. Miss Laughlin +was already there. Added to the able Oregon workers a more efficient +body of women never had charge of a suffrage campaign. Centrally +located headquarters were at once opened in Portland, which soon +became the Mecca for the suffragists from all over the State. The +above trained campaigners submitted a plan to the State board and +committee, which was adopted. Women who had been named as county +chairmen previous to 1905 by Mrs. Duniway were used when possible as a +nucleus for a county organization. Many young women who took a leading +part in later campaigns got their first inspiration.</p> + +<p>One large room at headquarters was set aside in which to prepare +literature for mailing and there daily went a stream of Portland +women, often swelled by women from out of the city, who worked +diligently from morning till night and many of them every day. These +noon hours became the social events of the campaign and many business +women acquired the habit of dropping in to help a bit with the work +and to enjoy the delightful companionship of the women they found +there. Mrs. Coe, the State president, was out of the city several +months, returning only a few weeks before the election.</p> + +<p>Among the women outside of Portland who put their shoulders to the +wheel were Mrs. Clara Waldo, Marion county; Mrs. Emma Galloway, +Yamhill; Dr. Anna B. Reed, Linn; Mrs. Elizabeth Lord, Wasco; Professor +Helen Crawford, Benton; Mrs. Henry Sangstacken, Coos; Mrs. Imogene +Bath, Washington; Mrs. Rosemary Schenck, Lincoln; Mrs. Minnie +Washburn, Lane, and Mrs. Eva Emery Dye, Clackamas.</p> + +<p>Miss Clay, Mrs. Bradford and Miss Gregg supervised the work of State +organization, going into large and small places and extending it into +the remotest corners. Mrs. Boyer took up the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_543" id="Page_543">[Pg 543]</a></span> publicity, in which she +had had long experience. Miss Gordon had charge of parlor meetings in +the cities and larger towns, reaching hundreds who could not have been +induced to attend public rallies. Miss Laughlin appealed powerfully to +the labor and fraternal organizations and conducted a series of +meetings in their halls, at industrial plants and on the streets. Miss +Blackwell, assisted by the Misses Mary and Lucy Anthony, remained at +the headquarters and supervised the sending out of literature. Dr. +Shaw, while keeping her finger on the pulse of all the work, was +speaking to great crowds constantly.</p> + +<p>The impetus given the cause by the national convention the previous +summer and the activity of the national workers in the present +campaign aroused the corrupt influences in politics and the upper and +lower classes of anti-suffragists as never before and they jointly +employed Ferdinand Reed, an experienced politician, at a high salary, +as manager of a skilfully organized effort to defeat the amendment.</p> + +<p>The Brewers' and Wholesale Liquor Dealers' Association of Oregon sent +out from Portland May 21 to the retail liquor dealers and druggists +the following secret circular, printed on its official paper, headed +with the names of thirteen breweries and nineteen wholesale liquor +houses:</p> + +<blockquote><p>Dear Sir:—Two laws are to be voted on at the election June 4, +which are of vital importance to every liquor merchant in Oregon +without exception. The first is woman suffrage. The second is the +amendment to the local option law. The members of this +association have worked hard for a long time on both these +matters ... but, being few in number, they can not by themselves +pass the local option amendment or defeat woman suffrage. That +part of the work is up to the retailers. We write this letter +earnestly to ask you to help.</p> + +<p>It will take 50,000 votes to defeat woman suffrage. It will take +50,000 votes to pass the amendment to the local option law. There +are 2,000 retailers in Oregon. That means that every retailer +must himself bring in 25 votes on election day. Every retailer +can get 25 votes. Besides his employees he has his grocer, his +butcher, his landlord, his laundryman and every person he does +business with. If every man in the business will do this we will +win.</p> + +<p>We enclose 25 ballot tickets, showing how these two laws will +appear on the ballot and how to vote. If you will personally take +25 friendly voters to the polls on election day and give each one +a ticket showing how to vote, please mail this postal card back +to us at once.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_544" id="Page_544">[Pg 544]</a></span> You need not sign the card. Every card has a +number and we will know who sent it in. Let us all pull together +and let us all work. Let us each get 25 votes.</p></blockquote> + +<p>The election took place June 4, 1906, and resulted in an adverse +majority of 10,173 in a vote of about 84,000. Besides the money raised +in Oregon the National Suffrage Association expended on this campaign +$18,075. Of this amount $3,768 were used in the preliminary work of +1905. All of the eastern workers except the organizers contributed +their services and several defrayed their own expenses.</p> + +<p>The women decided to go immediately into another campaign. The +Legislative Assembly of 1907 refused to submit the amendment and the +State Association again circulated an initiative petition to have it +submitted. Miss Clay contributed $300 toward the expense of it; Mr. +and Miss Blackwell also contributed liberally and the requisite number +of names was secured. Mrs. Duniway in reporting this campaign said: +"It was more like that of 1900, as only Oregon women took part and no +large meetings were held." There were a few less votes in favor of the +amendment in 1908 than in 1906 and 11,739 more against it.</p> + +<p>The State Association filed a petition for another initiative measure +immediately after this defeat. It was quite a different proposition, +however, as it read: "No citizen who is a taxpayer shall be denied the +right to vote on account of sex." Both men and women, many of them the +staunchest suffragists, openly opposed it and it was bitterly fought +by labor and fraternal organizations. No campaign was attempted except +from the State president's office and there was general satisfaction +when it was defeated in 1910 by a majority of 22,600.</p> + +<p>A reorganization of the State work in 1906 after the election had +resulted in Mrs. Duniway's again resuming the presidency with the +following board: Vice-president-at-large, Mrs. Elizabeth Lord; +corresponding secretary, Mrs. Elizabeth Craig; recording secretary, +Miss Emma Buckman; financial secretary, Mrs. A. Bonham; treasurer, +Mrs. W. E. Potter; auditors, Mrs. Frederick Eggert and Mrs. Martha +Dalton; honorary president, Mrs. Coe. This board practically remained +intact until 1912. In the two disastrous campaigns of 1908 and 1910, +against the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_545" id="Page_545">[Pg 545]</a></span> protest of many, the "still hunt" method was employed and +no state-wide organization was attempted. With indomitable courage the +board again circulated an initiative petition and had the amendment +for full suffrage put on the 1912 ballot. Although it was unnecessary +for the Legislature to vote for its submission it did so in order to +give it more weight.</p> + +<p>The women of the State now grew restive and began to agitate for +organization for the coming campaign. During 1910 and 1911 Washington +and California had enfranchised their women and Oregon remained the +only "black" State on the Pacific Coast. This was a matter of great +humiliation to the women who had worked for suffrage at least a score +of years, as well as to the progressive young women who were beginning +to fill the thinning ranks of the pioneer workers.</p> + +<p>In December, 1911, Dr. Shaw, the national president, wrote a very +strong letter to some of the women severely criticizing their apathy +and lack of preparation for this campaign. This was brought to the +attention of the State president, who later wrote: "Although urged +from many sides and by some of the ablest women of the State to begin +a campaign for 1912 in the summer of 1911, I withstood all such +requests." A division of opinion arose among the women of Portland +regarding the wisdom of delay and Dr. Shaw's letter was submitted to +the Woman's Club, an organization which up to this time had taken no +active part in work for suffrage. Now a motion prevailed to enter into +the campaign and authorize the president, Mrs. A. King Wilson, to +appoint a committee for this purpose. The personnel of the committee +was: Mrs. Frederick Eggert, Mrs. William Fear, Mrs. George McMillan, +Dr. Esther Pohl Lovejoy, Mrs. Grace Watt Ross, Mrs. Sarah A. Evans, +chairman; Mrs. William Strandborg, secretary. This committee waited on +the State president and submitted a plan whereby all the various +groups of women which were forming might be co-ordinated and operate +from one headquarters, the committee offering to assume all financial +expense for them. The plan was not approved by her and the committee +and all other groups were compelled to work independently of the State +organization.</p> + +<p>The Portland Woman's Club Committee opened headquarters<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_546" id="Page_546">[Pg 546]</a></span> in January, +1912, occupying two rooms in a centrally located office building for +the entire ten months of the campaign. Dr. Shaw, through the +generosity of a friend, contributed $200 a month toward their +maintenance. Mrs. Strandborg, a newspaper woman of large experience, +sent every two weeks a short, spicy letter to 210 papers throughout +the State. Many appreciative notices were given by the press.</p> + +<p>Almost simultaneously with the opening of headquarters by this +committee a number of independent societies were formed for +propaganda, which sent out organizers and by summer there were no +counties and but few towns or hamlets without a suffrage society. With +the assistance of Miss Anita Whitney of California and Mrs. Helen Hoy +Greeley of New York the women of Oregon University organized a large +college suffrage club; the State Agricultural College did the same and +these were rapidly emulated by the smaller colleges and schools. The +State Federation of Labor endorsed it and sent organizers into the +field as did many fraternal associations.</p> + +<p>The first concerted effort made by the State Association was at Salem +Feb. 16, 1912, in the Hall of Representatives by permission of +Secretary of State Ben Olcott. A large number of suffragists were +present. The speakers were Governor Oswald West; Mrs. Olive English +Enright; Mrs. Greeley and Miss Whitney. Mrs. Duniway became seriously +ill immediately after this meeting and the work of the association +fell upon Mrs. Coe, who courageously assumed the responsibility. In +the secretary, Miss Buckman, she had an able assistant, and also in +Mrs. L. W. Therkelsen, Mrs. H. R. Reynolds, Dr. Marie D. Equi and Dr. +Victoria Hampton, close friends of Mrs. Duniway. On March 8 Mrs. Coe +called a meeting at the headquarters in the Selling Building in +Portland, two rooms having been generously donated by the Hon. Ben +Selling to be jointly used by the State association and the College +League. The State work was definitely launched by the appointment of +the following committees: Finance, Mrs. J. A. Fouilhoux, Mrs. Elliott +Corbet, Dr. Florence Manion; literature, Mrs. Louise Trullinger, Mrs. +A. E. Clark, Miss Emma Wold, Miss Blanche Wren; ways and means, Dr. +Florence Brown Cassiday, Mrs. Caroline Hepburn, Mrs. C. B. Woodruff.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_547" id="Page_547">[Pg 547]</a></span></p> + +<p>In June the General Federation of Women's Clubs met in San Francisco +and many of the prominent women in attendance arranged to return via +Oregon, the New York special train stopping over for one day. It was +met twelve miles out and escorted to Portland and met at the depot by +a brass band.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon a meeting was held in the Taylor Street Methodist +Church with many unable to obtain admittance. Miss Mary Garrett Hay of +New York; Mrs. H. C. Warren of New Jersey; Mrs. Desha Breckinridge of +Kentucky; Miss Helen Varick Boswell and Miss Mary Wood of New York, +and Professor Frances Squire Potter of Minnesota University, were +among the speakers. The last four remained for several days and spoke +at the great Gladstone Chautauqua. One of the most noteworthy +incidents of the campaign was a debate here between Mrs. Breckinridge +and the Rev. Clarence True Wilson, secretary of the Committee of +Temperance and Morals for the Methodist Church. The reverend gentleman +was the white hope of the anti-suffragists. His exalted calling and +his official position as a prohibitionist, camouflaged the relation +between the two extremes of society that were working against the +amendment—the liquor people and a group of society women supplemented +by a group of prominent men. He had sent the challenge to the Woman's +Club Committee and Mrs. Breckinridge took up the gauntlet. Three +thousand people saw him, completely routed, retire from the platform +while Mrs. Breckinridge and "the cause" got a tremendous ovation. Mr. +Wilson and William D. Wheelwright were the only two men who took the +platform against the amendment. The women "antis" were led by Mrs. A. +E. Rockey, Mrs. Ralph Wilber, Mrs. Robert Lewis and the Misses Etta +and May Failing.</p> + +<p>The committee maintained a speakers' bureau and sent out thousands of +pieces of literature. Among the first to enter the campaign was a +Men's Equal Suffrage Club, organized and promoted by W. M. Davis, a +prominent attorney of Portland, which soon became an active state-wide +organization. Mr. Davis was the legal adviser of all the women's +organizations.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Solomon Hirsch, an early worker and one of the most liberal +financial supporters of the campaign, went directly into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_548" id="Page_548">[Pg 548]</a></span> the camp of +the enemy and organized a group of society women in the Portland Equal +Suffrage League. No one feature stands out more conspicuously for +results than a "tea" she gave for Sir Forbes-Robertson in her palatial +home, to which she invited about two hundred guests, most of whom were +radical anti-suffragists, but many of them went away converts after +hearing the presentation of the subject by the guest of honor. Mrs. +Hirsch also brought the Rev. Charles A. Aked of San Francisco.</p> + +<p>Dr. Coe was the first president of the Portland College League and +when she had to assume the duties of the State president, Miss Emma +Wold filled her place. The largest suffrage meeting up to that time +was under the auspices of this league at Oaks Amusement Park, where +Mrs. Sara Bard Field (Ergott) and C. E. S. Wood, a brilliant orator, +addressed more than 10,000 people. Mrs. A. C. Newill established the +Cooperative Civic League, which did active work with the State +association. Dr. Lovejoy organized Every Body's League late in the +campaign but succeeded in gathering hundreds of unattached men and +women into the ranks of the workers. The Woman's Christian Temperance +Union added its mighty strength and did valiant service under the able +leadership of Mrs. Lucia Faxton Additon, Mrs. M. L. T. Hidden and Mrs. +Ada Wallace Unruh.</p> + +<p>On Nov. 5, 1912, the equal suffrage amendment was carried by a +majority of 4,161, not by any one person or by any one organization, +for no individual or single organization could have compassed the work +required to put the State "over the top" with even this meagre +majority in a total vote of 118,369. When the heights were reached, +however, all were ready to lay the laurels at the feet of Abigail +Scott Duniway, Martha A. Dalton, Charlotte M. Cartwright and Dr. Mary +Thompson, the pioneers who had borne the heat and burden of the early +days. Governor West paid Mrs. Duniway the compliment of inviting her +to write the proclamation of woman suffrage and jointly with him to +sign it, and John Coffey, the county clerk, carried the registration +book to her sick room so that she might be the first woman in Oregon +to register.</p> + +<p>At the close of this arduous campaign the women folded their hands for +a quiet rest until the cry for help came from other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_549" id="Page_549">[Pg 549]</a></span> States. It was a +most difficult task to gather up the broken threads of so many +organizations and again rouse them to enthusiasm. Dr. Lovejoy, +however, at the earnest request of Dr. Shaw, sent out a general call +for a conference in March, 1915. At this meeting the State Suffrage +Alliance was formed with Mrs. William Ogburn as first president. Those +who followed her in the office were: Mrs. Thomas Burk, Mrs. Kelley +Rees, Mrs. Elliott Corbett and Mrs. C. B. Simmons. It gave its +assistance to the unenfranchised States and was ready to respond to +any call from the national president.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> The Alliance was largely instrumental in having a +special session of the Legislature called to ratify the Federal +Suffrage Amendment. This was done by unanimous vote in the House +January 12 and in the Senate January 13, 1920, and Governor Oswald +West affixed his signature on the 14th. The resolution was introduced +in the lower House by Mrs. Alexander Thompson, a member.</p> + +<p>On March 6, 1920, at a called meeting the women organized a League of +Women Voters and Mrs. Charles E. Curry was elected chairman.</p> + +<p>The Oregon chapter on suffrage was closed on Aug. 28, 1920. At noon of +that day, while nearly 300 women stood at attention around the banquet +table at the Benson Hotel in Portland, every bell and whistle in the +city sounded forth the glad refrain of liberty and righteousness, +universal suffrage for women, proclaimed by Secretary of State +Bainbridge Colby. The Mayor of Portland, George L. Baker, was there to +rejoice with them. Old women who had stood in the battle-front for +years were there to tell of the hard struggles they had passed through +for the franchise and young women were there to promise that they +would keep the faith and honor the inheritance that had come to them. +The jubilee closed with the singing of a Hymn of Thanksgiving written +for this meeting by Mrs. Helen Ekin Starrett, the only woman living +who had attended the first and last conventions of the National +Suffrage Association—1869-1920.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_150_150" id="Footnote_150_150"></a><a href="#FNanchor_150_150"><span class="label">[150]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Sarah +A. Evans, president of the State Federation of Clubs ten years; on the +Child Labor Commission eighteen years and market inspector for +Portland sixteen years.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_151_151" id="Footnote_151_151"></a><a href="#FNanchor_151_151"><span class="label">[151]</span></a> Sacajawea was a young Indian woman who accompanied her +husband on the Lewis and Clark Expedition from the Missouri River to +the Pacific Coast, the only woman in the party. She had been a captive +from an Idaho tribe of the Shoshones and was the only person who could +speak the language of the Indians that would be met on the way or who +had ever been over the route to be traveled. With her baby in her arms +she was the unerring guide through the almost impenetrable mountain +passes and on several occasions saved not only the equipment and +documents but the lives of the party. In recognition of this service +the women of Oregon formed the Sacajawea Association, with the +following officers: Mrs. Eva Emery Dye, president; Mrs. C. M. +Cartwright, first vice-president; Mrs. M. A. Dalton, second; Mrs. J. +B. Montgomery, third; Mrs. Sarah A. Evans, secretary; Mrs. A. H. +Breyman, treasurer. This association secured subscriptions and erected +a beautiful bronze statue on the exposition grounds, which later was +transferred to a prominent place in the city park.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_152_152" id="Footnote_152_152"></a><a href="#FNanchor_152_152"><span class="label">[152]</span></a> Campaign Committee: Mrs. Henry Waldo Coe, chairman, +president of the Equal Suffrage Association; Mrs. Duniway, honorary +president; Dr. Annice Jeffreys Myers, its vice-president and auditor +of the National Association; Mrs. Sarah A. Evans, president State +Federation of Women's Clubs; Mrs. Lucia F. Additon, president Woman's +Christian Temperance Union; Mrs. C. M. Cartwright, State Pioneers' +Association; Mrs. Clara Waldo, State Grange; Dr. Luema G. Johnson, +State Labor Organization; Mrs. Eva Emery Dye, Sacajawea Association.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_550" id="Page_550">[Pg 550]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVII.</h2> + +<h3>PENNSYLVANIA.<a name="FNanchor_153_153" id="FNanchor_153_153"></a><a href="#Footnote_153_153" class="fnanchor">[153]</a></h3> + + +<p>Pennsylvania was a pioneer State in the movement for woman suffrage. +One of the first "woman's rights" conventions in history took place in +1852 in West Chester under the auspices of the Friends, or Quakers, +and Philadelphia was the home of Lucretia Mott, who joined with +Elizabeth Cady Stanton in 1848 in calling the first "woman's rights" +meeting ever held. The State Woman Suffrage Association was formed in +this city in December, 1869, a few months after the founding of the +National Association, and did not cease its work until the final +victory in 1920.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Lucretia L. Blankenburg of Philadelphia was reelected to the +presidency in 1901 for the tenth consecutive term and was reelected +annually six times thereafter, retiring in 1908 because the work then +required long journeys from home. Auxiliaries had been organized in 11 +counties before the convention held in Philadelphia, Nov. 26, 1901. +Suffrage activities had been confined to southeastern Pennsylvania but +now three extreme western counties and two central ones had +organizations and offered a promising field. For the first time plans +were made for extended canvassing for members. To the courageous women +of that period who carried on steadfastly under severe handicaps and +with little encouragement may be attributed much of the inspiration of +the suffragists of later years. Miss Jane Campbell of Germantown, +poet, author and orator, president for many years of the large, active +Philadelphia County Society, was responsible in a great degree for the +enthusiasm and spirit which sustained the pioneers.</p> + +<p>The convention of 1902 took place in Philadelphia November<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_551" id="Page_551">[Pg 551]</a></span> 7. A +report on the canvassing of one ward of Philadelphia, the 10th, showed +55 per cent. of the women in favor. Leaflets were sent to 2,184 +schools during the year and a prize offered for the best essay on +woman suffrage by a pupil. On December 5 the Philadelphia Yearly +Meeting of Friends organized an Equal Rights Association.</p> + +<p>A report on the canvass of the 15th ward, undertaken by the county +society, the largest and most active auxiliary, was given at the +annual convention held in Philadelphia, Nov. 7, 1903, and showed that +of the 4,839 women interviewed nearly one-half were favorable, less +than a third opposed and the rest were indifferent. This year the +State Grange and the city Labor Union endorsed woman suffrage. A +banquet in honor of Miss Susan B. Anthony and the other national +officers took place at the New Century Club, the guests including +Mayor Samuel Ashbridge and his wife. His progressiveness contrasts +strongly with the fact that sixteen years later the suffragists were +unable to persuade Mayor Thomas B. Smith to welcome their Fiftieth +Annual Convention to the city.</p> + +<p>Easton was the place of the convention, Nov. 3-5, 1904, where it was +reported that the result of sending fraternal delegates to +thirty-seven State gatherings was the adoption of woman suffrage +resolutions by nineteen. The convention of 1905 was held in +Philadelphia, November 14, and all auxiliaries reported large gains in +membership. This year suffragists had ably assisted the City Party in +a reform campaign and advanced their own cause. Kennett Square +entertained the convention Nov. 6-8, 1906. An increase of 1,182 in +membership had been made during the year. In 1907 the State convention +was held in the western part of the State, taking place in Pittsburgh, +November 6-8. A resolution was proposed for the first time to ask the +political parties to put woman suffrage planks in their State +platforms by Miss Charlotte Jones but it was voted down as +impracticable. The State Grange, Letter Carriers' Association and +State Woman's Christian Temperance Union adopted suffrage resolutions +during the year. A junior suffrage auxiliary of 400 Pittsburgh girls +and boys was represented.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Rachel Foster Avery succeeded Mrs. Blankenburg as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_552" id="Page_552">[Pg 552]</a></span> president at +the convention held in Norristown Nov. 4-6, 1908. The proposed program +of the National American Association to secure an enormous petition +calling upon Congress to submit a woman suffrage amendment was +undertaken cheerfully, although it was a heavy task for a small group +of workers with no headquarters and limited finances. The State +convention took place at Newton Nov. 22-24, 1909, and Mrs. Avery was +re-elected president. The Equal Franchise Society, representing a +group of prominent women of Philadelphia, had been organized in the +spring as an auxiliary of the State association and the increase of +work caused by advance throughout the State made the establishment of +headquarters imperative. A committee was appointed to arrange for +State and county headquarters in Philadelphia and a sum sufficient to +sustain them for three years was pledged.</p> + +<p>The convention of 1910 was held in Harrisburg and Mrs. Ellen H. E. +Price of Philadelphia assumed the presidency. This year was organized +the Equal Franchise Federation of Western Pennsylvania, later changed +to Federation of Pittsburgh, its leaders destined to play a very +important part in suffrage annals. Julian Kennedy was the first +president, one of the very few men who served as president of a woman +suffrage organization. The State Federation of Labor not only adopted +resolutions endorsing woman suffrage but pledging itself to select men +for offices who were committed to a belief in it. The political +district plan was adopted for future work, in accordance with the +recommendation of the National Association. The headquarters were +opened at 208 Hale Building, Philadelphia, October 7. Street meetings +were inaugurated in that city the next summer and the speakers were +received with amazing cordiality. Mrs. Price was re-elected president +at the convention which opened in the Mayor's reception room, City +Hall, Philadelphia, Nov. 23, 1911, Mayor John E. Reyburn granting this +courtesy.</p> + +<p>Owing to the necessity of giving the work state-wide scope the +convention held in Philadelphia Nov. 26, 27, 1912, recommended moving +the State headquarters to Harrisburg and this change was effected in +December. In March a Men's League for Woman Suffrage had been +organized with Judge Dimner<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_553" id="Page_553">[Pg 553]</a></span> Beeber of Philadelphia as president and +more than 100 prominent members enrolled. Fourteen new organizations +were formed during the year but the larger part of the State was still +unorganized. The national suffrage convention preceded the State +convention and gave an impetus to the movement. An evening mass +meeting in the Metropolitan Opera House made the record of the largest +and most enthusiastic suffrage meeting ever held in this city. [See +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29878/29878-h/29878-h.htm#CHAPTER_XII">Chapter XII, Volume V</a>.] +The association now had 7,211 members. Mrs. +Frank M. Roessing of Pittsburgh was elected president and this young, +practical woman was principally responsible for changing the character +of the work from purely propagandistic lines to recognized business +standards.</p> + +<p>The annual convention met in Pittsburgh, Oct. 28-30, 1913, the +president's term of office was lengthened to two years and Mrs. +Roessing was reelected. The State Grange and the Federation of Labor +reaffirmed their suffrage resolutions and the International +Brotherhood of Firemen went on record in favor. A proposition to +submit the question of woman suffrage to the voters had been favorably +passed on by the Legislature and waited action by a second.</p> + +<p>Great strides were made in 1914. A press department conducted along +professional lines supplied all the papers of the State with live +suffrage news and there were suffrage editions of several papers. Miss +Hannah J. Patterson of Pittsburgh had charge of organizing the Woman +Suffrage Party along political lines out of the State association, and +to Mrs. Roessing and her belongs especial credit for the strong, +workable organization which was built up so carefully in preparation +for the campaign year. The State convention was held in Scranton, +November 19-24. There was every indication that the next Legislature +would submit a constitutional amendment and the Executive Board asked +for a campaign fund of $100,000, of which $30,000 were pledged at the +convention. Mrs. William Thaw, Jr., of Pittsburgh offered $10,000 if +the fund reached $50,000 by April 1. With this splendid foundation the +State was ready to take up the actual work of the campaign in 1915. +Mrs. Charles Wister Ruschenberger of Strafford announced that she +would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_554" id="Page_554">[Pg 554]</a></span> have a replica cast of the Liberty Bell to be known as the +"woman's liberty bell." Later Dr. Mary M. Wolfe of Lewisburg was +elected chairman of the Finance Committee and the $50,000 were raised +on time.</p> + +<p>The Legislature of 1915 submitted an amendment to be voted on at the +regular election November 2. Mrs. Roessing was president of the State +Association and Miss Patterson was chairman of the Woman Suffrage +Party, whose plan provided for organization by political districts, +recognizing every political division from that of the State unit down +to the precinct and township. The State was divided into nine +districts but as very few women could give sufficient time to head a +division comprising from seven to ten counties, only four were +supervised by chairmen—Mrs. Anna M. Orme, Mrs. E. E. Kiernan, Mrs. +Maxwell K. Chapman and Miss Mary J. Norcross.</p> + +<p>Allegheny county had four experienced organizers, Philadelphia four, +Montgomery three, Bucks two, Chester, Washington, Luzerne and McKean +each one. Eighteen other organizers worked under the supervision of +Miss Patterson.<a name="FNanchor_154_154" id="FNanchor_154_154"></a><a href="#Footnote_154_154" class="fnanchor">[154]</a> They visited every one of the 67 counties during +the year, formed new organizations, stimulated those already +established, conducted booths at county fairs, addressed women's +clubs, teachers' institutes, Chautauquas, picnics, farmers' +institutes, men's organizations, political, church, college and +factory meetings. During the last three months of the campaign they +conducted county tours and held open air meetings daily. They formed +central organizations in 64 counties under competent chairmen. Cameron +and Pike were the only counties where there were no societies but in +Cameron there were active workers. In the other eleven counties +central organizations were not formed but legislative districts and +boroughs were organized, each with a capable chairman.<a name="FNanchor_155_155" id="FNanchor_155_155"></a><a href="#Footnote_155_155" class="fnanchor">[155]</a></p> + +<p>To Miss Clarissa A. Moffitt, its secretary, belongs much credit for +the able management of the Speakers' Bureau. During the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_555" id="Page_555">[Pg 555]</a></span> campaign year +56 counties were supplied, involving the services of 64 speakers; 14 +were men, 33 were Pennsylvanians, 14 contributed services and expenses +and 27 asked expenses only. The bureau made a study of the +characteristics of each county in industry, agriculture, character of +population and politics. Speakers were then offered who would be +acceptable to the community as well as to the particular meeting. Dr. +Anna Howard Shaw, national president, gave 28 lectures and from every +county reports came that hundreds of converts were made.</p> + +<p>The manager of the publicity department, Charles T. Heaslip, was an +expert not only in the art of journalism but also in the art of +publicity. This department ultimately required the full time of three +special writers. Semi-monthly a two column plate service was sent to +260 papers from February and from October 1 it was weekly, the list of +papers having grown to 346. Allegheny county, in which Pittsburgh is +located, conducted the most efficient county campaign. Its +headquarters practically duplicated the State headquarters at +Harrisburg with secretaries and organizers and it was the only one +which employed its own publicity agent. A weekly news bulletin was +issued to 500 papers and the regular service was supplemented by +special stories. Much work was done in advance of meetings. From July +to November a weekly cartoon service was undertaken, a new feature in +suffrage campaign work. According to the newspaper men it comprised +the best cartoons ever used in any campaign in the State and the money +spent for them brought greater returns than that for any other +feature. The cartoonists were C. Batchelor, Charles H. Winner and +Walter A. Sinclair.</p> + +<p>In special features the publicity department avoided sensationalism. +Suffrage Flower Gardens, Good Roads Day, the Justice Bell and +Supplication Day comprised practically the entire list. Attractive +yellow boxes containing seeds for the old-fashioned yellow flowers +were offered for sale by the State association and the flower gardens +furnished a picturesque form of propaganda and long continued +publicity. In Pennsylvania a day in the spring is set aside by the +department of highways when all residents along country roads are +asked to contribute their services for their improvement. The local +suffrage organizations provided coffee<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_556" id="Page_556">[Pg 556]</a></span> and sandwiches for the +laborers and got in their propaganda. On Supplication Day, the last +Sunday before election, ministers were asked to preach suffrage +sermons. Mrs. Ruschenberger's Bell was the best and main publicity +feature and undeniably secured many thousands of votes. It visited all +the counties, traveling 3,935 miles on a special truck. Hundreds of +appeals by as many speakers were made from this as a stand and it was +received in the rural communities with almost as much reverence and +ceremony as would have been accorded the original bell. The +collections and the receipts from the sale of novelties moulded in the +likeness of the bell helped materially to defray the heavy expense of +operating the truck, paying the speakers' expenses and providing +literature.</p> + +<p>Space for the display of advertising cards was purchased in 5,748 +street cars for August, September and October. Special suffrage +editions of newspapers in all parts of the State, copy and cuts for +which were prepared by the State Publicity Department, contributed +considerably to propaganda and finance. Throughout the State the +general lines of activity were the same—meetings of all kinds, +parades, hearings before organizations to secure endorsements, booths +at county fairs, exhibitions, canvassing, circularization and auto +tours. The degree of success in each locality depended upon the kind +and amount of work. Millions of fliers, leaflets and booklets original +to Pennsylvania were issued in English, Italian, German, Polish and +Hebrew and no effort or expense was spared to secure converts through +the written word. During the last month of the campaign the county +organizations circularized their voters twice—once with speeches of +Representatives Mondell of Wyoming and Keating of Colorado in Congress +and once with a personal letter written to the voter and signed by the +county chairman or a suffragist in his own community. Four days before +election 330,000 of these letters went to the voters.</p> + +<p>Although a bill for woman watchers at the polls failed to pass the +Legislature and the suffragists were thus denied the protection which +every political party is permitted, yet in many counties the +assistance of the regularly appointed watchers was secured. The +Washington party and Socialist watchers were universally helpful and +in many cases the Democratic and Republican watchers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_557" id="Page_557">[Pg 557]</a></span> gave assistance. +The suffrage organizations were urged to place women workers at every +polling precinct. Many men favorable to suffrage advised against this +plan but the result of the election showed that nothing won as many +votes at the last minute as the appeal of the women at the polls. Of +the 33 counties which were carried 21 had women working at the polls; +of the 36 which lost only six had women there. Of the 33 counties 17 +had headquarters.</p> + +<p>Eight of the 33 counties which gave a majority are chiefly industrial; +eight are equally industrial and rural and seventeen are chiefly +rural. Luzerne, Lackawanna and Westmoreland are the third, fourth and +fifth counties in point of population and they won by majorities of +3,139, 2,654 and 1,140. In all of them the labor vote is heavy, as +mining is the chief industry. Allegheny was the first county of its +size to be carried in the history of suffrage. Fayette county, the +home of Republican State Chairman Crow, who never wavered in his +opposition, was carried by 1,400. Every ward in Uniontown, the county +seat and his home, gave a majority for the amendment. Mrs. Robert E. +Umbel was county chairman. The eight Dutch counties lost by majorities +ranging from 2,000 to 7,000. Rockbound conservatism had much to do +with this result. Schuylkill county, where an adverse vote from 10,000 +to 15,000 was predicted, lost by only 1,000. Miss Helen Beddall, the +chairman, conducted a persistent campaign of education for two years.</p> + +<p>Philadelphia had the most difficult problem to face with its large +vote and political corruption. Its difficulties were increased by the +duplication of suffrage organizations working independently. An added +complication was the prejudice created by the efforts of the +"militant" suffrage organization, then called the Congressional Union, +to organize, this being the only center in the State in which they had +secured a foothold. The large women's clubs of Philadelphia took no +part in the constructive work of the campaign. Wilmer Atkinson of this +city, editor and owner of the <i>Farm Journal</i>, was president of the +Men's League for Woman Suffrage and gave unstintingly of his strength +and means to secure victory. The vote in Philadelphia was 122,519 +noes, 77,240 ayes; adverse majority, 45,279. The total vote was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_558" id="Page_558">[Pg 558]</a></span> +826,382; in favor, 385,348; opposed, 441,034; lost by 55,686 votes, +only 10,407 more than the majority in Philadelphia. The amendment +received nearly 47 per cent. of the total vote cast on it.</p> + +<p>Prior to election day all the political parties in the State had +endorsed woman suffrage per se, except the Republican and that party +had declared in favor of a referendum to the voters. The great +weakness of the campaign was lack of money. The total State fund was +$78,698, of which Allegheny county contributed 50 per cent. Many of +the counties spent considerable sums in addition, Allegheny county's +special "budget" being $25,000. If the association had had an +additional $25,000 the lacking 3 per cent. of the voters could have +been secured and the campaign would have ended in a victory.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>The State convention was held in Philadelphia Nov. 30, 1915. As +amendments to the State constitution can be submitted only once in +five years, the delegates reconsecrated themselves to a new campaign +at the end of that time. At a conference held in Harrisburg in the +spring of 1916 47 counties were represented and an inspiring address +was made by Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, now national president. An +intercounty rally at Somerset in July was attended by 500 suffragists +from ten counties and a State suffrage flag was adopted. The annual +convention was held in Williamsport, November 21-24, and the delegates +were unanimous in their desire to continue preparations for another +campaign. Mrs. George B. Orlady was elected president.</p> + +<p>As Philadelphia is the center of population in the State, the +financial center, has the largest number of newspapers and is more +accessible than Harrisburg, State headquarters were moved to that city +June 1, 1917. Upon the entrance of the United States into the World +War the association without a day's delay offered the services of its +members and the facilities of its organization to the Government. +State officers, county chairmen and suffragists in the ranks served on +the Council of National Defense, on Liberty Loan Committees, in the +various "drives" and wherever needed. Mrs. John O. Miller, State +vice-president, was appointed by Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo a +member of the National Woman's Liberty Loan Committee and also served +as State Chairman.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_559" id="Page_559">[Pg 559]</a></span> Pennsylvania contributed $20,573 to the Women's +Oversea Hospitals, maintained by the National Suffrage Association, +$11,397 of which were raised in Pittsburgh at an outdoor fęte of which +Mrs. Leonard G. Wood was chairman. The State convention was held in +this city November 20-22 and Mrs. Miller was elected president. In the +hope that the U. S. Senate would submit the Federal Suffrage Amendment +the convention for 1918 was delayed from month to month and finally +was held in Philadelphia April 9, 10, 1919. Mrs. Miller was +re-elected. On November 10, 11, the amendment having been submitted, +the 51st and last State convention was held in Philadelphia.<a name="FNanchor_156_156" id="FNanchor_156_156"></a><a href="#Footnote_156_156" class="fnanchor">[156]</a> The +historic Pennsylvania Woman Suffrage Association was disbanded and the +League of Women Citizens was organized, to become the League of Women +Voters when the women of Pennsylvania were enfranchised. This name was +adopted Nov. 18, 1920, and Mrs. Miller was elected chairman for two +years.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action.</span> After a lapse of 26 years a second attempt was +made in 1911 under Mrs. Anna M. Orme, as legislative chairman, to +secure a resolution to refer to the voters a woman suffrage amendment +to the State constitution. The Joint Committee of the Judiciary, to +which it was referred, after giving a hearing to the suffragists, sent +it to a special commission which had been appointed to revise the +election laws.</p> + +<p>1912. Miss Lida Stokes Adams was legislative chairman when this +commission gave an all day hearing March 22 at City Hall, +Philadelphia, but took no action. This hearing was preceded by a mass +meeting on the 20th in Witherspoon Hall. An effort was made to get an +endorsement from the State political conventions.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_560" id="Page_560">[Pg 560]</a></span> Miss Mary E. +Bakewell of the Western Equal Franchise Federation appeared before the +Republican convention May 1; Mrs. Mabel Cronise Jones, Miss Adams and +Miss Bakewell addressed the Democratic convention May 7, and both gave +approval. The Keystone and Prohibition party conventions also heard +suffrage speakers and adopted favorable resolutions. For the first +time all of the 880 candidates for the Legislature were interviewed by +a letter as to submitting the question to the voters and 283 gave +affirmative answers.</p> + +<p>1913. This year the referendum measure passed after a bitter contest. +Twice when the resolution came up in the Senate the motion to postpone +was avoided on a tie vote by Lieutenant Governor Reynolds, the first +time in thirteen years that the president of the Senate had voted on +any question. On the final vote the majority of one was only secured +by the labor leader, Steve McDonald of Lackawanna county, who forced +its Senator, Walter McNichols, to represent his constituents. Senators +Edwin M. Herbst, Edward E. Beidleman (later Lieutenant Governor) and +James P. McNichol maintained the strongest opposition. Miss Adams, the +legislative chairman, and Mrs. Roessing, the State president, did the +greater part of the work at Harrisburg. The association was indebted +to Representative Frank G. Rockwell and Senator A. W. Powell for their +skill in handling this measure. The vote in the Lower House, February +5 was 131 ayes, 70 noes.</p> + +<p>1915. A proposed amendment to the constitution must be passed by two +Legislatures. Mrs. Roessing and Miss Hannah J. Patterson, organization +chairman, carried on the lobby work in 1915 and it passed the House on +February 9 by 130 ayes, 71 noes. In the Senate on March 15 a great +gain was registered, as 37 Senators voted aye and only 11 voted no. +The amendment was defeated at the election in November.</p> + +<p>1916. The passage of an Enabling Act by the Legislature of 1917 being +the first step toward a referendum in 1921, the work of the State +Suffrage Association in 1916 was concentrated as never before on the +legislative candidates. Practically every one was interviewed +personally or by letter and before the November election reports on 40 +of the 50 Senators and all but ten of the 207<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_561" id="Page_561">[Pg 561]</a></span> members of the House +had been made. Senator Boies Penrose was visited in Washington by Mrs. +George B. Orlady and Mrs. John O. Miller, president and vice-president +of the State Suffrage Association. He said he would help and +authorized these officers to quote him in the public press. On October +9 the Republican State Committee meeting in Philadelphia refused a +hearing to the Suffrage Board and took no action, despite the +favorable assurances of Senator Penrose and of State Senator William +E. Crow, its chairman. On December 28 Governor Martin G. Brumbaugh +promised Mrs. Miller to secure the passage of the desired Enabling +Act.</p> + +<p>1917. Mrs. Miller led the work when the Legislature convened in +January, 1917, and Mrs. Antoinette Funk, Mrs. Lewis L. Smith and Mrs. +Harriet L. Hubbs were members of the Legislative Committee. County +chairmen of the suffrage association brought continuous pressure on +their legislators; 270 powerful labor organizations in the State +signed petitions with their official seal and a petition with the +names of 56,000 individual men and women was unrolled on the floor of +the House. Every legislator received a special petition signed by 445 +of the most prominent men in the State, a copy of Dr. Shaw's +biography, the Story of a Pioneer, and weekly copies of the <i>Woman's +Journal</i>. Mrs. Funk had an interview with Senator Penrose at +Washington with one of the most prominent members of the Republican +party present. The Enabling Act was introduced in the House early in +January but at the request of Senator Penrose the vote was delayed +from time to time and finally took place April 17. The preceding day +121 men were listed as favorable, 104 being the required +constitutional majority. When the vote was taken only 101 answered +"aye."</p> + +<p>Forty-eight hours before the vote the liquor lobby, represented by +Neil Bonner, David Hardy, James P. Mulvihill and George W. Boyd, made +a concentrated effort to defeat the measure. It was understood that +150 men were employed for this purpose and that the pressure brought +upon the legislators was tremendous. Although other lobbyists had been +denied the privilege of going on the floor of the House Mr. Boyd was +always permitted to do so and he announced to Mrs. Funk a few minutes +before the vote was taken that he had the bill defeated by six votes. +Speaker<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_562" id="Page_562">[Pg 562]</a></span> Richard J. Baldwin moved a verification of the roll +immediately in order that no man voting in the affirmative could +change his vote and ask for a reconsideration. A bill granting +Presidential suffrage to women was introduced in the House May 28 but +never reported from committee. From 1913 to 1917, Robert K. Young, +State Treasurer, rendered inestimable assistance by the closest +cooperation with the Legislative Committees.</p> + +<p>1918. Plans were at once made for continuing the effort. In 1918 the +organization carried out a most efficient plan of interviewing every +legislative candidate before the primaries on two questions: (1) Will +you vote to ratify the Federal Suffrage Amendment? (2) Will you vote +to submit to the voters an amendment to the constitution enfranchising +the women of this State? After the November election 80 members of the +House of Representatives for 1919 were favorably pledged in writing on +both questions and 40 had given verbal pledges—16 more than the +constitutional majority required. From the Senate 13 written and 18 +verbal pledges had been secured, 5 more than necessary. There was +practically no organized opposition to the referendum and probably +many of the men who pledged themselves to vote for ratification felt +that the Federal Amendment would not pass Congress. The gubernatorial +candidates also had been followed up carefully. William C. Sproul and +J. Denny O'Neil, of the rival Republican factions, both said in +interviews and through the public press that they were ready to work +for any measure which would ensure suffrage to Pennsylvania women. +Judge Eugene C. Bonniwell, the Democratic candidate, did not answer +any inquiries.</p> + +<p>1919. Upon the defeat of the Federal Amendment in the U. S. Senate +February 10, Governor Sproul, who had given many proofs of his +friendship, was consulted regarding the advisability of introducing +Presidential suffrage or a referendum or both. At first he recommended +both but 24 hours later word came that the former could not be passed +but the "organization" would sponsor a referendum. A resolution for +this was introduced and after a public hearing, at which anti-suffrage +women from New Jersey and New York spoke at length, the House passed +it on April 22 by 128 ayes, 66 noes. In the Senate on May 26 the vote<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_563" id="Page_563">[Pg 563]</a></span> +stood 41 ayes, 7 noes. Mrs. William Ward, Jr., of Chester, +vice-chairman of the Legislative Committee, managed a large part of +the work for it.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> The Legislative Committee held its organization intact +awaiting the submission of the Federal Amendment, which took place +June 4, 1919. Although this committee was in Harrisburg continuously +from January 6 to June 24 and knew the personnel of the Legislature +better than any others except some of the political leaders, members +of the National Woman's Party came to Harrisburg early in June, the +first time they had ever been seen there, and tried to create the +impression that they inaugurated the work on ratification. A +delegation from the State Suffrage Association visited Senator Penrose +in Washington on June 5. Although he was paired against the amendment +he was asked to offer no opposition to ratification. He was +non-committal but the committee felt that Republican opposition had +been removed.</p> + +<p>On June 8 the Legislative Committee began an intensive campaign. Mrs. +Gifford Pinchot telephoned or telegraphed Chairman Hays and all the +members of the National Republican Committee; also all Republican +Governors and other prominent Republicans, asking them to communicate +with Governor Sproul, Senator Penrose and State Chairman Crow urging +ratification as a Republican measure. All editors of influential +Republican papers east of the Mississippi River received the same +appeal. The Governor advised that the resolution should not be +introduced in the Senate until Chairman Crow had decided to get behind +it. On June 16 the latter told Mrs. Miller that the road was clear and +it would come to a vote June 19. The vote stood 31 ayes, 6 noes. The +House voted on June 24, giving 153 ayes, 44 noes.</p> + +<p>Immediately after the vote in the House the work of the State +association was recognized when Representative Robert L. Wallace, a +friend in many Legislatures, moved to give its president the privilege +of addressing the House from the Speaker's rostrum. This was the first +time it ever was granted to any man or woman. Governor Sproul also +gave a special reception to the officers of the association and the +500 women who had journeyed to Harrisburg for the ratification. For a +number of years, the State Association<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_564" id="Page_564">[Pg 564]</a></span> Opposed to Woman Suffrage had +been represented at all sessions of the Legislature by Mrs. Horace +Brock, the president, Mrs. John B. Heron and Miss Eliza Armstrong of +Pittsburgh, but to Miss Armstrong, a woman of seventy, it had been +left to fight the last battle on ratification and fifty legislators +supported her efforts to the end.</p> + +<p>The example of the big Republican State of Pennsylvania unquestionably +aided in securing like action in a large number of other Republican +States. Its prompt action may be attributed primarily to Governor +Sproul's sincere interest but due credit must be given to all the +brave women who toiled for more than half a century to keep the torch +burning and to the leaders in the last years, especially Mrs. John O. +Miller, the president. The newspapers, from the editorial departments +to the youngest reporters, were always of the greatest assistance and +it was highly appreciated.</p> + +<p>[<span class="smcap">Laws.</span> A complete digest of the laws relating especially to women and +children accompanied this chapter, comprising about 3,600 words and +including the laws for women in the industries, child labor, +jurisdiction of the Juvenile Courts, property rights of wives, +guardianship of children, divorce, mothers' pensions and others. It is +a distinct loss that the decision had to be made to omit the laws from +all State chapters for lack of space.]</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_153_153" id="Footnote_153_153"></a><a href="#FNanchor_153_153"><span class="label">[153]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. +Harriet L. Hubbs, executive secretary of the State Woman Suffrage +Association 1916-1919 and thenceforth of the State League of Women +Voters and active member of Legislative Committees for both +organizations.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_154_154" id="Footnote_154_154"></a><a href="#FNanchor_154_154"><span class="label">[154]</span></a> These organizers were: Mrs. Evelyn Binz, Mrs. Laura +Gregg Cannon, Mrs. Ada Mundorff, Mrs. Alice Moore Dunbar, Misses +Lillian Howard, Emma MacAlarney, Ladson Hall, Helen Arny, Grace +Ballard, Mary Calhoun, Louise Hall, Leona Huntzinger, Doris Long, +Adella Potter, Eudora Ramsey, Jeanette Rankin, Ethel Rankin and Mary +Sleichter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_155_155" id="Footnote_155_155"></a><a href="#FNanchor_155_155"><span class="label">[155]</span></a> The list of the nearly seventy chairmen is unavoidably +omitted for want of space.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_156_156" id="Footnote_156_156"></a><a href="#FNanchor_156_156"><span class="label">[156]</span></a> Several of the presidents of the association were at +first vice-presidents; others were Mrs. Mary B. Luckie, Mrs. Anna M. +Orme, Mrs. William I. Hull, Dr. Ruth A. Deeter, Miss Lida Stokes +Adams, Miss Mary E. Bakewell, Mrs. Maxwell K. Chapman, Mrs. Robert +Mills Beach, Mrs. H. Neely Fleming, Miss Maud Bassett Gotham, Dr. M. +Carey Thomas, Mrs. Lewis L. Smith, Mrs. Edward E. Kiernan, Mrs. James +P. Rogers, Mrs. Edwin Linton; secretaries: Mrs. Helen M. James, Miss +Lybretta Rice, Miss Jane Campbell, Mrs. Mary R. Newell, Mrs. Mary C. +Morgan, Miss Katharine Collison, Miss Caroline Katzenstein, Miss Mary +Norcross, Miss Helen L. McFarland, Miss Helen C. Clark, Mrs. Gifford +Pinchot; treasurers: Mrs. Margaret B. Stone, Mrs. Luckie, Miss Matilda +Orr Hays, Mrs. Robert K. Young, Mrs. Robert Mills Beach, Miss Martha +G. Thomas; auditors: Mrs. Ellen H. Thomas, Mrs. Mary F. Kenderdine, +Mrs. Minora F. Phillis, Miss N. M. Crumpton, Mrs. Reba Artsdalen, Mrs. +Robert Coard, Miss Ellen L. Thomas, Mrs. H. Wilfred DuPuy; directors: +Mrs. Edward E. Kiernan, Miss Henrietta Baldy Lyon, Mrs. Emma H. +McCandless, Mrs. E. S. H. McCauley, Mrs. Richard S. Quigley, Mrs. +George A. Piersol, Mrs. Clifton A. Verner, Mrs. Daniel F. Ancona.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_565" id="Page_565">[Pg 565]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVIII.</h2> + +<h3>RHODE ISLAND.<a name="FNanchor_157_157" id="FNanchor_157_157"></a><a href="#Footnote_157_157" class="fnanchor">[157]</a></h3> + + +<p>The opening of the 20th Century found the Old Guard of the Rhode +Island Woman Suffrage Association still in the van. Some of those who +were charter members when the organization was formed in 1868 were in +active service, enriching the work by their wide experience in the +past and clear vision for the future. Mrs. Ardelia Cooke Dewing, a +woman of unusual ability, had taken the presidency at the death of +Mrs. Elizabeth Buffum Chace in 1899 and continued in the office until +1905. The association never failed to hold an annual convention in the +autumn in Providence, where reside about half the population of the +State. In 1901, the usual propaganda was conducted by public and +parlor meetings, the circulation of literature and the May banquet, +for years a regular social function. A special impetus was given this +year by the presence of Miss Susan B. Anthony at the convention. The +following morning she addressed the students of the Woman's College of +Brown University.</p> + +<p>On June 2, 1902, the endorsement of the State Central Trades and Labor +Unions was secured. Harry Parsons Cross, a leading lawyer, gave two +courses of lectures on the Legal Status of Women and Parent and Child +in Common Law. This year the organization met with a great loss in the +removal from Rhode Island of the Rev. Anna Garlin Spencer, who had +served the society from its inception, officially and unofficially, +with signal devotion. Henry B. Blackwell gave a notable address at the +annual meeting. To him, Lucy Stone and Alice Stone Blackwell the State +association was indebted for invaluable services on many important +occasions.</p> + +<p>In 1903, at the annual meeting a letter was read from Mayor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_566" id="Page_566">[Pg 566]</a></span> D. L. D. +Granger of Providence, heartily endorsing woman suffrage. Mrs. +Charlotte B. Wilbour and the Rev. Mrs. Spencer were made honorary +presidents of the association. In 1904 and thereafter a prize of $25 +from the Elizabeth Buffum Chace legacy was given for the best essay on +woman suffrage written by a student of the Woman's College. Mrs. +Dewing declined re-election in 1905 and Mrs. Jeannette S. French was +chosen president, serving two years. Events of the year were two +lectures by Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, president of the National American +Suffrage Association. In 1906 Mrs. Mary F. W. Homer was elected +corresponding secretary and her wide experience in suffrage work in +Massachusetts was a valued contribution at a time when re-enforcements +were greatly needed.</p> + +<p>In 1907 Mrs. Rowena P. B. Tingley was elected president. Mrs. Julia +Ward Howe, in her 88th year, gave a remarkable address in April. The +association secured an endorsement of woman suffrage and equal pay for +equal work by the United Textile Workers of America, who met in +Providence. Mrs. George D. Gladding, daughter of Mrs. Dewing, was +appointed chairman of the Committee on College Work and initiated the +movement for the College Equal Suffrage League by securing Mrs. Maud +Wood Park to address a meeting of college women at the home of Mrs. +Dewing and also to speak at the Woman's College. The league was +organized December 11.</p> + +<p>In 1908 Mrs. Tingley was re-elected president but because of ill +health the duties of the office devolved largely upon Mrs. Gladding, +first vice-president. The 40th anniversary of the association was +celebrated December 11 in Churchill House, the women's club house, +named for one of the distinguished suffrage pioneers, Mrs. Elizabeth +Kittridge Churchill. Mrs. Tingley, Arnold B. Chace, Mr. Blackwell and +the Rev. Mrs. Spencer, the speakers on this occasion, had been present +when the association was formed and they added to the pleasure of the +meeting with personal reminiscences. Miss Florence Garvin, president +of the College Equal Suffrage League, spoke of the debt of the young +women to the pioneer suffragists. The State association enrolled +thousands of names for the National Association's petition to Congress +in behalf of the Federal Amendment and used its<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_567" id="Page_567">[Pg 567]</a></span> influence to obtain +for it the support of the Rhode Island members of Congress.</p> + +<p>In 1909 at the annual meeting Miss Elizabeth Upham Yates, who had +recently come to the State, was elected president. This year was +marked by distinctive propaganda through the efforts of Mrs. Oliver H. +P. Belmont of New York. The lectures given at Marble Palace, her home +in Newport, by Dr. Shaw and Professor Charles Zueblin interested a new +and influential class and gave a substantial impetus to suffrage work +throughout the State. Increasing calls to discuss the question before +clubs, granges, church societies and other organizations were an +encouraging sign of a popular awakening to its importance.</p> + +<p>In 1910 a debate on woman suffrage between Brown University and +Williams College was won by the former in the affirmative. Mrs. Anne +M. Jewett, who had served acceptably as recording secretary for ten +years, resigned. Miss Mary M. Angell was elected at the annual meeting +and gave a like term of years of devoted service. Mrs. Dewing was made +honorary president. In 1911 a lecture on Woman's Ballot by Professor +Henry S. Nash of Harvard University, well known as a lecturer, before +the Providence Biblical Institute, greatly strengthened the cause +among conservative people. Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst gave a lecture +under the auspices of the State association and the College League. +This year the first anti-suffrage society was organized by a group of +wealthy and prominent women, among whom were Mrs. Charles Warren +Lippitt, Mrs. Rowland Hazard, Miss Louise Hoppin, Mrs. Herbert Maine +and Mrs. Henry T. Fowler. Miss Yates and Mrs. Lippitt were invited to +hold a debate before the Jewish Women's Council.</p> + +<p>In January, 1912, the College League and the State association opened +headquarters in Butler Exchange at Providence and engaged Miss Louise +Hall as organizer. President M. Carey Thomas of Bryn Mawr College +spoke under the auspices of the State Collegiate Alumnae on the Need +of Woman's Ballot and made a strong impression on this conservative +university city. From May the College League assumed the office duties +and the State association carried on the field work. This year a booth +was secured at the Food Fair of the Retail Grocers' Association,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_568" id="Page_568">[Pg 568]</a></span> +where thousands of new members were enrolled, tens of thousands of +leaflets were distributed and much publicity work was done. The +"suffrage map" was in evidence, showing the many States that had been +won, an irrefutable argument against the emanations of the +anti-suffrage booth. At no other time and place could so many classes +of persons be reached. The arduous work involved was carried on by +Miss Alice F. Porter, Miss Nettie E. Bauer, Mrs. George E. Dunbar, +Miss Enid Peirce, Miss Althea L. Hall, Miss Margaretha Dwight, Mrs. +Caroline Dowell, Miss Ethel Parks and a score more of like unselfish +workers.<a name="FNanchor_158_158" id="FNanchor_158_158"></a><a href="#Footnote_158_158" class="fnanchor">[158]</a> At the annual meeting in October Mrs. Homer, who had +been the efficient corresponding secretary for six years, declined +re-election and Mrs. Sara L. Fittz was elected to the office, which +position she retained until the end. She served also as chairman of +the Publicity Committee and was always in demand as a speaker. Miss +Hall went to assist in the Ohio campaign, accompanied by Mrs. Camilla +Von Klenze, president of the College League. In April Dr. Shaw +addressed a large audience at Infantry Hall. In the summer suffrage +headquarters were established on Franklin Street, Newport, mainly +through the energy of Mrs. Belmont, a member of the Newport League, +and meetings were held here every afternoon during this and other +seasons.</p> + +<p>In 1913 the work of the year opened with a lecture by Miss Mary +Johnston, the novelist, on Woman in Politics and one by Mrs. Carrie +Chapman Catt on the White Slave Traffic. Mrs. Catt also addressed a +meeting in the interests of the Woman Suffrage Party, which had been +organized under the leadership of Mrs. Sara M. Algeo. The State +association and the College League being dues-paying organizations +there was an open field for the non-dues-paying Suffrage Party formed +along political lines. Nearly all the members of the older +associations joined it and at the same time continued to maintain +their own lines of propaganda. Miss Yates, the State president, was +invited by the municipal government to deliver the Fourth of July +address at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_569" id="Page_569">[Pg 569]</a></span> City Hall, Providence. Dr. Valeria H. Parker addressed the +annual convention on Women as Civil Guardians.</p> + +<p>In 1914 a series of lectures on the Modern Woman of Various Countries +was given by the State association which called out large audiences. +The three organizations united in a celebration of "suffrage week" in +May, closing with a meeting in the Casino at Roger Williams Park with +Rabbi Stephen S. Wise as the principal speaker. Miss Yates, after +serving five years, was obliged on account of other demands on her +time to decline reelection and was made honorary president. No +president being elected at the annual meeting, Agnes M. (Mrs. Barton +P.) Jenks was chosen later by the Executive Committee to fill the +vacancy and afterwards was elected and held the office until May, +1918. In December representatives of the three organizations met and +formed a Cooperative Council to secure economy of effort and increased +efficiency. The work of the College League had been of distinctive +value in Providence, the seat of Brown University with its Woman's +College. During the years of its independent existence it had been +well served by its presidents, Miss Garvin, Mrs. Von Klenze, Mrs. +Algeo and Miss Helen Emerson. It presented speakers of national +reputation; published special leaflets, notably What Rhode Island +Women Ought to Know; conducted study clubs and gave generous +cooperation in the undertakings of the other organizations.</p> + +<p>During the winter of 1915 a special series of lectures was given for +the council on political and economic subjects by professors of the +University. The joint endeavors of the three organizations this winter +proving successful they amalgamated under the name of the Rhode Island +Equal Suffrage Association and the annual meeting was changed from +fall to spring. Most of the officers of the State association were +retained. Others were Miss Emerson and Mrs. Carl Barus, +vice-presidents; Mrs. John A. Cross, treasurer; Mrs. Barton A. Ballou, +Mrs. Gerald A. Cooper and Mrs. Gilbert C. Carpenter, auditors; Mrs. +Dunbar and Mrs. Helen Dougherty, chairman and secretary of the Woman +Suffrage Party. In accordance with the plan of the National +Association, the State's members of Congress, U. S. Senators LeBaron +B. Colt and Henry F. Lippitt; Representatives<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_570" id="Page_570">[Pg 570]</a></span> Walter R. Stiness, +George F. O'Shaughnessy and Ambrose Kennedy, were interviewed on the +Federal Amendment with encouraging results. Weekly suffrage teas were +established at headquarters during the winter, followed by addresses +on current topics. The association was especially indebted to Mrs. +Ballou, Mrs. Edward M. Harris and Miss Sarah J. Eddy for the +hospitality of their homes that combined on many occasions social +pleasure with excellent opportunity to present the suffrage cause.</p> + +<p>On February 17, 1916, a luncheon and conference at the Narragansett +Hotel were held in honor of Mrs. Catt, now national president. A mass +meeting was held in March in Sayles Hall, where Mrs. Glendower Evans +of Boston and Professor Louis J. Johnston of Harvard spoke in the +interest of the Federal Amendment. In April a "suffrage shop" was +opened in Providence in charge of Miss Mary B. Anthony, which proved +an active center of propaganda. Rhode Island was represented in the +suffrage parades during the national political conventions in Chicago +and St. Louis in 1916 by Miss Yates. On election night in November a +public reception was held at suffrage headquarters, where a private +wire had been installed to give the returns and large numbers were +present.</p> + +<p>In 1917 Miss Yates conducted a suffrage school weekly at headquarters +during February and March. The major activities of the year were given +to legislative work. The granting of Presidential suffrage to women by +the Legislature was celebrated at the annual meeting, at which +Governor R. Livingston Beeckman, representatives of the political +parties of the State and Mrs. Nettie Rogers Shuler, national +corresponding secretary, were the principal speakers. An invitation +was accepted from Thomas W. Bicknell, one of the staunchest +suffragists, to unite with the Citizens' Historical Association, of +which he was president, in a joint celebration of the Declaration of +Independence by Rhode Island on May 4, 1776, and the passage of the +Presidential suffrage bill in April, 1917, and Miss Yates was chosen +as speaker for the State association. Miss Elizabeth M. Barr was +elected treasurer in 1917 and served until 1920. Miss Barr's +predecessors were Miss Mary K. Wood, Mrs. Jewett, Mrs. Ballou, Mrs. +Helen N. B. Janes, Mrs. Porter, Mrs. Cross, and Mrs. George W. Parks.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_571" id="Page_571">[Pg 571]</a></span></p> + +<p>During the winter of 1918, a civics course was conducted by Miss +Anthony covering local and national government, Mayor Joseph H. Gainer +of Providence and other city officers speaking in the course. Miss +Anthony was elected State president at the annual meeting in June and +brought to the office experience in public work and wide social +influence that were of special value in the closing years of the +association. Mrs. Jenks was made honorary president. On December 11 +the 50th anniversary of the association was celebrated. An interesting +historical review of the first meeting was given by Arnold Buffum +Chace, who had acted as secretary on that occasion and whose mother, +Mrs. Elizabeth Buffum Chace, was president of the association for +thirty years. The Rev. Mrs. Spencer, also a charter member, recounted +the early struggles of the pioneers. Miss Yates and Mrs. Jenks gave +interesting accounts of the early and later work. Mrs. Catt and Miss +Blackwell were guests of honor and brought inspiring messages. This +year both the Democratic and Republican parties put suffrage planks in +their State platforms and sent resolutions to Congress urging the +Rhode Island Senators to support the Federal Amendment.</p> + +<p>The suffragists responded to every demand of the Government for war +service. Mrs. Walter A. Peck, honorary vice-president, was State +chairman of the Woman's Committee of the Liberty Loan. Miss Emerson, +first vice-president, served in France with the Bryn Mawr unit. Miss +Bauer, second vice-president, was a member of the executive board of +the Red Cross. Miss Fittz, corresponding secretary, and Miss Yates, +honorary president, received government certificates as speakers with +the "four-minute men."</p> + +<p>In 1919 Miss Frances E. Lucas, chairman of the Civics Committee, gave +a course of lectures on social and political problems, which were +largely attended. Miss Avis Hawkins, chairman on schools, perfected an +organization throughout the State to advance the interests of both +pupils and teachers. On May 27 the Woman's College and the State +Association commemorated the centenary of the birth of Julia Ward +Howe, in Pembroke Hall of the college. At the annual meeting on June 4 +Miss Anthony was re-elected president. Mrs. Raymond Brown, national +vice-president,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_572" id="Page_572">[Pg 572]</a></span> gave an interesting address. The occasion was made +memorable by the passing of the resolution for the Federal Amendment +by the U. S. Senate while the convention was in session. The entire +Rhode Island delegation in both Houses of Congress voted in favor, the +only eastern State except Maine to have this record. In October Miss +Anthony called a meeting of the presidents of all the women's +organizations of the State in the interests of social betterment, +which resulted in the foundation of the Civics Cooperative Council, +and Mrs. Nancy M. Schoonmaker was engaged to give a course of lectures +on Citizenship.<a name="FNanchor_159_159" id="FNanchor_159_159"></a><a href="#Footnote_159_159" class="fnanchor">[159]</a></p> + + +<h3>THE WOMAN SUFFRAGE PARTY.</h3> + +<p>In the fall of 1915 Mrs. Sara M. Algeo re-organized the Woman Suffrage +Party as an independent body and began a vigorous campaign for civic +betterment and political education. Miss Mary E. McDowell of Chicago +and Miss Margaret Foley of Boston addressed large audiences. Its +policy was to invite the fullest cooperation of colored women and a +meeting was held at which Mrs. Robert M. LaFollette spoke to a large +audience of both colored and white women on their common need of full +citizenship.</p> + +<p>In 1916 the endorsement of the State conference of Congregational +Churches was secured. A civic forum was organized in Providence, +holding Sunday afternoon meetings in a theater. Among the eminent +speakers were Lord and Lady Aberdeen, Thomas Mott Osborne, Mrs. Kate +Waller Barrett, Mary Antin and Mrs. Nellie McClung of Canada. The same +line of work was followed elsewhere in the State. A suffrage class was +established at the Young Men's Christian Association. Miss Laura Clay +of Kentucky gave ten days of helpful service.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_573" id="Page_573">[Pg 573]</a></span></p> + +<p>In 1917 Mrs. LeBaron B. Colt of Bristol was appointed committee +chairman of the Women's Oversea Hospitals conducted by the National +Suffrage Association and with the assistance of Mrs. Algeo and the +party $3,000 were raised. After the passage of the Presidential +suffrage bill in 1917 the party specialized in training for +citizenship and conducted a campaign in naturalization in conjunction +with the Americanization Committee of the National Association. In the +fall under the direction of Mrs. Frederick H. Bagley of Boston, its +chairman, efforts were made to secure from the Legislature an +Americanization bill providing compulsory education for immigrants and +also for a director of Americanization on the Board of Education, +which was passed in 1919. Mrs. Agnes M. Bacon was appointed by the +Governor.</p> + +<p>In 1919 Mrs. Algeo compiled and published Suggestions to the Women +Voters of Rhode Island, of which thousands of copies were circulated. +July 1, being the first day of registration for the elections of the +following year, she organized a state-wide campaign for the +registration of women for using the presidential vote. It was +celebrated in Providence by an imposing ceremony on the steps of the +City Hall at noon, and in the evening by a banquet, at which Mrs. +Charles H. Brooks of Kansas, national chairman of the League of Women +Voters, and Mrs. Charles Tiffany of New York were the principal +speakers. This year Miss Leila P. Andrews was elected president of the +Woman Suffrage Party and Mrs. Algeo president of the Providence League +of Women Voters.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action.</span> After the defeat of a woman suffrage amendment to +the State constitution in 1887 and the refusal of the Legislatures +afterwards to submit it again the association decided to follow the +advice of Henry B. Blackwell and try to obtain a vote for presidential +electors, which could be granted by a law. The proposition, first made +in 1892, met with practically no support among the legislators and +finally further attempts to secure it were discontinued for years. At +the annual meeting of 1902 an address by Mr. Blackwell resulted in a +resumption of efforts to secure this law and in 1903 a petition to the +Legislature, signed by influential men and women, accompanied<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_574" id="Page_574">[Pg 574]</a></span> a bill +introduced in the Senate. A hearing was given but it was not reported +from committee.</p> + +<p>In 1904 the bill was presented in the House and Senate and reported +favorably but defeated in both branches.</p> + +<p>In 1905 there was increased activity to secure favorable action on the +bill. A little paper called <i>The Woman Citizen</i> was issued as a +campaign document and a copy of it placed on the desk of every +legislator.<a name="FNanchor_160_160" id="FNanchor_160_160"></a><a href="#Footnote_160_160" class="fnanchor">[160]</a> The <i>Remonstrance</i>, a small paper published by the +Massachusetts Anti-Suffrage Association followed, protesting against +it. The merits of the bill were presented at a well attended hearing +but no action was taken on it.</p> + +<p>In 1906 a Senate hearing was given on the bill, addressed by Mr. +Blackwell. It was reported without recommendation and ably debated. +Senator Walter R. Stiness made a strong speech in its support and it +passed by 29 ayes, 7 noes. In the House the bill was referred to the +Committee on Special Legislation. Long petitions from prominent voters +were presented asking that it be reported but General Charles R. +Brayton, the Republican "boss" who for years controlled the +Legislature, seeing the strong sentiment in its favor would not permit +it to come to a vote. He admitted that he feared it would help the +Democratic party.</p> + +<p>In 1907 the battle for the bill was renewed and among the petitioners +was Governor James H. Higgins. At two largely attended hearings nearly +every person gave a rising vote in favor. Mrs. Charles Warren Lippitt +and Mrs. Edward Johnson protested against women's being allowed to +vote for President and Rowland Hazard supported them. The bill was +defeated, though not by them but by political opposition.</p> + +<p>In 1909 Mr. Blackwell appeared for the last time as the advocate of +the measure. Like a seer he pleaded for it, the significance and +potency of which he grasped far in advance of his contemporaries. Miss +Yates was appointed his successor as the National Association's +chairman of Presidential suffrage, which position he had filled for +many years.</p> + +<p>In 1911 the Presidential suffrage bill was introduced in the Senate +and referred to the Committee on Special Legislation,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_575" id="Page_575">[Pg 575]</a></span> that limbo of +lost causes. The suffragists rallied for a hearing and succeeded in +getting it reported without recommendation. When taken from the +calendar the Senators seemed to realize for the first time that they +were dealing with a live issue. One of them demanded to know why that +bill was permitted to waste their valuable time and threw it on the +floor and stamped on it, saying: "I will kill woman suffrage." It was +then buried by a vote of 29 noes and 3 ayes. The suffragists passed +out from the obsequies with full faith in the resurrection.</p> + +<p>In 1913 a commission was appointed to revise the State constitution +and an appeal to it was made for a woman suffrage clause. A hearing +was given; influential men supported the association; the women +"antis" made a touching plea to be spared from the burden of the +ballot, but the constitution was not revised. This year the +Legislature of Illinois passed a bill for Presidential suffrage, which +attracted wide attention. The Rhode Island association continued to +present one every year. Sometimes zealous friends would introduce a +resolution for a constitutional amendment but it was not endorsed by +the State association as it would require a three-fifths majority of +the voters.</p> + +<p>In 1915 Governor R. Livingston Beeckman recommended Presidential +suffrage for women in his message and the use of the hall of the House +of Representatives in the new State House was for the first time +granted for a hearing. Mrs. Agnes M. Jenks, State president, secured +Senator John D. Works of California and Representative Frank W. +Mondell of Wyoming to speak on the practical effects of woman suffrage +in their States. Mrs. A. J. George came from Brookline, Mass., to +voice the fears of the "antis." Notwithstanding the hearing surpassed +in attendance and interest any that session the bill was indefinitely +postponed by a House vote of 61 ayes and 31 noes. An active lobby was +maintained and every available influence brought to bear to get the +bill on the Senate calendar but it was killed in committee.</p> + +<p>Between the close of this Legislature and the opening of the one of +1917 unforeseen events caused a marked change in the attitude of Rhode +Island politicians. Its delegates to the Democratic and Republican +national conventions in 1916 had recognized the party expediency which +compelled a plank in the national platforms<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_576" id="Page_576">[Pg 576]</a></span> in favor of woman +suffrage and voted for it. At the Republican State convention in +September U. S. Senator LeBaron B. Colt, who had been non-committal on +the question, came out with a decisive pronouncement in its favor. The +Republicans saw the handwriting on the wall. They recognized that the +votes of western women had re-elected President Wilson. For the first +time since the Republican party was organized, a Democratic U. S. +Senator was elected. Both parties were on the alert for any issue that +might bring re-inforcements.</p> + +<p>Once more Presidential suffrage was the objective and Governor +Beeckman repeated his endorsement. The bill was introduced in the +Senate Feb. 8, 1917. The association's Legislative Committee worked +without ceasing. The suffragists throughout the State were well +organized and loyally backed the committee. Petitions, letters and +telegrams showered the legislators. The endorsement of the Republican +State Committee was secured. Meanwhile the Legislatures in half a +dozen States granted Presidential suffrage. The time had come for +Rhode Island. On April 11 the bill passed the Senate by 32 ayes, 3 +noes. There was an organized attempt to defeat it in the House by one +for a referendum to the voters but by the efforts of Richard W. +Jennings and Daniel E. Geary, Republican and Democratic floor leaders, +it was defeated. On April 17, after four hours' debate in the presence +of hundreds of women, the bill passed by 71 ayes, 20 noes. This was +the fifteenth time it had been before the Legislature. On April 18 it +was signed by the Governor.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> As soon as the Federal Amendment was submitted by +Congress June 4, 1919, the suffrage organizations began to ask for a +special session of the Legislature for ratification but it was deemed +best by Governor Beeckman for various reasons to wait until the +regular session in January, 1920. Several days before it met the +chairman of the Republican State Committee, Joseph P. Burlingame, made +the announcement that by a suspension of the rules and contrary to +every precedent ratification would be accomplished on the first day. +The longed-for day, January 6, dawned clear and cold. Women thronged +the Capitol and filled the galleries of the House, except the section +which was occupied by the Governor's party, who had come to witness +the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_577" id="Page_577">[Pg 577]</a></span> final scene in a fifty years' drama. After summoning the Senate +to meet with the House in Grand Committee, the Governor read his +annual message in which he recommended immediate ratification of the +amendment, "as an act of justice long delayed." The resolution was at +once presented and the floor leaders of both parties, William R. +Fortin of Pawtucket, Republican, and William S. Flynn of Providence, +Democrat, spoke in favor. It was passed on roll call by 89 ayes, 3 +noes—Speaker Arthur P. Sumner of Providence, William H. Thayer of +Bristol and Albert R. Zurlinden of Lincoln. A rush was made by the +audience across the corridors to the Senate Chamber, where action was +even more rapid. Lieutenant Governor Emery J. San Souci, a friend of +woman suffrage, was in the chair and within a few moments, with no +speeches, the resolution was passed by viva voce vote with but one +dissenting voice, that of John H. McCabe of Burrillville. The +following day it was signed by Governor Beeckman, not that this was +necessary but he wished to give it his approval.</p> + +<p>The great event was celebrated in the evening by a brilliant banquet +given by the Providence League of Women Voters at which the work of +the pioneers was especially featured. A handsome dinner given by the +Woman Suffrage Party took place at which the Governor and other public +officials spoke on the great victory. Miss Jeannette Rankin, the first +woman member of Congress, was a speaker.<a name="FNanchor_161_161" id="FNanchor_161_161"></a><a href="#Footnote_161_161" class="fnanchor">[161]</a></p> + +<p>On May 17, 1920, the Rhode Island Equal Suffrage Association concluded +its work and merged into the State League of Women Voters, Miss Mary +B. Anthony, chairman. Then a procession of women marched through the +streets of Providence carrying the records of the organization for +fifty years, which were deposited in the archives of the State House +with impressive ceremony.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>Among the nerve centers of suffrage activity in Rhode Island the +Newport County Woman Suffrage League had a definite place from its +founding in 1908, by Miss Cora Mitchell, its first president. The +League's work was at first largely carried on by an active group of +philanthropic women of Bristol Ferry, Miss<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_578" id="Page_578">[Pg 578]</a></span> Mitchell's friends and +neighbors, among whom were Miss Sarah J. Eddy, Mrs. John Eldredge and +Mrs. Barton Ballou. Gradually the suffrage agitation spread over the +entire island, which includes the three townships of Portsmouth, +Middletown and Newport. In Middletown the league's work was ably +carried on by Mrs. Eugene Sturtevant and her daughters. All rendered +priceless service to what was then an unpopular and unfashionable +cause.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Julia Ward Howe was present at the first meeting and as long as +she lived took great interest in its work. This interest was inherited +by her daughters, Mrs. Maud Howe Elliott and Mrs. Florence Howe Hall. +The summer meetings were sometimes held at Oak Glen, Portsmouth, Mrs. +Howe's country home, and here on soft June afternoons the veteran +suffrage workers and the young neophytes destined to carry on their +work rejoiced in coming together. On one occasion a young stranger was +noticed in the audience who followed the proceedings with breathless +interest. Soon afterwards Mrs. Norman deR. Whitehouse of New York +began her fine service for suffrage, which was continued until the +victory was won in that State.</p> + +<p>Many of the most distinguished speakers ever heard in Newport came +under the auspices of this league. Among the active workers were Mrs. +Walter Wright, secretary and treasurer; Miss Elizabeth Peckham, Mrs. +Oscar Miller, Mrs. Bertram Storrs and many others, and among the +faithful members Admiral and Mrs. Sims rendered "aid and comfort" +beyond belief in those days when it took some courage in fashionable +Newport to "come out" for woman suffrage!</p> + +<p>[The long and interesting account of this league must be omitted +because space can be given only to national and State organizations.]</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_157_157" id="Footnote_157_157"></a><a href="#FNanchor_157_157"><span class="label">[157]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Miss +Elizabeth Upham Yates, president of the State Woman Suffrage +Association 1909-1914, and honorary president until its work was +finished in 1920.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_158_158" id="Footnote_158_158"></a><a href="#FNanchor_158_158"><span class="label">[158]</span></a> The presidents of the State Woman's Christian +Temperance Union, Mrs. Susan Hammond Barney, Mrs. Emeline Burlingame +Cheney, Mrs. Mary A. Babcock, Mrs. Deborah Knox Livingston, Mrs. +Jennie L. W. Rooke and Mrs. Ethelyn Roberts have all been active +workers for woman suffrage.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_159_159" id="Footnote_159_159"></a><a href="#FNanchor_159_159"><span class="label">[159]</span></a> In addition to those already mentioned, the following +have been officers or members of the State Executive Committees: Mrs. +Ellen M. Calder, Mrs. Elizabeth Ormsbee, Mrs. Fanny Purdy Palmer, Mrs. +Ora A. Angell, Mrs. Sarah M. Aldrich, Mrs. Betsy A. Stearns, Miss Mary +K. Conington, Mrs. Annie B. Jackson, Mrs. Catherine G. Wilbur, Mrs. +Clara F. Delaney, Mrs. Myra Phinney, Miss S. Arvilla Jewett, Mrs. Amy +E. Harris, Miss Katherine H. Austin, Mrs. Josephine Fry, Miss Eleanor +B. Green, Mrs. Margaret C. Edgren, Mrs. Victor Frazee, Mrs. Anna B. +Kroener, Miss Abby P. Gardiner, Mrs. William H. Adams, Mrs. Nathaniel +Greene, Mrs. Job Manchester, Mrs. William A. H. Comstock, Miss Mabel +Orgelman, Mrs. Edwin C. Smith, Mrs. Ava C. Minsher, Mrs. Fred S. +Fenner, Mrs. Clarence Fuller, Mrs. Frank A. Jackson, Miss Sarah E. +Doyle, Mrs. Alfred M. Coats, Miss Ellen G. Hunt and Mrs. Charles +Remington. +</p><p> +To these should be added a list of men to whom the workers are deeply +indebted.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_160_160" id="Footnote_160_160"></a><a href="#FNanchor_160_160"><span class="label">[160]</span></a> The <i>Woman Citizen</i> was edited and published for ten +years by Mrs. Jeannette French, and was a valuable contribution to the +movement for woman suffrage.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_161_161" id="Footnote_161_161"></a><a href="#FNanchor_161_161"><span class="label">[161]</span></a> At the next Democratic State convention Miss Elizabeth +Upham Yates received the nomination for Lieutenant Governor amid great +enthusiasm. She was termed "a student of sociology, missionary leader, +prophet and dreamer, whose dreams have come true."—Ed.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_579" id="Page_579">[Pg 579]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXXIX.</h2> + +<h3>SOUTH CAROLINA.<a name="FNanchor_162_162" id="FNanchor_162_162"></a><a href="#Footnote_162_162" class="fnanchor">[162]</a></h3> + + +<p>For a number of years there had been a suffrage association in South +Carolina with Mrs. Virginia Durant Young, editor of the Fairfax +<i>Enterprise</i>, president. Evidence of advance in public sentiment was +shown when in April, 1900, by invitation, Mrs. Young addressed 5,000 +people at Rivers Bridges Memorial Association; in June when Mrs. +Malvina A. Waring made the commencement address at Limestone College +and again when Mrs. Young responded to a toast at the banquet of the +State Press Association. That same year there was lively effort to +decide which one of twenty women candidates should be elected State +librarian. Miss Lucy Barron was elected and a large number of women +engrossing clerks were appointed to share her work.</p> + +<p>In 1902 during the Exposition a woman suffrage convention was held in +Charleston through the courtesy of the chairman of Promotion and +Publicity, Major J. C. Hemphill. Although opposed to woman suffrage he +induced the officials in charge to grant the use of the German +Artillery Hall for two nights and one meeting was held in the +exposition grounds, where Henry B. and Miss Alice Stone Blackwell, +Mrs. Mamie Folsom Wynn, Miss Koch, Miss Helen Morris Lewis, Miss +Claudia G. Tharin, Mrs. T. M. Prentiss and Mrs. Young made addresses. +A reception was given in the Woman's Building. In May, 1903, Mrs. +Young made a suffrage speech at the meeting of the State Press +Association at Georgetown. With her death in 1906 the organization +lapsed but there was a small group of suffragists in Columbia with Dr. +Jane Bruce Guignard president.</p> + +<p>It was not until May 15, 1914, when Miss Lavinia Engle, one of the +organizers sent by the National American Woman Suffrage<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_580" id="Page_580">[Pg 580]</a></span> Association, +called together a representative group of clubwomen, that the State +Equal Suffrage League was organized in the Kennedy Library at +Spartanburg. Mrs. M. T. Coleman of Abbeville, retiring president of +the State Federation of Women's Clubs, was elected president; Mrs. +John Gary Evans, Spartanburg, first and Mrs. J. L. Coker, Hartsville, +second, vice-president; Mrs. Henry Martin, Columbia, secretary; Mrs. +F. T. Kicklin, Chester, treasurer. Dr. Rosa H. Gannt, Spartanburg, was +appointed legislative chairman. Three organized leagues—Columbia, +Charleston and Spartanburg—with a membership of about 450, joined at +this time. In twenty months the number of local leagues increased to +eight and the membership to 1,514.</p> + +<p>Three speakers were brought to the State during the winter of 1915, +Mrs. Lila Meade Valentine, president of the Virginia League; Mrs. +Desha Breckinridge, president of the Kentucky Association, and Miss +Kate M. Gordon of Louisiana. The league supplied literature for school +and club debates and distributed it at many county fairs. On October +17 a State convention was held in Columbia. Mrs. Coleman and Dr. Gannt +resigned; Mrs. Harriet P. Lynch, Cheraw, was elected president and +Mrs. W. C. Cathcart of Columbia was appointed legislative chairman. +This year for the first time suffrage was represented in a parade of +women, which took place during the State Fair with a suffrage float in +the evening display.</p> + +<p>In 1916 the annual convention met in Charlestown. During the year Mrs. +Lynch had stressed organization and chairmen had been appointed in +sixteen counties to work along political lines, the unit of +organization being the wards in cities and townships in counties. A +plank in the Democratic platform to refer a woman suffrage amendment +to the voters was secured at the State convention in the spring and +State and national candidates were canvassed as to their views on +woman suffrage.</p> + +<p>When the convention of 1917 was held in Columbia in October there were +twenty-five leagues in the State with a membership of about 3,000. The +Federal Suffrage Amendment, the Prohibition Amendment, Food +Administration as outlined by Mr. Hoover and a Minimum Wage for Women +were endorsed. Protests were made against any attempt to lower +educational standards or to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_581" id="Page_581">[Pg 581]</a></span> weaken the laws safeguarding women and +children. The Legislative Committee reported that before the +Legislature convened its members had been completely canvassed as to +their views on woman suffrage; these were classified and only a few +were tagged impossible. A "suffrage school" was held in Columbia in +December under the auspices of the National Association with one +hundred pupils. During the year woman suffrage had been endorsed by +the State Federation of Labor, Federation of Women's Clubs and Woman's +Christian Temperance Union.</p> + +<p>In May, 1918, Mrs. Cathcart was appointed by U. S. Senator Tillman as +associate committeewoman on the Democratic National Committee. When +the State Democratic convention was held in Columbia that month the +committeewoman and the committee decided that this was the opportunity +for the Democratic party to substantiate its pledge. Senator Neils +Christensen was asked to introduce a resolution requesting the party +to permit women to vote in the Democratic Primaries in August, +provided the 36th State had ratified the Federal Amendment. The +resolution was debated in committee and rejected by a vote of 18 to +14. The convention adopted the unfavorable report by a vote of 249 to +58. The women were not only rejected but through the spokesman for the +opposing faction, U. S. Senator Christie Benet of Columbia, they were +dubbed as paid propagandists. This the women denied through the press +and called on him to prove his accusation, which was never done. The +State suffrage convention was held in October and Mrs. Lynch and Mrs. +Cathcart were re-elected. At this convention the league declared +itself in favor of the Federal Suffrage Amendment as a war measure.</p> + +<p>The State convention of 1919 was held in Columbia in January, Mrs. +Julian B. Salley of Aiken presiding. Resolutions on the death of Dr. +Anna Howard Shaw, also resolutions endorsing the Treaty of Peace and +the League of Nations were read by Mrs. Cathcart and adopted. Mrs. +Lynch, whose resignation was accepted, was made honorary president, +and at the meeting of the executive committee in Columbia in July Mrs. +Salley was elected president. During the year work was immensely +strengthened by the contribution of the National Association of 10,000 +pieces of literature and of Miss Lola Trax, who in five months +organized<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_582" id="Page_582">[Pg 582]</a></span> forty counties for the petition work for ratification. The +National's expenditures were over $1,700.</p> + +<p>The State convention of 1920 met in Columbia in January at the +Jefferson Hotel and was welcomed by Governor Robert A. Cooper, who +said he was convinced that women would soon vote. U. S. Senator +Pollock of Cheraw made a rousing speech in favor of the Federal +Amendment. Mrs. Salley reviewed the year's work, telling of the +distribution of 10,000 copies of Senator Pollock's speech in Congress; +of the new course of citizenship in the State University and of the +growth of the organization. The legislative report of the past five +years was read by the chairman, Mrs. Cathcart. Mrs. Munsell, chairman +of the American Citizenship Committee, reported a ten-day course of +citizenship at Winthrop Summer School; a summer class at the +University of South Carolina; one at Coker College, Hartsville, +conducted by Mrs. J. L. Coker, and a course at Converse College, +Spartanburg. Mrs. Cathcart, chairman of the Resolutions Committee, +read the following: "The State Equal Suffrage League tenders +appreciation and thanks to the members of the General Assembly of +South Carolina, who have fostered the cause ... among them Joseph E. +McCullough, Greenville; A. E. Horton, Spartanburg; James A. Hoyt, +Speaker of the House; Senators J. L. Sherard, Anderson; Neils +Christensen, Beaufort; Allan Johnston, Newberry; Legrande Walker, +Georgetown; T. C. Duncan, Union, and Representative Shelor, Oconee. We +commend William P. Pollock who spoke and voted in the U. S. Senate for +the Federal Suffrage Amendment, for his loyalty to his convictions and +his belief in true democracy." At the afternoon session Miss Marjorie +Shuler, who had been sent by the National Association for press and +publicity work for one month, was one of the principal speakers. +Delegates were elected for the meeting to be called to merge the Equal +Suffrage League into the League of Women Voters. This meeting was held +June 20 at Craven Hall, Columbia, the league was formed and Mrs. +Munsell was elected chairman.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action.</span> In 1902 Mrs. Virginia D. Young, then president of +the suffrage association, brought personal influence to bear on the +Governor, Senators and Representatives<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_583" id="Page_583">[Pg 583]</a></span> for a hearing on woman +suffrage. On January 28 Senator Aldrich and Representative Izler +introduced simultaneously two bills, one asking for Presidential +suffrage for taxpaying women; the other for suffrage in Municipal +elections. A hearing was held before a joint session January 31, with +the galleries crowded, where, in Mrs. Young's own words, "I was +received with the usual chivalric attention and asked if I would +ascend to the Speaker's chair. 'By no means. I wish to speak from the +floor,' I answered. This privilege was accorded me and for the first +time a woman spoke in the House of Representatives."</p> + +<p>1914. From 1902 there is no record of action on the part of the +General Assembly to grant suffrage to women until Jan. 23, 1914, when +a bill was introduced in the House by Mr. McMillan and referred to the +Judiciary Committee, by which it was unfavorably reported the next day +and rejected without a record vote, after little if any discussion. It +had been introduced in the Senate by Mr. Carlisle on the 15th and +referred to the Judiciary Committee, which reported it without +recommendation February 25, and the next day it was laid on the table +without discussion or a record vote.</p> + +<p>1915. Early in the session a resolution was introduced asking for the +submission of a woman suffrage amendment to the State constitution. In +connection an invitation was extended by Speaker James A. Hoyt of +Columbia to Mrs. Valentine, president of the Virginia Suffrage League, +to address the House and she spoke most convincingly. It was said that +if a vote had been taken that night the resolution would have been +adopted. It was referred to the Judiciary Committee, which granted a +hearing. The speakers were the Rev. Kirkman G. Finlay, Professor Lewis +Parke Chamberlayne, Mrs. Coleman, Mrs. Lynch, Miss Eudora Ramsey, Dr. +Gannt and Mrs. Valentine. The resolution was reported out of the +committee unfavorably, with a minority report, and it was thought best +not to push for a vote.</p> + +<p>1916. The resolution for an amendment was introduced in the House by +Judge McCullough of Greenville and received a vote of 51 ayes; 61 +noes.</p> + +<p>1917. The amendment resolution was introduced by Senator J. L. Sherard +and Representative A. E. Horton. After an exciting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_584" id="Page_584">[Pg 584]</a></span> debate lasting for +three days the Senate bill came to a vote, receiving 25 ayes; 19 noes. +In the House the bill was reported and placed early on the calendar +for the next year.</p> + +<p>1918. Mr. Horton, House leader, was requested by the league to +withdraw the resolution and state that as President Wilson had +declared himself in favor of the Federal Suffrage Amendment and had +requested members of Congress to vote for its submission the league +would concentrate on this amendment. After the vote in favor by the U. +S. House of Representatives letters and telegrams were sent by leagues +and individuals all over the State requesting the Senators to vote for +it. Both voted against it but with the election of William P. Pollock +the suffragists were encouraged. The amendment was submitted to the +Legislatures June 4, 1919.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> On January 14, 1920, Senator Neils Christensen +introduced a joint resolution to ratify the proposed Federal Suffrage +Amendment, which was referred to the Judiciary Committee. On the 23rd +it was reported unfavorably; on motion of Senator Christensen the +report was laid on the table; on the 28th the resolution went to a +vote and received 32 noes, four ayes—Christensen, Duncan, Shelor and +Walker. In the House on January 21 Representatives Bradford and Hart +introduced a concurrent resolution to reject the proposed amendment; +on the 22nd a motion to refer it to the Judiciary Committee was +defeated by a vote of 85 to 26. The debate on the resolution to reject +extended into the afternoon and the vote resulted in 93 ayes, 20 noes. +Even members who were opposed to ratification made strong speeches for +justice and denounced this unprecedented action of voting for a +measure before it had been referred to a committee or placed on the +calendar.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_162_162" id="Footnote_162_162"></a><a href="#FNanchor_162_162"><span class="label">[162]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. W. C. +Cathcart, member of the State Board of Public Welfare and chairman of +the Legislative Committee of the State Equal Suffrage League for six +years.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_585" id="Page_585">[Pg 585]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XL" id="CHAPTER_XL"></a>CHAPTER XL.</h2> + +<h3>SOUTH DAKOTA.<a name="FNanchor_163_163" id="FNanchor_163_163"></a><a href="#Footnote_163_163" class="fnanchor">[163]</a></h3> + + +<p>Here beginneth the last chapter of the history of woman suffrage in +South Dakota. At the time this is written (1920) women have the same +rights, privileges and duties politically as men except that they do +not serve on juries but the law will undoubtedly be amended to permit +them to do so if there is any demand for it. For many years the +suffrage work was conducted by the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, +its officers acting for the suffrage societies and its legislative +committees doing the lobbying. The activities of the two organizations +are so interwoven until 1909 that the history of the W. C. T. U. is +practically the history of woman suffrage. The suffrage association +was inactive after the last defeat in 1898 until 1901. In that year a +State Political Equality Association was organized with Mrs. Alice M. +A. Pickler of Faulkton president and Mrs. Philena Everett Johnson of +Highmore vice-president. She was the mother of Royal C. Johnson, now +in Congress.</p> + +<p>A State amendment for full suffrage was not again submitted until 1909 +and in the interim there was a lull in active work although local +clubs were formed as the nucleus of a larger organization. The +suffrage lobby, usually the same as the W. C. T. U. lobby, appeared at +each session of the Legislature. When a suffrage resolution was +introduced it either died in committee or was reported out unfavorably +and failed to pass. Always when the question was brought before either +House there was a spirited debate and the suffragists then continued +their campaign through literature and other means.</p> + +<p>In October, 1902, Mrs. Pickler called a conference at Watertown which +decided to take advantage of the initiative and referendum, that the +State had adopted in 1897. Not realizing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_586" id="Page_586">[Pg 586]</a></span> that it did not apply to +constitutional amendments, the suffragists in 1903 at great expense +and effort secured the signatures of the requisite number of voters to +a petition asking that a constitutional amendment be submitted to the +voters. Secretary of State O. C. Berg was criticized for refusing to +receive it for transmission to the Legislature but he could not +legally do so, as the initiative applied only to Laws. He was not +opposed to woman suffrage and in later years his wife worked for it +and his son conducted a newspaper which gave it able support.</p> + +<p>Still under the leadership of Mrs. Pickler, the years 1904 and 1905 +passed with the usual routine work and in 1906 another petition was +begun which had nothing to do with the initiative and referendum but +was merely a petition of women as citizens to the Legislature asking +that the question be submitted to a vote at the next general election. +This work was carried on all summer by a house to house canvass +throughout the State and later at the State Fair, with the result that +when it convened the women were able to stage a spectacular event by +having pages carry up the aisle of the Lower House a list of names +thirty-six yards in length. The resolution was introduced and passed +the Senate but failed in the House by ten votes.</p> + +<p>During all this time Mrs. Anna R. Simmons of Faulkton was president of +the State W. C. T. U. and Mrs. Pickler and she did excellent team +work, enlisting the aid of many other splendid women. A complete list +of them it is unfortunately impossible to secure but many mentioned in +Volume IV of the History of Woman Suffrage continued their services. +The years 1907-8 were spent in propaganda work and raising funds and +when the Legislature convened in January, 1909, the suffrage and W. C. +T. U. lobby was on hand to ask once more for the submission of the +question to the voters. Two resolutions for partial suffrage were +introduced in the Senate in addition to the one for the amendment. One +would confer the vote on property-owning women only and the other +would permit women to vote on the liquor question, the State being +under local option. Whether they were presented by friends or were a +"half loaf" offered by enemies is not known at this late date. They +were probably the former, because a vote on the liquor question by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_587" id="Page_587">[Pg 587]</a></span> +women was the last thing the principal opponents wanted and such an +amendment if adopted would have speedily put South Dakota in the "dry" +column for all time. The resolution to send to the voters an amendment +for full suffrage passed both Houses and was signed by Governor Robert +S. Vessey. His favorable attitude was a great help to the women, as it +had been in former years when he was in the State Senate.</p> + +<p>From 1909 the W. C. T. U. continued its suffrage work under its +franchise department and the State Suffrage Association was a separate +organization. In June, 1909, a suffrage convention was held at +Aberdeen and Mrs. Lydia B. Johnson of Fort Pierre was elected +president of the State Political Equality League, a new constitution +adopted, officers chosen and an invitation extended to all women's +organizations to send delegates to a convention at Sioux Falls in the +autumn, when plans for the coming campaign would be perfected. This +convention met November 6 and from that time until the election in +November, 1910, an active campaign was conducted. The amendment was +defeated, receiving 35,290 ayes, 57,709 noes, but the workers felt +that gains had been made and were more determined than ever not to +cease their efforts.</p> + +<p>After the election of 1910 Mrs. Johnson called a State convention at +Huron and Mrs. John L. Pyle of that city was elected president and +continued to serve until the Federal Suffrage Amendment was adopted in +1920. The question was not again brought to the attention of the +Legislature until 1913. During the summer of 1911 Mrs. Pyle called a +conference at Huron. It seemed advisable to change the method of +procedure and the name of the organization, which became the Universal +Franchise League. An incident of this conference—amusing now but very +serious then—was the earnest discussion of the newly introduced +slogan, "Votes for Women," brought over from England. Several precious +hours were spent considering whether this was dignified and whether +women would not be considered "unladylike" if they adopted it. There +was much protest also over being called "suffragettes" when they were +really "suffragists," the former being the English for "militants." At +this meeting the State was divided into four districts<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_588" id="Page_588">[Pg 588]</a></span> for campaign +purposes. Mrs. May Billinghurst of Pierre was chairman for the +northeast; Miss Susie Bird of Belle Fourche for the northwest; Mrs. +Edith M. Fitch of Hurley for the southeast and the Rev. Katherine +Powell of Custer for the southwest, to organize branch leagues in +their districts.</p> + +<p>Their stories of trying to organize, especially in the western, thinly +populated sections of the State would make an interesting volume. Miss +Bird, with a horse and buggy, drove hundreds of miles, sometimes forty +from one house to the next. There were almost no railroad facilities +after leaving the Black Hills district but armed with suffrage +literature she drove her trusty steed from place to place, spreading +the gospel of suffrage at school houses, private homes or wherever the +opportunity presented and organizing little groups.</p> + +<p>In July, 1912, Mrs. Pyle called a convention at Huron, where the +decision was made to ask the Legislature of 1913 to submit a full +suffrage amendment. Officers were re-elected, Mrs. Nina Pettigrew of +Belle Fourche took charge of the northwest district in place of Miss +Bird, who had resigned, and the president was directed to select her +Legislative Committee. It consisted of the Rev. Katherine Powell, Mrs. +Billinghurst, Mrs. Ruth B. Hipple of Pierre, Miss Bird for the State +Franchise League and Mrs. Simmons of Faulkton; the State president, +Mrs. Ruby Jackson of Ipswich, and Miss Rose Bower of Rapid City for +the W. C. T. U.</p> + +<p>In January, 1913, Mrs. Pyle and her lieutenants met at Pierre, the +capital, prepared for action. The hard work, the deep devotion to the +cause of the men and women of preceding years had begun to bear fruit +and instead of finding a lone member here and there in favor of woman +suffrage, now there were many. Hitherto it had been solely a woman's +campaign, aided by only a few loyal men who dared brave the ridicule +of their brothers. The years of education had begun to change public +opinion and the president felt that the time for women to be +buttonholing unwilling men in the lobbies in an apologetic manner was +past. She called a conference of leading men from both Houses to meet +with the Legislative Committee in the office of Attorney General Royal +C. Johnson. This call met<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_589" id="Page_589">[Pg 589]</a></span> with a hearty response and plans were made +which proved so effective that the amendment resolution was the first +measure to pass the Legislature, almost before the opponents knew the +suffragists were on the ground. The poll had been so quietly and +carefully taken that the committee knew its exact strength in both +Houses almost before the resolution was on the calendar. Governor +Frank M. Byrne gave his valuable assistance, as he had done when a +member of the Senate in preceding years. Mrs. Byrne also was an +excellent ally.</p> + +<p>The members of the Legislature always referred to this legislative +work as "the campaign of Committee Room 2," as this room beside the +elevator in the House side of the Capitol had been placed at the +disposal of the suffragists. Their committee quietly stayed there +while members were summoned one by one, interviewed and pledged if +possible. Unsuspecting members, supposing they were summoned by some +State official, would come and then would consider it such a good joke +that they would say nothing and wait for their neighbor to get caught, +so that nearly the entire membership was interviewed before the men +began to compare notes.</p> + +<p>Among many amusing incidents was the following: The suffrage question +could always be depended upon to fill the galleries and call forth +floods of oratory. When it was up for discussion at this time Senator +James Mather of Brown county rose and announced in no uncertain terms +that he was unalterably opposed; he did not believe in woman suffrage; +it would afford him great satisfaction, indeed he craved the +opportunity, to be recorded as voting against it. The roll-call +started alphabetically and it went Aye-Aye-Aye down to M. When the +name Mather was called the Senator, looking decidedly embarrassed, +asked to be excused from voting. Protests came from all sides. Senator +Norbeck (afterwards Governor) in stentorian tones demanded that since +the Senator had craved the opportunity to record his opinion he should +do it now. Senator Mather meekly cast the only dissenting vote and +never was returned to the Legislature. In the Lower House the vote was +70 ayes, 30 noes.</p> + +<p>The campaign of 1914 received most important and highly valued +assistance from Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, president of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_590" id="Page_590">[Pg 590]</a></span> the National +American Suffrage Association; Miss Jane Addams, its vice-president; +Mrs. Catharine Waugh McCulloch, Mrs. Ella S. Stewart and Mrs. Florence +Bennett Peterson, all of Chicago, and from many others. One of the +best educational forces was the <i>South Dakota Messenger</i>, a weekly +paper controlled and edited by the State organization. It had a wide +circulation and was able to reach into the farthest corners of the +State. Other papers clipped freely from its editorial and news +columns. On November 3 the amendment received 39,605 ayes and 51,519 +noes, lost by nearly 12,000. For the fifth time the men of South +Dakota had denied their women the right of representation in the +government.</p> + +<p>The suffrage leaders were not in the least daunted or discouraged and +a convention was very soon called at Huron to decide whether or not +resubmission should be asked of the Legislature the next year and the +unanimous decision was that it should be. The district plan was +abandoned and county organization adopted. A "budget" was prepared and +each county assessed according to its population, which plan was +generally successful.</p> + +<p>In January, 1915, the Legislative Committee, this time composed of +Mrs. Pyle, Mrs. Etta Estey Boyce of Sioux Falls and Mrs. Paul Rewman +of Deadwood, assisted by a number of Pierre suffragists for the +Universal Franchise League and Dr. Mary Noyes Farr of Pierre and Miss +Rose Bower for the W. C. T. U., once more climbed the steps of the +Capitol to ask for another referendum. Once more the request was +granted—in the Senate by 29 to 15, in the House by 57 to 40—during +the first two weeks of the session. A reception was given by the +committee and Pierre suffragists to the members of the Legislature, +the State officers and the ladies of their families in the ballroom of +the St. George Hotel, said to have been a social event second only to +the inaugural ball. Later in the session a bill to give women a vote +for presidential electors, county and municipal officers, which could +be granted by the Legislature itself, received 59 ayes and 40 noes in +the House; 18 ayes and 24 noes in the Senate.</p> + +<p>During the summer of 1916 for the first time the women<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_591" id="Page_591">[Pg 591]</a></span> "antis" deemed +it necessary to do active work. They established headquarters at the +capital with a manager in charge and made an open campaign. To answer +their old stock argument, "Women do not want the vote," a state-wide +plan of petitions by the women of each county was adopted and every +one where the work was well done showed a good majority in favor. On +November 7 when the first election returns came from those counties +that usually indicate the result of the whole State, the Associated +Press sent the news broadcast that South Dakota had been carried for +woman suffrage by a large majority, but again it was the same old +story, principally the foreigners, especially the Germans, had once +more denied to American women the privilege which they, themselves, +had acquired so easily. The returns showed 53,432 in the affirmative; +58,350 in the negative, an opposing majority of less than 5,000.</p> + +<p>Each campaign had shown a growth in favorable sentiment and there +seemed every reason to believe that another one would be successful. +The National Association agreed with the State in this opinion and +were ready to cooperate, so it seemed best to ask the session of 1917 +to give one more opportunity. The Legislature was well trained by this +time and willingly passed the resolution, the Senate by 31 ayes, 12 +noes; the House by 66 ayes, 27 noes. After it had adjourned and before +definite plans for a campaign were completed the country was plunged +into the World War and misgivings arose in the minds of the executive +board as to the wisdom of an undertaking which would make demands on +the time of the women. After much prayerful deliberation the unanimous +decision was reached that since this war was being fought for the +establishment of world democracy and this question was undoubtedly one +of democracy, there must be no turning back, but that the campaign +must be managed in such a way as to require the services of as few +women as possible. No further effort was made to organize county +leagues but a committee of three was elected in each county to look +after its interests except in those already well organized. Not much +was done this year beyond laying a foundation for the necessary work +of the next year.</p> + +<p>In January, 1918, Governor Peter Norbeck called a special<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_592" id="Page_592">[Pg 592]</a></span> session of +the Legislature to consider important State affairs, one being to +change the clause in the constitution relating to citizenship. Its +framers, to render settlement of a new, undeveloped country +attractive, made the requirement such that a foreigner might become a +qualified elector after having merely declared his intention of +becoming a citizen, without having sworn allegiance to the United +States. Thousands of aliens had taken out their first papers, filed on +government land, proved up and established their homes, failed to +complete their naturalization and yet were fully qualified to vote. +This had long been considered a menace to the government and +suffragists knew that it was principally to this class of voters that +they owed their many defeats. The war developed great disloyalty among +this class and the Governor announced that the situation was +intolerable and the requirements for citizenship must be changed. In +order to do this it was necessary to amend the section of the +constitution which stated the qualifications of a voter and which was +the same section that it was sought to amend for woman suffrage by +striking out the word "male." It was finally decided that the only way +was to have the two matters submitted as one amendment. The word +"male" was stricken out and full naturalization and a five years' +residence were required before the privilege of voting should be +granted and this was substituted for the original suffrage amendment.</p> + +<p>In the course of a report made to the national executive board Mrs. +McMahon, one of its organizers, said:</p> + +<blockquote><p>There was a conference in the headquarters at Huron and Mrs. Pyle +faced the situation and took up the burden. The National Suffrage +Association had sent two field workers—Miss Mary Elizabeth +Pidgeon and Mrs. Albert McMahon. To the latter was given charge +of the organization department and together the two women set to +work with the State officers to district the State and organize +in each county a campaign committee. Eventually there was an +organizer for every six districts, each comprising from twelve to +fourteen huge counties. Each worker as she came into the State +had to be carefully instructed in everything that touched upon +the constitutional provisions for voting, the status of the +alien, the reason for putting the citizenship clause into the +suffrage amendment, the effect its passage would have upon the +aliens, etc., because these questions were constantly met. Much +new literature had to be prepared and all the posters changed to +fit new conditions.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_593" id="Page_593">[Pg 593]</a></span></p> + +<p>What won the State? Persistent, intensive, quiet work. We had few +meetings of our own but we used those of every one else, from +women's aid societies to Rotary clubs, political rallies and +Fourth of July celebrations. We did not plan parades, but +wherever patriotic sentiment expressed itself through a parade we +were in it. We circularized the voters in groups again and +again—lawyers, business men, farmers, etc., with literature +adapted to each group. We circulated a petition and 95 per cent. +of the women to whom it was presented signed it. We sent every +organizer we could command into delinquent counties, having the +cooperation of the local women. In the evening street meetings +were held. The workers left literature in every home and posters +placarded on every wall space. They left suffrage stories with +the newspapers and the spoken word in the ear of all who would +listen and they left the morale of the local workers at high +water mark. The signed petitions were printed and mailed to the +voters in each county with our final circularization. +Ninety-eight per cent. of the newspapers were favorable and in +spite of paper shortage and the demand for war publicity they +never failed the women. In addition to news stories, editorials, +etc., they universally used the plate material which the National +Association furnished. As much as any other one thing perhaps, +this plate material helped to win the campaign. All political +parties endorsed the amendment, Republicans and Democrats making +it a part of their platforms.</p> + +<p>In June Mrs. Nettie Rogers Shuler, corresponding secretary of the +National Association, came to South Dakota and with Mrs. S. V. +Ghrist, vice-president of the State League, and Mrs. McMahon, a +school of methods was held in the principal towns. The women were +taught how to organize and were grounded in the new aspects of +the campaign. Mrs. Catt was ill and could not come, which was the +greatest blow the campaign had; however Mrs. Halsey W. Wilson, +national recording secretary, took her place very acceptably.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Among the organizers Mrs. McMahon mentioned Mrs. R. E. H. Stevens, +Miss Stella Crosley, Miss Gertrude Watkins, Miss Josephine Miller, +Miss Liba Peshokova and Miss Ida Stadie and said: "But this efficient, +faithful little band could not have won the campaign alone. South +Dakota State women will perhaps never realize how much they owe to +Mrs. John L. Pyle, president, who gave herself absolutely to the +winning of their political freedom. She was at her desk from early in +the morning until 11 o'clock and later at night. Nothing was allowed +to stand in the way of her complete service. The best there was in her +she gave to the cause and she has the gratitude of those for whom and +with whom she worked. Ably seconding her efforts were Mrs. Ghrist, +vice-president; Mrs. Frank Meyer,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_594" id="Page_594">[Pg 594]</a></span> office secretary; Mrs. Rewman and +Miss Alice Lorraine Daly in the finance department; Mrs. Lewis L. +Leavitt, chairman of the Minnehaha committee; Miss Harriet Grant of +Huron and Mrs. R. H. Lewis of Mitchell. The whole structure rested on +the county workers. There was never a Fair that was not covered nor a +Teachers' nor a Farmers' Institute nor a political meeting. Everywhere +that voters gathered, there they were."</p> + +<p>It may be presumed that those who would be disfranchised until they +had completed their naturalization would cast their votes against the +amendment but these were more than counteracted by American citizens, +who, even if they did not believe in woman suffrage, would vote for +the amendment because of this part of it. The election took place Nov. +6, 1918, and the amendment received 49,318 ayes and 28,934 noes; +carried by 20,384. The following figures show the progress made from +campaign to campaign: Opposing majority in 1910, 22,419; in 1914, +11,914; in 1916, 4,934.</p> + +<p>The women of South Dakota are deeply grateful to the National American +Woman Suffrage Association, which always helped generously with +organizers, speakers and money. It contributed $7,500 to this +campaign. Various States were loyal and helpful and have the fullest +appreciation and gratitude.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> The final scene in the drama of woman suffrage was +staged on December 4, 1919, at 12:40 a. m., when the members of the +Legislature, coming to Pierre at their own expense and at great +inconvenience, in the middle of winter, unanimously ratified the +Federal Suffrage Amendment. Many States were having special sessions +for this purpose but Governor Norbeck, who would have to call one in +January, did not wish to do so before then. He agreed, however, that +if a majority of the members would come to Pierre at their own expense +in order to ratify the amendment, he would call a session for that +purpose.</p> + +<p>This State has a new law which requires that in December of the year +preceding an election there shall be "proposal meetings" held at the +capital to propose candidates for nomination at the March primaries, +each party holding a separate meeting. This year there were to be also +three party conventions at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_595" id="Page_595">[Pg 595]</a></span> same time and practically all the +politicians would be at the capital. Mrs. Pyle and her board asked the +Governor to call the session for that time, for many of the members +would be in attendance as delegates from their counties. Accordingly, +after receiving the assurance that a majority of them were willing to +come to Pierre at their own expense, he issued a call for December 3 +at 7 o'clock in the evening. It was dead of winter and distances are +long. The call was issued after 3 o'clock on Saturday and the session +was to be the next Tuesday. Telephone and telegraph wires were kept +humming for the next thirty-six hours and the men came from all +directions. One man rushed home to Huron from Minneapolis, called to +his wife to send his "grip" after him and just caught the train for +Pierre. Another used up three automobiles getting to the train from +his home many miles from the railroad, as the snow made the roads +almost impassable.</p> + +<p>The question arose how to put the resolution through the two Houses in +the least possible time. It was finally done by introducing the +resolutions in both Houses and giving them their first and second +readings on the evening of December 3. They were then referred to the +proper committees and the Legislature adjourned until the next +legislative day. The earliest possible moment of the next day was one +minute after midnight and this was the hour when it convened. The +final passage took place at 12:44 a. m. on the 4th by unanimous vote. +This was the first time that a South Dakota Legislature ever convened +in the middle of the night but the members were anxious to get home as +soon as possible and the trains leave in both directions about 2 a. +m.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_163_163" id="Footnote_163_163"></a><a href="#FNanchor_163_163"><span class="label">[163]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Ruth +B. Hipple, member of the Legislative Committee of the State Woman +Suffrage Association and editor of the <i>South Dakota Messenger</i>.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_596" id="Page_596">[Pg 596]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLI" id="CHAPTER_XLI"></a>CHAPTER XLI.</h2> + +<h3>TENNESSEE. PART I.<a name="FNanchor_164_164" id="FNanchor_164_164"></a><a href="#Footnote_164_164" class="fnanchor">[164]</a></h3> + + +<p>The history of the suffrage movement in Tennessee filled only five +pages of the volume preceding this one, which ended with 1900, and +such as there was had been due principally to that dauntless pioneer, +Mrs. Lide A. Meriwether of Memphis, to whom this chapter is reverently +and gratefully dedicated. The first suffrage society was formed in +Memphis in May, 1889, and none of its founders is now living except +Mrs. J. D. Allen of this city. In April, 1894, a society was formed at +Nashville at the home of Mrs. H. C. Gardner by Miss Amelia Territt, +Mrs. Bettie Donelson and a few others but it had no connection with +the one at Memphis. Its members were earnest and capable but it did +not long survive. Through the efforts of the National Association a +State organization was effected in 1897, the year of the Centennial +Exposition in Nashville, and there was a convention in April, 1900, +attended by Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, national president. There had +been no State convention for five years when in 1906, through the +initiative of Miss Belle Kearney of Mississippi a meeting was called +in Memphis of which Miss Laura Clay of Kentucky sends the following +account taken from her scrapbook:</p> + +<blockquote><p>The conference of Southern Women Suffragists was held in Memphis +December 19, 20, the opening session in the morning at the +Peabody Hotel; the afternoon session at the residence of Mrs. J. +O. Crawford and the other sessions at the hotel. Miss Clay was +elected chairman; Mrs. Nannie Curtiss of Texas, secretary. The +meeting included representatives from many of the southern States +and letters were received from "Dorothy Dix," Mrs. Caroline E. +Merrick and Mrs. Sophy Wright of New Orleans; Mrs. Mary Bentley +Thomas of Baltimore; Mrs. Josephine K. Henry of Versailles, Ky.; +Mrs. Eliza Strong Tracey of Houston; Mrs. Mary B. Clay and Mrs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_597" id="Page_597">[Pg 597]</a></span> +James Bennett of Richmond, Ky., and Mrs. Key, president of the +North Texas Girls' College. Discussions on aspects of the +suffrage question were led by Miss Kearney, Miss Clay, Mrs. +Meriwether and Mrs. Jennie H. Sibley of Georgia. The conference +was resolved into a committee of the whole to formulate plans for +concerted legislative work in the southern States. A thousand +copies of the resolutions were printed. At this time the State +Equal Suffrage Association was re-organized, with Mrs. Meriwether +honorary president; Mrs. J. D. Allen, president; Mrs. L. F. +Selden, corresponding secretary and treasurer; Mrs. M. M. Betts, +recording secretary; Mrs. S. S. Deem, chairman of problems +affecting women or children.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Mrs. Allen served continuously until 1912. In 1908 the State +Federation of Labor not only endorsed woman suffrage but agreed to +petition members of the Legislature and Congress to work for it and +they loyally kept their pledge. This same year suffrage literature was +first distributed at the State Federation of Women's Clubs and Dr. +Shaw, then president of the National Association, spoke in Memphis.</p> + +<p>In 1910 the first suffrage State petition work was begun in Memphis +and its Nineteenth Century Club and the Newman Circle of Knoxville +held parlor meetings and discussions. Knoxville formed a local league; +the women's clubs began to awaken and the State Federation appointed +its first legislative committee, with the object of having the laws +unfavorable to women changed. In 1911 thousands of pieces of +literature were distributed, press articles sent out and a resolution +to amend the State constitution by striking out the word "male" was +first presented to the Legislature. The movement did not gain much +impetus until the Nashville League was organized in the fall of this +year and Chattanooga and Morrison soon followed. On Jan. 10-12, 1912, +the association with its five virile infant leagues met in Nashville +and plans for state-wide organization began. Miss Sarah Barnwell +Elliott, an eminent writer, was unanimously chosen president. In +October, 1913, the State convention met in Morristown and eight +leagues answered the roll call.</p> + +<p>The work in the Legislature naturally always fell heavily upon the +Nashville League and from 1913 to 1919 the lobby was composed +principally of its members. The first real effort to break down the +prejudice of the legislators was in 1913, when Miss Elliott and Mrs. +Guilford Dudley asked for an audience<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_598" id="Page_598">[Pg 598]</a></span> for Miss Laura Clay, president +of the Kentucky association, and Miss Mary Johnston of Virginia, the +novelist. This was granted and Miss Elliott was the first woman to +address the Legislature, although no bill was before it.</p> + +<p>At a called meeting of the Executive Board, at Memphis in May, 1914, +the resignation of Miss Elliott was regretfully accepted and Mrs. L. +Crozier French succeeded her. At the State convention held October 29, +30 in Knoxville a division occurred and some of the delegates, +refusing to be headed by Mrs. French, elected as president Mrs. James +M. McCormack, who was first vice-president. Mrs. French was +unanimously elected by a part of the original association, which had +obtained a charter October 13, incorporating the name Tennessee Equal +Suffrage Association. This association continued to be a dominating +force in suffrage activities. Mrs. French resigned the presidency +April 1, 1915, and her unexpired term was filled by the +vice-president-at-large, Mrs. John M. Kenny of Nashville. The holding +of the annual convention of the National Association in Nashville Nov. +12-17, 1914, was the turning point in the history of suffrage in +Tennessee because of its far-reaching educational propaganda and +because Nashville was the political center of the State.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dudley was elected president at the State convention held at +Jackson in October, 1915. She went to east, west and middle Tennessee, +visiting in the first year of her administration nineteen towns, many +of them twice, and assisting the Campaign Committee in organizing +fourteen. She made addresses in twenty-two different cities. Toward +the end of the year Miss Sue S. White, of Jackson, the recording +secretary, a court stenographer and business woman, gave a month to +organizing the headquarters staff and making plans to carry forward +the work in a businesslike way.<a name="FNanchor_165_165" id="FNanchor_165_165"></a><a href="#Footnote_165_165" class="fnanchor">[165]</a></p> + +<p>Mrs. Catt was making a strong effort to have the various States follow +the same policy at the same time and thereby each could contribute to +the national victory. With the view of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_599" id="Page_599">[Pg 599]</a></span> securing woman suffrage planks +in both Democratic and Republican national platforms, each association +was asked to secure endorsement from its political State conventions. +Early in January, 1916, Mrs. Dudley and Mrs. Kenny went before the +executive committees of both parties, asking for a plank in the +platforms and also that delegates be instructed to vote for a suffrage +plank in the national platform this year. In May Mrs. Dudley spoke +before the platform committees and the conventions of both endorsed +woman suffrage. Former Governor Ben Hooper, Mr. and Mrs. James S. +Beasley, the Hon. H. Clay Evans and Harry Anderson were of much +assistance with the Republicans and Governor Tom C. Rye and U. S. +Senator Kenneth D. McKellar secured the resolution from the Democrats.</p> + +<p>Tennessee sent seven women to the Republican national convention in +Chicago, who marched in the famous parade through wind and rain to the +convention hall, Mrs. Dudley carrying the State suffrage banner. +Eleven women went to the Democratic national convention in St. Louis, +where they stood bravely in the "golden lane" through which the +delegates marched to the convention. Mrs. Dudley was chosen to address +the Tennessee delegation and it was a proud moment for the women of +the State when they voted solidly for the suffrage plank. In October +farewell banquets to congressmen on the eve of their departure for +Washington, to influence their votes for the Federal Suffrage +Amendment, were given in Knoxville, Nashville and Memphis. The State +Federation of Women's Clubs endorsed woman suffrage this year by a +large majority, under the leadership of Mrs. George Fort Milton of +Chattanooga and Mrs. D. T. Kimbrough of Nashville. Other endorsements +were those of the Southern Federation of Labor (unanimous), obtained +through the efforts of Mrs. Walter Jackson of Murfreesboro; the +Tennessee Women's Press and Authors' Club, through Miss Libbie Morrow; +the State conventions of the Beemen, the Nurserymen and the +Horticulturists, at the request of Mrs. Kimbrough.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dudley soon came to be known nationally. She spoke on the Federal +Amendment at the luncheon of four hundred given to the incoming +members at the Congress Hotel in Washington; addressed congressional +committee hearings, and in December<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_600" id="Page_600">[Pg 600]</a></span> she joined the "lobby" at the +national suffrage headquarters in Washington to interview southern +Senators and Representatives. The State convention was held in +Nashville, Jan. 30, 31, 1917. Mrs. Dudley was unanimously re-elected +and served until her election to the board of the National Association +in December. At this convention Mrs. Kenny was elected chairman of +publicity and under her direction special suffrage editions of +newspapers were published in the principal towns and cities and copies +mailed to every voter. The plate matter sent out by the national press +committee was widely distributed.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Leslie Warner was elected president in 1918, and at the State +convention held in Nashville in June, 1919, Mrs. George Fort Milton +succeeded her. During her seven years of suffrage activity Mrs. Milton +had rendered valuable service in various official positions. It was +while this convention was in session that the news came of the +submission of the Federal Suffrage Amendment by Congress and there was +a demonstration of joy. In the evening a brilliant public banquet took +place at the Tulane Hotel. The convention extended its official board +to include a chairman from each congressional district, for the +ratification campaign. Three weeks later the board held a meeting at +Lookout Mountain, formulated plans for organizing the districts +politically and pledged the largest amount of money for State work in +the history of the association.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Work.</span> In 1915 Mrs. L. Crozier French, State president, +appointed Mrs. Guilford Dudley, president of the Nashville League, +legislative chairman to sponsor a resolution for a woman suffrage +amendment to the State constitution. The members of the lobby +committee were Mrs. Kenny, Mrs. Kimbrough, Mrs. W. G. Spencer, Mrs. +Reau E. Folk, Mrs. Ittie K. Reno, Mrs. Victoria James Roach and Mrs. +A. Y. Scott. To amend the constitution it is necessary to obtain a +majority in the first Legislature and a two-thirds majority in the +succeeding one before the question is submitted to the voters. In +January when the House committee met to report on the amendment it was +opposed almost to a man. Mrs. Dudley with all her committee back of +her made an eloquent appeal for justice and fair play, urging them at +least to permit the House to vote on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_601" id="Page_601">[Pg 601]</a></span> measure. When she finished +not a man raised his voice against it. The House adjourned to permit +Mrs. Dudley and Mrs. Scott to speak to the members and the final roll +call registered only fourteen noes. It passed the Senate with only +three dissenting votes. The leagues all over the State had brought +strong pressure to bear upon their representatives. In 1917 it was +replaced by the Presidential suffrage bill.</p> + +<p>On May 17 a conference was held at Tullahoma, where the Campaign +Committee was formed. Two joint-chairmen headed the executive +committee, Mrs. Kenny and Mrs. Henry J. Kelso of Knoxville, with Mrs. +Scott vice-chairman. On the resignation of Mrs. Kelso, Mrs. Milton was +elected in her place.<a name="FNanchor_166_166" id="FNanchor_166_166"></a><a href="#Footnote_166_166" class="fnanchor">[166]</a> Miss Elizabeth Breen, executive secretary, +gave untiring and efficient service. Headquarters were opened in +Nashville. This Campaign Committee was the trail-blazer. Although in +operation only seven months it organized thirty-two leagues; enrolled +9,600 names; printed and distributed 75,000 pieces of literature and +expended on organization work over $4,000. State-wide publicity was +gained; the workers received valuable training in organizing and +public speaking and it was a harmonizing force.</p> + +<p>It was difficult to enlist Tennessee suffragists in street speaking, +not that they had not the courage of their faith but they feared to +violate the conservative traditions of their southland. After seeing +its wonderful effect during the national suffrage convention in +Atlantic City in 1916 a few of the bold-hearted summoned courage and +the first attempt was made in Jackson and Memphis in 1917 by Mrs. +Kimbrough, Mrs. Kenny, Mrs. Jackson, Mrs. Reno and Miss White. At the +State Fair in Nashville in 1918 the Campaign Committee took charge of +the open air meetings, these women speaking eight or ten times each +day, and they were rewarded by the great number of enrollment cards +signed by those who received the message favorably.</p> + +<p>In 1917 the legislative campaign was conducted under the friendly +administration of a Democratic Governor, Tom C. Rye, and under the +direction of Mrs. Dudley, State president, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_602" id="Page_602">[Pg 602]</a></span> Mrs. Ezzell, +legislative chairman. Before direct plans had been made, advices came +from the National Association to concentrate on a Presidential and +Municipal suffrage bill similar to that passed in Illinois in 1913. +This was agreed upon and General G. T. Fitzhugh of Memphis drew up the +bill. His services were of great value to suffrage interests because +both as a citizen and a member of the bar he was held in the highest +esteem. From this time until the State Supreme Court decision of 1919 +removed the last barrier to this bill he was a valued friend and +adviser, and was associate counsel in the last legal battle on +ratification from the Chancery to the Supreme Court—all without +financial remuneration.</p> + +<p>This Presidential and Municipal suffrage bill was one of the first +introduced, sponsored in the House by Speaker Clyde Shropshire and in +the Senate by C. W. Rocks of Humboldt, and its progress was watched +with great interest. Petitions were sent to the members from all parts +of the State. The Memphis and Nashville members were solid for it from +the beginning with one exception—Senator John M. Thompson, a violent +"anti" from Nashville. Both suffragists and "antis" were invited to +speak before the House Judiciary Committee and both accepted, but +after two postponements through courtesy the "antis" did not put in an +appearance and the suffragists alone were heard. General Fitzhugh came +to speak for the bill. There had been much discussion as to its +validity without the insertion of a poll tax clause and it was in +jeopardy. An appeal was made to a friend whose legal advice and +services the suffragists had always had for the asking—General +Charles T. Cates, Jr., Attorney General, who came from his home in +Knoxville to construe for the committee some of the perplexing phases +and the committee unanimously recommended the bill.</p> + +<p>When it came to a vote in the House women from all sections of the +State were present. Among the most untiring workers were George Fort +Milton, editor of the Chattanooga <i>News</i>, and Mrs. Milton; Miss +Margaret Ervin of Chattanooga; Mrs. Isaac Reese, Mrs. Harry Anderson +and Mrs. Scott of Memphis; Miss White, Mrs. Kimbrough and Mrs. Kenny. +Many members of the Nashville League served at frequent critical<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_603" id="Page_603">[Pg 603]</a></span> +times. The vote in the House was 59 ayes, 25 noes, on Jan. 19, 1917, +Lee's birthday, an anniversary celebrated throughout the South, and it +was fittingly referred to by some of the members as an appropriate +occasion for Southern men to give justice to women. Following its +passage the Hon. William Jennings Bryan, who was in Nashville, was +invited to address the Legislature and spoke strongly in favor of it. +Mrs. Bryan accompanied him and at a luncheon given in her honor at the +Hermitage Hotel, attended by members of the Legislature and over two +hundred guests, she made an eloquent plea for suffrage and Mr. Bryan +spoke again.</p> + +<p>While this bill was pending in the Senate the newspapers throughout +the State were giving much more publicity to woman suffrage than they +had ever done before. Many of the county papers favored it and +published matter sent them. The <i>Labor World</i> gave continuous support. +Some of the best suffragists were newspaper women and they gave freely +of their time and talents. The excellent service of Mrs. W. A. Overall +is recalled; though not a "professional" her clear, logical articles +impressed impartial readers. Of the large daily papers the Knoxville +<i>Sentinel</i> and the <i>Commercial Appeal</i> and <i>News Scimitar</i> of Memphis +were favorable. The Jackson <i>Daily Sun</i> and the Nashville <i>Banner</i> +were opposed. The Chattanooga <i>News</i> was an ardent advocate, while the +Chattanooga <i>Times</i>, under the control of the New York <i>Times</i>, was +strongly opposed. The Nashville <i>Tennesseean</i> was regarded as the +official organ of the suffragists. Its owner, former U. S. Senator +Luke Lea, while in the Senate in 1913 had been one of three southern +Senators to vote for the Federal Amendment. Throughout the campaign he +was ready at all times to help in every way possible, ignoring his +personal political interests. This was true of U. S. Senator McKellar +and Governor Rye.</p> + +<p>When the first canvass of the Senate was made the sentiment was about +as follows: For the bill 11; unalterably opposed, 7; uncertain, 15. +The classification "uncertain" was most appropriate, for fifteen more +uncertain men were never encountered. When assured that the measure +could safely be brought to vote it would be discovered that changes +had occurred over night<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_604" id="Page_604">[Pg 604]</a></span> which would mean defeat. The "antis" worked +through a hastily organized local society at Nashville, which was +inspired by Judge John J. Vertrees, a prominent lawyer of that city. A +Charles McLean of Iowa, who had been used by the opponents in other +State suffrage campaigns, made two or three visits to Nashville during +the session. The State suffrage convention in this city a few days +before the bill came to a vote in the Senate was the largest ever held +and many delegates remained for the vote.</p> + +<p>The bill was introduced by Senator C. W. Rooks, who with Senator John +C. Houk led the fight for it. It was lost on February 3 by 21 noes, 12 +ayes. A motion to reconsider by Senator A. E. Hill carried it over +until the Legislature reconvened on March 7. The generosity of Mrs. +Scott, vice-chairman of the Campaign Committee, who gave $500, enabled +the State association to employ four organizers and the National +Association paid the salaries of three more. New organizations were +formed and remote towns, which had scarcely ever heard of suffrage, +were visited. A telegram from President Wilson urging the Senate to +pass the bill was received at the March session but was not read in +that body until the day after it was defeated.<a name="FNanchor_167_167" id="FNanchor_167_167"></a><a href="#Footnote_167_167" class="fnanchor">[167]</a> The motion for +reconsideration was laid on the table the first day by 18 ayes, 10 +noes.</p> + +<p>Incessant work in behalf of the bill was carried on in the districts +of hostile or doubtful Senators from September until January, 1919, +when the Legislature met and the bill for Presidential and Municipal +suffrage was again introduced. It was a hard fight for many weeks made +by Mrs. Warner and her committee, with daily, continuous work at the +Capitol and "back log" work through the State, where she had the +constant help of her board. Mrs. A. G. Buckner, as legislative +chairman, worked unceasingly, as did Mrs. Margaret Ervin Ford, Mrs. +Reno and Miss Matilda Porter, the lobby committee, assisted by Miss +Josephine Miller, a national organizer. Mrs. Dudley came after the +national suffrage convention in March.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_605" id="Page_605">[Pg 605]</a></span></p> + +<p>Attorney L. D. Miller of Chattanooga introduced the bill in the House +and conducted the fight for it. It passed the third and final reading +April 3 by 52 ayes, 32 noes. Speaker Seth M. Walker of Wilson county +became a convert and eloquent advocate, leaving his desk to plead for +it. [See Ratification.]</p> + +<p>After the bill had been cleverly put to sleep by the President of the +Senate, Andrew Todd, by referring it to the hostile Judiciary +Committee, Senator E. N. Haston, who was its sponsor, secured enough +votes to overrule his action and put it in the Committee on Privileges +and Elections, which reported in favor. The enemies were led by +Senator J. Parks Worley. The hardest fight that ever took place in the +Senate was waged, and the outcome was not certain until Judge Douglas +Wikle of Williamson county cast the deciding vote in favor, making the +result on April 16, ayes, 17; noes, 14, a bare majority. At 10:30 the +following morning Governor Roberts affixed his signature to the Act +conferring upon women the right to vote for electors of President and +Vice-President of the United States and in the Municipal elections +throughout the State. More than half a million women were thus far +enfranchised.</p> + +<p>Conspicuous and persistent among the enemies of the bill outside of +the Legislature were U. S. Senator John K. Shields and Judge Vertrees. +The latter, claiming to represent "others" filed a writ of injunction +in the Chancery Court to test the validity of the law. Attorney +General Frank M. Thompson and other able lawyers defended this +suit<a name="FNanchor_168_168" id="FNanchor_168_168"></a><a href="#Footnote_168_168" class="fnanchor">[168]</a>, which was hotly contested, and this court, by Chancellor +James B. Newman, in June declared the law unconstitutional. The case +was appealed to the State Supreme Court, which in July, 1919, reversed +this decision and declared the law valid.</p> + +<p>When the Supreme Court rendered this decision the regular biennial +registration was only ten days off and it was at the hottest period of +the summer, when many women and most of the suffrage officials were +out of town, but the registration was large in all the cities. In +Nashville about 7,500 registered; in Knoxville about 7,000, and the +type of those who presented<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_606" id="Page_606">[Pg 606]</a></span> themselves everywhere was of the highest +and best. Contrary to all predictions the negro women did not flock to +the polls. They voted but in comparatively few numbers and the records +show that only the better educated were interested. Their vote proved +to be anything but the "bugaboo" politicians had tried to show that it +would be and in some instances it was a contributing factor to good +government. In Nashville they registered about 2,500 and voted almost +their full quota. They organized under the direction of the suffrage +association, had their own city and ward chairmen and worked with an +intelligence, loyalty and dignity that made new friends for their race +and for woman suffrage. There was not a single adverse criticism of +them from any ward. They kept faith with the white women even when +some of their men sold out the night before election to a notorious +political rounder. They proved that they were trying to keep step with +the march of progress and with a little patience, trust and vision the +universal tie of motherhood and sisterhood can and will overcome the +prejudice against them as voters.</p> + +<p>An immense amount of work was done by Tennessee women for the Federal +Suffrage Amendment. After interviewing their members of Congress and +using every possible influence on them in their home districts, +hundreds of letters and telegrams were sent to them in Washington +whenever they were to vote on it from 1915 to 1919. Mrs. Dudley, as a +member of the national board, spent months in Washington and was sent +to various southern States where skilled work was necessary. There was +a gradually increasing vote in favor by Tennessee members until when +the last one was taken in June, 1919, only three Representatives, +Moon, Hull and Garrett, voted against it. Senator Shields voted in +opposition and Senator McKellar in favor.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>[With this chapter was sent a complete history of the woman suffrage +movement in Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga and smaller +cities, which accounts for the phenomenally rapid advance in +Tennessee. Unfortunately these chapters can give space only to the +general work of the State associations.]<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_607" id="Page_607">[Pg 607]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>TENNESSEE. PART II<a name="FNanchor_169_169" id="FNanchor_169_169"></a><a href="#Footnote_169_169" class="fnanchor">[169]</a></h3> + +<p>Tennessee's pioneer period was from 1885-1911, for during those years +the educational and organization work carried on by a few intrepid +women was as difficult as was the same work in other parts of the +United States thirty or more years before that time. Woman suffrage +was in the stage of ridicule and abuse and with a few exceptions the +press of the State was opposed and lost no opportunity to disparage +it.</p> + +<p>The State Equal Suffrage Association was reorganized in Memphis in +1906 and there was increasing activity each year afterwards. In 1907 +the suffragists held a convention and reported their membership +trebled. They secured a suffrage article in the <i>News Scimitar</i> +through the courtesy of Mike Connolly, its editor. In 1908 Dr. Shaw +spoke at the Goodwin Hall in Memphis under the auspices of the State +association and a return engagement was secured by the Lyceum Course +the following winter. The third annual convention was held Dec. 15, +1909, in Memphis at the home of the State president, Mrs. J. D. Allen, +and the officers were re-elected. It was reported that a petition had +been sent to Congress for a Federal Amendment and more than 400 +letters written, one to President Taft asking him to declare for woman +suffrage and local work had been done. Mrs. E. S. Conser, assisted by +Mrs. Allen and the suffrage club, prevailed upon the Memphis +University Law Department to open its doors to women and Mrs. Conser +became its first woman student. Mrs. Allen attended the national +convention at Seattle, Washington. Mrs. Ittie K. Reno delivered the +first woman suffrage address in Nashville, at the Centennial Club, and +the first one in Chattanooga was given by Miss Margaret Ervin at the +university where she was a student.</p> + +<p>In 1910 a league was organized in Knoxville by Mrs. L. Crozier French, +who became its president. In the summer a suffrage debate, affirmative +taken by Mrs. Ford, was held in the Methodist church at Kingston, the +first time the question was discussed in that part of the State and +people came from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_608" id="Page_608">[Pg 608]</a></span> neighboring towns. Miss Catherine J. Wester, a +Kingston suffragist, had a six weeks' newspaper debate in the +Chattanooga <i>Times</i>. A booth was maintained at the Appalachian +Exposition, and 590 names of visitors from Tennessee, Arkansas and +Mississippi were registered in the suffrage booth at the Tri-State +fair in September at Memphis.</p> + +<p>The fourth State convention was held at Memphis in the Business Men's +Club Feb. 18, 1911, and the president, Mrs. Allen, reported suffrage +trips to Little Rock, Ark., and Jackson, Miss. Addresses were given by +Attorney Robert Beattie and by H. P. Hanson, vice-president of the +Southern Conference on Child and Woman Labor, who brought word that +the Memphis Typographical Union was on record for woman suffrage. Mrs. +Beattie was elected vice-president and Dr. Madge Patton Stephens +secretary. The Nashville club was organized September 28, with Mrs. +Guilford Dudley president; one at Morristown November 3, with Mrs. +Hannah Price Hardy president; one at Chattanooga December 9, with Mrs. +E. W. Penticost president.</p> + +<p>By 1912 a new era had dawned with five of the largest cities organized +and affiliated with the State association. It held its annual +convention at Nashville January 10-11. Governor Ben W. Hooper +addressed it and stated that he was "on the fence" as to the suffrage +question. Mrs. Allen was elected honorary president and Miss Sarah +Barnwell Elliott president. Miss Elliott spent two months of this year +speaking in the State and she also spoke in Birmingham, in New York +and the Mississippi Valley Conference in Chicago. In December a +suffrage club was organized in Jackson with Mrs. C. B. Bell president. +J. W. Brister, State Superintendent of Schools, gave a suffrage +address at Nashville.</p> + +<p>The State convention was held again at the Hermitage Hotel in +Nashville, Jan. 6, 7, 1913. The principal speakers were ex-Governor +John I. Cox, U. S. Senator Luke Lea, Misses Laura Clay of Kentucky and +Mary Johnston of Virginia. Mrs. Virginia Clay Clopton, as president, +sent greetings from the Huntsville, Ala., league, reorganized after a +lapse of thirty years with the same president. The main discussion was +whether to introduce a suffrage bill in the Legislature. Mrs. Margaret +Ervin<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_609" id="Page_609">[Pg 609]</a></span> Ford urged it, saying that, though it had small chance, it was +well to accustom the Legislature to the idea. The matter was placed in +the hands of Miss Elliott, Mrs. French, Mrs. Dudley and Mrs. Scott, +who recommended that no bill should be introduced. Mrs. Allen and Miss +Elliott were re-elected and Mrs. James M. McCormack was made +vice-president-at-large; Miss Clay and Miss Johnston spoke on the 10th +at a large meeting in Chattanooga and Miss Clay the following Sunday +in the Universalist church. On April 7 Miss Elliott and Mrs. Dudley +marched in Washington in a parade to the Capitol to interview the +Tennessee representatives in Congress on the Federal Amendment. This +year Miss Jeannette Rankin of Montana, an organizer for the National +Association, came to assist. By October the State membership was 942 +and fifteen newspapers were reached regularly with suffrage matter. +Booths were conducted at many of the county fairs and a "suffrage day" +was given at the Memphis Tri-State fair, when the outside speakers +were Miss Clay and Miss Kate Gordon of Louisiana. The <i>News Scimitar</i> +issued a suffrage edition.</p> + +<p>A second convention met in Morristown, October 21, 22. Miss Sue S. +White was elected secretary, Mrs. Hardy State organizer and the other +officers continued. At the national convention in Washington in +November Miss Wester and Mrs. Ford represented Tennessee on the +"committee of one hundred," which, led by Mrs. Medill McCormick, +chairman of the National Congressional Committee, called upon +President Wilson to enlist his assistance. That year and each +succeeding year letters, telegrams and petitions were sent to the +President and to the Tennessee Representatives in Congress urging +their support of the Federal Amendment. One petition from Chattanooga +bore a thousand signatures.</p> + +<p>By 1914 the six largest cities in the State were organized and the +majority of the clubs celebrated National Suffrage Day, May 2, with +parades and open air meetings to the amazement and interest of the +people. The Chattanooga parade, with a brass band, ended at the Court +House where the steps of that building were aglow with yellow bunting. +Mrs. Wesley Martin Stoner of Washington, D. C., was the principal +speaker and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_610" id="Page_610">[Pg 610]</a></span> Mrs. Ford, the local president, read the following +resolution: "We, citizens of Chattanooga, voice our demand that women +citizens of the United States be accorded the full right of +citizenship." The silence was breathless as the sound of the "ayes" +died away and not a voice was raised to say "no." Other speakers were +Mayor Jesse M. Littleton, L. P. Barnes, Attorney J. J. Lynch, the +Reverends Charles H. Myers, L. R. Robinson and Dr. Daniel E. Bushnell. +The State Federation of Women's Clubs in convention at Pulaski voted +down a suffrage resolution, though the president, Mrs. George W. +Denney, favored it.</p> + +<p>From March to May 13 there was a spirited controversy as to whether +the annual convention of the National American Woman Suffrage +Association should meet in Chattanooga, which city had invited it, or +in Nashville, which had not. Miss Elliott, who was ill, resigned and +Mrs. McCormack took charge of the State work. Chattanooga won the +convention on the first vote of the State board but after balloting +by the clubs through telegrams for several weeks and much +misunderstanding it met in Nashville the next November. The annual +convention was held in Knoxville October 28-30, when there was a +separation of the State forces, Mrs. Crozier French and her following +leaving the convention, taking three clubs with them and organizing +the "Tennessee Equal Suffrage Association Incorporated," with Mrs. +French president. Mrs. McCormack was elected president of the original +Equal Suffrage Association, of which this chapter is the history.</p> + +<p>The Southern States Suffrage Conference, Miss Kate M. Gordon, +president, met in Chattanooga, November 10-11, just before the +national convention. A special suffrage edition of the <i>News</i>, with +Mrs. Frances Fort Brown editor-in-chief, was issued and the conference +was a great success. Many prominent women from outside the State +attended and all except Mrs. Oliver H. P. Belmont of New York and Miss +Christabel Pankhurst of England, who was with her, went on to the +national convention at Nashville. Here a special edition of the +<i>Tennesseean</i> was issued, many street meetings were held and suffrage +arguments filled the air. Both State delegations were seated.</p> + +<p>By the end of the year only four cities with a population of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_611" id="Page_611">[Pg 611]</a></span> five +thousand or over were still unorganized. In December Miss Mary +Pleasant Jones organized the Nashville Business Women's League with a +large membership. Organization was continued during 1915. Through the +courtesy of Judge Samuel C. Brown, the Circuit Court at Benton was +suspended for an hour to hear the speeches of Miss Wester, Miss Sarah +Ruth Frazier and Mrs. Ford and a club was then organized with 100 +members. Mrs. Ford organized the Business Woman's Suffrage Club of +Chattanooga with 160 charter members. A Men's Suffrage Club was formed +there, the first in the State, R. B. Cook, George Fort Milton and J. +B. F. Lowery, officers.</p> + +<p>This year the suffragists assisted a vigorous campaign to secure a +majority vote for holding a convention to prepare a new constitution, +opened headquarters in the different cities and worked day and night, +and they received letters of high appreciation from the chairman of +the State committee. The convention really won but was lost by +dishonest election returns. The annual convention was held at the +Hotel Patton, Chattanooga, December 9, Mrs. McCormack presiding. In +1912 a treasury fund of $5.50 was turned over to the new treasurer, +Miss Wester, who handled in 1915 $1,127. The National Association this +year elected Mrs. McCormack auditor.</p> + +<p>National Suffrage Day, May 2, 1916, was celebrated in all of the +larger cities. The Business Women's Club brought Mrs. Emmeline +Pankhurst of England and Miss Margaret Foley of Boston to Chattanooga +and the 5,000 capacity auditorium was packed. The State Federation of +Women's Clubs, which was to hold its convention there May 3, was +invited to attend and the next day it passed a woman suffrage +resolution by a vote of 96 to 43.</p> + +<p>In May woman suffrage planks were secured in both the Republican and +Democratic State platforms, after which the State officers living in +Chattanooga had a 25-foot streamer prepared with the following words +on it: Tennessee Leads the South, The State Federation, Republican and +Democratic Parties Endorse Woman Suffrage, and had it stretched across +the main street. Over night Police Commissioner E. R. Betterton had +made a ruling that banners could no longer hang over the street<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_612" id="Page_612">[Pg 612]</a></span> and +three policemen with the patrol wagon "arrested" it. The women secured +the release of the culprit and through the courtesy of E. A. Abbott, a +merchant, it was placed over the front of his store and there it hung +for several weeks. On June 13 it was taken to the National Democratic +convention at St. Louis, where it gave its silent message hanging on +the wall of the lobby of the hotel in which the Tennessee delegation +had headquarters. Mrs. Dudley and Mrs. Ford addressed the Tennessee +delegates to the convention urging them to vote for the woman suffrage +plank, which they did unanimously.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Catt held a successful congressional conference in Memphis, spoke +at several large meetings and the biggest automobile parade ever seen +in the city added to the occasion.<a name="FNanchor_170_170" id="FNanchor_170_170"></a><a href="#Footnote_170_170" class="fnanchor">[170]</a> Federal Amendment Day was +celebrated in twenty-six cities and thousands of leaflets were +distributed. In October the legislative chairman wrote to all +candidates for Congress asking their position on suffrage and eight +declared in favor. In November those elected were interviewed and +banquets, luncheons and receptions given them on the eve of their +leaving for Washington.</p> + +<p>In order to unite the two State associations Mrs. Catt suggested that +they hold their conventions at about the same time in the same city. +The Tennessee Equal Suffrage Association, Mrs. McCormack president, +set its convention for Jan. 5, 6, 1917, and that of the other was +announced for the 9th, both in Nashville. The former was held at the +Hotel Hermitage, large and enthusiastic, with the principal speakers +Clyde Shropshire, Speaker of the House, the Hon. George L. Berry, +Dixon Merritt, editor of the <i>Tennesseean</i>, and Miss Laura Clay. Mrs. +Ford was elected president. The latter postponed its convention to +January 30-31, which made the union impossible. On February 22 the +former association offered its services to Governor Rye to be utilized +as he should see fit, should the United States enter the war. Mrs. +Catt called a meeting of the Executive Council of the National +Association for the 23rd in Washington to consider offering its +assistance to President Wilson and Mrs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_613" id="Page_613">[Pg 613]</a></span> Ford represented Tennessee. +The suffragists of this State, as did those of every other, rallied to +the colors. Many served in France and thousands at home in every field +of activity where women were permitted, in army and navy, in citizen +service, Red Cross, Government bond sales, etc., and their devoted +service proved a most effective plea for their enfranchisement.</p> + +<p>On March 26, 1918, the boards of the two associations met in Memphis +at the Professional and Business Women's Club, with Mrs. Allen, +honorary president, in the chair. A union was effected and Mrs. Leslie +Warner was unanimously elected president of the amalgamated +associations. Mrs. Warner spoke at the State Federation of Women's +Clubs in Jackson and after one session she asked all to remain who +were interested in suffrage. About 90 per cent. did so and an +enthusiastic meeting was held. Her next work was to secure resolutions +in favor of the Federal Suffrage Amendment and protests against +further delay in the Senate. She spoke before nineteen organizations +of various kinds, all of which passed the desired resolutions. It was +also endorsed by the Democratic and Republican State Committees.</p> + +<p>As vice-chairman of the Woman's Committee Council of National Defense, +Mrs. Warner introduced Dr. Shaw, its chairman, to an audience of 7,000 +people at Nashville in April. In July she called 200 suffragists from +all sections of the State for a hearing before U. S. Senator John K. +Shields, hoping they might convince him that the Tennessee women did +want the ballot, as one of his reasons for voting against the Federal +Amendment was that they did not. Later when pressed by the women for a +declaration during his candidacy for re-election he gave to the press +his correspondence with President Wilson who had urged him to vote for +it, to whom he wrote: "If I could bring myself to believe that the +adoption of the resolution would contribute to the successful +prosecution of the war we are waging with Germany I would +unhesitatingly vote for it, because my whole heart and soul are +involved in bringing the war to a victorious issue and I am willing to +sacrifice everything save the honor and freedom of our country in +aiding you to accomplish that end, but I have been unable to do +so...."</p> + +<p>The President said in reply: "I realize the weight of argument<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_614" id="Page_614">[Pg 614]</a></span> that +has controlled your attitude in the matter and I would not have +written as I did if I had not thought that the passage of the +amendment at this time was an essential psychological element in the +conduct of the war for democracy. I am led by a single sentence in +your letter, therefore, to say that I do earnestly believe that our +action upon this amendment will have an important and immediate +influence upon the whole atmosphere and morale of the nations engaged +in the war and every day I am coming to see how supremely important +that side of the whole thing is."</p> + +<p>On August 8 the State Bar Association passed a strong resolution +endorsing woman suffrage by Federal Amendment. The president, Colonel +Ed Watkins, in his annual address, included a strong plea for it and +Judge David V. Puryear introduced the resolution. Miss Elizabeth Lea +Miller and Mrs. Ford, the first women members of the association; Mrs. +John Lamar Meek and others worked for it. Col. Joseph H. Acklen gave +his services as attorney for years to the State association without +charge. Urgent petitions which bore the names of all the leading +Democrats of the State, arranged on a large sheet with the photograph +of and a quotation from President Woodrow Wilson, were sent to Senator +Shields. The State board sent petitions to the legislators urging that +they ask him to vote for the Federal Amendment resolution, which +lacked only two votes of passing the Senate, but he opposed it to the +end.</p> + +<p>The remainder of Mrs. Warner's régime was filled with efforts in the +Legislature for the Presidential suffrage bill. She began in September +and worked unceasingly until its passage the next April, financing the +campaign with some small assistance from her board. During the +hundredth anniversary of the city of Memphis in June, a notable State +event, a suffrage "victory" celebration was held with addresses by +Mayor Monteverde and leading suffragists.</p> + +<p>The eleventh annual convention was held in the Tulane Hotel, +Nashville, June 4, 5, 1919. During the second day's session news came +of the submission of the Federal Amendment by the U. S. Senate and +excitement ran riot. Telegrams of congratulation were sent to Mrs. +Catt, Dr. Shaw, U. S. Senator McKellar and the Tennessee +Representatives who voted for it. It was a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_615" id="Page_615">[Pg 615]</a></span> dramatic ending of the +long contest—long even in Tennessee, for here too women had grown old +and died in the struggle. Tributes were paid to those who were gone, +among them Mrs. Meriwether who had given her life to the work. The two +pioneers present, Mrs. Allen and Miss Terrett, gave reminiscences of +the early days. Mrs. George Fort Milton was elected president.</p> + +<p>A call was issued for the final convention of the State association +and the first convention of the Tennessee League of Women Voters to +meet May 18, 19, 1920, in the House of Representatives at Nashville. +This was signed by the presidents of the following State associations: +Suffrage, Mothers' Congress and Parent Teachers', Woman's Christian +Temperance Union, Federation of Music Clubs, Daughters of the American +Revolution and Press and Authors' Club. Mrs. Milton presided over the +convention and Miss Mary Boyce Temple, regent of the D. A. R., +presided over the first conference of the League of Women Voters. The +association and the League were merged and Mrs. Milton was elected +chairman.<a name="FNanchor_171_171" id="FNanchor_171_171"></a><a href="#Footnote_171_171" class="fnanchor">[171]</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action.</span> 1911. This year for the first time a resolution +was introduced by Senator Walter White of Dayton "to amend the +constitution so as to give women the ballot." It was referred to the +Constitutional Amendment Committee, Alfred A. Adams, chairman, which +reported adversely. The women in charge were Mrs. J. D. Allen, State +president, and Attorney Frances Wolf, legislative chairman.</p> + +<p>1915. The suffragists espoused two bills. The association of which +Mrs. McCormack was president worked for a new State constitution +because of the great difficulty of changing the old one. The +association of which Mrs. Dudley was president asked for an amendment. +It received a "courtesy" vote in favor from the first Legislature and +did not come before a second. Mrs. McCormack, Mrs. Ford, Mrs. Henry J. +Kelso, Mrs. Hall and Miss Wester were the Legislative Committee.</p> + +<p>1917. In March the Legislature passed an Act amending the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_616" id="Page_616">[Pg 616]</a></span> charter of +Lookout Mountain so as to give the women Municipal suffrage. The prime +mover was Attorney James Anderson and Mayor P. F. Jones, and the other +commissioners voted unanimously for it. Mrs. Ford, the State +president, a lifelong resident, had the previous year registered there +in order to call attention to the injustice of "taxation without +representation" but her name was removed from the records. Early in +1917 Mrs. Ford called on President Wilson at the White House and asked +him to send a message to the Legislature in favor of the pending +Presidential suffrage bill, which he did.</p> + +<p>[Mrs. Ford's thorough account of the fortunes of this bill through the +Legislatures of 1917 and 1919 is so largely covered by the report in +Part I of this chapter that it is omitted here.]<a name="FNanchor_172_172" id="FNanchor_172_172"></a><a href="#Footnote_172_172" class="fnanchor">[172]</a></p> + +<p>After the law was enacted Mrs. Kenny and Mrs. Kimbrough appeared at +the office of the county trustee and made a tender of the amount due +as their poll tax. He refused to receive it, acting under instructions +from the county attorney who declared that the laws of the State +exempted women. They then filed a bill in the Chancery Court of +Davidson county asking a decision. Chancellor Newman dismissed it with +an opinion in part as follows: "It will be observed by Section 686 of +the code that those liable for poll taxes are males between the ages +of 21 and 50 years on the 10th day of January the year the assessment +is laid. Women were not liable Jan. 10, 1919, for poll tax and plainly +it was never the purpose or intent of Section 1220 that a qualified +voter as a condition precedent to the right to vote should produce +satisfactory evidence that he had paid a poll tax assessed against him +for which he was not liable.... All women between the ages of 21 and +50 years, otherwise qualified as voters, are entitled to vote in the +November election of 1920 without paying a poll tax for 1919." The +case was taken to the Supreme Court, which ruled that women did not +have to pay in order to vote that year.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> When the Legislature of Washington in March, 1920, +ratified the Federal Woman Suffrage Amendment making the 35th, there +came an absolute stop. The southeastern<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_617" id="Page_617">[Pg 617]</a></span> States had rejected it and it +had been ratified by all the others except Vermont and Connecticut, +whose Governors refused to call special sessions. It looked as if the +women of the United States would be prevented from voting at the +presidential election in November for the lack of one ratification. +There was every reason to believe that the Legislature of Tennessee +would give this one if it were not prevented by a clause in the State +constitution. Meanwhile the ratification of the Federal Prohibition +Amendment by the Ohio Legislature had been sent to the voters by a +recent law, they had rejected it and an appeal had been taken to the +U. S. Supreme Court on the constitutionality of the referendum law. On +June 1, in Hawk vs. Smith, this court held that a referendum to the +voters on the ratification of Federal Amendments was in conflict with +Article V of the Federal Constitution, therefore null and void, as +this Constitution was the supreme law of the land. The decision said: +"It is not the function of courts or legislative bodies, National or +State, to alter the method which the U. S. Constitution has fixed."</p> + +<p>Article II, Section 32 of the Tennessee constitution reads: "No +convention or General Assembly of this State shall act upon any +amendment of the Constitution of the United States proposed by +Congress to the several States unless such convention or General +Assembly shall have been elected after such amendment is submitted." +The presumption was naturally that this clause was nullified by the U. +S. Supreme Court's decision. On June 10, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, +president of the National American Suffrage Association, telegraphed +Governor Albert H. Roberts, urging him to call an extra session. He, +thereupon, sought the opinion of Attorney General Frank M. Thompson as +to the power of the present Legislature to ratify, who answered that +it would have the power. He said that he had submitted the question to +the U. S. Department of Justice through Solicitor General John L. +Frierson, to whom President Wilson had also appealed, whose answer in +brief was as follows: "The ruling of the Supreme Court in the Ohio +case and the consideration which I gave to this question in preparing +those cases for hearing leave no doubt in my mind that the power to +ratify an amendment to the Federal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_618" id="Page_618">[Pg 618]</a></span> Constitution is derived solely +from the people of the United States through this constitution and not +from the people or the constitution of the State. The provision of the +Tennessee constitution that no Legislature shall act on an amendment +to the Federal Constitution unless elected after the proposal of the +amendment, if valid, would undoubtedly be a restriction upon that +power.... If the Legislature is called in extra session it will have +the clear right to ratify."</p> + +<p>A request was made to President Wilson for assistance, and on June 24 +he sent the following telegram to Governor Roberts: "It would be a +real service to the party and to the nation if it is possible for you +under the peculiar provisions of your State constitution, having in +mind the recent decision of the Supreme Court in the Ohio case, to +call a special session of the Legislature to consider the Federal +Suffrage Amendment. Allow me to urge this very earnestly." At the same +time the Governor received a telegram signed by practically every +member of the Tennessee delegation at the National Democratic +convention meeting in San Francisco, impressing on him the advantage +to the party of his calling the extra session. In addition U. S. +Senator Kenneth McKellar, a member of the platform committee of that +convention, secured a plank in the platform, endorsing the amendment +and urging the Democratic Governors and legislators of Tennessee and +other States to unite in an effort to complete the ratification. On +June 26 Homer S. Cummings, chairman of the Democratic National +Committee, informed the Governor that the committee that day by +unanimous vote had directed him to send the following message: "We +most earnestly emphasize the extreme importance and urgency of an +immediate meeting of your Legislature for the purpose of ratifying the +proposed 19th Amendment to the Federal Constitution." On June 8 the +Tennessee Democratic convention had passed the following resolution: +"We heartily favor the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the +Constitution of the United States ... and we demand that the Governor +call an extra session."</p> + +<p>Governor Roberts answered President Wilson: "I will call the extra +session in ample time for the women to vote in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_619" id="Page_619">[Pg 619]</a></span> 1920 elections." +This he did on August 7, calling the Legislature to convene on the +9th.<a name="FNanchor_173_173" id="FNanchor_173_173"></a><a href="#Footnote_173_173" class="fnanchor">[173]</a></p> + +<p>The first of July Governor Roberts appointed Mrs. Leslie Warner State +chairman to organize for ratification. She selected a committee of one +hundred, some from each county, recommended by the legislators, and +opened headquarters at the Hotel Hermitage in Nashville and Mrs. James +B. Ezzell was elected vice-chairman, Mrs. Margaret Ervin Ford, +secretary of the committee, which became known as the Democratic +Ratification Committee. On the advisory board were: Miss Charl +Williams, vice-chairman of the National Democratic Committee; Miss +Della Dortch, regional chairman of the National League of Women +Voters; Mesdames A. H. Roberts, wife of the Governor; Guilford Dudley, +third vice-president of the National Suffrage Association; John B. +Gilmore, James S. Fraser and Miss Lutie Jones. Mrs. George Fort +Milton, chairman of the League of Women Voters, appointed Mrs. John M. +Kenny State chairman for ratification with Mesdames John R. Aust and +Claude B. Sullivan chairmen of committees. They opened headquarters at +the Maxwell House. Mrs. James Beasley became chairman of the +Republican committee and ex-Governor Rye of the Men's Committee, +assisted by ex-Governors Albert A. Taylor and Ben W. Hooper and Mr. +Hal H. Clements.</p> + +<p>Early in July Miss Marjorie Shuler, chairman of publicity of the +National Suffrage Association, was sent by it to assist. She expressed +gratification at what had been accomplished, saying: "The Tennessee +women have done wonders; they are now well organized and things look +promising for ratification." She joined with the committees in urging +Mrs. Catt to come and direct the work and she came soon after the +middle of July and remained six weeks.<a name="FNanchor_174_174" id="FNanchor_174_174"></a><a href="#Footnote_174_174" class="fnanchor">[174]</a> Her first move was to +start a series of letters through the League of Women Voters to local +groups urging meetings,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_620" id="Page_620">[Pg 620]</a></span> deputations to legislators and the return to +headquarters of their signed pledges to vote for ratification, which +later were very useful. With Mrs. Milton and with Miss Shuler in +charge of publicity, a speaking tour began at Memphis and ended in +eastern Tennessee, including all the large cities and creating much +favorable sentiment. During this trip Mrs. Catt did not hesitate to +call attention to the sinister forces which it was discovered were +working against ratification and she sent a message to Senator Harding +and Governor Cox, the presidential candidates, describing them. On +July 24 Miss Esther Ogden, a director of the National Association, +with a deputation of women, appeared before the National Democratic +Committee in session at Columbus, O., presenting a memorial from that +association, signed by Mrs. Catt, urging the committee to assume the +responsibility of achieving the ratification and she brought their +favorable answer to Nashville. The last week in July Mrs. Catt +received the following from Senator Harding: "I am exceedingly glad to +learn that you are in Tennessee seeking to consummate the ratification +of the suffrage amendment. If any of the Republican members should ask +my opinion as to their course I would cordially recommend immediate +favorable action." He sent a similar message to Senator John C. Houk, +State chairman, but later when the Harding-Coolidge League of the +District of Columbia urged him to appeal further for ratification he +answered: "You can understand why I cannot consistently urge Tennessee +legislators to vote for ratification without knowing their reasons for +such commitment as they have made. The situation is being reported to +national headquarters, where it will be given attention at once."</p> + +<p>A letter from Governor Cox to Mrs. Catt said: "I am very much +gratified at the news that you are to remain in Tennessee for the +ratification campaign. It gives me added reason for expressing +confidence that the Legislature will act favorably, which will greatly +please the national Democratic party." In addition he sent Miss Charl +Williams, a member of the Democratic National Committee, to Nashville +with the message that if necessary he would himself come and fight for +it. On August 7 at the request of Will H. Hays, chairman of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_621" id="Page_621">[Pg 621]</a></span> +Republican National Committee, Mrs. Harriet Taylor Upton, +vice-chairman of its executive committee, came to assist.</p> + +<p>Urged by President Wilson, Governor Cox, George White, chairman of the +National Democratic Committee, and Senator Pat Harrison, its chairman +of publicity and speakers, U. S. Senator McKellar came with his +valuable help. Miss Edna A. Beveridge of Maryland and Mrs. Lydia +Holmes, president of the Louisiana Suffrage Association, came to +assist Mrs. Catt. Miss Sue White, Tennessee chairman of the National +Woman's Party, assisted by Mesdames L. Crozier French, Walter Jackson, +Frank Phillips, Miss Anita Pollitzer, Miss Betty Grim, Parley P. +Christensen and others, also opened headquarters and worked for +ratification. Since there were so many committees at work it was +decided to appoint a general chairman and Miss Charl Williams was the +wise choice.</p> + +<p>From the time the special session was called anti-suffragists gathered +in Nashville from Maine to the Gulf of Mexico, many of them paid +workers. Everett P. Wheeler, a New York lawyer, president of a +so-called American Constitutional League, formerly the Men's +Anti-Suffrage Association, came and formed a branch composed of men +prominent politically, who used every means known to influence +legislation; sent speakers into the districts of friendly legislators, +promised rewards, used threats, and charges of bribery were so +insistent that Judge D. B. DeBow ordered a grand jury investigation. +There was no depth to which some of the men trying to defeat woman +suffrage did not descend.<a name="FNanchor_175_175" id="FNanchor_175_175"></a><a href="#Footnote_175_175" class="fnanchor">[175]</a></p> + +<p>Mrs. James S. Pinckard of Alabama, president of the Southern Women's +Rejection League; Miss Josephine Pearson, its Tennessee president; +Miss Mary G. Kilbreth, president of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_622" id="Page_622">[Pg 622]</a></span> National Anti-Woman Suffrage +Association, with many of their followers were at work with the +legislators. They were industriously assisted by Mrs. Ruffin G. +Pleasant, wife of the ex-Governor of Louisiana, and by Miss Kate M. +Gordon of that State and Miss Laura Clay of Kentucky, ardent +suffragists but opposed to the Federal Amendment. The presidents or +other officers of anti-suffrage associations in Ohio, Maryland, +Delaware, Massachusetts, Maine and other States joined with the forces +above.</p> + +<p>The Legislature convened in extraordinary session Aug. 9, 1920, and +heard the Governor's message, which said in part: "The Legislatures of +thirty-five States have ratified the amendment, only one more being +required to make it effective as a part of the Constitution of the +United States. Its prompt ratification is urgently recommended. +Tennessee occupies a pivotal position and the eyes of all America are +upon us. Millions of women are looking to this Legislature to give +them a voice and share in shaping the destiny of the Republic." He +then quoted the platform declarations of both State and National +Democratic and Republican parties urging ratification. The next day +the Senate was called to order by President Andrew L. Todd, who +introduced the ratification resolution. It was introduced in the House +by the Shelby county delegation, all for it. Both were referred to the +Committee on Constitutional Amendments.</p> + +<p>On the night of August 12 a joint hearing was held and able speeches +were made by Senator McKellar, Generals James A. Fowler and Charles A. +Cates, Jr., and Attorney Ed T. Seay. Anti speakers were: Congressman +Finis J. Garrett, Major E. B. Stahlman, Judges S. F. Wilson and G. N. +Tillman. Miss Charlotte Rowe, of Yonkers, N. Y., represented the +National Anti-Suffrage Association. The next day a memorial from +Maryland "antis" urging rejection was read in the Senate. Senator L. +E. Gwin presented the committee report recommending ratification, +signed by himself and Senators M. H. Copenhaver, John C. Houk, C. C. +Collins, J. W. Murray, T. L. Coleman, Douglas Wikle and E. N. Haston. +Senators W. M. Cameron and J. W. Rice presented the minority report. +After many eloquent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_623" id="Page_623">[Pg 623]</a></span> speeches in favor and two in opposition the +Senate vote was ayes 25, noes 4, two not voting, and a motion to +reconsider was tabled.</p> + +<p>On August 17 the House Committee reported in favor of ratification, +saying: "This is the performance of solemn platform promises and we +take great pride in the fact that to Tennessee has been accorded the +signal distinction of passing a resolution which will secure the final +adoption of the 19th Amendment." Speaker Seth M. Walker then moved to +adjourn to gain time, which was carried by 52 ayes, 44 noes. He had +given the suffragists his word that he would not only vote for +ratification but would lead the fight for it in the House. On the +contrary he suddenly underwent a radical change and fought it bitterly +through the entire session.</p> + +<p>On August 18 occurred the most exciting and dramatic session ever held +in the House. Speaker Walker moved to table the resolution in an +effort to kill it. R. L. Dowlen, who had undergone a serious +operation, was brought from his bed to the Capitol to vote for it. T. +A. Dodson received a message that his baby was dying and after he had +taken the train it was found that his vote would be needed to carry +it. A member reached the train as it was pulling out, found him and +they leaped off. He cast his vote for the resolution and a man who was +able to do so sent him home on a special train. The Speaker lobbied +openly after clearing the House of suffrage lobbyists. Sitting with +his arm around the shoulder of Banks S. Turner he stopped his voting +when his name was called, but Turner won the honor of all present +when, at the end of the roll call, he threw off Speaker Walker's arm, +stood up and cast his vote for ratification. Harry T. Burn, aged 24, +had been voting with the opposition but had given the suffragists his +word that, as he had voted for the Presidential suffrage bill in 1919 +and as his mother wanted him to vote for ratification, he would do so +if his vote should be needed but otherwise he would vote against it, +as his constituency was opposed. When the vote was a tie—48 to 48—he +instantly realized that the resolution would be lost unless he should +vote for it. This he did and the vote stood 49 ayes, 47 noes. Speaker +Walker then changed his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_624" id="Page_624">[Pg 624]</a></span> vote from no to aye, making the vote 50 ayes, +46 noes, and moved to reconsider.<a name="FNanchor_176_176" id="FNanchor_176_176"></a><a href="#Footnote_176_176" class="fnanchor">[176]</a></p> + +<p>By the rules of the House Speaker Walker had for three days the +exclusive right in which to call up the motion to reconsider, after +which others could do so. During this time the opponents worked madly +to get one of the loyal 49 to change his vote without avail. They +attempted every unscrupulous scheme known to control legislation. All +failing, as a last desperate move, 36 in the early morning hours made +a hegira to Decatur, Ala., where they remained for about ten days.</p> + +<p>On August 23 the seats of the "antis" were conspicuously vacant. As +the Speaker had not asked for a reconsideration, Mr. Riddick moved to +call from the Journal the motion to reconsider. Speaker Walker ruled +this out of order, giving among other reasons that Judge E. F. +Langford of the Chancery Court had granted a temporary injunction +restraining the Governor, Secretary of State and Speakers from +certifying to Secretary of State Colby that the Legislature had +ratified. Mr. Riddick appealed from the decision of the chair and it +was not sustained. He then moved that the House reconsider its action +in concurring in the Senate ratification, which was defeated by 49 +noes, 9 present and not voting. He next moved that the Clerk of the +House be instructed to transmit to the Senate the ratification +resolution, which was carried by a viva voce vote. Governor Roberts, +himself formerly a Judge, could not be checked by the devices of the +opposition but asked Attorney General Thompson to place the matter +before Chief Justice D. L. Lansden of the State Supreme Court. He +issued a writ of supersedeas and certiorari, which, taking the matter +out of the jurisdiction of the Chancery Court,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_625" id="Page_625">[Pg 625]</a></span> amounted to a +dissolving of the injunction. The Governor then mailed the certificate +of ratification to Secretary Colby at noon, August 24, which he +received on the morning of August 26. This completed the necessary +thirty-six ratifications and Secretary Colby immediately proclaimed +the Federal Suffrage Amendment a part of the Constitution of the +United States.</p> + +<p>During the weeks of machinations by the opposition, Governor Roberts, +State Superintendent of Education Albert H. Williams, the other +officers of the administration and the efficient Steering Committee, +made up of members of the Legislature, headed by President Todd and +Chief Clerk W. M. Carter of the Senate, were on complete guard night +and day.</p> + +<p>After the American Constitutional League had failed in the courts of +Tennessee they planned to secure injunctions against election +officials to prevent women from voting and carried their fight to the +courts of the District of Columbia, losing in every one. They finally +reached the Supreme Court of the United States, which eventually +decided that the 19th Amendment was legally and constitutionally +ratified. [This matter is referred to in +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29878/29878-h/29878-h.htm#CHAPTER_XX">Chapter XX of Volume V</a>.] +Meanwhile on September 20 Speaker Walker and other opponents went to +Washington and requested Secretary Colby to withdraw and rescind the +ratification proclamation. Failing in this effort they went on to +Connecticut to prevent ratification by the special session there, +which had at last been called, and this mission also was a failure.</p> + +<p>To Tennessee will forever belong the glory of placing the last seal on +the Federal Amendment by which the women of the United States were +enfranchised.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_626" id="Page_626">[Pg 626]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/map01a.jpg" width="500" height="327" alt="MAP I. + +The Suffrage Map from 1869 to 1893. Wyoming as a Territory in 1869 and +as a State in 1890 gave equal suffrage to women." title="" /> +<p class="center bold">MAP I.</p> + +<p class="center">The Suffrage Map from 1869 to 1893. Wyoming as a Territory in 1869 and +as a State in 1890 gave equal suffrage to women.</p> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/map01b.jpg" width="500" height="343" alt="MAP II. + +The Suffrage Map from 1893 to 1910. Colorado gave equal suffrage to +women in 1893 Utah in 1895, Idaho in 1896." title="" /> +<p class="center bold">MAP II.</p> + +<p class="center">The Suffrage Map from 1893 to 1910. Colorado gave equal suffrage to +women in 1893 Utah in 1895, Idaho in 1896.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_627" id="Page_627">[Pg 627]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/map02.png" width="500" height="305" alt="MAP III. + +The Suffrage Map when Congress submitted the Federal Amendment June 4, +1919. In the white States women had full suffrage; in the dotted +States Presidential; in Illinois, Nebraska, North Dakota, Tennessee +and Vermont Municipal also; in the first three County besides." title="" /> +<p class="center bold">MAP III.</p> + +<p class="center">The Suffrage Map when Congress submitted the Federal Amendment June 4, +1919. In the white States women had full suffrage; in the dotted +States Presidential; in Illinois, Nebraska, North Dakota, Tennessee +and Vermont Municipal also; in the first three County besides.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_628" id="Page_628">[Pg 628]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/map03.png" width="500" height="313" alt="MAP IV. + +The Legislatures of all the white States ratified the Federal Woman +Suffrage Amendment; those of the black States rejected it except that +of Florida, whose Governor said it would do so if he called a special +session." title="" /> +<p class="center bold">MAP IV.</p> + +<p class="center">The Legislatures of all the white States ratified the Federal Woman +Suffrage Amendment; those of the black States rejected it except that +of Florida, whose Governor said it would do so if he called a special +session.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_629" id="Page_629">[Pg 629]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/map04.png" width="500" height="304" alt="MAP V. + +The Suffrage Map after the Ratification of the Federal +Amendment—universal, complete woman suffrage in every State." title="" /> +<p class="center bold">MAP V.</p> + +<p class="center">The Suffrage Map after the Ratification of the Federal +Amendment—universal, complete woman suffrage in every State.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_164_164" id="Footnote_164_164"></a><a href="#FNanchor_164_164"><span class="label">[164]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. John +M. Kenny, an officer of the State Equal Suffrage Association from 1914 +until the ratification of the Federal Suffrage Amendment in 1920.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_165_165" id="Footnote_165_165"></a><a href="#FNanchor_165_165"><span class="label">[165]</span></a> Through the combined efforts of the joint chairmen of +the campaign Committee, Mrs. Kenny and Mrs. Milton, and the +association of which Mrs. Dudley was President, a conference was +called to formulate a plan of amalgamation of the two State +associations. This was finally accomplished in March, 1918, when Mrs. +Leslie Warner of Nashville was unanimously chosen as the amalgamation +president.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_166_166" id="Footnote_166_166"></a><a href="#FNanchor_166_166"><span class="label">[166]</span></a> The other congressional district chairmen were Mrs. +Ferd. E. Powell, Johnson City; Miss Sara Ruth Fraser, Chattanooga; +Mrs. Sam Young, Dixon Springs; Mrs. Walter Jackson, Murfreesboro; Mrs. +Kimbrough, Nashville; Mrs. Ben Childers, Pulaski; Miss Sue S. White, +Mrs. Jas. B. Ezzell, Newsom Station; Mrs. M. M. Betts, Memphis.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_167_167" id="Footnote_167_167"></a><a href="#FNanchor_167_167"><span class="label">[167]</span></a> "W. R. Crabtree, President of the Senate: May I not +express my earnest hope that the Senate of Tennessee will reconsider +the vote by which it rejected the legislation extending the suffrage +to women? Our party is so distinctly pledged to its passage that it +seems to me the moral obligation is complete.—Woodrow Wilson."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_168_168" id="Footnote_168_168"></a><a href="#FNanchor_168_168"><span class="label">[168]</span></a> Mrs. Frances Fort Brown of Nashville left a bequest of +$3,000 to the National American Woman Suffrage Association and its +board of officers appropriated enough of it to pay the expenses of +this suit.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_169_169" id="Footnote_169_169"></a><a href="#FNanchor_169_169"><span class="label">[169]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. +Margaret Ervin Ford, president of the State Equal Suffrage +Association.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_170_170" id="Footnote_170_170"></a><a href="#FNanchor_170_170"><span class="label">[170]</span></a> Mrs. C. B. Allen organized the Memphis Woman's Party +within the State Association and became its president and Mrs. Ford +organized it in Chattanooga with over 400 members, was elected +president and ward organization started there. Nashville had the first +through ward organization, due to Miss Matilda Porter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_171_171" id="Footnote_171_171"></a><a href="#FNanchor_171_171"><span class="label">[171]</span></a> The lists of the many officers of the association +during the years are unavoidably too imperfect to be used without +doing injustice to those omitted. In Mrs. Ford's strong desire to give +full credit to all the men and women who were actively connected with +the work for woman suffrage in Tennessee she sent lists so long that +the lack of space made it absolutely necessary to omit them.—Ed.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_172_172" id="Footnote_172_172"></a><a href="#FNanchor_172_172"><span class="label">[172]</span></a> The gold pen used by Governor Roberts in signing the +bill was one used by Dr. John W. Wester when drafting the first +anti-liquor bill ever introduced in the Tennessee Legislature, in +December, 1841. With it also Governor Rye signed the Lookout Mountain +Suffrage Bill. It belongs to Mrs. Ford, grand-daughter of Dr. Wester.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_173_173" id="Footnote_173_173"></a><a href="#FNanchor_173_173"><span class="label">[173]</span></a> Anti-suffragists from all over the State bombarded +Governor Roberts with threats of defeat for reelection should he +persist in pushing ratification, many of whom were his strongest +friends and supporters. At the special elections during the summer +held to fill vacancies in the Legislature several suffragists were +elected, among them M. H. Copenhaver, who took the seat of Senator J. +Parks Worley, arch enemy of suffrage. T. K. Riddick, a prominent +lawyer, made the race in order to lead the fight for ratification in +the House. Representative J. Frank Griffin made a flying trip from San +Francisco to cast his vote for it.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_174_174" id="Footnote_174_174"></a><a href="#FNanchor_174_174"><span class="label">[174]</span></a> Mrs. Catt, Mrs. Upton and Miss Shuler did no lobbying +in the State House.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_175_175" id="Footnote_175_175"></a><a href="#FNanchor_175_175"><span class="label">[175]</span></a> After Mrs. Catt returned to New York she said: "Never +in the history of politics has there been such a nefarious lobby as +labored to block the ratification in Nashville. In the short time that +I spent in the capital I was more maligned, more lied about, than in +the thirty previous years I worked for suffrage. I was flooded with +anonymous letters, vulgar, ignorant, insane. Strange men and groups of +men sprang up, men we had never met before in the battle. Who were +they? We were told, this is the railroad lobby, this is the steel +lobby, these are the manufacturers' lobbyists, this is the remnant of +the old whiskey ring. Even tricksters from the U. S. Revenue Service +were there operating against us, until the President of the United +States called them off.... They appropriated our telegrams, tapped our +telephones, listened outside our windows and transoms. They attacked +our private and public lives. I had heard of the 'invisible +government.' Well, I have seen it work and I have seen it sent into +oblivion."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_176_176" id="Footnote_176_176"></a><a href="#FNanchor_176_176"><span class="label">[176]</span></a> Burn's vote so angered the opposition that they +attempted to fasten a charge of bribery on him. On a point of personal +privilege he made a statement to the House which was spread upon the +Journal. After indignantly denying the charge he said: "I changed my +vote in favor of ratification because I believe in full suffrage as a +right; I believe we had a moral and legal right to ratify; I know that +a mother's advice is always safest for her boy to follow and my mother +wanted me to vote for ratification. I appreciated the fact that an +opportunity such as seldom comes to mortal man—to free 17,000,000 +women from political slavery—was mine. I desired that my party in +both State and Nation might say it was a Republican from the mountains +of East Tennessee, purest Anglo-Saxon section in the world, who made +woman suffrage possible, not for any personal glory but for the glory +of his party." +</p><p> +[Lack of space prevents giving the names of the immortal 49, which +were sent with the chapter.]</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_630" id="Page_630">[Pg 630]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLII" id="CHAPTER_XLII"></a>CHAPTER XLII.</h2> + +<h3>TEXAS.<a name="FNanchor_177_177" id="FNanchor_177_177"></a><a href="#Footnote_177_177" class="fnanchor">[177]</a></h3> + + +<p>For many reasons Texas was slow in entering the movement for woman +suffrage. There was some agitation of the subject from about 1885 and +some organization in 1893-6 but the work done was chiefly through the +Woman's Christian Temperance Union. In February, 1903, a meeting was +called at Houston by Miss Annette Finnigan, a Texas girl and a +graduate of Wellesley College. Here, with the help of her sisters, +Elizabeth and Katharine Finnigan Anderson, an Equal Suffrage League +was formed with Annette as president. The following month Mrs. Carrie +Chapman Catt, president of the National American Woman Suffrage +Association, lectured in Houston under its auspices. During the summer +Annette and Elizabeth Finnigan spoke several times in Galveston and +secured a suffrage committee of twenty-five there. With this nucleus a +State Woman Suffrage Association was organized at a convention held in +Houston, in December, which lasted two days and was well attended. Dr. +Anna Howard Shaw, vice-president of the National Association, was +present at all the sessions, spoke at both evening meetings and took a +deep interest in the new organization. Annette Finnigan was elected +State president and during the following year made an effort to +organize in Beaumont, San Antonio and Austin but the women, although +interested, were too timid to organize for suffrage. Mrs. Charlotte +Perkins Gilman spoke under the auspices of the league.</p> + +<p>The second State convention or conference was held in Houston in +December, 1904, Galveston and La Porte being represented. Reports were +given and officers elected, Annette Finnigan remaining president. The +Houston league had a paid up membership<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_631" id="Page_631">[Pg 631]</a></span> of one hundred, regular +meetings were held and the subject of woman suffrage was kept +constantly before the public. An effort was made to get a woman on the +school board but the Mayor refused to appoint one. Among those active +in the work were Althea Jones, Miss Mary W. Roper, Mrs. E. F. and Miss +Ruby McGowen of Houston; Mrs. A. Adella Penfield of La Porte, Mrs. C. +H. Moore and Miss Julia Runge of Galveston. The Finnigan sisters were +the leaders and the league prospered for several years until they left +the State. The movement became inactive and the society formed in +Austin in 1908 with twenty-five members was the only one that +continued.</p> + +<p>In 1912 through the efforts of Miss M. Eleanor Brackenridge of San +Antonio and Miss Anna Maxwell Jones, a Texas woman residing in New +York, suffrage clubs were organized in San Antonio, Galveston, Dallas, +Waco, Tyler and San Marcos. Miss Finnigan returned to Texas and the +Houston league was revived. The third State convention was held in San +Antonio in March, 1913. Miss Brackenridge was elected president, Miss +Finnigan honorary president. The convention was spirited and showed +that the suffrage movement was well launched. This was just ten years +after the first club was started. Miss Brackenridge possessed large +means and a wide acquaintance and gave much prestige to the +association. A number of notable speakers were brought to the State +and the subject was introduced in women's organizations. This year +through the San Antonio league a bill was introduced in the +Legislature but never came to a vote.</p> + +<p>In April, 1914, the State convention was held in Dallas and Miss +Brackenridge was made honorary president and Miss Finnigan again +elected president. During the year State headquarters were opened in +Houston and the clubs were increased from eight to twenty-one. Miss +Pearl Penfield, as headquarters and field secretary, organized the +State work. The president sent letters to all the legislators asking +them to pledge themselves to vote for a woman suffrage amendment to +the State constitution. None of them had an idea that any of the +others would agree to support it and a considerable number in a desire +to "please the ladies" wrote charming letters of acquiescence. When in +January, 1915, they confronted a large group of women lobbyists, +experiences were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_632" id="Page_632">[Pg 632]</a></span> hurriedly compared and consternation reigned among +them. "Uncle" Jesse Baker of Granbury, of honored memory, introduced +the resolution to submit an amendment to the electors. The Legislative +Committee were inexperienced but they worked with such zeal that it +received a vote in the House of 90 to 32. It was not considered by the +Senate.</p> + +<p>Among those who worked with Miss Finnigan during the three months in +Austin were Mrs. Minnie Fisher Cunningham, president of the Galveston +Equal Suffrage Association; Mrs. Tex Armstrong of the Dallas +association; Mrs. J. O. Creighton of the Austin association; Mrs. Ed. +F. Harris and Mrs. J. H. W. Steele of Galveston; Mrs. David Doom, Mrs. +Robert Connerly, Mrs. L. E. Walker, Mrs. A. B. Wolfe and Mrs. R. H. +Griffith, all of Austin; Mrs William H. Dunne of San Antonio; Mrs. +Elizabeth Herndon Potter of Tyler; Mrs. W. E. Spell of Waco.</p> + +<p>On Sunday afternoon, March 28, Dr. Shaw, the guest of Miss +Brackenridge, delivered a great speech in Beethoven Hall under the +auspices of the San Antonio Equal Franchise Society, accompanied on +the stage by its president, Mrs. Dan Leary; J. H. Kirkpatrick, +president of the Men's Suffrage League, the Rev. George H. Badger and +Miss Marie B. Fenwick, a veteran suffragist. Many converts were made. +In April the State convention met in Galveston and reports showed +twenty-one auxiliaries. Mrs. Cunningham was elected president, alert, +enthusiastic and bringing to the cause the valuable experience of work +in it for the past two years. The president and new board prosecuted +the work so vigorously that during the year there was a 400 per cent. +increase in organizations. Miss Kate Hunter, president of the +Palestine league, gave her entire summer vacation to field work.</p> + +<p>In May, 1916, the State convention met in Dallas, re-elected Mrs. +Cunningham to the presidency and instructed the executive committee to +ask for suffrage planks in State and National Democratic platforms. +The name was changed from Woman Suffrage to Equal Suffrage Association +and the Senatorial district plan of organization was adopted, +following the lines of the Democratic party. When the State Democratic +convention met in San Antonio this month to elect a national +committeeman there were scores of women in the galleries proudly +wearing their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_633" id="Page_633">[Pg 633]</a></span> suffrage colors but Governor James E. Ferguson and +ex-U. S. Senator Joseph Weldon Bailey, both of unhallowed memory, +united their forces and woman suffrage had not a remote chance.</p> + +<p>Texas women went to the National Republican convention in Chicago in +June and a sufficient number of them to form half a block in the +"golden lane" at the National Democratic convention in St. Louis. At +the latter Governor Ferguson brought in the minority report of the +Resolutions Committee against a woman suffrage plank in the platform, +and let it be recorded that there were only three other men on the +committee who would sign it, the remainder signing the majority report +placing the plank in the platform. In August the Democratic convention +met in Houston to nominate State candidates and prepare the State +platform. Mrs. Cunningham, Mrs. Helen Moore and Mrs. J. M. Quinnof +appeared before the platform committee and with all the eloquence at +their command urged it to insert a woman suffrage plank or at least to +endorse the National platform. This committee was entirely in the +hands of the liquor ring and Ferguson was czar of the convention, so +woman suffrage was ignored.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Edith Hinkle League, the headquarters secretary, shared the +president's ten, twelve and even fourteen-hour days of labor, so that +Mrs. Cummingham was able to leave the office in charge of her and +volunteer assistants while she helped to fill the pressing need of +field workers and organizers. She had the assistance of Miss Lavinia +Engle, one of the National Association's organizers. Despite the lack +of funds when word came of West Virginia's need of Mrs. Cunningham in +its amendment campaign the executive board paid her expenses to that +State and she donated her services. Upon her return to Texas she +devoted July and August to field work, averaging two or three speeches +a day during these insufferably hot months.</p> + +<p>When the Legislature convened in January, 1917, the Legislative +Committee were on hand. The following report by Mrs. Cunningham +summarizes the work:</p> + +<blockquote><p>First. Opening suffrage headquarters on the main street at Austin +near the Capitol. Second. A luncheon, at which the attendance +exceeded the capacity of the largest hotel. The program was a +mock legislative session at which the suffrage bill came up for +the third<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_634" id="Page_634">[Pg 634]</a></span> reading and debate, those opposed imitating the style +of the leading "antis" at hearings. Third. A very successful mass +meeting at the Hancock Opera House with good speakers. Fourth. +Introduction of the House Joint Resolution for a suffrage +amendment, signed by twenty members, including some who had +opposed it in 1915. Fifth. Mass meeting in the House of +Representatives the night before the amendment came to a vote, +invitation for this being extended by resolution of the House. +Speaker F. O. Fuller presided and House and gallery were crowded.</p> + +<p>Sixth. Introduction of the Primary suffrage bill in the Senate +and House. Seventh. Introduction of the Presidential suffrage +bill. Eighth. Speakers touring the State and keeping the cities +and towns aroused; a constant stream of letters to organizations +and individuals and from them to Representatives. Ninth. Press +work, a weekly news letter to those papers which would reach the +legislators; getting in touch with reporters and editors of the +large daily papers in the State in Austin for the session. First, +last and all the time work at the Capitol, interviewing members +of the House and Senate, Speaker, President, and public men who +could and if asked might help a little here and there. This work +was carried on daily for nearly three months.</p> + +<p>It is my judgment that the Presidential suffrage bill could have +been passed (anticipating the Governor's veto though) but for the +fact that the closing days of the session were taken up by the +investigation of the Governor on charges preferred in the House.</p></blockquote> + +<p>On January 31 the Primary suffrage bill was favorably reported by the +Senate committee but was not taken from the calendar. On February 6 +the resolution to submit an amendment to the voters received 76 ayes, +56 noes in the House, lacking the required two-thirds. It was not +acted upon by the Senate. On February 19 the Presidential suffrage +bill was referred to a Senate committee and on the 26th was returned +with a favorable minority report but not acted upon.</p> + +<p>Early in 1917 the misdeeds of Governor Ferguson culminated and a great +campaign was begun to secure his impeachment. He was the implacable +foe of woman suffrage and of every great moral issue for which women +stood, therefore at the very beginning of the campaign word was sent +to the committee in Austin that the State Equal Suffrage Association +had abandoned all other work temporarily and placed its entire +resources at their command. The offer was accepted at once and the +character and value of the services which the women performed may be +judged<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_635" id="Page_635">[Pg 635]</a></span> from the following statement from D. K. Woodward, Jr., +secretary of the Central Committee in charge of the campaign:</p> + +<blockquote><p>The impeachment of former Governor Ferguson could not have been +brought about without the cooperation of the women of the +State.... Their work was under the direction of Mrs. Cunningham, +president of the Texas Equal Suffrage Association, who came at +once to Austin and established headquarters. The women were asked +to reach the remote sections, to eradicate prejudice and leave +understanding in its stead.... They did all that was asked of +them and more. The most confirmed skeptic on the question of +women's participation in public life must have been converted had +he witnessed the unselfish, tireless, efficient work of these +hundreds of devoted women and the striking ability of their +leader, whose genius for organization, knowledge of public +affairs and public men of Texas and sound judgment on all +questions of policy were of untold value....<a name="FNanchor_178_178" id="FNanchor_178_178"></a><a href="#Footnote_178_178" class="fnanchor">[178]</a></p></blockquote> + +<p>Then came the entrance of the United States into the World War and the +suffragists consecrated time, strength, life itself if necessary to +its demands. The call to the annual convention held in Waco in May, +1917, indicated with what directness and intelligence the women +approached their added responsibilities. It was "a call to the +colors," to work for the war. War and Woman's Service; What can we do? +Our Need of the Ballot to do it; True Americanism, were among the +subjects considered. It voted to ask the War Department to abolish +saloons in the soldiers' concentration and mobilization camps. +Resolutions were passed pledging "loyal and untiring support to the +Government." The convention expressed itself in no uncertain tones in +the following resolution telegraphed to President Wilson: "For nearly +seventy years the women of the United States have tried the State +rights' route with its long and tortuous path. Since the Texas +Legislature has repeatedly refused submission of the suffrage +amendment to the voters, thereby repudiating the State rights' +principle of the Democratic party, the State Equal Suffrage +Association hereby urges your support of the Federal Suffrage +Amendment to enfranchise the women of our country."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Cunningham was literally conscripted president again, with a +budget calling for the expenditure of $30,000 and only<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_636" id="Page_636">[Pg 636]</a></span> $66.38 in the +treasury! Other offices were filled and then the women hurried home to +engage in Red Cross work, Liberty Loan work, anti-vice work; to knit, +to sew, to tramp the highways and byways for the various "drives"; to +make speeches before all sorts of audiences—women who a year before +were too timid to second a motion. Following the instructions of the +convention Mrs. Cunningham in June called together in San Antonio the +heads of all organizations of women and out of the conference was +formed the Woman's Anti-Vice Committee. Living in such close proximity +to the training camps, Texas women early learned with sinking hearts +of the unspeakable conditions obtaining there and their efforts to +remedy matters and to arouse the proper authorities were strenuous and +unceasing. Thousands of mothers whose sons were in training in far +away Texas will never know how earnestly the mothers of this State +labored to do by their sons as they would have wished their own done +by.</p> + +<p>The Federal Amendment work was not neglected during this time, neither +was State work and organizations rapidly multiplied. The year 1918 is +one never to be forgotten by Texas suffragists. January was given over +to intensive work for the Federal Amendment. Day letters, night +letters and telegrams poured into Congress at such a rate that the +national president, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, referred to them as the +"heavy artillery down in Texas." The Executive Committee of the State +Association in session at Austin, on the 23rd authorized Mrs. +Cunningham and Mrs. Hortense Ward to call upon the new Governor, +William P. Hobby, and ask that he submit a bill for Primary suffrage +for women at the special session of the Legislature soon to convene.</p> + +<p>A few weeks later the special session was called to consider a number +of important measures asked for by the Secretary of War. On February +24 the suffrage leaders came to Austin and established headquarters at +the Driskill Hotel, determined to secure the Primary law in time for +women to vote in the July elections. While the women were interviewing +the legislators Mrs. Nonie B. Mahoney, prominent in Dallas suffrage +work, called on Judge Barry of that city, who seemed unfavorable and +finally said it would take 5,000 names of Dallas women on a petition +to change him. He dismissed the subject from his mind and returned to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_637" id="Page_637">[Pg 637]</a></span> +his legislative duties. Four days later Mrs. Mahoney arrived in Austin +with a heavy suit case, opened it and unfolded before the Judge's +astonished gaze a petition containing the names, not alone of the +required 5,000 but of 10,000 of his townswomen!</p> + +<p>Mrs. Cunningham and her committee again asked the Governor to submit +Primary suffrage for women to the Legislature but he delayed. So great +pressure was brought to bear on him that he finally consented if they +should present a petition to him signed by a majority of the members +of both House and Senate. After many hours of labor they were able to +comply with this condition and to furnish additional data to prove +that the bill would pass both Houses with large majorities. The +Governor did not submit it but he did submit the Primary Election +bill, and the Primary Suffrage bill was immediately introduced by C. +B. Metcalfe of San Angelo as an amendment to it. It passed the House +March 16 by a vote of 84 to 34 and the Senate March 21 by 17 to 4, and +was signed by Governor Hobby on March 26 in the presence of Mr. +Metcalfe, Captain Sackett, who also labored untiringly in its behalf, +Mrs. Cunningham, Mrs. Doom, Mrs. Elizabeth Speer and Mrs. McCallum, +members of the Legislative Committee. The handsome fountain pen was +purchased for the occasion by Mr. Metcalfe and after the signing +presented by him to Mrs. Cunningham. Judge A. S. Lattimore drafted the +bill in 1917 and Judge Ocie Speer of Fort Worth the one carried in +1918.<a name="FNanchor_179_179" id="FNanchor_179_179"></a><a href="#Footnote_179_179" class="fnanchor">[179]</a></p> + +<p>This law gave women the right to vote at all primary elections and in +all nominating conventions and nominations are equivalent to an +election, as there is practically but one party. As Texas has two U. +S. Senators and 18 Representatives it gave the women votes for more +members of Congress than those of any other State possessed, and +consequently for more presidential electors.<a name="FNanchor_180_180" id="FNanchor_180_180"></a><a href="#Footnote_180_180" class="fnanchor">[180]</a></p> + +<p>The remaining days in March, all of April and a part of May were +devoted by the suffragists to the Liberty Loan. The annual convention +was held in Austin May 29-31. In order to concentrate<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_638" id="Page_638">[Pg 638]</a></span> the entire +strength of the organization on war work the delegates agreed not to +ask the Legislature of 1919 to submit a constitutional amendment for +full suffrage but the women would give whatever time they could spare +to the Federal Amendment. The convention enthusiastically endorsed +Governor Hobby for re-election and he addressed the delegates. It was +resolved to vote only for candidates for the Legislature who favored +ratification and to send greetings and letters of appreciation to the +"immortal six" Texas Representatives in Congress who voted for the +amendment the preceding January.<a name="FNanchor_181_181" id="FNanchor_181_181"></a><a href="#Footnote_181_181" class="fnanchor">[181]</a> Decisions of importance were to +work out a plan whereby women could be educated as to candidates and +issues and the machinery of voting; to endeavor to bring out a heavy +vote of women in the coming primaries and to organize non-partisan +Women Voters' Leagues. Mrs. Cunningham against her determined protest +was re-elected president.</p> + +<p>The suffrage law did not go into effect until June 26, and, as the +primary election was scheduled for July 27 and registration had to +cease fifteen days before, the women had only seventeen days in which +to register. There was not time to assess and collect the poll tax +requisite for voting and the Legislature added to its good work by +remitting it for the election in case of women. The suffrage +association set to work to assist the new citizens. Omitting only the +words "official ballot," nearly half a million reproductions of the +long, complicated ballot to be used in the July primaries were +circulated; candidates' records were scrutinized; issues were studied; +"schools of instruction" were conducted all over the State. Women +attending the first "schools" held others until practically the city +women in every precinct, ward and block had been given the chance to +vote intelligently if they so desired and the country women had +similar opportunities. All the candidates for Governor who stood for +civic righteousness withdrew in favor of Governor Hobby when it became +certain that Ferguson would again be a candidate and the women +organized Hobby clubs and advertised Ferguson's record. A strong +campaign was also waged in behalf of the suffrage candidate for +Superintendent of Public Instruction, Miss Annie Webb Blanton.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_639" id="Page_639">[Pg 639]</a></span> +Congressional candidates and those for the Legislature came in for +especial attention. Thousands of women remained in the heat and dust +all summer to help in the campaign. As a result approximately 386,000 +women registered in the seventeen days—surely a convincing answer to +the statement that "Southern women do not want to vote." Governor +Hobby was elected by an immense majority, as were Miss Blanton and all +of the candidates who had been espoused by the new voters.</p> + +<p>In August women were heartily welcomed into the political conventions, +the men urging their appointment on all committees and even passing +resolutions of pleasure at having them participate! It was reported +that 233 out of 253 county conventions endorsed woman suffrage in some +form. In September, 1918, at the State Democratic convention in Waco +the women carried their demand for an endorsement of the Federal +Suffrage Amendment but not without strenuous opposition. In November +the Executive Board of the State Suffrage Association unanimously +passed a resolution emphasizing the one of its annual convention, that +the Legislature be requested to postpone a State referendum on woman +suffrage until after the war. The thought of one under present +conditions was appalling. A Ratification Committee which included the +heads of practically all of the women's organizations of state-wide +importance was formed. Mrs. Cunningham went to Washington for the +fourth time to assist the National Congressional Committee in the +effort for a Federal Amendment.</p> + +<p>In January, 1919, the State Legislature met in regular session and the +poll in both Houses was entirely satisfactory in regard to ratifying +the Federal Amendment. The lawmakers were so gratified at the part +played by the women during the war and the "impeachment" that they +were ready and anxious to grant anything wanted of them, in fact were +disappointed that so little was asked. It was not deemed necessary to +have a large lobby and only Mrs. Jessie Daniel Ames of Georgetown came +to Austin to assist the chairman. A resolution offered by Judge W. H. +Bledsoe of Lubbock county and Senator R. M. Dudley of El Paso county, +which was enthusiastically adopted by both Houses the second day of +the session, after complimenting highly the voting of the women at the +primaries, said: "Resolved, That the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_640" id="Page_640">[Pg 640]</a></span> United States Senate is hereby +respectfully but urgently requested to act immediately and favorably +upon the woman suffrage amendment, which has already received proper +recognition by the House of Representatives; that such action is in +full accordance with enlightened sentiment which sees no reason for +further delay."</p> + +<p>Unfortunately many friends, both men and women, were misled into +believing that it would now be possible to win a complete suffrage +victory in Texas, although 260,000 real American voters were away on +account of the war and thousands of aliens remained at home to vote. +Because of the delay in Congress on the Federal Amendment both Houses +submitted by unanimous vote an amendment to the State constitution. It +was handicapped by a "rider" which required full naturalization by +every foreign-born man before he could vote, instead of merely his +first papers as now. This ensured a negative vote from every alien. A +telegram to Washington summoned Mrs. Cunningham to return immediately +and take command of the campaign, for it would be a Herculean task to +manage one successfully in less than three months' time in a State +consisting of 253 counties and the vote to be taken May 24. It was +impossible for the State association to finance such a campaign and +the National Association, although disapproving of the referendum, +contributed about $17,000.</p> + +<p>President Wilson sent a cablegram from Paris urging the voters to give +the amendment their support and the members of his administration used +their influence in its favor. The State officials championed it and +the party organization of the State and many in the counties put +themselves behind it. All of the daily newspapers but one in the four +largest cities advocated it. Almost every minister labored earnestly +for it, many of them preaching in favor of it. Many excellent women +engaged in the campaign, some of them even speaking on the street +corners. The district, city and county chairmen of the State suffrage +association totaled 400 earnest, active women with whom the +headquarters kept in close touch through letters, press bulletins, +telephone and telegraph. These chairmen were the medium through which +3,000,000 fliers and 200,000 copies of the <i>Texas Democrat</i>, an +excellent paper edited for the occasion by Dr. A. Caswell Ellis of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_641" id="Page_641">[Pg 641]</a></span> +the State University faculty, reached the voters. More than ninety +small papers issued a four page suffrage supplement furnished them. +The list of speakers included 1,495 names and almost no meeting or +convention of any importance was held during the latter part of the +three months that did not make room on its program for a talk on woman +suffrage.</p> + +<p>On the other hand every nook and corner of the State was flooded with +anti-suffrage literature, a great deal of it emanating from U. S. +Senator Reed of Missouri, of such a vile, insinuating character that +when placed by the "antis" upon the desks of the legislators they +quickly passed protesting resolutions with only five dissenting votes. +These called attention to the splendid work of Texas women during the +war and their suffering at the absence and loss of their loved ones; +declared that this literature was "nothing short of a slap in the face +of these good women and of the members who passed, by a unanimous +vote, the woman suffrage amendment," and said: "Resolved that we go +upon record as condemning the circulation of this character of +literature and opposed to the sentiments expressed therein. We +re-affirm our allegiance to the woman suffrage amendment ... and when +we return to our homes we will do all in our power to secure the +passage of this amendment."</p> + +<p>Some of the most vicious literature was from a so-called "Man's +Organization Opposed to Woman Suffrage," with headquarters in Selma, +Ala. Former U. S. Senator Bailey, who had been residing in New York +for some years, made a speaking tour of the State, assailing the +amendment in the most vindictive manner.<a name="FNanchor_182_182" id="FNanchor_182_182"></a><a href="#Footnote_182_182" class="fnanchor">[182]</a></p> + +<p>The Women's National Anti-Suffrage Association sent Miss Charlotte +Rowe of New York, who spoke and worked against the amendment. Mrs. +James W. Wadsworth, Jr., president of this association, accompanied by +her husband, the U. S. Senator, came into the State during the +campaign and held some parlor meetings. She appointed Mrs. James B. +Wells, wife of the political "boss of the borderland" at Brownsville, +to send out literature, speak where possible, etc. Mrs. Wells had +headquarters in Austin with Mrs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_642" id="Page_642">[Pg 642]</a></span> Darden and their work was done from +there. The amendment failed but not because of their feeble efforts. +It was opposed by the strongest political forces in Texas, including +the liquor interests. The vote was 141,773 ayes, 166,893 noes; +defeated by a majority of 25,120.</p> + +<p>In eleven days after this defeat—on June 4—the Federal Woman +Suffrage Amendment was submitted by Congress to the Legislatures for +ratification. Both of the Texas Senators—Charles A. Culberson and +Morris Sheppard—and nine Representatives voted for it.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> Governor Hobby issued a call for a second special +session of the Legislature to convene June 23 to consider other +matters but the opening day found the suffragists on hand ready to ask +for ratification. The "antis" were on hand also and while they were +holding a conference in the Driskill Hotel to devise ways and means of +obtaining a hearing before the House committee, Resolution No. 1 to +ratify the amendment was read the first time in the House and referred +to this committee. The "antis" came in just in time to learn that the +committee had held its meeting, favorably reported the resolution and +it had been made the special order of business for 11 o'clock the next +morning. All of this occurred before noon of the first day.</p> + +<p>Speaker R. E. Thomason was one of the most ardent supporters of the +resolution and promptly on the hour it was brought up. As a poll of +the House had shown that it was safe, the leaders decided not to +choose between the dozens who wanted to speak in its behalf but to let +the "antis" do the talking since the "pros" had the votes. The "father +of the House," Representative King of Erath, alone spoke for it but +the opponents talked until 3:55 p. m., when some one moved the +previous question. The vote stood 96 ayes, 20 noes. As the Senate +committee hearing was set for 4 o'clock there could be no thought of +lunch but only to hurry to its room in the far removed wing of the +Capitol. That hearing can never be adequately described. +Ex-Congressman Robert W. Henry and State Senator J. C. McNealus, +fire-eating "antis," almost came to blows over the name of former +Governor Ferguson, and Miss Rowe, the New York crusader, had a +difficult<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_643" id="Page_643">[Pg 643]</a></span> time with questions. The chairman was instructed to report +favorably and in the Senate the real fight was on.</p> + +<p>The opposition tried every conceivable method to defer or defeat. +Heckling, threats, fervid oratory had no effect on the favoring +Senators. Filibustering continued all through Wednesday and Thursday, +except when the Senate recessed to listen to Governor Brough of +Arkansas, who touched on the justice of suffrage for women in an +effective manner. Finally their swan song was due and came from +Senator W. A. Johnston of Houston, intimate friend of ex-Senator +Bailey. Senator Paul Page of Bastrop ably led the fight in behalf of +the resolution. On June 27, at 7 p. m., it passed to third reading by +a vote of 18 to 9, with one pair and one absentee. That night the +opposition tried to get enough Senators out of town to break the +quorum but the friendly members and the women "shadowed" the +passengers on all out-going trains. On June 28 by a viva voce vote the +Senate went on record as the ninth State to ratify the Federal +Suffrage Amendment, the actual strength being 19 to 10, with one +absent. Lieutenant Governor W. A. Johnson proved his friendship and +loyalty to the cause of woman suffrage by remaining in the chair +constantly during the four days' contest.</p> + +<p>With the women of Texas soon to be fully enfranchised the State Equal +Suffrage Association in October, 1919, merged into the State League of +Women Voters, with Mrs. Jessie Daniel Ames chairman.<a name="FNanchor_183_183" id="FNanchor_183_183"></a><a href="#Footnote_183_183" class="fnanchor">[183]</a></p> + +<p>[<span class="smcap">Laws.</span> An excellent digest of the laws for women and children +accompanied this chapter, showing considerable advance since a résumé +was given in Volume IV of the History of Woman Suffrage. The writer of +the present chapter insists that they never were so unjust as there +represented. The omission of the laws from this, as from the other +State chapters for lack of space is a loss to the History.]</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_177_177" id="Footnote_177_177"></a><a href="#FNanchor_177_177"><span class="label">[177]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Jane +Y. McCallum, member of the Executive Board of the State Equal Suffrage +Association as chairman of the Legislative Committee, the Ratification +Committee and the Publicity Committee.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_178_178" id="Footnote_178_178"></a><a href="#FNanchor_178_178"><span class="label">[178]</span></a> It is a matter of much regret that the dramatic account +sent of this remarkable campaign must be omitted because of the +pressing lack of space.—Ed.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_179_179" id="Footnote_179_179"></a><a href="#FNanchor_179_179"><span class="label">[179]</span></a> See Primary suffrage in Arkansas chapter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_180_180" id="Footnote_180_180"></a><a href="#FNanchor_180_180"><span class="label">[180]</span></a> Judge F. G. Chambliss of the 36th District Court, who +was defeated for reelection at this time, claimed that it was due to +votes of women and brought suit in the 79th District Court at Corpus +Christi to test the legality of the Primary Law. Judge V. M. Taylor +ruled that it was unconstitutional. In another case an injunction was +sought to restrain the tax collector of McLennan county from issuing +poll tax receipts to women. The Appellate and Supreme Courts upheld +the constitutionality of the law.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_181_181" id="Footnote_181_181"></a><a href="#FNanchor_181_181"><span class="label">[181]</span></a> The speech of Morris Sheppard delivered in the U. S. +Senate Aug. 5, 1918, was one of the strongest arguments ever made for +the Federal Suffrage Amendment.—Ed.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_182_182" id="Footnote_182_182"></a><a href="#FNanchor_182_182"><span class="label">[182]</span></a> After women got the Primary vote Mr. Bailey returned to +Texas and announced himself a candidate for Governor. He was +overwhelmingly defeated at the primaries and his comment was: "The +women and the preachers did it."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_183_183" id="Footnote_183_183"></a><a href="#FNanchor_183_183"><span class="label">[183]</span></a> The following women besides those mentioned have held +office in the association since 1900: Mesdames Tex Armstrong, Anna B. +Cade, A. O. Critchett, John Davis, Walter L. Fordtran, Mary Herndon +Gray, Goodrich Jones, Lindley Miller Keasbey, Helen Moore, Elizabeth +Stribling Maury, Jane Yelvington McCallum, Sterling Myer, Elizabeth +Herndon, Dwight Edward Potter, Ella Pomeroy, E. B. Reppert, L. E. +Walker, Robert Aeneas Watt; Misses Mary Fowler Bornefield, Irelene +DeWitt, Marin B. Fenwick, Kate Hunter, A. A. Stuart, Hettie D. M. +Wallis.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_644" id="Page_644">[Pg 644]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLIII" id="CHAPTER_XLIII"></a>CHAPTER XLIII.</h2> + +<h3>UTAH.<a name="FNanchor_184_184" id="FNanchor_184_184"></a><a href="#Footnote_184_184" class="fnanchor">[184]</a></h3> + + +<p>The results of equal suffrage in Utah for fifty years—1870-1920—with +an unavoidable interim of eight years, have demonstrated the sanity +and poise of women in the exercise of their franchise. The Mormon +women had had long training, for from the founding of their church by +Joseph Smith in 1830 they had a vote in its affairs. Although the +Territory of Wyoming was the first to give the suffrage to women—in +November, 1869—the Legislature of Utah followed in January, 1870, and +the bill was signed by Governor S. A. Mann February 12. Women voted at +the regular election the next August and there was no election in +Wyoming until September, so those of Utah had the distinction of being +the pioneer women voters in the United States and there were over five +times as many women in Utah as in Wyoming. The story of how their +suffrage was taken away by an Act of Congress in 1887 and how it was +restored in full by the men of Utah when they made their constitution +for statehood in 1895 and adopted it by a vote of ten to one is +related in detail in Volume IV of the History of Woman Suffrage. The +women have voted since then in large numbers, filled many offices and +been a recognized political influence for the benefit of the State.</p> + +<p>The large and active Territorial Woman Suffrage Association held +annual conventions until after it succeeded in gaining the franchise. +In 1899, during a visit of Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt to Salt Lake City, +a meeting was called and steps taken to form a Utah Council of Women +to assist the suffrage movement in other States and Mrs. Emily S. +Richards was made president. This Council, composed of Mormons and +non-Mormons, continued in existence for twenty years. For the first +ten years there were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_645" id="Page_645">[Pg 645]</a></span> monthly meetings and also special and committee +meetings and prominent speakers addressed the annual gatherings, +eulogizing and commemorating the lives and labors of the suffrage +pioneers throughout the Union. Whenever the National American Suffrage +Association called for financial aid it responded liberally. The +suffrage having been gained it was hard to keep up the interest and +after 1910 meetings were held only at the call of the president for +the purpose of carrying out the wishes of the National Suffrage +Association, at whose conventions the Council was always represented +by delegates. In 1909-10, when the association was collecting its +monster petition to Congress, the Council obtained 40,000 names as +Utah's quota.</p> + +<p>The official personnel remained practically the same from 1900. That +noble exponent of the best there is in womanhood, Mrs. Emily S. +Richards, preserved the spirit and genius of the Council, which +recognized no party and whose members cast their votes for good men +and measures without undue partisan bias. She was sustained by its +capable and resourceful secretary, Mrs. Elizabeth M. Cohen, and both +maintained a non-partisan attitude in the conduct of the Council. The +officers were: Emmeline B. Wells, member national executive committee; +Elizabeth A. Hayward, Mrs. Ira D. Wines, Dr. Jane Skolfield and Mrs. +B. T. Pyper, vice-presidents; Anna T. Piercey, assistant secretary; +Hannah S. Lapish, treasurer.</p> + +<p>As Territory and State, every county, every town, every precinct has +been served faithfully and well by women in various positions. It +would be impossible to name all who have done yeoman service during +the past years but the three women who have meant more than all others +to the suffrage cause are Mrs. Sarah M. Kimball, who was appointed by +Brigham Young and Eliza R. Snow as the standard bearer of that cause +in the late '60's and who maintained her active hold upon politics +until about 1885, when her able first lieutenant, Mrs. Emmeline B. +Wells, took up the work dropped by the aged hands of Mrs. Kimball. She +in turn carried the banner of equal civic freedom aloft, assisted by +Mrs. Richards, until she relinquished it in 1896 and Mrs. Richards +became the standard bearer. Many other splendid women have labored +assiduously in this cause.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_646" id="Page_646">[Pg 646]</a></span></p> + +<p>In legislative matters a committee from the Council has worked during +every session since 1911 with associated committees from the other +large organizations of women, the powerful Relief Society, the Young +Ladies' Mutual Improvement Association and the Federated Clubs leading +in all good movements. Results in the enactment of welfare laws for +women and children have been very gratifying. The women's committees +of the various organizations meet at the State Capitol during the +legislative sessions and go over very carefully every bill in which +they are interested. If after investigation a bill meets with their +approval it is endorsed and every effort is made to secure its +passage. From 1911 to 1917 the women's legislative committee secured +copies of laws already in successful operation in other States and +framed bills to meet their own needs. These were always submitted to +two young lawyers, Dan B. Shields and Carl Badger, who corrected any +flaws which might jeopardize their constitutionality. Among the women +who comprise these committees are Mrs. Cohen, chairman, Miss Sarah +McLelland of the Relief Society; Mrs. Adella W. Eardley and Mrs. Julia +Brixen of the Y. L. M. I. A.; Mrs. Richards and Mrs. Hayward of the +Suffrage Council; Mrs. C. M. McMahon, president, Mrs. Peter A. +Simpkin, Mrs. A. V. Taylor and Mrs. Seldon I. Clawson, members of the +Federation of Women's Clubs.</p> + +<p>In many Legislatures since statehood there have been women members and +their work has been along expected lines. In 1896, the year Utah was +admitted to the Union, Dr. Martha Hughes Cannon was elected to the +State Senate, the first woman in the United States to receive that +honor. Several women were elected to the Lower House then and others +in the years following. Needed reform measures were secured by Mrs. +Mary G. Coulter, who sat in the Lower House and was made chairman of +the Judiciary Committee in 1903. There was a long interim when no +women were sent to the Legislature but in 1913 four were elected, Mrs. +Annie Wells Cannon, Dr. Skolfield, Mrs. Elizabeth Ellerbeck Reid and +Mrs. Annie H. King. They were instrumental in securing the Mothers' +Pension Law and the Minimum Wage Law and through Mrs. Cannon the +bureau of emigration labor was provided with a woman deputy to look +after the women<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_647" id="Page_647">[Pg 647]</a></span> and children workers. Utah already had an equal +guardianship law but largely through the efforts of Mrs. Cannon it was +improved and is now regarded as a model and has been copied by other +States. She is a representative daughter of Mrs. Wells.</p> + +<p>In 1915 Mrs. Elizabeth A. Hayward and Mrs. Lily C. Wolstenholme were +elected and to the former the improved child labor law must be +credited. In 1917 she was re-elected and Dr. Grace Stratton Airy and +Mrs. Daisy C. Allen became members of the Lower House. During +1915-1917 laws raising the age of protection for girls to 18 and +requiring equal pay for equal work were enacted. Mrs. Hayward, at the +request of the women's Legislative Council, introduced the resolution +calling on Congress to submit the Federal Amendment. In 1918 she was +elected State Senator. In 1919 Dr. Airy was re-elected and Mrs. Anna +G. Piercy and Mrs. Delora Blakely were elected to the Lower House. +Altogether there have been thirteen women members of the Legislature. +No State has better laws relating to women and children than Utah.</p> + +<p>It has been difficult to persuade the women to stand for important +offices. The modern furious pace set by campaigners and the severance +of home ties for long periods are not alluring to wives and mothers +but they find many public activities through which to exercise their +executive abilities. They sit on the boards of many State and local +institutions and serve on committees for civic and educational work. A +considerable number have filled and are now filling city and county +offices. Mrs. L. M. Crawford has a responsible position in the office +of the State Land Board. Mrs. McVickar was State Superintendent of +Schools. In 1917 a new department was added to the office of the +Adjutant General to secure pensions for those veterans who had served +in the early Indian wars of Utah. Mrs. Elizabeth M. Cohen was given +custody of the old Indian War Records and was named Commissioner of +Pensions. In order to prove the claims of these men and women she +cooperated with the Pension Bureau at Washington, D. C. Up to date out +of a possible 1,500 whose claims have merit nearly 700 pensions have +been granted, bringing into the State the sum of $400,000.</p> + +<p>When Brigham Young established those monuments to his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_648" id="Page_648">[Pg 648]</a></span> name, the +Brigham Young University of Provo and the Brigham Young College of +Logan in 1874 he placed women on their boards. Mrs. Martha J. Coray of +Provo served ten years for the former and Professor Ida M. Cook for +the latter. Mrs. Gates was made a trustee of the university in 1891, +which position she still occupies, while her sister, Mrs. Zina Young +Card, has been a trustee since 1914. Mrs. Gates was on the board of +the State Agricultural College 1905-1913. Mrs. A. W. McCune was on +this board ten years, seven of them its vice-president. Mrs. Rebecca +M. Little, Mrs. Antoinette B. Kinney and Dr. Belle A. Gummel have been +regents of the university. Professor Maude May Babcock has been dean +of physical education and expression since 1892 and a trustee since +1897. Her culture and personality have left an indelible impress on +the history of this State.</p> + +<p>From the beginning women have allied themselves with the different +political parties, occasionally uniting on a great issue like that of +Prohibition. From the time they were enfranchised by the State +constitution they have received the recognition of the parties. In +1900 women were sent as delegates and alternates to both national +presidential conventions and Mrs. Cohen seconded the nomination of +William Jennings Bryan. A number were sent in following years. In 1908 +Mrs. Margaret Zane Cherdron was a delegate and a presidential elector, +carrying the vote to Washington. She was one of the two received by +President Taft and was royally entertained while in the capital. Among +other women who have acted as delegates and alternates since 1900 are +Mrs. William H. Jones, Mrs. Hayward, Mrs. Sarah Ventrees, Mrs. Gates, +Mrs. Lucy A. Clark, Mrs. B. T. Pyper, Mrs. L. M. Crawford, Mrs. Alice +E. Paddison.</p> + +<p>Women have their representation on all political committees—Mrs. +Hayward is a member of the Democratic National Committee—and their +participation in politics is accepted without question. There are +about 10,000 more women voters than men voters. As a rule about 90 per +cent. of the women vote and about 86 per cent. of the men, as some of +the latter are in the mines or out of the State for various reasons. +Among the Republican leaders are Mrs. Wells, Mrs. Gates, Mrs. +Cherdron, Mrs. Jannette A. Hyde, Mrs. Cannon, Mrs. Wolstenholm, Mrs. +Loufborough, Mrs. William<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_649" id="Page_649">[Pg 649]</a></span> Spry, Mrs. Reed Smoot; Mrs. Martha B. +Keeler of Provo and Mrs. Georgina G. Marriott of Ogden. The Democratic +party has had among its leading women Mrs. Richards, Mrs. Alice +Merrill Horne, Mrs. Cohen, Mrs. Hayward, Gwen Lewis Little, Mrs. +Piercy, Mrs. S. S. Smith, Mrs. Annice Dee, Mrs. Inez Knight Allen and +Miss Alice Reynolds.</p> + +<p>No State exceeded Utah in the proportion of the work done by women +during the World War. Mrs. Clarissa Smith Williams was the unanimous +choice for chairman of the State branch of the Woman's Council of +National Defense. She was eminently fitted for this position through +her long experience as first counsellor to Mrs. Emmeline B. Wells, +head of the Relief Society, and every demand of the Government was +fully met.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> At the request of the Suffrage Council and without +urging, Governor Simon Bamberger called a special session of the +Legislature for Sept. 30, 1919, to ratify the Federal Suffrage +Amendment submitted the preceding June. The resolution was presented +by Senator Elizabeth A. Hayward and was ratified unanimously by both +Houses within thirty minutes. The Governor signed it without delay. +The women and the Legislature had helped in every possible way to +secure the Amendment and the entire Utah delegation in Congress had +voted for it.</p> + +<p>A striking event in the train of possible fruitful activities left +behind was the visit of the great leader, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, +president of the National American Suffrage Association, with her able +young assistants, who came to Utah for Nov. 16-18, 1919. She was +accompanied by Dr. Valerie Parker and Mrs. Jean Nelson Penfield, +chairmen in the National League of Women Voters, and Miss Marjorie +Shuler, director of publicity for the National Association. The +convention, held in the Assembly Hall, was in charge of the Suffrage +Council, its president, Mrs. Richards, assisted by Mrs. Cohen and Mrs. +E. E. Corfman. A long and valuable program was carried out. Mrs. Catt +spoke in the Tabernacle on Sunday afternoon, introduced by President +Charles W. Penrose with a glowing tribute to her power as a leader, to +the sincerity and womanliness of her character and to the catholicity +of her vision and sympathy. There were banquets, teas and receptions.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_650" id="Page_650">[Pg 650]</a></span></p> + +<p>At the close of the convention the Suffrage Council, which had +rendered such splendid service for the past twenty years, was merged +into the State League of Women Voters and Mrs. Richards willingly +resigned her leadership to its chairman, Mrs. Clesson S. Kinney.</p> + +<p>On Feb. 12, 1920, a jubilee celebration was held in honor of the +fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the woman suffrage bill by the +Territorial Governor S. A. Mann. There was also celebrated the +granting of the complete franchise by the immense majority of the +voters in 1895.</p> + +<p>Utah celebrated in Salt Lake City August 30, with a great +demonstration, the triumph of woman suffrage in the United States +through the ratification of the Federal Amendment, which had been +proclaimed August 26. It was introduced with an impressive parade led +by bands of music and the program of ceremonies was carried out on the +steps of the State Capitol. Governor Bamberger, former Governor Heber +M. Wells, Congressman E. O. Leatherwood and Mayor C. Clarence Neslen +joined the women in congratulatory addresses. Mrs. Richards, Mrs. +Hannah Lapish and Mrs. Lydia Alder, veteran suffragists, told of the +early struggles and Mrs. Beulah Storrs Lewis appealed to women to keep +high the standard in order to lead men out of the darkness of war into +the light of brotherly love and make ready for world peace. Mrs. Annie +Wells Cannon and Mrs. Susa Young Gates were appointed to send a +telegram of congratulation to Mrs. Catt. The celebration was under the +auspices of the League of Women Voters, whose chairman, Mrs. Kinney, +presided. The most impressive figure on the platform was President +Emmeline B. Wells, 92 years old, who had voted since 1870 and who had +labored all these years for this glorious achievement. What those dim +eyes had seen of history in the making, what those old ears had heard +and what that clear brain had conceived and carried out only her close +associates knew. She was the incarnate figure of tender, delicate, +eternally determined womanhood, arrived and triumphant.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_184_184" id="Footnote_184_184"></a><a href="#FNanchor_184_184"><span class="label">[184]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Susa +Young Gates, member of the General Board of the Woman's Relief Society +and editor of the Relief Society's Magazine since it was established +in 1913 and historian of the activities of Utah women.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_651" id="Page_651">[Pg 651]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLIV" id="CHAPTER_XLIV"></a>CHAPTER XLIV.</h2> + +<h3>VERMONT.<a name="FNanchor_185_185" id="FNanchor_185_185"></a><a href="#Footnote_185_185" class="fnanchor">[185]</a></h3> + + +<p>The first convention to consider woman suffrage took place in Vermont +in 1883, when a State association was formed, and others were held +regularly to the end of the century, with the cooperation of the +Massachusetts association. At the convention held in Waterbury Center +June 12, 13, 1900, Henry B. Blackwell of Boston, editor of the +<i>Woman's Journal</i>, was the chief speaker. Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, +the new president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, +sent a letter of helpful suggestions. Petitions for a Federal Suffrage +Amendment were forwarded to Congress. During this and the following +years the <i>Woman's Journal</i> was sent to members of the Legislature; a +column prepared from that paper was sent to every editor in the State +and much literature was distributed, the Woman's Christian Temperance +Union assisting.</p> + +<p>The convention of 1901 met in Rochester June 25, 26. The speakers were +Mr. Blackwell, Professor W. L. Burdick, the Rev. George L. Story, Miss +Eliza Eaton, Miss Blanche Dunham and Mrs. Laura Kezer, president of +the W. C. T. U. The convention congratulated women of the Methodist +Episcopal Church on their admission as delegates to the General +Conference, the Vermont conference having voted for it unanimously.</p> + +<p>In 1902 the convention met at West Concord June 18, 19, among the +speakers being Miss Mary N. Chase, president of the New Hampshire +Suffrage Association, and Mr. Blackwell, who never missed a +convention.<a name="FNanchor_186_186" id="FNanchor_186_186"></a><a href="#Footnote_186_186" class="fnanchor">[186]</a> The State Baptist Association<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_652" id="Page_652">[Pg 652]</a></span> went on record this +year in favor of women voting on license and prohibition and the +Universalist Church convention endorsed equal suffrage.</p> + +<p>In 1903 the convention was held at Barton June 9, 10, with Mrs. Ida +Porter Boyer, a national organizer, among the speakers. The convention +of 1904 went to Woodstock, June 22, 23, and was addressed by the Rev. +Harry L. and Mrs. Canfield, suffrage leaders there, and many others. +It was announced that Mrs. Dorcas McClelan of Glover had left a +bequest of $150 to the association. A "composition" entitled Female +Education, written by a pupil in a Woodstock school in 1831, now Mrs. +Harriet Walker of Denver, 90 years old, was read and much enjoyed.</p> + +<p>The convention of 1905 took place in Springfield June 7, 8. During the +year 10,000 copies of Opinions on Equal Suffrage by Vermont Men and +Women had been distributed and the <i>Woman's Journal</i> placed in twelve +libraries. A memorial service was held for Mrs. Mary A. Livermore, a +life long suffragist. In 1906 the convention was held at Brattleboro +June 6, 7, with a long list of State speakers, including six +clergymen. A memorial service with tributes of appreciation was held +for Miss Susan B. Anthony.</p> + +<p>Burlington entertained the convention June 13, 14, 1907, which had the +privilege of hearing Mayor W. J. Bigelow, Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, now +president of the National Association, and State Representative H. H. +Shaw of Burlington. Mr. Blackwell presented a fine portrait of his +wife, Lucy Stone. Four prominent State workers had died during the +year, the Hon. Henry Ballard, C. W. Wyman, Miss Carolyn Scott and Miss +Laura Moore, the latter for twenty-two years secretary of the State +association, its leader and inspirer. She was known at the Capitol as +"the Saint of Barnet" and U. S. Senator Carroll S. Page once said: "If +the cause of equal suffrage should ever prevail in Vermont it will be +largely because of the seed sown<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_653" id="Page_653">[Pg 653]</a></span> by Laura Moore." Miss Scott, her +companion and co-worker, who passed away in her 92d year, left a +bequest of $1,000 to the association.</p> + +<p>At the convention in Rutland Oct. 12, 13, 1908, among the speakers +were the Reverend Mary Traffern Whitney and Mrs. Annette W. Parmelee, +State superintendent of press. The association voted to become +auxiliary to the National Association. A letter was read from former +Governor Fletcher D. Proctor, declaring himself in favor of the +movement and willing to assist it. Signatures to the suffrage petition +this year included the names of Governor George H. Prouty, Lieutenant +Governor John Abner Mead and Secretary of State Guy Bailey.</p> + +<p>In 1909 the convention held at Barre June 4, 5, decided to concentrate +its efforts on a State constitutional amendment to be voted on in +1910. A press report of the convention said: "Henry B. Blackwell, +although 84 years of age, is a commanding figure and his voice as it +rings forth in tones of conviction is more like that of a man in his +prime than of one who has passed his four-score milestone." It +therefore was a great shock when the news came on September 7 that +this far-visioned leader had passed from earth. The State suffragists +owed him a debt of gratitude which could only be repaid by carrying +forward his life work.</p> + +<p>In 1910 and 1911 the association so sadly bereft by death held no +convention but the work did not cease. Miss Chase, now a national +organizer, formed new leagues; Mrs. Parmelee sent out 3,057 pieces of +mail, circularized the clergy, conducted thirty-seven debates, wrote +131 newspaper articles, furnished leaflets to ninety W. C. T. U. +units, sent <i>Woman's Journals</i> to every graded school and every +library in the State and circulated literature at the county fairs. +She also prepared a leaflet, Seventeen Reasons Why Women Should Vote, +wrote and superintended the production of a play entitled A Mock +Session of the Legislature and spoke at legislative sessions, +churches, granges and parlor meetings. She was ably assisted in this +work by the secretary, Mrs. Canfield, who had charge of the large +Vermont and New Hampshire tent at the State Fair at White River +Junction, where speeches were made, literature distributed and +signatures<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_654" id="Page_654">[Pg 654]</a></span> obtained. Fourteen speakers were kept busy. The pastors of +all the churches in the State were circularized and as a rule were +sympathetic.<a name="FNanchor_187_187" id="FNanchor_187_187"></a><a href="#Footnote_187_187" class="fnanchor">[187]</a></p> + +<p>In 1912 the convention was held at Montpelier on June 7, with +Professor George B. Cox of Dartmouth College; Attorney J. H. Senter +and Dr. J. Edward Wright among the speakers. At Woodstock a big +suffrage "rally" was held with Dr. Harvey W. Wiley of Washington as +chief speaker. Mrs. Frances Rastall, recently appointed State +congressional chairman by the National Association, organized a +congressional committee in every county. At the convention in +Rochester June 11, 12, 1913, Mrs. Emily Chaffee of Detroit, Mich., and +many State speakers made addresses. Mrs. Julia Pierce, the State +president, handsomely entertained speakers and delegates at her home. +At St. Albans a successful "rally" with Mrs. Marian Booth Kelly as +speaker was held.</p> + +<p>In 1914 the convention was held in Burlington November 4, 5, and the +city hall was crowded at the evening meetings. Mrs. Beatrice Forbes +Robertson Hale of New York and Mrs. Maud Wood Park of Boston were the +out-of-town speakers and Representative E. P. Jose of Johnson headed +the State coterie. Conforming to plans sent out by the National +Association, "suffrage day" had been observed May 1 in Burlington with +an address by Mayor James E. Burke.</p> + +<p>The convention which met at Springfield Oct. 20, 21, 1915, received a +royal welcome. American flags and suffrage banners were suspended +across the streets and the stores were decorated with yellow. A +reception and banquet were given by Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Woolson at +Mucross Park. Among the speakers were Miss Alice Stone Blackwell, +Arthur P. Howard, editor of <i>The Advance</i>; the Hon. James Hartness, +Dr. Grace Sherwood and Representative H. E. Taylor. Mrs. Pierce, +having served<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_655" id="Page_655">[Pg 655]</a></span> six years as president, asked to be released and was +made honorary president for life. Mrs. Lucia E. Blanchard was elected +in her place. The convention deplored the opposing attitude of +Congressman Frank Greene and of U. S. Senator William P. Dillingham, +who had declared himself "unalterably opposed" to the Federal Suffrage +Amendment, and it commended the stand of Congressman Porter Dale. +Among public officials declaring themselves favorable were U. S. +Marshal Horace W. Bailey, Dr. Guy Potter Benton, president of the +University of Vermont, and J. N. Barss, superintendent of the State +Industrial School.</p> + +<p>On March 1, 1916, Mrs. Rastall called a congressional conference in +Burlington. Mrs. Catt, national president, and Mrs. Susan W. +Fitzgerald of Boston addressed a large audience. The day sessions were +at the City Hall and the mass meeting at the Strong Theater. During +the autumn a delegation of suffragists called on U. S. Senator Carroll +S. Page of Hyde Park to urge his support of the Federal Suffrage +Amendment. They were graciously received, entertained at luncheon at +the Inn and reported themselves as "pleased with the interview." In +November the National Association sent Mrs. Augusta Hughston, one of +its organizers, for a month's field work, paying all expenses, and +eighteen clubs were formed with officers and active committees.</p> + +<p>In 1917 the convention was held at St. Albans June 27, 28, with the +usual list of good speakers. Mrs. Lilian H. Olzendam was employed as +State organizer. A resolution was passed condemning the methods of the +"militant" suffragists. It was reported that after an address by Mrs. +Rastall at the State conference of the Federation of Labor at Bellows +Falls August 11, 12, woman suffrage was endorsed unanimously.</p> + +<p>In accordance with the plans of the National Association to strengthen +the situation wherever there were opposing members of Congress, and to +assist in bringing pressure on Senator Dillingham, Mrs. Halsey W. +Wilson, its recording secretary, was sent to Vermont in July, 1918, +and also Miss Marjorie Shuler, its director of field publicity, who +spent two weeks, speaking, interviewing editors and building up +favorable press sentiment. The convention was held at Burlington July +10, 11 and was addressed by Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. A. L. Bailey, State +president;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_656" id="Page_656">[Pg 656]</a></span> Mrs. Joanna Croft Read, State secretary, and Dr. Alice +Wakefield. A resolution was adopted thanking Senator Page for his +promise to support the Federal Suffrage Amendment. Senator Dillingham +still remained obdurate and Mrs. Wilson returned to meet with the +Executive Board August 17 at Montpelier, after which Mrs. Bailey, Mrs. +Read, Mrs. Parmelee, Mrs. Olzendam and Mrs. Wilson called on him by +appointment to appeal for his vote. He was very courteous but gave +them no encouragement. Mrs. Wilson remained for three weeks conferring +with and assisting the workers. In November, at the expense of the +National Association, Mrs. Hughston spent three weeks doing valuable +field work.</p> + +<p>In January, 1919, Mrs. Wilson again returned to assist the board +during the legislative session, remaining until after the convention, +which was held at Burlington March 11, 12. The speakers were Mrs. +Catt, Mrs. Wilson, Dr. Marion Horton, the new State president; City +Attorney Hamilton S. Peck, Miss Bernice Tuttle, president of the Child +Welfare Bureau; Mrs. Anna Hawkes Putnam, State chairman of the Woman's +Division of the National Council of Defense; Mrs. M. D. Chittenden, +president of the State Y. W. C. A., and others. Mrs. Parmelee gave an +account of the work for woman suffrage in Vermont and its courageous +leaders during the past thirty-six years and the reasons why bills +were voted down in the Legislature.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> On June 4, 1919, the Federal Suffrage Amendment was +submitted to the Legislatures for ratification and a survey showed +that Vermont's would probably be necessary to make the needed 36. Mrs. +Halsey Wilson returned for consultation with the State leaders and an +intensive effort was begun which continued for more than a year. Mrs. +Olzendam, chairman of ratification, not only obtained enough favorable +pledges from the members to ratify but an agreement by a majority to +pay their own expenses, and give their time for a special session. It +was soon evident, however, that Governor Percival W. Clement was +determined not to call one. Every possible influence was brought to +bear on him but he based his refusal on the ground that it would be +unconstitutional. By March, 1920, 35 States had ratified and it seemed +that the 36th<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_657" id="Page_657">[Pg 657]</a></span> would have to be Vermont or Connecticut, whose Governor +also had refused to call a special session.</p> + +<p>An ingenious demonstration was decided on, which was made possible by +a contribution of $1,000 from the Leslie Suffrage Commission. An +interview of Vermont women with the Governor was arranged by a good +friend of suffrage, Major Harvey Goodell, secretary of Civil and +Military Affairs. On April 21, a remarkable deputation of 400 women +arrived in Montpelier, representing twelve of the fourteen counties, +loyal, ardent soldiers, overcoming the obstacles of long distances, +almost impassable roads and poor train service, many coming from towns +where there were no trains and where they must plow through deep snow +and over muddy and rocky roads, one woman walking five miles. Led by +Mrs. Olzendam in a cold, drenching rain they marched through the +streets and up the steps of the Capitol and took their places before +the Governor's chair. One by one, fourteen speakers presented the case +in a few sentences. It was a notable demonstration in size, enthusiasm +and determination. It had been arranged that letters and telegrams +should arrive the day before, the day of and the day following the +visit and his excellency received 1,600 communications in three days. +Governor Clement's only response was that he did not wish to make a +decision at present.</p> + +<p>In May, 1920, the State Republican convention, with the Governor +seated on the platform, passed a resolution urging him to call a +special session, saying: "We have full faith and confidence that the +voters of the State, regardless of party affiliation, would cordially +approve and endorse the ratification of the Federal Suffrage +Amendment."</p> + +<p>The State suffrage convention met in the roof garden of The Tavern, +St. Albans, July 1, 2, in a rousing convention. Governor John H. +Bartlett of New Hampshire, which had ratified, was the guest of honor, +attending by special request of Will Hays, chairman of the National +Republican Committee. He had consulted Governor Clement about coming, +who answered: "I shall be glad to have you. Regret I shall be unable +to hear you." Miss Katharine Ludington, chairman of the Connecticut +League of Women Voters, and Miss Julia A. Hinaman, its<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_658" id="Page_658">[Pg 658]</a></span> press +chairman, were among the speakers. Mayor Charles A. Buck extended the +freedom of the city and Mrs. Read, acting president, responded. On the +platform were a large number of prominent Vermont men and women. The +report of Mrs. Olzendam described the strenuous efforts of the women +of the State for an extra session, acknowledging the assistance of +Miss Ann Batchelder, Mrs. Vida M. Chase and others and thanking Mrs. +Wilson, Mrs. Raymond Brown, fourth vice-president, and Miss Shuler, of +the National Association; Mrs. Sara Algeo, president of the Woman +Suffrage Party of Rhode Island, and Miss Winifred Brown of Utah for +their help. The delegates expressed in applause and in words their +high appreciation of Mrs. Olzendam's work. A resolution was passed at +an evening mass meeting calling upon Governor Clement to summon a +special session in order that Vermont might have the honor of being +the 36th State to ratify.</p> + +<p>Just before the convention the Governor went to Washington and the +press dispatches of July 1 told of a long talk he had that day with +President-elect Harding. Both men admitted in interviews that the +calling of a special session in Vermont had been discussed. Senator +Harding said he told the Governor he would be very glad to see this +done but made plain his desire not to interfere with the Governor's +prerogatives. Governor Clement frankly admitted that he had been urged +by Senator Harding, Chairman Hays and other Republican leaders to give +an early call but made the stereotyped excuses. Nevertheless the press +generally expressed the opinion that he would yield. On the contrary +he returned home and on July 12 issued an official proclamation in +which he made the assertion that "the Federal Constitution in its +present form threatened the foundation of free popular government; the +16th Amendment, providing for a federal income tax, was lobbied +through Congress and State Legislatures by federal agents and the 18th +Amendment for Federal prohibition was forced through by paid agents of +irresponsible organizations with unlimited funds." To what he called +the proposal to "force through the 19th Amendment for woman suffrage +in the same manner," he said: "I will never be a party to any +proceeding which proposes to change<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_659" id="Page_659">[Pg 659]</a></span> the organic law of the State +without the consent of the people." "The National Constitution," he +said, "threatens free popular government alike as it stands and as it +is interpreted by the Supreme Court. Its decision leaves the people at +the mercy of any group of men who may lobby a proposal for a change in +it through Congress and then through the Legislatures."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, national president, issued an open letter to +the Governor in the course of which she said:</p> + +<blockquote><p>In order that this generation of your fellowmen and posterity +also may not misunderstand your position, the National American +Woman Suffrage Association urges you to supplement your +proclamation with answers to the following questions: Do you +challenge the fact which has stood unchallenged for 131 years +that the Federal Constitution is the supreme law of this land and +supersedes all State constitutions whenever the two are in +conflict? Do you know that on Jan. 10, 1791, Vermont ratified +that Constitution, although she had one of her own, and by so +doing accepted the precedence of the Federal Constitution and by +that act was admitted into the Union? If you do know these facts +of common knowledge why did you throw over your refusal to call a +special session the camouflage of a dissertation about the +alleged conflict between the Vermont and Federal Constitutions +which has nothing whatever to do with the calling of a special +session of your Legislature?... Do you not know that when a +Legislature acts upon a Federal constitutional amendment it draws +its authority from the Federal and not from the State +constitution, and that the Governor has no responsible part in +the transaction except as custodian of the amendment when it +comes from the Federal Secretary of State and returns to him with +the Certificate of Ratification? Then why profess such a burden +of personal responsibility in the matter?</p> + +<p>You pretend to fear "an invasion of State's Rights" and take upon +yourself the responsibility of preserving "the foundations of +free popular government." Then why did you veto the Presidential +suffrage bill passed by the Legislature of Vermont in 1919, which +was strictly a State action and conferred the vote upon the women +of Vermont alone?... Your national party convention in 1920 +called for completion of ratification in time for women to vote +for the next President. Your party's National Committee in the +interim of conventions took action three times—once asking +Congress to submit the amendment; once favoring early +ratification and once calling upon Republican Governors to call +special sessions in order that ratification might proceed. Your +State party convention, your party's State Committee, your State +Legislature, hundreds of Vermont women, the chairman of the +National Republican Committee and the chairman of your State +Republican Committee, the candidate for President of your +party—all have asked you to call a special<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_660" id="Page_660">[Pg 660]</a></span> session.... You owe +it to the Republican party and to the world to explain your +assumption of an authority that belongs to your party leaders. By +what right do you make this assumption? Governor Clement, tell it +all!"</p></blockquote> + +<p>The total cost of the efforts to secure a special session was $7,442, +of which the National Association paid $2,578 and the Leslie Woman +Suffrage Commission $4,864.<a name="FNanchor_188_188" id="FNanchor_188_188"></a><a href="#Footnote_188_188" class="fnanchor">[188]</a></p> + +<p>Following the convention of the State association at St. Albans, July +1, 2, 1920, Miss Ludington explained the purpose of the National +League of Women Voters and the association was dissolved and a State +league organized with Mrs. Lilian Olzendam chairman.</p> + +<p>The Vermont suffrage association was fortunate in always having the +support of other State organizations, the Woman's Christian Temperance +Union, Grange, Federation of Labor, Teachers' Association, Federation +of Women's Clubs, Young Women's Christian Association and, in the +closing years, of all political parties. Among other noted speakers +from outside the State not mentioned were Professor Charles Zueblin, +Mrs. Florence Kelley and Mrs. Susan S. Fessenden, president of the +Massachusetts W. C. T. U. Over fifty clergymen of various +denominations gave active assistance.<a name="FNanchor_189_189" id="FNanchor_189_189"></a><a href="#Footnote_189_189" class="fnanchor">[189]</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action.</span> From 1884 to 1900 a bill to give Municipal +suffrage to taxpaying women was regularly introduced in the +Legislature only to be defeated.</p> + +<p>1902. The Town and Municipal Suffrage bill in the Senate was defeated +by 22 to 6; in the House by 111 to 75. A Presidential suffrage bill +received only six votes. A bill permitting women to vote on the +license question was defeated by 138 to 67. Petitions with 15,000 +signatures had been presented for these various measures.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_661" id="Page_661">[Pg 661]</a></span></p> + +<p>1904. The Municipal Suffrage bill was reported favorably to the House +by C. C. Fitts, chairman of the committee, but was refused third +reading by 99 to 97. On November 17 it was introduced in the Senate, +reported favorably by committee chairman J. Emery Buxton and passed +without debate with three opposing votes. When on December 6 it came +again before the House for reconsideration it was ordered to a third +reading by 112 to 104 but the next day was defeated by 124 to 100.</p> + +<p>1906. A bill to substitute the word "person" for "male" in the +statutes came before the House October 24, was ordered to third +reading by 149 to 24 and passed the following day by 130 to 25. This +majority aroused the Massachusetts Society Opposed to the Further +Extension of Suffrage to Women and an officer, Mrs. A. J. George of +Brookline, was sent to try to defeat the bill. She was coolly received +and found it so impossible to convince the members that she was not an +emissary of the liquor interests that she failed to obtain even a +hearing before the committee. Her coming stirred the suffrage forces +and a telegram was sent to the <i>Woman's Journal</i> of Boston asking for +help and Miss Alice Stone Blackwell, the editor, and Mrs. Maud Wood +Park responded. A public hearing was granted by the Senate committee +and people from all over the State were present. Nine legislators and +members of the association spoke for the bill. Not one opponent +appeared. In the Senate it failed by three votes, many who were +pledged to it deserting.</p> + +<p>1908. Legislative committee chairman 1908-1910, Mrs. Annette W. +Parmelee, spoke at the hearing on the Municipal suffrage bill, which +was defeated in the Senate by 16 to 11. During the final debate Mrs. +Parmelee wrote down the disgusting remarks made by some of the +opponents and their consternation was great when these were published. +This bill for years was termed the "football."</p> + +<p>1909. The legislative chairman sent an official letter to Frank E. +Partridge, chairman of the Commission to Propose Amendments to the +State Constitution, which can only be done once in ten years, asking +that suffrage for women be among the proposals considered. The letter +was read May 28, 1910, before<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_662" id="Page_662">[Pg 662]</a></span> the commission—Frank L. Greene, A. M. +Fletcher, W. N. Cady and M. G. Leary, but received no attention.</p> + +<p>1910. The legislative chairman was assisted by Chaplain A. W. Ford. In +the official record suffrage was spelled "sufferage." The Municipal +suffrage bill was introduced in the House and the suffragists asked +for a hearing but the date was changed three times and the final one +left no time for summoning speakers. At the request of Judge H. S. +Peck the House resolved itself into a committee of the whole and the +Senate came in. The Northfield Cadets, the Burlington High School and +several hundred visitors attended the hearing and gave close attention +to Mrs. Parmelee for an hour. A large number of members spoke for and +against the bill. An anti-suffrage newspaper in referring to it said: +"Its killing will make a Roman holiday for ladies' week." It was +refused a third reading by 113 to 111. A bill permitting women to vote +on the liquor question aroused the stormiest debate of the session and +the Speaker split his desk trying to preserve order. It was definitely +settled that the Legislature would pass no woman suffrage bills.</p> + +<p>1912. The legislative committee was Mrs. Frances Rastall, Miss Fanny +B. Fletcher, Mrs. J. B. Estee and Mrs. Parmelee and the bill was to +add the words "and female" in the statutes. On October 24 at a hearing +held in Representatives Hall, which was filled to overflowing, the +following made addresses in favor: Miss Anne Rhodes of New York; Mrs. +Agnes M. Jenks of New Hampshire; Miss Mabel Foster of Washington, D. +C.; Mrs. Rastall, Mrs. Charles Van Patten, Mrs. Parmelee, Senators +Darling, Jose, and the Rev. Clifford Smith, superintendent of the +State Anti-Saloon League. Those speaking in opposition were: Mrs. E. +D. Brooks Brown, who presented an "anti" petition; Miss Minnie +Bronson, secretary of the National Anti-Suffrage Association; Mrs. M. +H. Buckham, Mrs. George W. Wales, Miss Lillian Peck, Mrs. T. J. +Deavitt and Senator D. C. Hawley. It was defeated as usual. A bill +which gave women the same right as men to vote in town meetings on all +matters relating to taxation and the raising and appropriation of +money passed the Senate but was not considered by the House.</p> + +<p>1915. Mrs. Amanda Seaver served as the "watchman on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_663" id="Page_663">[Pg 663]</a></span> tower," her +husband being a member of the Legislature, and she was assisted by +Mrs. Wyman and Mrs. Taylor. A public hearing on the bill for Municipal +and Presidential suffrage was held January 21. A large audience in +Representatives Hall listened to a convincing address by Mrs. +Antoinette Funk of Chicago, a member of the Congressional Committee of +the National Association. Mrs. Wyman closed the hearing with an +effective speech. Opportunity was given for the opponents but although +a large delegation of them from Burlington was present, no one spoke. +Mrs. George of Massachusetts and John A. Matthews, a member of the New +Jersey Legislature, were the anti-suffrage speakers February 2 at a +largely attended Senate hearing. The vote in the Senate was 19 to 19; +in the House the bill was loaded with amendments and a third reading +was refused by 129 to 100.</p> + +<p>1917. Dr. Grace Sherwood was legislative chairman. Six bills giving +various kinds of suffrage to women were introduced and every trick +that legal minds could devise was employed to retard or defeat their +passage but nevertheless one was passed, which was introduced by +Representative Ernest E. Moore. It provided that "a female citizen, 21 +years of age, who has taken the Freeman's Oath ... and whose taxes +were paid prior to the 15th day of February preceding town meeting, +shall while residing in such town be a voter in town meeting." +Hearings were held February 6, 15, 16 and March 17, 20. There were 28 +speakers in favor, 9 of them women; 21 opposed, 9 of them women. The +Speaker, Stanley G. Allson, instead of asking the usual question +"Shall the bill pass?" put the question "Shall the bill be rejected?" +Several members were caught by the trick and voted the opposite of +what they intended but four changed their votes—Hardy of Guildhall, +Hayden of Barton, Hooper of Hardwick and Bliss of Georgia, just enough +to carry it. It passed the House March 9 by 104 to 100, and the Senate +March 20 by 16 to 11. It was signed by Governor Horace F. Graham March +30. Vermont thus had the honor of leading all eastern States in +adopting a Town and Municipal suffrage bill permitting tax paying +women to vote and hold office.</p> + +<p>1919. Mrs. Halsey W. Wilson, its recording secretary, was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_664" id="Page_664">[Pg 664]</a></span> sent by the +National Association to assist the State Executive Board during the +legislative session. A bill introduced by Senator Carr of Caledonia to +repeal the Municipal suffrage act was promptly defeated. Effort was +now concentrated on the Presidential suffrage bill, which was +introduced January 14. The Senate passed it by a vote of 20 to 10 and +sent it to the House, where it was first read on January 28 and +referred to the Committee on Suffrage and Elections, which reported in +favor. The bill was read the second time and several motions to defeat +it were made by Representative Hopkins of Burlington but all were lost +and the third reading was ordered by a vote of 129 ayes, 83 noes. At a +hearing February 4 the following spoke in favor: Dr. Sherwood, Mrs. +Fred Blanchard, Mrs. Joanna Croft Read, Senators Steele, Vilas and M. +J. Hapgood; in opposition, Senators Carr and Felton, Miss Margaret +Emerson, Mrs. Wayne Read, Mrs. H. C. Humphrey, David Conant, +Representatives O'Dowd, Cudworth and Hopkins. On February 5 the bill +passed by 120 ayes, 90 noes. Governor Percival W. Clement vetoed it in +March on the ground of unconstitutionality, though eight Legislatures +had passed a similar bill without question and Illinois women had +voted under one in 1916.</p> + +<p>The State suffrage convention was in session at Burlington and +immediately on its adjournment March 12 Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, the +national president, and fifteen of the delegates went to Montpelier, +where Mrs. Catt addressed the Legislature. The Senate reconsidered the +bill and passed it over the veto. On March 17 the Speaker laid before +the House an extended communication from Governor Clements giving in +detail his reasons for failing to approve the bill. It was then read +and Representative Tracy moved that it be made a special order for the +following Thursday, which was agreed to by 104 ayes, 70 noes. At that +time the question, "Will the House pass the bill notwithstanding the +objections of the Governor?" was decided in the negative by 168 noes, +48 ayes. The next year the women were fully enfranchised by the +Federal Amendment.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_185_185" id="Footnote_185_185"></a><a href="#FNanchor_185_185"><span class="label">[185]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. +Annette W. Parmelee, State Superintendent of Press, State Secretary +and State Historian for the Vermont Woman Suffrage Association.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_186_186" id="Footnote_186_186"></a><a href="#FNanchor_186_186"><span class="label">[186]</span></a> Among those who addressed the annual conventions during +the years were the Reverends A. M. Smith, J. A. Dixon, F. E. Adams, +Verdi Mack, J. Borden Estee, George B. Lamson, T. L. Massock, E. T. +Matthison, E. M. H. Abbott, C. J. Staples, O. M. Owen, Eugene Haines, +M. T. Merrill, Charles A. Pennoyer; Hon. James F. Hooker, Dr. M. V. B. +Knox, Attorney E. B. Flynn, Colonel G. C. Childs, Professor Cox, +Martin Vilas, Mr. Woolson and F. G. Fleetwood; Mesdames Canfield, +Kidder, Flanders, Julia A. Pierce, C. J. Clark, M. V. B. Knox, Louisa +M. Slocum, Inez Campbell, Mary E. Tucker, Laura Kezer, G. E. Davidson, +M. S. Margum, E. B. Lund, Juliette Rublee, Amanda Seaver, Frances +Rastall Wyman, Frances Hand, Elizabeth Van Patten, L. M. Benedict, O. +C. Ashton, Edgar Moore, H. B. Shaw, Dr. Sue H. Howard; Misses Mary E. +Purple, Grace Robinson, Margaret Allen, Fanny Fletcher, Emilia +Houghton, Eliza Eaton, Carolyn Scott.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_187_187" id="Footnote_187_187"></a><a href="#FNanchor_187_187"><span class="label">[187]</span></a> This year Miss Lou J. C. Daniels, a liberal contributor +to the suffrage association, her family the largest taxpayers in +Grafton, where they had a summer home, was indignant to learn that the +Representative of her district had voted against the suffrage bill in +the Legislature. She sent a written protest and refusal to pay her +taxes, whereupon an official served papers on her and several shares +of stock in the Bellows Falls National Bank were attached and sold at +auction. The bank declared it illegal and declined to honor the sale. +The matter aroused discussion throughout the State and surrounding +country. When the town elected a Representative who supported woman +suffrage she considered the lesson sufficient and paid her taxes.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_188_188" id="Footnote_188_188"></a><a href="#FNanchor_188_188"><span class="label">[188]</span></a> Governor Clement retired from office Dec. 31, 1920, and +was succeeded by Governor James Hartness. The Legislature met in +regular session in January, 1921. The resolution to ratify the Federal +Suffrage Amendment was read in the House for the third time on January +28 and passed by 202 ayes, 3 noes, French, Stowell and Peake of +Bristol. On February 8 it passed the Senate unanimously.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_189_189" id="Footnote_189_189"></a><a href="#FNanchor_189_189"><span class="label">[189]</span></a> Presidents of the State association from 1900 to 1920 +not already mentioned were Elizabeth Colley; C. D. Spencer; the Rev. +A. M. Smith; Mrs. A. D. Chandler; the Hon. James Hutchinson; Mrs. +Frances Rastall Wyman; Dr. Grace Sherwood. Secretaries: Miss Laura +Moore (1883-1905); Mrs. Fatima Davidson; the Rev. Verdi Mack; the Rev. +Mary T. Whitney; Mrs. Annette W. Parmelee; Mrs. Jeannette Pease; Mrs. +Annie C. Taylor; Miss Emilia Houghton; Mrs. Amanda Seaver; Miss +Marguerite Allen; Miss Ann Batchelder; Mrs. James A. Merrill.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_665" id="Page_665">[Pg 665]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLV" id="CHAPTER_XLV"></a>CHAPTER XLV.</h2> + +<h3>VIRGINIA.<a name="FNanchor_190_190" id="FNanchor_190_190"></a><a href="#Footnote_190_190" class="fnanchor">[190]</a></h3> + + +<p>The earliest record of woman suffrage in Virginia bears the name of +Mrs. Hannah Lee Corbin of Gloucester county, whose protest in 1778 +against taxation without representation was answered by a letter from +her brother, Richard Henry Lee ("Lighthorse Harry"), who wrote that in +his opinion under the clause in the constitution which gave the vote +to householders she could exercise the suffrage.</p> + +<p>There had been a suffrage organization in Virginia in 1893, of which +Mrs. Orra Langhorne, a pioneer worker, had been president. When the +State Equal Suffrage League was organized, Miss Laura Clay of Kentucky +gave to it a trust fund of $2.50 which had been left in the treasury +and Mrs. Langhorne had requested her to give to a Virginia League when +one should be formed. In November, 1909, a preliminary meeting was +held to discuss organization, followed a week later by the forming of +the Equal Suffrage League of Virginia. Lila Meade (Mrs. B. B.) +Valentine, widely known for her public work, was elected president and +served in this capacity for the next eleven years. State and city +headquarters were opened in Richmond and remained there. Miss Mary +Johnston was greatly interested and used her influence in promoting +the new organization. Miss Ellen Glasgow also was very active. The +league was organized to work for suffrage by both State and Federal +action and early in its existence circulated a petition to Congress +for a Federal Amendment. In 1910 this was presented to the Virginia +members by Mrs. Valentine and the State delegates attending the +national suffrage convention.</p> + +<p>In January, 1911, the first public meeting ever held in Richmond<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_666" id="Page_666">[Pg 666]</a></span> in +the interest of woman suffrage was addressed by Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, +president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, with +Dr. Lyon G. Tyler, president of William and Mary College, in the +chair. The first State convention was held this year in Richmond with +delegates present from Norfolk, Lynchburg, Williamsburg and Highland +Springs societies, and individual suffragists from Fredericksburg and +Charlottesville. In 1912 the convention was held in Norfolk with +delegates from twenty-two leagues. In 1913 it met in Lynchburg and the +reports showed that 2,500 new members had been added and Mrs. +Valentine had made 100 public speeches.</p> + +<p>An outdoor demonstration was held in Richmond on the steps of the +State Capitol, May 2, 1914, in conformity with the nation-wide request +of the National Association, and the celebration was continued in the +evening. The convention was held in Roanoke, where it was reported +that forty-five counties had been organized in political units and +that the <i>Virginia Suffrage News</i>, a monthly paper, was being +published at State headquarters under the management of Mrs. Alice +Overbey Taylor.</p> + +<p>In 1915 street meetings were inaugurated and held in Richmond from May +till Thanksgiving, and in Norfolk, Newport News, Portsmouth, Lynchburg +and Warrenton. For the first time women appeared on the same platform +with the candidates for the Legislature and presented the claims of +the women of Virginia to become a part of the electorate. The May Day +celebration was held on the south portico of the Capitol on the +afternoon of May 1, after a morning devoted to selling from street +booths copies of the <i>Woman's Journal</i>, suffrage flags, buttons and +postcards. A band played and the decorations and banners in yellow and +blue, the suffrage and Virginia colors, made a beautiful picture. John +S. Munce of Richmond introduced the speakers, Dr. E. N. Calisch, Rabbi +of Beth Ahaba Temple; Miss Joy Montgomery Higgins of Nebraska and Miss +Mabel Vernon of Washington, D. C. In December the convention was held +in Richmond and the two hundred delegates marched to the office of the +Governor, Henry Carter Stuart, to request him to embody in his message +to the General Assembly a recommendation that it submit to the voters +an equal suffrage amendment<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_667" id="Page_667">[Pg 667]</a></span> to the State constitution. They were led +by Mrs. Valentine and brief addresses were made by Mrs. Stephen Putney +of Wytheville, Mrs. Lloyd Byars of Bristol, Mrs. John H. +Lewis of Lynchburg, Miss Lucy Randolph Mason of Richmond, +great-great-granddaughter of George Mason, author of the Virginia Bill +of Rights; Miss Agnes Randolph, great-great-granddaughter of Thomas +Jefferson, founder of the University of Virginia; Miss Mary Johnston, +Mrs. Sally Nelson Robins of Richmond, author; Miss Elizabeth Cooke of +Norfolk, Miss Janetta FitzHugh of Fredericksburg, Mrs. Kate Langley +Bosher of Richmond, author; Miss Roberta Wellford of University; Mrs. +George Barksdale, Miss Marianne Meade and Miss Adele Clark of +Richmond. He received them courteously but not seriously and paid no +attention to their request. During the year organization of the State +into legislative and congressional districts was begun. Norfolk was +the place of the annual convention in 1916 when 111 leagues were +reported. This was a legislative year and all efforts were +concentrated on the Assembly.<a name="FNanchor_191_191" id="FNanchor_191_191"></a><a href="#Footnote_191_191" class="fnanchor">[191]</a></p> + +<p>From January 29 to February 2, 1917, a very successful suffrage school +was conducted in Richmond under the auspices of the National +Association. Later when the services of this association were offered +to the Government for war work the league dedicated itself to State +and country and endeavored to carry out the plans of the National +Board. The president, Mrs. Valentine, was the first person in the +State, on request of the Governor, to speak in the recruiting campaign +and other members also took part in it. At the annual convention held +in Richmond in November a resolution not only again endorsing the +Federal Suffrage Amendment but pledging members to work for it was +unanimously adopted. Virginia sent the largest delegation in her +history to the national convention in Washington in December and it +was upon the advice of the returning delegates that emphasis was laid +upon enrollment of those who desired<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_668" id="Page_668">[Pg 668]</a></span> woman suffrage. Because of the +influenza epidemic no State convention was held in 1918.</p> + +<p>The enrollment of 32,000 men and women was accomplished in 1919, Mrs. +Faith W. Morgan, a vice-president of the association, securing the +largest number of names and Miss Ellen Robinson being the first person +to fill her quota. The submission by Congress of the Federal Suffrage +Amendment in June of this year gave great impetus to the work. In +November the annual convention was held in Richmond, with +representatives from all parts of the State. At this time there were +175 suffrage centers. The members reaffirmed with enthusiasm their +determination to carry on the fight for ratification. An important +feature of the year had been the endorsement of the amendment by the +State Teachers' Association, the State Federation of Women's Clubs and +the Women's Benevolent Association of the Maccabees.<a name="FNanchor_192_192" id="FNanchor_192_192"></a><a href="#Footnote_192_192" class="fnanchor">[192]</a></p> + +<p>On Sept. 9, 10, 1920, the State league met in convention in the hall +of the House of Delegates in the Capitol for the joint purpose of +celebrating the proclamation of the Federal Suffrage Amendment and +planning for the organization of a League of Women Voters. It was an +occasion never to be forgotten, with a welcome extended by Governor +Westmoreland Davis, speeches by Attorney General John R. Saunders, +State Superintendent of Public Instruction Harris Hart and members of +the Legislature who had made the fight for ratification. Mrs. Maud +Wood Park, president of the National League of Women Voters, gave an +inspiring address and extensive plans for future work were made. A +reception was given by the wife of the Governor assisted by the +officers of the league. On November 10, in the Senate chamber, the +State League of Women Voters was organized with Mrs. Valentine +honorary chairman; Mrs. John H. Lewis honorary vice-chairman and Miss +Adele Clark chairman.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_669" id="Page_669">[Pg 669]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action.</span> For improved conditions for women in industry, +child labor laws and all welfare legislation before the General +Assembly in the past ten years individual members of the league have +labored assiduously. The league as an organization, however, has +confined itself to work for suffrage, knowing that the vote gained +"all things else would be added."</p> + +<p>1900. When the constitutional convention met to draft the present +State constitution, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, president of the +National American Woman Suffrage Association, and a small group of +Virginia and other southern women appeared before it and Mrs. Catt +urged it to embody woman suffrage in the new constitution but this was +not done.</p> + +<p>1912. The first resolution proposing an amendment to the State +constitution enfranchising women was introduced in the House by Hill +Montague of Richmond and the hearing granted by the committee created +statewide interest. The speakers were Mrs. Valentine, Mrs. Lewis, Miss +Johnston, Mrs. Bosher, Miss Randolph, Clayton Torrence and Howard T. +Colvin of the State Federation of Labor, later Assistant U. S. +Commissioner of Labor. The vote in the House was 12 ayes, 84 noes.</p> + +<p>1914. The resolution for a State amendment was again introduced in the +House and a hearing granted by the Committee on Privileges and +Elections. Mrs. Valentine presided and introduced the following +speakers: Mrs. Desha Breckinridge of Kentucky; Mrs. Kate Waller +Barrett of Alexandria, State regent of the D. A. R.; Mrs. Putney, Mrs. +Lewis, Mrs. Barksdale of Richmond, Miss Mason, Miss Lillie Barbour, +State factory inspector, and Mr. Colvin. The vote was 13 ayes, 74 +noes.</p> + +<p>1916. The resolution for a State amendment had its first public +hearing before a joint committee of the House and Senate. The speakers +were Mrs. Valentine, Mrs. J. H. Whitner of Roanoke, a vice-president +of the State League; Miss Eudora Ramsey and Miss Adele Clark of +Richmond; the Rev. John J. Wicker, pastor of Leigh Street Baptist +Church, Richmond, and E. F. Sheffey of Lynchburg. The House vote, 40 +ayes, 51 noes, marked the third defeat but an increase in suffrage +sentiment.</p> + +<p>1918. The Legislative Committee consisted of Mrs. Valentine, Miss +Wellford, Mrs. Frank L. Jobson, Miss Clark, Miss<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_670" id="Page_670">[Pg 670]</a></span> Nora Houston and +Mrs. Munce, all of Richmond. The Federal Suffrage Amendment having now +passed the Lower House of Congress, a resolution urging the U. S. +Senate to take favorable action on the Federal Amendment was +introduced but it did not come out of committee. The Hon. William +Jennings Bryan stopped over trains to pay his respects to Governor +Westmoreland Davis. He was escorted to the Capitol by members of the +Equal Suffrage League and made a brief address to the Assembly in +joint recess, urging ratification of the Federal Amendment if +submitted in time for action at this session.<a name="FNanchor_193_193" id="FNanchor_193_193"></a><a href="#Footnote_193_193" class="fnanchor">[193]</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> The Legislature assembled August 13, 1919, in special +session for the purpose of meeting the federal appropriation for good +roads. The Federal Suffrage Amendment having been submitted to the +Legislatures for ratification on June 4 was due to be presented by the +Governor. As the special session had been called specifically for good +roads, the State Equal Suffrage League intended to await the regular +session of 1920 to press for action but to test the legislators a +questionnaire was sent to them. Answers proved that it would be +well-nigh impossible to obtain ratification at this time, even though +substantial petitions from all sections of the State were shown to men +representing the localities from which these came. Spurred on, +however, by efforts of the National Woman's Party to secure action at +any cost, the opponents succeeded in having a Rejection Resolution +railroaded through the House without debate ten minutes before +adjournment in the second week of the session. The Senate refused to +sanction such tactics and by 19 to 15 voted to postpone action until +the next session.</p> + +<p>1920. The State league's committee on ratification was composed of +Mrs. Valentine, Miss Clark, Mrs. Bosher, Mrs. Jobson, Miss Houston and +Miss Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon.<a name="FNanchor_194_194" id="FNanchor_194_194"></a><a href="#Footnote_194_194" class="fnanchor">[194]</a> Miss Josephine Miller, an organizer +for the National Association, was sent into the State toward the end +of the campaign. There were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_671" id="Page_671">[Pg 671]</a></span> in the two Houses 61 new members who had +been elected since the Federal Amendment was submitted. Very strong +pressure to ratify was made upon the General Assembly. President +Wilson sent an earnest appeal and others came from Homer Cummings, +chairman of the National Democratic Committee; A. Mitchell Palmer, U. +S. Attorney General; Carter Glass, U. S. Treasurer; U. S. +Representative C. C. Carlin and other prominent Democrats. Thousands +of telegrams were sent from women throughout the southern States. A +cablegram came from Lady Astor, M. P. of Great Britain, a Virginian. +Urgent requests for ratification were made by presidents of colleges, +mayors of cities, State and county officials and other eminent +citizens.</p> + +<p>Before the Governor had even sent the certified copy of the amendment +to the Legislature its strongest opponent, Senator Leedy, also an +opponent of the administration at Washington, introduced a Rejection +Resolution couched in the same obnoxious terms he had used in August. +By urgent advice of the leaders he finally omitted some of its most +offensive adjectives. It was presented in the House by Representative +Ozlin and referred to the Federal Relations Committee, which granted a +hearing. On the preceding evening Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, president +of the National Suffrage Association, addressed a mass meeting held by +the Equal Suffrage League in the Jefferson Hotel. The hearing was held +before a joint session of the Senate and House in the Hall of +Delegates at noon on January 21. Some of Virginia's foremost citizens +spoke for ratification, among them Allan Jones, member of the State +Democratic Committee; Roswell Page, State auditor and a brother of the +Hon. Thomas Nelson Page; U. S. Representatives Thomas Lomax Hunter and +Howard Cecil Gilmer; J. B. Saul, chairman of the Roanoke County +Democratic Committee; former Senator Keezel; Dr. Lyon G. Tyler. The +women speakers were Mrs. Catt, Mrs. Valentine, president, and Mrs. +John H. Lewis, vice-president of the State Suffrage League, and Mrs. +Kate Waller Barrett.<a name="FNanchor_195_195" id="FNanchor_195_195"></a><a href="#Footnote_195_195" class="fnanchor">[195]</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_672" id="Page_672">[Pg 672]</a></span></p> + +<p>Notwithstanding this very able presentation the Federal Relations +Committee reported the Rejection Resolution favorably. On the floor +Lindsay Gordon of Louisa county substituted a Ratification Resolution +and Harry Rew of Accomac a substitute to refer ratification to the +voters. The latter carried on January 27 by a vote of 55 to 39, +supported by Representatives Gordon, Willis of Roanoke, Williams of +Fairfax, Hunter of Stafford, Rodgers, J. W. Story, Wilcox of Richmond, +Snead of Chesterfield and H. W. Anderson, Republican floor leader.</p> + +<p>The battle front now shifted to the Senate, where, owing to illness of +the chief suffrage proponent, G. Walter Mapp, consideration had been +postponed. On February 6, the day finally set, proceedings were +similar to those in the House, Senator E. Lee Trinkle's ratification +resolution and Senator Gravatt's referendum being respectively +substituted for Leedy's rejection. The referendum, under Leedy's +coercive method, was voted down. All day the contest raged on the +ratification resolution, with strong speeches in favor by Senators +Trinkle of Wythe, Corbitt of Portsmouth, Paul of Rockingham, Layman of +Craig, West of Nansemond, Parsons of Grayson. Supporting the measure +by vote were also Senators Crockett, Haslinger and Profitt; and +pairing in favor Pendleton and Gravatt. The Ratifying Resolution was +defeated. The Rejection Resolution was adopted by 24 to 10 votes; in +the House by 16 to 22.</p> + +<p>One week later the resolution of Senator J. E. West to submit to the +voters a woman suffrage amendment to the State constitution passed the +Senate by 28 ayes, 11 noes; the House by 67 ayes, 10 noes; as it would +have to pass the Legislature of 1921 and ratification of the Federal +Amendment was almost completed, this vote was merely an empty +compliment. A few days thereafter the Qualifications Bill, offered by +Senator Mapp, was overwhelmingly adopted, Senate, 30 ayes, 6 noes; +House, 64 ayes, 17 noes. It made full provisions for the voting of +women if the Federal Amendment should be ratified.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_190_190" id="Footnote_190_190"></a><a href="#FNanchor_190_190"><span class="label">[190]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Edith +Clark Cowles, Executive and Press Secretary; Miss Adele Clark, +Legislative Chairman, and Miss Ida Mae Thompson, Headquarters +Secretary of the State Equal Suffrage League.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_191_191" id="Footnote_191_191"></a><a href="#FNanchor_191_191"><span class="label">[191]</span></a> From year to year delegates from the Equal Suffrage +League went to the State political conventions, asking for an +endorsement of woman suffrage. The Republicans, the minority party, +always received them courteously and a few times put the plank in +their platform. The Democrats always treated them with discourtesy and +never endorsed woman suffrage in any way until 1920, when they +"commended the action of the General Assembly in passing the +Qualifications Bill contingent upon the ratification and proclamation +of the 19th Amendment."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_192_192" id="Footnote_192_192"></a><a href="#FNanchor_192_192"><span class="label">[192]</span></a> There were very few changes in officers during the +eleven years of the league's existence. The list was as follows: +Honorary vice-presidents, Miss Mary Johnston, Miss Ellen Glasgow. +Vice-presidents: Mrs. Kate Waller Barrett, Mrs. Louise Collier +Willcox, Mrs. C. V. Meredith, Mrs. T. Todd Dabney, Mrs. W. J. Adams, +Mrs. John H. Lewis, Miss Nannie Davis, Mrs. Stephen Putney, Mrs. Kate +Langley Bosher, Mrs. J. Allen Watts, Mrs. W. T. Yancey, Mrs. C. E. +Townsend, Mrs. W. W. King, Mrs. J. H. Whitner, Mrs Faith W. Morgan, +Mrs. Robert Barton; secretaries, Mrs. Alice M. Tyler, Miss Adele +Clark, Mrs. Grace H. Smithdeal, Miss Roberta Wellford, Miss Lucinda +Lee Terry; treasurers: Mrs. C. P. Cadot, Mrs. E. G. Kidd; auditors: +Mrs. John S. Munce, Mrs. Henry Aylett Sampson, Mrs. S. M. Block.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_193_193" id="Footnote_193_193"></a><a href="#FNanchor_193_193"><span class="label">[193]</span></a> By act of the General Assembly of 1918 women were +admitted to William and Mary College. They were admitted to the +graduate and professional schools of the University of Virginia by act +of the Board of Visitors in 1920.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_194_194" id="Footnote_194_194"></a><a href="#FNanchor_194_194"><span class="label">[194]</span></a> Miss Pidgeon was appointed by the National Association +in November, 1919, for organization to prepare for ratification of the +Federal Suffrage Amendment. After its defeat the next February she +continued until June 15, organizing citizenship schools throughout the +State. The expense to the association was $1,792.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_195_195" id="Footnote_195_195"></a><a href="#FNanchor_195_195"><span class="label">[195]</span></a> The next day, after Mrs. Catt had returned to New York, +Harry St. George Tucker appeared before the Legislature and ridiculed +her and her speech in the most insulting terms. In 1921 Mr. Tucker was +a candidate for Governor and was defeated at the primaries by Senator +E. Lee Trinkle, whose plurality was 40,000. He had been a strong +supporter of woman suffrage and his victory was attributed to the +women.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_673" id="Page_673">[Pg 673]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLVI" id="CHAPTER_XLVI"></a>CHAPTER XLVI.</h2> + +<h3>WASHINGTON.<a name="FNanchor_196_196" id="FNanchor_196_196"></a><a href="#Footnote_196_196" class="fnanchor">[196]</a></h3> + + +<p>The period from 1900 to 1906 was one of inactivity in State suffrage +circles; then followed a vigorous continued campaign culminating in +the adoption of a constitutional amendment in 1910 granting to women +full political equality. This victory, so gratifying to the women of +Washington, had also an important national aspect, as it marked the +end of the dreary period of fourteen years following the Utah and +Idaho amendments in 1895-6, during which no State achieved woman +suffrage.</p> + +<p>The Legislature of 1897 had submitted an amendment for which a +brilliant campaign was made by the Equal Suffrage Association under +the able leadership of its president, Mrs. Homer M. Hill of Seattle, +but it was defeated at the November election of 1898. The inevitable +reaction followed for some years. Three State presidents were elected, +Dr. Nina Jolidon Croake of Tacoma, 1900-1902, elected at the Seattle +convention; Dr. Luema Greene Johnson of Tacoma, 1902-1904, elected at +the Tacoma convention; Dr. Fannie Leake Cummings of Seattle, +1904-1906, elected at a meeting in Puyallup at which only five persons +were present, the small suffrage club here being the only one +surviving in the State. Dr. Cummings, aided by Mrs. Elizabeth Palmer +Spinning of Puyallup, State treasurer for many years, and Mrs. Ellen +S. Leckenby of Seattle, State secretary, kept the suffrage torch from +being extinguished. Mrs. Leckenby held office continuously throughout +twelve years.</p> + +<p>The revival of interest plainly seen after 1906 was due to the impetus +given through the initiative of Mrs. Emma Smith DeVoe, who with her +husband, John Henry DeVoe, had recently come from Harvey, Ills., and +established a new home. Mrs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_674" id="Page_674">[Pg 674]</a></span> DeVoe was a life-long suffrage worker +who had served many years in many States with Susan B. Anthony and +also was a national organizer. She began by calling on individual +suffragists and suggesting that Washington was a hopeful State for a +campaign and aroused so much interest that in November a large and +enthusiastic convention met at Seattle. Dr. Cummings presided and +inspiring addresses were given by A. W. McIntyre of Everett, formerly +Governor of Colorado; Miss Ida Agnes Baker of the Bellingham State +Normal School; Miss Adella M. Parker of the Seattle Broadway High +School and Professor J. Allen Smith of the University of Washington. +Mrs. DeVoe was elected president.</p> + +<p>Conventions were held at Seattle in 1907, 1908 and 1909, Mrs. DeVoe +being re-elected each time. By June, 1909, there were 2,000 paid +members of the State association and afterwards, many thousands of men +and women were enrolled. The executive committee decided upon a +campaign to amend the State constitution for woman suffrage and Mrs. +DeVoe was made manager and given authority to conduct it according to +her own judgment. No other convention or executive committee meeting +was held, only frequent informal conferences, until after the vote was +taken on November 8, 1910. The final executive committee meeting was +held at Seattle in January, 1911, when it was voted to continue the +association until all bills were paid and then disband. It was decided +to present the large silken banner "Votes for Women" to the next State +having a campaign and it went to California the following year. The +unfinished business was completed by the old officers, Mrs. DeVoe, +Mrs. Leckenby and Dr. Eaton.<a name="FNanchor_197_197" id="FNanchor_197_197"></a><a href="#Footnote_197_197" class="fnanchor">[197]</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_675" id="Page_675">[Pg 675]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Campaign.</span> After the defeat of 1898 no amendment came before the +Legislature for eleven years, nor was there any legislation on woman +suffrage until a resolution to submit to the voters an amendment to +the State constitution giving full suffrage was presented to the +session of 1909. It was drafted by Senator George F. Cotterill of +Seattle, a radical suffragist, after many conferences with Mrs. DeVoe, +and was introduced, strangely enough, by Senator George U. Piper of +Seattle, an able politician and a friend of the liquor interests, in +honor of his dead mother, who had been ardently in favor of woman +suffrage. It was presented in the House by Representative T. J. Bell +of Tacoma. The State association rented a house in Olympia for +headquarters and Mrs. DeVoe spent all her time at the Capitol, +assisted by many of its members, who came at different times from over +the State to interview their Representatives and Senators. The work +was conducted so skilfully and quietly that no violent opposition of +material strength was developed. The resolution passed the House +January 29 by 70 ayes, 18 noes; the Senate February 23 by 30 ayes, 9 +noes, and was approved by Governor Marion E. Hay on February 25.</p> + +<p>The interests of the amendment were materially advanced later by +Senator W. H. Paulhamus, then an anti-suffragist, who "in the interest +of fair play" gave advance information as to the exact wording and +position of the amendment on the ballot, which enabled the women to +hold practice drills and to word their slogan, "Vote for Amendment to +Article VI at the Top of the Ballot." The clause relating to the +qualifications of voters was reproduced verbatim except for two +changes: 1. "All persons" was substituted for "all male persons." 2. +At the end was added "There shall be no denial of the elective +franchise at any election on account of sex."</p> + +<p>During the campaign of 1910 the State Equal Franchise Society, an +offshoot from the regular organization, was formed, its members being +largely recruited from the Seattle Suffrage<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_676" id="Page_676">[Pg 676]</a></span> Club, Mrs. Harvey L. +Glenn, president, with which it cooperated. Headquarters were opened +in Seattle July 5, with Mrs. Homer M. Hill, president, in charge and +the organization was active during the last four months of the +campaign.<a name="FNanchor_198_198" id="FNanchor_198_198"></a><a href="#Footnote_198_198" class="fnanchor">[198]</a> The Political Equality League of Spokane, Mrs. May +Arkwright Hutton, president, worked separately for fourteen months +prior to the election, having been organized in July, 1909. The +college women under the name of the College Suffrage League, with Miss +Parker as president, cooperated with the regular State association.</p> + +<p>Following the act of the Legislature twenty months were left to carry +on the campaign destined to enfranchise the 175,000 women of the +State. It was a favorable year for submission, as no other important +political issue was before them and there was a reaction against the +dominance of the political "machines."</p> + +<p>The campaign was unique in its methods and was won through the +tireless energy of nearly a hundred active, capable women who threw +themselves into the work. The outstanding feature of the plan adopted +by the State Equal Suffrage Association under the leadership of Mrs. +DeVoe, was the absence of all spectacular methods and the emphasis +placed upon personal intensive work on the part of the wives, mothers +and sisters of the men who were to decide the issue at the polls. Big +demonstrations, parades and large meetings of all kinds were avoided. +Only repeated informal conferences of workers were held in different +sections of the State on the call of the president. The result was +that the real strength was never revealed to the enemy. The opposition +was not antagonized and did not awake until election day, when it was +too late. Although the women held few suffrage meetings of their own, +their speakers and organizers constantly obtained the platform at +those of granges, farmers' unions, labor unions, churches and other +organizations.</p> + +<p>Each county was canvassed as seemed most expedient by interviews,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_677" id="Page_677">[Pg 677]</a></span> +letters or return postals. Every woman personally solicited her +neighbor, her doctor, her grocer, her laundrywagon driver, the postman +and even the man who collected the garbage. It was essentially a +womanly campaign, emphasizing the home interests and engaging the +cooperation of home makers. The association published and sold 3,000 +copies of The Washington Women's Cook Book, compiled by the +suffragists and edited by Miss Linda Jennings of LaConner. Many a +worker started out into the field with a package of these cook books +under her arm. In the "suffrage department" of the Tacoma <i>News</i> a +"kitchen contest" was held, in which 250-word essays on household +subjects were printed, $70 in prizes being given by the paper. +Suffrage clubs gave programs on "pure food" and "model menus" were +exhibited and discussed.</p> + +<p>Thousands of leaflets on the results of equal suffrage in other States +were distributed and original ones printed. A leaflet by Mrs. Edith +DeLong Jarmuth containing a dozen cogent reasons Why Washington Women +Want the Ballot was especially effective. A monthly paper, <i>Votes for +Women</i>, was issued during the last year of the campaign with Mrs. M. +T. B. Hanna publisher and editor, Misses Parker, Mary G. O'Meara, Rose +Glass and others assistant editors. It carried a striking cartoon on +the front page and was full of suffrage news and arguments, even the +advertisements being written in suffrage terms.<a name="FNanchor_199_199" id="FNanchor_199_199"></a><a href="#Footnote_199_199" class="fnanchor">[199]</a></p> + +<p>State and county fairs and Chautauquas were utilized by securing a +Woman's Day, with Mrs. DeVoe as president of the day. Excellent +programs were offered, prominent speakers secured and prizes given in +contests between various women's societies other than suffrage for +symbolic "floats" and reports of work during the year. Space was given +for a suffrage booth, from which active suffrage propaganda went on +with the sale of Votes for Women pins, pennants and the cook book and +the signing of enrollment cards. The great Alaska-Yukon-Pacific +Exposition of 1909 at Seattle was utilized as a medium for publicity. +A permanent suffrage exhibit was maintained, open<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_678" id="Page_678">[Pg 678]</a></span> air meetings were +held and there was a special Suffrage Day, on which Judge Ben B. +Lindsey of Denver spoke for the amendment. The dirigible balloon, a +feature of the exposition, carried a large silken banner inscribed +Votes for Women. Later a pennant with this motto was carried by a +member of the Mountaineers' Club to the summit of Mt. Rainier, near +Tacoma, said to be the loftiest point in the United States.<a name="FNanchor_200_200" id="FNanchor_200_200"></a><a href="#Footnote_200_200" class="fnanchor">[200]</a> It +was fastened to the staff of the larger pennant "A. Y. P." of the +exposition and the staff was planted in the highest snows on the top +of Columbia Crest, a huge white dome that rises above the crater.</p> + +<p>The State association entertained the national suffrage convention at +Seattle in 1909 and brought its guests from Spokane on a special train +secured by Mrs. DeVoe, as an effective method of advertising the cause +and the convention.</p> + +<p>The State Grange and the State Farmers' Union worked hard for the +amendment. State Master C. B. Kegley wrote: "The Grange, numbering +15,000, is strongly in favor of woman suffrage. In fact every +subordinate grange is an equal suffrage organization.... We have +raised a fund with which to push the work.... Yours for victory." The +State Federation of Labor, Charles R. Case, president, at its annual +convention in January, 1910, unanimously adopted with cheers a strong +resolution favoring woman suffrage and urged the local unions to "put +forth their most strenuous efforts to carry the suffrage amendment ... +and make it the prominent feature of their work during the coming +months."</p> + +<p>Practically all the newspapers were friendly and featured the news of +the campaign; no large daily paper was opposed. S. A. Perkins, +publisher of eleven newspapers in the State, gave a standing order to +his editors to support the amendment. The best publicity bureau in the +State was employed and for a year its weekly news letter carried a +readable paragraph on the subject to every local paper. Besides this, +"suffrage columns" were printed regularly; there were "suffrage +pages," "suffrage supplements" and even entire "suffrage editions"; +many effective "cuts" were used, and all at the expense of the +publishers.</p> + +<p>The clergy was a great power. Nearly every minister observed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_679" id="Page_679">[Pg 679]</a></span> Mrs. +DeVoe's request to preach a special woman suffrage sermon on a Sunday +in February, 1910. All the Protestant church organizations were +favorable. The Methodist Ministerial Association unanimously declared +for the amendment April 11 at the request of Miss Emily Inez Denney. +The African Methodist Conference on August 10 passed a ringing +resolution in favor, after addresses by Mrs. DeVoe and Miss Parker. +The Rev. Harry Ferguson, Baptist, of Hoquiam was very active. In +Seattle no one spoke more frequently or convincingly than the Rev. J. +D. O. Powers of the First Unitarian Church and the Rev. Sidney Strong +of Queen Anne Congregational Church. Other friends were the Rev. +Joseph L. Garvin of the Christian Church, the Rev. F. O. Iverson among +the Norwegians, and the Rev. Ling Hansen of the Swedish Baptist +Church. Mrs. Martha Offerdahl and Mrs. Ida M. Abelset compiled a +valuable campaign leaflet printed in Scandinavian with statements in +favor by sixteen Swedish and Norwegian ministers. The Catholic priests +said nothing against it and left their members free to work for it if +they so desired. Among Catholic workers were the Misses Lucy and Helen +Kangley of Seattle, who formed a Junior Suffrage League. Father F. X. +Prefontaine gave a definite statement in favor of the amendment. +Distinguished persons from outside the State who spoke for it were +Miss Janet Richards of Washington, D. C., the well-known lecturer; +Miss Jeannette Rankin of Montana, afterwards elected to Congress; Mrs. +Clara Bewick Colby of Nebraska and Washington, D. C., and Mrs. Abigail +Scott Duniway of Oregon.</p> + +<p>None of the officers and workers connected with the State association +received salaries except the stenographers. For four-and-a-half years +Mrs. DeVoe, with rare consecration, gave her entire time without pay, +save for actual expenses, and even these were at crucial times +contributed by her husband, from whom she received constant +encouragement and support. For the most part of the entire period she +was necessarily absent from home, traveling over the State, keeping in +constant personal touch with the leaders of all groups of women +whether connected with her association or not, advising and helping +them and on special days speaking on their programs. Her notable +characteristics as a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_680" id="Page_680">[Pg 680]</a></span> leader were that she laid personal +responsibility on each friend and worker; from the first assumed +success as certain and avoided arousing hostility by mixing suffrage +with politics or with other reforms. She asked the voters everywhere +merely for fair play for women and made no predictions as to what the +women would do with the vote when obtained. It was her far-sighted +generalship and prodigious personal work that made success possible.</p> + +<p>The Equal Franchise Society of Seattle planned to carry suffrage into +organizations already existing. It gave a series of luncheons at the +New Washington Hotel and made converts among many who could not be met +in any other way and was especially helpful in reaching society and +professional people. Its workers spoke before improvement clubs, +women's clubs, churches, labor unions, etc. A man was employed to +travel and engage men in conversation on woman suffrage on trains, +boats and in hotel lobbies and lumber camps. A good politician looked +after the water front. The Political Equality League of Spokane worked +in the eastern counties and placed in the field the effective worker, +Mrs. Minnie J. Reynolds of Colorado.</p> + +<p>The Franchise Department of the W. C. T. U. had done educational work +for years under the leadership of Mrs. Margaret B. Platt, State +president, and Mrs. Margaret C. Munns, State secretary, affectionately +referred to as "the Margarets." Its speakers always made convincing +pleas for suffrage and Mrs. Munns's drills in parliamentary usage were +valuable in training the women for the campaign of 1910. Tribute must +be paid to the fine, self-sacrificing work of this organization. In a +private conference called by Mrs. DeVoe early in the campaign, the W. +C. T. U. represented by these two, an agreement was reached that, in +order not to antagonize the "whisky" vote, the temperance women would +submerge their hard-earned honors and let the work of their unions go +unheralded. They kept the faith.</p> + +<p>A suffrage play, A Mock Legislative Session, written by Mrs. S. L. W. +Clark of Seattle, was given in the State House and repeated in other +cities. Several hundred dollars' worth of suffrage literature was +furnished to local unions. They placarded the bill boards throughout +the State, cooperating with Dr. Fannie Leake Cummings, who managed +this enterprise, assisted by the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_681" id="Page_681">[Pg 681]</a></span> Seattle Suffrage Club, by Mrs. +George A. Smith of the Alki Point Club and others who helped finance +it to a cost of $535. The placard read: "Give the Women a Square Deal. +Vote for the Amendment to Article VI," and proved to be an effective +feature.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Eliza Ferry Leary, among the highest taxpayers in the State, was +chosen by the National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage as their +representative, but, having satisfied her sense of duty by accepting +the office, she did nothing and thus endeared herself to the active +campaigners for the vote. There were no other "anti" members in the +State. The only meeting held was called by a brief newspaper notice at +the residence of Mrs. Leary one afternoon on the occasion of a visit +by a representative, Mrs. Frances E. Bailey of Oregon, at which six +persons were present—the hostess, the guest of honor, three active +members of the suffrage association and a casual guest. No business +was transacted. With the "antis" should be classed the only minister +who opposed suffrage, the Rev. Mark A. Mathews of the First +Presbyterian Church, the largest in Seattle. He was born in Georgia +but came to Seattle from Tennessee. His violent denunciations lent +spice to the campaign by calling out cartoons and articles combating +his point of view. When suffrage was obtained he harangued the women +on their duty to use the vote, not forgetting to instruct them how to +use it.</p> + +<p>Election day was reported to the <i>Woman's Journal</i> of Boston by Miss +Parker as follows: "It was a great victory. The women at the polls +were wonderfully effective. Many young women, middle-aged women and +white-haired grandmothers stood for hours handing out the little +reminders. It rained—the usual gentle but very insistent kind of +rain—and the men were so solicitous! They kept trying to drag us off +to get our feet warm or bringing us chairs or offering to hand out our +ballots while we took a rest, but the women would not leave their +places until relieved by other women, even for lunch, for fear of +losing a vote. The whole thing appealed to the men irresistibly. We +are receiving praise from all quarters for the kind of campaign we +made—no personalities, no boasting of what we would do, no promises, +no meddling with other issues—just 'Votes for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_682" id="Page_682">[Pg 682]</a></span> Women' straight +through, because it is just and reasonable and everywhere when tried +has been found expedient."</p> + +<p>The amendment was adopted November 8, 1910, by the splendid majority +of 22,623, nearly 2 to 1. The vote stood 52,299 ayes to 29,676 noes +out of a total vote of 138,243 cast for congressmen. Every one of the +39 counties and every city was carried. The large cities won in the +following order: Seattle and King County 12,052 to 6,695; Tacoma and +Pierce County, 5,552 to 3,442; Spokane and Spokane County, 5,639 to +4,551. Then came Bellingham and Whatcom County, 3,520 to 1,334; +Everett and Snohomish County, 3,209 to 1,294; Bremerton and Kitsap +County, including the U. S. Navy Yard, 1,094 to 372. Kitsap was the +banner county giving the highest ratio for the amendment. This was +largely due to the remarkable house to house canvass made by Mrs. +Elizabeth A. Baker of Manette.</p> + +<p>The cost of the twenty months' campaign is estimated to be $17,000, +which includes the amounts spent by organizations and individuals. The +money was raised in various ways and contributions ran from 25 cents +up, few exceeding $100. Over $500 were subscribed by the labor unions +and about $500 collected at the Granges and Farmers' Unions' suffrage +meetings. Dr. Sarah A. Kendall of Seattle collected the largest amount +of any one person. About $3,000 were contributed from outside the +State, chiefly from New York, Massachusetts and California. The first +and largest gift which heartened the workers was $500 from Mrs. Carrie +Chapman Catt.<a name="FNanchor_201_201" id="FNanchor_201_201"></a><a href="#Footnote_201_201" class="fnanchor">[201]</a></p> + +<p>After the suffrage amendment was carried there was organized<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_683" id="Page_683">[Pg 683]</a></span> on Jan. +14, 1911, the National Council of Women Voters at the home of Mr. and +Mrs. John Q. Mason in Tacoma. Governor James H. Brady of Idaho issued +a call to the Governors of the four other equal suffrage +States—Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and Washington—asking them to send +delegates to this first convention. He presided at the opening session +and spoke at the evening meeting which filled the largest theater. +Mrs. DeVoe was elected president and was re-elected at each succeeding +convention. It was non-partisan and non-sectarian and its objects were +three-fold: 1. To educate women voters in the exercise of their +citizenship; 2. To secure legislation in equal suffrage States in the +interest of men and women, of children and the home; 3. To aid in the +further extension of woman suffrage. As new States gained suffrage +they joined the Council.</p> + +<p>Before Mrs. DeVoe went to the National Suffrage Convention at St. +Louis in March, 1919, she was authorized by the Council to take +whatever steps were necessary to merge it in the National League of +Women Voters which was to be organized there. Mrs. Catt requested her +to complete the arrangements when she returned to Washington and act +as chairman until this was accomplished. On Jan. 6, 1920, the Council +became the State League of Women Voters. Mrs. Nelle Mitchell Fick was +elected temporary and later Mrs. W. S. Griswold permanent chairman.</p> + +<p>On the afternoon of August 21, old and new suffrage workers joined in +a celebration at Seattle of the final ratification by the Legislature +of Tennessee, which was attended by over two hundred women.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>Election returns furnish conclusive proof that the women of Washington +use the ballot. After 1910 the total registration of the State nearly +doubled, although men outnumber women, and the women apparently vote +in the same proportion as men. A tremendous increase of interest among +them in civic, economic and political affairs followed the adoption of +suffrage and the results were evidenced by a much larger number of +laws favorably affecting the status of women and the home passed in +the ten year period following 1910 than during the previous ten year +period. Uniform hostility to liquor, prostitution and vice has<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_684" id="Page_684">[Pg 684]</a></span> been +shown; also to working conditions adversely affecting the health and +morals of women and children.</p> + +<p>The vote of the women was the deciding factor in the Seattle recall +election of February 8, 1911, when Mayor Hiram Gill was removed +because of vice conditions permitted to flourish under his +administration. It was acknowledged that, due to a strong combination +of the vice and public utility interests of the city, he would have +been retained but for their opposition. His re-election later by a +small majority is explained by the fact that he begged the citizens to +give him a chance to remove the stigma from his name for the sake of +his wife and family, with whom his relations were blameless.</p> + +<p>The State Legislative Federation, representing 140 various kinds of +women's clubs and organizations, having a total membership of over +50,000 women, has maintained headquarters at Olympia during the +sessions of the Legislature in recent years, to the advantage of +legislation. The W. C. T. U. also is an active influence. Miss Lucy R. +Case, as executive secretary of the Joint Legislative Committee of the +State Federation of Labor, Grange, Farmers' Union and Direct +Legislation League, took an important part at the elections of 1914 +and 1916 in defeating the reactionary measures affecting popular +government and labor.</p> + +<p>Representative Frances C. Axtell of Bellingham introduced and +engineered the minimum wage law and several moral bills in cooperation +with the W. C. T. U. Representative Frances M. Haskell of Tacoma led +in securing the law for equal pay for men and women teachers. Reah M. +Whitehead, Justice of the Peace of King county, prepared and promoted +the law relating to unmarried mothers. The Seattle Branch of the +Council of Women Voters established a "quiz congress," which requested +candidates to attend its meetings and state their position on campaign +issues and answer questions and many candidates importuned it for a +chance to be heard.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> The Federal Suffrage Amendment was ratified on March 22, +1920, at an extraordinary session called principally for that purpose. +Governor Louis F. Hart had been reluctant to call a special session on +the ground that, due to the unsettled condition of the country at that +time, it would afford<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_685" id="Page_685">[Pg 685]</a></span> opportunity for the introduction of a flood of +radical legislation which would keep the Legislature in prolonged +session at great expense to the State. He finally yielded to the +persuasion of a large number of the leading women of the State and to +political pressure from his party in high places and called the +session, which lasted but three days and dealt only with the subjects +mentioned in the call.</p> + +<p>The occasion was most impressive. The Capitol was thronged with women +who had traveled from every corner of the State to participate in the +occasion. Every available seat in the balconies of both Houses was +filled and the aisles and corridors were crowded. The hope and +expectation that at any moment the wires might flash the news that +Delaware had ratified and Washington would thus be the thirty-sixth +and final State to enfranchise the women of the whole nation, lent an +added thrill to the proceedings. At noon both Houses met in joint +session to listen to the Governor's message. Dealing with the +ratification he reminded the members that in 1910 the electors had +adopted woman suffrage by an overwhelming vote and said, "The State +has done well under the management of both men and women." A marked +feature of their proceedings was the gracious courtesy accorded to the +old suffrage leaders and workers, who were present in large numbers.</p> + +<p>In the House the honor of introducing the resolution was accorded to +Mrs. Haskell, Representative from Pierce county, who made a strong +speech favoring its adoption. Not one vote was cast against it. By +special resolution Mrs. Emma Smith DeVoe, referred to as "the mother +of suffrage" in the State, was invited to a seat on the right of +Speaker Adams, with Governor Hart on the left. A special committee was +appointed to escort her and she took her seat amid loud cheers. She +was asked to address the House and said in part:</p> + +<blockquote><p>I am proud of the Legislature of Washington because of this +patriotic act and I thank you in the name of our forefathers, who +first proclaimed that "taxation without representation is +tyranny" and that government without consent is unjust.... I +thank you in the name of the early suffrage workers who have +passed on to their beautiful reward. I thank you in the name of +the women of the United States of today who will, I trust, use +their new political<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_686" id="Page_686">[Pg 686]</a></span> freedom wisely and well. I thank you in the +name of the children who will come after us; they will have a +better, broader and nobler heritage than was ours. And I +personally thank you from the depths of my heart. God bless you +every one!</p></blockquote> + +<p>Twelve minutes after the resolution reached the Senate it had been +passed by another unanimous vote. During the proceedings Mrs. Homer M. +Hill sat beside President Carlyon and was invited to address the +members. Described as "a tiny figure whose white hair was scarcely on +a level with the top of the Speaker's desk," she expressed the +emotions of the older suffragists as they witnessed the adoption of +the resolution. She thanked them in the name also of the W. C. T. U., +and thanked the leaders in the cause of labor and of many other +organizations, as well as the leaders of both parties. "Washington has +led the victorious crusade for the Pacific Coast States," she said. +"May we always appreciate what it means to live in a State whose men +themselves gave this right to women!"</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>[<span class="smcap">Laws.</span> A complete digest of the laws relating especially to the +interests of women and children and to moral questions enacted during +the first decade of the present century was prepared for this chapter +by Judge Reah M. Whitehead of Seattle. This was supplemented by an +abstract of fifty-eight statutes of a similar nature enacted during +the last decade, prepared by attorneys Adella M. Parker of Seattle and +Bernice A. Sapp of Olympia. They largely cover the field of modern +liberal legislation but can not be given because of the decision to +omit the laws in all the State chapters for lack of space. The results +on questions related to prohibition submitted to the electors, with +women voting, are significant: Statute for State-wide prohibition +submitted in 1914: ayes, 189,840; noes, 171,208; statute submitted in +1916 permitting hotels to sell liquor: ayes, 48,354; noes, 262,390; +statute authorizing manufacture, sale and export of 4 per cent. beer: +ayes, 98,843; noes, 245,399.]</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_196_196" id="Footnote_196_196"></a><a href="#FNanchor_196_196"><span class="label">[196]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Dr. Cora +Smith King, assisted by Mrs. Emma Smith DeVoe, Dr. Sarah A. Kendall, +Mrs. Homer M. Hill, and others. Valuable assistance in editing the +manuscript was rendered by Judson King, writer and lecturer, Secretary +of the National Popular Government League, Washington, D. C.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_197_197" id="Footnote_197_197"></a><a href="#FNanchor_197_197"><span class="label">[197]</span></a> Following is a complete list of the officers of the +State Association who served during the campaign of 1910: President, +Mrs. Emma Smith DeVoe, Melmont; vice-presidents: Mrs. Bessie I. +Savage, Seattle; Mrs. Jennie Jewett, White Salmon; Mrs. John Q. Mason, +Tacoma; Mrs. Alice M. Grover, Spokane; Mrs. Anna E. Goodwin, Columbia +(now Mrs. Yungbluth); treasurer, Dr. Cora Smith Eaton, Seattle (now +Dr. King); corresponding secretary, Mrs. Ellen S. Leckenby, Seattle; +headquarters secretary, Miss Mabel Fontron, Seattle (now Mrs. Paul +Rewman); auditors, Miss Bernice A. Sapp, Olympia, Dr. Anna W. Scott, +West Seattle, Dr. N. Jolidon Croake, Tacoma, Mrs. H. J. McGregor, +Tacoma; trustees, Dr. Sarah A. Kendall, Seattle, Mrs. Georgia B. +Smith, Anacortes, Mrs. B. B. Lord, Olympia; chairmen of standing +committees: Church Work, Mrs. C. M. Miller, Seattle; Letter Writers, +Mrs. Lucie F. Isaacs, Walla Walla; Literature, Mrs. E. M. Wardall, +West Seattle; Labor Unions, Dr. Luema G. Johnson, Tacoma; Publication, +Miss Linda Jennings, LaConner; Finance, Mrs. H. D. Wright, Seattle; +Headquarters, Miss Mary G. O'Meara, Seattle (now Mrs. Otway Pardee); +Advisory, Mrs. Amos Brown, West Seattle; Library, Mrs. Dora W. +Cryderman, Bellingham; Precincts, Mrs. Silvia A. Hunsicker, Seattle; +Petitions, Mrs. Roy Welch, Kelso; Educational, Mrs. Margaret Heyes +Hall, Vancouver; Member of National Executive Committee, Miss Adella +M. Parker, Seattle; Historian, Miss Ida Agnes Baker, Bellingham.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_198_198" id="Footnote_198_198"></a><a href="#FNanchor_198_198"><span class="label">[198]</span></a> Other officers of the Franchise Society were: +Assistants, Mrs. Edward P. Fick and Mrs. D. L. Carmichael; +corresponding secretary, Mrs. F. S. Bash; recording secretary, Mrs. W. +T. Perkins; treasurer, Mrs. E. M. Rininger; financial secretary, Mrs. +Phebe A. Ryan. Others who worked without pay were: Miss Martha +Gruening of New York and Miss Jeannette Rankin of Montana. Mrs. George +A. Smith, president of the Alki Point Suffrage Club of Seattle, worked +independently but cooperated with the society in many ways. The +society employed Mrs. Rose Aschermann, Mrs. Ethel Stalford, Charles E. +Cline, Vaughn Ellis and John Gray of Washington.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_199_199" id="Footnote_199_199"></a><a href="#FNanchor_199_199"><span class="label">[199]</span></a> During the year following the winning of the franchise +Mrs. Hanna published her paper under the name of <i>The New Citizen</i>. +Miss Parker published twelve numbers of a monthly paper called The +<i>Western Woman Voter</i>, from the files of which much valuable data has +been gleaned for this chapter.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_200_200" id="Footnote_200_200"></a><a href="#FNanchor_200_200"><span class="label">[200]</span></a> The member was Dr. Cora Smith King.—Ed.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_201_201" id="Footnote_201_201"></a><a href="#FNanchor_201_201"><span class="label">[201]</span></a> Among eastern contributors were Henry B. and Alice +Stone Blackwell, Mass., $250; Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Lesser, California, +$100; Mrs. H. E. Flansburg, New York, $100; Miss Janet Richards, +Washington, D. C., $100; the Rev. Olympia Brown, Wisconsin, $25. The +National American Woman Suffrage Association contributed direct to +Mrs. DeVoe for traveling expenses to June, 1909, inclusive, $900. At +this time, seventeen months before the amendment was submitted, +through differences arising between the national and State +organizations, all national support was withdrawn. Among those +contributing from the East to Mrs. Hill's society through Miss +Margaret W. Bayne of Kirkland, who went there to raise money, her own +trip being financed by Mrs. E. M. Rininger of Seattle, were: Mrs. +Henry Villard, New York, $200; Mrs. Susan Look Avery, Kentucky, $250; +Mrs. Elizabeth Smith Miller and Miss Anne Fitzhugh Miller, New York, +$300; Mrs. Kemeys, New York, $100; Mrs. Alfred Lewis, New York, $50; +Mrs. Raymond Robins, Illinois, $50; Misses Isabel and Emily Howland, +New York, $20; Mrs. Sarah L. Willis, New York, $20; Mrs. Isabella B. +Hooker, Conn., $25; Equal Suffrage Association, Mass., $100; Mrs. H. +S. Luscomb, Mass., $100; "A Friend," $200. +</p><p> +The net contribution of the National to the State Association during +the campaign, deducting the expense of entertaining the 1909 national +convention, was about $30.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_687" id="Page_687">[Pg 687]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLVII" id="CHAPTER_XLVII"></a>CHAPTER XLVII.</h2> + +<h3>WEST VIRGINIA.<a name="FNanchor_202_202" id="FNanchor_202_202"></a><a href="#Footnote_202_202" class="fnanchor">[202]</a></h3> + + +<p>In 1895 when the West Virginia Equal Suffrage Association was +organized through the effort of the National American Association, +with Mrs. Jessie G. Manley president, nine clubs were formed in the +northern part of the State but only those in Fairmont and Wheeling +remained in existence after 1900. The first president of the Fairmont +Club was the mother of Mrs. Manley, Mrs. Margaret J. Grove, who with +her sisters, Mrs. Corilla E. Shearer and Miss Ellen D. Harn, all still +living, aged 89, 90 and 92, led in the early suffrage work in the +State, and Mrs. Mary Reed of Fairmont also was a pioneer. Little +public work was done until an active suffrage movement was inaugurated +in Virginia and in 1912 Miss Mary Johnston came to Charleston and +organized a club. One was formed in Morgantown and these four +constituted the State association until the amendment campaign of +1916.</p> + +<p>The following have served as State presidents: Mrs. Beulah Boyd +Ritchie, 1900-1903; Mrs. M. Anna Hall, 1904; Mrs. Anne M. Southern, +1905; Dr. Harriet B. Jones, 1906; Mrs. May Hornbrook, 1907-1910; Mrs. +Allie Haymond, 1911-1912; Miss Margaret McKinney, 1913; Mrs. J. Gale +Ebert, 1914-1915; Mrs. Lenna Lowe Yost, 1916; Mrs. John L. Ruhl, +1917-1920.<a name="FNanchor_203_203" id="FNanchor_203_203"></a><a href="#Footnote_203_203" class="fnanchor">[203]</a> Annual meetings were held as follows: 1900, December +1, Fairmont; 1904, August 11, Moundsville; 1905, October 27, Fairmont; +1906, October 26, Wheeling; 1907, November 8, Wheeling; 1908, October +29, Fairmont; 1909, October 30,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_688" id="Page_688">[Pg 688]</a></span> Wheeling; 1911, October 27, Fairmont; +1913, October 24, Wheeling. During these years practically all that +was done was to have speakers of note from time to time and a +resolution for woman suffrage introduced in the Legislature whenever +possible.</p> + +<p>In 1904 a new city charter was prepared for Wheeling and an effort was +made to have it provide for a municipal vote for women. Dr. Anna +Howard Shaw, national president, gave a week to speaking in the city +and Miss Kate Gordon, national corresponding secretary, spent three +weeks there, addressing many organizations. The question was submitted +to the voters with the charter but on a separate ballot. Both were +lost, the suffrage amendment by 1,600. More votes were cast on it than +on the charter itself.</p> + +<p>In 1910 an amendment to the State constitution permitting women to be +appointed notaries public, clerks of county courts, probation officers +and members of boards of State institutions went to the voters. The +State Bar Association also had an amendment and kindly printed the +literature for the former and sent it out with theirs. It received the +larger number of votes—44,168 ayes, 45,044 noes—and was lost by only +876.</p> + +<p>With the submission to the voters by the Legislature of 1915 of an +amendment to the constitution conferring full suffrage activity was +stimulated. Miss Ida Craft of New York, in cooperation with the women +of Charleston, held a suffrage school there January 28-February 3 and +at that time Mrs. J. E. Cannady, vice-president of its Equal Suffrage +League, obtained permission from Governor Henry D. Hatfield to put the +"suffrage map" in the lobby of the Capitol. Mrs. Mary E. Craigie, +chairman of church work for the National Association, addressed the +Woman's Club of Parkersburg April 5 and afterwards spoke in many +cities and towns through arrangement by Dr. Jones, as did Mrs. Harriet +Taylor Upton of Warren and Miss Elizabeth J. Hauser of Girard, Ohio. +In May Mrs. Ebert of Parkersburg, president of the State association, +addressed a letter to the clergymen urging them to use as a text on +Mothers' Day, May 9, The Need of Mothers' Influence in the State, and +Dr. Jones sent a questionnaire to 150 editors, receiving answers +favoring suffrage from 53. Mrs. Desha Breckinridge, president of the +Kentucky<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_689" id="Page_689">[Pg 689]</a></span> Equal Suffrage Association, spent a week in the State +speaking and Miss Craft, who kept her promise to return in May, +organized many new suffrage groups, as did Mrs. Wesley Martin Stoner +of Washington, who campaigned principally in the mining towns. In the +summer a Men's Advisory Committee with Judge J. C. McWhorter as +chairman was appointed by the State board; the State Educational +Association in convention endorsed woman suffrage; and after an +address by Mrs. Deborah Knox Livingston of Maine, who was on a tour of +the State, the Methodist Episcopal Conference passed a favorable +resolution. Later on Governor's Day at Middlebourne with thousands of +people present Mrs. Ebert spoke with Governor Hatfield, both making +appeals for votes for women. At the annual Fall Festival at Huntington +a suffrage float designed by Mrs. E. C. Venable was in the parade. At +Parkersburg suffragists addressed an immense crowd at Barnum and +Bailey's circus.</p> + +<p>In October the number of small subscribers was increased by "dollar +day," when many persons sacrificed or earned a dollar and gave it to +the association. Window displays were arranged in many cities with +especially elaborate ones in Wheeling, Parkersburg and Huntington. At +the State convention held in Huntington Nov. 16, 1915, a "budget" of +$25,000 was authorized, $5,000 of which was quickly subscribed by the +delegates, Dr. Irene Bullard of Charleston and Mrs. Helen Brandeburg +of Huntington pledging $1,000 each for their branches. Mrs. Frank +Roessing of Pittsburgh, national first vice-president, who was one of +the speakers, pledged $400 for the Pennsylvania association. For the +first time there was an automobile parade.</p> + +<p>In January, 1916, Mrs. Ebert resigned and Mrs. Yost, first +vice-president, succeeded her, soon afterwards opening headquarters in +her own home in Morgantown. These demanded practically every hour of +her time from 6 in the morning until 11 at night throughout the ten +months' campaign. Because of the illness of Dr. Bullard, chairman of +literature, that department was moved to Morgantown and placed in +charge of Mrs. P. C. McBee, with Lillie Hagans assisting. About $2,000 +were invested in literature. Over 200,000 congressional speeches were +sent to the voters. In the last days of the campaign personal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_690" id="Page_690">[Pg 690]</a></span> appeals +were mailed to those in half of the 55 counties and 10,000 posters +were sent out by this bureau to be used on election day. Through a +publicity department opened February 25, with Frank C. Dudley at the +head, the 200 newspapers of the State were served with news bulletins. +He also edited a special edition of the Wheeling <i>Intelligencer</i> in +June. In September the National Association sent Mrs. Rose L. Geyer of +Iowa, who had conducted the publicity in its campaign this year. +During the last month bulletins were supplied to all daily papers; 110 +newspapers were provided with free plate service; many anti-suffrage +articles were answered; much copy was given to local newspapers about +public meetings held by the speakers and organizers; newspaper +advertisements were furnished to all rural papers the week before +election; every city organization carried a conspicuous advertisement +in the daily papers; hundreds of two-page supplements were furnished +the last week. The majority of the newspapers were editorially in +favor of the amendment.</p> + +<p>In January the State association put two organizers in the field, Miss +Marie Ames and Miss Eudora Ramsey, the salary of the latter paid by +the Allegheny county suffrage society of Pennsylvania, and the +National Association placed two, Miss Lavinia Engle and Miss Katherine +B. Mills. An appeal in March for more help brought Miss Hannah J. +Patterson, its corresponding secretary and chairman of organization. +In making her report to the National Board on April 5 she recommended +that headquarters be established in the business district of +Morgantown; additional office assistance be sent to relieve the +president; ten organizers be secured and so distributed that there +would be one in every group of five or six counties; and a +representative of the National Association visit the State each month +in order to keep in close touch with the work. As the "budget" called +for $16,000 the National Board voted to give $5,000 providing the +State association would raise $11,000. The headquarters were moved at +once and furnished by friends. Later when they became too small the +Board of Trade rooms were placed at the disposal of the suffragists +through the kindness of E. M. Grant. From time to time organizers were +sent to the State until there were twenty-eight and 400 organizations +were formed. To relieve<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_691" id="Page_691">[Pg 691]</a></span> the president, Miss Alice Curtis of Iowa was +sent as executive secretary, remaining until the end of the campaign. +Miss Patterson made three trips to the State. Mrs. Catt made one with +her, meeting with the State board August 3, 4, in Clarksburg, to hold +a workers' conference, which considered publicity, money raising, +organization and election day methods. A "budget" of $14,948 to cover +the last four-and-a-quarter months of the campaign was adopted.</p> + +<p>A "flying squadron" of prominent West Virginia men and women speakers +was sent in groups to thirty points. They were Dr. Joseph A. Bennett +of Sistersville; C. Burgess Taylor of Wheeling; the Hon. Charles E. +Carrigan of Moundsville; Judge McWhorter and J. M. N. Downes of +Buckhannon; Howard L. Swisher of Morgantown; the Hon. Tracy L. +Jeffords and the Hon. B. Randolph Bias of Williamson; Mrs. Frank N. +Mann of Huntington; Mrs. Flora Williams of Wheeling, soloist. Mrs. +Pattie Ruffner Jacobs of Alabama and Mrs. Nellie McClung of Canada +joined the squadron and spoke at several points. Among others of +influence who filled many speaking engagements and met their own +expenses were Mrs. Henry M. Russell and Rabbi H. Silver of Wheeling; +Milliard F. Snider and the Hon. Harvey W. Harmar of Clarksburg; Judge +Frank Cox and ex-Governor Glasscock of Morgantown. Judge McWhorter +made about 25 addresses. Uncounted numbers of women throughout the +State freely gave their time and work. About 1,500 meetings were +arranged by the headquarters staff exclusive of those in charge of +local women. Mrs. Catt spoke to mass meetings at Clarksburg, +Morgantown and Fairmont and at the hearing before the Democratic State +convention; Mrs. Antoinette Funk of Chicago before the Republican +State convention. Favorable suffrage planks were placed in the +platforms of both parties and the candidates for Governor declared +publicly for the amendment.</p> + +<p>Dr. Shaw made thirteen addresses in cities of over 5,000 inhabitants, +contributing her services and expenses with the condition that the +collections at her meetings go into the State treasury. Miss Katharine +Devereux Blake, principal of a New York City school, addressed +Teachers' Institutes three weeks without charge, the State paying her +expenses. Mrs. Jacobs gave a two<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_692" id="Page_692">[Pg 692]</a></span> weeks' speaking tour and paid her +own expenses. Other speakers from outside the State were Mrs. Forbes +Robertson Hale, Mrs. T. T. Cotnam of Arkansas; Dr. Effie McCollum +Jones of Iowa; Mrs. Anna Ross Weeks and Miss Emma L. McAlarney of New +York; Mrs. Minnie Fisher Cunningham of Texas and Mrs. McClung. Dr. +Harriet B. Jones spoke throughout the campaign.</p> + +<p>The National Association paid the salary or expenses or both of the +outside speakers and twenty of the organizers.<a name="FNanchor_204_204" id="FNanchor_204_204"></a><a href="#Footnote_204_204" class="fnanchor">[204]</a> It paid also for +200,000 Congressional speeches; circularized and sent the <i>Woman's +Journal</i> for four months to 1,600 clergymen; furnished suffrage +posters and a Ford car and paid for election advertising in all the +rural newspapers. It sent Mr. Heaslip, its own chairman of publicity, +for the last days of the campaign. Financial assistance came also from +the Massachusetts association. The State was left with a deficit of +$3,740. During the campaign the National Association had sent in cash +$5,257. Afterwards, to reduce the deficit, it sent money for the +salary of one organizer and expenses of another beside $1,000 in cash. +Later the Leslie Suffrage Commission paid a bill of $540 to the +Publishing Company for literature ordered from June to November by the +State and $2,000 in cash which cleared up the deficit. According to +the State report the campaign cost the State organization about +$9,000. It cost the National Association and Leslie Commission over +$17,000.</p> + +<p>The vote on November 7 was 63,540 in favor; 161,607 against; opposing +majority of 98,000, the largest ever given against woman suffrage. +Only two out of the fifty-five counties carried, Brooke and Hancock, +industrial districts situated in the extreme northern part of the +State. Brooke county had the lowest per cent. of illiteracy—two per +cent. while it was eight and three-tenths per cent. in the State at +large. The "wet" vote of Wheeling, Huntington and Charleston proved a +decisive factor in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_693" id="Page_693">[Pg 693]</a></span> defeating the amendment. Another element working +toward the suffrage defeat was the use made by the opposition of the +negro question. They told the negroes that the white women would take +the vote away from them and also establish a "Jim-Crow" system and +they told the white women that the negro women outnumbered them and +would get the balance of power. There is a large colored vote in the +State. A really big campaign was conducted and while the size of the +opposition vote was appalling, one must consider that it was the first +attempt. The election methods in some places were reprehensible.</p> + +<p>The State convention was held at Fairmont, Nov. 20, 1917, and there +was a determination to hold together for future effort. In 1918 there +was no convention, the women being absorbed in war work. By 1919 +another great struggle was ahead, as it was evident that the Federal +Suffrage Amendment would soon be sent to the Legislatures by Congress.</p> + +<p>Following the plan of the National Association Mrs. Nettie Rogers +Shuler, national corresponding secretary and chairman of organization, +went to Charleston on Jan. 7, 1919, to meet the State board to discuss +plans for ratification. The officers present were Mrs. Ruhl, +president; Mrs. Yost, member of the National Executive Committee, and +Mrs. Edward S. Romine of Wheeling, chairman of the Congressional +Committee. They stated that there was little organization, no funds +and that help must be given by the National Association. Mrs. Shuler +remained two weeks and with these three officers and Miss Edna Annette +Beveridge interviewed and polled members of the Legislature. Acting +for the association Mrs. Shuler divided the State and assigned the +districts to three national organizers, Miss Beveridge, who remained +three-and-a-half months; Mrs. Augusta Hughston and Miss Mary Elizabeth +Pidgeon, six weeks each, the National Association paying salary and +expenses and furnishing literature and printed petitions to members of +the Legislature. Suffrage societies were revived, public officials, +editors and ministers interviewed and much work was done.</p> + +<p>On April 2, 3, a large and enthusiastic State convention was held in +Charleston at the Kanawha Hotel. Coming directly from the convention +of the National Association at St. Louis, Mrs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_694" id="Page_694">[Pg 694]</a></span> Catt, the president, +who had asked for a "working" conference with the State board, spoke +on the Federal Amendment at the afternoon session and to a mass +meeting in the Young Men's Christian Association Hall in the evening. +She was accompanied by Mrs. Shuler, who spoke at a dinner in the +Ruffner Hotel presided over by Mrs. Woodson T. Wills, vice-president +of the West Virginia Federation of Women's Clubs, and addressed by +prominent men and women of the State and by Miss Marjorie Shuler, +national director of field publicity, who had conducted a conference +at the afternoon session.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> The Federal Amendment was submitted by Congress June 4, +and the pressing work for the State association was to secure its +ratification by the Legislature. Mrs. Ellis A. Yost was made chairman +of the Ratification Committee, whose other members were Mrs. Ruhl, +Mrs. Ebert, Mrs. H. D. Rummel, Miss Mary Wilson, Miss Margaret +McKinney and Mrs. Romine. An Advisory Board was formed of 150 of as +influential men as there were in the State, judges, lawyers, bankers, +officials, presidents and professors of colleges, editors, clergymen, +presidents of the State Federation of Labor and other organizations; +and the most prominent women in educational, civic and club work. This +list was printed on the campaign stationery. The last of December +Governor John J. Cornwell received a letter from Mrs. Catt urging him +to call a special session in January. He was known to favor +ratification and he had been kept informed by the members of the +suffrage association and the W. C. T. U., who had polled the +legislators and found a majority in favor.</p> + +<p>The Democratic Governor called the Republican Legislature in special +session for Friday, February 27, 1920. President Wilson telegraphed +members of the Senate: "May I not urge upon you the importance to the +whole country of the prompt ratification of the suffrage amendment and +express the hope that you will find it possible to lend your aid to +this end?" Both the Democratic and Republican National Committees +joined in urging ratification, as did the entire State delegation in +Congress, who had voted for submitting the amendment. The resolution +was introduced and by the rules went over for one day. All looked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_695" id="Page_695">[Pg 695]</a></span> +promising when suddenly its advocates found themselves in a torrent of +opposition, due to the injection of the fight that was being made for +the governorship and interference from outside the State. The Maryland +Legislature sent a committee to urge its rejection and anti-suffrage +leaders from all over the country made their appearance. The vote was +taken on Wednesday and stood 47 ayes, 40 noes in the House. The vote +was 14 to 14 in the Senate. A motion to reconsider was lost by the +same vote. In the meantime Senator Jesse A. Bloch, who was in +California, telegraphed: "Just received notice of special session. Am +in favor of ratification. Please arrange a pair for me." This was +refused by the opponents with jeers. Secretary of State Houston G. +Young immediately got into communication with him on the long distance +telephone and he agreed to make a race across the continent for +Charleston.</p> + +<p>Then came the struggle to hold the lines intact until his arrival. The +situation was most critical because a motion in the Lower House to +reconsider had been laid on the table and could be called up at any +time. Many members were anxious to go home and there was difficulty in +keeping enough present at roll call to defeat hostile attacks. The tie +in the Senate held fast, however, as Senator Bloch sped across the +country. The day he reached Chicago the opposition resorted to its +most desperate expedient by producing a former Senator, A. R. +Montgomery, who about eight months before had resigned his seat, +saying that he was leaving the State, and later had moved to Illinois. +There was documentary evidence that he had given up his residence. He +demanded of Governor Cornwell to return his letter of resignation. The +Governor refused and he then appeared in the Senate that afternoon and +offered to vote. President Sinsel promptly ruled that he was not a +member. On an appeal from this ruling he was sustained by a tie vote +and the case was referred to the Committee on Privileges and +Elections.</p> + +<p>When Senator Bloch reached Chicago he found that not only a special +train but also an airship were awaiting him.<a name="FNanchor_205_205" id="FNanchor_205_205"></a><a href="#Footnote_205_205" class="fnanchor">[205]</a> He chose the train +and made the trip with a speed that was said to have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_696" id="Page_696">[Pg 696]</a></span> broken all +records. He arrived on March 10 and took his seat in the Senate amid +cheers from crowded galleries. The corridors were thronged and even +the floor of the Senate was crowded with guests, many of them women. +Then followed a most dramatic debate of several hours, as each side +tried to get the advantage. Montgomery was not permitted to take his +seat and at 6 o'clock in the afternoon the vote was taken—16 ayes, 13 +noes, one opponent changing his vote when he saw the resolution would +pass.</p> + +<p>After the Senate vote a second was secured in the House by the +opponents of the motion to reconsider, which resulted in a larger +favorable majority than the first.</p> + +<p>Harvey W. Harmer of Clarksburg, who had charge of the resolution in +the Senate and W. S. John of Morgantown in the House, deserve the +warmest gratitude of the women. It was not an ordinary vote that the +members gave but one which stood the test for days and against the +most determined opposition. Too much praise can not be given to +Governor Cornwell for calling the special session and for unyieldingly +standing by the cause. The Democratic State chairman, C. L. Shaver, +although unable to be present, gave splendid help. The men outside the +Legislature who gave their time unstintedly, and were present, +cooperating with the Ratification Committee of the Equal Suffrage +Association, were State chairman of the Republican Committee, W. E. +Baker; Secretary of State Young, former Minister to Venezuela; Elliott +Northcott, mayor of Charleston; ex-Governor A. B. White; U. S. Senator +Howard Sutherland; Major John Bond; National Republican Committeeman +Virgil L. Highland; Congressman M. M. Neely; Mayor Hall and Jesse B. +Sullivan, a prominent newspaper correspondent. The best legal and +editorial assistance was given generously by the Hon. Fred O. Blue, +the Hon. Clyde B. Johnson and former U. S. Senator W. E. Chilton. Boyd +Jarrell, editor of the Huntington <i>Herald Dispatch</i>, was constantly on +the firing line.</p> + +<p>The chairman of the Ratification Committee had a herculean task during +these strenuous days and after they were over a letter of appreciation +of her services was sent to Mrs. Catt, the national president, which +closed: "The opposing elements combined<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_697" id="Page_697">[Pg 697]</a></span> tended to create for Mrs. +Yost what at first seemed to be a situation impossible of solution, +but with rare tact and a soundness of judgment that we have seldom +seen equalled her leadership has brought about a complete victory. As +supporters of suffrage we are sending you this without Mrs. Yost's +knowledge and simply that at least some part of the credit due her may +be given." This was signed by Chas. A. Sinsel, president State Senate; +Grant P. Hall, Mayor of Charleston; W. E. Chilton, former U. S. +Senator; Houston C. Young, Secretary of State; Albert B. White, former +Governor; W. E. Baker, chairman Republican State Committee; J. S. +Darst, Auditor of State.</p> + +<p>The president of the State Association, Mrs. Ruhl, was present +throughout the sessions, as were members of the State committee, Mrs. +Ebert, Mrs. Rummel, Miss McKinney, Mrs. Romine, Mrs. Thomas Peadro, +Mrs. Mann, Mrs. Allie B. Haymond, Mrs. O. S. McKinney, Mrs. Kemble +White, Mrs. William G. Brown and Mrs. Olandus West. The cost of +organizers and literature in the ratification campaign to the National +Association was about $2,300, in addition to the State association's +expenses.</p> + +<p>On Sept. 30, 1920, the State association became the League of Women +Voters and Mrs. John L. Ruhl was elected chairman.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action.</span> 1901. A bill for Presidential suffrage, drawn by +George E. Boyd, Sr., was introduced in the House by Henry C. Hervey +and seconded by S. G. Smith of Wheeling. It was rejected by a vote of +31 to 25, Speaker Wilson voting against it. The bill was introduced in +the Senate by Nelson Whittaker of Wheeling. U. S. Senator Stephen B. +Elkins commanded it to be tabled and this was done.</p> + +<p>1903. A bill for Presidential suffrage was defeated.</p> + +<p>1905. A resolution introduced in the Senate by Samuel Montgomery to +submit a suffrage amendment to the State Constitution received two +votes.</p> + +<p>1907. Dr. A. J. Mitchell introduced a resolution for an amendment in +the house; Z. J. Forman in the Senate. Senator Robert Hazlett arranged +a legislative hearing at which every seat was occupied, with people +sitting on the steps and sides of the platform and the large space in +the back part of the room filled with men standing. Dr. Harriet B. +Jones made a short address<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_698" id="Page_698">[Pg 698]</a></span> and was followed by Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, +president of the National Suffrage Association, in an eloquent plea. +The vote in the Senate was 10 ayes, 13 noes; in the House, 26 ayes, 48 +noes.</p> + +<p>1913. A resolution to submit a State amendment was introduced in the +House January 28 by M. K. Duty and later at his request Delegate Ellis +A. Yost took charge of it. Through the generosity of the Hon. William +Seymour Edwards, Miss Mary Johnston was brought to Charleston by its +suffrage association and addressed the Legislature, which assembled in +the House Chamber. She also spoke to a large audience in the Burlew +Theater. The resolution came up on February 15; the hall was crowded +with interested spectators and stirring speeches were made by the +members. On the final roll call, to the dismay of its supporters, it +did not poll the necessary two-thirds. On motion of Delegate Yost the +announcement of the vote was postponed till Monday, the 17th, and +every possible effort was made to bring in absent members but as the +final vote was being taken it was seen that it lacked one. At the +request of Governor Hatfield Delegate Hartley changed his vote and it +was carried by the needed 58, Speaker Taylor George voting for it. The +resolution was introduced in the Senate by N. G. Keim of Elkins and +supported by able speakers but it was lost on February 20 by 14 noes, +16 ayes, 20 being necessary.</p> + +<p>1915. On January 26 the resolution for a State amendment was submitted +by 26 ayes, 3 noes in the Senate and 76 ayes, 8 noes in the House, to +be voted on in November, 1916.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_202_202" id="Footnote_202_202"></a><a href="#FNanchor_202_202"><span class="label">[202]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Dr. Harriet +B. Jones, officially identified with the movement for woman suffrage +in the State since its beginning about thirty years ago, and to Lenna +Lowe (Mrs. Ellis A.) Yost, chairman of the Ratification Committee; +also to the records of the National American Woman Suffrage +Association.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_203_203" id="Footnote_203_203"></a><a href="#FNanchor_203_203"><span class="label">[203]</span></a> Women who have been most prominent in the work not +already mentioned are: Miss Jennie Wilson, Mrs. Annie C. Boyd, Mrs. +Henry O. Ott, Miss Elizabeth Cummins, Miss Anne Cummins, Miss Florence +Hoge, Mrs. Virginia Hoge Kendall and Mrs. Edward W. Hazlett of +Wheeling; Mrs. I. N. Smith, Mrs. Harold Ritz and Mrs. A. M. Finney of +Charleston; Miss Harriet Schroeder of Grafton.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_204_204" id="Footnote_204_204"></a><a href="#FNanchor_204_204"><span class="label">[204]</span></a> The organizers, who often were speakers also, not +elsewhere mentioned, were Misses Adella Potter, Eleanor Furman, Alice +Riggs Hunt, Lola Walker, Josephine Casey, Lola Trax, Grace Cole, +Eleanor Raoul, Mrs. C. E. Martin, Mrs. W. J. Cambron, Mrs. Elizabeth +Sullivan, Dr. Harriet B. Dilla and others. Miss Ramsey and Miss Raoul +gave the use of their cars. Miss Gertrude Watkins and Miss Gertrude +Miller of Arkansas donated their services from July 17, the State +paying their expenses. The Philadelphia County Society sent Miss Mabel +Dorr for two-and-a-half months as its contribution. Miss Alma B. Sasse +of Missouri gave her services for over two months, the State paying +her expenses.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_205_205" id="Footnote_205_205"></a><a href="#FNanchor_205_205"><span class="label">[205]</span></a> It was kept a secret at the time who was responsible +for this arrangement but later it was found to be Captain Victor +Heinze of Cincinnati, who had charge of the National Republican +headquarters in Chicago.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_699" id="Page_699">[Pg 699]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLVIII" id="CHAPTER_XLVIII"></a>CHAPTER XLVIII.</h2> + +<h3>WISCONSIN.<a name="FNanchor_206_206" id="FNanchor_206_206"></a><a href="#Footnote_206_206" class="fnanchor">[206]</a></h3> + + +<p>Woman suffrage history in Wisconsin from 1900 to 1920 naturally +divides itself into three sections, the first including the ten years +preceding the submission of the referendum measure by the Legislature +in 1911; the second the two years of the referendum campaign and the +third the succeeding seven years to 1920.</p> + +<p>The work of the State Woman Suffrage Association, which was organized +in 1869, continued in the 20th century, as in the 19th, through +organization, public meetings, annual conventions, the publication of +the <i>Wisconsin Citizen</i>. The conventions of the first decade, which +always took place in the autumn, were held as follows: 1901, Brodhead; +1902, Madison; 1903, Platteville; 1904, Janesville; 1905, Milwaukee; +1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, Madison; 1911, Racine. The Rev. Olympia +Brown, who had been elected president in 1883, continued to serve in +that capacity with undiminished vigor and ability, having been elected +every year, until the end of 1912. Besides her other services she gave +hundreds of addresses on woman suffrage, speaking in nearly every city +in the State.<a name="FNanchor_207_207" id="FNanchor_207_207"></a><a href="#Footnote_207_207" class="fnanchor">[207]</a></p> + +<p>The publication of the <i>Wisconsin Citizen</i>, established in 1887, was +continued in spite of limited finances. Its first editor was Martha +Parker Dingee from Boston, a niece of Theodore Parker, who gave her +services for seven years. After that the editors were Mrs. Helen H. +Charlton, Miss Lena V. Newman and Mrs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_700" id="Page_700">[Pg 700]</a></span> Youmans. After 1914 it was +published at Waukesha, before that at Brodhead, and was discontinued +in 1917. Notable speakers from outside the State at conventions of the +first decade were Mrs. Catharine Waugh McCulloch, the Rev. Florence +Buck, the Rev. Marion Murdock, Mrs. Clara Bewick Colby, Mrs. Belva A. +Lockwood, Miss Jane Addams and Dr. Julia Holmes Smith.</p> + +<p>The association for some time supported a State organizer, the Rev. +Alice Ball Loomis, and later Mrs. Emma Smith DeVoe for two seasons. In +1902 headquarters were established at Madison, the capital, in a +little room in the State House, for the distribution of literature, +and here was kept a register of men and women who believed in woman +suffrage. In 1907 the Rev. Mrs. Brown prepared a bulletin for the +legislators, giving the statistics of woman suffrage in the United +States and other countries.</p> + +<p>In 1908 Mrs. Maud Wood Park came to Wisconsin and spoke to women +students of five colleges, arrangements having been previously made by +Mrs. Brown, who took part in some of the meetings, and College Women's +Suffrage Leagues were organized. Mrs. Brown prepared a pamphlet, Why +the Church Should Demand the Ballot for Women, which was widely +distributed. Near the end of 1909 the State association was asked to +circulate the national petition to Congress for the Federal Suffrage +Amendment. Blanks were sent all over the State to schools, libraries +and other public institutions and to individuals. The members took up +the matter with enthusiasm and worked faithfully. The association did +all that could be done in the six weeks allowed and about 18,000 names +were signed, 5,000 of them in Racine. Mrs. Wentworth, over eighty +years of age, canvassed portions of the city and obtained 1,000 names.</p> + +<p>During this whole decade resolutions and petitions were sent to +Congress and at every session of the Legislature suffrage measures +were introduced. Mrs. Jessie M. Luther was chairman of the Legislative +Committee during this period, an unrecognized and unpaid lobbyist, but +by her skilful work, in which at times she was assisted by Mrs. Nellie +Donaldson and others, she kept the Legislature in advance of the +people of the State.</p> + +<p>In 1911 the Legislature submitted to the voters a statutory law giving +full suffrage to women, as it had authority to do. Influences<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_701" id="Page_701">[Pg 701]</a></span> from +outside the State led to the organization of the Political Equality +League, of which Miss Ada L. James was president and Mrs. Crystal +Eastman Benedict from New York was made campaign manager. The campaign +of 1911-1912, therefore, was carried on by two organizations, the +State association and this league, working separately, although effort +was made to correlate their activities by forming a cooperative +committee representing both societies, of which Miss Gwendolen Brown +Willis was chairman. The National American Woman Suffrage Association, +through its president, Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, contributed $100 per +month salary for an organizer and speaker, Miss Harriet Grim, and gave +further assistance to both organizations.<a name="FNanchor_208_208" id="FNanchor_208_208"></a><a href="#Footnote_208_208" class="fnanchor">[208]</a></p> + +<p>Both associations employed field organizers, arranged meetings, +provided speakers, distributed literature and made active effort to +interest as far as possible organizations and individuals in the +cause. The State association had headquarters in the Majestic Building +and later in the Goldsmith Building in Milwaukee. The League had +offices first in the Wells Building and later in the Colby-Abbott +Building in that city. A bulletin of suffrage news was sent each week +to the 600 newspapers in the State by Mrs. Youmans, who was press +manager.</p> + +<p>The campaign opened with a big rally in Racine June 1, 1912. The Rev. +Olympia Brown, State president, continued her speaking tours without +cessation and was assisted by prominent outside speakers, including +Mrs. May Wright Sewall, Mrs. Colby, Dr. and Mrs. William Funck of +Baltimore, Mrs. Rachel Foster Avery and Mrs. Clara V. Laddey, who +addressed the Germans. Miss Willis arranged a course of lectures in +Milwaukee for Miss Jane Addams, Louis F. Post, Dr. Sophonisba +Breckinridge of Chicago University, and Mrs. Catherine Waugh +McCulloch.<a name="FNanchor_209_209" id="FNanchor_209_209"></a><a href="#Footnote_209_209" class="fnanchor">[209]</a></p> + +<p>The Political Equality League believed enthusiastically in street +meetings and arranged many of them in Milwaukee and other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_702" id="Page_702">[Pg 702]</a></span> cities. +Under the same auspices several automobile tours swept the State, one +of them having an itinerary through the southwestern counties, Miss +James, Mrs. B. C. Gudden, Miss Grim and Miss Mabel Judd the speakers. +The noted air pilot, Beachy, scattered suffrage fliers from the +airship which he took up into the clouds at the State Fair in +Milwaukee. The State association had a large tent on the grounds, in +front of which there were a platform for speakers, where addresses +were made every day, and a counter covered with literature and books. +The two societies conducted Votes for Women tours up the Wolf and Fox +Rivers, which were important features of the campaign. They traveled +in a little steamer, stopping at landings and speaking and giving out +literature. The association also held outdoor meetings at lunchtime +before the factories and wherever it seemed best. The league formed +two allied societies, the Men's League for Woman Suffrage, of which +the late H. A. J. Upham was president, and a league for colored +people, Miss Carrie Horton, president.</p> + +<p>An extended series of mass meetings was held in many cities addressed +by prominent speakers, who came from outside the State to assist, +among whom were Mrs. Elizabeth Lowe Watson, Miss Addams, Mrs. Beatrice +Forbes Robertson, Mrs. Emily Montague Bishop, Professor Charles +Zueblin, Max Eastman, Mrs. Rachel Foster Avery; the Countess of +Warwick and Miss Sylvia Pankhurst of England; Miss Inez Milholland, +Mrs. Maud C. Nathan, Mrs. Glendower Evans, Baroness von Suttner +(Austria), Mrs. Alice Duer Miller, Mrs. Florence Kelley, Rabbi Emil +Hirschberg, Mrs. Grace Wilbur Trout, Mrs. Henrietta C. Lyman, Mrs. +Ella S. Stewart, Dr. Anna E. Blount, the Rev. Anna Garlin Spencer, +Mrs. Clara Neymann, who addressed the Germans, and Dr. Shaw.</p> + +<p>There is no adequate record of that campaign in existence. Mrs. Luther +was State historian and in the habit of keeping carefully all +programs, calls for meetings, reports and other material necessary for +history, which were preserved at the Capitol and were destroyed when +it was burned. The Political Equality League raised and expended +$10,000 and the State association $5,000, as reported to the Secretary +of State. Nearly as much more was expended by individual members and +by other organizations.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_703" id="Page_703">[Pg 703]</a></span> Dr. Shaw and Mrs. Benedict arranged a mass +meeting in New York which netted $2,700.</p> + +<p>The determined hostility of the liquor interests to woman suffrage was +unmistakably shown during the campaign by the official organ of the +State Retail Liquor Dealers' Protective Association, called +"Progress." For months preceding the election it was filled with +objections, innuendo and abuse in prose, verse and pictures, all +designed to impress the reader with the absurdity and danger of giving +the vote to women. It appealed to the farmers and to every class of +people connected in any way with the manufacture and sale of beer, +saying in headlines: "Give the Ballot to Woman and Industry goes to +Smash." "It means the Loss of Vast Sums to Manufacturer, Dealer and +Workingmen," and this was kept up to the end.</p> + +<p>An unprecedented vote was cast on the woman suffrage proposition at +the election November 4, 1912: for, 135,736; against, 227,054; lost by +91,318. Each of the three constitutional amendments voted on at the +time received barely a fifth of the vote cast on this measure. Of the +71 counties but 14 were carried for suffrage, Douglas county in the +extreme northwest on Lake Superior had the best record, a majority of +1,000. Milwaukee county, including the city, gave 20,445 votes for and +40,029 votes against. The referendum was placed on a pink ballot, used +only for this purpose, which unquestionably increased the majority +against it, as even the most illiterate could stamp it with a "no." +The defeat was conceded to have been due to an insufficiency of +general education on woman suffrage and of organization, the large +foreign population and the widespread belief that it would help +largely to bring prohibition.</p> + +<p>Three days after the election officers of the Political Equality +League sent to officers of the State association a letter proposing a +union of the two under a new name and on condition that the president +of neither should be made president of the new one. The latter was in +favor of the union but insisted that the old historic name, Wisconsin +Suffrage Association, should be retained, which was done. Miss Lutie +E. Stearns was chosen its president at its annual convention to serve +until the union was effected. There were ultimatums and +counter-ultimatums and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_704" id="Page_704">[Pg 704]</a></span> finally a call for a joint convention to be +held in Madison Feb. 4, 5, 1913, was issued by Miss Zona Gale, +vice-president of the association, and Miss James, president of the +League. Here the union was duly effected; the Rev. Olympia Brown was +elected honorary president, Mrs. Henry M. Youmans president and the +other officers were divided between the two societies.</p> + +<p>The suffrage work henceforth was conducted under the same president +and the same policy. The first year of the new régime, the +organization had no headquarters and paid no salaries, the officers +doing their correspondence with their own hands. The next year an +office was opened in Madison and Miss Alice Curtis was installed as +executive secretary. It was difficult to do effective work so far away +from the president and the office was removed to Waukesha, her +residence, with Miss Curtis and later Mrs. Helen Haight in charge. In +October, 1916, it was removed to Milwaukee, and, with the county +association, headquarters were opened at 428 Jefferson Street, where +they remained, with Mrs. Ruth Hamilton as office secretary.<a name="FNanchor_210_210" id="FNanchor_210_210"></a><a href="#Footnote_210_210" class="fnanchor">[210]</a></p> + +<p>The great increase of sentiment favorable to woman suffrage throughout +the country was plainly seen in Wisconsin and it was evident that a +wide campaign of education must be undertaken. A "suffrage school" +held in Madison in June, 1914, was very successful. Sixty-six women +enrolled for the full course and hundreds of men and women attended +the special lectures. The "faculty" of the school included the Chief +Justice of the Supreme Court, members of the faculty of the State +University and other well known men and women. Social Forces, a +topical outline with bibliography, published this year by the +Education Committee, Mrs. A. S. Quackenbush, chairman, was especially +designed for the instruction of women, first, in existing conditions, +and second, in the various movements made to improve them. Copies were +purchased by universities, organizations and individuals all over the +United States. Wisconsin Legislators and the Home was a valuable +pamphlet compiled by Miss James<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_705" id="Page_705">[Pg 705]</a></span> following the legislative session of +1913, giving the records of all members on the bills of especial +interest to women which came up that year. Wisconsin Legislation, +Topics for Discussion, was prepared in 1915 by Mrs. J. W. McMullein +Turner for the use of the legislative and educational committees.</p> + +<p>Miss James served as legislative chairman in 1913; Mrs. Ben Hooper in +1915; Mrs. Joseph Jastrow in 1917; Mrs. Hooper again in 1919. She was +also for several years congressional chairman. Regular press service +was continued during the last decade, a weekly letter being sent to +100 newspapers. Mrs. Youmans had charge of all publicity during her +presidency. Mrs. Gudden supplied suffrage letters regularly to several +German papers and due to her ability they were always published.</p> + +<p>In March, 1916, a Congressional Conference was held in Milwaukee with +Mrs. Catt, the national president, as the chief speaker. In June at +the time of the Republican National Convention in Chicago the +association sent to the great suffrage parade an impressive +contingent, accompanied by a G. A. R. drum corps. This year it gave +$500 to the Iowa campaign and among its members who assisted there and +in campaigns in other States were Mrs. Hooper, Mrs. Haight, Miss +Curtis, Mrs. Maud McCreery, Miss Edna Wright and Mrs. Youmans.</p> + +<p>On Oct. 14, 1917, a branch of the National Woman's Party was formed in +the home of Mrs. Victor Berger and became active. There were two +anti-suffrage societies of women, one in Milwaukee and one in Madison, +and together they formed a so-called State association, of which Mrs. +C. E. Estabrook was president and Mrs. Francis Day an active member. +They provided speakers for legislative hearings and signed their names +to newspaper articles sent them from the East but were of slight +importance. The State petition work was stopped by the epidemic of +influenza in the autumn of 1918 and after the first of the next year +the apparent favorable attitude of the Legislature made it +unnecessary, but already in forty counties the names of 5,800 men and +20,000 women had been obtained. Self-denial Day was originated by Miss +Harriet Bain of Wisconsin and adopted by the National Association. The +fund in this State was over $400.</p> + +<p>The State association was prompt to organize for war work<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_706" id="Page_706">[Pg 706]</a></span> and formed +all the committees recommended by the National American Suffrage +Association. Many suffrage leaders served as leaders of the war work +in their communities. The president was on the Woman's Committee of +the State Council of Defense and State chairman for Americanization. +The association sent $1,590 for the Oversea Hospitals financed by the +National Association.</p> + +<p>The relations of the State with the National Association have been +very cordial. It has sent a large delegation to each of the national +conventions and paid its quota for the support of national work, about +$1,500 in 1919.</p> + +<p>In February, 1919, the Legislature gave Presidential suffrage to women +and the submission of the Federal Amendment was near at hand. The last +meeting of the State association, a Good Citizenship convention, was +held in Milwaukee Oct. 29-Nov. 1. The program was devoted to the +intelligent and patriotic use of the ballot. Mrs. Nancy M. Schoonmaker +came from Connecticut to give six lectures on Citizenship for Women. A +plan was adopted for publishing a Citizenship Manual and engaging a +traveling representative to teach good citizenship to groups of women +throughout the State. The convention provided that the association +should automatically cease to exist as soon as the Federal Amendment +was ratified, in any case not later than March 1, 1920, and should be +replaced by a State League of Women Voters. This took place on +February 20 and Mrs. Ben Hooper was elected chairman.<a name="FNanchor_211_211" id="FNanchor_211_211"></a><a href="#Footnote_211_211" class="fnanchor">[211]</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Legislative Action.</span> 1901. Provision was made for separate ballot boxes +for women, making fully operative the School Suffrage Law of 1885.</p> + +<p>1903. A Municipal suffrage bill received a small vote. A full suffrage +measure introduced in the Assembly by David Evans was lost by only one +and had a large vote in the Senate.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_707" id="Page_707">[Pg 707]</a></span></p> + +<p>1905. A Municipal suffrage bill was passed by the Assembly; not acted +upon by the Senate.</p> + +<p>1909. A bill for a referendum to the voters passed in the Senate; +defeated in the Assembly by a vote of 53 to 34.</p> + +<p>1911. The session opened promisingly. David G. James introduced in the +Senate and J. H. Kamper in the Assembly a measure providing full +suffrage for Wisconsin women contingent upon the approval of a +majority of the voters at the general election in November, 1912. Miss +Mary Swain Wagner was the only registered lobbyist but other +suffragists, notably Miss James, Mrs. George W. Peckham, Mrs. Nellie +Donaldson and Mrs. Luther, worked for the measure. At a joint hearing +thirteen speakers, including several from outside the State, spoke in +favor of the bill and one lone Assemblyman, Carl Dorner, spoke in +opposition. It passed the Senate March 31 by a vote of 16 to 4, and +the Assembly April 26 by a vote of 69 to 29, and was signed by +Governor Francis E. McGovern on the ground that it was a problem which +should be solved by the voters. This measure was not, as generally +assumed, an amendment to the constitution but was a law, the +constitution providing that suffrage might be extended by statute but +this must be ratified by a majority of the voters at a general +election. It was defeated in 1912.</p> + +<p>1913. Paradoxical as it may seem, legislators now became more +friendly. The Legislature of 1913 passed by a large majority in both +Houses another referendum bill introduced by Senator Robert Glenn but +it was vetoed by Governor McGovern on the ground that the voters +should not be asked so soon to pass upon a measure which they had just +defeated.</p> + +<p>1915. Three measures were introduced in 1915, one by Senator Glenn and +Assemblyman W. C. Bradley, providing for full suffrage by State-wide +referendum; one by Senator George E. Scott and Assemblyman H. M. +Laursen, providing for Presidential suffrage by action of the +Legislature, and one by Senator A. Pearce Tompkins and Assemblyman +Axel Johnson to permit to counties local option in the matter of +enfranchising their women. Only the first was seriously considered and +this was defeated in the Assembly by a vote of 49 to 41. A +representative of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_708" id="Page_708">[Pg 708]</a></span> German-American Alliance appeared against it at +the hearing and at several later sessions.</p> + +<p>1917. A referendum measure was introduced by Senator George B. Skogmo +and Assemblyman James Hanson and was killed in the Assembly by a vote +of 47 to 40.</p> + +<p>1918. Meanwhile the tide was perceptibly turning and at the State +political conventions held in September, 1918, all parties adopted +planks favoring the enfranchisement of women. What was known as "the +woman suffrage session" followed.</p> + +<p>1919. Resolution urging the U. S. Senate to submit a Federal Suffrage +Amendment: Assembly 75 for, 14 against; Senate 23 for, 4 against. +Presidential suffrage bill granting to women the right to vote for +presidential electors: Assembly 80 for, 8 against; Senate 25 for, one +against. Law extending the right of suffrage to women subject to a +referendum, passed without an aye and no vote in both Houses. It was +repealed after ratification of the Federal Amendment made it +unnecessary.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> The Federal Suffrage Amendment was submitted by Congress +on June 4, 1919. The Wisconsin Legislature ratified it about 11 +o'clock in the morning on June 10, with one negative vote in the +Senate, two in the House. A special messenger, former Senator David G. +James (the father of Ada L. James), started for Washington on the +first train carrying the certificate from the Governor and he brought +back a statement from J. A. Tonner, Chief of the Bureau of Rolls and +Library, Department of State, that "the certified copy of the +ratification resolution by the Legislature of Wisconsin is the first +which has been received." The Illinois Legislature ratified an hour +earlier but owing to a technical error it had to ratify a second time. +The two U. S. Senators LaFollette and Lenroot and eight of the eleven +Representatives from Wisconsin voted for the Federal Amendment on its +final passage through Congress.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_206_206" id="Footnote_206_206"></a><a href="#FNanchor_206_206"><span class="label">[206]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. +Theodora W. Youmans, president of the State Woman Suffrage Association +from 1913 until its work was finished in 1920.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_207_207" id="Footnote_207_207"></a><a href="#FNanchor_207_207"><span class="label">[207]</span></a> The following were the officers for the first twelve +years: Vice-presidents: Mrs. Jessie M. Luther, Mrs. Madge Waters, Mrs. +Laura James, Vida James, Mrs. E. C. Priddle, Miss Linda Rhodes; +corresponding secretaries: Miss Lucinda Lake, Mrs. Margaret Geddes, +Mrs. Emma Geddes, Miss Lena Newman, Mrs. B. Ostrander, Mrs. Nellie K. +Donaldson; recording secretaries: Miss Marion W. Hamilton, Miss Emma +Graham, Mrs. Ethel Irish, Miss W. von Bruenchenhein; treasurers: Mrs. +Dora Putnam, Mrs. Lydia Woodward, Mrs. F. H. Derrick, Mrs. A. B. +Sprague, Mrs. B. Ostrander, Gwendolen Brown Willis; chairmen Executive +Committee: Ellen A. Rose, Mrs. Etta Gardner, Mrs. Kate Rindlaub.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_208_208" id="Footnote_208_208"></a><a href="#FNanchor_208_208"><span class="label">[208]</span></a> Near the end of the campaign Miss Mary Swain Wagner +from New York organized the American Suffragettes, a short-lived +society, with Miss Martha Heide as president, and it arranged a mass +meeting in Milwaukee with Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst of England as the +principal speaker.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_209_209" id="Footnote_209_209"></a><a href="#FNanchor_209_209"><span class="label">[209]</span></a> A unique automobile tour was made by Mrs. McCulloch and +her husband, Frank McCulloch, both prominent lawyers in Chicago, and +their four children, who devoted their annual vacation in the summer +of 1912 to a tour through Wisconsin, the eldest son driving a big car, +Mr. and Mrs. McCulloch making suffrage speeches at designated points +and the three younger children enjoying the outing.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_210_210" id="Footnote_210_210"></a><a href="#FNanchor_210_210"><span class="label">[210]</span></a> After 1913 annual conventions were held as follows: +1914, Milwaukee, speakers at evening meeting, Mrs. Pethick Lawrence of +England and Rosika Schwimmer of Hungary; 1915, Milwaukee; 1916 +(postponed to January, 1917, at the time of the legislative session), +Madison; 1917, Milwaukee, Mrs. Nellie McClung of Canada speaker; 1918, +no convention because of the war.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_211_211" id="Footnote_211_211"></a><a href="#FNanchor_211_211"><span class="label">[211]</span></a> The officials from 1913, not already mentioned, were as +follows: Vice-presidents: Miss Zona Gale, Dr. Jean M. Cooke, Mrs. Wm. +Preston Leek, Mrs. Victor Berger, Mrs. Isaac Witter, Mrs. Frank +Thanhouser, Miss Harriet F. Bain; corresponding secretaries: Mrs. W. +M. Waters, Mrs. Joseph Jastrow, Mrs. James L. Foley, Mrs. Glen Turner, +Mrs. Charles H. Mott, Mrs. H. F. Shadbolt; recording secretaries: Mrs. +H. M. Holton, Mrs. A. J. Rogers; treasurers, Miss E. E. Robinson, Mrs. +Harvey J. Frame; auditors: Miss Gwendolyn B. Willis, Miss M. V. Brown, +Mrs. Louis Fuller Hobbins, Miss Amy Comstock, Mrs. A. W. Schorger, +Mrs. H. A. J. Upham, Mrs. Sarah H. Van Dusen. Mrs. A. J. Birkhauser.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_709" id="Page_709">[Pg 709]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLIX" id="CHAPTER_XLIX"></a>CHAPTER XLIX.</h2> + +<h3>WYOMING.<a name="FNanchor_212_212" id="FNanchor_212_212"></a><a href="#Footnote_212_212" class="fnanchor">[212]</a></h3> + + +<p>Wyoming was the pioneer Territory and the pioneer State to give full +suffrage to women. It is an interesting fact that the women did not +find it necessary to have a Territorial or State Suffrage Association, +or even a convention except the one during the campaign for Statehood +in 1889-90. This rare situation is explained by the fact that +universal suffrage came to the women in the newly organized Territory +in 1869 without any general demand for it but through the efforts of a +very few progressive men and women. [<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29870/29870-h/29870-h.htm#Page_994">History of Woman Suffrage, Volume IV, page 994.</a>] +When the Constitutional Convention was preparing for +Statehood in 1889, holding its sessions in Cheyenne, the women of the +Territory held a convention there in order to pass resolutions asking +that the constitution should contain an article granting to the women +a continuation of the right of suffrage which they had possessed for +twenty years. This was granted and both men and women voted on the +constitution, which was adopted by a three-fourths majority of the +votes cast. The fact that there was no women's association for +suffrage or for political purposes was at times a serious handicap to +women of other States, who were not able to appeal to an organized +body for an endorsement of woman suffrage or related subjects.</p> + +<p>In 1901 and at subsequent dates by joint resolution of both Houses of +the Legislature a strong appeal was sent to Congress to submit the +Federal Suffrage Amendment. On Feb. 14, 1919, a joint resolution was +passed and signed by Governor Robert D. Carey commemorating the +granting of woman suffrage in Wyoming, Dec. 10, 1869, by making this +date each year Wyoming Day, "to be observed by appropriate exercises +commemorative of the history of the Commonwealth and the lives and +work of its pioneers."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_710" id="Page_710">[Pg 710]</a></span></p> + +<p>At a State convention in Laramie Nov. 9-11, 1919, with Mrs. Carrie +Chapman Catt, the national president, as guest of honor, a branch of +the National League of Women Voters was organized, with Mrs. Cyrus +Beard as State chairman. At Casper, Oct. 2, 1920, it was re-organized +by Mrs. James Paige, regional director, with Mrs. C. W. Crouter as +State chairman.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Ratification.</span> Governor Robert D. Carey called a special session of the +Legislature for Jan. 26, 1920, to ratify the Federal Suffrage +Amendment. The vote was unanimous in each House, and, after it was +finished and had received the Governor's signature, Mrs. Theresa +Jenkins of Cheyenne, a faithful supporter of woman suffrage in Wyoming +for fifty years, thanked the members and the Governor for their action +in behalf of the women of the State, the United States and the world.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>The decree that laws must be omitted for lack of space bars out the +many statutes in the interests of women and children which are +Wyoming's especial pride.</p> + +<p>The pioneer member of the Legislature was Mrs. Mary Godat Bellamy of +Laramie, elected to the Lower House in 1911. She had been a teacher in +the public schools of the city and county superintendent. She was very +active in her duties and was instrumental in having a number of +excellent bills become laws. Among these were bills for an adequate +appropriation to employ a State humane officer for child and animal +protection; to establish an industrial institution for male convicts +twenty-five years old or under, as at that time 85 per cent. of those +in the penitentiary were under twenty-one; an eight-hour day for women +and children who worked in factories, laundries and industrial places; +a grant to the State University of a permanent annual revenue. She +helped to kill a bill to repeal an existing law which prohibited +liquor being sold in places that were not incorporated, as mining and +lumber camps. Mrs. Bellamy said later: "While the men were courteous +yet no woman must expect that when it comes to gaining a point a man +is going to make an exception because his colleague is a woman."</p> + +<p>In the Legislature of 1913 two women Representatives had seats—Mrs. +Anna Miller of Laramie, a mother of six grown<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_711" id="Page_711">[Pg 711]</a></span> children, three of whom +were graduated from the State University, and Miss Nettie Truax of +Sundance, a school teacher and at one time county superintendent. Mrs. +Miller was a successful merchant and at the time of her election was +at the head of a large drygoods establishment. She succeeded her son +in the Legislature. Miss Truax was made chairman of the important +Committee on Education. In 1915 Mrs. Morna Wood, also of Sundance, was +elected to the Lower House. She introduced a bill, which became a law, +for the protection and regulation of child employment. During this +session a bill in the direction of easy divorce came before the House +and Mrs. Wood made a strong speech condemning it and appealing for +loyal support of her protest in the interests of the home and the +children. Nothing further was heard of the bill. While women may not +have taken a large place as lawmakers they have had an active and +effective interest in many excellent laws.</p> + +<p>The following women have been elected State Superintendent of Public +Instruction: Miss Estelle Reel, 1894-1898; Miss Rose A. Bird, +1910-1914; Miss Edith K. O. Clark, 1914-1918; Mrs. Katharine A. +Morton, 1918-1922. This is the most highly paid office occupied by a +woman, the salary being the same as that of the Secretary of State, +State Auditor and State Treasurer. By virtue of her office the +Superintendent is a member of the State Boards of Pardons, Charities +and Reforms, Land Commissioners, School Land Commissioners and +Education, with power to appoint all members of the last board, which +elects the State Commissioner of Education. At present all the +counties have women county superintendents of schools, not an unusual +situation. They also hold other county offices and as in all States as +soon as the suffrage is granted are eligible to all official +positions.</p> + +<p>The largest woman's organization is the Federation of Clubs, with a +membership of 4,000, a democratic body which has been able to do much +for the State in legislation, education and reform. The women of +Wyoming have been very conservative with the ballot and have never +used radical means to accomplish their aims. No woman's ticket has +ever been offered.</p> + +<p>All institutions of learning are co-educational. Since 1891 there has +been but a short interval when women have not been on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_712" id="Page_712">[Pg 712]</a></span> the Board of +Trustees of the State University. Grace Raymond Hebard was the first, +serving thirteen years. For eighteen years, 1891-1908, a woman was +secretary, acting also as financial agent, buying for the institution +and paying the bills. In February, 1913, Mrs. Mary B. David of Douglas +was appointed trustee by the Governor and displayed such unusual +ability as an executive that later she was unanimously elected by the +Board as its president, serving from September, 1917, to February, +1919, when she removed from the State. During her administration more +important matters than ever before were brought to the Board for its +consideration and solution—questions of land leases and oil grants, +rents and royalties involving millions of dollars. The efficient, +intelligent and impartial way in which Mrs. David handled these +matters, of course in conjunction with the other members, won for her +from the Board and the parties involved the strongest commendation. At +one time a woman was seriously thought of for president of the +university but she refused to consider it. At present (1920) two of +the four most highly paid professors are women at the head of the +combined departments of Psychology and Philosophy and of Political +Economy and Sociology. There are five women on the Faculty, receiving +the same compensation as the men holding equal positions. Women are +full professors in History, English and Home Economics. The professor +of Elementary Education and supervisor of the training school is a +woman and the Dean of Women ranks as a full professor. With the +assistant professors there are fourteen women on the Faculty.</p> + +<p>On June 12, 1921, this university gave its first honorary degree and +very appropriately to a woman. With beautiful ceremonies the degree of +Doctor of Laws was conferred on Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, president of +the National American Woman Suffrage Association and of the +International Woman Suffrage Alliance.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_212_212" id="Footnote_212_212"></a><a href="#FNanchor_212_212"><span class="label">[212]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Dr. Grace +Raymond Hebard, professor of Political Economy and Sociology in the +State University of Wyoming.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_713" id="Page_713">[Pg 713]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_L" id="CHAPTER_L"></a>CHAPTER L.</h2> + +<h3>WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN THE TERRITORIES OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE +PHILIPPINES.</h3> + +<h4>ALASKA.<a name="FNanchor_213_213" id="FNanchor_213_213"></a><a href="#Footnote_213_213" class="fnanchor">[213]</a></h4> + + +<p>When the bill was before Congress in 1912 to make Alaska a Territory +of the United States an amendment was added on motion of +Representative Frank W. Mondell of Wyoming to give its Legislature +full power to enfranchise women. This was accepted by the House +without objection. Afterwards the official board of the National +American Woman Suffrage Association gladly responded to the request of +Arthur G. Stroup of Sitka, one of the Territorial Representatives, who +intended to introduce a bill for the purpose, to send up some suitable +literature. The board also asked women in Seattle, former residents of +Alaska, to write to the members of the new Legislature.</p> + +<p>Woman suffrage in Alaska possesses the unique record of being granted +without any solicitation whatever from the residents. It is not known +that a suffrage club ever existed in the Territory; it is quite +certain that prior to the convening of the first Territorial +Legislature in Juneau in 1913 no suffrage campaigning whatever had +been carried on, yet two members, coming from towns not less than +1,500 miles apart, brought drafts for an equal suffrage bill. House +Bill No. 2, "An Act to extend the elective franchise to the women in +the Territory of Alaska," was the first to pass both Houses—7 +Senators and 15 Representatives—and the vote on it was unanimous, +Senator Elwood Brunner of Nome, the only member who had expressed +himself as unfavorable, having had the good sense or caution to absent +himself during roll call. This was also the first bill to be approved +by the Governor, J. F. A. Strong, on March 21, 1913, and the Act +became effective<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_714" id="Page_714">[Pg 714]</a></span> ninety days thereafter. It declared the elective +franchise extended to such women as had the qualifications required of +male electors.</p> + +<p>The Alaska Code had permitted women to vote only at School elections. +The new law gave them the privilege of voting for the officers in +incorporated towns and cities; for members of the Territorial +Legislature and for Territorial Delegate to Congress.</p> + +<p>It is estimated that there is a white population of 30,000 of whom +between 5,000 and 6,000 are women. Probably not 500 native women are +voters. Indian men have a vote if they have "severed tribal +relations," which is interpreted to mean that if an Indian moves to a +white man's town or lives on a creek or in a camp in such a way that +the missions or the marshals think he has left his tribe, he can vote. +Indian women have a vote if they marry white men who have a vote; if +they are unmarried and have "severed tribal relations"; if they are +married to an Indian who has "severed tribal relations." The original +code said definitely that Juries should be drawn from the male +citizens and it has never been changed. With this exception the rights +of men and women are the same.</p> + +<p>Two other bills of importance passed by the first Legislature provided +for the compulsory education of white children and for Juvenile Courts +to look after dependent children and create a Board of Children's +Guardians. This board consists of the District Judge and U. S. Marshal +in each judicial division, together with one woman appointed by the +Governor, thus creating four such boards in the Territory, one for +each division.</p> + +<p>The interest of Alaska women in questions affecting local or +Territorial conditions is intense and their efforts effective, as +their work in the prohibition campaign of 1916 proved. This was +essentially a woman's campaign, so well handled that at the plebiscite +held at the time of the general election in November, 1916, the vote +was about two to one in favor of prohibition. As a result, Congress +enacted the Bone Dry Prohibition law for the Territory Feb. 14, 1917. +It is believed that about three-fourths of the qualified women vote +but there is no means of knowing. The percentage of illiteracy among +white women is negligible and the young native women taught at the +Government and mission schools can read and write.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_715" id="Page_715">[Pg 715]</a></span></p> + +<p>The women of Alaska did their share in all kinds of war work, for +conservation, bond drives, Red Cross and kindred activities. On +account of the vast distances and small means of transportation any +general cooperation is impossible. There are two daily papers in +Fairbanks with a wide circulation over the entire district, which is +larger than Texas. The organizing for Red Cross work had to be largely +done through these papers but in a few months there were about 600 +knitters, practically all the women in the district, and thirty +organizations in the mining camps, many of these having only two or +three women. In Fairbanks, by means of dances, card parties, sales, +etc., $8,000 were raised just to buy wool, besides all the funds and +"drives."</p> + +<p>The interest of Alaskan women in such public questions as affect women +elsewhere is that of the spectator rather than of the worker. When +legislation on housing and tenement laws, protection of factory +workers, prevention of child labor and like problems becomes necessary +they will not be lacking in interest or energy.</p> + + +<h4>HAWAII.</h4> + +<p>The Organic Act under which the Territories of the United States were +created said that at the first election persons with specified +qualifications should be entitled to vote and at subsequent elections +such persons as the Territorial Legislature might designate. It was +under this Act that Wyoming and Utah enfranchised their women in 1869 +and 1870 and Washington in 1883.</p> + +<p>When in 1899 the Congress was preparing to admit Hawaii as a Territory +the commission framed a constitution which specifically refused the +privilege that had been granted to every other Territory of having its +own Legislature decide who should vote after the first election, by +inserting a clause that it "should not grant to ... any individual any +special privilege or franchise without the approval of Congress." This +constitution gave the suffrage to every masculine citizen of whatever +nationality—Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese—who could read and write +English or Hawaiian, and it repeatedly used the word "male" to bar +women from having a vote or holding an office. The members of this +commission were Senators John T. Morgan of Alabama and Shelby M. +Cullom of Illinois; Representative Robert R. Hitt of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_716" id="Page_716">[Pg 716]</a></span> Illinois; +President Sanford B. Dole and Associate Justice Frear of Hawaii. +Justice Frear said over his own signature that he and President Dole +desired that the Legislature should have power to authorize woman +suffrage but the rest of the commission would not permit it. Miss +Susan B. Anthony president, and the Official Board of the National +American Woman Suffrage Association, made vigorous objection to this +abuse of power, sent a protest to every member of Congress and +followed this with petitions officially signed by large associations +but to no avail. The Act was approved by President William McKinley +April 30, 1900.<a name="FNanchor_214_214" id="FNanchor_214_214"></a><a href="#Footnote_214_214" class="fnanchor">[214]</a></p> + +<p>The women had always exercised great influence in political affairs +and the people of Hawaii resented this discrimination but the U. S. +Congress then and for years afterwards was adamant in its opposition +to woman suffrage anywhere. After the women of Washington, California +and Oregon were enfranchised in 1910-11-12 this resentment found +expression among the women of Honolulu in 1912, when they called on +Mrs. John W. Dorsett to help them organize a suffrage club. They +learned in October that by good fortune Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, +president of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance, would stop +there on her way home from a trip around the world and they arranged +by wireless messages for her to address a mass meeting at the opera +house the one evening she would be there. The audience was large and +sympathetic and she learned that every legislative candidate at the +approaching election had announced himself in favor of getting the +vote for women. She met with the suffrage club and found its +constitution modeled on the one recommended by the National American +Woman Suffrage Association. She was in touch with the women afterwards +and the interest was kept alive.</p> + +<p>By 1915 the more thoughtful men of the Territory were beginning to +feel that its women must be enfranchised. Both political parties +declared in favor of asking the U. S. Congress for an Act giving the +Hawaiian Legislature authority in this matter and that body itself +passed a bill to this effect. This was taken to Washington by the +Delegate from the Territory, J. K. Kalanianaole, who presented it but +it received no attention. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_717" id="Page_717">[Pg 717]</a></span> presented it again in 1916, with a like +result. Soon afterwards Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin F. Pitman of Brookline, +Mass., visited the Islands. Mr. Pitman was the son of a Hawaiian +Chiefess and although he had not been there since childhood he was the +person of the highest rank. Mrs. Pitman was prominent among the +suffrage leaders in Massachusetts and was deeply interested in the +situation in Hawaii. She attended the opening of the Legislature and +conversed with nearly all the members, finding them to a man in favor +of the bill, and the Legislature adopted strong resolutions calling +upon Congress to sanction it. In answer to a request for her +experience to use in this chapter she wrote:</p> + +<blockquote><p>It was on Jan. 30, 1917, that we arrived in Honolulu and on the +31st Madame Nakiuna, who was known as the Court historian, gave +us a large reception at Laniakea. At this fęte were all the women +of the highest social circles in the Islands. Among them were +Mrs. John W. Dorsett, Mrs. A. P. Taylor, Mrs. Castle-Coleman, +Miss Mary Ermine Cross and others who had heard of my activities +in "the cause" and importuned me to hold meetings to try to +arouse a keener interest. I would have consented at once but for +the fact that almost the first person I saw in this beautiful +land was the field-secretary of the Massachusetts Association +Opposed to the Extension of Suffrage to Women. I had a feeling +that if there was not already an anti-association here there +would be one the moment I began any serious work and so I advised +waiting, promising to do my best for them as soon as it seemed +wise, and so, while I was indeed sorry that the serious illness +of a relative obliged her to depart for home at a very early +date, it was amusing to say the least that while she was sailing +out of the harbor I was holding my first suffrage meeting in the +home of Mrs. Dorsett. I held meetings on two successive days, one +attended mostly by the middle class and the other by high caste +Hawaiians and the "missionary set," which, perhaps, we might +style their "400." My talk was in the form of a discussion and I +was surprised and delighted at the fluency of all who spoke, +their wide knowledge of world affairs and desire for the +franchise. Many months had passed since the departure of Prince +Kalanianaole and so they begged me to investigate as soon as I +returned home. This I promised to do and wrote at once to Mrs. +Catt all that I heard.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Mrs. Catt sent Mrs. Pitman's letter to Mrs. Maud Wood Park, chairman +of the Congressional Committee of the National Suffrage Association +and she took up the question with Senator John F. Shafroth, chairman +of the Committee on Pacific Islands and Porto Rico. The Delegate from +Hawaii, who was deeply interested,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_718" id="Page_718">[Pg 718]</a></span> welcomed this new force to assist +in pushing the bill, which had simply been neglected. On May 21, 1917, +he presented still another resolution from the Territorial Legislature +asking for it and on June I Senator Shafroth introduced the following +bill:</p> + +<blockquote><p><i>Be it enacted</i> ... that the Legislature of the Territory of +Hawaii be, and it is hereby, vested with the power to provide +that in all elections ... female citizens possessing the same +qualifications as male citizens shall be entitled to vote.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sec. 2.</span> That the said Legislature is further hereby vested with +the power to have submitted to the voters of the Territory the +question of whether or not the female citizens shall be empowered +to vote....</p></blockquote> + +<p>The bill was reported favorably by the committee and passed by the +Senate without objection or even discussion on September 15. In the +House it was referred to the Committee on Woman Suffrage, which set +April 29, 1918, for a hearing. Delegate Kalanianaole had been called +back to Honolulu by business but was represented by his secretary and +there were present Mrs. Park, who presided, Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, +honorary president of the National Suffrage Association, and Mrs. +Pitman, the principal speaker. Judge John E. Raker was chairman of the +committee, which did not need any argument but was interested in +asking many questions of Mrs. Pitman. At the close of the hearing the +committee voted unanimously to make a favorable report. The bill was +passed June 3 without a roll call. It was signed by President Wilson +on the 13th.</p> + +<p>The matter was now in the control of the Hawaiian Legislature, which +received petitions from a number of organizations of women to exercise +its power to confer the suffrage without a referendum to the voters. +This was recommended by Governor C. J. McCarthy and early in the +session of 1919 the Senate took this action and sent the bill to the +House. This body under outside influence refused to endorse it but +substituted a bill to send the question to the voters. The Senate +would not accept it and both bills were deadlocked.</p> + +<p>The women were then spurred to action; old suffrage clubs were +revived; one was formed in Honolulu of the native high class women and +what is known as the "missionary set," a very brilliant group. Mrs. +Dorsett made a tour of all the Islands to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_719" id="Page_719">[Pg 719]</a></span> arouse interest and on +Mani, under the leadership of Mrs. Harry Baldwin, clubs were formed +all over the island. A Hawaiian Suffrage Association was organized. At +the next convention of the National Association a resolution was +adopted that it be invited to become auxiliary without the payment of +dues and the invitation was officially accepted with thanks.</p> + +<p>The Federal Suffrage Amendment proclaimed by Secretary of State Colby +Aug. 26, 1920, included the women of the Territories and it was thus +that Hawaiian women became enfranchised. They voted in large numbers +at the November elections that year.</p> + + +<h4>THE PHILIPPINES.</h4> + +<p>The Philippine Islands came under the jurisdiction of the United +States as a consequence of the Spanish-American war in 1898 and their +government soon became an active question in Congress. There was a +desire to permit their own people to participate in this to some +extent and the National American Woman Suffrage Association, always on +the watch tower, took immediate action toward having women included in +any scheme of self-government. With the recent example before it of +the most unjust discrimination against them in the admission of Hawaii +as a Territory, the association under the presidency of Miss Susan B. +Anthony petitioned the members of Congress to recognize the rights of +women in whatever form of government was adopted. At its annual +convention in 1899 impassioned speeches were made against taking away +from Filipino women the position of superiority which they always had +held under Spanish rule by giving the men political authority over +them.</p> + +<p>In 1900 Military Governor-General Otis ordered a re-organization of +the municipalities. To decide who should have a vote in local affairs +the Philippine Commission of the U. S. Senate summoned well informed +persons and among them, in the spring of 1902, were Judge William H. +Taft, Governor-General of the islands, and Archbishop Nozaleda, who +had been connected with the Catholic church there for twenty-six years +and archbishop since 1889. Both declared that the suffrage should be +given to the women rather than to the men, the former saying: "The +fact<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_720" id="Page_720">[Pg 720]</a></span> is that, not only among the Tagalogs but also among the +Christian Filipinos, the woman is the active manager of the family, so +if you expect to confer political power on the Filipinos it ought to +be given to the women. Following is part of the Archbishop's +statement. (Senate Document, p. 109.):</p> + +<blockquote><p>The woman is better than the man in every way—in intelligence, +in virtue and in labor—and a great deal more economical. She is +very much given to trade and trafficking. If any rights and +privileges are to be granted to the natives, do not give them to +the men but to the women.</p> + +<p>Q. Then you think it would be much better to give the women the +right to vote than the men?</p> + +<p>A. O, much better. Why, even in the fields it is the women who do +the work; the men go to the cock fights and gamble. The woman is +the one who supports the man there, so every law of justice +demands that in political life they should have the privilege +over the men.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Notwithstanding this and other testimony of a similar nature the +Commission framed a Code giving a Municipal or local franchise to +certain classes of men and excluding all women, taking away from them +the privileges they always had possessed. The men soon began demanding +their own lawmaking body and in response Congress passed an Act to +take effect Jan. 15, 1907, to provide for the holding of elections in +the Islands for a Legislative Assembly. The Act limited the voters to +"male persons 23 years of age or over," thus again putting up the +barriers against women and including them in the list of the +disqualified as listed—"insane, feeble-minded, rebels and traitors."</p> + +<p>The U. S. Government did, however, give women to the same extent as +men all educational advantages, which heretofore had been denied them +and their progress was very rapid. In 1912 Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, +president of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance, visited Manila +on her trip around the world and was warmly received. A meeting was +called at the Manila Hotel for August 15 and twelve women responded. +After making an address she helped them form a club which they called +Society for the Advancement of Women. Thirty attended the next meeting +two weeks later and they took up active philanthropic work. In a +little while most of the women of influence were members of it and it +was re-organized as the Woman's Club<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_721" id="Page_721">[Pg 721]</a></span> of Manila. Its work extended in +many directions and it became one of the city's leading institutions. +Other clubs were formed and they joined the General Federation of +Clubs in 1915. There are between 300 and 400 clubs in the Islands +(1920).</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the men were not satisfied with their one-house Legislative +Assembly largely under American control, but wanted more power. In +response Congress provided for a Legislature of a Senate of 24 members +and a Lower House of 90, all to be elected except two of the former +and nine of the latter, who would be appointed by the American +Governor-General to represent districts where elections were not held, +the Act to go into effect in 1918. The suffrage was still confined +exclusively to males, although in 1916 the Women's Club had organized +fifty-seven Mothers' Clubs for the welfare of infants; had secured +through women lawyers legal aid for over thirty poor women; had been +instrumental in having 15,000 people make gardens to give variety to +their fish and rice diet and done a vast amount of other valuable +public work. The Act passed by large majorities, members voting for it +who had persistently voted against the Federal Amendment to +enfranchise the women of the United States.</p> + +<p>The Philippines were from 1917 represented in Congress by an able and +progressive Commissioner, Jaime C. De Veyra, an advocate of woman +suffrage. His wife, a native of Iloilo, who had been prominent in +civic work in the Islands, shared his views, and was a frequent +visitor at the suffrage headquarters in Washington. In 1919, assisted +by Miss Bessie Dwyer, vice-president of the Manila Women's Club, she +gave beautifully illustrated addresses in Washington and New York, on +the position of women in the Islands. In these and in interviews she +said:</p> + +<blockquote><p>Philippine women have always been free and have always been held +as equals of the men. In the little rural "barrios" you will +always find some sort of woman leader. All over the islands they +are highly considered. Even when old they exercise full sway over +the family and have the last word in all financial matters. The +married children still cling to the mother as adviser. The young +women who marry go into partnership with their husbands and while +the men handle the workers it is the women who do the paying and +oversee things generally. They are engaged in all kinds of +business for themselves and are employed by scores of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_722" id="Page_722">[Pg 722]</a></span> thousands. +Many thousands carry work home where they can take care of their +children, do the housework and be earning money.</p> + +<p>They have the same opportunities in the professions as men, are +successful physicians and lawyers and members of the Bar +Association. Laws made for them have combined the best of Spanish +and American precedents. They are guardians of their own +children; married women may hold property; of that which accrues +to a married couple, the wife is half administrator. These are +vested rights and cannot be taken away.</p> + +<p>A short time ago the question of woman suffrage was introduced +into the Legislature, not by the initiative of American women but +urged by Madame Apacibile, wife of one of the government +secretaries. A petition signed by 18,000 women asking for a joint +legislative hearing was sent to the law makers who granted it. +Three Filipina women spoke, one the widow of the eminent +Concepcion Calderon, a successful business woman, owning a fish +farm and an embroidery enterprise. Others were Mrs. Feodore +Kalon, Miss Almeda and Miss Pazlegaspi, the last two practicing +lawyers. Only one man appeared in the negative. The president of +the Senate, the Hon. Manuel L. Quezon, is in favor of woman +suffrage.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison recommended to the +Legislature to give the suffrage to women, as it has the power to do. +A bill was introduced and passed the Senate almost unanimously Dec. 7, +1919, but it was not acted upon by the House. As the Constitution of +the United States is not in force in the Philippines the women were +not enfranchised by the Federal Suffrage Amendment in 1920 but must +await the action of their own Legislature.</p> + + +<h4>PORTO RICO.</h4> + +<p>After Porto Rico came under the control of the United States as a +result of the Spanish-American war in 1898 its political status was +undetermined for a long time. Shortly before that war Spain had +granted universal suffrage to all its men over 21. Congress confirmed +this privilege as to the affairs of the island but they had no voting +rights in those of the United States. After a few years the more +progressive of the people began asking for the status of a Territory +with their own Legislature. This agitation was continued for sixteen +years before Congress took action and agreed on a bill which would +admit the islanders to citizenship. As usual the chief difficulty was +over the suffrage. There was a desire to have a slight educational and +a small property qualification<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_723" id="Page_723">[Pg 723]</a></span> but as a large majority of the men +were illiterate and without property this aroused a protest, which was +supported by the American Federation of Labor. On May 22, 1916, while +the Porto Rican bill was under consideration in Committee of the Whole +in the Lower House of Congress, the Republican floor leader, James R. +Mann (Ills.), discovered that a majority of those present were +Republicans and suffragists. He therefore proposed a clause giving the +franchise to the women, which was passed by 60 to 37. He expected to +put the Democrats in the position of voting it down the next day in +regular session but when it came up Republicans joined with Democrats +in defeating it by 80 noes to 59 ayes.</p> + +<p>Finally when, under pressure, the committee was obliged to put in +universal suffrage for the great mass of illiterate men, even the most +ardent advocates of woman suffrage among the members felt that it +would be unwise to add universal suffrage for women. In answer to the +urgent request of the Congressional Committee of the National American +Woman Suffrage Association that this injustice should not be done to +women, Senator John F. Shafroth, chairman of the Committee on the +Pacific Islands and Porto Rico, wrote: "I would have been very glad to +incorporate a provision including women but it would have killed the +bill. I was notified by Senator Martine of New Jersey and others that +they would not permit a provision of that kind to go into it and the +parliamentary stage of the bill was such that any one Senator could +have defeated it. As it was, it took two years to get the bill before +Congress and fully twenty motions to have it considered and if either +prohibition or woman suffrage had gone into it there would have been +no bill for Porto Rico. We avoided the word 'male' in prescribing the +qualifications of electors."</p> + +<p>The Act, which received the approval of President Wilson March 2, +1917, provided that at the first election for the Legislature and +other officers the electors should be those qualified under the +present law, and thereafter voters should be citizens of the United +States 21 years of age and have such additional qualifications as +might be prescribed by the Legislature of Porto Rico. The election +took place on July 16. While this Act was an improvement on the one +which admitted Hawaii as a Territory<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_724" id="Page_724">[Pg 724]</a></span> it left the many educated, tax +paying women, the woman in business, the teachers in government and +mission schools, the nurses in the hospitals, the social workers, +wholly in the power of men.</p> + +<p>About 1916 there was incorporated in Porto Rico an organization called +La Liga Feminea de Puerto Rico, which worked energetically for the +social uplift of the people and for the political enfranchisement of +women. The official organ was <i>La Mujer del Siglo Veinte</i>—<i>The +Twentieth Century Woman</i>. Early in the spring of 1917 Mrs. Geraldine +Maud Froscher, an American living in Porto Rico, appealed to the +National Suffrage Association for financial assistance for a campaign +preparatory to the introduction of the woman suffrage bill in the +Legislature that year. Literature was sent immediately and the +association agreed to pay the expenses of Mrs. Froscher, who organized +suffrage leagues in all towns of any considerable size, addressed +women's clubs, interviewed legislators and distributed literature. In +this work she had the able assistance of Mrs. Ana Roqué Duprey, the +first president of the San Juan Suffrage League, editor of the above +paper and later of <i>El Heraldo de la Mujer</i>—<i>The Woman's Herald</i>, +with Mrs. Froscher as the American editor.</p> + +<p>In August, 1917, at the first session of the new Legislature, a bill +was introduced in the Lower House to give women the right to hold +office but without the right to vote and one to give them equal +rights. Later two more bills were introduced but none was passed. As +Porto Rico is an unincorporated Territory of the United States, its +women were not enfranchised by the Federal Suffrage Amendment in 1920. +At three consecutive sessions of the Legislative Assembly a petition +for woman suffrage has been presented.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_213_213" id="Footnote_213_213"></a><a href="#FNanchor_213_213"><span class="label">[213]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. +Jeannette Drury Clark, a graduate of the University of California, who +with her husband, John A. Clark, an attorney, has made her home in +Fairbanks for the past fifteen years.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_214_214" id="Footnote_214_214"></a><a href="#FNanchor_214_214"><span class="label">[214]</span></a> +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29870/29870-h/29870-h.htm#Page_325">History of Woman Suffrage, Volume IV, pages 325,</a> +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29870/29870-h/29870-h.htm#Page_343"> 343,</a> +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29870/29870-h/29870-h.htm#Page_346"> 346,</a> +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29870/29870-h/29870-h.htm#Page_446"> 446.</a></p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_725" id="Page_725">[Pg 725]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LI" id="CHAPTER_LI"></a>CHAPTER LI.</h2> + +<h3>PROGRESS OF THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.</h3> + +<h4>1900 - 1920.<a name="FNanchor_215_215" id="FNanchor_215_215"></a><a href="#Footnote_215_215" class="fnanchor">[215]</a></h4> + + +<p>I consider it an honor to have been asked to take up the pen from the +date 1900, when my dear friend and colleague, the late Helen +Blackburn, laid it down after writing the chapter on Great Britain for +Volume IV of the History of Woman Suffrage. I am particularly +fortunate in that it falls to my lot to include the year 1918, when +Victory crowned our fifty years' struggle in these islands to obtain +the Parliamentary franchise for women.</p> + +<p>Several circumstances entirely outside our power of control combined +to promote the rapid growth of the movement at the beginning of the +XXth Century. The chief of these were the South African war, +1899-1902, and the death of Queen Victoria in 1901. The war with the +Transvaal was caused by the refusal of President Kruger and his +advisers to recognize the principle that taxation and representation +should go together. The so-called Uitlanders, who formed a large +proportion of the population of the Transvaal and provided by taxation +a still larger proportion of its revenue, were practically excluded +from representation. This led to intense irritation and ultimately to +war. It was, therefore, inevitable that articles in the press and the +speeches of British statesmen dealing with the war used arguments +which might have been transferred without the alteration of a single +word to women's suffrage speeches.</p> + +<p>I have described on pages 29 and 30 of Women's Suffrage, a Short +History of a Great Movement, the strong impulse which had been given +to the electorial activity of British women by the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_726" id="Page_726">[Pg 726]</a></span> Corrupt Practices +Act of 1883, which made paid canvassing illegal and otherwise reduced +electorial expenses. Very soon after it came into operation both the +chief political parties organized bands of educated women to act as +canvassers, election agents, etc., in contested elections. The war +stimulated this electorial activity of women. A general election was +held in 1900 and in the absence of husbands, sons and brothers in +South Africa, many wives, mothers and sisters ran the whole election +on their behalf. Several of these were well known anti-suffragists. +Even Mrs. Humphry Ward herself, on the occasion of an important +anti-suffrage meeting in London, excused her absence on the ground +that her presence was required by the exigencies of the pending +election in West Herts, where her son was a candidate. Suffragists +again were not slow to point the moral—if women were fit (and they +obviously were fit) not only to advise, persuade and instruct voters +how to vote but also to conduct election campaigns from start to +finish, they were surely fit to vote themselves.</p> + +<p>The death of Queen Victoria in January, 1901, called forth a +spontaneous burst of loyal gratitude, devotion and appreciation from +all parties and all sections of the country. Every leading statesman +among her councillors dwelt on the extraordinary penetration of her +mind, her wide political knowledge, her great practical sagacity, her +grasp of principle, and they combined to acclaim her as the most +trusted of all the constitutional monarchs whom the world had then +seen. How could she be all that they justly claimed for her, if the +whole female sex laboured under the disabilities which, according to +Mrs. Humphry Ward, were imposed by nature and therefore irremediable? +Nevertheless, it must not be supposed, genuine as were these tributes +to Queen Victoria's political sagacity, that her example immediately +cleared out of the minds of the opponents the notion that women were +fitly classed with aliens, felons, idiots and lunatics, as persons who +for reasons of public safety were debarred from the exercise of the +Parliamentary franchise.</p> + +<p>The Parliament returned in 1906 had an immense Liberal majority. There +were only 157 Unionist members in the House of Commons against 513 +Liberals, Labour men and Nationalists, all of whom were for Home Rule +and therefore prepared to support<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_727" id="Page_727">[Pg 727]</a></span> in all critical divisions the new +administration which was formed under the Premiership of Sir Henry +Campbell Bannerman. The new House contained 426 members pledged to +Women's Suffrage. The Premier was himself a suffragist but his Cabinet +contained several determined anti-suffragists, notable among whom were +Mr. Herbert H. Asquith, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Mr. James +Bryce, chief secretary for Ireland (now Lord Bryce), who became +British Ambassador to the United States in 1907. The new Prime +Minister received a large, representative suffrage deputation in May, +1906, in which all sections of suffragist opinion were represented, +and their case was laid before him with force and clearness. In reply +he told them that they had made out "a conclusive and irrefutable +case" but that he was not prepared to take any steps to realize their +hopes. When asked what he would advise ardent suffragists to do he +told them to "go on pestering." This advice was taken to heart by the +group (a small minority of the whole) who had lately formed in +Manchester the organization known as The Women's Social and Political +Union, led by Mrs. Pankhurst.</p> + +<p>An unforeseen misfortune was the death in 1908 of Sir H. C. Bannerman +and the fact that his successor was our principal opponent in the +Government, Mr. Asquith. It was not very long before he revealed the +line of his attack upon the enfranchisement of women. He informed his +party in May, 1908, that his intention was to introduce before the +expiration of the existing Parliament a Reform Bill giving a wide +extension of the franchise to men and no franchise at all to women. In +the previous February a Women's Suffrage Bill which removed all sex +disability from existing franchises had passed its second reading in +the House of Commons but this apparently had no effect on Mr. Asquith. +There were, however, some cracks in his armour. He admitted that about +two-thirds of his Cabinet and a majority of his party were favourable +to Women's Suffrage and he promised that when his own exclusively male +Reform Bill was before the House and had got into committee, if an +amendment to include women were moved on democratic lines, his +Government, as a Government, would not oppose it. This was at all +events an advance on the position taken by Mr. Gladstone upon his +Reform Bill of 1884,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_728" id="Page_728">[Pg 728]</a></span> when he vehemently opposed a women's suffrage +amendment and caused it to be defeated.</p> + +<p>The emergence of what was afterwards known as "militancy" belongs to +this period, dating from the General Election of 1906 and very much +stimulated by Premier Bannerman's reply to the deputation in that year +and by the attitude of Mr. Asquith. It will ever be an open question +on which different people, with equal opportunities of forming a +judgment, will pronounce different verdicts, whether "militancy" did +more harm or good to the suffrage cause. It certainly broke down the +"conspiracy of silence" on the subject up to then observed by the +press. Every extravagance, every folly, every violent expression, and +of course when the "militants" after 1908 proceeded to acts of +violence, every outrage against person or property were given the +widest possible publicity not only in Great Britain but all over the +world. There was soon not an intelligent human being in any country +who was not discussing Women's Suffrage and arguing either for or +against it. This was an immense advantage to the movement, for we had, +as Sir H. Campbell Bannerman had said, "a conclusive and irrefutable +case." Our difficulty had been to get it heard and considered and this +"militancy" secured. The anti-suffrage press believed that it would +kill the movement and it was this belief which encouraged them to give +it the widest possible publicity. The wilder and more extravagant the +"militants" became the more they were quoted, described and advertised +in every way. The sort of "copy" which anti-suffrage papers demanded +was supplied by them in cartloads and not at all by law-abiding +suffragists, who were an immense majority of the whole. This can be +illustrated by an anecdote. The Constitutional suffragists had +organized a big meeting in Trafalgar Square and had secured a strong +team of first-rate speakers. The square was well filled and on the +fringe of the crowd the following conversation was overheard between +two press men who had come to report the proceedings. One said he was +going away, the second asked why and the first answered: "It's no good +stopping, there's no copy in this; these women are only talking +sense!"</p> + +<p>The earlier years of militant activity were in my opinion helpful to +the whole movement, for up to 1908 the "militants" had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_729" id="Page_729">[Pg 729]</a></span> only adopted +sensational and unusual methods, such as waving flags and making +speeches in the lobby of the House and asking inconvenient questions +at public meetings. They had suffered a great deal of violence but had +used none. From 1908 onwards, however, they began to use violence, +stone throwing, personal attacks, sometimes with whips, on obnoxious +members of the Government, window smashing, the destruction of the +contents of letter-boxes—in one instance the destruction of ballot +papers cast in an election. Later arson practised for the destruction +or attempted destruction of churches and houses became more and more +frequent. All this had an intensely irritating effect on public +opinion. "Suffragist" as far as the general public was concerned +became almost synonymous with "Harpy." This cause which had not been +defeated on a straight vote in the House of Commons since 1886 was now +twice defeated; once in 1912 and once in 1913. The whole spirit +engendered by attempting to gain by violence or threats of violence +what was not conceded to justice and reason was intensely inimical to +the spirit of our movement. We believed with profound conviction that +whatever might be gained in that way did not and could not rest on a +sure foundation. The women's movement was an appeal against government +by physical force and those who used physical violence in order to +promote it were denying their faith to make their faith prevail.</p> + +<p>The difference made a deep rift in the suffrage movement. The +constitutional societies felt bound to exclude "militants" from their +membership and on several occasions issued strongly-worded protests +against the use of violence as political propaganda. The fact that men +under similar circumstances had been much more violent and +destructive, especially in earlier days when they were less civilized, +did not inspire us with the wish to imitate them. We considered that +they had been wrong and that "direct action," as it is now the fashion +to call coercion by means of physical force, had always reacted +unfavorably on those who employed it. While the constitutional +societies freely and repeatedly expressed their views on these points, +the "militants" not unnaturally retorted by attempting to break up our +meetings, shouting down our speakers and provoking every sort of +disorder<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_730" id="Page_730">[Pg 730]</a></span> at them. It was an exceptionally difficult situation and +that we won through as well as we did was due to the solid loyalty to +constitutional and law-abiding methods of propaganda of the great mass +of suffragists throughout the country. We quoted the American proverb, +"Three hornets can upset a camp meeting," and we determined to hold +steadily on our way and not let our hornets upset us. Our societies +multiplied rapidly both in numbers and in membership. For instance, +the number forming the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies +increased from 64 in 1909 to 130 in 1910 and went on increasing +rapidly until just before the war in 1914 they numbered more than 600, +with a revenue of over 42,000 pounds a year.</p> + +<p>More important in many ways than the "militant" movement was the +emergence at the General Election in 1906 of the Labour Party. Mr. +Keir Hardie, Mr. Philip Snowden and others of its leaders were very +strong supporters of women's suffrage and it was not long before the +party definitely made the enfranchisement of women on the same terms +as men a plank in its platform. In anticipation of the first General +Election of 1910, the N.U.W.S.S. addressed the leaders of the three +British parties, Conservative, Liberal, and Labour, asking them what +they were prepared to do for Women's Suffrage. Mr. Asquith gave his +answer at an Albert Hall meeting in December, 1909. He reiterated his +intention, if returned to power, of bringing in a Reform Bill, and he +promised to make the insertion of a Women's Suffrage amendment an open +question for the House of Commons to decide. He added: "The Government +... has no disposition or desire to burke the question; it is clearly +an issue on which the new House ought to be given an opportunity to +express its views." This meant that the Government whips would not be +put on to oppose the enfranchisement of women. Mr. Balfour replied to +our memorial that it was a non-party question on which members of the +Unionist Party could exercise individual freedom of action. Mr. Arthur +Henderson, for the Labour Party, told us that it had already placed +the enfranchisement of women on its programme. The Labour Party was +not large but it was an important advantage to us to have even a small +party definitely pledged to our support. There were two<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_731" id="Page_731">[Pg 731]</a></span> General +Elections in 1910, in January and December. The Liberal, Labour and +Nationalist group lost heavily in the second of these elections, their +majority being reduced from 334 to 124.</p> + +<p>The Labour Party between these two elections had lost six seats but +they were still forty strong, all definitely pledged to Women's +Suffrage in the new Parliament which assembled in January, 1911. Our +Bill had been carried on its second reading in 1910 by a majority of +110 but after the second General Election of 1910 it secured on May 5, +1911, a majority of 167; there were 55 pairs, only 88 members of +Parliament going into the Lobby against us. The Bill on each of these +occasions was of a very limited character; it proposed to enfranchise +women-householders, widows and spinsters and would only have added +about a million women to the Parliamentary register. It was called the +Conciliation Bill, because it sought to conciliate the differences +between different types of suffragists in the House of Commons, from +the extreme Conservative who only cared for the representation of +women of property, to the extreme Radical who demanded the +enfranchisement of every woman. A committee was formed to promote the +success of this bill in Parliament of which the Earl of Lytton was +Chairman and Mr. H. N. Brailsford Hon. Sec. It was believed that the +bill represented the greatest common measure of the House of Commons' +belief in women's votes. The Labour Party were strongly in favour of a +much wider enfranchisement of women but generously waived their own +preferences in order, as they believed, to get some sort of +representation for women on the Statute Book. Almost immediately after +this large majority for the second reading of the Conciliation Bill in +May, 1911, an official announcement was made by the Government that +Mr. Asquith's promise of the previous November that an opportunity +should be afforded for proceeding with the bill in all its stages +would be fulfilled in the session of 1912.</p> + +<p>We were then in the most favourable position we had ever occupied; the +passing of the Women's Suffrage Bill in the near future seemed a +certainty. The "militants" had suspended all their methods of violence +in order to give the Conciliation Bill a chance, and, as just +described, it had passed its second reading<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_732" id="Page_732">[Pg 732]</a></span> debate with a majority of +167 and time for "proceeding effectively" with a similar Bill in all +its stages had been promised. All the suffrage societies were working +harmoniously for the same Bill and the Women's Liberal Federation were +cooperating with the suffrage societies, when suddenly, like a bolt +from the blue, Mr. Asquith dealt us a characteristic blow. In reply to +a deputation from the People's Suffrage Federation early in November +he announced his intention of introducing during the coming session of +1912 the Electoral Reform Bill which he had foreshadowed in 1908; he +said that in this Bill all existing franchises would be swept away, +plural voting abolished and the period of residence reduced. The new +franchise to be created was, he added, to be based on citizenship and +votes were to be given to "citizens of full age and competent +understanding," but no mention was made of the enfranchisement of +women. On being asked what he intended to do about women's votes, he +dismissed the subject with the remark that his opinions on the subject +were well known and had suffered no change, but he reiterated the +promise of "facilities" for the Conciliation Bill in the 1912 Session.</p> + +<p>The situation, therefore, was briefly this: An agitation of +ever-growing intensity and determination had for some years been +carried on by women for their own enfranchisement and no agitation at +all had been manifested by men for more votes for themselves; the +Prime Minister's response to this situation was to promise legislation +giving far larger and wider representation to men and none at all to +women. No wonder that he provoked an immediate outburst of militancy! +Stones were thrown and windows smashed all along the Strand, +Piccadilly, Whitehall and Bond Street, and members of the Government +went about in perpetual apprehension of personal assault.</p> + +<p>The indignation of the Constitutional suffragists and of the Women's +Liberal Federation with Mr. Asquith was quite as real as that of the +"suffragettes" but it sought a different method of expression. Some +knowledge of this probably reached him, as for the first time in our +experience all the suffrage societies and the W.L.F. were invited by +the Prime Minister to form a deputation to him on the subject. What we +were accustomed to was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_733" id="Page_733">[Pg 733]</a></span> sending an urgent demand to him to receive us +in a deputation and to get his reply that he believed "no useful +purpose would be served" by yielding to our request; but now, in +November, 1911, he was inviting us to come and see him! Of course we +went. His whole demeanor was much more conciliatory than it had ever +been before. He acknowledged the strength and intensity of the demand +of women for representation and admitted that in opposing it he was in +a minority both in his Cabinet and in his party; finally he added +that, although his personal opinions on the subject prevented him from +initiating and proposing the change which women were pressing for, he +was prepared to bow to and acquiesce in the considered judgment of the +House of Commons, and he stated that this course was quite in +accordance with the best traditions of English public life. The +National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies, of which I was the +mouthpiece, then put the following questions:</p> + +<p>(1) Is it the intention of the Government that the Reform Bill shall +go through all its stages in 1912?</p> + +<p>(2) Will the Bill be drafted in such a way as to admit of amendments +introducing women on other terms than men?</p> + +<p>(3) Will the Government undertake not to oppose such amendments?</p> + +<p>(4) Will the Government regard any amendment enfranchising women, +which is carried, as an integral part of the Bill be defended by the +Government in all its later stages?</p> + +<p>To all these questions, as they were put severally, Mr. Asquith +replied "Yes, certainly."</p> + +<p>Mr. Lloyd George, who was present, was pressed by the deputation to +speak but did so only very briefly. He was known as an opponent of the +Conciliation Bill but had voted for it in 1911 because it was so +drafted as to admit of free amendment. He made no secret of his +conviction that the wider enfranchisement afforded by amendment of the +Government measure would, to use his own expression, "torpedo" the +Conciliation Bill. Almost immediately after the deputation thus +described he sent the following message to the N.U.W.S.S.: "The Prime +Minister's pronouncement as to the attitude to be adopted by the +Government towards the question seems to make the carrying of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_734" id="Page_734">[Pg 734]</a></span> +Women's Suffrage Amendment to next year's Franchise Bill a certainty. +I am willing to do all in my power to help those who are labouring to +reach a successful issue in the coming session. Next year provides the +supreme opportunity and nothing but unwise handling of that chance can +compass failure."</p> + +<p>There was plenty of unwise handling, but not, as I am proud to think, +from the constitutional suffragists. The first was the wild outburst +of "militancy" already referred to. Mr. Lloyd George was pursued by +persistent interruption and annoyance deliberately organised by the +Women's Social and Political Union. A meeting he addressed at Bath, +mainly devoted to advocacy of Women's Suffrage, on Nov. 24, 1911, was +all but turned into a bear garden by these deliberately planned and +very noisy interruptions. Not to be outdone in "unwise handling" Mr. +Asquith next had his innings. He received an anti-suffrage deputation +on Dec. 14, 1911, about three weeks after he had received the +suffragists, and in the course of his remarks to them he said: "As an +individual I am in entire agreement with you that the grant of the +Parliamentary Vote to women in this country would be a political +mistake of a very disastrous kind." This went far to invalidate the +fair-seeming promises to us given about three weeks earlier. How could +a man in the all-important position of Prime Minister pledge himself +to use all the forces at the disposal of the Government to pass in all +its stages through both houses a measure which might include the +perpetration of "a political mistake of a very disastrous kind"? A +member of Mr. Asquith's own party who took part in the anti-suffrage +deputation interpreted this expression of his chief as an S.O.S. call +to his followers in the House to deliver him from the humiliation of +having to fulfil the promises he had given us. Every kind of intrigue +and trick known to the accomplished parliamentarian was put into +operation. Every Irish Nationalist vote was detached from support of +the Bill. A description of one of these discreditable devices, among +them an attempt to hold up the N.U.W.S.S. to public contempt as +purveyors of "obscene" literature, will be found in a book by myself +called The Women's Victory and After, published in 1920.</p> + +<p>The first result of these intrigues was the defeat of the +Conciliation<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_735" id="Page_735">[Pg 735]</a></span> Bill, by 14 votes only, on March 28, 1912. This was +hailed as an immense triumph by the anti-suffragists, as indeed in a +sense it was, for exactly the same bill had been carried by the same +House in 1911 by a majority of 167; but it was a triumph which cost +the victors dear, especially when the tricks and perversions of truth +came to light by which it had been achieved. From this time forward +public opinion was more decided in our favour and the general view was +that the Government had treated us shabbily.</p> + +<p>The progress made by the Government in pressing forward their +Electoral Reform Bill was not rapid. When it was at last introduced it +was discovered to be not a Reform Bill, but in the main a Registration +Bill. In the second reading debate Mr. Asquith described his Bill as +one to enfranchise "male persons only," and said in regard to women +that he could not conceive that the House would "so far stultify +itself as to reverse the considered judgment it had already arrived +at" earlier in the session. It was a "considered judgment" to defeat +the Bill by 14 votes in 1912 but not a "considered judgment" to have +it carried by 167 in 1911! Sir Edward Grey felt strongly that the +House had placed itself in a very undesirable position, but the +Conciliation Bill was defeated and Sir Edward Grey, Mr. Lloyd George +and the leading suffragists in the Government continued to assure us +that the inclusion of Women's Suffrage through an amendment of the +Government Bill presented us with by far the best prospect of success +we had ever had. We worked as we had never worked before to secure the +success of this amendment or series of amendments. The session of 1912 +had lasted from January to December without the committee stage of the +Government Bill being reached. This interminable session overflowed +into 1913 and the debate on the suffrage amendments of the Government +Bill was dated to begin on January 24th of that year. On January 23rd, +however, in reply to a question, the Speaker [Mr. Lowther] indicated +that he would probably be compelled to rule that if the Bill were +amended so as to include the enfranchisement of women, he might feel +obliged to rule that in this form it was not the same bill of which +the second reading had been carried in July, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_736" id="Page_736">[Pg 736]</a></span> it would, therefore, +have to be withdrawn and re-introduced! This ruling he confirmed on +the following Monday, January 27th. Therefore, every one of the fair +promises which Mr. Asquith had given us in November, 1911, proved to +be absolutely worthless.</p> + +<p>I do not accuse Mr. Asquith of anything worse at this stage than +blundering. He was manifestly confounded and distressed by the +Speaker's ruling. Whether this were due to the naming of the Bill or +to Mr. Asquith's own speech on the second reading, "This is a bill to +enfranchise male persons only, etc.", we were not able to discover; +but the net result was that he found himself in a position in which it +was impossible for him to fulfil the promises he had given us. Under +these circumstances he did not take the only honorable course open to +him, i.e., of sending for us once more and asking us what we should +consider a reasonable equivalent for these unredeemed promises. He had +made these promises five years back and had repeated them from time to +time ever since. Now they were null and void. The only reasonable +equivalent would have been the introduction of a Government Reform +Bill which included the enfranchisement of women. Probably Mr. Asquith +knew that this was what we should urge; for he not only did not send +for us but he refused to see us or consult us in any way. He tossed +us, without our consent, the thoroughly worthless substitute of a day +for a Private Member's Bill, such as we had had experience of time and +again ever since 1870. The N.U.W.S.S. indignantly rejected this offer +and took no interest in the proposed Bill, which was, however, +introduced and given a day for second reading in May, 1913, when it +was defeated by a majority of 47.</p> + +<p>This discreditable series of incidents did far more harm to the +Government than to the suffrage cause, as was very conclusively shown +in the press. "Punch," for instance, had a cartoon on Feb. 5, 1913, +representing a dance in which Mr. Asquith figured as a defaulting +partner in a corner and trying to escape from an indignant woman who +said, "You've cut my dance!" This was indicative of the general trend +of public opinion.</p> + +<p>In the previous year the N.U.W.S.S. had placed a new interpretation on +its election policy. This was to support in elections<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_737" id="Page_737">[Pg 737]</a></span> irrespective of +party "the best friend of Women's Suffrage." After the defeat of the +Conciliation Bill in 1912 when 42 so-called "friends" voted against +it, we resolved in the future that the best friend was a man who was +not only personally satisfactory but who also belonged to a party +which had made Women's Suffrage a plank in its platform. This meant +support for the Labour Party and for the development of this policy we +raised a special fund called the Election Fighting Fund and took +active steps in canvassing and speaking for Labour men whenever they +presented themselves as candidates for vacant seats. Our movement had +now become the storm centre of English politics. A well known labour +leader wrote of the political situation in February, 1913, as follows: +"The Women's Suffrage question will now dominate British politics +until it is settled. It has within the last few weeks killed a great +Government measure and it has done more than that. It has made it +impossible for this or any succeeding Liberal Government to deal with +franchise reform without giving votes to women. The Labour Party will +see to that."</p> + +<p>In 1913 the N.U.W.S.S. organised the greatest public demonstration it +had ever made. We called it The Pilgrimage. It meant processions of +non-militant suffragists, wearing their badges and carrying banners, +marching towards London along eight of the great trunk roads. These +eight processions, many of them lasting several weeks, stopped at +towns and villages on their way, held meetings, distributed literature +and collected funds. It was all a tremendous and unprecedented +success, well organised and well done throughout. (Described in detail +in The Women's Victory.) The Pilgrimage made a very great impression +and was favourably commented on in the organs of the press which had +never helped us before. We finished The Pilgrimage with a mass meeting +in Hyde Park on July 26, where we had seventeen platforms, one for +each of our federations. We asked Mr. Asquith and the leaders of other +political parties to receive a deputation from The Pilgrimage the +following week. They all accepted with the exception of Mr. John +Redmond. When Mr. Asquith received us his demeanor was far less +unfriendly than it had ever been before. He admitted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_738" id="Page_738">[Pg 738]</a></span> that the offer +of a Private Member's Bill was no equivalent for the loss of a place +in a Government Bill. He said: "Proceed as you have been proceeding, +continue to the end," and said if we could show that "a substantial +majority of the country was favourable to Women's Suffrage, Parliament +would yield, as it had always hitherto done, to the opinion of the +country."</p> + +<p>In May, 1914, suffrage ground was broken in the House of Lords by Lord +Selborne and Lord Lytton, who introduced a bill on the lines of the +Conciliation Bill, the latter making one of the most powerful speeches +in our support to which we had ever listened. The Bill was rejected by +104 to 60, but we were more than satisfied by the weight of the +speeches on our side and by the effect produced by them. Another +important event which greatly helped our movement in 1914 was the +protest of the National Trade Union Congress on February 12th against +the Government's failure to redeem its repeated pledges to women and +demanding "a Government Reform Bill which must include the +enfranchisement of women." This was followed by resolutions passed at +the annual conference of the National Labour Party re-affirming its +decision "to oppose any further extension of the franchise to men in +which women were not included."</p> + +<p>There must, according to law, have been a General Election in 1915 and +the remarkable progress of the women's cause made us feel confident +that a Parliament would be elected deeply pledged to our support. Our +friends were being elected and our enemies, including that worst type +of enemy, the false friend and the so-called Liberal afraid of his own +principles, were being rejected at by-elections in a manner that +foreshadowed a great gain to suffrage forces at the General Election. +Then suddenly, destroying all our hopes of success and jeopardizing +the very existence of representative government and all forms of +democracy throughout the world, came the outbreak of war; the entry of +our own country and the resulting concentration of the vast majority +of the British people, whether men or women, in the gigantic national +effort which the successful resistance of such a foe demanded. August +4, 1914, was a heart-breaking day for us. Nevertheless, suffragists +from the first faced the facts and saw clearly what their duty was. +The "militants" instantly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_739" id="Page_739">[Pg 739]</a></span> abandoned every sort of violence. A large +number of the more active members of their societies formed the +Women's Emergency Corps, who were ready to undertake all kinds of +national work which the exigencies of the situation demanded. The +N.U.W.S.S. Executive Committee meeting on August 3, the day before our +own country was actually involved, resolved to suspend immediately all +political propaganda for its own ends. Under normal circumstances we +should have summoned a Council meeting to discuss the situation and to +determine the course to be taken by the Union. This being impossible +owing to difficulties connected with railway communication we +consulted our societies, then numbering over 500, by post, placing +them in possession of our own views, viz.: that ordinary political +work would have to be suspended during the war and suggesting that our +best course would be to use our staff and organising capacity in +promoting forms of work designed to mitigate the distress caused by +the war. We felt that our members would desire to be of service to the +Nation and that the N.U.W.S.S. had in their organisation a special +gift which they could offer to their country. This view was endorsed +by our societies with only two dissenting.</p> + +<p>On receiving this practically unanimous backing we further proceeded +to recommend distinct forms of active service. The Local Government +Board had addressed a circular to Lord Mayors and Mayors and Chairmen +of Town and County Councils directing them at once to form Local +Relief Committees to deal with any kind of distress caused by the war. +We suggested to our societies that they should offer their services to +help, each in its own district, in this national work. We also opened +in different parts of the country forty workrooms in which women +thrown out of work by the war found employment. We established bureaux +for the registration of voluntary workers and gradually our work +spread in all directions; help for the Belgian refugees, the starting +of clubs and canteens for soldiers and sailors, clubs for soldiers' +wives, work in connection with the Sailors' and Soldiers' Families +Association, patrol work in the neighborhood of soldiers' training +camps, Red Cross work, conducting French classes for our men in +training. A very large<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_740" id="Page_740">[Pg 740]</a></span> number of our societies concentrated on +maternity and child welfare work; others in country districts took up +fruit picking and preserving in order to conserve the national food +supplies. It is really impossible to mention all our various +activities. These were included under a general heading adopted at a +Provincial Council meeting held in November, 1914, urging "our +societies and all members of the Union to continue by every means in +their power all efforts which had for their object the sustaining of +the vital energies of the Nation so long as such special efforts may +be required."</p> + +<p>The war work with which the name of the N.U.W.S.S. is most widely +known was the formation of the Scottish Women's Hospitals for Foreign +Service. This was initiated and organised by the Hon. Sec. of our +Scottish Federation, Dr. Elsie Inglis, and was backed by the whole of +the N.U.W.S.S. (See Life of Dr. E. Inglis by Lady Frances Balfour.) +Meeting at first with persistent snubbing from the Royal Army Medical +Corps and the British Red Cross, Dr. Inglis formed her first hospital +at the Abbaye de Royaument about thirty miles from Paris, officered +entirely by women. Other units on similar lines quickly followed in +France and Serbia. Their work was magnificent and was rapidly +recognised as such by the military authorities and by all who came in +contact with it. These hospitals probably produced by the example of +their high standard of professional efficiency and personal devotion a +permanent influence on the development of the women's movement in +those countries where they were located. They received no farthing of +government money but raised the 428,856 pounds, which their audited +accounts show as their net total to August 3, 1919, entirely by +private subscription from all over the world including, of course, the +United States.</p> + +<p>The N.U.W.S.S. were very early in the field of women's national work +during the war because their members were already organised and +accustomed to work together, but it is no exaggeration to say that the +whole of the women of the country of all classes, suffragist and +anti-suffragist, threw themselves into work for the nation in a way +that had never been anticipated by those who had judged women by +pre-war standards. Into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_741" id="Page_741">[Pg 741]</a></span> munition work and all kinds of manufacturing +activity they crowded in their thousands. They worked on the land and +undertook many kinds of labour that had hitherto been supposed to be +beyond their strength and capacity. By what was called the Treasury +agreement of 1915 the Trade Unions were induced to suspend the +operation of their rules excluding the employment of female labour. +They bargained that women should be paid the same as men for the same +output and the Government agreed not to use the women as a reservoir +of cheap labour. Thus industrial liberty was ensured for women at +least so long as the war should last.</p> + +<p>All these things combined to produce an enormous effect on public +opinion. Newspapers were full of the praises of women; financiers, +statesmen, economists and politicians declared that without the aid of +women it would be impossible to win the war. The anti-suffragism of +Mr. Asquith even was beginning to crumble. In speaking of the heroic +death of Edith Cavell in Belgium in October, 1915, he said: "She has +taught the bravest men among us a supreme lesson of courage; yes ... +and there are thousands of such women and a year ago we did not know +it." Almost the whole of the press was on our side. The general tone +was that it would be difficult to refuse woman a voice in the control +of affairs after the splendid way in which she had justified her claim +to it. We old suffragists felt that we were living in a new world +where everyone agreed with us. Nevertheless, I do not believe we +should have won the vote just when we did if it had not been that, +through the action of the Government itself, it was absolutely +necessary to introduce legislation in order to prevent the almost +total disfranchisement of many millions of men who had been serving +their country abroad in the Navy and Army, or in munition or other +work which had withdrawn them from the places where they usually +resided.</p> + +<p>It may be necessary to explain to non-British readers that by far the +most important qualification for the Parliamentary franchise in this +country before 1918 was the occupation of premises, and before a man +could be put on the register of voters it was necessary for its owner +to prove "occupation" of these premises<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_742" id="Page_742">[Pg 742]</a></span> for twelve months previous to +the last 15th of July. Seven out of every eight voters were placed on +the register through this qualification. It was not a property +qualification, for the tiniest cottage at a shilling a week could +qualify its occupier for a vote if he had fulfilled the condition just +described; and a man might be a millionaire without getting a vote if +he were not in occupation of qualifying premises. Before the war the +register of voters was kept up to date by annual revision. The war, +however, made this difficult and the Government in 1915 gave +directions that this annual revision should be abandoned. As the war +went on, the existing register, therefore, rapidly became more and +more out of date. Millions of the best men in the country had become +disqualified through their war service by giving up their qualifying +premises. The House of Commons again and again postponed the date of +the General Election but the occasional by-elections which took place +proved that there was no register in existence on which it would be +morally possible to appeal to the country. The old, the feeble, the +slacker, the crank, the conscientious objector would all be left in +full strength and the fighting men would be disfranchised. A +Parliament elected on such a register would, Mr. Asquith declared, be +wholly lacking in moral authority. Therefore, by sheer necessity the +Government was forced to introduce legislation dealing with the whole +franchise question as it affected the male voter. A Coalition +Government of the Liberal, Conservative and Labour Parties had been +formed in 1915. This improved suffrage prospects, for many of the new +men joining the Government, more especially Lord Robert Cecil, the +Earl of Selborne and the Earl of Lytton, were warm supporters of our +cause; while in making room for these newscomers, Mr. Asquith found it +possible to dispense with the services of men of the type of Sir +Charles Hobhouse, Mr. A. J. Pease and others who were our opponents. +The formation of a Coalition Government helped us in another way. +Neither of the great parties, Conservative and Liberal, had been +unanimous on the women's question and the heads of these parties lived +in terror of smashing up their party by pledging themselves to +definite action on our side. Mr. Gladstone had broken up the Liberal +Party in 1886 by advocating<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_743" id="Page_743">[Pg 743]</a></span> Irish Home Rule, and Mr. Balfour and Mr. +Chamberlain had broken up the Conservative Party by advocating +Protection in 1903-4. Each of these had, in consequence, a prolonged +sojourn in the wilderness of Opposition. But now a Government was +formed in which all the parties were represented except the Irish +Nationalists, who had refused to join, and therefore our friends in +both the old parties could give free rein to their disposition to make +Women's Suffrage a reality without dread of bringing disaster on their +organisations. The attitude of the N.U.W.S.S. and seventeen other +Constitutional Suffrage Societies who had united to form a +Consultative Committee, was quite clear as to the line we should take +under these circumstances. In various ways and by repeated +communications, letters, memorials and deputations we kept the +Government informed that if their intentions with regard to the new +register were limited simply to replacing upon it the names of the men +who had lost their vote through their patriotic service, we should not +press our own claim; but if on the other hand the Government +determined to proceed by creating a new basis for the franchise, or +changing the law in any way which would result in the addition of a +large number of men to the register, without doing anything for women, +we should use every means in our power within the limits of lawful +agitation to bring the case for the enfranchisement of women before +Parliament and the country.</p> + +<p>Mr. Asquith answered a communication from us on these lines in May, +1916, with the greatest politeness but said that "no such legislation +was at present in contemplation." However, within the next fortnight +it was in contemplation and the Government made repeated attempts to +deal with the situation by the creation of a special register. All the +attempts were rejected by the House of Commons, which evidently wanted +the subject dealt with on broader and more comprehensive lines. On +August 14 Mr. Asquith, in introducing yet another Special Register +Bill, announced his conversion to Women's Suffrage! This was an advent +of great importance to our movement, for it virtually made the Liberal +Party a Suffrage Party, but the Parliamentary difficulty was not +removed, for the Government was still nibbling at the question by +trying to deal with it by little amendments<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_744" id="Page_744">[Pg 744]</a></span> to the law relating to +the registration of voters. At last a way out was devised. Mr. Walter +Long, president of the local government board, a typical conservative +country gentleman and at that time an anti-suffragist, made the +suggestion that the whole question of Electoral Reform, including the +enfranchisement of women, should be referred to a non-party +Conference, consisting of members of both Houses of Parliament and +presided over by the Speaker. Mr. Asquith concurred and Parliament +agreed. Women's Suffrage was only one of many subjects connected with +Electoral Reform which had to be dealt with by the Conference but it +is not too much to say that if it had not been for the urgency of the +claim of women to representation the Conference would never have been +brought into existence.</p> + +<p>The members of this Conference were chosen by the Speaker, who was +careful to give equal representation to suffragists and +anti-suffragists. Sir John Simon and Sir Willoughby Dickinson, members +of the Conference, were very active and skilful in organising the +forces in our favour. The Conference was called into being in October, +1916, and began its sittings at once. A ministerial crisis which +occurred in December resulted in the resignation of Mr. Asquith and +the appointment of Mr. Lloyd George as his successor. The Speaker +enquired of the new Prime Minister if he desired the Conference to +continue its labours. The reply was an emphatic affirmative. The +Conference reported on January 27, 1917. Everyone knows that it +recommended by a majority, some said a large majority, the granting of +some measure of suffrage to women. Put as briefly as possible the +franchise recommended for women was "household franchise," and for the +purposes of the bill a woman was reckoned to be a householder not only +if she was so in her own right but if she were the wife of a +householder. An age limit of thirty was imposed upon women, not +because it was in any way logical or reasonable but simply and solely +in order to produce a constituency in which the men were not +out-numbered by the women.</p> + +<p>Some few weeks earlier we had heard on unimpeachable authority that +the new Prime Minister was "very keen and very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_745" id="Page_745">[Pg 745]</a></span> practical" on our +question and was prepared to introduce legislation upon it without +delay. He no doubt remembered how emphatically he had told us in 1911 +of the extreme value of the promises which had been made to us by Mr. +Asquith, and how in our meeting in the Albert Hall in the following +March he had referred to the doubt which some suffragists had +expressed upon the worth of these promises as "an imputation of deep +dishonour which he absolutely declined to contemplate." He had in 1911 +put into writing and sent as a message to the <i>Common Cause</i>, the +official organ of the N.U.W.S.S., a statement of his conviction that +Mr. Asquith's promises made the carrying of a Women's Suffrage +amendment to next year's franchise bill a certainty and he had offered +his personal help to bring this about. It has already been described +how all these confident hopes had been brought to nought; but now, +December, 1916, within a fortnight of becoming Prime Minister, Mr. +Lloyd George let us know that he was not only ready but keen to go +forward on practical lines. When Parliament met we asked the Prime +Minister to receive a large and representative deputation of women who +had worked for their country during the war. Our object was to ask him +to legislate at once on the lines recommended by the Speaker's +Conference but we were pushing an open door.</p> + +<p>The new Prime Minister had arranged to receive us on March 29, 1917, +and on the 28th Mr. Asquith had moved a resolution in the House of +Commons, and his motion had been agreed to by 341 votes to 62, calling +for the early introduction of legislation based on the recommendations +of the Speaker's Conference. When our deputation waited on Mr. Lloyd +George the following day he was able to inform us that he had already +instructed the Government draftsman to draw up a bill on these lines. +The debate in the House on March 28 had turned mainly on Women's +Suffrage and the immense majority in support of Mr. Asquith's motion +was rightly regarded as a suffrage triumph. Every leader of every +party in the House of Commons had taken part in the debate and had +expressed his support of the enfranchisement of women. The Government +whips had not been put on and throughout the debates which followed +the Bill was not treated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_746" id="Page_746">[Pg 746]</a></span> as a Government but as a House of Commons +measure. The victory, therefore, was all the more welcome to us +because it was the result of a free vote of the House. Mr. Asquith's +retraction of his former errors was quite handsome. He said, among +other things, that his "eyes which for years in this matter had been +clouded by fallacies and sealed by illusions at last had been opened +to the truth." It required a European War on the vastest scale that +the world had ever known to shake him out of his fallacies and +illusions, and many of us felt that it would have been better if a +less terrible convulsion had sufficed to awaken him, but still, now he +was awakened, he was prompt in owning he had been in the wrong and +therefore no more was to be said. The subsequent stages of this +Representation of the People Bill were a series of triumphs for the +suffrage cause. The second reading debate was taken on May 22d and 23d +and again turned almost entirely on the women's question; the majority +was 329 to 40. When the Bill was in Committee and the clauses +enfranchising women were taken up on June 19 the majority was 385 to +55, or exactly seven to one. On June 20 a last division was made, when +the number of anti-suffragists was only 17.</p> + +<p>Our friends in the Speaker's Conference had so often impressed on us +the danger of departing, even in the direction of obvious improvement, +from its recommendations that we had carefully abstained from urging +any deviation from them; but when the immense majorities just quoted +showed that the Bill and our clauses in it were safe beyond a +peradventure, we did press very strongly that the same principle +should be applied to Municipal suffrage for women which had already +been sanctioned by the House for the Parliamentary Suffrage, namely, +that the wives of householders should be recognized as householders, +which would entitle them to vote. On November 15 an amendment to this +effect was moved but was not accepted by the Government. There were +vigorous protests in our favour from all parts of the House and the +debate on it was adjourned. During the interval the N.U.W.S.S. and +other societies with whom we were cooperating bombarded the leader of +the House and the Minister in charge of the bill with letters and +telegrams<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_747" id="Page_747">[Pg 747]</a></span> in support of the amendment. These produced a good effect +and on November 20, Government opposition having been withdrawn, the +amendment was agreed to without a division. Thus without the existence +of a single woman voter but on the strength of her coming into +existence within the next few months, the women on the Municipal +registers of Great Britain and Ireland were increased in number from +about one million to over eight-and-a-half millions. And yet Lord +Bryce and the other anti-suffragists assured us that the vote would +make no difference!</p> + +<p>In the House of Commons a third reading of the Representation of the +People Bill was taken on December 7 without a division. The Bill was +now safely through the Commons but its passage through the Lords had +yet to be undertaken. The second reading debate began on December 17 +and lasted two days. No one could predict what would happen; Lord +Curzon, president of the Anti-Suffrage League, was leader of the House +and chief representative of the Government. The Lord Chancellor [Lord +Finlay], who is in the chair in House of Lords' debates, was an +envenomed opponent. Among other influential Peers whom we knew as our +enemies were Lord Lansdowne, Lord Halsbury, Lord Balfour of Burleigh +and Lord Bryce. On the other hand we could count on the support of +Lord Selborne, Lord Lytton, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop +of London, Lord Courtney and Lord Milner. We looked forward to the +debate and the divisions in the Lords with considerable trepidation. +The Lords have no constituents, they have no seats to fight for and +defend. It is therefore impossible to influence them by any +electioneering arts but we sent to all the Peers a carefully worded +and influentially signed memorandum setting forth the chief facts and +arguments in our favour. The second reading of the Bill was taken in +the Lords without a division, the most important speech against it +being Lord Bryce's; he insisted again and again that the possession of +a vote made no difference. Lord Sydenham had the courage (!) to assert +that the suffrage movement had made no progress in America, and, while +admitting that it had lately been adopted in the State of New York, no +doubt thought that he was giving a fair description when he said: "In +America ... fourteen States have refused the franchise to women and +two, Montana<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_748" id="Page_748">[Pg 748]</a></span> and Nevada, have granted it. The population of the +fourteen States is 43,000,000 and that of the two States is 500,000." +(Twelve States had fully enfranchised their women.)</p> + +<p>The real fight in the House of Lords began on Jan. 8, 1918, when the +committee stage was reached. The debate lasted three days and on +Clause IV, which enfranchised women, Lord Selborne made an +extraordinarily powerful and eloquent speech in its favour. The House +was filled and the excitement on both sides was intense. As we were +sitting crowded in the small pen allotted to ladies not Peeresses in +the Upper House on January 10th we received a cable saying the House +of Representatives in Washington had accepted the Women's Suffrage +Amendment to the Federal Constitution by the necessary two-thirds +majority. This we hailed as a good omen. No one knew what Lord +Sydenham thought of it! The most exciting moment was when Lord Curzon +rose to close the debate. The first part of his speech was devoted to +a description of the disasters which he believed would follow from the +adoption of women's franchise but the second part was occupied by +giving very good reasons for not voting against it. He reminded their +Lordships of the immense majorities by which it had been supported in +the House of Commons, by majorities in every party "including those to +which most of your Lordships belong.... Your Lordships can vote as you +please; you can cut this clause out of the Bill—you have a perfect +right to do so—but if you think that by killing the clause you can +also save the Bill, I believe you to be mistaken.... The House of +Commons will return it to you with the clause re-inserted. Will you be +prepared to put it back?..." Before he sat down Lord Curzon announced +his intention of not voting at all, for the reason that if he had done +otherwise he "might be accused of having precipitated a conflict from +which your Lordships could not emerge with credit." The division was +taken almost immediately after the conclusion of this speech. Both of +the Archbishops and the twelve Bishops present voted for the bill. Our +clause was carried by 134 votes to 71, and Women's Suffrage was, +therefore, supported in the Lords by nearly two to one. The Lords +inserted in it among other things Proportional Representation. It was +on this and not on women's suffrage that the final contest took place +when it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_749" id="Page_749">[Pg 749]</a></span> returned to the Commons, but at last the long struggle of +\women for free citizenship was ended, having continued a little over +fifty years. The huge majorities by which we had won in the House of +Commons had afforded our ship deep water enough to float safely over +the rocks and reefs of the House of Lords. The Royal Assent was given +on Feb. 6, 1918.</p> + +<p>The first election at which women voted was held on December 14. Our +friends in the Speaker's Conference had aimed at producing a +constituency numbering roughly about 10,000,000 men and 6,000,000 +women. The actual numbers of both sexes enfranchised by the Act of +1918 turned out to be considerably in excess of this calculation. A +Parliamentary return published in November, 1918, showed the following +numbers of men and women on the register.</p> + + + +<div class="center"> +<table class="smallprint" summary="Men and Women on the Register"> +<tr><td class="left"> </td><td class="center"><i>Men.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class="left"> </td><td class="right">12,913,166</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left">Naval and Military Voters</td><td class="right bb">3,896,763</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left"> </td><td class="right bb">16,809,929</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left"> </td><td class="center"><i>Women.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class="left"> </td><td class="right">8,479,156</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left">Naval and Military Voters</td><td class="right bb">3,372</td></tr> +<tr><td class="left"> </td><td class="right bb">8,482,528</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p>At the annual Council meeting of the National Union of Women's +Suffrage Societies held in March, 1918, its object was changed by +formal vote. It was no longer necessary to concentrate on Women's +Suffrage and we adopted as our object "To obtain all such reforms as +are necessary to secure a real equality of liberties, status and +opportunities between men and women." No change of name was made until +the following year when a revised constitution was adopted and the +name was modified in accordance with our present object. We have now +become the National Union of Societies for Equal Citizenship and we +hope that the letters N. U. S. E. C. will soon become as familiar and +as dear to our members as N. U. W. S. S. were in the old days. At the +same meeting I retired from the presidency and my friend and +colleague, Miss Eleanor Rathbone, was elected in my place.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_750" id="Page_750">[Pg 750]</a></span></p> + +<p><a name="FNanchor_216_216" id="FNanchor_216_216"></a><a href="#Footnote_216_216" class="fnanchor">[216]</a> In 1907 Acts of parliament for England, Wales and Scotland (and +one for Ireland in 1911) made women eligible as members of Town, +County, Burgh and Borough Councils and as chairmen of these bodies, +including the right to be Mayors and Provosts, Aldermen and Baillies, +with the limitation that women appointed to an office carrying with it +the right to be Justices of the Peace should be incapacitated from so +acting. These Acts though non-contentious in the party sense required +fourteen years' strenuous work to secure their adoption as Government +measures. This was achieved during Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman's +premiership, the necessary legislation being announced in the King's +Speech as part of the Government programme.</p> + +<p>In 1918 the Qualification of Women Act for the United Kingdom made +women eligible to the House of Commons. The Bill passed almost without +opposition through both Houses and became law in the week ending +November 16. As the General Election took place on December 14 there +was little time for preparation, nevertheless, there were seventeen +women candidates and one, the Countess Makievicz, a Sinn Feiner, was +elected but refused to take her seat. The fact that her husband was a +foreigner made it doubtful whether she would have been allowed to do +so, though an Irishwoman by birth. In 1919 Viscountess Astor was +elected for Plymouth.</p> + +<p>In 1919 the Sex Disqualification Removal Act for the United Kingdom +went some way but not the whole way towards the fulfilment of the +pledge given by the Coalition Government of Mr. Lloyd George in +December, 1918, "to remove existing inequalities in the law as between +men and women." A much more complete bill had been introduced by the +Labour Party early in the session, which passed through all its stages +in the House of Commons notwithstanding Government opposition but was +defeated in the House of Lords and the Government changeling +substituted. This Act, though it did not give women the parliamentary +vote on the same terms as men nor admit them to the civil service on +equal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_751" id="Page_751">[Pg 751]</a></span> terms, and though the clause specifically conferring on them +eligibility to the House of Lords was cut out, contained, +nevertheless, important provisions in the direction of equality. It +allowed them to sit on juries, be Justices of the Peace, sworn in as +police officers, enter the legal profession and made it possible for +the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge to admit women to membership +and degrees on equal terms with men.</p> + +<p>The only important advance in education after 1900 was the throwing +open to women by the Governing Body of Trinity College, Dublin, of +degrees, membership and all privileges pertaining thereto in 1903. All +the universities in the United Kingdom, with the exception of Oxford +and Cambridge, have been for many years open to women and in November, +1919, a Royal Commission was appointed to enquire into their financial +resources and into the administration and application of these +resources. On the commission, Miss Penrose of Somerville College, +Oxford, and Miss B. A. Clough of Newnham College, Cambridge, the +women's colleges, were appointed as members. An Act of Parliament +later enabled both universities to grant membership, degrees and all +privileges to women. Oxford availed itself of these powers without +delay. Cambridge in December, 1920, refused to do so by a large vote, +but it will ultimately have to open its doors.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_215_215" id="Footnote_215_215"></a><a href="#FNanchor_215_215"><span class="label">[215]</span></a> The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. +Millicent Garrett Fawcett, J.P., LL.D., who has been prominently +connected with the movement for women's suffrage in Great Britain for +nearly fifty years and was President of the National Association from +1904, when it was re-organized, until after the victory was won in +1918.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_216_216" id="Footnote_216_216"></a><a href="#FNanchor_216_216"><span class="label">[216]</span></a> Accompanying this chapter was a complete list of laws +in the interest of women enacted by the Parliament beginning in 1902, +prepared by Miss Chrystal Macmillan, M.A., B.Sc. The lack of space +which has compelled the omission of similar laws from all of the State +chapters makes it necessary in this one. Three of importance +politically are given.—Ed.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_752" id="Page_752">[Pg 752]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LII" id="CHAPTER_LII"></a>CHAPTER LII.</h2> + +<h3>WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN BRITISH COLONIES.</h3> + + +<p>In granting the complete franchise to a part of her women in 1918 +Great Britain followed all of her self-governing colonies, which, with +the exception of South Africa, had given the full suffrage on the same +terms as exercised by men. New Zealand, Australia and Canada gave +Municipal suffrage at early dates, extending from 1867 in New South +Wales to 1894 in the Northwest Territories of Canada.</p> + + +<h4>NEW ZEALAND.</h4> + +<p>New Zealand was the first country in the world to give full suffrage +to women, its Parliament in 1893 conferring the franchise on all +persons over 21. In case of women, however, this did not include the +right to sit in Parliament, and, although efforts to secure this right +were made at intervals during all the following years, the bill for it +several times passing the Lower House, they were not successful until +1919. The unvarying record has been that the registration and vote of +women have nearly averaged those of men and in some instances have +exceeded them. In the election of 1919 the registration of men was +355,000; of women, 328,320. New Zealand is noted for its advanced +legislation.</p> + + +<h4>AUSTRALIA.</h4> + +<p>In 1901 the six States of Australia federated in a commonwealth with a +National Parliament and one of its earliest acts in June, 1902, was to +confer the complete universal suffrage on women and eligibility to +this body. About 800,000 women were thus enfranchised. This action had +been preceded by the granting of the State suffrage by the +Legislatures in South Australia in 1894 and in West Australia in 1899 +and this was done in New South Wales in August, 1902. Women received +the State suffrage<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_753" id="Page_753">[Pg 753]</a></span> in Tasmania and Queensland in 1905, Victoria in +1908. South Australia was the only one that gave the right to sit in +the Legislature with the State suffrage. This eligibility was not +conferred until 1919 in New South Wales and Victoria; 1920 in West +Australia and does not yet exist in Tasmania and Queensland. One must +be a property owner to be a municipal voter or office holder.</p> + +<p>Australia has largely substituted advanced legislation for women for +the English Common Law. The statistics relating to the voting of women +follow closely those of New Zealand. There never has been a proposal +to take away the political privileges of women, which could be done by +an Act of Parliament. On the contrary during the years when the +contest for woman suffrage was being carried on in Great Britain its +Parliament was more than once urged by that of Australia to grant it. +In 1917, when the struggle was at its height, the strongest possible +memorial was adopted by the National Parliament of Australia, which +said:</p> + +<blockquote><p>Appreciating the blessings of self-government in Australia +through adult suffrage, and appreciating the desire of Your +Majesty's Government to vindicate the claims of the small nations +to self-government, we are confident that Your Majesty will +recognize the justice of the same claim in the case of the small +nation of women in Your Majesty's kingdom—women who, in this +great crisis in the history of the British Empire ... have proved +themselves as worthy soldiers as those on the battlefield, and as +worthy of the protection of the ballot, which is conceded to +men.... We are deeply interested in the welfare of the women of +the Empire and we again humbly petition Your Majesty to endow +them with that right of self-government for which they have +petitioned for nearly three-quarters of a century.</p></blockquote> + +<p>The most prominent statesmen of Australia and New Zealand in their +visits to Great Britain, Canada and the United States have given +testimony as to the benefits of woman suffrage.</p> + + +<h4>DOMINION OF CANADA.</h4> + +<p>When Volume IV of this History was written in 1900 four pages sufficed +for an account of woman suffrage in Canada. It was confined to a +Municipal or School franchise or both in the Provinces for widows and +spinsters, and in some of them married women were included. This +privilege began in Ontario in 1884<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_754" id="Page_754">[Pg 754]</a></span> and the situation remained +unchanged until 1916, when the World War, which brought the full +enfranchisement of women in many countries, began to have its effect +in Canada. For the large amount of valuable material from which the +following brief résumé is made the History is indebted to Dr. Augusta +Stowe Gullen, a leader of the woman suffrage movement. Its foundation +was laid in 1878 and following years by the mother of Dr. Gullen, the +pioneer woman physician, Dr. Emily Howard Stowe, a friend and +contemporary of Susan B. Anthony<a name="FNanchor_217_217" id="FNanchor_217_217"></a><a href="#Footnote_217_217" class="fnanchor">[217]</a>. Dr. Stowe was a founder and the +first president of the Dominion Women's Enfranchisement Association, +which secured many privileges for women.</p> + +<p>The first woman suffrage society was organized in 1883 in the city +council chamber of Toronto with the Mayor in the chair. Mrs. Donald +McEwan was made president and other officers were Dr. Stowe, Miss Mary +McDonnell and Dr. James L. Hughes, afterwards Inspector of Schools. +Petitions were sent to the Dominion Parliament and bills presented but +when in the late 90's the Electoral Act was changed to make the +voters' list for its members coincide with the lists in the Provinces, +the latter became in a large measure the battle ground, although the +efforts for a national law were not discontinued. The movement for +Prohibition had a strong influence in the granting of woman suffrage +in the Provinces and it was hastened by the splendid war work of the +women.</p> + +<p>The first Provincial Legislature to enfranchise women was that of +Manitoba, Jan 27, 1916. A convention of the Woman's Christian +Temperance Union as early as July, 1902, passed a resolution to press +the work for it and later in the year the Labor Party endorsed equal +suffrage through its paper, <i>The Voice</i>, and its officers affiliated +with the suffrage club. Dr. Amelia Yeomans was a devoted worker. In +1906 when there was a prospect that the Municipal vote would be taken +away from married women property owners, the Liberal party convention +made its retention a plank in their platform but the Conservative +Legislature abolished it. In 1907 it was restored. In 1913 the women +succeeded in getting a full suffrage bill before one House<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_755" id="Page_755">[Pg 755]</a></span> of the +Legislature, which was defeated by 21 to 14 votes. The next year the +Liberal Party pledged itself to give the complete franchise if it won +the election. It did so and the women rolled up a big petition as a +backing. Premier Norris and the Cabinet supported the bill. The +Executive Board of the Political Equality League were invited to seats +on the floor of the House the day of the third reading and the bill +giving women equal suffrage and eligibility was passed amid great +enthusiasm by unanimous vote.</p> + +<p>The suffragists of Alberta began extensive work in 1910 to have the +Municipal franchise possessed by widows and spinsters extended to +married women and the agitation was continued to include the full +suffrage. Following the example of Manitoba Premier A. L. Sifton +announced on Feb. 24, 1916, before the Legislature opened, that the +Government would introduce a woman suffrage bill of the widest scope. +The bill passed in Alberta in March with the full approval of press +and people and the suffragists met at once in the home of Mrs. Nellie +McClung at Edmonton to arrange for taking up their new duties. Mrs. O. +C. Edwards had been a ceaseless worker here and in Saskatchewan. In +1914 the first woman Judge in Canada, Mrs. Jamieson, president of the +Local Council of Women of Calgary, was appointed by the Attorney +General as Commissioner of the Juvenile Court. In February, 1918, two +women, Mrs. L. M. McKinney and Miss Roberta McAdams, a Lieutenant on +the staff of the Canadian military hospital in Orpington, Kent, were +elected to the Legislature, the first women legislators in the British +Empire.</p> + +<p>In 1910 the women of Saskatchewan sent in petitions, some of them +endorsed by city councils, asking Municipal suffrage for married +women, but the Government refused it. In opening the Legislature on +Mar. 14, 1916, Lieutenant Governor Lake said: "In future years the one +outstanding feature of your program will be the full enfranchisement +of women." The suffragists of the Province had been organized about +five years and the president of the Franchise Board, Mrs. F. A. +Lawton, had presented to Premier Scott a petition signed by 10,000 +names to show that public sentiment was in favor of this action. He +answered that he could give them a definite answer and, as he had +already announced, their request would be granted. He said that +although<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_756" id="Page_756">[Pg 756]</a></span> Manitoba had been the first to give women the suffrage those +of Saskatchewan would be the first to have a chance to use it. At an +early and full meeting of the Legislature a number of members spoke in +favor of it and it passed practically without opposition. In 1919 Mrs. +M. O. Ramsden was elected to the Legislature.</p> + +<p>In 1902 a petition for woman suffrage was presented to the Government +in British Columbia and refused. Another effort was made in 1903 but +the subject was not brought before the Legislature until 1906, when it +defeated a bill. In 1908 it took away the Municipal franchise from +women householders. The women's clubs in Victoria secured 1,000 names +in three days protesting against this action. Mr. Naden, Liberal +member from Greenwood, introduced a bill restoring it, supported by +his party, but it was defeated. The Council of Women, at its November +meeting, adopted a resolution "to do all in its power to promote the +woman suffrage cause." It was the first Local Council in Canada to +endorse this cause and later held two public meetings in its interest. +In 1910 extensive work was done to regain the Municipal franchise. In +1911 nine important amendments to the very reprehensible laws +concerning women and children were submitted to the Legislature by the +Council through the Attorney General and one was passed. In the autumn +the Political Equality Club was re-organized in Victoria, Mrs. Gordon +Grant, president, and in December at a Provincial Conference in +Vancouver she assisted in organizing one there; Mrs. Lashley Hall, +president—later Mrs. C. Townley—and Miss Lily Laverock, secretary. +The two societies organized a large deputation to wait upon the +Attorney General and solicit better property laws for women, equal +guardianship of children for mothers, the right taken away from +fathers to dispose of their guardianship by will and other equally +needed laws. They also memorialized the Legislature for the full +Provincial suffrage for women. On Feb. 15, 1913, fifty women in the +Province presented a petition of 10,000 names to the Premier, asking +that suffrage on equal terms with men be given to women and on the +19th he answered that as a matter of Government policy it was +impossible.</p> + +<p>The agitation increased and continued until the full enfranchisement +of women in the three great Provinces to the east<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_757" id="Page_757">[Pg 757]</a></span> brought the +question to a climax. Even then, however, it was not allowed to be +settled by the Legislature, as it had been in those Provinces, but on +April 14, 1916, Premier Bowser stated that the Elections Act, which +provided for allowing a vote to soldiers over 18, would include women +and would be submitted to a referendum of the electors. This was done +by the Legislature, which met May 31, and the election took place +September 15. The amendment was carried by an immense majority in +every district, about two to one, and later this was increased by the +large favorable majority of the absent soldiers, who were entitled to +vote. It went into effect March 1, 1917. The area of Canadian +territory in which women were now enfranchised extended from Ontario +to the Pacific Ocean. In 1919 Mrs. Ralph Smith, widow of the Minister +of Finance, was elected to the Legislature and in 1921 she was made +Speaker, the first instance on record.</p> + +<p>The struggle for woman suffrage in Canada was now centered in the +Province of Ontario, where it began in 1883, and it was largely +carried on during much of the time by the Dominion Women's +Enfranchisement Association, which had been incorporated in 1889. Dr. +Augusta Stowe Gullen became its president in 1903, after the death of +her mother, Dr. Emily Howard Stowe, and held it until 1911. While its +principal object was the Dominion or National franchise for all women +it was for years at the head of the effort for the Provincial suffrage +in Ontario. In 1905, in connection with the Woman's Christian +Temperance Union, it organized a very representative deputation to +wait upon the Premier to ask that the Municipal vote possessed by +widows and spinsters be extended to married women. He said that +'neither he nor any other statesman had placed woman where she was; +that the Infinite was at work and woman being a part of the Divine +plan her place was assigned by a greater power.' In 1906 a deputation +from the association, headed by Dr. Stowe Gullen, with Dr. Margaret +Gordon and Mrs. Flora McDonald Denison as speakers, called on the +Mayor and Council of Toronto and asked them to pass a resolution for +the extension of this Municipal franchise. They did so and sent it by +this deputation to the Legislature. As a result a bill for it was +introduced and after a day's fun and sarcasm in the House it was +defeated by 69 to 2.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_758" id="Page_758">[Pg 758]</a></span></p> + +<p>In 1907 the Dominion Association at its annual meeting changed its +name to the Canadian Suffrage Association. In 1908 it decided not to +memorialize the Government but to make greater efforts to organize and +for this purpose Mrs. Denison, vice-president and official organizer, +visited Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. On March 24, 1909, the +association sent a deputation of 1,000 of its members to the House of +Parliament to ask for full suffrage for the women of Ontario. Dr. +Stowe Gullen presented with a strong argument a petition which +represented 100,000 names and many important organizations, among them +the Women's University Clubs, Women Teachers' Association, Medical +Alumnae of the University of Toronto, Progressive Club, Trades and +Labor Council, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, +Woman's Christian Temperance Union and Dominion Temperance +Association. There were prominent men and women speakers. Sir James +Whitney, the Premier, answered adversely. The crowds were so great +that Cabinet ministers could not gain admittance but all this +demonstration resulted in no action. Allan Studholme, Labor member +from East Hamilton, introduced a bill for woman suffrage, which was +defeated.</p> + +<p>In 1910 all the members throughout the Province were written to or +interviewed by suffragists, but the woman suffrage bill of the labor +members was defeated. Through the efforts of Mrs. Denison, Mrs. +Emmeline Pankhurst and Mrs. Philip Snowden of England came to Toronto +and lectured in Massey Hall to immense audiences. Dr. Gordon attended +the annual meeting of the National Council of Women in Halifax and +presented a motion that "the Council place itself on record in favor +of the enfranchisement of women." This was seconded by Dr. Rachel Todd +in behalf of the Medical Alumnae, University of Toronto. After much +discussion it was carried and this large and influential organization +was brought into the movement. The Local Council of Toronto adopted a +resolution to the same effect.</p> + +<p>In 1911 the association organized another deputation to wait upon the +Premier March 4, who were introduced by William Munns, the secretary. +The bill introduced by Mr. Studholme, seconded by W. Proudfoot, +Liberal from Center Huron after three days' discussion was lost. +Before the Provincial elections<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_759" id="Page_759">[Pg 759]</a></span> the association sent a letter to all +candidates and twenty-five answered that they would vote for woman +suffrage if elected. In June Dr. Stowe Gullen resigned the presidency +and Mrs. Denison was chosen in her place and Mrs. William Munns was +elected secretary. Mrs. Denison, who was an ardent suffragist, an +indefatigable worker and a fine organizer, edited a page in the +Toronto <i>Sunday World</i> each week devoted to woman suffrage, which was +of immeasurable value. She represented the association at the meetings +of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance in Copenhagen in 1906 and +in Budapest in 1913. This last year she organized a delegation and +went with them to take part in the suffrage parade in Washington, D. +C., March 3.</p> + +<p>In 1912 three suffrage bills were introduced. A resolution was moved +by Mr. Marshall, Liberal, from Lincoln, seconded by Mr. Bowman, +Liberal whip, but no bill was passed. Bills were presented every year +only to be voted down by the Conservative Government. N. W. Rowell, +the Liberal leader, pledged the support of his party in a non-partisan +measure but in vain.</p> + +<p>In 1912 Mrs. Denison secured for a deputation an interview with Sir +Robert L. Borden, Prime Minister of Canada, to ask that the Dominion +Parliament should grant a national franchise to women. He stated the +difficulties in the way, as the Election Act provided that the +Provincial lists of voters were in force for the election of the +members of the Dominion Parliament and if the Provinces did not first +grant the suffrage to women the cost and work would be required of +preparing new lists of the women voters. He said that each Province +must enfranchise its women before the Federal Government could act and +no Province had done so at this time.</p> + +<p>In 1914 Dr. Gordon, president of the Toronto Suffrage Society, +organized an influential deputation from its members which asked the +city council to submit to the voters at the approaching local election +the question of extending to married women the Municipal franchise now +possessed by widows and spinsters simply to ascertain their opinion. +This was done and the measure was carried by a majority of 13,713. +During 1914, 1915 and 1916 Dr. Gordon sent a letter to the councils of +the other cities, towns, villages and rural communities asking them to +hold a referendum<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_760" id="Page_760">[Pg 760]</a></span> or to pass a resolution in favor of this extension +and send it to the Government. The letters were followed by a +successful campaign in the municipalities by the society. As a result +33 referenda were held, all giving favorable majorities, and about 160 +other municipal governments memorialized the Ontario Legislature in +favor. Dr. Gullen published an open letter describing these efforts. +They had no effect on the Legislature nor did it make any concessions +to the women even in the way of much needed better laws, for which +they petitioned.</p> + +<p>At the annual meeting of the Canadian Suffrage Association, October 30 +Mrs. Denison resigned the presidency and Dr. Gordon was elected. On +the 31st the members put on record the work of its beloved founder and +one of the originators of the National Council of Women by presenting +a bronze bust of Dr. Emily Howard Stowe to the city of Toronto. It was +officially received by the Mayor and placed in the main corridor of +Municipal Hall, the first memorial of this kind to any woman in +Canada.</p> + +<p>This year the National Council of Women took a firm stand and urged +that each Province fully enfranchise its women and asked the Dominion +Parliament to grant the Federal vote to women. In 1915 the Ontario +society sent another deputation to the Legislature to ask for the +Municipal franchise and reminded the Premier, Sir William Hearst, of +the favorable verdict that had been given by the voters. He answered +that "it had not been proved that the influence of women for good +would be increased by the possession of the franchise." When asked if +he would submit the question of their full suffrage to the voters of +the Province he replied that this would mean only a vote by the men +and he was most desirous to ascertain the wishes of the women! No +attention was paid to either request. In 1916 the association again +went to the Legislature with a petition but Mr. Studholme's bill was +defeated. This year came the complete enfranchisement of women in all +the Provinces between Ontario and the Pacific Ocean. The women of +Canada had given their full share of the work and sacrifices demanded +by the war for two years but in the Province of Ontario not the +slightest recognition had been shown of their right to a voice in the +Government.</p> + +<p>The franchise societies and the W. C. T. U. canvassed the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_761" id="Page_761">[Pg 761]</a></span> whole +Province, circulating a monster petition for the full Provincial +franchise. A group of women in Toronto organized an Anti-Suffrage +Association and called a public meeting at which the suffragists were +denounced for "pressing their claims when all the thought and effort +of the Government should be given to the demands of the war." Up to +1917 neither the Liberal nor Conservative party had shown the least +favor to woman suffrage but now the former, which was out of power, +made it a plank of its platform and its leader, N. W. Rowell, on +February 20 at the opening of Parliament moved an amendment to the +speech from the throne providing for the full enfranchisement of women +in Ontario. It was declared out of order by Premier Hearst. A few days +later J. W. Johnson of Belleville, a private member, introduced a bill +for woman suffrage. On February 27 this bill was indorsed for the +Conservative Government by Premier Hearst, who said: "Having taken our +women into partnership with us in our tremendous task I ask, 'Can we +justly deny them a share in the government of the country, the right +to have a say about the making of the laws they have been so +heroically trying to defend?' My answer is, 'I think not.'"</p> + +<p>Thus without discussion this act of justice for which women had +petitioned since 1903 was granted by a single word. Mr. Rowell and the +Liberals united with the Conservatives and the bill was passed Feb. +27, 1917. Although passed by a Union Government it was largely due to +the incessant efforts of the Liberal members in the past.</p> + +<p>While in Quebec and a few of the small Provinces the suffrage was +still withheld from women it now so largely prevailed that their +national enfranchisement by the Dominion Parliament seemed the next +inevitable step. During 1917 Sir Robert Borden made a visit to England +and the war front. Although it was estimated that in some of the +Provinces one man in every fourteen had enlisted, he returned fully +convinced that "conscription" would be necessary and this would +require a referendum to the voters. Quebec would vote solidly against +it, as would certain elements in the other Provinces. A Fusion party +was formed in the Parliament and under tremendous pressure a War Time +Election Act was passed in September. It disfranchised during<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_762" id="Page_762">[Pg 762]</a></span> the war +Doukhobors and Mennonites, conscientious objectors, those born in +enemy countries not naturalized before 1902 and some others. It +enfranchised certain women in all the Provinces and Yukon and the +Northwest Territories, which send a member to the Parliament, in the +following words: "Every female who, being a British subject and +qualified as to age, race and residence as required of a male, is the +wife, widow, mother, sister or daughter of any person, male or female, +living or dead, who is serving or has served without Canada in any of +the military forces, or within or without in any of the naval forces +of Canada or Great Britain in the present war...."</p> + +<p>It was estimated that this Act would enable about 600,000 women to +vote when the question of "conscription" was submitted and leave about +1,000,000 unable to do so although having the Provincial franchise. It +raised a storm of protest from those who were not included and who +doubted that this arbitrary action would result in securing +conscription. Sir Robert Borden had no doubts but based his faith on +the belief that those women having relatives in the war would vote to +compel other men to go and he said at the time: "We are now verging on +the point at which women must be entitled to the same voice in +directing the affairs of this country as men, and as far as I am +concerned I commit myself absolutely to that proposition, but in +working it out it is necessary to take into account certain +considerations." With this concession the women had to be satisfied. +The general campaign came on in November 1917, with "conscription" the +issue on which the Government appealed for return to power. The +election took place in December and the Union Government carried the +four Western Provinces, Ontario and New Brunswick, receiving almost +the full vote of the women. The Opposition carried Quebec, Nova Scotia +and Prince Edward Island.</p> + +<p>During the campaign the Premier several times pledged himself and his +Government to equal suffrage for women and it was generally recognized +that if they were re-elected this pledge would be redeemed at an early +date. This action was urged by the Labor members. On Feb. 15, 1918, +the Government announced the extension of the full suffrage to the +women of Canada as a part of its policy and its consideration of the +measure at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_763" id="Page_763">[Pg 763]</a></span> approaching session of Parliament. Later the War +Cabinet invited all of the large organizations of women in the +Dominion to send representatives to a conference with the Government +in Ottawa on March 1. There was a very large response and the +delegates were welcomed by the Governor General, the Duke of +Devonshire, with a tribute to the conduct of women during the war. The +President of the Privy Council, N. W. Rowell, outlined the work of the +Conference and the confidence felt by the Government in the continued +assistance of women. They were assured by various members of the +Government of the desire for their suggestions on all matters +connected with the carrying on of the war. The conference lasted for a +week and the women submitted their recommendations, the first of which +was that women should be permitted to take a fuller share in the +responsibilities of government. All of these were respectfully and +cordially received by the members of the Cabinet.</p> + +<p>The Parliament opened on March 18. The Duke of Devonshire read the +speech from the throne to galleries crowded with women and said in the +course of it: "A bill for extending the franchise to women, with +suitable provisions respecting naturalization, will be submitted and +commended to your consideration."</p> + +<p>Sir Robert Borden introduced the bill March 21 and an extended +discussion took place in the House on the 23rd. There was no real +opposition, although the members from Quebec were not friendly, saying +that it was not wanted there by men or women. Sir Wilfred Laurier +favored woman suffrage but thought it should be conferred only by the +Provinces. The Premier spoke at length in moving the second reading. +It passed without division and again on the third reading April 12, +1918, when the full Parliamentary or Federal suffrage was conferred on +every woman who fulfilled the following conditions: (1) Is a British +subject; (2) is of the full age of 21 years or upwards; (3) possesses +the qualifications which would entitle a male person to vote at a +Dominion election in the Province in which the woman is seeking to +vote, provided that a married woman or a daughter living at home with +her parents shall be deemed to have any necessary property or income +qualifications if her husband or either of her parents is so +qualified. A woman is banned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_764" id="Page_764">[Pg 764]</a></span> if married to an enemy alien. This Act +superseded the War Time Election Act.<a name="FNanchor_218_218" id="FNanchor_218_218"></a><a href="#Footnote_218_218" class="fnanchor">[218]</a> The following year +this Parliament passed an Act enabling a wife to retain her +nationality.<a name="FNanchor_219_219" id="FNanchor_219_219"></a><a href="#Footnote_219_219" class="fnanchor">[219]</a></p> + +<p>In New Brunswick in 1908, led by Mrs. Fiske, Mrs. Hathaway and Miss +Peters, the suffragists memorialized the Legislature to extend the +full suffrage to women but a bill for this purpose was defeated. In +1909 a bill to give it to taxpaying widows and spinsters passed the +Upper House and after much discussion in the Lower House was +postponed. In 1915 married women were included in the Municipal +franchise possessed by widows and spinsters. These efforts were +continued from year to year and finally after the Dominion franchise +had been conferred, the Elections Act was amended by the Legislative +Assembly on April 17, 1919, to confer complete universal suffrage on +women.</p> + +<p>On May 20, 1919, the Council of Yukon Territory amended its Election +Law to read: "In this Ordinance, unless the context otherwise +requires, words importing the masculine gender include females and the +words 'voter' and 'elector' include both men and women ... and under +it women shall have the same rights and privileges as men."</p> + +<p>Bills to give the full suffrage to women in Nova Scotia were many +times defeated. In 1916, when all the western provinces were +enfranchising their women, the Lower House of the Legislature passed a +bill for it and later rescinded it on the excuse that it was not +desired by the women. This put them on their mettle and they took +action to convince the lawmakers that they did want it. The suffrage +society was re-organized and a resolution was adopted by the executive +board of the Local Council of Women and sent to every member of the +Legislature. A joint independent committee was created with Mrs. +Charles Archibald chairman and suffrage groups were formed within many +organizations of women. All the members of the Government were +interviewed and many promised support and the two Government<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_765" id="Page_765">[Pg 765]</a></span> +newspapers were favorable. Before the committee had time to put in a +bill one was drafted by Supreme Court Justice Russell and introduced +by R. H. Graham. The women filled the galleries at its second reading +and it passed without opposition and was referred to the Law +Amendments Committee, of which the Attorney General was chairman. It +gave a public hearing and the women crowded the Assembly Chamber +upstairs and downstairs and nine short speeches were made by women. +The Premier and Attorney General said it was the best organized +hearing and best presented case that had come before a House Committee +in twenty-five years. The Bill was left with the committee with the +assurance that it would be well cared for—and then it was postponed +indefinitely! The excuse was that there had been no demand from the +country districts! By another year, however, it was too late for such +tactics and when Lieutenant Governor McCallum Grant opened the +Legislature with the speech from the throne on Feb. 21, 1918, he +announced that the electoral franchise would be given to women. The +amended Franchise Act went through the Lower House without opposition; +had its second reading in the Senate April 29 and the third May 3, and +received the royal assent May 23. This added the State suffrage to the +Federal, which had been conferred the preceding month.</p> + +<p>Widows and spinsters in the Province of Quebec had Municipal and +School suffrage from 1892. In 1903 in the city council of Montreal an +amendment to the charter was moved to take it away. The Woman's +Christian Temperance Union held several large public meetings to +oppose such action addressed by prominent men. The press published +articles and letters of protest and it was voted down. In 1910 the +first suffrage society was formed in Montreal with Mrs. Bullock +president. In 1914 a deputation of Montreal women presented a petition +to the Premier, Sir Lorner Guoin, asking that women might sit on +school boards and that the Municipal franchise be extended to married +women. No action was taken. After the Federal Suffrage was granted in +1918 by the Dominion Parliament, which included the women of Quebec, a +bill was introduced in its Legislature to grant them the Provincial +franchise, which was voted down. Similar bills were defeated in 1918 +and 1920 and Quebec remains the only Province in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_766" id="Page_766">[Pg 766]</a></span> Canada where women +do not possess the State franchise in addition to the National.</p> + + +<h4>NEWFOUNDLAND.</h4> + +<p>When the Provinces of Canada united in a Confederation Newfoundland +was the only one that declined to enter it and remained independent. +Therefore, when the Dominion suffrage was conferred by the Parliament +in 1918 it did not include the women of this island. This was keenly +felt by many of them and they made efforts to have its Legislature +grant them the Provincial franchise but without success. In 1921 the +Woman Suffrage League determined to make an organized effort and +collected a petition of 10,000 names, representing every district, and +presented it to the Legislature. From the first the Premier, Sir +Richard Anderson Squires, was hostile and this was the case with most +of the Cabinet, but Minister of Marine Coaker showed a friendly +spirit; Minister of Justice Warren introduced the bill and Mr. +Jennings, chairman of the Board of Public Works, agreed to bring it up +for action. After the sending of many deputations to the Executive +Members of the Government the women were astonished at being told one +day that these members had held a meeting and it had been arranged +that the Premier himself should introduce the bill as a Government +measure. Seven went with Mr. Jennings by pre-arrangement to the +Premier's office and meeting Mr. Coaker he said: "Your bill goes +through all right, the Premier has his orders." Some provisions had +been attached to the bill—non-eligibility to office, no voting power +until the next general election and an age limit of 30 years. The +Premier promised to have the Government reduce this to 25 and they +were compelled to agree. Then he impressed upon them that the bill +would go through as a Government measure, declaring: "I will pass it +this session, whether the House closes in one month or three—what I +say goes!"</p> + +<p>Some time afterwards the women read in an account of the House +proceedings that the Premier had said in answer to a question that the +bill was not a Government measure. An official letter was at once sent +from the Woman Suffrage League, reminding him of his promise, to which +he made no answer.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_767" id="Page_767">[Pg 767]</a></span> They obtained an interview with him at which he +treated them very discourteously and denied all responsibility for the +bill after its second reading. They could get no satisfaction from any +member of the Government. The bill was not reported from the committee +for weeks and when at last brought before the House in August it was +turned over to a Select Committee of five, three of them pronounced +anti-suffragists, and was not heard of again.</p> + + +<h4>SOUTH AFRICA.</h4> + +<p>At the present time South Africa has the distinction of being the only +English-speaking nation that has not enfranchised its women. There +seems to have been some agitation for a vote by the Boer women in +early days but a "movement" for it was definitely begun in 1895, when +at the annual conference of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of +Cape Colony at Kimberley, woman suffrage was made one of their +official departments of work. In 1902 a Woman's Enfranchisement League +was formed in Durban, Natal, and in a few years one in Cape Town, Cape +Colony, followed by others in seven or eight towns. In 1904 M. L. +Neithling moved in the Legislative Council of Cape Colony a resolution +to enfranchise widows and spinsters with the required property and +educational qualifications, which was discussed but not voted on. In +1907 Dr. Viljoen presented one to extend the suffrage to women on the +same terms as to men. The division showed 24 in favor of it, twelve +from each party.</p> + +<p>In 1909 the Enfranchisement Leagues of Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg +and Pretoria united in sending four delegates to the International +Woman Suffrage Alliance meeting in London. This year representatives +of Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal and Orange Free State met in a +national convention to prepare a constitution for the Union of South +Africa and the suffrage leagues sent a numerously signed petition +asking that it include the franchise of women. This was rejected and +they were told to "await a more convenient season." The women were +much aroused and early in 1910 the Women's Citizen Club of Cape Town +and the Women's Reform Club of Johannesburg were formed. In the summer +of 1911 Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_768" id="Page_768">[Pg 768]</a></span> president of the International +Woman Suffrage Alliance, accompanied by Dr. Aletta Jacobs, president +of the National Association of The Netherlands, made a tour of 4,000 +miles in South Africa, remaining 76 days. They were present when the +delegates from eleven suffrage societies met and organized the Women's +Enfranchisement Association of the Union of South Africa and it soon +had twenty-two branches. The visits of the international president +with the suffragists of the different localities gave them much +courage and inspiration and thenceforth she was in close touch with +them, conferring and advising.</p> + +<p>The new association presented a monster petition to the Parliament in +1912 and Mr. Andrews of the Transvaal introduced a woman suffrage +bill, which after two days' debate was defeated by 70 to 30 votes. In +1914 Mr. Wyndham's bill did not reach a vote. In 1917 Mr. Rockey's was +defeated by 63 to 28. In 1918 a woman suffrage clause in the new +Electoral Bill was defeated by 54 to 39. All this time the splendid +service and sacrifice of the women during the long years of the war +was being lauded, while St. Paul's definition of their "sphere" was +being quoted as a reason for not giving them the suffrage.</p> + +<p>In January, 1919, a conference took place in Cape Town and it was +decided that the three suffrage associations unite immediately and +form a standing committee of their parliamentary secretaries through +which intensive work could be done with the Parliament. On April 1 Mr. +Wyndham introduced the following motion: "In the opinion of this House +the sex qualification for the exercise of the parliamentary franchise +should be removed." It simply affirmed the principle but was +strenuously debated without regard to party lines and finally carried +by a vote of 44 to 42. No further action was taken. Mrs. Laura Ruxton, +parliamentary secretary, attended the convention of the Government +Party to present the question, addressed it and the resolution to put +a woman suffrage plank in the platform was carried by 72 to 58. The +Unionist, Labor and South African parties accepted it, the Nationalist +Party alone refusing it. At a banquet in Bloemfontaine Premier Botha +appealed to the Parliament, saying that in view of the great services +of women during the war the men would be compelled to give them the +franchise. He died soon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_769" id="Page_769">[Pg 769]</a></span> afterwards and petitions from the most +representative citizens then began to pour in upon his successor, +General Smuts.</p> + +<p>In 1920 Daniel McLaren Brown presented a resolution that in the +opinion of this House the time has arrived when the right of voting +for members of Parliament and the Provincial Councils should be +extended to women. After a two days' debate it passed on May 3 by 66 +ayes, 39 noes, a majority of 27 as against two a year before. Mr. +Brown then introduced a bill conferring this right. A deputation of +500 women carried an immense petition for it to the Parliament and it +passed first reading by 66 to 47. Although Premier Smuts had supported +it as "a great and necessary reform" and promised it every chance he +declined to make it a Government measure or give any facilities for +second reading. Mr. Brown and his House Committee and the Hon. +Secretary, Mr. Mullineux, worked valiantly for the bill but it got no +further, although eight of the Cabinet ministers were in favor of it +and the Government Party had endorsed it. It is the almost +insurmountable objection to the colored vote which is the chief factor +in preventing women's enfranchisement.</p> + +<p>The Parliament of Rhodesia gave full State suffrage to women in April, +1919, and that of the British East African Protectorate in July, 1919. +In both this carried eligibility to office and a woman was elected to +the Parliament of Rhodesia in 1920. In several of the States women +have the Municipal franchise and have been elected to the city +council.</p> + + +<h4>INDIA.</h4> + +<p>There has been remarkable progress in the enfranchisement of women in +India, although it has been for the most part since 1920, with which +this volume of the History closes. The Women's Indian Association +ranks with other women's organizations in the British Dominions and +has branches throughout the country. There are many political reform +organizations and almost without exception they are willing to include +women in any rights obtained. Increased opportunities for their +education have been opened and there are hundreds of women university +graduates. In several cities the limited municipal vote that men have +is shared by women and they are eligible to the council. In 1917<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_770" id="Page_770">[Pg 770]</a></span> +Great Britain announced that self-government would be given to the +people of India and the Women's Indian Association and other agencies +began a strenuous campaign to have women included. In 1918 the Women's +Indian Association had suffrage resolutions introduced in many +provincial conferences and national congresses of men and they were +usually passed by large majorities. The British Parliament sent a +committee to India to collect evidence as to the amount of franchise +that should be included in the proposed Government Bill and +distinguished men and women appeared before it in behalf of women, +among them Mrs. Annie Besant, president of the National Home Rule +League of India, which was strongly in favor of woman suffrage. +Contrary to all the evidence the committee reported against it. Mass +meetings of women in India were held in protest. In 1919 eminent women +and men were sent to London to present the case to Parliament. They +were cordially greeted by the British suffragists and given every +possible assistance. A petition was sent to the Government of India +Committee by the Women Citizen's Union of the British Dominions, where +in all but South Africa women were now fully enfranchised.</p> + +<p>All were in vain and woman suffrage was not included in the India +Reform Bill but the question was left to the decision of the governing +bodies that had been created. The women then had to begin campaigns +throughout India, mass meetings, petitions, even processions and +lobbying. In May, 1921, the Madras Presidency, one of the largest +divisions of the country, gave the complete franchise to women and it +was followed soon afterwards by the great Bombay Presidency, whose +Legislative Council voted for it by 52 to 25, and by that of Burmah. +Each State has its Legislative Council and a number of these have +given the vote to women. The movement is active for it throughout +India.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_217_217" id="Footnote_217_217"></a><a href="#FNanchor_217_217"><span class="label">[217]</span></a> See <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/28556/28556-h/28556-h.htm#Page_832">History of Woman Suffrage, Vol. III, page 832.</a></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_218_218" id="Footnote_218_218"></a><a href="#FNanchor_218_218"><span class="label">[218]</span></a> On Dec. 6, 1921, Miss Agnes McPhail was elected to the +House of Commons for Southeast Grey.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_219_219" id="Footnote_219_219"></a><a href="#FNanchor_219_219"><span class="label">[219]</span></a> This Act was heralded far and wide, as it was +unprecedented. In 1920, giving as a reason that the Act had been only +a war measure, it was repealed bodily by the Parliament and the old +Act substituted with a few amendments that did not by any means give +the privileges afforded by the new one. It was generally believed that +this was done under the direct influence of England.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_771" id="Page_771">[Pg 771]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LIII" id="CHAPTER_LIII"></a>CHAPTER LIII.</h2> + +<h3>WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN MANY COUNTRIES.</h3> + + +<p>When Volume IV of the History of Woman Suffrage was written in 1900 +four pages contained all the information that could be obtained in +regard to woman suffrage outside of the United States and Great +Britain and her colonies. At the time the first International Council +of Women was held in Washington, in 1888, under the auspices of the +National Woman Suffrage Association of the United States, Great +Britain was the only other country that had an organization for this +purpose. At the writing of the present volume in 1920 there are +comparatively few countries in the world having a constitutional form +of government where women are not enfranchised. The only two of +influence in Europe are France and Italy; the others are Switzerland, +Spain, Portugal, Greece and Turkey. Women do not vote in Oriental +countries. This is also true of Mexico, Central and South America.</p> + + +<h4>FINLAND.<a name="FNanchor_220_220" id="FNanchor_220_220"></a><a href="#Footnote_220_220" class="fnanchor">[220]</a></h4> + +<p>The first country in Europe to give equal suffrage to women was +Finland in 1906, when it was a Grand Duchy of Russia with its own Diet +or Parliament, whose bills required the sanction of the Czar to become +laws. Girls were admitted to the full privileges of the university in +1878 and in the student organization they were on a footing of perfect +equality. Important positions and even places in the civic +administration were open to women. As early as 1863 the Diet gave the +local or Municipal vote to taxpaying women in the country and in 1872 +to those in the towns, but not eligibility to office. In 1897 the +Finnish Women's Association presented a petition to the Diet for full<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_772" id="Page_772">[Pg 772]</a></span> +suffrage, which did not reach second reading. Its president, Baroness +Alexandra Gripenberg, had attended the World's Congress of Women +during the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 and become +intimately acquainted with Miss Susan B. Anthony, Mrs. May Wright +Sewall and other noted suffragists in the United States. In 1899 the +sword of Russia descended, the constitution of Finland was wrecked and +her autonomy, religion, customs, language, everything sacred was +threatened.</p> + +<p>The real movement for the full enfranchisement of women began in 1904, +when bills were introduced in the Diet. In the autumn the president of +the Woman's Alliance Union, Miss Annie Furuhjelm, returned from the +inspiration of the great International Council of Women in Berlin and +the forming of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance. With the +political oppression now existing the women were feeling a strong +desire to share in the responsibility for the fate of the country. +Under the auspices of the Union the first public meeting for woman +suffrage was held in Helsingfors on November 7, attended by more than +a thousand women of all classes and all parties. Resolutions were +passed that the complete suffrage should be extended to every citizen +and a petition demanding it should be sent to the Diet. For the first +time the Union included eligibility to office in its demands. +Forty-seven addresses of sympathy signed by hundreds of women were +received from different parts of the country. From this time the Union +devoted all its energies to the movement for the franchise.</p> + +<p>In another year the Russo-Japanese War was over and Russia was in the +midst of a revolution. In October, 1905, the long pent-up forces of +Finland broke the barriers and a "national strike" was inaugurated. +Women were members of the central committee elected at a mass meeting +to manage it. Those in the highest ranks of society had for the past +year been members of a secret organization extending over the country +raising funds, smuggling literature and daily risking their lives. For +five days not a wheel turned and no work was done except under the +most urgent necessity. There was perfect order and at intervals +deputations of men and women went to the Russian Governor General in +Helsingfors asking for the restoration of Finnish<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_773" id="Page_773">[Pg 773]</a></span> autonomy. At last +the Government at St. Petersburg yielded, as all its forces were +required in Russia. Meetings of women were then held in all parts of +the country to elect delegates to another mass meeting in Helsingfors +on December 7, where amid great enthusiasm a resolution was carried +demanding full suffrage and eligibility for every citizen twenty-four +years old.</p> + +<p>On May 28, 1906, this reform was passed by the Diet without objection. +It was taken to the Czar by the eminent Senator Mechelin, who assured +him that the nation demanded it, and he gave his assent. The Diet +consisted of four chambers—nobles, clergy, burghers (taxpayers in +towns and cities) and peasants who were landowners. It was now +reorganized in a single chamber of 200 members. The first election +took place March 15, 16, 1907, and 19 women were chosen, among them +the Baroness Gripenberg by the Old Finnish Party. Miss Furuhjelm +belongs to the comparatively small National Swedish Party, which +elects few candidates. She was elected in 1913 and has been +continuously re-elected. Following are the numbers of women members of +Parliament: 1907—19; 1908—25; 1909—21; 1910—17; 1911—14; +1913—21; 1916—24; 1917—18; 1919—17. From the beginning the women +members have introduced bills for much needed reforms, for the care of +children, protection of wives and mothers, benefit of working women +and many for social welfare. While the Czar was in power these were +all vetoed. Since then, with their small number and the great +questions that have pressed upon the Parliament, they have found it +difficult to secure domestic legislation but they have united with the +men in passing many bills of a political nature.</p> + +<p>In 1917 a law gave to every man and woman 21 years old Municipal +suffrage, without paying taxes, and eligibility to office and a number +of women have been elected to city and rural councils. The Czar had +hitherto vetoed this bill. In 1919, after a period of the greatest +strife and sorrow, caused by the World War, Finland severed all +connection with Russia and became an independent republic. In a new +constitution adopted at this time the word "citizen" was used instead +of "man" and all legal disqualifications of women were removed. Both +the men and women of Finland at last are free.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_774" id="Page_774">[Pg 774]</a></span></p> + + +<h4>NORWAY.</h4> + +<p>The second country and the first independent Government in Europe to +enfranchise women was Norway. With characteristic caution and +conservatism this was done by degrees, beginning with the Municipal +vote for taxpayers, followed by the complete franchise, and then the +removal of the taxpaying qualification for the former and at last for +the full suffrage. The president of the National Association through +all the years has been Mrs. F. M. Qvam of Stenkjaer, county of N. +Trondhjem, to whom the women have given undivided allegiance. The +History is indebted to Mrs. Qvam for most of the following +information. In sending it she wrote: "The last twenty years are like +an Adventure of a Thousand Nights for suffragists. What was sown and +seemed lost has sprouted and brought the greatest victories around the +world. May women now be able to do at least a little of the good that +the workers for the suffrage have dreamt that it would bring to the +nations." Its results in Norway certainly have realized that dream, as +they have effected many beneficial changes in the laws.</p> + +<p>The first demand for woman suffrage at a public meeting, so far as +known, was made in 1869 by Mr. Qvam, a barrister. The pioneer of the +organized movement was Miss Gina Krog, who, after having written and +lectured on the subject for years, founded the Christiania Woman +Suffrage Union in 1885. She was moved to do this by reading the early +volumes of the History of Woman Suffrage, published about this time +and sent by Miss Susan B. Anthony to the university at Christiania. +Miss Krog edited <i>Nylande</i>, a monthly devoted to the interests of +women, and continued as president twelve years. She was succeeded by +Miss Rogstad. In 1886 bills were presented to the Parliament in +connection with an extension of the male suffrage. In 1888 the first +large public meeting was held. These were continued, petitions were +collected, bills were presented at every session, one in 1893 +receiving a majority but not the necessary two-thirds. Women from +other parts of the country became interested and on Feb. 12, 1898, the +National Woman Suffrage Association was organized; Mrs. Qvam was +elected president.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_775" id="Page_775">[Pg 775]</a></span> The association is still doing a vast amount of +work in the interest of women and children. There was never an active +working membership in the association of more than 2,500 but whenever +petitions were needed for an advanced step the signatures poured in by +the thousands and the Executive Committee was always assured of a +large support. In 1899 the names signed to a petition for equal +suffrage numbered 12,000.</p> + +<p>As the grant of universal suffrage to men had been made only the +preceding year it was too much to expect it for women at once but +through the assistance of Liberals and Radicals with the help of many +Conservative members, and the efforts of women themselves, the +Municipal suffrage was given by the Parliament in May, 1901, to the +following: All who pay taxes to State or Municipality on an income of +400 kroner in the towns and 300 (about $71) in the country districts, +or have complete or partial joint property with a husband who pays +such tax. The amount was so small that a considerable proportion +received this vote. It carried eligibility to the municipal councils +and this year 98 women were elected and 160 "substitutes." The +National Executive Committee conducted an active campaign of +literature and lectures to rouse the women to exercise their new +privilege, and it continued to ask for the full suffrage. In 1905 the +momentous question arose of separation from Sweden. The women made +every effort to be permitted to vote in the referendum but in vain. +The National Suffrage Association then undertook the task of obtaining +the personal signatures of women to a petition in favor of separation +and on August 22 the Executive Committee presented it with an address +to the president of the Storthing with the statement that it was +signed by 300,000 women, a very large proportion of the adults. All +the members arose in tribute to the women.</p> + +<p>As a result of this action by the National Association its petition in +1906 was received with much sympathy. During the summer before the +next Storthing was to be elected the Executive Committee carried on a +most strenuous campaign. The president and other members went to the +political meetings of all parties to secure endorsement. They called +attention to the granting of universal suffrage to women by the +Parliament of Finland<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_776" id="Page_776">[Pg 776]</a></span> in May of that year. The fifty branches +throughout the country held meetings and sent appeals. In August, when +the campaign was at its height, the International Woman Suffrage +Alliance held a most successful congress in Copenhagen, which was +enthusiastically commented on by the Danish press and that of Norway +adopted an entirely different attitude from this time. The Lefts and +the Socialists, who had put the plank in their platforms, elected a +majority of the Storthing but from January to June the women were in +the greatest suspense and those in the different constituencies were +working on their members. Finally on June 14, 1907, after only two +hours' debate, the complete franchise with full eligibility was +conferred on women by 96 to 23 votes, only 82 being needed.</p> + +<p>This grant was made to the taxpaying women who had the Municipal +franchise and it was then the work of the National Association to have +it made universal. On June 7, 1910, it succeeded in having the +taxpaying qualification removed for the Municipal suffrage, and on +June 11, 1913, a paragraph was added to the constitution which +provided that "all men and women 25 years of age, who have been +domiciled in Norway five years shall be entitled to the complete +franchise and eligibility." Over half the total number of voters are +women. Women may be Premier, State officers, Judges, magistrates, +sheriffs, professors in the university, even the theological +department, and are eligible to all public offices with equal pay. The +constitutional arrangement for electing members of Parliament has been +an obstacle to the election of women but it has now been remedied. +Five had been elected as "substitutes" or "proxies" to take the place +of absent members. Hundreds have been elected to city councils and to +juries, which are elected for fixed periods. The only positions from +which they are excluded are those of a military character, the +Cabinet, the diplomatic corps, the clergy and officials of the State +church.</p> + + +<h4>DENMARK.</h4> + +<p>Although Danish women had long had the highest educational advantages +and considerable freedom under the laws they had no suffrage up to the +time the International Woman Suffrage<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_777" id="Page_777">[Pg 777]</a></span> Alliance held its congress in +Copenhagen in 1906. The following women had gone to the meeting in +Berlin in 1904 when this Alliance was organized: Mrs. Johanne Münter, +Mrs. Charlotte Norrie, Mrs. Vibetha Salicath, Mrs. Charlotte +Eilersgaard, Misses Rasmussen, Eline Hansen and Anna Hude. They +reported its proceedings to the Woman Suffrage Association of Denmark, +formed in 1899, of which Mrs. Louise Norlund was president, and it +then affiliated with the Alliance and invited it to hold its next +congress in Copenhagen. At the time it met this association comprised +fourteen societies and they had worked chiefly for the Municipal +franchise. In 1906 the Kvindesamfund, organized in 1871 to work for +the general cause of women and advocating the franchise, adopted as +part of its regular program Municipal and full suffrage and joined the +Woman Suffrage Association. As early as 1888 it had presented to the +Rigsdag a petition by women all over the country asking the Municipal +franchise for single women, which the Lower House was willing to grant +but the Upper House ignored. The interest died out for awhile but in +1904 and 1905 the Lower House again favored this limited grant and in +the winter of 1906 both Houses received delegates from the society but +no action was taken.</p> + +<p>The congress of the Alliance in 1906, which lasted over a week, was a +revelation of the size and strength of the movement for woman suffrage +and the great ability of women. It was cordially recognized by the +press and people and a great impetus was given to the work in Denmark. +That year a liberal Rigsdag was elected and a suffrage campaign was +made by the association. In 1907 the Parliament gave a vote to women +for public boards and the right to be elected to them and the Upper +House abandoned its opposition to enfranchising married women. A +strong movement was developed among women and many new suffrage +societies were formed. On April 20, 1908, the Parliament gave to +single women who pay taxes and to married women whose husbands are +taxpayers the Municipal franchise and eligibility. This was a +beginning and the Suffrage Association distributed 18,000 circulars to +women in Copenhagen before the elections the following March urging +them to go to the polls. Seventy per<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_778" id="Page_778">[Pg 778]</a></span> cent. of those entitled to vote +did so and seven were elected to the city council. In all districts +127 were elected.</p> + +<p>There was a growing demand for a revision of the constitution and in +October the association sent in a petition that this should include +the complete enfranchisement of women. There was at this time national +agitation for election reforms, for direct election of the Upper +House, for lowering the voting age from 30 to 25, and this went in +with the other demands. By 1911 the National Association had 144 +sections with 12,000 members and maintained a press bureau, supplying +60 papers. Another association, the Landsforbundet, had 100 branches +and 11,000 members, and published a paper, and there were many outside +groups. Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, president of the International +Suffrage Alliance, stopped in Copenhagen on her way to its congress in +Stockholm in June and addressed a mass meeting under the auspices of +the two large associations.</p> + +<p>With all parties in favor of giving the full suffrage to women and +public sentiment favoring it the bill was caught in the maelstrom of +agitation for a revised or new constitution and the Rigsdag refused to +consider it separately. Finally the bill for a new constitution +including woman suffrage passed the Lower House by a vote of 95 to 12. +It was sent to the Upper House, referred to a committee and there it +remained while the controversy raged over the constitution. This was +still the situation when the World War broke out in 1914 and it was +April, 1915, before an entire new constitution passed both Houses by +an enormous majority. It provided for universal suffrage with +eligibility for men and women, no taxpaying qualifications, the age to +be 29 with gradual reduction to 25. A general election at once took +place on this issue, the new Rigsdag immediately adopted the +constitution the required second time and on June 5 it was signed by +the King. The women voted for the first time at a general election in +1918 and nine, representing all parties, were elected to the Rigsdag, +five to the Upper and four to the Lower House. They voted a second +time in 1920 and eleven were elected. They have obtained laws for +equal pay, the opening of all positions to women and equal status in +marriage.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_779" id="Page_779">[Pg 779]</a></span></p> + + +<h4>ICELAND.</h4> + +<p>Iceland was a dependency of Denmark with its own Parliament, the +Althing. In 1881 a bill was passed, presented by Skuli Thorvoddsen, a +member and an editor, giving to widows and spinsters who were +householders or maintained a family or were self-supporting, a vote +for parish and town councils, district boards and vestries, at the age +of 25, which became law in 1882. In 1895 the Woman's Alliance was +formed and a petition of 3,000 women was collected and sent to the +Althing asking it to consider suffrage for married women and increased +property rights, which it ignored. In 1906 Mrs. Briet Asmundsson, the +leader of the woman's movement, attended the congress of the +International Woman Suffrage Alliance in Copenhagen, and, returning to +Reykjavik, the capital, organized in January, 1907, the Association +for Women's Rights. In four months 12,000 signatures had been obtained +to a petition for full suffrage for women and eligibility to all +offices. Mr. Thorvoddsen introduced the bill, which was not +considered, but one was passed giving the Municipal franchise and +eligibility to all women in the Reykjavik and one other district, +which became law Jan. 1, 1908. The association carried on a vigorous +campaign and four women were elected to the council of Reykjavik. Its +president then made a two months' tour of the country and organized +five branches. At all political meetings the women had resolutions +presented for equal suffrage and eligibility, which were usually +carried unanimously. On April 15 a law was passed extending Municipal +suffrage and eligibility to all women.</p> + +<p>In 1911 women were made eligible to all State offices, including those +of the church, and a constitutional amendment was passed granting the +complete franchise. It had to pass a second Althing and political +questions arose which were all absorbing until 1914. Then the +amendment passed but a compromise had to be made fixing the age for +women at 40, to be lowered annually, under much protest, but Premier +Eggers refused to submit it to the King of Denmark for his sanction. +It had to wait until another took the office and finally was signed +June 19, 1915, two weeks after the women of Denmark were fully +enfranchised. In 1918 a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_780" id="Page_780">[Pg 780]</a></span> referendum was taken, in which women voted, +on making Iceland an independent State having a personal union with +Denmark and the same King, which resulted favorably. A new Althing was +elected Nov. 15, 1919, and a new constitution adopted which gave to +women full suffrage at 25, the same age as to men.</p> + + +<h4>SWEDEN.</h4> + +<p>The story of Sweden is especially interesting as the women were the +first in Europe to have the Municipal vote and among the last to have +the Parliamentary. In 1862 widows and spinsters who had paid taxes had +a vote for all officers except members of the Parliament. In 1909 they +were made eligible for the offices. Later this franchise was enlarged +to admit married women, and in 1918 it was made universal for men and +women of 23 without taxpaying requirements. This chapter is indebted +for much of the information in it to Mrs. Anna B. Wicksell, who was a +delegate from Sweden to Berlin in 1904, when the International Woman +Suffrage Alliance was formed and is now a vice-president. Mrs. +Wicksell gained international fame when her Government appointed her a +delegate to the League of Nations meeting at Geneva in 1920-21 and she +was placed on the Mandates Commission.</p> + +<p>The first bill to give women full suffrage and eligibility was +presented in the Second Chamber by F. D. Borg, an enlightened member, +in 1884 and ridiculed by Parliament and press. In 1902 Carl Lindhagen +offered a bill calling on the Government to investigate the subject. +The first organized movement among the women was the forming of a +society in Stockholm this year and an address to Parliament with 5,641 +signatures urging this bill. It was rejected by 111 to 64 in the +Second Chamber (Lower House) and without a division in the First. In +1904 his bill, endorsed by 30 members, received 115 noes, 93 ayes and +no vote in the First Chamber. In 1905, endorsed by 57, it had 89 noes, +30 ayes in the First Chamber and the Second rejected it by 109 to 88. +The suffrage societies had multiplied and now there were 63.</p> + +<p>A National Suffrage Association was formed in 1904, which still +exists. It carried on the work for seventeen years, under the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_781" id="Page_781">[Pg 781]</a></span> +presidency of Miss Anna Whitlock, Dr. Lydia Wahlstrom, Miss Signe +Bergman and Dr. Karolina Widerström. When success finally crowned its +efforts it had 240 branches and 15,000 members. With the great +difficulties of securing names in this country of widely scattered +people the petitions collected and sent to Parliament were remarkable, +the last one in 1914 having 350,000 signatures. Among the women who +were conspicuous in long and arduous service besides the presidents +were Mrs. Ann M. Holmgren, Dr. Gulli Petrini, Mrs. Frigga Carlberg and +Mrs. Gloria Hallberg. Miss Selma Lagerlöf assisted on great occasions. +Men who for years were most valuable workers were Stockholm's +burgomaster, Carl Lindhagen, and the three Prime Ministers, Karl +Staaf, Nils Edén and Hjalmer Brantung. Two of the most conspicuous +opponents were Mr. Lindeau and Mr. Trygger, through fear that the +Social Democratic Party would gain.</p> + +<p>The years 1905-1906 saw much advance, as the separation from Norway +took place and the question of the enlargement of male suffrage was to +the fore. The women made strenuous but unsuccessful efforts to have +the Parliament include women but the bill for men was rejected. It +did, however, by a majority even in the Upper House, order an +investigation of woman suffrage where it existed. Societies were +organized from the Sound to Lapland. King Oscar received a deputation +and in answer to the address of Miss Gertrud Adelborg expressed his +sympathy but said the Government could not endanger the desired +suffrage for men. In 1907 a petition from 142,128 women was presented +to the Parliament. The Labor Party made woman suffrage a part of their +program, the Lindhagen group supported it, a number of bills were +brought in but all was in vain. At a woman suffrage mass meeting in +1908 in Stockholm thousands were turned away. Meetings were held +throughout the country. The Liberals and Social Democrats put woman +suffrage in their programs. At the opening of Parliament the King's +speech contained a few favorable words. Leading members conferred with +the Executive Committee of the National Suffrage Association, with the +result that it arranged a meeting at the Grand Hotel with many members +of Parliament present, who were addressed by prominent women and +seemed much impressed, but all suffrage bills were lost.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_782" id="Page_782">[Pg 782]</a></span></p> + +<p>The well-organized suffragists then went actively into the campaign +and worked to defeat their opponents. As a result a majority was +elected to the Second Chamber in favor of giving the suffrage to +women. A deputation of 35 was granted an audience by the new King, +Gustav V, and he expressed the hope that the time was near when their +claims could be regarded. In February, 1909, the Government's bill +embodying universal suffrage for men finally passed both Chambers and +it included eligibility to the municipal offices for the women who +could vote for them, which the suffrage association had worked for. +The next April the first woman suffrage bill was passed by the Second +Chamber. In 1910 37 women were chosen for the councils in 34 towns, +which partly elect the First Chamber.</p> + +<p>The situation looked so favorable that the National Association +invited the International Woman Suffrage Alliance to hold its congress +in Stockholm in 1911 for the effect which this large and important +body would have on public sentiment. After this had been arranged, the +Swedish women learned to their disappointment and indignation that the +Government did not propose to introduce a woman suffrage bill this +year, as they wished first to see the effect of the new universal +franchise law for men. Besides, the investigation of woman suffrage +was not completed! A representative Men's League for Woman Suffrage +was formed. A new Second Chamber was to be elected and as the suffrage +bill would have to be acted upon by two Parliaments there would have +to be a wait of several years. A bill was presented and passed the +Lower House but all progressive legislation was blocked by the First +Chamber. During the campaign the women worked vigorously for the +election of Liberal and Social Democratic candidates, who had woman +suffrage on their program, 29 women speaking on their party platforms +at 217 meetings. They formed a large majority of the new Government +and a Liberal Cabinet was formed. The First Chamber was dissolved and +in the new one, instead of a negligible few, there were 64 Liberals +and Social Democrats to 86 Conservatives. In his speech on opening the +new Parliament in 1912 the King announced that he would present a bill +giving to women suffrage and eligibility on the same conditions as +possessed by men. On April 2 the Government<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_783" id="Page_783">[Pg 783]</a></span> brought in this bill +which was carried in the Lower House by 140 to 66; defeated in the +Upper by 86 to 58. This year 64 women councillors were elected. The +women strengthened their organization, added to their monster +petitions, held their mass meetings and then in 1914 came the War!</p> + +<p>In the flood-tide of democracy which resulted the existence of the +kingdom itself was threatened. The First Chamber of nobles and landed +proprietors was forced to abandon its conservatism. The Reform Bill +proposed in December, 1918, at an extra session, abolished plural +voting, gave universal Municipal suffrage, made women eligible to +County Councils and provided for the Parliamentary franchise for them. +At the session of 1919 the bill was laid before the Parliament and on +May 24 it was passed by both Chambers without opposition. On the 29th +great celebrations were held in Stockholm and other cities and at the +old university town of Upsala the speakers were the Archbishop, Dr. +Selma Lagerlöf and Prime Minister Brantung.</p> + +<p>It was not all ended, however, for the measure had to pass a second +Parliament, although this was a mere matter of form. The elections +took place in the autumn of 1920. On Jan. 26, 1921, without debate, +the law was sanctioned by the new Parliament and two days later it was +promulgated by the King. It gives complete, universal suffrage to +women. In September the election occurred in which women took part and +five were elected to the Parliament, one of them to the First Chamber, +which so many years stood between women and their political rights.</p> + + +<h4>THE NETHERLANDS.</h4> + +<p>The story of woman suffrage in the Netherlands is one of intense, +unceasing work for a quarter of a century. The old constitution did +not specifically exclude women and in 1882 Dr. Aletta Jacobs, the +first woman physician, who had been studying in England and met the +suffrage leaders, applied to be registered for an election. This was +refused and she carried the case through the highest court with a +decision against her. It was in effect that by the letter of the law +she was eligible but the spirit of the law intended to exclude women. +In 1885 a new constitution was made which definitely excluded women +but made a further<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_784" id="Page_784">[Pg 784]</a></span> extension of the suffrage to men, who had not +asked for it. It required a long, hard effort to organize for woman +suffrage, as there was almost no sentiment for it, but on Feb. 5, +1894, the Vereeniging voor Vrouwenkiesrecht was formed of women in +different places with Mrs. Versluys-Poelman, president. She held the +office eight years and then Dr. Jacobs, who had been president of the +Amsterdam branch during this time, was elected and served till the +contest was finished in 1918. It is to Dr. Jacobs this chapter is +indebted for the information it contains. This was the only +association of a national character until 1908, when the Bond voor +Vrouwenkiesrecht came into existence. When the work ended it had 80 +branches and about 10,000 members. The former had 160 branches and +over 25,000 members and reorganized in the Netherlands Society of +Women Citizens to work for the legal and economic equality of women.</p> + +<p>At first the press was hostile, all political parties were opposed +except a small group of Constitutional Democrats and no member of +Parliament would introduce the question. The work had to begin from +the bottom with personal interviews with the members, watching the +bills relating to women and children, showing the need of women's +influence, etc. In 1904 Dr. Jacobs, Misses Johanna W. A. Naber and E. +L. van Dorp, Mrs. von Loenen de Bordes, Mrs. Rutgers Hoitsema and Mrs. +Hengeveld Garritson were present at the organization of the +International Woman Suffrage Alliance in Berlin, as was Miss Martina +Kramers, who was elected Secretary, and the Dutch national association +became auxiliary. From that time it went into direct political work, +in 1905 presenting to the Queen and the Prime Minister its request +that in a proposed revision of the constitution the words men and +women be used after citizens. The Commission that drafted it in 1907 +recommended suffrage and eligibility for women. The association, +expecting a campaign, had invited the International Alliance to hold +its congress in Amsterdam in June, 1908. It proved to be one of the +most brilliant and successful ever held and was enthusiastically +received by the press and the public. An active Men's League for Woman +Suffrage was formed.</p> + +<p>From that time the question of woman suffrage was on a constantly +rising tide. A liberal Parliament had been elected and it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_785" id="Page_785">[Pg 785]</a></span> was to +consider giving the vote to women. Appeals were made through the +members from the fifty branches of the association and through public +meetings and much outdoor propaganda was carried on in little boats. +There was no cessation of the work and as a result leaders of the four +political parties declared themselves in the Parliament in favor of +the enfranchisement of women, but in 1909 a Conservative Government +was elected and the revision was withdrawn. This year the Lutheran and +Mennonite churches gave women a vote on all matters. In 1913 the +Cabinet announced its own revision of the constitution. Early in 1914 +the association memorialized the Premier and the Queen, sent letters +to all the electors and carried on the most strenuous work. Its +meetings in every town and city were crowded and in a short time a +petition signed by 165,000 women was presented to the Parliament. Then +the War broke forth and everything was at a standstill.</p> + +<p>In 1915 the suffragists were roused by the announcement that the +constitution would positively be revised. In June they held a big +demonstration in Amsterdam, in which trade unions and political +parties participated. It was evident that the country was back of the +demand for woman suffrage. Although street processions were forbidden, +the burgomaster, a suffragist, allowed it. In The Hague a large one +took place in September, when the Parliament opened, the burgomaster +yielding to the entreaties of the women that if the Government was +going to bring in a new constitution in the midst of the War, which so +much concerned women, they should be allowed to express themselves. It +was preceded by an immense meeting and a resolution calling for woman +suffrage was passed; thousands of women massed in front of the +Parliament House and Dr. Jacobs and a deputation carried it in to the +Speaker, who promised to do all in his power for them. During all the +weeks while the discussion raged the members had to pass through two +rows of silent women wearing broad sashes with the name of the +association on them. Women filled the seats inside and the Speaker +offered his private box to Dr. Jacobs and her friends. Prime Minister +Cort van Linden threatened that if a vote were permitted on woman +suffrage he would withdraw the whole constitution. The members of +Parliament<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_786" id="Page_786">[Pg 786]</a></span> were so afraid they would lose universal male suffrage +that they gave up this amendment and the constitution was adopted +without it. It did, however, make the valuable concession that it +should be possible for the Parliament to grant the suffrage to women +at any time without submitting it to the voters as part of the +constitution. It also contained the remarkable provision that women +should be eligible to election to the Parliament and all +representative bodies, although they had not a scrap of suffrage.</p> + +<p>The exclusion of women was received with the disapproval of the +country and in the election campaign of 1918 the demand of all the +non-clerical parties was for woman suffrage. At the opening of +Parliament H. P. Marchant, leader of the Constitutional Democrats, +introduced a bill for the complete enfranchisement of women. Early in +November, 1918, all Europe was alarmed by the revolution in Russia and +The Netherlands was threatened. There was a demand for woman suffrage +at once as a deterrent. The Government agreed and took up Mr. +Marchant's bill but the danger passed and nothing was done. By +February, 1919, the suffragists were obliged to hold another mass +meeting and demonstration at The Hague and assure the Government that +they would rouse the country. The Speaker then brought in the bill, +which was discussed in April, and on May 9 universal suffrage for +women on the same terms as possessed by men was accepted by a vote of +64 to 10 by the Second Chamber. The following July it passed the First +Chamber with five dissenting votes and was signed by the Queen on +September 8.</p> + +<p>In 1918 a woman had been elected to the Second Chamber and in 1920 one +was elected to the First Chamber, and there were 36 on County Councils +and 88 on Municipal councils, chosen by men before women had yet +voted.</p> + + +<h4>BELGIUM.</h4> + +<p>On November 23, 1918, five days after the armistice which ended the +World War the National Federation for Woman Suffrage in Belgium +resumed its activities with an open letter to the Labor Party, +referring to their manifesto for universal suffrage and reminding them +that this included women. A little later it addressed an appeal to the +newly established Government<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_787" id="Page_787">[Pg 787]</a></span> and started a petition. In the midst of +the war King Albert and Queen Elizabeth had expressed themselves in +favor of the enfranchisement of women but when he opened the first +Parliament after it was over he recommended only equal, universal +suffrage for men. Notwithstanding the unfavorable conditions the +petition soon had 35,000 signatures and was sent to the Parliament. By +midwinter of 1919 the question was one of heated controversy among the +parties, which continued. By April the petition had reached 175,000. +The Catholics favored woman suffrage, the Liberals and Socialists +opposed it, fearing the influence of the church. To avoid a +dissolution of the Parliament a compromise was finally effected by +which the parliamentary vote was given to "all widows of soldiers and +civilians killed by the enemy, or, where there is no widow, to the +mother"; and to "all women condemned or imprisoned for patriotic acts +during the enemy occupation." This enfranchised about 30,000 women and +was only to be in effect until a Constituent Assembly should be +elected which would revise the electoral law.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile a bill for the Municipal or Communal franchise for women was +introduced. Plural voting for men was abolished; a general election +took place November 16 and the new Parliament met in December. The +necessary two-thirds vote for the Parliamentary suffrage for women +seemed impossible but the three parties were virtually pledged to give +the Municipal. After three months of controversy and suspense this +Communal franchise was granted in the Chamber of Deputies on March 3, +1920, to all women 21 years of age, by vote of 120 to 37. All the +Catholics voted in favor; all the Liberals but two against +it—Burgomaster Max and Paul Hymans, Minister of Foreign Affairs; the +Socialist vote was divided, 45 of the 56 in favor. It was accepted in +the Senate April 14 by 60 to 33.</p> + +<p>The commission on revising the constitution refused by 11 to 9 votes +to include the Parliamentary franchise for women but recommended +unanimously their eligibility to sit in both chambers. This was +accepted in June by the Deputies by 142 to 10 votes. On July 1 they +rejected by a vote of 89 to 74 a bill giving the complete suffrage to +women. On July 28 they voted by a large<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_788" id="Page_788">[Pg 788]</a></span> majority for a clause that +any future Parliament might do this by a two-thirds vote without a +revision of the constitution.</p> + + +<h4>LUXEMBURG.</h4> + +<p>Under the Treaty of Peace after the war Luxemburg became an +independent government with its own Parliament. There was a temporary +Constituent Assembly and on May 8, 1919, without even an effort by +women, this body adopted universal suffrage, without distinction of +sex, by a vote of 39 to 11. All inhabitants 21 years of age are +electors and after 25 are eligible for the Parliament and Communal +Councils. On September 28 men and women voted on the country's future +form of government and decided by a four-fifths vote to have an +independent monarchy with an elected Parliament. A month later the +elections for it took place. One of the two women candidates was +elected.</p> + + +<h4>RUSSIA.</h4> + +<p>It would be difficult to relate the story of woman suffrage in Russia. +In the villages and among the peasants women had long voted at the +local elections either as proxies of the husband or by right of owning +property, and among the nobility and wealthy classes they could vote +through male proxies. There was little national suffrage even among +men and the Revolution after the Russo-Japanese war was a struggle for +representation. In March, 1905, a Russian Union of Defenders of +Women's Rights was started in Moscow and spread among different +classes throughout Russia. It became a part of the general movement +for liberty, was well organized and its demands were many but the +first one was for a Constituent Assembly elected by universal, secret +ballot. It united with the great political Union of Unions, which +officially recognized the equal rights of women in all respects in +July, 1905, and before the end of the year this had been done by many +municipalities.</p> + +<p>Everything was stopped by the Revolution and that was followed by the +establishment of the Douma. All that women hoped for from it was +wrecked when it was dissolved. Their Union at this time had 79 +branches and 10,000 members and had collected<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_789" id="Page_789">[Pg 789]</a></span> and used $50,000 for +its work. The struggle was continued but two years later not 1,000 +members could be found. In December, 1908, the first Women's Congress +in Russia was held in St. Petersburg, welcomed by the Mayor and +addressed by members of Parliament and eminent women, and was +favorably received. Many women's societies were formed but worked +under great difficulties. Woman suffrage bills came before the Douma +and it passed one giving the Municipal franchise, after striking out +eligibility, but the Czar did not sign it. A bill for adult suffrage +was taken up and Professor Miliukov made a brilliant plea for +enfranchising women but it was not passed and the suffrage had not +been granted to women at the beginning of the war in 1914.</p> + +<p>In the second revolution in 1917 women took practically the same part +as men and in the Provisional Government which was the result there +was no question as to their equal rights in suffrage and office +holding. They were elected to the City Council of St. Petersburg and +put on all public committees. Then came the counter revolution and +chaos. From the beginning of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance +in 1904 Russian delegates, women of great ability, had come to its +congresses with their reports but at the first meeting after the war, +in Geneva in 1920, there was no word. When Russia eventually secures a +stable government it probably will make no distinction between the +political rights of men and women.</p> + + +<h4>GERMANY.</h4> + +<p>When the International Woman Suffrage Alliance met in Budapest in +June, 1913, delegates were present from affiliated societies in +twenty-one countries; national associations from several had applied +for admission and committees had been formed in several others. Over a +hundred fraternal delegates were sent from organizations in twelve +countries having woman suffrage as one of their objects or as the only +one. In every direction the prospect looked encouraging and then one +year later the great War burst upon the world! The first thought of +the suffrage leaders was that the work of years had been swept away +and after the War it would have to be commenced again. They did not +dream that as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_790" id="Page_790">[Pg 790]</a></span> a result of the War would come victories for equal +suffrage that it would have required many years to win. These +victories began with the enfranchisement of the women of Great Britain +and Ireland in February, 1918, as described in another chapter, the +direct result of the War. On the Continent woman suffrage came first +where it had been least expected—in Germany and Austro-Hungary. In +some of the German States women landowners could vote by male proxies. +Each of the 22 States had its own King and Parliament and made its own +laws and all men of 25 could vote for the Reichstag or Lower House of +the Imperial Parliament but this privilege was largely nullified by a +system of plural voting. In Prussia and Bavaria, the two largest +States, women were not allowed to attend political meetings or form +political organizations, and those for suffrage came under this head. +The first attempt to form a suffrage society was made in Hamburg, one +of the three "free cities," in 1901 and it was followed by others in +the other two "free cities," Frankfort and Bremen, and in the southern +States, where these restrictions did not exist. In 1902 these +societies were united in a National Association, of which Dr. Anita +Augspurg was president. Its members kept up an agitation for the +Municipal vote, carrying the question into the courts, and they also +petitioned the Reichstag for the full suffrage.</p> + +<p>The International Council of Women met in Berlin in 1904, the largest +meeting of women ever held in any country, and the organizing at this +time of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance aroused universal +interest. In the election of the new Reichstag in 1906 the suffrage +societies took an active part and in 1907 it repealed the old law +forbidding women to attend political meetings and form political +associations, the new law going into effect in May, 1908. The +suffragists celebrated with an immense meeting in Frankfort, addressed +by Mrs. Pethick Lawrence and Miss Annie Kenney of England, who roused +great enthusiasm. Suffrage associations were then organized in the +various States, which began to work with their own Parliaments. +Through lectures, literature and organizing the effort was continued, +the women joining and working with the political parties, especially +the Social Democratic, which espoused their cause. In 1912 forty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_791" id="Page_791">[Pg 791]</a></span> +petitions for the Municipal suffrage in Prussia were presented to its +Diet by women. A Woman's Congress was held in Munich and for the first +time in Germany a procession of women marched through the streets. In +1911 differences in questions of policy which had been increasing had +resulted in the forming of a second National Association. The two +united in 1916 under the presidency of Mrs. Marie Stritt, former +president of the National Council of Women of Germany and secretary of +the International Alliance. In March, 1918, Mrs. Stritt wrote to the +<i>International Suffrage News</i>: "We German women have at present no +reason to rejoice over the progress of our cause but we have followed +with all the greater joy the unexpected success of our sisters in +other countries."</p> + +<p>In 1920 Mrs. Stritt, now a member of the city council in Dresden, +wrote for this History as follows: "Although throughout the more than +four years of war the women worked eagerly for the suffrage through +their organizations, demanding it in public meetings and petitioning +legislative bodies, they did not get it by their own efforts but by +the Revolution in November, 1918, at the end of the war. In August, +1919, their rights were confirmed unanimously by all parties in the +new constitution. They received the suffrage and eligibility for the +Reichstag, and for the Parliaments of the States and local +bodies—universal, equal, direct and secret and applied exactly on the +same terms as to men. Women are by the constitution eligible to all +State and Government offices. In the first elections, in January, +1920, 39 were elected to the National Assembly, 117 to the State +Parliaments in Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony, etc., and 1,400 to local +bodies. Twenty were elected to the Diet of Prussia."</p> + +<p>Dr. Alice Salamon, of Berlin, secretary of the International Council +of Women, wrote: "From the first day of the Revolution, when suffrage +was proclaimed for all men and women from the age of 20, it was +accepted as the most natural thing in the world. It was neither +questioned nor opposed by any political or professional groups. All +political parties resolutely accepted woman suffrage as a fact and +issued electoral platforms in which they declared themselves for the +full partnership of women in political life."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_792" id="Page_792">[Pg 792]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the autumn of 1919 the National Union for Woman Suffrage held a +convention in Erfurt and by unanimous vote dissolved, considering that +its work had been accomplished. The members then devoted their efforts +to abolishing the many legal, civil and social discriminations against +women.</p> + + +<h4>AUSTRIA.</h4> + +<p>The situation in Austria was much the same as in Germany except that +from a very early date women taxpayers had some small franchise +rights, but in 1906, when by a peaceful revolution men secured +universal suffrage for themselves, the new constitution took even +those away from women which they had. Although large numbers of women +had stood shoulder to shoulder with the Progressives and Social +Democrats in their struggle for suffrage, when the latter succeeded in +getting control of both branches of the Parliament they refused to +grant any voting rights to women. The Austrian Government had never +allowed women to attend political meetings or form suffrage societies. +It was not until 1905 that they dared even to form a Woman Suffrage +Committee and while the men were demanding their own rights it sent a +petition to the Parliament that these should be granted to women also. +In 1907, after the new régime was under way, they sent another +petition signed by 4,000 men and women asking for the repeal of the +above obnoxious law. It was refused and the Supreme Court sustained +the refusal.</p> + +<p>The women did not relax their efforts. Mass meetings were held in +Vienna and the provincial capitals under the auspices of the Woman +Suffrage Committee and other committees were formed. They published a +monthly paper and many of the newspapers took up their cause. In 1910 +they sent a deputation to the Premier and Minister of Internal +Affairs, which was sympathetically received, and the latter said that +not only ought the law to be repealed but women should have the +Municipal franchise. A Socialist Deputy brought the matter of the law +before the Constitutional Committee, which reported it to the Chamber, +where the sentiment was almost unanimous for its repeal. It went to +the Upper House but before it could be sanctioned the Parliament<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_793" id="Page_793">[Pg 793]</a></span> was +dissolved. In the autumn of 1913 a new Law of Assemblies was passed +from which the section so bitterly opposed was omitted and in fact the +women had been defying it. They began at once a nation-wide suffrage +organization, which affiliated with the International Alliance. The +next year the country was immersed in a World War which continued over +four years. At the end of it the Government passed into the hands of +the people. The new constitution provided that all women over 20 +should have full suffrage and eligibility to all offices, national and +State, on the same terms as men. For the first elections the following +February the Austrian Union of Suffrage Societies and the National +Council of Women worked together and it was estimated that 2,000,000 +women voted; eight were elected to the National Constituent Assembly, +twelve to the city council of Vienna and 126 to other municipal +councils.</p> + + +<h4>HUNGARY.</h4> + +<p>Women were not prohibited from political activities in Hungary as in +Austria and when the International Woman Suffrage Alliance was formed +in Berlin in 1904 Rosika Schwimmer came from Budapest with a report +that in 1900 Francis Kossuth and Louis Hentaller were advocating woman +suffrage in the Parliament and in 1903 women were working with men for +political reforms. By 1905 a Woman Suffrage Association was formed, +auxiliary to the International, mass meetings were held and petitions +were sent to the Parliament. In 1906 Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, the +international president, and Dr. Aletta Jacobs, president of the +Netherlands National Association, visited Budapest and addressed +enthusiastic meetings. Later Baroness Alexandra Gripenberg of Finland +and Mrs. Dora Montefiore of England did the same. Strenuous agitation +was kept up, meetings, processions, demonstrations, and half a million +leaflets were distributed. The Government was to discuss a Reform Bill +in 1908 and a determined effort was made to keep the women out of the +House of Parliament as spectators. Mrs. Catt paid another visit that +year and gave ten lectures in eight cities. Eloquent women speakers +went to the aid of the Hungarian women from Berlin, Munich, Berne, +Turin and Rotterdam. In 1910 the conservative National Council of +Women added a woman suffrage committee<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_794" id="Page_794">[Pg 794]</a></span> and a Men's League for Woman +Suffrage of representative men was formed. There were suffrage +societies in 87 cities and towns composed of all classes. The women +were badly treated by all political parties and excluded from their +meetings, the Radicals and Social Democrats being their strongest +opponents. The struggle continued with sometimes a favorable and +sometimes an unfavorable Government and always the contest by men for +their own universal suffrage.</p> + +<p>In 1913, through the remarkable efforts of Rosika Schwimmer, the +International Suffrage Alliance held its congress in Budapest with +delegates from all over the world. It was a notable triumph, welcomed +by the dignitaries of the State and city; its meetings for seven days +crowded to overflowing and every possible courtesy extended. The +demand that women should have the vote seemed to have become +universal. Then came the War and all was blotted out for years. When +it was over in 1918 internal revolution followed and out of it came a +Republic but without stability. A law was enacted giving suffrage to +all men of 21 but only to women of 24 who could read and write. Women +voted under it in 1919 and one was elected to the Parliament but the +law has not yet been written into a permanent constitution.</p> + + +<h4>BOHEMIA.</h4> + +<p>Bohemian women suffered the disadvantages of those of Austria and +could not attend political meetings or form suffrage societies, +although by an old law taxpayers and those belonging to the learned +professions could vote by a male proxy for the members of the Diet of +the Kingdom, and were eligible themselves after the age of 30. They +had a Woman Suffrage Committee and petitioned the Diet to include +women in the new electoral law of 1907 but it received word from +Vienna that nothing must be done. By 1911 a Woman Suffrage Committee +was doing a good deal of active suffrage work and women's +organizations were being formed in the political parties but the +Social Democratic was the only one that favored equal suffrage. For a +number of years the women endeavored to secure the nomination of a +woman candidate for the Bohemian Diet but were always unsuccessful. +Finally in 1912 the Social Democratic and a section of the Liberal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_795" id="Page_795">[Pg 795]</a></span> +party each nominated a woman and by the most heroic effort and a +combination of fortunate circumstances the latter, Mrs. +Vikova-Kuneticka, a prominent writer and suffragist, was elected on +June 13. The Governor of the district, doubting her eligibility, +delayed issuing the certificate; the Diet did not meet; the War came +on and after it ended Bohemia assumed her own government with equal +rights for women, and she took her seat.</p> + +<p>In the newly organized country of Czecho-Slovakia woman suffrage +prevailed throughout and in 1920 thirteen women were elected to the +Lower and three to the Upper House of the National Parliament. The new +Parliament of Jugo-Slavia voted against woman suffrage.</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>It is practically impossible to give an accurate account of the +situation in regard to the suffrage and office-holding of women in the +re-alignment which took place in central and southeastern Europe after +the war. The States which were formed with new or changed boundaries +all began with the declaration of absolute democracy, equal suffrage +for men and women and eligibility to all offices. At their first +elections women in some of them were elected to the Parliaments and +city councils of the new régime. Poland, restored, gave universal +suffrage, and elected eight to the Parliament. Its women are strongly +organized and very capable. It is not possible to foretell the future +of these experiments in democracy. It has been reported from time to +time that the suffrage had been given to women in Bulgaria, Roumania +and Serbia and then denied but at present they do not seem to be +exercising it. (1920.)</p> + + +<h4>SWITZERLAND.</h4> + +<p>Switzerland, like France, is a republic only in name, as women are +wholly disfranchised. It is now the only country where the question of +woman suffrage has to be submitted to the individual voters. To give +women the franchise for the Federal Council that body must submit the +question to all the voters, and to give it in each Canton of the 22 +for its Council, this body must submit the question to all the voters +in the Canton. It never has been submitted by the Federal Council, +which holds that it must first be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_796" id="Page_796">[Pg 796]</a></span> granted in the Cantons. Whenever +they have voted on it they have defeated it, the agricultural +population being especially hostile. There are many organizations of +women, the most important of which ask for the suffrage. The largest +of them, the National Council of Women, with 20,000 members from all +kinds of societies, was very slow to recognize the value of the vote +but in January, 1919, when a revision of the constitution was +expected, it took official action and unanimously adopted suffrage +work.</p> + +<p>Mme. Chaponničre-Chaix (who is now president of the International +Council of Women), Mme. Saulner and Mlle. Camille Vidart were present +at the forming of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance in Berlin +in 1904 to represent a group in Geneva. In May, 1908, a Central Woman +Suffrage Committee was formed in Berne of societies in seven cities +and it was admitted to membership in the Alliance. In January, 1909, a +National Association was organized with M. de Morsier, a Deputy of the +Council of the Geneva Canton, as president and lectures and organizing +commenced. The work was continued and small gains were made. Vaud, +Geneva, Neuchâtel, Bâle-Ville and Berne gave women a vote in the +State church. They can sit on school boards in these Cantons +and Zurich. They can vote for and serve on the tribunaux de +prud'hommes—industrial boards—in two or three Cantons, these rights +granted by the Councils. The universities and the professions are open +to women.</p> + +<p>Work for woman suffrage was at an end during the War and after it was +over there was not the disposition to enfranchise women that prevailed +in other countries of Europe but it was taken up by the liberal +parties. The suffragists entered upon vigorous efforts to have the +rights of women included in the proposed revision of the national +constitution. On March 17, 1919, in response to large petitions, the +Council of Neuchâtel by a vote of 60 to 30 submitted the question of +woman suffrage to the voters. In June the National Suffrage +Association held its annual meeting in this Canton with a large +attendance and its president, Mlle. Emily Gourd, gave an account of an +active year's work. A petition signed by 157 women's societies asked +the Federal Council to put woman suffrage in the revised national +constitution.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_797" id="Page_797">[Pg 797]</a></span> There was a spirit of hopefulness that a new régime was +at hand, as many Cantons were considering the question.</p> + +<p>The vote was taken in Neuchâtel June 28, 29, 1919. A dishonorable +campaign had been made by the opponents, financed by the liquor trade, +and the result in the entire Canton was 12,017 noes, 5,346 ayes. In +the town it stood 1,647 noes, 831 ayes; in the industrial and +Socialist town of Chaux de Fonds it was 2,400 noes, 1,800 ayes. The +Federal Council refused all appeals to submit the question, although +it was discussed in the First Chamber. In October the Council of Basle +by 63 to 24 voted to submit the proposition. The Council of Zurich +also sent it to the voters, adding eligibility to office. On February +8, 1920, the vote in the Canton of Zurich was 88,249 noes; 21,608 +ayes. In that of Basle it was 12,455 noes; 6,711 ayes. The peasants +were solidly opposed and the workingmen voted against it.</p> + +<p>The suffragists then concentrated upon Geneva and set out to get a +petition from 2,500 electors, which would compel the Council of the +Canton to submit the proposition. In June, 1920, the International +Woman Suffrage Alliance held in Geneva its first congress after the +war. Delegates were present from all over the civilized world. +Twenty-one countries had now enfranchised women. From every point of +view it was one of the most successful it had ever held and it was +expected to influence the referendum on woman suffrage. The year was +crowded with work and the 2,500 names were not obtained until +November. It was February, 1921, before the Council of the Canton +discussed the petition and then it was referred to a Special +Commission, where it was held until September 21 before the proposal +to give full suffrage and eligibility to women was submitted to the +voters. The election took place October 17 and resulted in 14,166 +noes; 6,629 ayes.</p> + + +<h4>ITALY.</h4> + +<p>Woman suffrage in some form had been a number of times before the +Italian Parliament and it was advocated by many of the eminent +university women. At the first congress of the International Woman +Suffrage Alliance in Copenhagen in 1906 Professor Teresa Labriola, a +lecturer on law in the University of Rome,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_798" id="Page_798">[Pg 798]</a></span> came to tell of efforts +during the past year to awaken interest in the question of votes for +women, due largely to the demand of men for universal suffrage. Some +women had tried to have their names placed on the election lists, as +the electoral law did not prohibit it, but the courts decided against +them. A petition signed by a large number of women was presented to +the House of Deputies and some of these advocated a law to give women +the suffrage but Premier Giolitti held that full civil rights must +first be given to them. In 1908 congresses of women were held, +committees formed and a National Committee for Woman Suffrage was +sufficiently organized to send a delegate to the meeting of the +International Alliance in Amsterdam and be accepted as an auxiliary. +Later it became a National Federation for Woman Suffrage. By 1909 +suffrage committees had been established in many cities, public +meetings held and propaganda work done. The National Committee had +taken a very active part in the elections of March to have Deputies +selected who favored giving the franchise to women, under the +direction of its president, Countess Giacinta Martini, and +vice-president, Professor Labriola. The press was obliged to take up +the question, led by the <i>Giornale d'Italia</i>. In 1910 a Men's League +for Woman Suffrage was formed with a membership of prominent men. A +bill was brought before the Chamber to abolish marital authority, +admit women to the legal profession and give them a vote in local +government. Premier Sonnino was in sympathy but his Cabinet fell.</p> + +<p>The National Suffrage Union by 1912 had 10,000 members and took +vigorous part in the municipal elections. As a result many Municipal +Councils adopted resolutions calling on the Deputies to pass a woman +suffrage bill. In 1912 the Chamber was discussing a bill to extend the +vote to illiterate men and one was introduced to give it to women, +which was defeated through the influence of Premier Giolitti, but the +balloting showed that it was not a party question. His government was +continued in power by a large vote at the next election. The King in +opening Parliament promised a bill to give civil rights to women. The +breaking out of the War in 1914 ended all hope of favorable action but +agitation and organization did not cease. Large suffrage congresses +were held in Rome in 1916 and 1917, the latter opened with an +eloquent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_799" id="Page_799">[Pg 799]</a></span> address by Keeper of the Seals Sacchi, who was to introduce +a Reform Bill for women but it was not done.</p> + +<p>After the War Italy shared in the world-wide movement toward improving +the position of women. The long-delayed Sacchi bill was introduced. It +very largely removed the civil disabilities of women, which were many; +abolished the authority of the husband, which was absolute; gave women +the right to control their property, enter the professions, fill +public offices and have equal guardianship of their children. On March +25, 1919, the Senate Commission recommended the passing of the bill +without change, which was done in July by a vote of 58 to 17. On April +23, 29, 1920, an immense suffrage congress was held in Milan, opened +by Dr. Margherita Ancona and addressed by prominent men of all +parties. This was followed by others and there was a strong public +demand for the enfranchisement of women. A bill was presented July 30, +sponsored by sixteen prominent Deputies of all parties, to give women +the vote on the same terms as men but they were not to use it until +after the approaching general election, as there would not be time to +make new lists. This Martini bill was referred to a special committee +of Signor Martini, Signor Gasparotto and Signor Sandrini and it was +due to their excellent management that it went through with such speed +on September 6. It was favored by Premier Nitti, some brilliant +speeches were made and it passed by 174 ayes, 55 noes. Before the +great rejoicing was over, before the bill could be acted on by the +Senate, the Government was defeated and the Parliament was dissolved. +Italy soon, like other European countries, was threatened with +revolution. Ministers rose and fell; politics was in a chaotic state. +This situation has continued to a considerable degree and women are +still without the suffrage (1921).</p> + + +<h4>FRANCE.</h4> + +<p>For many years there were detached groups in France working for +political rights for women but it was not until 1909 that any effort +at national organization was made. Then in February a National +Committee was formed of one member from each society with Mme. Jeanne +E. Schmahl, a well-known worker for the rights of women, as chairman. +The National Council of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_800" id="Page_800">[Pg 800]</a></span> Women of France, an influential body, gave +its assistance. Mme. Schmahl went to the meeting of the International +Woman Suffrage Alliance in London the following April, which +recognized the committee as a National Association and accepted it as +an auxiliary. It immediately began organizing branches in the +Provinces, and received especial help from the universities. +Professional women, those in public service and wage-earning women +joined the association, which soon had over 3,000 members. The right +had been given to working women to vote in the election of Trade +Councils. As far back as 1906 M. Dussaussoy had proposed a bill to the +Chamber of Deputies giving to all women a vote for Municipal, District +and General Councils. In March, 1910, M. Buisson, chairman of the +Parliamentary Committee for Universal Suffrage, reported in favor of +this bill and added full suffrage. In June, at the request of the new +association, 163 Deputies signed a petition that the report should be +taken up at once. A remarkable sentiment in favor was disclosed.</p> + +<p>Mme. V. Vincent, a pioneer in the woman movement, became president of +the association, which was called the French Union for Woman Suffrage. +By the time the International Alliance held its congress in Budapest +in June, 1913, Mme. Marguerite de Witt Schlumberger, a very capable +executive, had been elected president and the report of the secretary, +Mme. C. V. Brunschvicg, of the progress made along many lines filled +five printed pages. The Municipal suffrage bill had been taken up by +the Chamber of Deputies in December, 1912, and then, as usually +happened in all countries, some electoral reform in the interest of +men crowded it out. The Union now numbered 10,000 members and held a +national meeting each year. More requests came for speakers than could +be answered.</p> + +<p>The War begun in 1914 put an end to all hope of parliamentary action +but after it ended the expectation throughout the world was that the +magnificent courage and efficiency of French women during the +four-and-a-half years would be rewarded with full enfranchisement. The +Union took up the question at once and met the fullest cooperation in +the Chamber of Deputies. The debate opened in May, 1919, and continued +through three sessions. It commenced with the bill for the Municipal +franchise but at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_801" id="Page_801">[Pg 801]</a></span> beginning of the third session this passed to an +amendment, conferring the same complete universal suffrage possessed +by men. The Chamber was undecided when M. Viviani and M. Briand, +former Prime Ministers, in strong speeches called for the amendment. +Their powerful influence turned the scale and on May 20 by 377 ayes, +97 noes, the Deputies voted for the amendment amidst the greatest +enthusiasm. It had to be ratified by the Senate, a non-progressive +body not elected by popular vote but by District and Municipal +Councillors in each Commune.</p> + +<p>With much anxiety the women turned to the Senate and after interviews +with individual members succeeded in obtaining a hearing before the +Commission, or Committee, on Adult Suffrage, June 12. They presented +an eloquent appeal, signed officially by the Union of Suffrage +Societies with 80 branches; the National Council of Women with 150 and +several other large organizations of women, and gave a copy to each +member. It was received in cold silence and they knew that not more +than half-a-dozen of the 27 members were favorable. The elections were +approaching and the commission would not report the subject to be +discussed in the Senate. After the election the new Chamber of +Deputies considered in September a proposal to the Senate to hold a +discussion on the woman suffrage bill, which was passed by a vote of +340 to 95. It had no effect and the commission not only refused to lay +the measure before the Senate but rejected one to give the franchise +to woman relatives of the men who were killed in the war. The Radical +members fear that to give women a vote would strengthen the power of +the Catholic church; the Conservatives fear that the political +emancipation of women would diminish the influence of the clergy. Thus +the situation remains in the so-called Republic.</p> + + +<h4>OTHER COUNTRIES IN EUROPE.</h4> + +<p>At the meeting of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance in Geneva +in 1920 the president, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, called attention in +her address to the fact that Greece and Spain in Europe, Argentina and +Uruguay in South America and the island of Cuba had made enough +progress in organization for woman suffrage within a few years to be +accepted as auxiliaries.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_802" id="Page_802">[Pg 802]</a></span></p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Greece.</span> While the Peace Treaty was being framed at Paris in 1919 +Premier Venizelos received a deputation of leading suffragists from +many countries, expressed his sympathy with the movement and gave them +the names of women in Athens with whom to take up the question of +organization. On Jan. 23, 1920, he stated to the Parliament in Greece +that the Government was prepared to give the suffrage to women as soon +as they to some extent requested it. This was followed in March by the +forming in Athens of a League for the Rights of Women and later by +branches in Crete, Thessaly and Corfu. A petition for political and +civic rights, in which other societies of women joined, was sent to +the Parliament. The Lyceum Club, one of the oldest and most +influential in Greece, arranged a great congress of women to meet in +October to consider measures for the advancement of women along all +lines, including that of suffrage. Then the Venizelos Government was +overthrown by a plebiscite, the King returned and the congress was +deferred until April, 1921. At that time a hundred societies of women +sent delegates. It was opened by Premier Gounaris and the King and +Queen were present. Woman suffrage was the leading feature and several +Cabinet Ministers announced the intention of the Government to confer +it. Queen Sophia decorated Madame Parron, president of the congress, +and thanked her for devoting her life to the progress of Greek women. +There have been the usual delays but the women will probably be +enfranchised in the not distant future.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Spain.</span> The women of Spain labor under great disadvantages in trying to +obtain the franchise, as the Catholic church, which is all-powerful, +is not in favor of it. The King and Queen are friendly and a number of +the statesmen are ready to assist. The Cabinet in 1919 proposed a bill +which would give a vote to all women over 23 years old and it was +placed on the program of the Republican party. There are eight or ten +suffrage societies in different cities united in a Supreme Feminist +Council, which holds congresses and has presented to the Parliament +petitions signed by thousands of women asking for complete political +and legal equality. It is an auxiliary of the International Alliance.</p> + +<p>There have been attempts to organize for woman suffrage in Portugal. +Travellers in various districts of Turkey report that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_803" id="Page_803">[Pg 803]</a></span> in some of them +women are permitted to vote and hold office.</p> + +<p>Before the outbreak of the War there was some suffrage among the +property owning women in the Jewish colonization of Palestine. After +it was taken by General Allenby the Jewish Provisional Assembly called +to arrange for a National Constituent Assembly provided that women as +well as men should vote for it. There was opposition from the orthodox +but the liberal element prevailed. They vote and belong to the +political organizations and also have their own, which work for the +improvement of the civil and legal position of women. They have united +in a national organization and become auxiliary to the International +Woman Suffrage Alliance. Women have been elected to city councils and +even to the National Assembly.</p> + +<p>When Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt visited China in 1912 she found that +women had taken part in the revolution and not only had voted for the +new Parliament but had been elected to it. These privileges were +afterwards taken away but they organized societies to get them again. +Mrs. Catt kept in touch with these societies and in 1913 they were +accepted as auxiliary to the Alliance. They are still keeping up the +struggle for political rights.</p> + +<p>There is only the nucleus of a movement for woman suffrage in Japan +but some of the statesmen favor it and women's societies petition for +it. Under the auspices of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union a +beginning has been made toward organization. Women are not allowed to +attend political meetings and their position is very restricted but +this year (1921) they have done a great deal of public work for peace. +The Japanese Government is progressing rapidly and the results will +eventually be seen in an improved status of women.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">South America.</span> Women occupy an advanced position in Argentina in +education, in business and in organized work. They have had during the +past twenty years an excellent training through the National Council +of Women and they have exercised much influence in public affairs. +They were slow in entering the movement for woman suffrage but by 1920 +they were sufficiently organized under the presidency of Dr. Alicia +Moreau, to send a representative to the congress of the International +Alliance in Geneva in June and be received as an auxiliary. Large +meetings<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_804" id="Page_804">[Pg 804]</a></span> have been held in Buenos Aires. There is much favorable +sentiment in the Parliament, where bills have been introduced.</p> + +<p>The woman suffrage movement is well advanced in Uruguay under the +presidency of Dr. Paulina Luisi, who attended the Geneva congress, +where her association entered the International Alliance. The +president of the Republic, Dr. Baltaser Brum, is an ardent advocate of +woman's enfranchisement and is using his best efforts for it. A bill +was introduced by Dr. Aralya for the complete emancipation of women, +which did not pass. Later one for the Municipal franchise was +presented by Deputy Alfco Brum, brother of the president, which it is +believed will ultimately be accepted. There is a suffrage society in +Chili, one in Paraguay and one in Brazil, where the Senate in 1920 +defeated a bill.</p> + +<p>The Central American Constituent Assembly, the legislative body of the +new Federation of Central American States, has approved woman +suffrage. There is to be a Pan American Suffrage Congress of Women in +the United States in 1922, which doubtless will give a great impetus +to the cause in the Central and South American countries.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Mexico.</span> The constitution made for Mexico after the last revolution +gave the suffrage to all citizens without distinction of sex and women +have voted in Yucatan but the elections throughout the country have +not been settled enough for them to exercise their right. There are +suffrage societies among the different classes of women and the +wage-earners are especially insistent on having a voice in the +Government. The President is quoted as having said that the time when +women will vote is near at hand.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_220_220" id="Footnote_220_220"></a><a href="#FNanchor_220_220"><span class="label">[220]</span></a> The History is indebted for the material in this +division to Miss Annie Furuhjelm of Helsingfors, member of Parliament, +vice-president of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance and +president of the Woman's Alliance Union of Finland formed in 1892.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_805" id="Page_805">[Pg 805]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LIV" id="CHAPTER_LIV"></a>CHAPTER LIV.</h2> + +<h3>THE INTERNATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE ALLIANCE.</h3> + + +<p>An international association of the groups of women in various +countries who were working to obtain the suffrage was for many years +the strong desire of Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Miss Susan B. +Anthony, two leaders of the movement in the United States. When, +however, in the early eighties the first steps were taken they found +that Great Britain was the only one with organizations for this +purpose. They visited there in 1883-4 and found so much sympathy with +the idea that a committee was appointed to cooperate with one in the +United States in arranging for an International Woman Suffrage +Association.<a name="FNanchor_221_221" id="FNanchor_221_221"></a><a href="#Footnote_221_221" class="fnanchor">[221]</a> It was decided as a first step to hold an +International Suffrage Convention but after a correspondence which +extended through several years, because of the difficulty of getting +in touch with women in the different countries who were interested, it +was considered advisable to broaden the scope of the undertaking and +call an International Congress of Women engaged in all kinds of work +for the general welfare. This was held in Washington, D. C., in March, +1888, under the auspices of the National Suffrage Association and was +the largest convention of women which had ever taken place up to that +time. It resulted in a permanent International Council of Women, which +in a few years established a Standing Committee on Suffrage and Rights +of Citizenship with Dr. Anna Howard Shaw as chairman. The National +Councils in all countries formed auxiliary committees and made woman +suffrage a part of their program and it had a prominent place at the +National and International Congresses. The woman suffrage leaders in +the United States did not abandon the idea of an affiliation of the +societies which were forming in many lands for the specific purpose of +obtaining the franchise but no further steps toward it were taken.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_806" id="Page_806">[Pg 806]</a></span></p> + +<p>From the time Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt became officially connected +with the National Association in 1905 a dominant thought with her was +that there should be an international suffrage association. Miss +Anthony resigned the presidency in 1900 and Mrs. Catt became her +successor. She presented her idea to Miss Anthony, who told her of the +early efforts and encouraged her to apply her great organizing ability +to the undertaking, feeling that she was fitted for it above all +others. Mrs. Catt at once began the preliminary work and after two +years of correspondence the officers of the National American Woman +Suffrage Association issued an invitation for an International +Conference to be held in Washington, D. C., at the time of its annual +convention in February, 1902. This conference took place and was +attended by delegates from many countries. A part of their interesting +and valuable addresses before the convention and committees of +Congress will be found in <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29878/29878-h/29878-h.htm#CHAPTER_II">Chapter II of Volume V</a>. The official +proceedings of the conference are condensed from the Minutes as +follows:</p> + +<p>Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, president of the National American Woman +Suffrage Association, called the meeting to order and gave a brief +history of the correspondence conducted with the officers of women's +associations of various kinds concerning an International Woman +Suffrage Conference. She reported that ten countries would be +represented by delegates—England, Australia, Canada, Norway, Sweden, +Germany, Russia, Turkey, Chile and the United States. She expressed +regret that unforseen circumstances at the last moment prevented the +attendance of the Canadian delegation but stated that James L. Hughes, +Inspector of Public Schools in Toronto, would attend and report on the +position of women in Canada.</p> + +<p>The United States association had appointed four delegates and it had +been hoped that each country would send four but no country had sent +more than one. The meeting was asked to select a chairman and on +motion of Mrs. Fenwick Miller, seconded by Mrs. Drewson, Miss Susan B. +Anthony was unanimously chosen and took the chair. Miss Vida Goldstein +was elected recording secretary.</p> + +<p>The following delegates responded to the roll call: Mrs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_807" id="Page_807">[Pg 807]</a></span> Florence +Miller, England; Miss Vida Goldstein, Australia; Mrs. Sofja Levovna +Friedland, Russia; Mrs. Gudrun Drewson, Norway; Miss Florence Fensham, +Turkey; Miss Susan B. Anthony, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, the Rev. Anna +Howard Shaw, Mrs. Rachel Foster Avery, United States. Mrs. Catt +announced that a delegate from Germany, Miss Antonie Stolle; one from +Chile, Miss Carolina Huidobro, and one from Sweden, Mrs. Emmy Evald, +would arrive later. A committee of five was appointed to consider a +plan for international cooperation—Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Avery, Miss +Stolle, Mrs. Drewson, Miss Goldstein. At another session its +recommendations were read and adopted as follows:</p> + +<p>1. That it is desirable to form an International Woman Suffrage +Committee for the purpose of acting as a central bureau for the +collection, exchange and dissemination of information concerning the +methods of suffrage work and the general status of women in the +various countries having representation on the committee.</p> + +<p>2. That the delegates to the conference be instructed to ask their +respective societies to appoint three representatives to act on such a +committee.</p> + +<p>3. That in the event of societies declining to cooperate, the +delegates be authorized to form a separate International Committee in +their respective countries.</p> + +<p>4. That the secretary of the International Committee be instructed to +communicate with known suffragists in countries not represented in +this conference and to recommend cooperation with the international +organization....</p> + +<p>The delegates were unanimously of the opinion that the above temporary +form of organization would result in most satisfactory international +cooperation. It was held that each nation should be given free +opportunity to aid in the forming of the permanent organization and +that the present needs would be best served by a temporary +International Committee. It was agreed that the next International +Woman Suffrage Conference should be called in Berlin in 1904, in +connection with the Quinquennial Meeting of the International Council +of Women, and that meantime each nation should be asked to consider +this movement and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_808" id="Page_808">[Pg 808]</a></span> send delegates fully instructed as to the best form +of a permanent international organization.</p> + +<p>Miss Anthony was elected permanent chairman; Mrs. Catt, secretary; +Mrs. Fenwick Miller, treasurer. Mrs. Catt moved that as an +International Association was not yet permanently organized, each +country should be asked to contribute something toward the general +working expenses of printing, postage, etc., but the financial +obligation should be left to its own discretion. It was decided that +the plan of organization adopted by the conference be read to the +convention of the National Suffrage Association then in session. To +make the conference still more international in character a +vice-chairman representing Germany was added and the appointment was +left to the German societies. It was arranged that the committee +should hold office till the meeting in Berlin. It was moved by Mrs. +Friedland, seconded by Miss Fensham, that the foreign delegates accord +their warmest thanks to the National American Suffrage Association for +inviting them to the International Conference and for the many +kindnesses shown them.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Catt had sent out a list of twenty-eight questions to most of the +countries and she reported that answers had been received from +thirty-two. These questions covered property rights of women, +occupations, wages, education, guardianship of children, divorce, +office holding, suffrage and other legal and civil rights. The full +and comprehensive answers, some of them from Consuls and other +government representatives, were published in the official report of +the conference and formed an invaluable collection of facts and +statistics such as had never before been made. They gave a striking +object lesson in the strong necessity for women to have a voice in the +laws and the governments under which they live.</p> + +<p>It had been suggested by Mrs. Catt that this conference should +consider issuing a Declaration of Principles, expressing briefly the +demand for independence and individuality which women are making +today. Mrs. Fenwick Miller warmly supported the suggestion and a +committee of three was appointed to draw it up—Mrs. Avery, Mrs. Evald +and Miss Fensham. As finally submitted, discussed and accepted it +formed the platform of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_809" id="Page_809">[Pg 809]</a></span> international organization and was adopted +at each meeting for some years afterwards. It was called a Declaration +of Principles and read as follows:</p> + +<blockquote><p>1. Men and women are born equally free and independent members of +the human race, equally endowed with intelligence and ability and +equally entitled to the free exercise of their individual rights +and liberty.</p> + +<p>2. The natural relation of the sexes is that of inter-dependence +and cooperation and the repression of the rights and liberty of +one sex inevitably works injury to the other and hence to the +whole race.</p> + +<p>3. In all lands those laws, creeds and customs which have tended +to restrict women to a position of dependence, to discourage +their education, to impede the development of their natural gifts +and to subordinate their individuality have been based upon false +theories and have produced an artificial and unjust relation of +the sexes in modern society.</p> + +<p>4. Self-government in the home and the State is the inalienable +right of every normal adult and the refusal of this right to +women has resulted in social, legal and economic injustice to +them and has also intensified the existing economic disturbances +throughout the world.</p> + +<p>5. Governments which impose taxes and laws upon their women +citizens without giving them the right of consent or dissent +which is granted to men citizens exercise a tyranny inconsistent +with just government.</p> + +<p>6. The ballot is the only legal and permanent means of defending +the right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" +pronounced inalienable by the American Declaration of +Independence and accepted as inalienable by all civilized +nations. In any representative form of government, therefore, +women should be vested with all the political rights and +privileges of electors.</p></blockquote> + + +<h4>ORGANIZATION OF THE ALLIANCE.</h4> + +<p>The International Woman Suffrage Committee, which had been formed at a +conference in Washington, D. C., in February, 1902, and adjourned to +meet in Berlin in June, 1904, was called to order on June 3, in the +Prince Albert Hotel by the chairman, Miss Susan B. Anthony, who was +warmly greeted by the women of all countries. The following report of +this and subsequent meetings is condensed from the Minutes:</p> + +<p>The program arranged by the officers was adopted as the order of +business. Dr. jur. Anita Augsburg of the German Suffrage Association +delivered a cordial address of welcome and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_810" id="Page_810">[Pg 810]</a></span> Miss Anthony, in behalf of +the visiting delegates, responded. Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt presented +a gavel from the women of Wyoming, who have enjoyed the right of full +suffrage longer than any other women in the world.</p> + +<p>Dr. phil. Käthe Schirmacher of Germany was appointed official +interpreter; Miss Adelheid von Welczeck of Germany was made assistant +secretary and was also appointed on the committee on credentials with +Dr. Aletta Jacobs of Holland and Miss Edith Palliser of England. The +roll call of nations showed delegates from the United States, Great +Britain, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Hungary, +New Zealand and Germany.</p> + +<p>Guests and delegates from countries where no organization was +affiliated with the International Committee were given the privileges +of the conference except the vote. The Declaration of Principles was +read and Dr. Schirmacher and Mlle. Camille Vidart of Switzerland were +appointed to translate it into German and French for discussion. Dr. +Augspurg read telegrams of greeting and good will from the French +delegates, who were prevented from attending the conference.</p> + +<p>It was agreed that the name of the new association be the +International Woman Suffrage Alliance and a motion by Dr. Anna Howard +Shaw (U. S. A.) that Miss Anthony be declared its first member was +carried amid cheers. It was moved by Mrs. Lucretia L. Blankenburg of +Philadelphia and unanimously carried that Miss Mary S. Anthony be the +second member. It was voted that those delegates at the first +conference in Washington who were not now present be invited to stand +also as charter members of the permanent Alliance. The opportunity was +then given for the affiliation of honorary associates and the +following were accepted: Wilhelmine Sheriff Bain and Isabel Napier, +New Zealand; Miss Anna Hude, Mrs. Charlotte Norrie, Mrs. Johanne +Münter, Copenhagen; Mrs. Friederike von Mekler Traunwies, Austria; +Leopold Katscher, Hungary; Mme. Chaponniere-Chaix, Mlle. Vidart, +Switzerland.</p> + +<p>The object of the Alliance was declared to be "to secure the +enfranchisement of the women of all nations and to unite the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_811" id="Page_811">[Pg 811]</a></span> friends +of woman suffrage throughout the world in organized cooperation and +fraternal helpfulness," and a constitution was adopted. The roll of +nations was called and the delegates from Great Britain, Germany, +Netherlands, Sweden and the United States pledged affiliation. Mrs. +Catt made the pledge for Australia. Delegates from Denmark and Norway +asked for time to present the matter to their associations and a +little later became auxiliaries. All the suffrage associations in +existence that could be called national except that of Canada—eight +altogether—joined the Alliance. Mesdames Minna Cauer, Germany; Agda +Montelius, Sweden; Charlotte Norrie, Denmark; Mrs. Blankenburg, Dr. +Jacobs and Miss Palliser were appointed to consider designs for an +international badge.</p> + +<p>Miss Anthony announced that as she had reached the age of 84 she could +not stand as candidate for the presidency and it was unanimously voted +that she be made honorary president. The following officers were +elected: President, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, New York; first +vice-president, Dr. jur. Anita Augspurg, Hamburg; second +vice-president, Mrs. Millicent Garrett Fawcett, London; secretary, +Mrs. Rachel Foster Avery, Philadelphia; first assistant secretary, Dr. +Käthe Schirmacher, Paris (address temporarily); second, Miss Johanna +A. W. Naber, Amsterdam; treasurer, Miss Rodger Cunliffe, London. +(Later Miss Naber resigned and Miss Martina G. Kramers of Rotterdam +was appointed.)</p> + +<p>The Executive Committee of the new Alliance met June 6 at the Palast +Hotel. It was arranged that fifty copies of the Declaration of +Principles, the Constitution and the Minutes be typed in Berlin and +sent to the presidents of the affiliated societies and the honorary +associates. It was decided to postpone application for auxiliaryship +to the International Council of Women for at least two years. +Correspondence with the countries requiring special information was +assigned as follows: "To Mrs. Catt, Australia; to Dr. Augspurg, Norway +and Austria; to Dr. Schirmacher, Italy and France; to Miss Naber, +Switzerland and Belgium. It was decided that the Alliance should meet +every five years for the election of officers, revision of the +constitution,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_812" id="Page_812">[Pg 812]</a></span> etc., but that during this period executive meetings +and congresses might be held.<a name="FNanchor_222_222" id="FNanchor_222_222"></a><a href="#Footnote_222_222" class="fnanchor">[222]</a></p> + + +<h4>THIRD CONFERENCE OF THE ALLIANCE.</h4> + +<p>The first Executive Meeting and Third Conference of the Alliance was +held at Copenhagen Aug. 7-11, 1906, in the Concert Palais, in response +to a Call from the president, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, and secretary, +Mrs. Rachel Foster Avery, to the affiliated National Woman Suffrage +Associations, which said:</p> + +<blockquote><p>An especial invitation to send fraternal delegates is extended to +all societies known to be in sympathy with our movement. +Individuals of whatever race, nativity or creed, who believe in +the right of the woman citizen to protect her interests in +society by the ballot, are invited to be present. The +enfranchisement of women is emphatically a world movement. The +unanswerable logic upon which the movement is based and the +opposition which everywhere appears to combat that logic with its +array of traditions and prejudices are the same in all lands. The +evolution of the movement must proceed along the same lines among +all peoples. In union there is strength. Let international +cooperation, organization and work be our watchwords.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Two years of careful preparation, extended correspondence and close +attention to endless details by the president and officers of the +Alliance had brought to Copenhagen a congress of women prepared to +inaugurate a world movement for woman suffrage. Excellent arrangements +had been made by the Danish Association through four committees: +Finance, Miss Eline Hansen; Information, Miss Julie Laurberg; Press, +Miss Sophie Alberti; Entertainment, Mrs. Johanne Münter. The music was +in charge of Miss Bernberg. The entire expenses of the convention, +rent of hall, handsome decorations, silk badges, etc., were met by the +finance committee. The elaborate souvenir programs contained many +views of the city which were made by Miss Laurberg's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_813" id="Page_813">[Pg 813]</a></span> camera. The +remarkable work of the press before and during the congress was due to +Miss Alberti's judicious and skilful management. The entertainments +under the capable direction of Mrs. Münter included a beautiful dinner +given by a committee of Danish ladies at the famous pleasure resort +Marienlyst; a reception by the directors at Rosenberg Castle; an +afternoon tea by the officers of the widely-known Women's Reading Club +of 3,200 members, of which Miss Alberti, a founder, was the president; +a reception and banquet by the Municipal Council in the magnificent +City Hall and a farewell supper by the Danish Suffrage Association at +Skydebanen, preceded by an interesting program of recitations and +costume dances. There were many private dinners, luncheons and +excursions to the beautiful and historic environs.</p> + +<p>Two more national suffrage associations had united with the +Alliance—those of Hungary and Canada. Australia was ready to enter. +France had sent a delegate, Madame Maria Martin, and expected to form +a national association within a year. Professor Teresa Labriola was +present to promise the affiliation of Italy in another year. Six +highly educated, progressive delegates from Russia represented the +Union of Defenders of Woman's Rights, composed of 79 societies and +10,000 members, which applied for auxiliaryship. Fraternal delegates +were present from the International Council of Women and the National +Councils of Norway, Sweden, France, the United States and Australia; +from the International Council of Nurses and from organizations of +women in Finland and Iceland. Telegrams of greeting were received from +societies and individuals in twenty-five different cities of Europe. +About one hundred delegates and alternates from twelve countries were +present.</p> + +<p>Several sessions were filled to overflowing with these greetings and +the reports from the various countries of the progress made by women +in the contest for their civil, legal and political rights. As +published in the Minutes, filling 55 pages, these reports formed a +remarkable and significant chapter in the world's history. Mrs. Catt +was in the chair on the first afternoon and a cordial welcome was +extended by the presidents of five Danish organizations of women: Miss +Alberti, Mrs. Louise Hansen,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_814" id="Page_814">[Pg 814]</a></span> Mrs. Louise Norlund, Mrs. Jutta Bojsen +Moller and Miss Henni Forchhammer for the National Council of Women. +Dr. jur. Anita Augspurg of Germany, the first vice-president, +responded for the Alliance. She was followed by Mrs. Catt, who, in her +president's address, after describing in full the forming of the +Alliance, gave a comprehensive report of the progress toward +organizing suffrage associations in the various countries during the +past two years and the growth and future prospects of the +international movement. She touched a responsive chord in every heart +when she said:</p> + +<blockquote><p>Since we last met our cause has sustained a signal loss in the +death of our honorary president, Susan B. Anthony. She has been +the inspirer of our movement in many lands and we may justly say +that her labors belonged to all the world. She passed in the +ripeness of years and with a life behind her which counted not a +wasted moment nor a selfish thought. When one thinks of her it +must be with the belief that she was born and lived to perform an +especial mission. All who knew her well mourn her and long will +they miss her wise counsel, her hearty cheerfulness and her +splendid optimism. There has been no important national suffrage +meeting in the United States for half a century and no +international meeting of significance at any time in which she +has not been a conspicuous figure. This is the first to meet +without her. We must hope that her spirit will be with us and +inspire our deliberations with the same lofty purpose and noble +energy which governed all her labors.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Mrs. Catt reviewed the movement for woman suffrage, declaring that the +most ambitious should be satisfied with the general progress, and said +in conclusion:</p> + +<blockquote><p>We have been like an army climbing slowly and laboriously up a +steep and rocky mountain. We have looked upward and have seen +uncertain stretches of time and effort between us and the longed +for summit. We have not been discouraged for behind us lay fifty +years of marvelous achievement. We have known that we should +reach that goal but we have also known that there was no way to +do it but to plod on patiently, step by step. Yet suddenly, +almost without warning, we see upon that summit another army. How +came it there? It has neither descended from heaven nor made the +long, hard journey, yet there above us all the women of Finland +stand today. Each wears the royal crown of the sovereignty of the +self-governing citizen. Two years ago these women would not have +been permitted by the law to organize a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_815" id="Page_815">[Pg 815]</a></span> woman suffrage +association. A year later they did organize a woman suffrage +committee and before it is yet a year old its work is done! The +act giving full suffrage and eligibility to all offices has been +bestowed upon them by the four Chambers of Parliament and the +Czar has approved the measure! Metaphorically a glad shout of joy +has gone up from the whole body of suffragists the world over.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Mrs. Catt presided at every public and every business meeting and hers +was the guiding spirit and the controlling hand. By her ability and +fairness she won the entire confidence of the delegates from twelve +countries and launched successfully this organization which many had +believed impossible because of the differences in language, +temperament and methods.</p> + +<p>Throughout the meetings twenty-minute addresses were made by prominent +women of the different countries, some of them reports of the +organized work, others on subjects of special interest to women, among +them The Ideal Woman, Miss Eline Hansen; What Woman Suffrage Is Not, +Dr. Schirmacher; Women Jurors of Norway, Miss Mörck; Woman's Horizon, +Mrs. Flora MacDonald Denison, Canada; The Silent Foe, Dr. Anna Howard +Shaw; What Are Women to Do?, Dr. Jacobs; Our Victory, Miss Annie +Furuhjelm, Finland; Why the Working Woman Needs the Ballot, Mrs. +Andrea Brachmann, Denmark; Why the Women of Australia Asked for and +Received the Suffrage, sent by Miss Vida Goldstein and read by Mrs. +Madge Donohoe.</p> + +<p>Others besides the officers and those above mentioned who spoke during +the convention were Cand. phil. Helena Berg, Elizabeth Grundtvig, +Stampe Fedderson, Denmark: Briet Asmundsson, Iceland; Mrs. F. M. Qvam, +Cand. phil. Mathilde Eriksen, Gina Krog and Mrs. L. Keilhau, Norway; +Dr. Ellen Sandelin, Anna Whitlock, Gertrud Adelborg, Huldah Lundin, +Ann Margret Holmgren, Frigga Carlberg, Anna B. Wicksell, and Jenny +Wallerstedt, Sweden; Baroness Gripenberg, Dr. Meikki Friberg, Finland; +Zeniede Mirovitch, Elizabeth Goncharow, Olga Wolkenstein, Anne +Kalmanovitch, Russia; Rosika Schwimmer, Vilma Glücklich, Bertha Engel, +Hungary; Lida Gustave Heymann, Adelheid von Welczeck, Regina Ruben, +Germany; Mrs. Rutgers Hoitsema, Mrs. van Loenen de Bordes,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_816" id="Page_816">[Pg 816]</a></span> +Netherlands; Millicent Garrett Fawcett, Lady Steel, Dora Montefiore, +Mrs. Broadley Reid, Great Britain; Miss Lucy E. Anthony, United +States; Mrs. Henry Dobson, Australia.</p> + +<p>One afternoon session was devoted to memorial services for Miss +Anthony, with the principal address by Mrs. Ida Husted Harper, her +biographer, and beautiful tributes by delegates of seven European +countries and Canada expressing the debt of gratitude which all women +owed to the great pioneer. Mrs. Harper briefly sketched the +subordinate position of women when Miss Anthony began her great work +for their emancipation in 1851; told of her efforts for temperance and +the abolition of slavery; her part in forming the International +Council of Women; her publication of the History of Woman Suffrage and +the many other activities of her long life. She described the advanced +position of women at present and closed by saying:</p> + +<blockquote><p>No one who makes a careful study of the great movement for the +emancipation of woman can fail to recognize in Miss Anthony its +supreme leader. After her death last March more than a thousand +editorials appeared in the principal newspapers of the country +and practically every one of them accorded her this distinction. +She was the only one who gave to this cause her whole life, +consecrating to its service every hour of her time and every +power of her being. Other women did what they could; came into +the work for awhile and dropped out; had the divided interests of +family and social relations; turned their attention to reforms +which promised speedier rewards; surrendered to the forces of +persecution. With Miss Anthony the cause of woman took the place +of husband, children, society; it was her work and her +relaxation, her politics and her religion. "I know only woman and +her disfranchised," was her creed.... May we, her daughters, +receive as a blessed inheritance something of her indomitable +will, splendid courage, limitless patience, perseverance, +optimism, faith!</p></blockquote> + +<p>Dr. Shaw closed the meeting with an eloquent unwritten peroration +which told of her last hours with Miss Anthony as the great soul was +about to take its flight and ended: "The object of her life was to +awaken in women the consciousness of the need of freedom and the +courage to demand it, not as an end but as a means of creating higher +ideals for humanity."</p> + +<p>A resolution was adopted rejoicing in the granting of full suffrage +and eligibility to sit in the Parliament to the women<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_817" id="Page_817">[Pg 817]</a></span> of Finland the +preceding May. The delegates from Norway received a message from the +Prime Minister that it was the intention of the Parliament to enlarge +the Municipal franchise which women had possessed since 1901.</p> + +<p>Designs for a permanent badge were submitted by several countries and +the majority vote was in favor of the one designed by Mrs. +Pedersen-Dan of Denmark, the figure of a woman holding the scales of +justice with a rising sun in the background and the Latin words Jus +Suffragii. It was decided to publish a monthly paper under the name of +<i>Jus Suffragii</i> and in the English language. Afterwards Miss Martina +G. Kramers was appointed editor and the paper was issued from +Rotterdam. The invitation was accepted to hold an executive meeting +and conference in Amsterdam in 1908, as a new constitution was about +to be made for The Netherlands and there would be a strong effort to +have it include woman suffrage.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Catt's closing words to the delegates were to encourage +agitation, education and organization in their countries. "The +enfranchisement of women is as certain to come as the sun is sure to +rise tomorrow," she said. "The time must depend on political +conditions and the energy and intelligence with which our movement is +conducted." Thus ended happily and auspiciously the first Congress of +the International Woman Suffrage Alliance.</p> + + +<h4>FOURTH CONFERENCE OF THE ALLIANCE.</h4> + +<p>The Executive Meeting and Fourth Conference of the International Woman +Suffrage Alliance was held in Amsterdam, June 15-20, 1908, in the +spacious and handsome Concert Hall, in response to the Call of Mrs. +Carrie Chapman Catt, president, and Mrs. Rachel Foster Avery, +secretary. No one who was present can ever forget this meeting in the +most fascinating of countries, with every detail of its six days' +sessions carefully planned and nothing left undone for the comfort and +entertainment of the visitors who had come from most of the countries +of Europe, from Canada, the United States and far-away Australia and +New Zealand. The following account is condensed from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_818" id="Page_818">[Pg 818]</a></span> very full +report of the recording secretary, Miss Martina G. Kramers:</p> + +<p>The arrangements for the congress were made by a Central Committee, of +which Dr. Aletta Jacobs, president of the Vereeniging voor +Vrouwenkiesrecht, the organization which had invited the Alliance to +Amsterdam, was chairman. Mrs. W. Drucker was chairman of the Finance +Committee, Mrs. Van Buuren Huys, secretary, and Miss Rosa Manus gave +much assistance. The Press Committee, Miss Johanna W. A. Naber, +chairman, did excellent work in conjunction with a committee from the +Amsterdam press association.... That the accounts throughout the world +were so complete is due to this painstaking, able committee's +assistance to the correspondents from far and wide.</p> + +<p>The Committee on Local Arrangements, Mrs. van Loenen de Bordes, +chairman, performed well many duties, issued a dainty booklet, bound +in green and gold, which contained the program interspersed with views +of Amsterdam, and provided handsome silk flags to mark the seats of +each delegation, which were presented to the Alliance. A Bureau of +Information was presided over by young women who were able to answer +all questions in many languages. The back of the great stage was +draped with the flags of the twenty nations represented, those of +Norway, Finland and Australia being conspicuously placed in the +center, that especial honor might be done the full suffrage countries. +The front of the stage was a mass of flowers and plants, a magnificent +bust of Queen Wilhelmina occupying a conspicuous place.</p> + +<p>The Committee on Reception, chairman, Mrs. Gompertz Jitta, and that on +Entertainments, chairman, Mrs. Schöffer-Bunge, provided many +pleasures. Chief among these was the musical reception on the first +afternoon. A grand welcome song with a military band playing the +accompaniment was sung by four hundred voices; a variety of children's +songs followed and the program was closed by a cantata called Old +Holland's New Time, which had been prepared especially for the +congress. All the music had been composed by Catherine Van Rennes, who +was also the conductor. The congress opened with a large reception +given by the Dutch Women's Suffrage Association at Maison Couturier, +with a greeting by Mrs. Gompertz-Jitta. It had as a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_819" id="Page_819">[Pg 819]</a></span> unique feature a +little play written by Betsy van der Starp of The Hague. The gods and +goddesses with much feeling discussed the appeal of Woman, who had +asked their help in her effort to secure more rights on Earth.... On +Tuesday afternoon a reception was given by Burgomaster and Mrs. van +Leeuwen at their beautiful home, where refreshments were served in a +shaded garden and the hospitable and democratic freedom was greatly +enjoyed. On the same afternoon the Amsterdam branch of the National +Association took the foreign visitors for a delightful excursion on +the Amstel River. On Wednesday afternoon Dr. Jacobs had a most +enjoyable tea in the Pavilloen van het Vondelpark. Mrs. Gompertz-Jitta +opened her own luxurious home for tea on Friday. A house filled with a +rare art collection, a fine garden and a charming hostess gave an +afternoon long to be remembered. A farewell dinner on Saturday night +was held in the great Concert Hall. A gay assembly, a good dinner, the +national airs of all countries played by a fine band, furnished +abundant enjoyment and aroused enthusiasm to the utmost. The climax +came when a band of young men and women, dressed in the quaint and +picturesque costumes of the Dutch peasantry, to rollicking music +executed several peasant dances on the platform and around the big +room.</p> + +<p>The day following at an early hour several car loads of suffragists +set forth for Rotterdam and near the station two steamers took their +cargo of happy people for a trip on the River Maas. They went as far +as Dordrecht, where opportunity was given to see this quaint town. +Luncheon had been served on the steamers and at Rotterdam the guests +proceeded to the Zoological Garden, which many people pronounce the +finest in the world. At 6:30 dinner was served in a large, fine +restaurant, followed by animated speeches until train time. It had +been a rare day, full of interest, for which the Congress was indebted +to the Rotterdam branch of the National Association and to Mrs. van +den Bergh-Willing, who supplied one of the steamers and invited over a +hundred of the delegates as her guests for the day. The next day was +spent under the direction of The Hague branch. An afternoon tea with +music was given at the Palace Hotel, Scheveningen, the famous seaside +resort, and later a dinner was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_820" id="Page_820">[Pg 820]</a></span> served at the Kurhaus, followed by a +fine concert arranged in honor of the guests. Later came a special +display of fireworks with a closing piece which triumphantly flashed +the words "Jus Suffragii" across the sky.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Catt was in the chair at the first afternoon session and Dr. +Jacobs welcomed the conference in an address given in perfect English +during which she said: "When so strong and energetic a body of earnest +women meets to deliberate on this greatest of modern world problems +the impression can not fail to be a powerful one, for the vision must +arise of the beauty and glory of future womanhood, of women who have +obtained proper place and power in the community, which shall enable +them to infuse their love, their moral perceptions, their sense of +justice into the governments of the world. We believe the moment has +now come to show our country the seriousness and extent of our +movement and its determination to gain political equality for women in +every civilized land. With the greatest appreciation we see among our +visitors many high officials, who have not hesitated to answer our +invitation favorably and to give us through their presence a proof of +sympathy with the work we do. We wish to welcome these gentlemen first +of all." Naming one country after another Dr. Jacobs mentioned the +particular achievement of each during the past two years and extended +a special welcome, saying: "May your presence here contribute to +augment the public interest in the movement for women's +enfranchisement in our country."</p> + +<p>The address of the international president, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, +was a masterly effort and should be reproduced in full. In beginning +it she referred to the suggestive coincidence that the opening day of +the Congress commemorated the anniversary of the signing of the +immortal Magna Charta and said: "At no time since the movement for the +enfranchisement of women began have its advocates had so much cause +for self-congratulation as now. The Alliance met in Copenhagen +twenty-two months ago and in the brief time since then the progress of +our cause has been so rapid, the gains so substantial, the assurance +of coming victory so certain that we may imagine the noble and brave +pioneers of woman suffrage, the men and women<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_821" id="Page_821">[Pg 821]</a></span> who were the +torch-bearers of our movement, gathering today in some far-off +celestial sphere and singing together a glad pćan of exultation." Mrs. +Catt referred to the granting of full suffrage and eligibility to +women by Norway in 1907 and continued:</p> + +<blockquote><p>Within the past two years appeals for woman suffrage have been +presented to the Parliaments of eighteen European governments; +the United States Congress and the Legislatures of twenty-nine +States; the Parliaments of Canada and Victoria and the +Legislature of the Philippines—fifty-one independent legislative +bodies. The appeals were made for the first time, I believe, in +twelve of the European countries. In Spain and the Philippines +bills were introduced by friends of the cause quite unknown to +national or international officers. This activity has not been +barren of results and the delegates of six countries come to this +congress vested with larger political rights than they possessed +at the time of the Copenhagen meeting, namely, Norway, Denmark, +Sweden, Iceland, England and Germany. Each of the five +Scandinavian lands has won something. Norwegian women come with +full suffrage rights; Finnish delegates come as representatives +of the only nation which has elected women to seats in its +Parliament; Sweden and Iceland have gained a step in eligibility +and our Icelandic delegate of two years ago is now a member of +the city council of Reykjavik, the capital. The women of Denmark, +next to those of Norway, have made the largest gain, as Municipal +suffrage with liberal qualifications has been bestowed upon them. +English women have secured eligibility to become Mayors and +members of town and county councils. Germany has revised its law +and women are now free to join political associations and to +organize woman suffrage societies. The German association +affiliated with the Alliance is now a federation of State bodies. +In Sweden within two years the membership in the organization has +doubled and the 63 local organizations reported at Copenhagen +have become 127. A petition of 142,128 names has been presented +to Parliament; deputations have waited upon the Government and +been granted hearings.</p></blockquote> + +<p>A thorough analysis was made of the present status of woman suffrage +throughout the world and in summing up the speaker said: "Although +from Occident to Orient, from Lapland to sunny Italy and from Canada +to South Africa the agitation for woman suffrage has known no pause, +yet, after all, the storm center of the movement has been located in +England. In other lands there have been steps in evolution; in England +there has been a revolution. There have been no guns nor powder nor +bloodshed but there have been all other evidences of war....<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_822" id="Page_822">[Pg 822]</a></span> Yet the +older and more conservative body of workers have been no less +remarkable. With a forbearance we may all do well to imitate, they +quadrupled their own activities. Every class, including ladies of the +nobility, working girls, housewives and professional women, has +engaged in the campaign and not a man, woman or child has been +permitted to plead ignorance concerning the meaning of woman +suffrage."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Catt reviewed at length the "militant" movement in Great Britain, +showing how it had awakened interest in votes for women in all +quarters of the globe, and recalled the struggle of the barons in +wresting the Magna Charta from King John. She then passed to the +United States and to the persistent charge that its experiment in +universal male suffrage had been a failure, to which she replied: +"Although the United States has gathered a population which represents +every race; although among its people are the followers of every +religion and the subjects of every form of government; although there +has been the dead weight of a large ignorant vote, yet the little +settlement, which 150 years ago rested upon the eastern shores of the +Atlantic a mere colonial possession, has steadily climbed upward until +today it occupies a proud position of equality among the greatest +governments of the world.... The fact that woman suffrage must come +through a referendum to the votes of all men has postponed it but man +suffrage in the United States is as firmly fixed as the Rock of +Gibraltar...."</p> + +<p>In an eloquent peroration Mrs. Catt said: "Within our Alliance we must +try to develop so lofty a spirit of internationalism, a spirit so +clarified from all personalities and ambitions and national +antagonisms that its purity and grandeur will furnish new inspiration +to all workers in our cause. We must strike a note in this meeting so +full of sisterly sympathy, of faith in womanhood, of exultant hope, a +note so impelling, that it will be heard by the women of all lands and +will call them forth to join our world's army."</p> + +<p>The business sessions opened with all the officers present; over one +hundred delegates and alternates from the now sixteen auxiliary +countries; delegates sent by their governments and fraternal delegates +from the International Council of Women, ten National<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_823" id="Page_823">[Pg 823]</a></span> Councils, seven +non-affiliated national associations for woman suffrage and eleven +national organizations in sympathy with it. Mrs. Catt introduced Mrs. +Henry Dobson, sent by the Commonwealth of Australia; Miss Gina Krog, +sent by the government of Norway; Dr. Romania Penrose, Mrs. Helen L. +Grenfell and Mrs. Harriet Q. Sheik, appointed by the Governors of +Utah, Colorado and Wyoming, U. S. A.</p> + +<p>The following countries had their full quota of six delegates: +Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, +United States, and nearly all had six alternates. Russia had five +delegates; Finland, Switzerland and South Africa two each; Italy, +Bulgaria, Australia and Canada one each. Miss Chrystal Macmillan of +Scotland represented the International Council of Women; Dr. C. V. +Drysdale, the Men's League for Women's Enfranchisement of Great +Britain; Mrs. Marie Lang, the Austrian Committee for Woman Suffrage; +Miss Franciska Plaminkova and Miss Marie Stepankova, the Czechish +Woman Suffrage Committee of Bohemia; Mrs. Alice M. Steele, New +Zealand—the last three countries not yet affiliated. All kinds of +organizations sent fraternal delegates, from the Union of Ethical +Societies in London, whose delegate was Stanton Coit, their leader, to +the Society of Peasant Women in Balmazujvaros, Hungary.</p> + +<p>This was doubtless in many respects the most remarkable and important +gathering of women ever assembled up to that time. English, French and +German were adopted as the official languages. The wise and +sympathetic management of Mrs. Catt convinced those of all nations +that impartiality and justice would prevail without exception; a +common bond united them; they learned that in all countries the +obstacles to woman suffrage were the same and that in all women +were oppressed by the inequality of the laws and by their +disenfranchisement, and they understood the influence which could be +exerted through an international movement. There were occasional +misunderstandings on account of the varied parliamentary procedure in +different countries and because of the necessity for interpreting much +that took place but on the whole the delegates were satisfied. They +had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_824" id="Page_824">[Pg 824]</a></span> intense admiration for the great executive ability of their +president and showed their confidence in her again and again.</p> + +<p>Switzerland, Bulgaria and South Africa having announced through their +delegates that their suffrage societies had united in national +associations and desired to become affiliated, they were +enthusiastically accepted. Mrs. Stanton Coit of London, the new +treasurer, paid a tribute to her predecessor, Miss Rodger Cunliffe, +who had died since the last conference. Mrs. Pedersen-Dan reported +that 8,677 badges had been sold. Many interesting discussions took +place during the morning and afternoon sessions of which one of the +most valuable was on the methods of work for the suffrage pursued in +the various countries. These methods included debates in schools and +colleges, distribution of literature, petitions to the Parliament, +circulating libraries, courses of lectures, house-to-house canvassing, +protests against paying taxes, mass meetings to show the need of a +vote in matters of public welfare. In nearly all countries the +suffragists were taking political action, questioning candidates by +letter and in person and in some places working for or against them. +This was especially the case in Great Britain and Miss Frances +Sterling and Miss Isabella O. Ford told of the successful work at +by-elections, of having thousands of postal cards sent to candidates +by their constituents, of appealing to the workingmen. A report of the +speech of Miss Margaret Ashton, a member of the city council of +Manchester, quoted her as saying that, though the president of a large +body of Liberal women, she had decided that it was useless to work +further for her party unless it would enfranchise women. Women had +worked sixty years for this party and now, if they will gain their own +liberty, they must refuse to lift hand or foot for it until it +enfranchises them.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Rutgers Hoitsema of the Netherlands told of the efforts made to +have woman suffrage put in its new constitution; of winning six of the +seven members of the Government Commission and of the request of the +Prime Minister for favorable printed arguments. Miss Annie Furuhjelm +said in her report for Finland: "We got our suffrage through a +revolution, so we can not be an example for other lands as to methods. +We can say, however, that we used all methods in our work. In 1904<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_825" id="Page_825">[Pg 825]</a></span> we +had a great public meeting for woman suffrage. We organized a 'strike' +against the conscription for the Russian Army and we found the mothers +interested in saving their sons. The Social Democrats had woman +suffrage in their platform before 1905 but the leading men of Finland +would not have helped the women to the suffrage if the women had not +shown that they understood the public questions of the day and taken +an active part in resistance to an unlawful régime." She told of the +election of nineteen women to Parliament in 1907. Mrs. Zeneide +Mirovitch said in her touching report: "The women of Russia have not +been able to work as those in other countries do, for their members +are often in danger of imprisonment or death. They have lecturers who +travel about to hold meetings; they publish a review of the work of +their Union; members of it have started clubs which carry on general +work for women's betterment. They have sold very cheaply 10,000 +suffrage pamphlets; they have a committee in St. Petersburg which +watches the acts of the Douma and when a law is proposed which +concerns women and yet fails to consider them, this committee reminds +the members of their needs. It protests against the massacres and +outrages when women are assaulted and tortured. Now during the +reaction the Union is not permitted to work in any way."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dora Montefiore of England spoke in favor of "militant" methods. +An invitation to send fraternal delegates had been declined by Mrs. +Emmeline Pankhurst for the Women's Social and Political Union of Great +Britain, who said they had more important work to do. It had been +accepted by Mrs. Despard, president of the Womens' Freedom League, who +came with seven delegates. She explained that its methods consisted +only of trying to enter the House of Commons, holding meetings near +by, heckling Government candidates, refusing to pay taxes, chalking +pavements, etc. Mrs. Cobden Sanderson and Mrs. Billington Greig made +vigorous, convincing speeches and all were enthusiastically received. +The congress adopted a resolution of "protest against the action of +any government which classes the women suffragists imprisoned for +agitation for the vote as common law-breakers instead of political +offenders." It also expressed its "sympathy for the Russian women in +their struggle<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_826" id="Page_826">[Pg 826]</a></span> demanding so much sacrifice and its profound respect +for the women who under great trial do not hesitate to stand for their +rights." A message was received with applause during one session that +"the Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church has resolved unanimously +to give a vote to women on the questions that have until now been +submitted only to the men of the congregation."</p> + +<p>The evening meetings were largely given up to addresses and at the one +where Woman Suffrage in Practice was considered Mrs. Madge Donohue of +Australia, spoke on An Experiment Justified; Mrs. Steele, New Zealand, +Fifteen Years of Woman Suffrage; Miss Furuhjelm, A True Democracy. At +another evening session Miss Fredrikke Mörck gave the Results of Woman +Suffrage in Norway. In a symposium, Why Should Representative +Governments Enfranchise Women? the speakers were Miss Ashton, Mrs. +Minna Cauer, Germany; Miss Janka Grossman, Hungary; Mrs. Theo. Haver, +Netherlands; Mrs. Louise Keilhau, Norway; Mrs. Frigga Carlberg, +Sweden; Mrs. Olga Golovine, Russia; Mrs. A. Girardet, Switzerland; +Miss Macmillan, Great Britain. Here as at nearly all of the public +meetings Dr. Anna Howard Shaw made the closing speech, for if she was +not on the program the audience called for her. Mrs. Münter gave an +address on the Legal Position of Danish Women; Dr. Elizabeth Altmann +Gottheiner, Germany, Does the Working Woman Need the Ballot? Mrs. +Miriam Brown, Canada, Ideal Womanhood; others were made by Miss Rosika +Schwimmer, Hungary, and Miss Stirling, Great Britain. An afternoon +meeting for young people was addressed by Mrs. Millicent Garrett +Fawcett, chairman; Mrs. Ann M. Holmgren, Sweden; Dr. Anita Augspurg, +Mrs. Mirovitch; Miss Rendell, Great Britain; Miss Schwimmer; Mrs. Ella +S. Stewart, United States.</p> + +<p>Much pleasure was expressed at the report of Mrs. Staatsministerinde +Qvam, president of the National Woman Suffrage Association of Norway, +who said in beginning: "Since we met in Copenhagen taxpaying women in +Norway have obtained full suffrage and eligibility to office by a vote +of 96 to 23 in the Parliament. About 300,000 women have become +entitled to vote. It is calculated that 200,000 are yet excluded, +although<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_827" id="Page_827">[Pg 827]</a></span> the tax is very small.... The object of our association is +suffrage for women on the same terms as for men. The men have +universal suffrage. We therefore will continue our work until the +women have gained this same right." Miss Eline Hansen gave an +interesting report of winning the Municipal franchise in Denmark.</p> + +<p>Woman Suffrage from a Christian Point of View was presented one +afternoon by Mrs. Beelaerts von Blokland, chairman; Countess Anna von +Hogendorp and Mr. Hugenholtz, all of the Netherlands; Mrs. +Blauenfeldt, Denmark; Mrs. Catharine Waugh McCulloch, United States. +An address sent by Lady Frances Balfour was read by Mrs. C. H. +Corbett, Great Britain; one sent by Mrs. Aline Hoffmann, Switzerland, +was read by Miss Johanna W. A. Naber, Netherlands; one sent by Mme. +Mangeret, France, was read by Mrs. Heineken-Daum, Netherlands. +Greetings were given from the National Councils of Women of Germany +and The Netherlands by their presidents, Mrs. Marie Stritt and Miss +Elizabeth Baelde; from Great Britain, France, Belgium, Norway and +Sweden by fraternal delegates, Mrs. Fawcett, Miss Cecile Cahen, Miss +Ida La Fontaine, Miss Thea Holst, Dr. Lydia Wahlstrom; from national +organizations by Mrs. Elna Munck, Denmark; Dr. Phil. Käthe +Schirmacher, Germany; Miss Stepankova, Bohemia; Mrs. Lang, Austria; +Miss K. Honegger represented the newly affiliated national association +of Switzerland and Dr. Pateff and Miss Jenny Bojilowa that of +Bulgaria. Most valuable reports were read from all the affiliated +countries containing accounts of their political conditions and the +status of the movement for woman suffrage, which were printed in the +Minutes, filling over fifty pages.</p> + +<p>The Resolutions Committee, Mrs. Ida Husted Harper, Miss Ashton and +Mrs. van Loenen de Bores, reported strong resolutions, which were +fully discussed and adopted. The last one was as follows: "Resolved, +that the plain duty of women at the present hour is to secure the +support and cooperation of all the forces favorable to woman suffrage, +without question as to their political or religious affiliations; to +avoid any entanglement with outside matters; to ask for the franchise +on the same terms as it is now or may be exercised by men, leaving +any<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_828" id="Page_828">[Pg 828]</a></span> required extension to be decided by men and women together when +both have equal voice, vote and power."</p> + +<p>The conference accepted with appreciation the cordial invitation of +the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies of Great Britain, +extended through its president, Mrs. Fawcett, to hold its next meeting +in London. At the public session on the last evening Mrs. van Itallie +van Embden, Netherlands, spoke on the subject, Does the Wife, Mother +and Homekeeper Need the Ballot? Mrs. Anna Kalmanovitch, Russia, on The +Final Aim of the Woman Movement;, addresses were made by Mrs. Emilia +Mariana, Italy; Mrs. Mirovitch, Dr. Wahlstrom and Dr. Shaw. Mrs. Catt +gave the final words of farewell and the delegates parted in +friendship to meet again as comrades in a great cause.</p> + + +<h4>FIRST QUINQUENNIAL OF THE ALLIANCE.</h4> + +<p>The first Quinquennial and the Fifth Conference of the Alliance met in +St. James Hall, London, April 26-May 1, 1909, with the president, Mrs. +Carrie Chapman Catt, in the chair. A cordial address of greeting was +made at the first morning session by Mrs. Millicent Garrett Fawcett, +president of the National Union of Women's suffrage Societies, the +hostess of the guests from many nations. Preceding chapters have given +an idea of the wide scope and the general character of these +international meetings and the names of those who earliest represented +their countries and their associations. Here at the end of the first +five years the list of delegates and alternates filled four and a half +printed pages and seventy-three fraternal delegates were present from +forty-one different organizations; in addition there were speakers on +the program who were not on these lists.</p> + +<p>Among the organizations sending fraternal representatives, men and +women of distinction, were International and National Councils of +Women, Actresses', Artists' and Writers' Leagues, Women's Federation +of the British Liberal Party, Conservative and Unionist Women's +Franchise Associations, Men's Suffrage Leagues, Independent Labour +Party, International Women's Socialist Bureau, Ethical Societies, +Women's Trade Unions, Industrial Suffrage Societies, Women's National +Press Association,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_829" id="Page_829">[Pg 829]</a></span> Women's Agricultural Clubs, Fabian Society, +National Committee against the White Slave Traffic—the list is almost +endless. Naturally all wanted to be heard and how to permit this and +leave any time for the regular proceedings of the convention became a +serious question. The United States, Great Britain, Denmark, Germany, +Netherlands, Norway and Sweden sent their full quota of six delegates +and six alternates. Five were present from Finland, six from Hungary +and five from South Africa. The Government of Norway had sent as its +official delegate Mrs. Staatsministerinde F. M. Qvam, president of the +National Woman Suffrage Association. A National Association had now +been formed in France and its secretary, Madame Jane Misme, brought +its request for affiliation. A similar request was presented by Mlle. +Daugotte, delegate from a new association in Belgium, and both were +unanimously and joyfully welcomed.</p> + +<p>At the first evening session the speakers were Mrs. Qvam, Miss Annie +Furuhjelm, Finland; Mrs. Isabel May, New Zealand; Armitage Rigby, Isle +of Man, all testifying to the good effects of woman suffrage in their +respective countries, and Mrs. Catt delivered her president's address, +a thorough review of the work of the Alliance. She said in part:</p> + +<blockquote><p>On a June day in 1904 the delegated representatives of seven +National Woman Suffrage Associations met in a little hall in +Berlin to discuss the practicability of completing a proposed +International Union. At that date there were in all the world +only ten countries in which woman suffrage organizations could be +found. Those of you who were present will well remember the +uncertainty and misgivings which characterized our deliberations. +The doubting delegates questioned whether the times were yet ripe +for this radical step; already over-taxed by the campaigns in +their respective countries they questioned whether the possible +benefits which might arise from international connection might +not be over-balanced by the burden it would impose. There were +delegates also who asked whether it was within the bounds of +possibilities that suffragists could work together in harmony +when they not only would represent differences of race and +character but widely different stages of development of the +movement itself. There were even more serious problems to be +considered. Some of our associations were pledged to universal +suffrage, some to Municipal, some to suffrage based upon a +property or educational qualification. How could such +differences, each defended as it was by intense conviction, be +united in a common platform?... Yet despite all these obstacles, +which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_830" id="Page_830">[Pg 830]</a></span> at that time seemed to many well nigh insurmountable, our +International Alliance was founded "for better or worse" and I +think I may add "till death do us part."</p> + +<p>Five years have passed away, prosperous, successful, triumphant +years; prosperous, for we have known no quarrel or +misunderstanding; successful, for the number of National +Associations in our Alliance has more than doubled; triumphant, +because the gains to our cause within the past five years are +more significant in effect and meaning than all which had come in +the years preceding. Indeed, when we look back over that little +stretch of time and observe the mighty changes which have come +within our movement; when we hear the reports of the awakening of +men and women to the justice of our cause all the way around the +world, I am sure that there is no pessimist among us who does not +realize that at last the tide of woman's enfranchisement is +coming in.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Mrs. Catt described the influence the Alliance had had in these +changes and said: "We have been baptised in that spirit of the 20th +century which the world calls Internationalism; it is a sentiment like +love or religion or patriotism, which is to be experienced rather than +defined in words. Under the influence of this new spirit we realize +that we are not enlisted for the work of our own countries alone but +that before us stretches the task of emancipating the women of the +civilized world...." The brilliant Congress of Women held in Russia in +spite of its reactionary government was described, and the women of +Finland were urged not to be discouraged because the iron rule of +Russia was again threatening their recently gained liberty. The +progress in other European countries was sketched and the address then +dealt unsparingly with the situation in Great Britain, where the women +for years had organized and worked for the candidates of the political +parties, and continued:</p> + +<blockquote><p>If the women of England have time enough to solicit votes for the +men of their party and intelligence enough to train men to vote; +if they do not neglect their homes and families when their +political parties direct them to act as catspaws to pull the +political chestnuts out of the fire and to put them into the +Conservative and Liberal baskets, the world wants to know how +these political parties are going to escape from the logic of the +situation when these same women ask some of the chestnuts for +themselves. Again, this nation was presided over for sixty years +by a woman, and she was accounted worthy to present an annual +Parliamentary Address in which she pointed out the duty of the +members of Parliament.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_831" id="Page_831">[Pg 831]</a></span> Now the outside world wants to know how +that Parliament can consistently say that other British women are +not even worthy to cast a vote to elect that body. There is still +another reason why the world is watching England. The British +Colonies have enfranchised women; how is the Home Government to +explain the phenomenon of women, enfranchised in Australia, then +disfranchised in England; enfranchised in New Zealand and +disfranchised when they return to the mother country?</p></blockquote> + +<p>She called attention to the forming of the Anti-Suffrage Association +by women in Great Britain and said: "They are sending in a petition to +Parliament. It is well known that people by nature are opposed to new +things; before education people are anti-suffragists. If a petition +opposed to woman suffrage should be presented to the Hottentots, the +Afghanistans, the tribes of Thibet or to the interior of Turkey, every +individual would sign it and the longest petition 'opposed to the +further extension of rights to women' yet known could be secured +there. A petition for suffrage, however, carries a very different +meaning; every name represents a convert, a victory, an education of +the understanding, an answer to an appeal for justice. A woman +suffrage petition is a gain; an anti-suffrage petition merely shows +how much more must be gained. One is positive, the other negative. +Wait a little and you will find that England, and other countries as +well, will perceive the real truth, that the anti-suffrage women are +the most inconsistent products of all the ages."</p> + +<p>The flaying did not stop here but Mrs. Catt called attention to the +fact that this convention celebrated the birthday of Mary +Wollstonecraft, referred to the position of women in her time and +said:</p> + +<blockquote><p>There have been women who have crucified their very souls and the +lineal ancestors of the present-day "antis" with withering scorn +and criticism opposed every step. Yet some of those modern +anti-suffragists possess a college degree, an opportunity which +other women won for them in the face of universal ridicule; they +own property which is theirs today as the effect of laws which +other women labored for a quarter of a century to secure; they +stand upon public platforms where free speech for women was won +for them by other women amid the jeers of howling mobs; they use +the right of organization which was established as the result of +many a heartache and many a brave endeavor when the world +condemned it as a threat against all moral order. They accept +with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_832" id="Page_832">[Pg 832]</a></span> satisfaction every political right which has been accorded +by their Government; they even accept public office. They take +all as their birthright; and yet, endowed with this power of +education, of property, of organization, of free speech, of +partial political rights, they turn upon the last logical effort +in the movement which has given them so much and with supreme +self-satisfaction say: "Thus far shalt thou come and no farther." +It takes no logic to perceive the inconsistency of such a +position....</p></blockquote> + +<p>The changed position of women in the world of labor was sketched; the +old divisions were obliterated; a great army of women were now +competing with men in the open market and there were found not only +women but little children. Everywhere was cruel injustice to women, +barred out from the higher places, working for half the pay of men in +others, and discriminated against even by the labor unions. "They are +utterly at the mercy of selfish employers, of hard economic conditions +and unfair legislation," she said. "The only logical conclusion is to +give votes to working women that they may defend their own wages, +hours and conditions. We have worked to gain the suffrage because the +principle is just. We must work for it now because this great army of +wage-earning women are crying to us for help, immediate help.... You +and I must know no sleep or rest or hesitation so long as a single +civilized land has failed to recognize equal rights for men and women, +in the workshop and the factory, at the ballot box and in the +Parliament, in the home and in the church."</p> + +<p>Here as at all meetings of the Alliance one of the most valuable +features was the reports from the various countries, reaching almost +from "the Arctic Circle to the equator," of the progress in the +movement for suffrage, juster laws for women, better industrial +conditions. Printed in fifty-seven pages of the Minutes they formed a +storehouse of information nowhere else to be found. As the struggle of +the "militants" in Great Britain was attracting world-wide attention +to the exclusion of the many years of persistent work by the original +association in educating not only women themselves but also public +opinion to see the necessity for woman suffrage, the report of its +president, Mrs. Fawcett, had a special interest:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_833" id="Page_833">[Pg 833]</a></span></p> + +<blockquote><p>The year which has just closed is the most strenuous and active +we have ever known since women's suffrage has been before the +country. The number of societies which combine to form the +National Union has more than doubled. The membership in several +societies has more than doubled and in others has largely +increased; in one important society it has been multiplied by +five. The number of meetings held throughout the year in +connection with the National Union alone has been unprecedented, +an average of at least four a day. The experience gained at +bye-elections confirms the Union in their view that by far the +most effective work can be done by acting strictly on non-party +lines and supporting that candidate whose record and declarations +on the subject of suffrage are the most satisfactory....</p> + +<p>At the beginning of last November Mrs. Garrett Anderson, M.D., +was elected Mayor of Aldeburgh; Miss Dove, M.A., the head +mistress of Wycombe Abbey School, came within two votes of being +chosen Mayor of the borough of High Wycombe. Several women at the +same time were elected as borough councillors, among whom we may +mention our colleague, Miss Margaret Ashton, the president of the +Manchester and North of England Society for Women's Suffrage. A +large Conservative and Unionist Association for women's suffrage +has been formed. Its president is Lady Knightley of Fawsley and +among its vice-presidents are the Duchess of Sutherland, the +Countess of Meath, Viscountess Middleton, Lady Robert Cecil, Miss +Alice Balfour, etc.</p> + +<p>In December a weighty and closely reasoned statement of the case +for women's suffrage was presented to the Prime Minister by the +Registered Medical Women of the United Kingdom. The committee +were able to inform Mr. Asquith that out of 553 all but 15 +support the extension of the Parliamentary franchise to women. +The case for women's suffrage was argued before the Judicial +Committee of the House of Lords in November last with great +ability by Miss Chrystal Macmillan, M.A., B.Sc. The case was +raised on the plea of women graduates of the Scottish +Universities that they were entitled to vote in the election for +the members of Parliament representing the universities. The word +used in the Scottish University Act was "persons"—all "persons" +having passed such and such degrees and fulfilled such and such +conditions were entitled to vote in such elections. The case had +been heard before two Scottish Courts and adverse decisions had +been given. The House of Lords was appealed to as the highest +Court and it confirmed the decisions of the lower courts that the +word "persons" does not include women when it refers to +privileges granted by the State.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Mrs. Fawcett spoke of the work of the Union year after year for the +suffrage bill in Parliament; of the enrollment during the present year +of over 300 men eminent in literature, science, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_834" id="Page_834">[Pg 834]</a></span> arts, law, public +offices, churches, education, commerce, etc.; of its great procession +and the demonstration in Albert Hall. She said of the other +organization, which was yet in its early stages of aggressiveness: +"Opinions greatly differ in suffrage circles as to the effect produced +on the cause by what are known as 'militant' tactics. It is difficult +for one who is completely identified with constitutional methods to +judge aright the total result of unconstitutional forms of agitation. +That the 'militants' have been courageous and self-sacraficing no one +denies. That they have provoked discussion and aroused attention is +equally obvious and from these our cause always stands to gain. On the +other hand many of us feel a profound conviction, which experience +only strengthens, that women are adopting a mistaken course in +appealing to violence. Our business as women asking for justice is not +to rely upon physical force but in the eternal principles of right and +justice. Law abiding methods alienate no one while methods of violence +and disorder create anti-suffragists by the hundreds."</p> + +<p>To this convention, as to the one of the preceding year in Amsterdam, +Mrs. Pankhurst refused to send any representatives of the Women's +Social and Political Union. A mass meeting under its auspices was held +in Albert Hall one evening and many of the delegates accepted an +official invitation to attend.</p> + +<p>At an afternoon session ten minute addresses were made by Mrs. Betsy +Kjelsberg of Norway on Six Years' Experience in Municipal Work; by +Mrs. Madge Donohoe for Australia, The Latest Victory; by Dr. phil. +Gulli Petrini of Sweden, Suffrage Work on Both Sides of the Polar +Circle; by Mrs. Rutgers-Hoitsema, A Curious Football Game in Holland; +others by Mrs. Zeneide Mirovitch, Russia; Miss Theo. Daugaard, +Denmark; Mlle. Daugotte, Belgium; Mme. Auberlet, France; Mrs. Saul +Solomon, South Africa. The Dutch Men's League for Women Suffrage +was represented by E. J. van Straaten, LL.D. and F. F. W. +Kehrer-Gorinchens; the British by Herbert Jacobs and Dr. C. W. +Drysdale. Mrs. Anna M. Haslam, fraternal delegate from the Irish +Women's Suffrage Association, and her husband, Thomas J., the oldest +delegates, were most cordially<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_835" id="Page_835">[Pg 835]</a></span> received. The Bohemian delegate, Marie +Tumova, could not be present because making a campaign for election to +the Diet.</p> + +<p>The delegates had a strenuous time trying to attend the business +meetings, listen to the excellent programs of prominent speakers, go +to the enjoyable social affairs and make the visits and excursions to +the many historical places in and around London which most of them had +always longed to see. The Executive Committee of the National Union, +Mrs. Fawcett, chairman, served as Reception Committee; its treasurer, +Miss Bertha Mason, expended the large fund subscribed for the use of +the convention; the Press Committee managed the newspapers through +Miss Compton Burnett; Mrs. Anstruther, Rutland House, Portland +Gardens, had the exacting but pleasant duties of chairman of the +Hospitality Committee.</p> + +<p>A delightful reception on Sunday evening, April 25, at the Lyceum +Club, introduced the pleasures of the week, which ended with a +handsome reception given by the Men's League for Women's Suffrage on +Saturday evening. There was a brilliant official dinner at Prince's +Restaurant and there were teas and concerts and dramatic +entertainments. To most of the delegates the weeks were the richest in +experience ever known, with the specially conducted visits to famous +universities and schools; cathedrals and abbeys; galleries and +palaces; courts and gardens—every spot filled with historic +associations for English speaking people and with intense interest for +those of other countries. For delegates concerned with civic and +social work there was the keenest enjoyment in the specialized and +extensive developments along many lines. The Minutes of the convention +thus describe one of its leading events:</p> + +<blockquote><p>The mass meeting at the Royal Albert Hall under the auspices of +the London Society for Women's Suffrage afforded the delegates a +most impressive display of the earnestness of the British +suffragists. A procession of women engaged in various trades and +professions, carrying the emblems of their work, marched from +Eaton Square to the hall. It was a wonderful inspiration to the +brave bands of pioneers from other lands to see the long +procession march with fluttering flags and swinging lanterns +along the darkening streets, greeted now with sympathy, now with +jeers. As it entered the hall and trade after trade, profession +after profession filed past the platform on which were seated +women of all nations,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_836" id="Page_836">[Pg 836]</a></span> the enthusiasm reached its height. It +would be impossible to give a list of the groups but especially +notable were the chain makers from Cradley Heath, who toil for +about four shillings per week of sixty hours. The common remark +that the suffrage movement is an amusement for rich women was +once for all disproved as the factory workers and cotton +operatives in their distinctive dress swung into the vast arena. +The group of women doctors in their gorgeous robes were loudly +cheered, as were the nurses and mid-wives who followed, while +teachers of all branches of the profession closed the long line. +There were notable speeches but the real effect of the meeting +lay in the wonderful gathering itself, women of all nations, +classes, creeds and occupations united for a common purpose, +together with men, filling one of the largest halls in Europe. +Mrs. Fawcett, LL.D., presided and the speakers were Ramsey +McDonald, M.P., Mrs. Catt, Dr. Shaw, Miss Frances Sterling and +Mrs. Philip Snowden.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Twice during the convention it came in touch with royalty in an +interesting way. At the official dinner Mrs. Qvam, delegate from the +Norwegian Government and president of the National Suffrage +Association, brought greetings and wishes for the success of the +congress from Queen Maud of Norway, a daughter of King Edward and +Queen Alexandra, to which an appreciative response was sent. At a +morning session the birth of a daughter to the Queen of the +Netherlands was announced and at the request of Dr. Aletta Jacobs, +president of the National Suffrage Association of that country, a +telegram of congratulations from the Alliance was sent.</p> + +<p>There was much discussion over the motion that all organizations +auxiliary to the Alliance must have woman suffrage as their sole +object. It was finally decided in the affirmative and a flood of +societies of every description was excluded. The number of delegates +permitted to each country was increased from six to twelve, with +twelve alternates. A resolution was adopted urging the National +Suffrage Association of each nation to prepare a comprehensive +statement of the laws which place women at a disadvantage in regard to +property, earnings, marriage, divorce, guardianship of children, +education, industrial conditions and political rights, and to explain, +when demanding their immediate enfranchisement from their respective +Parliaments, that they consider these injustices can be effectively +removed only through joint political action by men and women.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_837" id="Page_837">[Pg 837]</a></span> This +was introduced at the request of Lady McLaren, who had prepared such a +charter for Great Britain. Many beautiful designs for a flag and +banner had been submitted and it was found that the one selected was +the work of Miss Branting of Sweden. The international hymn chosen +from a number which were submitted was written by Mrs. Theodora Flower +Mills.</p> + +<p>As this was the quinquennial meeting officers were elected. Mrs. Catt +was unanimously re-elected and the following received large +majorities: Mrs. Fawcett, first, and Miss Furuhjelm, second +vice-presidents; Miss Martina Kramers, Netherlands; Mrs. Anna +Lindemann, Germany; Miss Signe Bergman, Sweden, first, second and +third secretaries; Mrs. Stanton Coit, treasurer. As the time of +holding the regular session of the Alliance was changed from five to +four years they were elected to hold office until 1913. Mrs. Catt +welcomed the new officers and warmly thanked the retiring officers for +their valuable services. The invitation to hold the congress of 1911 +in Stockholm, if the political conditions were favorable, was accepted +with pleasure.</p> + +<p>The Resolutions presented by the committee—Miss Frances Sterling, +Great Britain; Mrs. E. R. Mirrlees, South Africa; Mrs. Ida Husted +Harper, United States—and adopted, summarized the gains of the past +few years in Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Germany, Netherlands, Bohemia, +Cape Colony and the Transvaal and said: "This Congress, remembering +the lessons of history, urges the National Societies not to be +betrayed into postponing their claim for the enfranchisement of women +for any other object, whether it be the further extension of the +suffrage to men or the success of some political party." At the last +meeting of the delegates Mrs. Catt thanked them for their hearty +cooperation with their president; she urged them to demand the +suffrage upon the broadest basis, namely, that the government may rest +equally on the will of both men and women, and said the Alliance would +wield great influence if they remained united and they would secure +the enfranchisement of the women of the world for all future +generations. A public meeting in St. James Hall was held on the last +evening with Mrs. Catt in the chair and addresses of the highest order +were made by Miss Margaret Ashton, Men and Women; the Rev. Ivory +Cripps, the Nation's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_838" id="Page_838">[Pg 838]</a></span> Need of Women; Miss Rosika Schwimmer, The +Hungarian Outlook; H. Y. Stanger, M.P., The Prospect of Franchise +Reform; Dr. Käthe Schirmacher, Woman Suffrage.</p> + +<p>On the Sunday afternoon preceding the convention the Rev. Anna Howard +Shaw preached for a Men's Meeting at Whitefield's, Tottenham Court +Road, the most of the large and interested audience hearing for the +first time a sermon by a woman. On the Sunday following the convention +she preached in the morning for the West London Ethical Society in the +Kensington Town Hall and in the evening at the King's Weigh House +Chapel, Duke Street, Grosvenor Square. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon +the Rev. Canon Scott Holland gave a sermon in St. Paul's Cathedral, +the national church, on the Religious Aspect of Women's Suffrage, with +two hundred seats reserved for the delegates, and they felt a deep +thrill of rejoicing at hearing within those ancient walls a strong +plea for the enfranchisement of women. They were invited to attend the +next evening a symposium by the Shakespeare League at King's College +on What Shakespeare Thought of Women.</p> + + +<h4>SIXTH CONFERENCE OF THE ALLIANCE.</h4> + +<p>The Sixth Conference and Congress of the International Woman Suffrage +Alliance took place in the banquet hall of the Grand Hotel, Stockholm, +June 12-17, 1911. The coming of Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, president of +the Alliance, had been widely heralded. She had been received in +Copenhagen with national honors by cabinet ministers and foreign +legations; the American flag run up for her wherever she went and the +Danish colors dipped and there was almost a public ovation. In +Christiania she was met with a greeting from a former Prime Minister +and an official address of welcome from the Government and was +received by King Haakon. At Stockholm she was met by deputations with +flowers and speeches. Dinners, receptions and concerts followed. The +American and Swedish flags waved together. The whole city knew that +something important was going to happen. In the midst of it all the +woman suffrage bill came up for discussion in both Houses of the +Parliament. The international<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_839" id="Page_839">[Pg 839]</a></span> president was escorted to the Lower +House by a body of women that crowded the galleries. After a stormy +debate the bill to enfranchise the women of Sweden received a majority +vote. In the midst of the applause Mrs. Catt was hurried to the Upper +Chamber, the stronghold of caste and conservatism. Her presence and +that of the flower of Swedish womanhood did not save the bill from the +usual defeat.</p> + +<p>The congress opened with representatives from twenty-four affiliated +National Associations and two Committees, those of Austria and +Bohemia. The government of Norway sent as its official delegate Dr. +Kristine Bonnevie. The list of delegates filled seven printed pages, +the United States, the Netherlands and Sweden having the full quota of +twelve delegates and twelve alternates, Germany lacking only three of +the latter, while Great Britain, France, Denmark, Norway, Finland and +Hungary had twelve or more. Six were present from Russia; Bulgaria, +Servia, Switzerland, South Africa, Iceland and Canada had +representatives. Of fraternal delegates from other organizations there +was no end—about seventy men and women—among them members of five +Men's Leagues for Woman Suffrage—in the United States, Great Britain, +Netherlands, Hungary and Sweden. In addition to the spoken words +letters and telegrams of greeting were read from societies and +individuals in twelve different countries. The distinguished guests of +the occasion were Dr. Selma Lagerlöf of Sweden, who had recently +received the Nobel Literature Prize, and Miss Helena Westermarck of +Finland, the eminent writer and publicist. Among prominent speakers +were Mayor Carl Lindhagen and Ernest Beckman, M. P., the Rev. K. H. G. +von Scheele, Bishop of Visby, and the Rev. Dr. Samuel Fries. The +ushers and pages were women students of the universities.</p> + +<p>On the Sunday afternoon preceding the convention the precedent of all +past ages was broken when Dr. Anna Howard Shaw preached in the ancient +State Church of Gusta Vasa. When the Swedish women asked for the use +of the church they were told that this could be granted only to a +minister of the same denomination but they learned that when a +minister from another country was visiting Sweden the pastor of the +church might invite<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_840" id="Page_840">[Pg 840]</a></span> him to occupy his pulpit at his discretion. The +pastor said he would run the risk, knowing that he might incur the +displeasure of the Bishop, and Dr. Shaw, therefore, felt a double +responsibility. She could not enter the pulpit, however, but spoke +from a platform in front of it. It was a never to be forgotten scene. +The grand old church was crowded to the last inch of space, although +admission was by ticket. Facing the chancel were the thirty famous +women singers of Göteborg, their cantor a woman, and the noted woman +organist and composer, Elfrida Andrée, who composed the music for the +occasion. In the center of all was the little black-robed minister. It +was said by many to be the most wonderful sermon of her life and after +the service was over the pastor, with tears rolling down his cheeks, +went up to her with hands outstretched and taking both of hers said: +"I am the happiest man in Sweden." Sunday evening a reception was +given at the Restaurant Rosenbad to the officers, presidents of +national auxiliaries and Swedish Committee of Arrangements by its +chairman, Mrs. Bertha Nordenson. At six o'clock excursions of many +delegates had started to enjoy the long evening when the sun did not +set till nearly midnight.</p> + +<p>The official report of the first executive session Monday morning +said: "Miss Janet Richards, delegate from the U. S. A., with an +admirable speech, presented to the Alliance from the State which had +recently given full suffrage to women a gavel bearing the inscription: +"To the International W. S. A. from the Washington Equal Suffrage +Association." It was announced that National Suffrage Associations had +been formed in Iceland and Servia and they were gladly accepted as +auxiliaries, bringing the number up to twenty-six. The municipality +had contributed 3,000 crowns to the congress, which proved to be the +largest ever held in Stockholm. Season tickets had been sold to 1,200 +persons and other hundreds bought tickets to the various meetings. +During the entire week the flags of the nations represented at the +congress floated from the flagstaffs that lined the quay in front of +the Grand Hotel facing the royal palace, as far as the eye could +reach. All the time Mrs. Catt was in the city the American flag was +run up for her as a public guest wherever she went and the Swedish +colors dipped a salute.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_841" id="Page_841">[Pg 841]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Congress was formally opened in the afternoon of June 12 with +addresses of welcome from Miss Anna Whitlock, acting president of the +National Suffrage Association of Sweden, and the Hon. Ernest Beckman, +M. P., president of the National Swedish Liberal Association, and +response from the Alliance was made by Miss Chrystal Macmillan of +Great Britain, proxy for Mrs. Millicent Garrett Fawcett, its first +vice-president. Miss Anna Kleman, president of the Stockholm suffrage +society, then presented the beautiful white satin, gold embroidered +Alliance banner, which was carried by six university students in white +dresses with sashes of the Swedish colors. Mrs. Catt announced that +the Alliance flag was now flying over the Grand Hotel where they were +assembled. The banner was the gift of Miss Lotten von Kroemer, a +pioneer suffragist of Sweden, and the flag of the resident Atlantic, +Gulf and Pacific Tea Co., U. S. A. A suffrage song written by K. G. +Ossian-Nillson and the music composed by Hugo Alfven for the occasion +was sung by the Women's Choir of Göteborg, after which an official +delegate of the Government extended its greeting while the audience +rose and the flags of the nations waved from the galleries. Mrs. Catt +received an ovation as she came to the front of the platform to make +her address. It filled twenty-three pages of the printed minutes and +was a complete resumé of the early position of women, the vast changes +that had been wrought and the great work which the Alliance was doing. +Only a few quotations are possible:</p> + +<blockquote><p>In the recent debate on the bill in the Swedish Parliament a +university professor said in a tone of eloquent finality: "The +woman suffrage movement has reached and passed its climax; the +suffrage wave is now rapidly receding." With patronizing air, +more droll than he could know, the gentleman added: "We have +permitted this movement to come thus far but we shall allow it to +go no farther." Thus another fly resting upon the proverbial +wheel of progress commanded it to turn no more. This man engages +our attention because he is a representative of a type to be +found in all our lands; wise men on the wrong side of a great +question, modern Joshuas who command the sun to stand still and +believe that it will obey.</p> + +<p>Long centuries before the birth of Darwin an old-time Hindoo +wrote: "I stand on a river's bank. I know not whence the waters +come or whither they go. So deep and silent is its current that I +know not whether it flows north or south; all is mystery to me;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_842" id="Page_842">[Pg 842]</a></span> +but when I climb yon summit the river becomes a silver thread +weaving its length in and out among the hills and over the +plains. I see it all from its source in yonder mountain to its +outlet in yonder sea. There is no more mystery." So these +university professors buried in school books, these near-sighted +politicians, fail to note the meaning of passing events. To them +the woman movement is an inexplicable mystery, but to us standing +upon the summit of international union, where we may observe +every manifestation of this movement in all parts of the world, +there is no mystery. From its sources ages ago, amid the protests +which we know barbaric women must have made against the cruel +wrongs done their sex, we clearly trace its course through the +centuries, moving slowly but majestically onward, gathering +momentum with each century, each generation, until just before us +lies the golden sea of woman's full liberty.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Mrs. Catt traced the progress of the ages until it culminated in the +demand for political rights for women, told of the beginning of the +Alliance and said: "Today, seven years later, our Alliance counts 26 +auxiliary national associations. Are these evidences of a wave rapidly +receding? It would be more in accordance with facts should we adopt +the proud boast of the British Empire and say that the sun now never +sets upon woman suffrage activities. The subscribing membership in the +world has increased seven times in the past seven years and it has +doubled since the London congress two years ago. Even in Great +Britain, where the opposition declared at that time very confidently +that the campaign had reached its climax, the National Union, our +auxiliary, has tripled its individual membership, tripled its +auxiliary societies and doubled its funds since then, and twelve +independent suffrage societies have been organized. The membership and +campaign funds have likewise tripled in the United States and every +president of an auxiliary national society has reported increase in +numbers, funds and activity.... No human power, no university +professor, no Parliament, no government, can stay the coming of woman +suffrage. It is a step in the evolution of society and the eternal +verities are behind it.... Of the 24 nations represented in this +congress the women of 15 have more political rights than they had +seven years ago."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Catt paid high tribute to the Scandinavian people and eulogized +Fredrika Bremer, Sweden's great pioneer. In speaking of the progress +in this country she said: "Municipal suffrage<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_843" id="Page_843">[Pg 843]</a></span> has now been extended +to married women and eligibility to office to all women. Organizations +exist in 170 towns, some of them north of the Arctic Circle; there is +a paying membership of 12,000 and 1,550 meetings have been held in the +last two years. Two political parties espouse the cause. Women may +vote for town and county councils, which elect the Upper House of +Parliament, and thirty-seven are serving on these councils." She +referred eloquently to the honored Selma Lagerlöf and to Dr. Lydia +Wahlstrom, the recent president of the National Suffrage Association, +who had been crowned with a laurel wreath for her wisdom by the +University of Upsala. She told of a questionnaire she had sent to the +presidents of the national suffrage associations in all countries +asking what were the indications that the woman suffrage movement was +growing and said: "Such volumes of evidence of progress were received +that it is quite impossible to give an idea of its far reaching +character....<a name="FNanchor_223_223" id="FNanchor_223_223"></a><a href="#Footnote_223_223" class="fnanchor">[223]</a></p> + +<p>At the official reception given by the National Suffrage Association +of Sweden in the evening the guests were welcomed by Mrs. Ann Margret +Holmgren and their appreciative responses were made by Mrs. Margaret +Hodge, Australia; Miss Gabriella Danzerova, Bohemia; Mrs. Daisy Minor, +Austria; Miss Helen Clay-Petersen, Denmark; Miss Annie Furuhjelm, +Finland; Madam DeWitt Schlumberger, France; Dr. jur. Anita Augspurg, +Germany; Mrs. Olga Ungar, Hungary; Mrs. Philip Snowden, Great Britain. +These were followed by a cantata beautifully rendered by the Göteborg +choir, words and music by women.</p> + +<p>During the convention Lieutenant Colonel W. A. E. Mansfeldt of Holland +made the report for its Men's League for Woman Suffrage; Dr. C. V. +Drysdale for Great Britain; Jean du Breuil for France; Dr. Alexander +Patai for Hungary; Frederick Nathan for the United States, and the +founding of an International Men's League was announced with Colonel +Mansfeldt secretary.</p> + +<p>The reports of the work of the different branches and their +discussion, bringing before the Alliance the experience and opinions +of women from all parts of the world, were perhaps the most valuable +feature of the conference. The most animated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_844" id="Page_844">[Pg 844]</a></span> and vital of these +discussions was the one of a political nature, divided into three +parts: 1. What political work have the women of the enfranchised +countries done, what is their relation to the different parties and +how do these treat them? Have they any advice to offer? led by Miss +Hodge, Mrs. Louise Keilhau, Norway; Dr. Tekla Hultin, M. P., Finland. +2. How can woman's political influence be brought to bear most +effectively on Parliaments and governments? Led by Mrs. Snowden; Mrs. +Anna B. Wicksell, Sweden; Dr. Käthe Schirmacher, Germany; Miss +Richards. 3. What should be the relation of the suffrage movement to +political parties in the unenfranchised countries? Led by Miss Eline +Hansen, Denmark; Miss Rosika Schwimmer, Hungary; Madame Pichon, +France; Mrs. Zeneide Mirovitch, Russia. There was a wide divergence of +opinion but at last a resolution was unanimously adopted that "woman +suffrage societies do their best work when organized in a non-partisan +manner." In order to remove persistent misunderstanding a statement +presented by Mrs. Catt was adopted explaining the wording of the +resolution demanding "the franchise for women on the same terms as it +is or may be exercised by men." It declared that the Alliance had on +no occasion taken a position for or against any special form of +suffrage but that the affiliated societies were left entirely free to +determine for themselves which form they would demand. The Alliance +did not express an opinion as to what should be the qualifications for +enfranchisement, its sole object being to establish the principle that +sex should not be a disqualification.</p> + +<p>No more eminent group of women speakers ever appeared before an +audience than those who spoke in the Royal Opera House of Stockholm on +the second evening of the convention. Mrs. Catt presided and addresses +were made by Miss Westermarck, Dr. Augspurg, Mrs. Snowden, Miss +Schwimmer, Dr. Shaw and Sweden's best beloved Selma Lagerlöf. The last +named moved the audience to tears during her address on Home and State +by her impassioned plea for the enfranchisement of women. It was said +by delegates from the various countries who had attended many of these +international gatherings that this meeting surpassed all others. +Another which differed from all that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_845" id="Page_845">[Pg 845]</a></span> had gone before was the great +gathering in Skansen, the magnificent park, where at 7 o'clock, from +two platforms, noted speakers from ten countries addressed an audience +of thousands. A dinner followed in the park house, Högenloft, with +fine music, and then in the open air the visitors saw the famous +national dances and processions by the young people in the picturesque +costumes of the country.</p> + +<p>Although the official languages of the Alliance were French, German +and English a crowded meeting was held one evening in the People's +House with the speeches in the northern tongues, understood by all the +Scandinavian people. It was opened by Mayor Lindhagen, an ardent +advocate of woman suffrage. At another session the Woman Question in +the Russian Parliament was considered by the noted woman leader, Dr. +Shiskin-Yavein; the Suffrage Outlook in Bohemia by Miss Maria Tumova, +recent candidate for Parliament; the Future of South African Women by +Miss Nina Boyle. A special meeting was held one afternoon in the hall +of the Young Women's Christian Association. Mrs. Marie Stritt, +Germany; Mme. Maria Verone, France, and Miss Macmillan were appointed +to compile a pamphlet of information about woman suffrage in all lands +to be used for propaganda work.</p> + +<p>A delegate from the United States, Professor Mary Gray Peck, +officially connected with its national suffrage headquarters, gave the +following description in a letter to the press:</p> + +<blockquote><p>The ball room of the Grand Hotel where the meetings were held is +a palatial apartment, its walls richly gilded and adorned with +long mirrors between the windows, while from the ceiling hang +great crystal chandeliers, which were always lighted while the +congress was in session. The platform for officers and +distinguished guests was placed between gilded pillars at one end +of the hall, draped and canopied with the national colors of +Sweden, blue and yellow, and the international suffrage colors, +yellow and white. Then there is the memory of other places where +the delegates assembled, the ancient State Church, with its +reminder of St. Paul's in London; the splendid Academy of Music, +with the heraldic banners of the nations suspended around the +gallery; the Royal Opera House with its tiers of balconies and +the rising of the curtain to show the beautiful stage picture of +the speakers and the arch of flowers beneath which they spoke; +the Moorish court in the Royal Hotel, where the reception was +held, with the delightful Birgitta cantata, recalling the heroic +in Swedish womanhood; the open air meeting at Skansen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_846" id="Page_846">[Pg 846]</a></span> with the +native songs and dances; the farewell in the garden at +Saltsjöbaden, given by the Stockholm society; the peasant singing +and the wonderful ride back to the city by late northern twilight +and moonlight together.</p> + +<p>The closing speech of the congress made by the international +president at the close of the dinner at Saltsjöbaden was +something indescribable. She stood on a balcony facing the sunset +sky and blue sea, with pine trees forming an amphitheater in the +background. It was like a triumphant recessional, with +benediction for the past and challenge for the future, and when +the speaker descended from the balcony and went down to the boat +landing followed by the singing of the peasants, the crowd +divided, leaving a wide path, and stood gazing after her as +though she were too imperial to be followed by anything but +music.</p></blockquote> + +<p>On the Sunday following the congress an excursion was arranged on +beautiful Lake Malaren to the ancient Castle of Gripsholm, where +evening dinner was served. The city council and the State railways +financially assisted the Entertainment Committee. At all of the +Alliance congresses the social entertainments were a marked feature. +The hospitality was boundless and each country had its historic places +and beautiful resorts which differed so much from those of all others +as to give them an indescribable charm and interest. Following is part +of the report of this one by Mrs. Anna Lindemann, secretary of the +Alliance:<a name="FNanchor_224_224" id="FNanchor_224_224"></a><a href="#Footnote_224_224" class="fnanchor">[224]</a></p> + +<blockquote><p>The official entertainments were most appropriately opened by the +truly international greeting which Mrs. Holmgren, one of the +founders of the Swedish suffrage movement, addressed to the +guests at the reception in the Grand Hotel Royal. Her words which +gave a hearty welcome to the French and German-speaking guests +and to our Swedish sisters in their several languages; the +beautiful cantata written by Sigrid Leijonhufvud, the music +composed by Alfrida Andree specially for this occasion, and last +but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_847" id="Page_847">[Pg 847]</a></span> not least the presence of the woman all of us had long known +and loved before we saw her, Selma Lagerlöf, made us feel at home +in Sweden at once. This feeling deepened as time went on and +Wednesday evening at Skansen a new note was added. All we saw of +Swedish nature and Swedish life in that beautiful open air +museum, the national dances, the characteristic art of Sven +Scholander and his daughter Lisa, gave us a deeper understanding +of the people whose guests we were and showed us some of the +roots from which it draws its strength. Another aspect also, the +refined culture of modern Sweden, was the dominant note of the +dinner at Hasselbacken with the heartfelt speech of the venerable +Bishop Scheele of Visby.</p> + +<p>On a background of lovely scenery this week will stand out in our +memory as one long summer day with a long, long evening full of +silver light.... During the carriage drive generously provided by +Miss Lotten von Kraemer our hearts were gladdened by the many +expressions of sympathy we met on our way, from the dear old +women, who waved their handkerchiefs and their aprons, down to +small girls by the side of their mothers.... Especially the day +at Upsala, by invitation of its suffrage society, will not be +forgotten. The warm-hearted reception, the gay flags all through +the town, at once lifted up the spirit of the whole gathering, +which found a charming expression in the improvised festive +procession from the botanical garden to the cathedral. The +presence and eloquence of the Rev. Anna Howard Shaw gave an added +dignity to this as to many others of our social gatherings. +Schools, hospitals, museums, exhibitions of all kinds of women's +art and women's work, were visited.... [The many private +invitations were referred to.] The thirty-six delegates, who +accepted Mrs. Caroline Benedick-Bruce's invitation to the Island +of Visby, have told us that words failed to describe this +beautiful day.</p> + +<p>Looking back on the time that lies behind us, we, the women who +have come here from all over the world, thank our Swedish sisters +for the inspiration their kindness and their loving reception +have been to us. We thank Sweden for the splendid women it has +produced. We have seen the many elements that have worked +together to attain this result; we have learned to admire and +respect Swedish history, Swedish culture, Swedish art; and as, +besides the many other things this congress has done for us, it +has most specially taught us to love the Swedish women, we can +express no better wish for our future conventions than that every +new country which receives us may in the same way widen our +hearts by a new love.</p></blockquote> + + +<h4>SEVENTH CONFERENCE OF THE ALLIANCE.</h4> + +<p>The International Woman Suffrage Alliance held its Seventh Conference +and Congress in Budapest June 15-21, 1913. As had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_848" id="Page_848">[Pg 848]</a></span> been the case with +all that had preceded, the place of meeting had been chosen with +reference to the situation in regard to woman suffrage where the +prospect for it seemed favorable and it was desired to influence +public sentiment by showing that the movement for it was world-wide. +When it had been announced at the congress in Stockholm that the next +one would be held in the capital of Hungary it had seemed very far +away and that country was not associated with representative +government. It proved to be, however, one of the largest and most +important of the conventions and its efforts were widespread, as the +delegates stopped en route for mass meetings and public banquets in +Berlin, Dresden, Prague and Vienna. Twenty-two countries were +represented by 240 delegates and alternates. The full quota of 24 were +present from Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Great Britain, the United +States and Hungary; Finland sent 15; Denmark and Norway 11 each; +Switzerland 9: Italy 8; Russia 5; Belgium and Austria, 4 each; from +South Africa came 4, from Iceland, 2; from Canada, 3; from Bohemia +one.</p> + +<p>It was indeed a cosmopolitan assemblage. The government of Australia +had an official delegate, Mrs. Frederick Spencer, and that of Norway +two, the president of the National Suffrage Association, Mrs. F. M. +Qvam, and the president of the National Council of Women, Miss Gina +Krog. The Governors of California, Oregon and Washington had appointed +representatives. Written or telegraphed greetings were received from +nineteen countries, encircling the globe. The question of fraternal +delegates reached its climax, as 163 were present from twelve +countries, all wishing to offer their greetings and a large number +intending to advocate the particular object of their organizations. A +resolution was finally adopted that no credentials should be accepted +until the society presenting them should be approved by the National +Suffrage Association of its country and no fraternal delegate should +speak except by invitation of the president of the Alliance and with +the consent of the congress. This checked a torrent of oratory and +allowed the convention to carry out its program. The Chinese Woman +Suffrage Society was admitted, for which Mrs. Catt had sowed the seeds +at the time of her visit to that country, and the beautifully +embroidered banner they had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_849" id="Page_849">[Pg 849]</a></span> sent was presented to the Alliance by Dr. +Aletta Jacobs, president of the Netherlands Association, who had +accompanied her. She said in part:</p> + +<blockquote><p>It is difficult to speak to an audience which certainly does not +know the Chinese women in their own land, an audience of which +only a few have had the privilege to hear from the lips of those +feet-bound women what an important part they have taken in the +revolution of their country and in the political reform which has +resulted from it; to make you clearly understand the spirit of +these Chinese women when they offered this banner to Mrs. Catt, +as president of the Alliance, in gratitude for what it is doing +for the uplifting of womanhood, and when they expressed their +hope that it would take the Chinese women under its care. You +have not been, as Mrs. Catt and I have, in the south of the +country, where we saw Chinese women sitting in Parliament but +from whom the vote is now taken away. You have not heard, as we +did, in many towns, the Chinese women speak in crowded meetings +to a mixed, enthusiastic audience with an eloquence none of us +can surpass. You can not imagine how hard is the struggle for +liberty which they have to make. In every town we found +intelligent women with the same love for freedom as inspires us, +who hunger after righteousness just as we do and who devote not +only all their money but their entire life to the struggle for +the improvement of the position of the women of their country.</p> + +<p>Many of the Chinese women have already been decapitated for the +truth they have told while fighting their battle for freedom and +all the leaders of the woman movement know that their life is +uncertain and that any day the men may find a reason to silence +them when their eloquence and enthusiasm make too many converts. +In translating the words which they embroidered upon this bright +red satin you will learn what is going on in the minds of the new +Chinese women: "The Mutual Helping Society to the International +Alliance. Helping each other, all of one mind." In the name of +these Chinese women I ask you to accept this banner in the same +loyal spirit in which it is offered and to welcome the Chinese +suffragists into our Alliance.</p></blockquote> + +<p>A handsome banner was presented by the delegation from Galicia. The +president of the Belgian Association reported that Roman Catholic, +Conservative, Socialist and Progressive women had united in a +non-partisan federation to work only for woman suffrage. South Africa, +Roumania and Portugal associations were received in full membership +and also a committee from Galicia, where women were not allowed to +form an association. Greetings came by cable from the women of Persia.</p> + +<p>No tribute can do justice to the genius of Rosika Schwimmer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_850" id="Page_850">[Pg 850]</a></span> in +arranging for this remarkable convention, the first of the kind ever +held in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Both the government and the +municipality made liberal contributions, which the citizens +supplemented with more than enough to pay the entire expenses of the +congress, that was conducted on a liberal scale. A sale of 2,800 +season tickets was made. Through the assistance of capable committees +every effort possible was made for the comfort and pleasure of the +delegates, who were cared for from the moment they arrived at the +station. English speaking university students and others of education +helped to overcome the extreme difficulties of the language. So many +delightful expeditions into the wonderful country had been provided +through the courtesy of the railroads and navigation company that it +required a strong sense of duty for the delegates to attend to the +business of the convention. A reception given Saturday evening by the +National Suffrage Association at the Gerbaud Pavilion enabled +officers, delegates and members of the committees to begin +acquaintance and friendship.</p> + +<p>According to the custom of the country the convention was opened on +Sunday afternoon. Dr. Anna Howard Shaw had conducted religious +services in the morning at the Protestant church in Buda, assisted by +the Rev. Eliza Tupper Wilkes, by courtesy of its minister, the Rev. +Benno Haypal. At four o'clock a large and cordial audience assembled +in the grand Academy of Music for the official welcome, which began +with an overture by the orchestra of the National theater, composed +for the occasion by Dr. Aladar Renyi. A special ode written by Emil +Abranyi was beautifully recited in Hungarian by Maria Jaszai and in +English by Erzsi Paulay, both actresses from the National Theater. +Greetings were given by Countess Teleki, chairman of the Committee of +Arrangements, and Miss Vilma Glücklich, president of the National +Suffrage Association. The official welcome of the Government was +extended by His Excellency Dr. Bela de Jankovics, Minister of +Education, in an eloquent speech, and that of the city by Dr. Stephen +de Barczy, the Burgomaster, who was very imposing in the robes and +insignia of his high office. The response for the Alliance was made by +its secretary, Dr. Anna Lindemann, in German and French. Dr. +Alexander<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_851" id="Page_851">[Pg 851]</a></span> Geisswein, a prominent member of Parliament, made a strong +address in favor of woman suffrage. These ceremonies were followed by +the president's address of Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, a summing up of +the world situation in regard to woman suffrage, during which she +said:</p> + +<blockquote><p>When the organization of the Alliance was completed in 1904, it +was decided that national woman suffrage associations only should +be admitted to membership and a nation was defined as a country +which possesses the independent right to enfranchise its women. +At that time eight such nations had woman suffrage associations. +Now, nine years later, with the exception of the Spanish American +Republics, there are in the entire world only seven without an +organized woman suffrage movement. Only three of these are in +Europe—Greece, Spain, and the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg. The +remaining four are not well established self-governing nations, +and Japan, which is more autocratic than democratic. We shall +admit to membership the Chinese Woman Suffrage Association and +the standard of the Alliance will then be set upon five +continents. Twenty-five nations will be counted in its +membership. Organized suffrage groups also exist on many islands +of the seas. Like Alexander the Great, we shall soon be looking +for other worlds to conquer! The North Star and the Southern +Cross alike cast their benignant rays upon woman suffrage +activities. Last winter when perpetual darkness shrouded the land +of the Midnight Sun, women wrapped in furs, above the Polar +Circle, might have been seen gliding over snow-covered roads in +sledges drawn by reindeer on their way to suffrage meetings, from +whence petitions went to the Parliament at Stockholm. At the same +moment other women, in the midsummer of the southern hemisphere, +protected by fans and umbrellas and riding in "rickshas," were +doing the same thing under the fierce rays of a tropical sun; +while petitions poured into the Parliament asking suffrage for +the women of the Union of South Africa from every State and city +of that vast country.</p> + +<p>Since our last Congress not one sign has appeared the entire +world around to indicate reaction. Not a backward step has been +taken. On the contrary a thousand revelations give certain, +unchallenged promise that victory for our great cause lies just +ahead.... During the past winter woman suffrage bills have been +considered by seventeen national Parliaments, four Parliaments of +countries without full national rights and in the legislative +bodies of twenty-nine States.... The largest gains for the past +two years have been in the United States. Five western States and +the Territory of Alaska have followed the example of the four +former equal suffrage States and have enfranchised their women. +Now 2,000,000 women are entitled to vote at all elections and are +eligible to all offices, including that of President.... If +France, Germany, Great Britain, Austria and Hungary could be set +down in the middle of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_852" id="Page_852">[Pg 852]</a></span> this territory, there would be enough left +uncovered to equal the kingdom of Italy in size.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Mrs. Catt spoke of the trip of Dr. Jacobs and herself around the world +and said: "We held public meetings in many of the towns and cities of +four continents, of four large islands and on the ships of three +oceans and had representatives of all the great races and +nationalities in our audiences. We are now in touch with the most +advanced development of the woman's movement in Egypt, Palestine, +India, Burmah, China, Japan, Java and the Philippine and Hawaiian +Islands, and also in Turkey and Persia, which we did not visit."</p> + +<p>In telling of the momentous changes taking place in the East she said: +"Behind the purdah in India, in the harems of Mohammedanism, behind +veils and barred doors and closed sedan chairs there has been +rebellion in the hearts of women all down the centuries.... We spoke +with many women all over the East who had never heard of a 'woman's +movement,' yet isolated and alone they had thought out the entire +program of woman's emancipation, not excluding the vote...." She +reviewed at length the position of women in Persia, in India and in +Asia, the influence of the various religions and the signs of +progress, paying a tribute to Mrs. Annie Besant, to the teachings of +theosophy and especially to those of the Bahais. The terrible +conditions for wage-earning women, the child labor and the nearly +unrestricted white slave traffic in the far East were feelingly +described and the address, which had been heard with almost breathless +interest, concluded:</p> + +<blockquote><p>The women of the western world are escaping from the thraldom of +the centuries.... Their liberation is certain; a little more +effort, a little more enlightenment and it will come. Out of the +richness of our own freedom must we give aid to these sisters of +ours in Asia. When I review the slow, tragic struggle upward of +the women of the West I am overwhelmed with the awfulness of the +task these Eastern women have assumed. They must follow the +vision in their souls as we have done and as other women before +us have done. My heart yearns to give them aid and comfort. I +would that we could strengthen them for the coming struggle. I +would that we could put a protecting arm around these heroic +women and save them from the cruel blows they are certain to +receive. Alas! we can only help them to help themselves. Every +Western victory<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_853" id="Page_853">[Pg 853]</a></span> will give them encouragement and inspiration, +for our victories are their victories and their defeats are our +defeats. For every woman of every tribe and nation, every race +and continent, now under the heel of oppression we must demand +deliverance.</p></blockquote> + +<p>On the Sunday evening after the opening of the convention the Royal +Opera, a State institution, gave a special gala performance of +Mozart's Entfuhrung aus dem Serail, with Cupid's Tricks, by the full +ballet. This was complimentary to the visitors, as the regular season +had closed, and the magnificent spectacle and splendid music were +highly appreciated by the large audience, by none more than by a group +of peasant women, who sat in one of the galleries with shawls over +their heads, having walked fifty miles to attend the congress. +Provision was made for their return home by train.</p> + +<p>The formal organization for business took place Monday morning in the +Redoute, a large, handsome convention hall, but hardly were the +preliminaries over and luncheon finished when a long row of gaily +decorated carriages was ready for a three hour drive around the +beautiful city and its environs. At 7:30 the municipality gave an open +air fęte on Fisher Bastion, that noble piece of architecture which is +the pride of Budapest. A writer describing the procession of officers +and delegates, headed by Mrs. Catt, passing up the steps to receive +the greetings of the city's high officials, said: "The entrance up the +wide steps, between lines of attendants in picturesque uniforms, with +the soft sunset glow and the lights coming out one by one in the city +and on the river below, was like passing from real life into a land of +enchantment." After the reception all assembled in the Court of Honor, +where sparkling five-minute speeches were made by representatives from +a dozen countries.</p> + +<p>It was soon evident that the business of the convention would have to +be confined to the morning hours, as the afternoons and evenings had +to be given over to public speech making and social functions. There +was long discussion in several sessions on establishing international +headquarters and a press bureau, enlarging the monthly paper, <i>Jus +Suffragii</i>, and changing the place of its publication. After most of +the delegates had expressed opinions the whole matter was left to the +board of officers. Miss<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_854" id="Page_854">[Pg 854]</a></span> Martina Kramers, Netherlands, declined to +stand for re-election to the office of recording secretary and the +editorship of the paper and a standing vote of thanks was given "for +her seven years' hard work, with the hope that her name will never be +forgotten in the International Suffrage Alliance and that she will +always be appreciated as the founder of <i>Jus Suffragii</i>.<a name="FNanchor_225_225" id="FNanchor_225_225"></a><a href="#Footnote_225_225" class="fnanchor">[225]</a> Miss +Chrystal Macmillan, Mrs. Marie Stritt and Mme. Marie Verone reported +that the book Woman Suffrage in Practice, which they had been +requested at the Stockholm meeting to prepare, was finished and the +English edition ready for this convention; the French and German +editions would be published in a few weeks.</p> + +<p>The treasurer, Mrs. Stanton Coit, made a detailed and acceptable +report and said that, with new headquarters, a paid secretary, an +enlarged newspaper and many publications, 2,000 pounds would be +necessary for the next two years. Pledges were made for 2,510 pounds +($12,350)<a name="FNanchor_226_226" id="FNanchor_226_226"></a><a href="#Footnote_226_226" class="fnanchor">[226]</a>.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Catt having served as president nine years earnestly desired to +retire in favor of a woman from another country but at a meeting of +the presidents of all the auxiliaries she was unanimously and strongly +urged to reconsider her wish. She reluctantly did so and was elected +by acclamation. The delegates decided that the ten persons receiving +the highest number of votes should constitute the officers of the +Alliance and the board itself should apportion their special offices. +Mrs. Fawcett, Mrs. Coit, Miss Furuhjelm, Miss Bergman and Mrs. +Lindemann were re-elected. The five new officers selected were Mrs. +DeWitt Schlumberger, France; Miss Schwimmer, Hungary; Miss Macmillan, +Great Britain; Mrs. Stritt, Germany; Mrs. Katharine Dexter McCormick, +United States.</p> + +<p>The persistent requests that the Board should and should not endorse +the "militant" movement in Great Britain, which had assumed serious +proportions, caused it to recommend the following<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_855" id="Page_855">[Pg 855]</a></span> resolution which +was adopted without dissent: "Resolved: That as the International +Woman Suffrage Alliance stands pledged by its constitution to strict +neutrality on all questions concerning national policy or tactics, its +rules forbid any expression favoring or condemning 'militant' methods. +Be it further resolved: That since riot, revolution and disorder have +never been construed into an argument against man suffrage, we protest +against the practice of the opponents of woman suffrage to interpret +'militancy' employed by the minority in one country as an excuse for +withholding the vote from the women of the world." At another time +Mrs. Cobden Sanderson of Great Britain, speaking as a fraternal +delegate, eulogized the self-sacrifice of the "militants" as the +principal factor in the movement, and Mrs. Catt, speaking from the +chair, said that she would like to answer the assertion that it was +only the "militant" women who were the martyrs. To the women who had +made such protests had come the glory, whereas there were thousands +who had given their lives to the cause whose names had never been +heard. All down the centuries there had been heroines and martyrs and +many of them had stood alone. She believed the movement owed a great +debt to the "militant" women of Great Britain but they were only a +part of it.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Catt introduced and urged a resolution "to send from this +congress a request to the Governments of all countries here +represented to institute an international inquiry into the cause and +extent of commercialized vice, and to ask the woman suffrage +organizations in each country to petition their own Government to +institute a national inquiry and to include women in the Commission." +The resolution was unanimously adopted. Mrs. Catt was appointed to +represent the Alliance at the approaching International White Slave +Traffic Congress in London. A very able address, showing a thorough +study of the question, was made by Mrs. Fawcett, who presided at the +meeting held to discuss What Women Voters Have Done towards the +Solution of this Problem.</p> + +<p>The usual important reports of the progress in all the affiliated +countries were presented and ordered published in the Minutes, where +they filled over sixty pages. Miss Schwimmer in reporting for Hungary +said:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_856" id="Page_856">[Pg 856]</a></span></p> + +<blockquote><p>At the time of the founding of the International Woman Suffrage +Alliance there was nothing even approaching a feminist movement +in Hungary, yet the recent Reform Bill which has just passed the +two Houses includes a long and thorough explanation of the +usefulness and need of woman suffrage and apologies on the part +of the Government for not being able (owing to the present +precarious political situation) to grant it. The marked +inclination of the Government in favor of woman suffrage and the +discussion which took place in the House afterwards, together +with the fact that an amendment to include woman suffrage +received more votes than any other moved, has given the whole +question such an importance that it is no longer a matter of +discussion as to whether our claims are justified or not, but +only when shall they be granted?</p> + +<p>The work accomplished by us since the Stockholm Congress has been +in the main, as before, educational; propaganda by meetings, +lectures at all seasons and in all places; the distribution of an +immense quantity of leaflets and other printed matter and +lectures by famous foreign suffragists. The most valuable and +effective part of our work was that we took advantage of the +meetings arranged by the coalition opposition parties, which +include the Social Democratic and the Bourgeois-Radicals. They +held hundreds in all parts of Hungary, many attended by six or +eight thousand people, and in one in Budapest gathered an +audience of 15,000. We tried to get a speaker of ours on every +program. In spite of the militant opposition of the Social +Democratic party and Radical leaders, we succeeded nearly every +time in getting the floor, where we presented amendments to their +resolutions, which, when the chairman was honest enough to put +them to be voted on, were always enthusiastically carried.... +About sixty societies for various purposes have declared their +position by taking part officially in several of our public +demonstrations.</p></blockquote> + +<p>A list was given of distinguished men who had become converted to +woman suffrage. Men took a more prominent part in this convention than +in any which had preceded, due principally to the very active +Hungarian Men's League for Woman Suffrage, which included a number +well known in political and intellectual life. The International +Alliance of Men's Leagues conducted an afternoon session in the Pester +Lloyd hall with the Hon. Georg de Lukacs of Hungary, its president, in +the chair. What can Men Do to Help the Movement for Woman Suffrage? +was discussed by Dr. C. V. Drysdale, Great Britain; Major C. V. +Mansfeldt, Netherlands, and Dr. Andre de Maday, Hungary. On Thursday +evening this International League held a mass meeting in the Academy +of Music with rousing speeches for woman suffrage<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_857" id="Page_857">[Pg 857]</a></span> by Hermann Bahr, +Austria; M. Du Breuil de St. Germain, France; Major Mansfeldt; Keir +Hardie, Great Britain; Senator Mechelin, Finland; Dr. Vazsonyi, M. P., +Hungary; Professor Wicksell, Sweden; Professor Gustav Szaszy-Schwartz, +Hungary.</p> + +<p>A crowded mass meeting addressed by women took place one evening in +the Academy of Music, with Mrs. Catt presiding. Mrs. Stritt, president +of the National Suffrage Association of Germany, spoke on Woman +Suffrage and Eugenics; Mme. Maria Verone, a well known lawyer of +Paris, made her impassioned address in French, and Dr. Gulli Petrini +of Sweden spoke in French on Woman Suffrage and Democracy; Miss +Schwimmer inspired the audience with Hungarian oratory; Miss Jane +Addams of the United States gave a forceful address on Why the Modern +Woman Needs the Ballot, and Dr. Shaw closed the meeting with an +eloquent interpretation of the demand of women for the vote. One +afternoon from 4 to 6 o'clock was devoted to a Young People's Meeting, +addressed by delegates from eight countries. A forenoon was given to +the discussion of the always vital question, What Relation Should +Suffrage Organizations Bear toward Political Parties, led by Mrs. Anna +B. Wicksell, Sweden, and Miss Courtney, Great Britain. A large +audience heard one evening the Benefits of Woman Suffrage related by +those who had been sent as official delegates from Governments that +had given the vote to women, Mrs. Qvam, Miss Krog and Mrs. Spencer, +and in supplementary speeches by Mrs. Jenny Forselius, member of +Parliament from Finland; Miss A. Maude Royden, Great Britain; Mrs. +Charlotte Perkins Gilman, United States, whose topic was New Mothers +of a New World. A resumé of all these addresses was made in Hungarian +by Vilma Glücklich. During the convention much of the interpreting in +English, French and German was done by Mrs. Maud Nathan of the United +States, who also made an address in the three languages.</p> + +<p>On the last day it seemed almost as if the men had taken possession of +the congress, for they had secured the convention hall for the +afternoon meeting, but the women did not like to discourage such +exceptional interest. Woman Suffrage and Men's Economic, Ethical and +Political Interest in it was discussed by Professor Emanuel Beke, +Hungary; Dr. Emil von Hoffmansthal,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_858" id="Page_858">[Pg 858]</a></span> Austria; Frederick Nathan and +Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, United States. Vigorous speeches were made by +Malcolm Mitchell, Great Britain; Leo Gassman, Germany; the Rev. Benno +Haypal, and Alexander Patay, Hungary. The hall was restored to the +women at 5 o'clock for their final program under the general topic, +How may women still bound by ancient custom, tradition and prejudice +be awakened to a realization that these new times demand new duties +and responsibilities? How to Reach the Home Woman, Mrs. Gisela Urban, +Austria; Mrs. Irma V. Szirmay, Mrs. von Fürth, Hungary; How to Reach +the Church Woman, Mme. Jane Brigode, Belgium, Mme. Girardet-Vielle, +Switzerland; How to Reach the Society Woman, Miss Royden, Mme. +Schlumberger; How to Reach the Woman of Higher Education, Mrs. Crystal +Eastman Benedict, United States; How to Reach the Wage-earning Woman, +Miss Isabella O. Ford, Mrs. Clinny Dryer, Great Britain; How to Reach +the Woman Social Worker, Miss Addams.</p> + +<p>At the last business session the convention placed on record its +appreciation of the unsurpassed hospitality shown by the Hungarians. +The delegates from this country expressed the pleasure it had been to +welcome the women of all nations and the inspiration that had been +received. The president, Mrs. Catt, asked them to part with the +intention of coming to the next conference, each with a victory in her +own country to celebrate.</p> + +<p>There were many luncheons, teas and dinners in beautiful private +homes. The social entertainment which will be longest remembered was +the evening trip down the Danube with supper and music on board, a +happy, congenial party with three hours of the exquisite scenery along +the shores. Usually suffrage conventions closed in a burst of oratory +at a grand mass meeting but not so in this pleasure loving Hungarian +city. The last evening was given over to a banquet which taxed the +capacity of the big convention hall. There were toasts and speeches +and patriotic songs, and the presentation of the international pin, +set with jewels, by the ladies of Budapest to Miss Schwimmer. She said +in a clever acceptance that the women had done what the men never had +succeeded in doing; it was the desire of all Hungarians to make this +city the resort of the world and the women of the world had been the +first to come. "These ambassadors,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_859" id="Page_859">[Pg 859]</a></span> she said, "who came, to quote the +words of Mazzini, 'in the name of God and humanity,' will report to +their countries the friendly reception they have met and will surely +help the cause of international good feeling."</p> + +<p>Several countries competed for the honor of the conference of the +Alliance in 1915 and its regular convention in 1917. Mrs. May Wright +Sewall, honorary president of the International Council of Women, +presented an official invitation from the managers of the Panama +Pacific Exposition to be held in San Francisco in 1915, endorsed by +the California Suffrage Association; the executive committee of the +National Suffrage Association of Germany extended an urgent request +for the conference and that of France for the congress. The answer was +referred to the board, and it later accepted the invitations to Berlin +and Paris. This had been the largest meeting of the Alliance. Never +had the prospects seemed so favorable for accomplishing its objects; +never had the fraternity among the women of the different nations +seemed so close. When they parted with affectionate farewells and the +bright hope of meeting two years hence in Berlin they little dreamed +that it would be seven long years before they came together again; +that during this time the world would be devastated by the most +terrible war in history and that the task must be once more commenced +of developing among the women of the nations the spirit of confidence, +friendship and cooperation.</p> + + +<h4>EIGHTH CONFERENCE OF THE ALLIANCE.</h4> + +<p>On call of its president, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt of the United +States of America, the International Woman Suffrage Alliance was +summoned to its Eighth congress June 6-12, 1920, in Geneva, +Switzerland, seven instead of the usual two years after the last one. +The reason for the long interim was given in the opening sentences of +the president's address on the first day: "It is seven years since +last we met. In memory we live again those happy days of friendly +camaraderie in Budapest. All the faces were cheerful. On every side +one heard joyous laughter among the delegates and visitors. Every +heart was filled with buoyant hopes and every soul was armored with +dauntless courage. We<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_860" id="Page_860">[Pg 860]</a></span> had seen our numbers grow greater and our +movement stronger in many lands and here and there the final triumph +had already come.... Alas, those smiling, shining days seem now to +have been an experience in some other incarnation, for the years which +lie between are war-scarred and tortured and in 1920 there is not a +human being in the world to whom life is quite the same as in 1913.... +So we do not come smiling to Geneva as to Budapest."</p> + +<p>On Sunday morning, June 6, for the first time in the history of Geneva +a woman spoke in the National Church, the Cathedral of St. Peter, and +standing in the pulpit of Calvin Miss A. Maude Royden of Great Britain +preached in French and English to an audience that filled the ancient +edifice to the doors. That morning at 9 o'clock Father Hall, sent by +the Catholic ecclesiastical authorities from England for the purpose, +delivered a sermon to the congress at a special mass in Notre +Dame.<a name="FNanchor_227_227" id="FNanchor_227_227"></a><a href="#Footnote_227_227" class="fnanchor">[227]</a> In the afternoon a reception was given by Mlle. Emilie +Gourd, president of the Swiss National Suffrage Association, in the +lovely garden, Beau Sejour. At a public meeting in the evening at +Plainpalais, M. J. Mussard, president of the Canton of Geneva; Mme. +Chaponničre Chaix, president of the Swiss National Council of Women, +and Mlle. Gourd gave addresses of welcome, to which responses were +made by Miss Annie Furuhjelm, Finland; Mme. De Witt Schlumberger, +France, and Mrs. Anna Lindemann, Germany, officers of the Alliance. +Mrs. Catt then delivered her president's address. She described the +physical, mental and moral chaos resulting from the war, the immense +problems now to be solved, and said: "For the suffragists of the world +a few facts stand forth with great clarity. The first is that war, the +undoubted original cause of the age-old subjection of women the world +around; war, the combined enemy of their emancipation, has brought to +the women of many lands their political freedom!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Catt showed how the suffrage had come in some countries where no +effort had been made for it, while in others where women had worked +the hardest they were still disfranchised, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_861" id="Page_861">[Pg 861]</a></span> she gave a scathing +review of the situation in the United States, where it had been so +long withheld. She paid eloquent tributes to Susan B. Anthony, a +founder of the Alliance, and to Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, who had helped +to found it and had attended every congress but had died the preceding +year. She pointed out to the enfranchised delegates the great +responsibility that had been placed in their hands and through it the +vast power they would have in re-creating the world and said: "I +believe had the vote been granted to women twenty-five years ago, +their national influence would have so leavened world politics that +there would have been no world war." Among the many objects for the +Alliance to accomplish she named the following: (1) Stimulate the +spread of democracy and through it avoid another world war; (2) +Discourage revolution by demonstrating that change may be brought +about through peaceful political methods; (3) Encourage education and +enlightenment throughout the world; (4) Keep the faith in +self-government alive when it fails to meet expectations. Methods for +achieving these results were suggested and it was impressed on the +younger women that this would be their task, as the older ones had +practically finished their work. This address of surpassing eloquence +closed with these words:</p> + +<blockquote><p>God's order will come again to the world's stricken, unhappy, +much-suffering people. It will come because the divine law of +evolution never ceases to operate and the destiny of the race +leads eternally on without pause. So much sacrifice and sorrow as +the war has cost the world can not have been endured in vain.... +As I view world politics the only possible hope for the +happiness, prosperity and permanent peace of the world lies in +the thorough democratization of all governments. There can be no +democratization which excludes women and no safe or sound +democracy which is not based upon an educated, intelligent +electorate. Nor is it enough to establish democracy in individual +nations—it must be extended to world politics. The old +militarism must go and with it the old diplomacy, with its secret +treaties, distrust and intrigues. No League of Nations can +abolish war unless every government in the world is based on +democracy.</p> + +<p>In our home countries we should urge support of every movement +for the extension of popular education, foster every agency which +helps men and women to think for themselves, promote every +endeavor to maintain honest elections, judicially conducted +campaigns and high ideals in parties and parliaments, for +democracy succeeds when and where independence and intelligence +are greatest.</p></blockquote><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_862" id="Page_862">[Pg 862]</a></span></p> + +<p>A few of the delegates wished to disband the Alliance; a few others +desired to change the character of its objects, but by an overwhelming +majority it was voted to continue it along the original lines, +although broadened, until the women of all countries were +enfranchised. The Congress was held in the Maison Communale de +Plainpalais, the large town hall in a suburb of Geneva, and here one +evening its municipality gave a reception to the members. The shady +gardens and sunny terrace were the scene of many social +gatherings.<a name="FNanchor_228_228" id="FNanchor_228_228"></a><a href="#Footnote_228_228" class="fnanchor">[228]</a> The congress opened with a roll call of the suffrage +victories and the responses showed the almost unbelievable record that +twenty countries had enfranchised their women during the years of the +war! The Official Report was edited by Miss Chrystal Macmillan, +recording secretary of the International Alliance, and the +Introduction was a graphic review, which said in part:</p> + +<p>"Despite the difficulties of travel and the fact that only three +months' notice had been given the gathering at Geneva was more widely +representative than any previous meeting. Women were present from +thirty-six countries. Of the twenty-six affiliated with the Alliance +at the time of the last meeting, in 1913, the auxiliaries of nineteen +showed their continued vitality by sending fully accredited delegates +to Geneva. Representatives were also present from the former +auxiliaries in Austria and Germany, who were accorded full membership +rights. The Russian national president, a fugitive from her country, +was unable to come but sent her greetings. The Belgian society +abstained from taking part and from the Polish and Portuguese +auxiliaries no answer was received.</p> + +<p>"Four countries, Greece, Spain, Argentina and Uruguay, sent delegates +from newly formed National Suffrage Societies, which were accepted in +the Alliance. In addition there were present women from Armenia, the +Crimea, Lettonia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, New Zealand, Poland, Turkey +and Ukrainia. For the first<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_863" id="Page_863">[Pg 863]</a></span> time women from India and Japan came to +tell of the beginnings of the organized movement among the women of +the East. It was only the difficulties of travel which prevented the +delegates who had started on their journeys from China, Egypt and +Palestine from arriving in time for the congress. For the first time +more than half the voting delegates represented countries in which +women had the full suffrage. The consequent increased political +importance of the congress was recognized by the governments of the +world, of which eighteen in Europe appointed official representatives, +and the United States of America and Uruguay of South America. The +Secretariat of the League of Nations also sent a representative....</p> + +<p>"The outstanding feature of the first business session was the +announcement of particulars by representatives of the many nations +which had given the political and suffrage and eligibility to women +between 1913 and 1920—Austria, British East Africa, Canada, Crimea, +Czecho-Slovakia, Denmark, Esthonia, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, +Iceland, Lettonia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Poland, +Rhodesia, Russia, Sweden, Ukrainia and six more of the United States. +It was announced that women sit as members of Parliament in the +majority of these countries, while large numbers are members of +municipal councils. In the United States of America the Federal +Suffrage Amendment had passed both Houses of Congress and had been +ratified by thirty-five of the necessary thirty-six States. Serbia, +Belgium and Roumania had granted Municipal suffrage to women and the +Zionists of Palestine and the Commune of Fiume had given to them full +equal suffrage and eligibility.... It was decided to arrange at the +next congress a session at which only enfranchised women should +speak.... The Catholic Woman Suffrage Society of Great Britain was +accepted as a member of the Alliance....</p> + +<p>"Each of the three evening meetings, besides that of Sunday, which +were all crowded and enthusiastic, was characteristic of a different +aspect of the present development of the suffrage movement. On Monday, +a special feature was the speeches of five women members of +Parliament—Helen Ring Robinson (State Senate), Colorado; Elna Münch, +Denmark; Annie Furuhjelm,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_864" id="Page_864">[Pg 864]</a></span> Finland; Lady Astor, Great Britain; Tekla +Kauffman, Wurtemberg. In all, nine women members of Parliament +attended the Congress. The others, who spoke at later meetings, were +Frau Burian and Adelheid Popp of Austria; Mme. Petkavetchaite of +Lithuania and Adele Schrieber-Krieger, whose election to the German +Reichstag was announced during the Congress. On Wednesday at the great +meeting in the Hall of the Reformation, three-minute speeches were +given by representatives of each of the enfranchised countries in the +Alliance. Yet another new aspect was illustrated by the meeting of +Thursday, addressed by women from India and China. The speeches showed +how similar are the difficulties of the women of both the East and the +West and how much new ground has still to be broken before the object +of the Alliance is achieved."</p> + +<p>The forenoons were devoted to business meetings relating to the future +work of the Alliance and they were in session simultaneously in +different rooms in the great building—Women and Party Politics, Legal +Status of Women, Civil Equality, Economic Value of Domestic Work of +Wives and Mothers, Equal Pay for Equal Work, Single Moral Standard, +Protection of Childhood—questions affecting the welfare of all +society in all lands, pressing for solution and in all practically the +same. The afternoons were given largely to the reports from many +countries.<a name="FNanchor_229_229" id="FNanchor_229_229"></a><a href="#Footnote_229_229" class="fnanchor">[229]</a> <i>The Woman's Leader</i>, organ of the National Union of +Societies for Equal Citizenship of Great Britain, in its account of +the Congress said:</p> + +<blockquote><p>The effect of these reports was intensely dramatic, mingled, as +it inevitably was, with the memories of the strange and bitter +conditions under which the change had come. In some of the +countries that had been at war enfranchisement came in the midst +of revolution, riot and disaster; in others it came fresh and new +with the beginning of their independent national life and almost +as a matter of course. "Our men and women struggled together for +our national freedom," said delegate after delegate from the new +States of Europe, "and so when any of us were enfranchised we +both were." The report on the election of women to national or +municipal bodies was deeply interesting and in many respects +surprising. Germany easily surpassed other countries in this +respect, having had 39 women<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_865" id="Page_865">[Pg 865]</a></span> members in the last National +Assembly, 155 in the Parliaments of the Federated States and +4,000 on local and municipal bodies. In Denmark the record of +success that followed the election of women was astonishing. "We +have done," said the spokeswoman, "what we set out to do; we have +introduced equal pay and equal marriage laws; our equality is a +fact."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, president of the Alliance, welcomed +each new representative in the name of all the countries, and, +although the victories had been won in times of stress and war, +the rejoicing was without rivalry, for in the Congress from the +first day until the last no sign or mark of ill-feeling or enmity +was to be found. Not that the delegates forgot or disregarded the +recent existence of the war; no one who saw them would suppose +for a moment that they were meeting in any blind or sentimental +paradise of fools. Their differences and their nations' +differences were plain in their minds and they neither forgot nor +wished to forget the ruined areas, the starving children and the +suffering peoples of the world. They met differing perhaps +profoundly in their national sentiment, their memories and their +judgments but determined to agree where agreement was to be +found; to understand where understanding could be arrived at and +to cooperate with the very best of their will and their +intelligence in assuring the future stability of the world.</p></blockquote> + +<p>An important report was that of the Headquarters Committee, consisting +of Mrs. Catt, Mrs. Millicent Garrett Fawcett, first vice-president of +the Alliance, Mrs. Adela Stanton Coit, treasurer, and Miss Macmillan. +Mrs. Coit was chairman the first two years and Mrs. Fawcett the rest +of the time. After the Congress at Budapest in 1913 the official +monthly paper <i>Jus Suffragii</i> was removed from Rotterdam to London and +the international headquarters established there. For the next seven +years the three members of the committee resident in London held +regular meetings, seventy altogether, consulting Mrs. Catt by letter +or cable when necessary. Miss Mary Sheepshanks was editor and +headquarters secretary. "She occupied that post with great acceptance +till 1919," said the report, "when it was with much regret that her +resignation was accepted. Mrs. Elizabeth Abbott was appointed to the +place, where in connection with the preparations for the present +Congress her organizing capacity has been of special value." Miss +Rosika Schwimmer of Hungary was appointed press secretary to furnish +the news to the international press but her work had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_866" id="Page_866">[Pg 866]</a></span> hardly begun +when the war broke out and she resigned the position to take up work +for peace.</p> + +<p>The report told of the meeting of the international officers and a +number of the national presidents which took place in London in July, +1914, to make arrangements for the Congress in Berlin the next year. +Among the many social receptions given were one in the House of +Commons and one at the home of former Prime Minister Balfour. Mrs. +Catt had just started on her homeward voyage when the war began. The +officers in London at once issued a Manifesto in the name of the +Alliance and presented it to the British Foreign Office and the +Ambassadors and Ministers in London, which after pointing out the +helplessness of women in this supreme hour said: "We women of +twenty-six countries, having banded ourselves together in the +International Woman Suffrage Alliance with the object of obtaining the +political means of sharing with men the power which shapes the fate of +nations, appeal to you to leave untried no method of conciliation or +arbitration for arranging international differences which may help to +avert deluging half the civilized world in blood." They decided to +cooperate with the British branch of the Alliance in a public meeting, +which was held August 3 with Mrs. Fawcett in the chair, and a +resolution similar to the above was adopted. In the next issue of the +<i>International News</i>, when war had been declared, Mrs. Fawcett in her +official capacity wrote:</p> + +<blockquote><p>We are faced by the disruption, the animosity, the +misunderstanding caused by war but notwithstanding the cruel +strain we must firmly resolve to hold our International Alliance +together. We must believe all through that good is stronger than +evil, that justice and mercy are stronger than hatred and +destruction, just as life is stronger than death. We women who +have worked together for a great cause have hopes and ideals in +common; these are indestructible links binding us together. We +have to show that what unites us is stronger than what separates +us. Between many of us there is also the further link of personal +friendship cemented by many years of work together. We must hold +on through all difficulties to these things which are good in +themselves and must therefore be a strong help to us all through +these days of trial.</p></blockquote> + +<p>"In this spirit the Headquarters Committee has endeavored to carry out +its task," said its report, "and it has so far succeeded<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_867" id="Page_867">[Pg 867]</a></span> that it is +in a position today to lay down its work without any society having +been lost to the Alliance and with a considerable group of countries +never before associated with it now seeking affiliation." The great +difficulty of getting the paper into the various countries was +described but it was accomplished; the paper never missed an issue; it +remained absolutely neutral and the number of subscribers largely +increased. It was the one medium through which the women of the +warring nations came in touch during the four and a half years of the +conflict. All through the war it had news of some kind from the +various countries showing that their women were still engaged in +organized work for many useful purposes. It was evident that in +practically all of them they were demanding that women should have a +voice in the government.</p> + +<p>The headquarters cooperated with other international organizations in +forming the International Woman's Relief Committee and the work was +conducted in its rooms. More than a thousand foreign girls were sent +or taken to their countries and hundreds of British, French and +Belgian women brought from Germany and Belgium to London. The work +among Belgian refugees would require many pages to describe.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Fawcett and Mrs. Catt were preparing to send a deputation from +the Alliance to the Peace Conference to ask for a declaration for +woman suffrage when the National Woman Suffrage Association of France, +through its president, Mme. DeWitt Schlumberger, took the initiative +and called for the national associations of the allied countries to +send representatives to Paris to bring pressure on it. They were +cordially received by the members of the Conference and a +pronouncement in favor of the political equality of women and +eligibility to the secretariat was placed in the constitution of the +League of Nations, which attracted the attention of the world.</p> + +<p>When the plan of holding the Congress of the Alliance at Berlin in +1915 had to be given up Holland sent an urgent invitation for that +year but its acceptance was not considered feasible. The Swedish +Auxiliary wanted it held at the time and place of the Peace Conference +but this was found to be inadvisable. The majority of the officers and +auxiliaries in the various countries<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_868" id="Page_868">[Pg 868]</a></span> wished to have a congress the +next spring after the Armistice but there proved to be insurmountable +obstacles. Toward the end of 1919 an invitation was accepted from the +suffrage societies in Spain to come to Madrid in 1920. Preparations +were under way when local opposition developed which made it necessary +to abandon the plan. Switzerland had already invited the congress and +it gladly went to Geneva.</p> + +<p>In the report of Mrs. Coit, the treasurer, she said:</p> + +<blockquote><p>You will remember that at Budapest in 1913 a sum of about 2,000 +pounds was raised, mostly by promises of yearly donations for the +period of two years. This sum was to finance headquarters and the +paper till we met in Berlin in 1915. In August, 1914, not even +all the first instalments had been received, and from then on, +owing to war conditions, it became impossible for some of our +biggest donors to redeem their pledges. By the beginning of 1917 +we found ourselves with an empty exchequer and facing the +possibility of closing down our work. It was then that help came +from our auxiliary in the United States. Mrs. Catt, with the help +of her many devoted friends, raised a sum of $4,333, which was +placed at our disposal and has enabled the Alliance to keep +going. When speaking of the United States' help I wish to make +special mention of the splendid work for the Alliance by Miss +Clara M. Hyde, private secretary for Mrs. Catt. To her incessant +interest and energy it is due that the number of honorary +associates in the U. S. A. now is at least three times as high as +in any other country; also she has quite trebled the number of +subscribers to the <i>International News</i> in the States. Her +devoted work is an example of what can be done by a single +national auxiliary to further the development of the Alliance, +and I recommend her example for universal imitation.</p></blockquote> + +<p>The United States Auxiliary continued to add to the above sum and from +May, 1916, to May, 1920, it sent in membership dues, subscriptions to +the paper and donations $9,337. Mrs. Frank M. Roessing, president of +the Pennsylvania Suffrage Association, was responsible for collecting +over $5,000 of this amount.</p> + +<p>The money for the Congress in Geneva, about $3,500, was raised by a +British committee of which Miss Rosamond Smith was chairman and Mrs. +Pethick Lawrence treasurer. To this fund the United States, which had +not suffered from the war to the extent of European countries, was a +large contributor. At the close of the congress there were no funds on +hand for the coming<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_869" id="Page_869">[Pg 869]</a></span> year and the delegates from all countries were +feeling the effects of the war financially. At this critical moment +Mrs. Katharine Dexter McCormick of the United States, corresponding +secretary of the Alliance, made a contribution of $5,000, and a little +later the Leslie Commission added $4,000. This with individual +subscriptions raised the amount of about $15,000 and guaranteed the +expenses for resuming and continuing the work of the Alliance.</p> + +<p>From the organization of the Alliance in Berlin in 1904 Mrs. Catt had +been the president and at no election had there been another +candidate. Her strong desire to relinquish the office was overruled at +Budapest. She went to Geneva with the positive determination not to +accept it again but she faced an equally determined body of delegates. +Not only was she supported by all from the Allied Countries, as they +were known during the war, but she was equally acceptable to those +from the Central Countries. She was literally compelled to retain the +office.</p> + +<p>Nominations for the other officers were made by ballot and submitted +to the convention and the ten receiving the highest number of votes +constituted the board. They were as follows: Mme. DeWitt Schlumberger +(France), Miss Chrystal Macmillan (Great Britain), Mrs. Anna B. +Wicksell (Sweden), Mrs. Corbett Ashby (Great Britain), Dr. Margherita +Ancona (Italy), Mrs. Anna Lindemann (Germany), Miss Eleanor Rathbone +(Great Britain), Mrs. Katharine Dexter McCormick (U. S. A.), Mme. +Girardet-Vielle (Switzerland), Mrs. Adele Schreiber-Krieger (Germany). +Most of them were officers of the National Association in their own +countries. Miss Rathbone was also a member of the city council of +Liverpool.</p> + +<p>Among the twenty-two sent as Government delegates were Viscountess +Astor, member of the British House of Commons; Mrs. Marie Stritt, city +councillor of Dresden, and Mrs. Josephus Daniels, wife of the +Secretary of the Navy, U. S. A. Invited members were present from nine +countries, including ten from India, one from Japan and the wife of +the Tartar president of the Parliament of Crimea. There were fraternal +delegates from six international associations; from associations in +nearly every country in Europe (fourteen in Great Britain) and from +South<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_870" id="Page_870">[Pg 870]</a></span> Africa, Australia, Argentina and Uruguay. Greetings were sent +from associations in many countries including China.</p> + +<p>A number of the resolutions adopted have been foreshadowed in this +report of the proceedings. Others were for the equal status of women +with men on legislative and administrative bodies; full personal and +civil rights for married women, including the right to their earnings +and property; equal guardianship of their children by mothers; that +the children of widows without provisions shall have the right to +maintenance by the State paid to the mothers; that children born out +of wedlock shall have the same right to maintenance and education from +the father as legitimate children, and the mother the right of +maintenance while incapacitated. Resolutions called for the same +opportunities for women as for men for all kinds of education and +training and for entering professions, industries, civil service +positions and performing administrative and judicial functions, and +demanded that there shall be equal pay for equal work; that the right +to work of women, married or unmarried, shall be recognized and that +no special regulations shall be imposed contrary to the wishes of the +women themselves. A higher moral standard for both men and women was +called for and various resolutions were adopted against traffic in +women, regulations of vice differentiating against women and State +regulation of prostitution.</p> + +<p>The Congress took a firm position on the League of Nations and its +recognition of women in the following resolution: "The women of +thirty-one nations assembled in congress at Geneva, convinced that in +a strong Society of Nations based on the principles of right and +justice lies the only hope of assuring the future peace of the world, +call upon the women of the whole world to direct their will, their +intelligence and their influence towards the development and the +consolidation of the Society of Nations on such a basis, and to assist +it in every possible way in its work of securing peace and good will +throughout the world."</p> + +<p>A resolution was adopted that a conference of representative women be +summoned annually by the League of Nations for the purpose of +considering questions relating to the welfare and status of women; the +conference to be held at the seat of the League, if possible, and the +expenses paid by the League. The Board<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_871" id="Page_871">[Pg 871]</a></span> instructed Mrs. Ashby Corbett +to arrange a deputation to the League of Nations to present +resolutions and to ask for the calling of the conference as soon as +possible.<a name="FNanchor_230_230" id="FNanchor_230_230"></a><a href="#Footnote_230_230" class="fnanchor">[230]</a></p> + +<p>On the last day of the Congress from 5 to 7 o'clock the State Council +of the Canton and the Municipal Council of Geneva gave an official +reception and tea to the delegates and visitors. The resolutions of +thanks for the assistance and courtesies received from committees and +individuals filled two printed pages. The <i>Woman's Leader</i> thus closed +its account: "The immense hospitality of Geneva and of the Swiss +Consulate, the superb weather and the beautiful excursions by land and +lake were above all praise.... Taking the Conference as a whole, with +its concrete work and its general spirit, it is clear that it marks a +new step forward. A new force has come into the politics of almost all +the world. It is a force inspired at present with good will, a +humanitarian and an internationalizing force, drawing together the +thoughtful and disinterested women of all countries. It is a force +that the world has need of and no Government should be so blind as to +ignore it."</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_221_221" id="Footnote_221_221"></a><a href="#FNanchor_221_221"><span class="label">[221]</span></a> <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29870/29870-h/29870-h.htm#Page_124"><i>History of Woman Suffrage</i>, Volume IV, page 124.</a></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_222_222" id="Footnote_222_222"></a><a href="#FNanchor_222_222"><span class="label">[222]</span></a> Delegates and alternates present besides those already +mentioned were Misses L. G. Heymann and Marta Zietz, Germany; Mrs. +Stanton Coit, Great Britain; Mrs. Henrietta von Loenen de Bordes, Mrs. +Hengeveld Garritson, Miss C. C. A. Van Dorp, Netherlands; Mrs. Vibetha +Salicath, Miss Eline Hansen, Mrs. Charlotte Eilersgaard, Miss +Rasmussen, Denmark; Mrs. Anna B. Wicksell, Mrs. Frigga Carlberg, Miss +Jenny Wallerstedt, Sweden; Miss Fredrikke Mörek, Miss Marie +Scharlenberg, Norway; Mrs. Saulner, Switzerland; Mrs. Henry Dobson, +Australia; Miss Rosika Schwimmer, Hungary; Mrs. Mary Wood Swift, Miss +Belle Kearney, Mrs. Ida Husted Harper, Miss Lucy E. Anthony, Miss +Nettie Lovisa White, Mrs. Lydia Kingsmill Commander, United States.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_223_223" id="Footnote_223_223"></a><a href="#FNanchor_223_223"><span class="label">[223]</span></a> The reports from the various countries prepared for +this congress filled fifty-seven pages of the printed report and fully +justified Mrs. Catt's statement.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_224_224" id="Footnote_224_224"></a><a href="#FNanchor_224_224"><span class="label">[224]</span></a> The committee which had been appointed to prepare for +the congress and had been working for many months beforehand consisted +of the Executive Committee of the central board of the National +Suffrage Association and the presidents of sub-committees formed for +different purposes. Miss Signe Bergman acted as president, Miss +Axianne Thorstenson as vice-president, Miss Anna Frisell as treasurer, +Miss Nini Kohnberger and Miss Elise Carlson as secretaries. Mrs. +Virgin was at the head of the Finance Committee. The work of the Press +Committee was directed by Mrs. Else Kleen. Mrs. Lily Laurent was at +the head of the Committee on Localities. Mrs. Lizinski Dyrssen headed +the Committee for Festivities. Mrs. Ezaline Boheman was the head of +the Information Bureau. Miss Lamm and Miss Anden directed the work of +the thirty university students who served as pages and whose kindness +and swift and silent service none will ever forget. At the head of the +Travelling Committee was Dr. Malin Wester-Halberg, who arranged the +journey to Lapland, gave information about all excursions, etc.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_225_225" id="Footnote_225_225"></a><a href="#FNanchor_225_225"><span class="label">[225]</span></a> International headquarters were established in London, +the paper was greatly enlarged and published there under the title, +<i>Jus Suffragii, International Woman Suffrage News</i>, and Miss Mary +Sheepshanks was appointed editor, a post which she filled most +satisfactorily during the following six troubled years.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_226_226" id="Footnote_226_226"></a><a href="#FNanchor_226_226"><span class="label">[226]</span></a> Because of the war which devastated Europe for the next +five years these pledges could not be kept and the Alliance did not +meet again until 1920. Meanwhile the United States contributed enough +so that the London headquarters were kept open and the paper did not +miss an issue.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_227_227" id="Footnote_227_227"></a><a href="#FNanchor_227_227"><span class="label">[227]</span></a> The English church of Geneva also for the first time +admitted a woman to its pulpit, which was occupied on the following +Sunday, June 13, by Miss Edith Picton Turberville of Great Britain.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_228_228" id="Footnote_228_228"></a><a href="#FNanchor_228_228"><span class="label">[228]</span></a> Among the many entertainments during the congress were +a reception given by the British delegation; a motor excursion by +invitation of Mrs. McCormick and the American delegates; a dinner +party at Hotel Beau Rivage by Lady Astor for British and American +delegates; a delightful "tea" by the French delegation and a garden +party by M. and Mme. Thuillier-Landry. Excursions were arranged by the +Geneva Committee and visits to the schools, museums, parks and endless +points of attraction in this most interesting city.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_229_229" id="Footnote_229_229"></a><a href="#FNanchor_229_229"><span class="label">[229]</span></a> These valuable accounts of the status of women in the +various countries were published in full in the 252-page Report of the +Congress.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_230_230" id="Footnote_230_230"></a><a href="#FNanchor_230_230"><span class="label">[230]</span></a> They called on Sir Alec Drummond, head of the +Secretariat, in London. He received them cordially but said it would +be impossible for the League to undertake such expenses and advised +them to appoint a committee to act as a source of communication +between the League and the Alliance. Thenceforth the League recognized +the Alliance as an authority and accepted its recommendation to place +Mrs. Anna B. Wicksell on its Mandates Commission and Miss Henni +Forchhammer on its White Slave Traffic Commission. These women had +already been sent to the League meetings by Sweden and Denmark as +alternate delegates.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_872" id="Page_872">[Pg 872]</a></span><br /></p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_873" id="Page_873">[Pg 873]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="APPENDIX" id="APPENDIX"></a>APPENDIX.</h2> + +<div class="appendix"> +<h3>NEBRASKA MEN'S ASSOCIATION OPPOSED TO WOMAN SUFFRAGE.</h3> + + +<p>To the Electors of the State of Nebraska:</p> + +<p>At a meeting of men lately held in the city of Omaha the following +resolution was unanimously adopted: "Resolved, That it is the sense of +this meeting that a Manifesto be prepared, issued and circulated, +setting forth the reasons for our opposition to the pending +constitutional amendment providing for equal (woman) suffrage and +requesting the cooperation of the voters of the State, and that such +Manifesto be signed by all the men present."</p> + +<p>We yield to none in our admiration, veneration and respect for woman. +We recognize in her admirable and adorable qualities and sweet and +noble influences which make for the betterment of mankind and the +advancement of civilization. We have ever been willing and ready to +grant to woman every right and protection, even to favoritism in the +law, and to give her every opportunity that makes for development and +true womanhood. We have a full appreciation of all the great things +which have been accomplished by women in education, in charity and in +benevolent work and in other channels of duty too numerous to mention, +by which both men and women have been benefited, society improved and +the welfare of the human race advanced. We would take from women none +of their privileges as citizens but we do not believe that women are +adapted to the political work of the world.</p> + +<p>The discussion of all questions growing out of the social and family +relations and local economic conditions has no direct relationship to +the right of women to participate in the political affairs of +government. The right of suffrage does not attach of right to the +owners of property, for, if so, all other persons should be +disfranchised. It is not a fundamental right of taxpayers, for a great +body of men are not taxpayers, and nine-tenths of the women who would +become voters, if woman suffrage were adopted, would be non-taxpayers. +It is not an inherent right of citizenship, for the time never was in +the whole history of the world when the franchise was granted to all +citizens.... Franchise is a privilege of government granted only to +those to whom the Government sees fit to grant it. As a law-abiding +people men and women alike should recognize once and for all that the +right of suffrage is not a natural or inherent right of citizenship +but can only come by grant from the Government. [Legal authorities +quoted.]</p> + +<p>We must also recognize that woman suffrage is inconsistent with the +fundamental principles upon which our representative government was +founded and to accept it now involves revolutionary changes. The +framers of the Federal Constitution, a body of the wisest men the +country has ever produced, did not recognize or provide for woman +suffrage. No one of the original thirteen States which adopted it +provided in their constitutions for woman suffrage. True it was +permitted in New Jersey from 1776 to 1807, a period of thirty-one +years, when it was taken away by statute, by reason of unsatisfactory +conditions and results. After the close of the Civil War, the southern +States which had gone into rebellion were admitted back into the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_874" id="Page_874">[Pg 874]</a></span> +Union under constitutions limiting suffrage to men. These precedents +in our governmental history were never departed from until in recent +years.</p> + +<p>The greatest danger to the Republic of the United States today, as it +always has been in governments where the people rule, is in an +excitable and emotional suffrage. If the women of this country would +always think coolly and deliberate calmly, if they could always be +controlled and act by judgment and not under passion, they might help +us to keep our institutions "eternal as the foundations of the +continent itself"; but the philosophers of history and the experience +of the ages past and present tell us in unanswerable arguments and +teach us by illustrations drawn from actual experience, that +governments have been overturned or endangered in periods of great +excitement by emotional suffrage and the speech and writings of +intolerant people....</p> + +<p>Open that terrible page of the French Revolution and the days of +terror, when the click of the guillotine and the rush of blood through +the streets of Paris demonstrated to what extremities the ferocity of +human nature can be driven by political passion. Who led those +bloodthirsty mobs? Who shrieked loudest in that hurricane of passion? +Woman. Her picture upon the page of history is indelible. In the city +of Paris, in those ferocious mobs, the controlling agency, nay, not +agency but the controlling and principal power, came from those whom +God had intended to be the soft and gentle angels of mercy throughout +the world....</p> + +<p>It has been said that if woman suffrage should become universal in the +United States, in times of great excitement arising out of sectional +questions or local conditions this country would be in danger of State +insurrections and seditions and that in less than a hundred years +revolutions would occur and our republican form of government would +come to an end. The United States should guard against emotional +suffrage. What we need is to put more logic and less feeling into +public affairs. This country has already extended suffrage beyond +reasonable bounds. Instead of enlarging it there are strong reasons +why it should be curtailed. It would have been better for wise and +safe government and the welfare of all the people if there had been +some reasonable standard of fitness for the ballot.</p> + +<p>During the intense feeling and turbulent conditions growing out of the +Civil War, suffrage was so extended that many of the southern States +were turned over to the political control of those not sufficiently +informed to conduct good government. It has taken half-a-century of +strenuous effort to correct that mistake. The granting of universal +woman suffrage would greatly increase the existing evil and put it +beyond the possibility of correction except by an ultimate revolution.</p> + +<p>We hear it frequently stated that there is no argument against woman +suffrage except sentiment. We can reply with equal force that there is +no argument for woman suffrage except sentiment, and that often +misguided and uninformed. Some suffragists insist that if woman +suffrage became universal "it would set in motion the machinery of an +earthly paradise." It was a woman of high standing in the literary and +journalistic field who answered, "It is my opinion it would let loose +the wheels of purgatory." ... Suffragists frequently ask the question, +"If we want to vote why should other people object?" If it is wrong +they should not ask it any more than they should ask the privilege of +committing a crime. If it is a wrong against the State every<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_875" id="Page_875">[Pg 875]</a></span> other +man and woman has a right to object and it is their duty to object....</p> + +<p>There are spheres in which feeling should be paramount. There are +kingdoms in which the heart should reign supreme. That kingdom belongs +to woman—the realm of sentiment, the realm of love, the realm of +gentler and holier and kindlier attributes that make the name of wife, +mother and sister next to the name of God himself, but it is not in +harmony with suffrage and has no place in government.</p> + +<p>We submit these considerations in all candor to the men of this State. +Ultimately the decision of this question at the polls is a man's +question. We ask your cooperation....</p> + +<p>Omaha, July 6, 1914.</p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">Joseph H. Millard</span>, ex-U. S. Senator and president Omaha National Bank. +(Largest creditor of Willow Springs Distillery.)<br /> +<span class="smcap">John A. McShane</span>, ex-Congressman and retired capitalist.<br /> +<span class="smcap">John Lee Webster</span>, lawyer, representing Omaha Street Railway.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Luther Drake</span>, president Merchants' National Bank.<br /> +<span class="smcap">John C. Cowin</span>, prominent lawyer.<br /> +<span class="smcap">William F. Gurley</span>, prominent lawyer.<br /> +<span class="smcap">William D. McHugh</span>, lawyer representing Standard Oil Company.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Frank T. Hamilton</span>, president Omaha Gas Co. and officer Street Railway Co.<br /> +<span class="smcap">William Wallace</span>, former cashier Omaha National Bank.<br /> +<span class="smcap">John A. Munroe</span>, vice-president Union Pacific Railway Company.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Frank Boyd</span>, employee Omaha National Bank.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Gerrit Fort</span>, Union Pacific Railway official.<br /> +<span class="smcap"><i>Joseph Barker</i></span>, insurance official.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Edward A. Peck</span>, general manager Omaha Grain Elevator Company.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Henry W. Yates</span>, president Nebraska National Bank.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Milton C. Peters</span>, president Alfalfa Milling Co.<br /> +<span class="smcap">William H. Koenig</span>, of firm of Kilpatrick & Co., dry goods merchants.<br /> +<span class="smcap">W. H. Bocholz</span>, vice-president Omaha National Bank.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Fred H. Davis</span>, president First National Bank.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Benjamin S. Baker</span>, lawyer.<br /> +<span class="smcap">L. F. Crofoot</span>, lawyer for Omaha Smelting Co. and Chicago & Milwaukee R. R.<br /> +<span class="smcap">E. E. Bruce</span>, wholesale druggist.<br /> +<span class="smcap">George W. Holdrege</span>, manager Burlington & Missouri River R. R. Co.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Fred A. Nash</span>, President Omaha Electric Light Co.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Nelson H. Loomis</span>, General Attorney Union Pacific R. R.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Edson Rich</span>, assistant attorney Union Pacific R. R.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Frank B. Johnson</span>, president Omaha Printing Co.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Thomas C. Byrne</span>, president Wholesale Dry Goods Co.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Rev. Thomas J. Mackay</span>, Minister All Saints' Church (Episcopal).<br /> +<span class="smcap">Rev. John W. Williams</span>, Minister St. Barnabas' Church (Episcopal).<br /> +</p> + +<hr class="short" /> + +<p>This Manifesto with the signatures is given almost in full because in +language and in the business interests of the signers it is thoroughly +typical of the open opposition to woman suffrage. The other classes +who were opposed—the "machine" politicians, the liquor interests and +those directly or indirectly connected with them—for the most part +worked more secretly.</p> +</div> + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_876" id="Page_876">[Pg 876]</a></span><br /></p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_877" id="Page_877">[Pg 877]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="INDEX" id="INDEX"></a>INDEX</h2> + + +<p>The contents of this volume are so arranged that the reader will have +little difficulty in finding the references desired. The first +forty-nine chapters are devoted exclusively to the work for woman +suffrage which was done in the various States of the Union through +annual conventions, effort with the Legislatures for the submission to +the voters of an amendment to the State constitutions which would +fully enfranchise women and campaigns to secure a majority vote for +it. There was also an attempt to obtain from the Legislatures laws +which did not have to be approved by the voters, giving women the +right to vote at Municipal elections and every four years for +Presidential electors. In addition the women in every State constantly +assisted the National American Woman Suffrage Association in its +supreme effort to obtain from Congress the submission to the +Legislatures for the ratifying of three-fourths of them of an +amendment to the Federal Constitution which would give the complete +franchise to all the women of the nation.</p> + +<p>These State chapters are arranged alphabetically and near the end of +each an account is given of the action taken on Ratification, and also +of the forming of a League of Women Voters. It is manifestly +impracticable to index the names of all the thousands of women who +gave devoted service in these States. Only a comparatively few of +those who worked longest and most prominently or are mentioned in +other parts of the books can be listed. The names of many more will be +found in the various chapters. This is also true of the many members +of Congress and Legislatures and of other men who were sympathetic and +helpful in this long contest.</p> + +<p>In the chapters on the effort for woman suffrage in the Territories +and possessions of the United States the principal points and workers +are indexed. This is the case in the chapter on Great Britain and her +Colonies and on the countries of the world, each listed under its +proper head. The long chapter on the International Woman Suffrage +Alliance forbids an accurate index, as it contains the names of scores +of workers for woman suffrage in most civilized countries. Some but +not all of the most prominent are noted and in the well indexed +chapters on its seven congresses the reader will find a satisfactory +roster.</p> + +<p>The Table of Contents will act as a trustworthy guide.</p> + + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>A</li> +<li>Abott, Frances M, in N. H., <a href="#Page_400">400</a>.</li> +<li>Abott, Dr. Lyman, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>; <a href="#Page_401">401</a>.</li> +<li>Aberdeen, Lord and Lady, <a href="#Page_572">572</a>.</li> +<li>Adams, Gov. Alva (Colo.), <a href="#Page_62">62</a>.</li> +<li>Adams, Annette Abbott, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>; <a href="#Page_112">112</a>.</li> +<li>Adams, John T, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>.</li> +<li>Adams, Lida Stokes, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>; <a href="#Page_559">559-60</a>.</li> +<li>Addams, Jane, speaks for wom. suff. + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Ga, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>; <a href="#Page_146">146</a>; <a href="#Page_184">184</a>;</li> + <li>in Kans, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>;</li> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>;</li> + <li>Mo, <a href="#Page_356">356</a>;</li> + <li>Neb, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>;</li> + <li>Nev, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>, <a href="#Page_397">397</a>;</li> + <li>S. Dak, <a href="#Page_590">590</a>;</li> + <li>Wis, <a href="#Page_700">700-1-2</a>;</li> + <li>Budapest, <a href="#Page_857">857</a>, <a href="#Page_858">858</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Aked, Rev. Chas. F, + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Calif, <a href="#Page_48">48-49</a>;</li> + <li>Nev, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>;</li> + <li>N. Y., <a href="#Page_457">457</a>;</li> + <li>Ore, <a href="#Page_548">548</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Alabama, effort for wom. suff, workers, legis. action; see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>.</li> +<li>Alaska, Legis. grants wom. suff, status of women, <a href="#Page_713">713-715</a>.</li> +<li>Alberta, gaining of wom. suff, <a href="#Page_755">755</a>.</li> +<li>Alberti, Sophie (Denmark), <a href="#Page_812">812-13</a>.</li> +<li>Aldrich, George W, <a href="#Page_483">483</a>.</li> +<li>Aldrich, Margaret Chanler, <a href="#Page_454">454</a>; <a href="#Page_462">462</a>; <a href="#Page_466">466</a>.</li> +<li>Algeo, Sara M, <a href="#Page_568">568-9</a>; <a href="#Page_572">572-3</a>; <a href="#Page_658">658</a>.</li> +<li>Allen, Florence E, <a href="#Page_453">453</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>appointed Judge, <a href="#Page_514">514</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Allen, Gov. Henry J, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>; <a href="#Page_204">204</a>; <a href="#Page_351">351</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>see Kans. chap.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Allen, Mrs. Henry Ware, <a href="#Page_203">203-4</a>.</li> +<li>Allen, Mrs. J. D., <a href="#Page_596">596-7</a>; <a href="#Page_607">607-8</a>; <a href="#Page_613">613</a>.</li> +<li>Amendments, State, + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Ariz, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>;</li> + <li>Ark, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>;</li> + <li>Calif, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>;</li> + <li>vote on it, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>;</li> + <li>Colo, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>;</li> + <li>Iowa, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>;</li> + <li>vote, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>;</li> + <li>Kans, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>;</li> + <li>vote, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>, <a href="#Page_205">205</a>;</li> + <li>Ky, <a href="#Page_211">211-12-13</a>;</li> + <li>La, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>;</li> + <li>vote, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>;</li> + <li>Me, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>;</li> + <li>vote, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>;</li> + <li>Mass, vote, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>;</li> + <li>Mich, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>;</li> + <li>vote, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>;</li> + <li>second, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>;</li> + <li>vote, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>;</li> + <li>third, <a href="#Page_311">311</a>;</li> + <li>vote, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>;</li> + <li>Miss, <a href="#Page_339">339</a>;</li> + <li>vote, <a href="#Page_341">341</a>;</li> + <li>Mo, <a href="#Page_347">347</a>, <a href="#Page_354">354-5</a>;</li> + <li>vote, <a href="#Page_356">356</a>;</li> + <li>Mont, <a href="#Page_363">363</a>;</li> + <li>vote, <a href="#Page_367">367</a>;</li> + <li>Neb, <a href="#Page_369">369</a>;</li> + <li>vote, <a href="#Page_377">377</a>;</li> + <li>Nev, <a href="#Page_385">385-387</a>;</li> + <li>vote, <a href="#Page_389">389</a>, <a href="#Page_398">398-9</a>;</li> + <li>N. H., <a href="#Page_400">400</a>;</li> + <li>vote, <a href="#Page_402">402</a>;</li> + <li>N. J., <a href="#Page_421">421</a>, <a href="#Page_423">423</a>, <a href="#Page_431">431</a>;</li> + <li>vote, <a href="#Page_426">426</a>;</li> + <li>N. Mex, prohibits, <a href="#Page_439">439</a>;</li> + <li>N. Y., <a href="#Page_458">458</a>, <a href="#Page_460">460</a> et seq;</li> + <li>vote in City, <a href="#Page_464">464</a>;</li> + <li>in State, <a href="#Page_474">474-5</a>;</li> + <li>second campaign, <a href="#Page_465">465</a>, <a href="#Page_468">468</a>, <a href="#Page_471">471</a>, <a href="#Page_476">476-7</a>;</li> + <li>vote, in State, <a href="#Page_482">482</a>;</li> + <li>in City, <a href="#Page_467">467</a>;</li> + <li>Me, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>;</li> + <li>vote, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>;</li> + <li>effect on N. Y., <a href="#Page_479">479</a>;</li> + <li>N. Dak. (law), <a href="#Page_502">502</a>;</li> + <li>vote, <a href="#Page_503">503</a>, <a href="#Page_506">506-7</a>;</li> + <li>Ohio, <a href="#Page_509">509-10</a>;</li> + <li>vote, <a href="#Page_511">511</a>;</li> + <li>second, <a href="#Page_512">512</a>;</li> + <li>vote, <a href="#Page_513">513</a>;</li> + <li>Okla, <a href="#Page_524">524</a>;</li> + <li>vote, <a href="#Page_526">526</a>;</li> + <li>second, <a href="#Page_528">528-9</a> et seq.;</li> + <li>vote, <a href="#Page_529">529</a>, <a href="#Page_535">535</a>;</li> + <li>Ore, <a href="#Page_539">539</a>, <a href="#Page_541">541</a>;</li> + <li>vote, <a href="#Page_544">544</a>, <a href="#Page_548">548</a>;</li> + <li>Penn, <a href="#Page_554">554</a>;</li> + <li>vote, <a href="#Page_557">557</a>; <a href="#Page_560">560</a>, <a href="#Page_562">562</a>;</li> + <li>R. I., <a href="#Page_575">575</a>;</li> + <li>S. Dak, <a href="#Page_587">587</a>;</li> + <li>second, <a href="#Page_588">588</a>;</li> + <li>vote, <a href="#Page_590">590</a>;</li> + <li>third, <a href="#Page_591">591</a>;</li> + <li>vote, <a href="#Page_594">594</a>;</li> + <li>Texas, <a href="#Page_639">639-40</a>;</li> + <li>vote, <a href="#Page_642">642</a>;</li> + <li>Va, <a href="#Page_672">672</a>;</li> + <li>Wash, <a href="#Page_675">675</a>;</li> + <li>vote, <a href="#Page_682">682</a>;</li> + <li>W. Va, <a href="#Page_688">688</a>;</li> + <li>vote, <a href="#Page_692">692</a>, <a href="#Page_698">698</a>;</li> + <li>Wis. (law), <a href="#Page_700">700</a>, <a href="#Page_707">707</a>;</li> + <li>vote, <a href="#Page_703">703</a>.</li> + <li>See <a href="#Federal_Woman_Suffrage_Amendment">Federal Wom. Suff. Amend.</a></li> + </ul></li> +<li>American Constitutional League (anti suff.), <a href="#Page_621">621</a>; <a href="#Page_625">625</a>.</li> +<li>Ames, Marie B, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>; <a href="#Page_351">351</a>; <a href="#Page_358">358-9</a>; <a href="#Page_690">690</a>.</li> +<li>Ammons, Prof. Theodosia, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>.</li> +<li>Anderson, Frances B, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>; <a href="#Page_115">115</a>.</li> +<li>Anderson, Chief Justice John C, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>.</li> +<li>Anthony, Lucy E, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>; <a href="#Page_442">442</a>; <a href="#Page_542">542-3</a>; <a href="#Page_812">812</a>; <a href="#Page_816">816</a>.</li> +<li>Anthony, Mary B, <a href="#Page_570">570-1-2</a>; <a href="#Page_577">577</a>.</li> +<li>Anthony, Mary S + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in N. Y., <a href="#Page_442">442</a>;</li> + <li>memorial, <a href="#Page_443">443</a>;</li> + <li>in Ore, <a href="#Page_542">542-3</a>; <a href="#Page_570">570-1-2</a>; <a href="#Page_577">577</a>;</li> + <li>Berlin, <a href="#Page_810">810</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Anthony, Susan B, + <ul class="IX"> + <li>greetings to Calif, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>; <a href="#Page_30">30</a>;</li> + <li>entertained in Calif, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>;</li> + <li>S. B. A. Club, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>;</li> + <li>in Del, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>;</li> + <li>Life and Work, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>;</li> + <li>Memorial Fund, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>;</li> + <li>birthday celebr, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>;</li> + <li>in Wash, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>;</li> + <li>memorial service in Ga, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>;</li> + <li>honored in Md, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>;</li> + <li>memorial, <a href="#Page_249">249</a>;</li> + <li>in Minn, <a href="#Page_317">317</a>;</li> + <li>memorial, <a href="#Page_318">318</a>;</li> + <li>birthday, <a href="#Page_320">320</a>;</li> + <li>Mont, <a href="#Page_360">360</a>;</li> + <li>memorial in Neb, <a href="#Page_371">371</a>;</li> + <li>in Nev, <a href="#Page_384">384</a>;</li> + <li>in N. J., <a href="#Page_414">414</a>,</li> + <li>memorial, <a href="#Page_415">415</a>;</li> + <li>in N. Y., <a href="#Page_440">440</a>; <a href="#Page_443">443</a></li> + <li>memorial, <a href="#Page_443">443</a>;</li> + <li>birthdays celebr, <a href="#Page_449">449</a>; <a href="#Page_454">454</a>; <a href="#Page_455">455</a>;</li> + <li>letter to Okla, <a href="#Page_520">520</a>;</li> + <li>in Ore, <a href="#Page_540">540-1</a>;</li> + <li>in Phila, <a href="#Page_551">551</a>;</li> + <li>in R. I., <a href="#Page_565">565</a>;</li> + <li>memorial in Vt, <a href="#Page_652">652</a>;</li> + <li>urges suff. for Hawaiian women, <a href="#Page_716">716</a>;</li> + <li>for Filipino women, <a href="#Page_719">719</a>; <a href="#Page_772">772</a>; <a href="#Page_774">774</a>;</li> + <li>work for Intl. Suff. Assn, <a href="#Page_805">805</a>;</li> + <li>presides at first conf. for it in Wash, <a href="#Page_806">806-808</a>;</li> + <li>at second in Berlin, <a href="#Page_809">809-811</a>;</li> + <li>memorial service in Copenhagen, <a href="#Page_816">816</a>;</li> + <li>tribute at Geneva, <a href="#Page_861">861</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Anti Suffragists, + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Ala, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>;</li> + <li>Ariz, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>;</li> + <li>Calif, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>;</li> + <li>Natl. Assn, work in Calif, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>;</li> + <li>falsehoods denied in Colo, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>;</li> + <li>in Conn, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>;</li> + <li>Del, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102-3</a>;</li> + <li>Ga, Macon <i>Telegraph</i>, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>;</li> + <li>in Legis, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>;</li> + <li>Ind, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>;</li> + <li>Iowa, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>;</li> + <li>Kans, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>;</li> + <li>La, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>;</li> + <li>Maine, <a href="#Page_242">242-3</a>, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>;</li> + <li>Md, <a href="#Page_254">254-255</a>, <a href="#Page_258">258-260</a>;</li> + <li>Men's Assn, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>;</li> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>;</li> + <li>Men's League, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>; <a href="#Page_291">291-2</a>, <a href="#Page_294">294</a>, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>;</li> + <li>Mich, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>;</li> + <li>Men's League, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>;</li> + <li>Miss, <a href="#Page_335">335</a>, <a href="#Page_338">338</a>;</li> + <li>Mont, <a href="#Page_365">365</a>;</li> + <li>Neb, <a href="#Page_375">375</a>;</li> + <li>Men's League Manifesto, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>;</li> + <li>in full, <a href="#Page_873">873</a>;</li> + <li>headqrs, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>;</li> + <li>German Amer. Alliance, <a href="#Page_377">377</a>;</li> + <li>at Legis, <a href="#Page_379">379</a>;</li> + <li>petitions, <a href="#Page_380">380</a>;</li> + <li>Nev, <a href="#Page_397">397</a>;</li> + <li>N. H., <a href="#Page_401">401</a>, <a href="#Page_404">404</a>, <a href="#Page_407">407</a>, <a href="#Page_409">409</a>;</li> + <li>N. J., <a href="#Page_424">424</a>, <a href="#Page_431">431</a>;</li> + <li>N. Y., <a href="#Page_454">454-457</a>, <a href="#Page_466">466</a>;</li> + <li>N. Dak, <a href="#Page_506">506-7</a>;</li> + <li>Ohio, <a href="#Page_509">509</a>, <a href="#Page_511">511</a>;</li> + <li>work with liquor interests, <a href="#Page_513">513</a>, <a href="#Page_515">515</a>;</li> + <li>Okla, <a href="#Page_528">528</a>, <a href="#Page_537">537</a>;</li> + <li>Ore, <a href="#Page_543">543</a>, <a href="#Page_547">547</a>;</li> + <li>Penn, <a href="#Page_562">562</a>, <a href="#Page_564">564</a>;</li> + <li>R. I, <a href="#Page_567">567</a>, <a href="#Page_574">574-5</a>;</li> + <li>S. Dak, <a href="#Page_591">591</a>;</li> + <li>Tenn, <a href="#Page_602">602</a>, <a href="#Page_604">604</a>, <a href="#Page_619">619</a>;</li> + <li>Mrs. Catt's comment, <a href="#Page_621">621</a>;</li> + <li>Texas, Legis. rebukes, <a href="#Page_641">641</a>; <a href="#Page_642">642</a>;</li> + <li>Vt, <a href="#Page_661">661-2</a>;</li> + <li>Wash, <a href="#Page_681">681</a>;</li> + <li>Wis, <a href="#Page_705">705</a>;</li> + <li>Gr. Brit, <a href="#Page_726">726-747</a>;</li> + <li>Lord Curzon's speech, <a href="#Page_748">748</a>;</li> + <li>Mrs. Catt flays, <a href="#Page_831">831</a>;</li> + <li>in Canada, <a href="#Page_761">761</a>;</li> + <li>Men's Assn. in Neb, <a href="#Page_873">873</a>.</li> + <li>For names see above references.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Argentina, effort for wom. suff, <a href="#Page_803">803</a>.</li> +<li>Arizona, efforts for wom. suff. legis. action, Gov. Brodie vetoes, amendment carries; see St. chap, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>.</li> +<li>Arkansas, efforts for wom. suff, workers, legis. action, Primary suff; see St. chap, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>.</li> +<li>Arnold, Ethel M, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>; <a href="#Page_275">275</a>; <a href="#Page_343">343</a>; <a href="#Page_403">403</a>.</li> +<li>Arthur, Clara B, see Mich. chap, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>; <a href="#Page_310">310</a> et seq.</li> +<li>Ashton, Margaret, on Liberal party in Great Brit, <a href="#Page_824">824</a>; <a href="#Page_826">826</a>; <a href="#Page_833">833</a>; <a href="#Page_837">837</a>.</li> +<li>Asquith, Herbert H, anti suff. action in Great Brit, <a href="#Page_727">727</a>, <a href="#Page_730">730</a> et seq; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>receives suffs, <a href="#Page_732">732</a>,</li> + <li>anti suffs, <a href="#Page_734">734</a>;</li> + <li>converted, <a href="#Page_743">743</a>; <a href="#Page_744">744</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Astor, Viscountess, urges ratif. in Va, <a href="#Page_671">671</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Govt. delegate to Intl. Alliance cong. in Geneva, <a href="#Page_862">862</a>, <a href="#Page_864">864</a>, <a href="#Page_869">869</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Atkinson, Mrs. W. D, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>.</li> +<li>Augsburg, Dr. jur. Anita (Germany), <a href="#Page_809">809</a>, <a href="#Page_814">814</a>; <a href="#Page_826">826</a>; <a href="#Page_843">843-4</a>.</li> +<li>Australia, wom. suff. in, <a href="#Page_752">752</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>urges it in Great Brit, <a href="#Page_753">753</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Austria, women vote; in Legislature, <a href="#Page_792">792</a>.</li> +<li>Avery, Dr. Alida C, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>; <a href="#Page_52">52</a>.</li> +<li>Avery, Rachel Foster, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>; <a href="#Page_88">88</a>; <a href="#Page_250">250</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in N. Y, <a href="#Page_443">443</a>;</li> + <li>Penn, <a href="#Page_551">551-2</a>;</li> + <li>Wis, <a href="#Page_701">701-2</a>;</li> + <li>at intl. suff. conf. in Wash, <a href="#Page_807">807-8</a>;</li> + <li>Berlin, <a href="#Page_811">811</a>;</li> + <li>Copenhagen, <a href="#Page_812">812</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Avery, Susan Look, <a href="#Page_682">682</a>.</li> +<li>Axtell, Frances C, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>; <a href="#Page_684">684</a>.</li> +<li>Aylesworth, Dr. B. O, in Ind, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Md, <a href="#Page_250">250</a>;</li> + <li>Neb, <a href="#Page_372">372</a>;</li> + <li>N. Y, <a href="#Page_447">447</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Bacon, Elizabeth D, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>; <a href="#Page_70">70</a>.</li> +<li>Bagley, Mrs. Frederick H, <a href="#Page_573">573</a>.</li> +<li>Bailey, U. S. Sen. Joseph W, opp. wom. suff. in Texas, <a href="#Page_633">633</a>, <a href="#Page_641">641</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>women defeat, <a href="#Page_641">641</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Baird, U. S. Sen. David, <a href="#Page_428">428</a>.</li> +<li>Baldwin, Isabel A, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>; <a href="#Page_52">52</a>.</li> +<li>Balentine, Katharine Reed, in Calif, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Wash, <a href="#Page_106">106-7</a>;</li> + <li>Maine, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Balfour, Arthur J. (Great Brit.), on wom. suff, <a href="#Page_730">730</a>; <a href="#Page_866">866</a>.</li> +<li>Ball, U. S. Sen. L. Heisler, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>; <a href="#Page_97">97</a>; <a href="#Page_100">100</a>.</li> +<li>Bamberger, Gov. Simon (Utah), <a href="#Page_649">649-50</a>.</li> +<li>Bankhead, U. S. Sen. John H, <a href="#Page_5">5</a>; <a href="#Page_8">8</a>.</li> +<li>Barkley, Edna M, <a href="#Page_373">373</a>; <a href="#Page_378">378-9</a>; <a href="#Page_381">381-2</a>.</li> +<li>Barnes, Prof. Earl, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>; <a href="#Page_417">417</a>.</li> +<li>Barrett, Kate Waller, <a href="#Page_572">572</a>; <a href="#Page_668">668-9</a>; <a href="#Page_671">671</a>.</li> +<li>Barrows, Isabel C, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>; <a href="#Page_275">275</a>.</li> +<li>Bartlett, Gov. John H. (Vt.), <a href="#Page_408">408-9</a>; <a href="#Page_657">657</a>.</li> +<li>Bass, Mrs. George, in Ala, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Del, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>;</li> + <li>Ills, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>;</li> + <li>La, <a href="#Page_233">233</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Bass, John P, Bangor (Me.), <i>Commercial</i>, <a href="#Page_241">241</a>.</li> +<li>Bates, Mrs. Arthur L, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>.</li> +<li>Bates, Helen N, <a href="#Page_236">236-7</a>; <a href="#Page_241">241</a>; <a href="#Page_243">243</a>.</li> +<li>Bates, Gov. John L. (Mass.), <a href="#Page_293">293</a>.</li> +<li>Beadle, Robert Cameron, secy. Men's League, <a href="#Page_485">485</a>.</li> +<li>Beard, Mary R, officer Congressl. Union, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>.</li> +<li>Beauchamp, Frances E, <a href="#Page_209">209</a>.</li> +<li>Beckham, U. S. Sen. J. C. W, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>.</li> +<li>Beeckman, Gov. R. Livingston (R. I.), <a href="#Page_575">575-6-7</a>.</li> +<li>Behrman, Mayor Martin (N. O.), <a href="#Page_225">225-6</a>; <a href="#Page_228">228</a>; <a href="#Page_231">231</a>; <a href="#Page_233">233</a>.</li> +<li>Belgium, grants Munic. franchise, <a href="#Page_786">786</a>, <a href="#Page_788">788</a>.</li> +<li>Belmont, Mrs. Oliver H. P, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>at Southern Conf, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>, <a href="#Page_610">610</a>;</li> + <li>helps Nev, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>;</li> + <li>enters suff. movement, <a href="#Page_445">445</a>;</li> + <li>in N. Y, <a href="#Page_447">447</a>, <a href="#Page_456">456</a>, <a href="#Page_469">469</a>;</li> + <li>in R. I, <a href="#Page_567">567-8</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Benbridge, Helen, <a href="#Page_172">172-3</a>; <a href="#Page_179">179</a>; <a href="#Page_180">180</a>.</li> +<li>Benedict, Crystal Eastman, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>; <a href="#Page_701">701</a>; <a href="#Page_703">703</a>; <a href="#Page_858">858</a>.</li> +<li>Benedict, Elsie, <a href="#Page_377">377</a>.</li> +<li>Benet, U. S. Sen. Christie, <a href="#Page_581">581</a>.</li> +<li>Benners, Helen J, see Ala, chap, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>.</li> +<li>Bennett, Mrs. M. Toscan, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>; <a href="#Page_74">74</a>.</li> +<li>Bennett, Sarah Clay (Mrs. James), <a href="#Page_209">209</a>; <a href="#Page_596">596</a>.</li> +<li>Benton, Pres. Guy Potter, <a href="#Page_655">655</a>.</li> +<li>Besant, Annie, <a href="#Page_770">770</a>; <a href="#Page_852">852</a>.</li> +<li>Beveridge, Edna Annette, in Ala, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Md, <a href="#Page_254">254</a>;</li> + <li>Okla, <a href="#Page_530">530</a>, <a href="#Page_535">535</a>;</li> + <li>Tenn, <a href="#Page_621">621</a>;</li> + <li>W. Va, <a href="#Page_693">693</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Bickett, Gov. Thomas W. (N. C.), <a href="#Page_495">495</a>, <a href="#Page_499">499</a>.</li> +<li>Bidwell, Annie K, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>; <a href="#Page_32">32</a>; <a href="#Page_39">39</a>.</li> +<li>Biggers, Kate H, <a href="#Page_521">521-527</a>.</li> +<li>Bilbo, Gov. Theodore G. (Miss.), <a href="#Page_338">338</a>.</li> +<li>Bingham, Judge Robert, brings out <i>Courier Journal</i> for wom. suff, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>.</li> +<li>Bird, Mrs. Charlotte Sumner, <a href="#Page_280">280-1-2</a>; <a href="#Page_301">301</a>.</li> +<li>Bishop, Emily Montague, <a href="#Page_702">702</a>.</li> +<li>Bissell, Emily P, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>; in N. H, <a href="#Page_401">401</a>.</li> +<li>Black, Gov. James D. (Ky.), <a href="#Page_213">213</a>.</li> +<li>Blackwell, Alice Stone, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>natl. and State officer, work in Mass, <a href="#Page_267">267</a> et seq; <a href="#Page_281">281</a>; <a href="#Page_393">393</a>;</li> + <li>N. H, <a href="#Page_400">400</a>;</li> + <li>N. J, <a href="#Page_414">414</a>, <a href="#Page_424">424</a>; <a href="#Page_441">441</a>;</li> + <li>Okla, <a href="#Page_525">525</a>;</li> + <li>Ore, <a href="#Page_540">540</a>, <a href="#Page_544">544</a>;</li> + <li>R. I, <a href="#Page_565">565-6</a>, <a href="#Page_571">571</a>;</li> + <li>S. C, <a href="#Page_579">579</a>;</li> + <li>Vt, <a href="#Page_654">654</a>, <a href="#Page_661">661</a>, <a href="#Page_682">682</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Blackwell, Rev. Antoinette Brown, in Mass, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>birthday, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>;</li> + <li>see N. J, chap, <a href="#Page_412">412</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Blackwell, Dr. Emily S, <a href="#Page_415">415</a>.</li> +<li>Blackwell, Henry B, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>memorial in Del, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>; <a href="#Page_198">198</a>; <a href="#Page_204">204</a>;</li> + <li>memorial in Md, <a href="#Page_250">250</a>;</li> + <li>work in Mass, <a href="#Page_267">267</a> et seq;</li> + <li>birthday, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>;</li> + <li>memorial in Boston, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>;</li> + <li>marriage, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>;</li> + <li>in Minn, <a href="#Page_317">317</a>;</li> + <li>N. H, <a href="#Page_400">400</a>;</li> + <li>N. J, <a href="#Page_414">414-15</a>, memorial, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>;</li> + <li>in Okla, <a href="#Page_525">525</a>;</li> + <li>Ore, <a href="#Page_540">540</a>, <a href="#Page_544">544</a>;</li> + <li>R. I, <a href="#Page_565">565</a>;</li> + <li>for Pres. suff, <a href="#Page_573">573-4</a>;</li> + <li>S. C, <a href="#Page_579">579</a>;</li> + <li>Vt, <a href="#Page_651">651</a>, memorial, <a href="#Page_653">653</a>; <a href="#Page_682">682</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Blair, Edna S, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>.</li> +<li>Blair, Emily Newell, <a href="#Page_346">346</a>; <a href="#Page_348">348-9</a>.</li> +<li>Blair, U. S. Sen. Henry W, <a href="#Page_400">400</a>; <a href="#Page_402">402</a>; <a href="#Page_405">405</a>.</li> +<li>Blake, Katharine Devereux, work in Mont, <a href="#Page_364">364</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>N. Y, <a href="#Page_471">471</a>;</li> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_691">691</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Blake, Lillie Devereux, <a href="#Page_456">456</a>.</li> +<li>Blankenburg, Lucretia L, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in N. J, <a href="#Page_414">414</a>;</li> + <li>Penn, <a href="#Page_550">550</a> et seq;</li> + <li>Berlin, <a href="#Page_810">810-11</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Blanton, Annie Webb, <a href="#Page_638">638-9</a>.</li> +<li>Blatch, Mrs. Harriot Stanton, in N. H, <a href="#Page_401">401</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>N. J, <a href="#Page_414">414</a>, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>;</li> + <li>Seneca Falls, <a href="#Page_444">444</a>; <a href="#Page_450">450</a>;</li> + <li>N. Y, <a href="#Page_454">454</a>, <a href="#Page_468">468-9</a>;</li> + <li>founds Wom. Polit. Union, <a href="#Page_486">486</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Blinn, Nellie Holbrook, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>; <a href="#Page_31">31</a>; <a href="#Page_52">52-3</a>.</li> +<li>Bloch, St. Sen. Jesse A, in West Va, <a href="#Page_695">695</a>.</li> +<li>Blount, Dr. Anna E, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>; <a href="#Page_702">702</a>.</li> +<li>Bohemia, suffrage for women, <a href="#Page_795">795</a>.</li> +<li>Booth, Elizabeth K, work in Ills. Legis, <a href="#Page_150">150</a> et seq.</li> +<li>Borah, U. S. Sen. William E, <a href="#Page_253">253</a>; <a href="#Page_287">287</a>.</li> +<li>Boswell, Helen Varick, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>; <a href="#Page_455">455</a>; <a href="#Page_547">547</a>.</li> +<li>Bowen, Mrs. Joseph T, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>; <a href="#Page_165">165</a>.</li> +<li>Boyer, Ida Porter, in La, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>, <a href="#Page_220">220</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Mich, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>;</li> + <li>Okla, <a href="#Page_522">522-526</a>;</li> + <li>tribute to from St. leaders, <a href="#Page_526">526</a>;</li> + <li>Ore, <a href="#Page_542">542</a>;</li> + <li>Vt, <a href="#Page_652">652</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Brackenridge, M. Eleanor, <a href="#Page_631">631</a>.</li> +<li>Bradford, Mary C. C, in Ariz, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Colo, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>; <a href="#Page_64">64</a>; <a href="#Page_67">67</a>;</li> + <li>Kans, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>;</li> + <li>Neb, <a href="#Page_371">371</a>;</li> + <li>Okla, <a href="#Page_522">522</a>;</li> + <li>Ore, <a href="#Page_542">542</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Brady, Gov. James H. (Wash.), <a href="#Page_683">683</a>.</li> +<li>Braly, John Hyde, work in Calif, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>, <a href="#Page_40">40-1</a>, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>; <a href="#Page_198">198</a>.</li> +<li>Brandegee, U. S. Sen. Frank B, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>.</li> +<li>Brandeis, Louis D, speaks for wom. suff, in Mass, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>, <a href="#Page_298">298</a>.</li> +<li>Brandenburg, Prof. S.J, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>.</li> +<li>Breckinridge, Desha, his <i>Herald</i> for wom. suff, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>.</li> +<li>Breckinridge, Mrs. Desha, in Mo, <a href="#Page_356">356</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>N. C, <a href="#Page_491">491</a>;</li> + <li>Ore, <a href="#Page_547">547</a>;</li> + <li>S. C, <a href="#Page_580">580</a>;</li> + <li>Va, <a href="#Page_669">669</a>;</li> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_688">688</a>;</li> + <li>see Kentucky chapter, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Breckinridge, Prof. Sophonisba, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>; <a href="#Page_701">701</a>.</li> +<li>Breshkovsky, Catharine, addresses suff. meetings, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>.</li> +<li>British Colonies, See chapter, <a href="#Page_752">752-770</a>.</li> +<li>British Columbia, gains woman suffrage, <a href="#Page_756">756</a>.</li> +<li>Bronson, Minnie, in Calif, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Ind, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>;</li> + <li>Mich, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>;</li> + <li>Mo, <a href="#Page_357">357</a>;</li> + <li>Mont, <a href="#Page_366">366</a>;</li> + <li>Neb, <a href="#Page_375">375</a>, <a href="#Page_379">379</a>;</li> + <li>Nev, <a href="#Page_397">397</a>;</li> + <li>Vt, <a href="#Page_662">662</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Brooks, Mrs. Charles H, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>; <a href="#Page_204">204</a>; <a href="#Page_529">529</a>; <a href="#Page_573">573</a>.</li> +<li>Brooks, John Graham, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>.</li> +<li>Brotherton, Belle, see Mich. chapter, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>; <a href="#Page_312">312</a>; <a href="#Page_315">315</a>.</li> +<li>Brough, Gov. Charles H. (Ark.), <a href="#Page_20">20</a>; <a href="#Page_643">643</a>.</li> +<li>Brown, Frances Fort, <a href="#Page_610">610</a>.</li> +<li>Brown, Rev. Olympia, in Kans, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Md, <a href="#Page_254">254</a>, <a href="#Page_256">256-7</a>;</li> + <li>work in Wis, see State chapter, <a href="#Page_699">699</a>; <a href="#Page_701">701</a>; <a href="#Page_704">704</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Brown, Mrs. Raymond, in Del, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>N. J, <a href="#Page_419">419</a>;</li> + <li>N. C, <a href="#Page_494">494</a>;</li> + <li>R. I, <a href="#Page_571">571</a>;</li> + <li>Vt, <a href="#Page_658">658</a>;</li> + <li>see N. Y. chapter, <a href="#Page_468">468</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Brumbaugh, Gov. Martin G. (Penn.), <a href="#Page_561">561</a>.</li> +<li>Bryan, William Jennings, urges ratification in La, <a href="#Page_233">233</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Miss, <a href="#Page_340">340</a>;</li> + <li>Mo, <a href="#Page_349">349</a>;</li> + <li>Neb, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>;</li> + <li>N. C, <a href="#Page_493">493</a>, <a href="#Page_497">497</a>;</li> + <li>Tenn, <a href="#Page_603">603</a>;</li> + <li>Va, urges Fed. Amend, <a href="#Page_670">670</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Bryan, Mrs. William Jennings, speaks for suff. in Fla, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Neb, <a href="#Page_378">378</a>;</li> + <li>Tenn, <a href="#Page_603">603</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Bryce, (Lord) James, on wom. suff, <a href="#Page_727">727</a>; <a href="#Page_747">747</a>.</li> +<li>Buck, Rev. Florence, <a href="#Page_700">700</a>.</li> +<li>Bulkley, Mary, in Conn, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>; Nev, <a href="#Page_398">398</a>.</li> +<li>Burdette, Mrs. Robert J, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>.</li> +<li>Burn, Harry T, in Tenn. Legis, <a href="#Page_623">623-4</a>.</li> +<li>Burns, Lucy, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>; <a href="#Page_251">251</a>.</li> +<li>Burr, Frances Ellen, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>; <a href="#Page_70">70</a>.</li> +<li>Butt, Hala Hammond, <a href="#Page_326">326</a>.</li> +<li>Bynner, Witter, <a href="#Page_404">404</a>.</li> +<li>Byrd, Clara Booth, see N. C. chapter, <a href="#Page_490">490</a>, <a href="#Page_494">494</a>.</li> +<li>Byrne, Gov. Frank M. (S. Dak.), <a href="#Page_589">589</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Calder, U. S. Sen. William M, <a href="#Page_489">489</a>.</li> +<li>California, effort for wom. suff, names of workers, legis. action, campaign, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>.</li> +<li>Calloway, James P, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>.</li> +<li>Campaigns, in Ariz, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Calif, <a href="#Page_38">38-50</a>;</li> + <li>Iowa, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>;</li> + <li>Kans, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>;</li> + <li>La, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>;</li> + <li>Maine, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>;</li> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>;</li> + <li>Mich, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>;</li> + <li>Mo, <a href="#Page_347">347</a>, <a href="#Page_355">355</a>;</li> + <li>Mont, <a href="#Page_363">363</a>;</li> + <li>Neb, <a href="#Page_375">375</a>;</li> + <li>Nev, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>, <a href="#Page_394">394</a>;</li> + <li>N. J, <a href="#Page_423">423</a>;</li> + <li>N. Y, City, <a href="#Page_460">460</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>second, <a href="#Page_465">465</a>;</li> + </ul></li> + <li>State, <a href="#Page_468">468</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>second, <a href="#Page_475">475</a>;</li> + </ul></li> + <li>N. Dak, <a href="#Page_502">502</a>;</li> + <li>Ohio, <a href="#Page_510">510</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>second, <a href="#Page_512">512</a>;</li> + </ul></li> + <li>Okla, <a href="#Page_525">525</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>second, <a href="#Page_528">528</a>;</li> + </ul></li> + <li>Ore, <a href="#Page_539">539</a>, <a href="#Page_541">541</a>; <a href="#Page_544">544-5</a>;</li> + <li>Penn, <a href="#Page_554">554</a>, <a href="#Page_558">558</a>;</li> + <li>S. Dak, <a href="#Page_587">587</a>, <a href="#Page_589">589</a>, <a href="#Page_591">591-2</a>;</li> + <li>Tenn, <a href="#Page_601">601</a>, <a href="#Page_611">611</a>, <a href="#Page_619">619</a>;</li> + <li>Texas, <a href="#Page_640">640</a>;</li> + <li>Wash, <a href="#Page_675">675</a>;</li> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_688">688</a>;</li> + <li>Wis, <a href="#Page_701">701</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Campbell, Jane, in Del, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Penn, <a href="#Page_550">550</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Campbell-Bannerman, Sir Henry, <a href="#Page_727">727-8</a>.</li> +<li>Canada, efforts for wom. suff, <a href="#Page_753">753-766</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Dominion suff. granted, Sir Robert Borden's work for, Sir Wilfred Laurier objects, <a href="#Page_761">761-763</a>;</li> + <li>see Provinces;</li> + <li>nationality of wives, <a href="#Page_764">764</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Cannon, St. Sen. Martha Hughes, <a href="#Page_646">646</a>.</li> +<li>Capper, Arthur, <a href="#Page_200">200-2-3</a>.</li> +<li>Carey, Gov. Robert D. (Wyo.), <a href="#Page_709">709-10</a>.</li> +<li>Carr, Gen. Julian S, <a href="#Page_491">491</a>, <a href="#Page_497">497</a>.</li> +<li>Carruth, Prof. W. H, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>.</li> +<li>Castleman, Mrs. Samuel, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>.</li> +<li>Caswell, Mrs. George A, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>.</li> +<li>Cates, Attorney General Charles T, Jr, <a href="#Page_602">602</a>; <a href="#Page_621">621</a>.</li> +<li>Cathcart, Mrs. W. C, work in S. C, <a href="#Page_579">579</a>, <a href="#Page_580">580</a>.</li> +<li>Catholic, St. Catherine's Welfare Assn. work in N. Y, <a href="#Page_487">487</a>.</li> +<li>Catt, Carrie Chapman, work in Ariz, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>visits Ark, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>;</li> + <li>Calif, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>; <a href="#Page_30">30</a>; <a href="#Page_46">46</a>;</li> + <li>assists Conn, <a href="#Page_76">76-7</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Del, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>, <a href="#Page_95">95-96</a>;</li> + </ul></li> + <li>criticizes Seth Low, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>;</li> + <li>in Atlanta, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Chicago, <a href="#Page_161">161</a>;</li> + </ul></li> + <li>work in Iowa, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>;</li> + <li>speaks in Kans, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Ky, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>; <a href="#Page_216">216</a>;</li> + <li>in Maine, <a href="#Page_236">236</a>, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>, opp. campaign, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>, speaks in it, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>;</li> + </ul></li> + <li>work in Md, <a href="#Page_248">248-9</a>, <a href="#Page_253">253</a>, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>;</li> + <li>speaks in Boston, <a href="#Page_280">280-1</a>, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>;</li> + <li>work in Mich, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>, <a href="#Page_311">311</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>;</li> + <li>speaks in Minn, <a href="#Page_317">317</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Miss, <a href="#Page_326">326</a>;</li> + <li>St. Louis, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>, at natl. suff. conv, <a href="#Page_351">351</a>;</li> + </ul></li> + <li>work in Mont, <a href="#Page_360">360</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Neb, <a href="#Page_368">368-9</a>, <a href="#Page_370">370</a>, <a href="#Page_378">378</a>;</li> + <li>Nev, <a href="#Page_390">390-1</a>;</li> + <li>N. H, <a href="#Page_400">400-1-2</a>, <a href="#Page_407">407-8</a>;</li> + <li>N. J, <a href="#Page_413">413-14</a>, <a href="#Page_429">429</a>;</li> + <li>N. Mex, <a href="#Page_435">435-6</a>;</li> + <li>New York, <a href="#Page_442">442</a>, organizes Wom. Suff. Party, <a href="#Page_445">445</a>; <a href="#Page_450">450</a>;</li> + </ul></li> + <li>at legis. hearing, <a href="#Page_454">454</a>; <a href="#Page_456">456</a>;</li> + <li>pres. Inter-Urban Council, <a href="#Page_459">459</a>;</li> + <li>manages first campaign, <a href="#Page_462">462</a> et seq; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>second, <a href="#Page_469">469</a> et seq; <a href="#Page_465">465</a>; <a href="#Page_474">474-5</a>;</li> + </ul></li> + <li>great work, <a href="#Page_483">483</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Okla, <a href="#Page_532">532</a>;</li> + <li>Ore, <a href="#Page_540">540</a>;</li> + <li>Penn, <a href="#Page_558">558</a>;</li> + <li>R. I, <a href="#Page_568">568</a>, <a href="#Page_570">570</a>, <a href="#Page_571">571</a>;</li> + </ul></li> + <li>speaks in Tenn, <a href="#Page_596">596</a>, <a href="#Page_598">598</a>, <a href="#Page_612">612</a>;</li> + <li>work for Fed. Amend, urges special session, <a href="#Page_617">617</a>;</li> + <li>begins campaign, <a href="#Page_619">619</a>;</li> + <li>U. S. Sen. Harding and Gov. Cox write, <a href="#Page_620">620</a>;</li> + <li>her opinion of opponents, <a href="#Page_621">621</a>;</li> + <li>in Texas, <a href="#Page_630">630</a>, <a href="#Page_636">636</a>;</li> + <li>visits Utah, <a href="#Page_644">644</a>, speaks in Tabernacle, <a href="#Page_649">649</a>;</li> + <li>women congratulate, <a href="#Page_650">650</a>;</li> + <li>work in Vt, <a href="#Page_651">651</a>, <a href="#Page_655">655-6</a>;</li> + <li>scores Gov. Clement, <a href="#Page_659">659</a>;</li> + <li>addresses Legis, <a href="#Page_664">664</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Va, <a href="#Page_669">669</a>;</li> + </ul></li> + <li>addresses Legis, <a href="#Page_671">671</a>;</li> + <li>helps Wash., <a href="#Page_682">682</a>;</li> + <li>in West Va, <a href="#Page_691">691</a>;</li> + <li>urges special session, <a href="#Page_694">694</a>;</li> + <li>in Wis, <a href="#Page_705">705</a>;</li> + <li>in Wyo, <a href="#Page_710">710</a>;</li> + <li>receives doctor's degree from Wyo. Univ, <a href="#Page_712">712</a>;</li> + <li>visits Hawaii, <a href="#Page_716">716</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>urges suff. for its women, <a href="#Page_717">717</a>;</li> + </ul></li> + <li>visits Manila and organizes women, <a href="#Page_720">720</a>;</li> + <li>tours S. Africa, helps organize suff. assn, <a href="#Page_767">767</a>;</li> + <li>visits Copenhagen, <a href="#Page_778">778</a>;</li> + <li>speaks in Hungary, <a href="#Page_793">793</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Geneva, <a href="#Page_801">801</a>;</li> + </ul></li> + <li>calls conf, in Wash, D. C, to organize Intl. Wom. Suff. Alliance and opens it, <a href="#Page_806">806</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>work for and in conf, <a href="#Page_806">806-8</a>;</li> + </ul></li> + <li>at Berlin conf, presents gavel, <a href="#Page_810">810</a>;</li> + <li>elected pres, <a href="#Page_811">811</a>;</li> + <li>calls conf. at Copenhagen, <a href="#Page_812">812</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>presides, tribute to Miss Anthony, <a href="#Page_813">813</a>; <a href="#Page_815">815</a>;</li> + <li>closing words, <a href="#Page_817">817</a>;</li> + </ul></li> + <li>calls conf. at Amsterdam, <a href="#Page_817">817</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>address, <a href="#Page_820">820-822</a>;</li> + <li>wise management, <a href="#Page_823">823</a>;</li> + </ul></li> + <li>presides at quinquennial in London, <a href="#Page_828">828</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>address, <a href="#Page_829">829-832</a>;</li> + <li>speaks in Albert Hall, <a href="#Page_836">836</a>;</li> + <li>re-elected pres, <a href="#Page_837">837</a>;</li> + </ul></li> + <li>calls conf. at Stockholm, honors in Copenhagen, ovation in Sweden, visits Parliament, <a href="#Page_838">838</a>; <a href="#Page_839">839</a>, <a href="#Page_840">840</a>, <a href="#Page_846">846</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>address, <a href="#Page_841">841-843</a>;</li> + <li>presides in Royal Opera House, <a href="#Page_844">844</a>;</li> + </ul></li> + <li>address at Budapest, <a href="#Page_851">851</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>received by officials, <a href="#Page_853">853</a>;</li> + <li>re-elected, <a href="#Page_854">854</a>;</li> + </ul></li> + <li>on "militancy," 854;</li> + <li>on "white slave" traffic, <a href="#Page_855">855</a>;</li> + <li>presides in Academy of Music, <a href="#Page_857">857</a>;</li> + <li>farewell, <a href="#Page_858">858</a>;</li> + <li>calls Alliance conf. in Geneva after the war, <a href="#Page_859">859</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>address, memorial tribute to Dr. Shaw, plea for democracy, <a href="#Page_860">860-1</a>;</li> + <li>welcomes delegates, <a href="#Page_865">865</a>;</li> + <li>raises money, <a href="#Page_868">868</a>;</li> + <li>re-elected, <a href="#Page_869">869</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +</ul></li> +<li>Catt, George W, <a href="#Page_249">249</a>.</li> +<li>Cauer, Minna (Germany), <a href="#Page_826">826</a>.</li> +<li>Central America, <a href="#Page_804">804</a>.</li> +<li>Chace, Arnold Buffum, <a href="#Page_566">566</a>; <a href="#Page_571">571</a>.</li> +<li>Chace, Elizabeth Buffum, <a href="#Page_565">565</a>; <a href="#Page_571">571</a>.</li> +<li>Chapman, Mariana W, <a href="#Page_441">441</a>.</li> +<li>Chaponniere-Chaix, Mme. (Switz.), <a href="#Page_810">810-11</a>.</li> +<li>Chase, Mary N, in N. H, <a href="#Page_400">400</a> et seq; <a href="#Page_404">404</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Ore, <a href="#Page_541">541</a>;</li> + <li>Vt, <a href="#Page_651">651</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Cheney, Edna D, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>.</li> +<li>Cherdron, Margaret Zane, <a href="#Page_648">648</a>.</li> +<li>Chilton, U. S. Sen. W. E, <a href="#Page_696">696-7</a>.</li> +<li>China, effort for wom. suff, Mrs. Catt visits, <a href="#Page_803">803</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>suff. assn. joins Intl. Alliance, sends banner, <a href="#Page_848">848</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Churchill, Winston, <a href="#Page_401">401</a></li> +<li>Churchill, Mrs. Winston, <a href="#Page_404">404</a>.</li> +<li>Clapp, U. S. Sen. Moses E, <a href="#Page_319">319</a>; <a href="#Page_405">405</a>.</li> +<li>Clark, Adele, <a href="#Page_665">665</a>; <a href="#Page_667">667-70</a>.</li> +<li>Clark, Speaker Champ, speaks for wom. suff in La, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>.</li> +<li>Clark, Gov. George W. (Iowa), <a href="#Page_183">183</a>.</li> +<li>Clark, Jeannette Drury, writes Alaska chapter, <a href="#Page_713">713</a>.</li> +<li>Clark, Mrs. Orton H, <a href="#Page_310">310-11</a>.</li> +<li>Clark, Chief Justice Walter (N. C.), <a href="#Page_491">491-2</a>; <a href="#Page_494">494</a>.</li> +<li>Clarke, Grace Julian, <a href="#Page_171">171-2</a>; <a href="#Page_175">175</a>.</li> +<li>Clay, Laura, work in Ariz, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>speaks in Atlanta, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>;</li> + <li>Ind, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>;</li> + <li>work in Kans, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>;</li> + <li>in Ky, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_207">207</a> et seq.;</li> + <li>ambulance named for, <a href="#Page_211">211</a>;</li> + <li>opp. Fed. Amend, <a href="#Page_212">212</a>;</li> + <li>at Dem. natl. conv, <a href="#Page_220">220</a>;</li> + <li>in Md, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>;</li> + <li>Mich, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>;</li> + <li>Okla, <a href="#Page_522">522</a>, <a href="#Page_525">525</a>;</li> + <li>Ore, <a href="#Page_540">540</a>, <a href="#Page_544">544</a>;</li> + <li>R. I, <a href="#Page_572">572</a>;</li> + <li>Tenn, <a href="#Page_596">596</a>, <a href="#Page_598">598</a>, <a href="#Page_608">608-9</a>, <a href="#Page_612">612</a>;</li> + <li>opp. ratification in Tenn, <a href="#Page_622">622</a>; <a href="#Page_665">665</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Clement, Gov. Percival W. (Vt.), opp. wom. suff. in Vt, <a href="#Page_656">656</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>women visit, demand special session, <a href="#Page_657">657-8</a>;</li> + <li>calls on Pres. Harding, attacks Fed. Amend, <a href="#Page_658">658</a>;</li> + <li>Mrs. Catt scores, <a href="#Page_659">659</a>;</li> + <li>vetoes Pres. suff, <a href="#Page_659">659</a>, <a href="#Page_664">664</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Clendening, Grace, <a href="#Page_503">503-4</a>; <a href="#Page_506">506</a>.</li> +<li>Clergy, for wom. suff, names in State chapters.</li> +<li>Clopton, Virginia Clay, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>; <a href="#Page_608">608</a>.</li> +<li>Coats, Sarah Chandler, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>.</li> +<li>Coffin, Lillian Harris, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>; <a href="#Page_29">29</a>; <a href="#Page_33">33</a>; <a href="#Page_36">36</a>; <a href="#Page_53">53</a>; <a href="#Page_56">56</a>.</li> +<li>Coggeshall, Mary J, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>; bequests, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>.</li> +<li>Cohen, Elizabeth M, <a href="#Page_645">645-9</a>.</li> +<li>Coit, Stanton, <a href="#Page_276">276</a>; <a href="#Page_342">342</a>.</li> +<li>Coit, Mrs. Stanton, <a href="#Page_812">812</a>; <a href="#Page_824">824</a>; <a href="#Page_837">837</a>; <a href="#Page_854">854</a>; <a href="#Page_865">865</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Intl. Alliance treas. report, <a href="#Page_868">868</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Colby, Secy. of State Bainbridge, to Ga. women, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>proclaims Fed. Suff. Amend, <a href="#Page_625">625</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Colby, Clara Bewick, in Md, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>, <a href="#Page_254">254</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Mich, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>;</li> + <li>Wash, <a href="#Page_679">679</a>;</li> + <li>Wis, <a href="#Page_700">700-1</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Colby, Everett, <a href="#Page_418">418</a>; <a href="#Page_429">429</a>; <a href="#Page_431">431</a>.</li> +<li>College Equal Suffrage League, work in Calif, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>D. C., <a href="#Page_105">105</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>;</li> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>, <a href="#Page_279">279</a>;</li> + <li>Mich, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>; <a href="#Page_307">307</a>;</li> + <li>Minn, <a href="#Page_318">318-19</a>;</li> + <li>Neb, <a href="#Page_372">372</a>, <a href="#Page_374">374</a>;</li> + <li>Nev, <a href="#Page_396">396</a>;</li> + <li>N. Y, <a href="#Page_469">469</a>;</li> + <li>Ore, <a href="#Page_546">546</a>;</li> + <li>R. I, <a href="#Page_566">566</a>, <a href="#Page_567">567</a>, <a href="#Page_569">569</a>;</li> + <li>Wash, <a href="#Page_676">676</a>;</li> + <li>Wis, <a href="#Page_700">700</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Colorado, second victory; see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>.</li> +<li>Colt, U. S. Sen. LeBaron B, <a href="#Page_569">569</a>, <a href="#Page_576">576</a>.</li> +<li>Colvin, Prof. Caroline, work in Me, <a href="#Page_236">236</a>.</li> +<li>Congressional Union (see National Woman's Party), in Colo, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Conn, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>;</li> + <li>Del, <a href="#Page_89">89</a> et seq;</li> + <li>organized, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>;</li> + <li>in Mass, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>;</li> + <li>Minn, <a href="#Page_321">321</a>;</li> + <li>N. Mex, <a href="#Page_436">436</a>;</li> + <li>protest against in N. C, <a href="#Page_491">491-2</a>;</li> + <li>Penn, <a href="#Page_557">557</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Connecticut, effort for woman suff, workers, legis. action; see State chapter, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>.</li> +<li>Connor, Mabel, see Maine chapter, <a href="#Page_236">236</a>, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>.</li> +<li>Conventions, Constitl, in Ariz, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Ark, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>;</li> + <li>Ills, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>;</li> + <li>Ind, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>;</li> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_299">299</a>;</li> + <li>Mich, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>;</li> + <li>Neb, <a href="#Page_383">383</a>;</li> + <li>N. H, <a href="#Page_400">400</a>;</li> + <li>N. Mex, <a href="#Page_438">438</a>;</li> + <li>Ohio, <a href="#Page_509">509</a>;</li> + <li>Okla, <a href="#Page_522">522</a>;</li> + <li>R. I, <a href="#Page_575">575</a>;</li> + <li>Tenn, <a href="#Page_611">611</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Cooley, Roselle C, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>; <a href="#Page_118">118</a>.</li> +<li>Coolidge, Gov. Calvin (Mass.), for wom. suff, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>.</li> +<li>Coolidge, Mary Roberts, <a href="#Page_48">48-9</a>; <a href="#Page_52">52</a>.</li> +<li>Corbin, Hannah Lee, <a href="#Page_665">665</a>.</li> +<li>Cornwall, Gov. John J. (West Va.), <a href="#Page_694">694-5-6</a>.</li> +<li>Costello, Ray, <a href="#Page_329">329</a>.</li> +<li>Cotnam, Mrs. T. T, work in Ark, <a href="#Page_16">16-23</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in N. Y, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>; <a href="#Page_208">208</a>;</li> + <li>in Me, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>; <a href="#Page_311">311</a>; <a href="#Page_529">529</a>; <a href="#Page_692">692</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Court decisions, on Pres. suff, in Ills, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Ind, <a href="#Page_177">177-8</a>;</li> + <li>referendum in Maine, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>;</li> + <li>Fed. Amend., in Md, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>;</li> + <li>Pres. suff. in Ohio, <a href="#Page_514">514</a>;</li> + <li>Pres. suff. referendum, <a href="#Page_516">516</a>;</li> + <li>on ratification, <a href="#Page_519">519</a>;</li> + <li>Pres. suff. in Tenn, <a href="#Page_605">605</a>;</li> + <li>poll tax for women, <a href="#Page_616">616</a>;</li> + <li>right to ratify Fed. Amend, <a href="#Page_617">617</a>;</li> + <li>U. S. Sup. Ct. on referring ratification to voters, <a href="#Page_617">617</a>;</li> + <li>in Tenn., on ratif, <a href="#Page_624">624</a>;</li> + <li>Texas Primary law, <a href="#Page_637">637</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Cowles, Edith Clark, see Va. chapter, <a href="#Page_665">665</a>.</li> +<li>Cox, Gov. James M. (Ohio), urges Fed. Suff. Amend. in La, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>telegraphs N. C, <a href="#Page_499">499</a>;</li> + <li>helps ratification in Tenn, <a href="#Page_620">620-1</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Cox, Gov. John I. (Tenn.), <a href="#Page_608">608</a>.</li> +<li>Cox, Lenore Hanna, see Ind. chapter, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>.</li> +<li>Craft, Ida, <a href="#Page_364">364</a>; <a href="#Page_398">398</a>; <a href="#Page_448">448</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>"hikes," 451-2;</li> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_688">688-9</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Craigie, Mary E, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>; <a href="#Page_401">401</a>; <a href="#Page_454">454</a>; <a href="#Page_456">456</a>; <a href="#Page_688">688</a>.</li> +<li>Crane, Rev. Caroline Bartlett, <a href="#Page_311">311</a>; <a href="#Page_316">316</a>.</li> +<li>Cranston, Martha S, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>; <a href="#Page_88">88-9</a>; <a href="#Page_90">90</a>; <a href="#Page_92">92-3</a>; <a href="#Page_102">102-3</a>.</li> +<li>Creel, George, secy. Men's Suff. League, <a href="#Page_485">485</a>.</li> +<li>Crooker, Rev. Florence Kollock, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>; <a href="#Page_270">270</a>; <a href="#Page_403">403</a>.</li> +<li>Crossett, Ella Hawley, see N. Y. + <ul class="IX"> + <li>chapter, <a href="#Page_440">440-448</a>;</li> + <li>legis. report, <a href="#Page_454">454</a>; <a href="#Page_455">455-6-7</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Crowley, Teresa A., see Mass. chapter, <a href="#Page_267">267</a> et seq; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in campaign, <a href="#Page_284">284-5</a>; <a href="#Page_302">302</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Culberson, U. S. Sen. Charles A, <a href="#Page_642">642</a>.</li> +<li>Cummings, Fannie Leake, <a href="#Page_673">673</a>; <a href="#Page_680">680</a>.</li> +<li>Cummings, Homer S, urges ratif. of Fed. Amend, in Ala, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>La, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>;</li> + <li>Miss, <a href="#Page_340">340</a>;</li> + <li>Tenn, <a href="#Page_618">618</a>; Va, <a href="#Page_671">671</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Cunningham, Minnie Fisher, work in Texas, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_630">630</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Fla, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>;</li> + <li>Miss, <a href="#Page_334">334</a>;</li> + <li>Nev, <a href="#Page_390">390</a>;</li> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_692">692</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Curtis, Alice B, in Iowa, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Okla, <a href="#Page_532">532</a>;</li> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_691">691</a>;</li> + <li>Wis, <a href="#Page_704">704</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Curzon, Lord (Great Brit.), on wom. suff, <a href="#Page_747">747-8</a>.</li> +<li>Czecho-Slovakia, gives wom, suff, <a href="#Page_795">795</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Damrosch, Walter, <a href="#Page_467">467</a>.</li> +<li>Daniels, Secy. of the Navy Josephus, urges Fed. Amend, in Ala, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Del, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>;</li> + <li>Miss, <a href="#Page_340">340</a>;</li> + <li>N. C, <a href="#Page_493">493</a>, <a href="#Page_497">497</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Daniels, Mrs. Josephus, in N. C, <a href="#Page_493">493-4</a>, <a href="#Page_498">498</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Geneva, <a href="#Page_869">869</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Darrow, Clara L, <a href="#Page_501">501-2-3</a>; <a href="#Page_505">505</a>.</li> +<li>Davis, Gov. Westmoreland (Va.), <a href="#Page_668">668</a>.</li> +<li>Day, Mrs. George, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>; <a href="#Page_393">393</a>.</li> +<li>Day, Lucy Hobart, <a href="#Page_236">236</a>.</li> +<li>Dean, Dr. Maria M, <a href="#Page_360">360</a>.</li> +<li>Decker, Sarah Platt, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>; <a href="#Page_291">291</a>.</li> +<li>Deering, Mabel Craft, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>; <a href="#Page_45">45-6</a>.</li> +<li>Delaware, effort for wom. suff, workers, struggle over ratification, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>.</li> +<li>Democratic National Committee, urges ratif. of Fed. Amend, in Ga, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>La, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>;</li> + <li>Tenn, <a href="#Page_618">618</a>, <a href="#Page_620">620</a>;</li> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_694">694</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Democratic State Committees and Conventions, action on wom. suff. in Ala, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Ark, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>;</li> + <li>Calif, <a href="#Page_53">53-4</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>;</li> + <li>Conn, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>;</li> + <li>Del, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>;</li> + <li>Ky, <a href="#Page_210">210-11-12</a>;</li> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>, <a href="#Page_298">298</a>;</li> + <li>Minn, <a href="#Page_322">322</a>;</li> + <li>Mo, <a href="#Page_348">348</a>;</li> + <li>N. Y, <a href="#Page_446">446</a>, <a href="#Page_451">451</a>;</li> + <li>N. C, <a href="#Page_493">493</a>, <a href="#Page_495">495</a>, <a href="#Page_500">500</a>;</li> + <li>S. C, <a href="#Page_580">580</a>;</li> + <li>Tenn, <a href="#Page_599">599</a>, <a href="#Page_613">613</a>, <a href="#Page_618">618</a>;</li> + <li>Texas, <a href="#Page_639">639</a>;</li> + <li>Va, <a href="#Page_667">667</a>;</li> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_691">691</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Denison, Flora McDonald, work in Canada, <a href="#Page_757">757</a>, <a href="#Page_760">760</a>; <a href="#Page_815">815</a>.</li> +<li>Denmark, work for wom. suff, entertains Intl. Alliance, wom. suff. gained, women officials, <a href="#Page_776">776</a>, <a href="#Page_778">778</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Mrs. Catt visits, <a href="#Page_778">778</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Dennett, Mary Ware, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>; <a href="#Page_276">276</a>; <a href="#Page_294">294</a>.</li> +<li>DeVoe, Emma Smith, <a href="#Page_254">254</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>work in Wash, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_673">673</a>;</li> + <li>ad. Legis, <a href="#Page_685">685</a>;</li> + <li>in Wis, <a href="#Page_700">700</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>De Vou, Mary R, work in Del, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>.</li> +<li>Dewey, Prof. John, <a href="#Page_485">485</a>.</li> +<li>Dewing, Ardelia Cooke, <a href="#Page_565">565-6-7</a>.</li> +<li>De Young, M. H, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>.</li> +<li>Dietrich, Mrs. Charles H, <a href="#Page_381">381</a>; <a href="#Page_383">383</a>.</li> +<li>Digges, Annie L, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>.</li> +<li>Dillingham, U. S. Sen. William P, <a href="#Page_408">408</a>; <a href="#Page_655">655-6</a>.</li> +<li>District of Columbia, helps States get wom. suff, entertains natl. convs, works with Congress, names of workers, see D. C. chapter, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>.</li> +<li>"Dix, Dorothy," letter to Tenn, <a href="#Page_596">596</a>.</li> +<li>Dobson, Mrs. Henry, <a href="#Page_812">812</a>; <a href="#Page_816">816</a>; <a href="#Page_823">823</a>.</li> +<li>Dodge, Mrs. Arthur M, pres. Anti Suff. Assn, in Neb, <a href="#Page_375">375</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>N. Y, <a href="#Page_454">454</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Dorsett, Mrs. John W, work in Hawaii, <a href="#Page_716">716-17-18</a>.</li> +<li>Dorsey, Gov. Hugh M. (Ga.), <a href="#Page_139">139</a>; <a href="#Page_142">142</a>.</li> +<li>Douglas, Judith Hyams, <a href="#Page_217">217</a>; <a href="#Page_330">330</a>.</li> +<li>Drew, U. S. Sen. Irving, <a href="#Page_401">401</a>; <a href="#Page_406">406</a>.</li> +<li>Dudley, Mrs. Guilford, work in Tenn, <a href="#Page_597">597</a> to <a href="#Page_619">619</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>at Dem. natl. conv. and in Wash, <a href="#Page_599">599</a>, <a href="#Page_600">600</a>, <a href="#Page_606">606</a>, <a href="#Page_619">619</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Dundore, Lavinia C, pioneer suffragist, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>.</li> +<li>Duniway, Abigail Scott, work in Ore, <a href="#Page_538">538</a> et seq; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>honored, <a href="#Page_548">548</a>;</li> + <li>in Wash, <a href="#Page_679">679</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Dunlap, Flora, see Iowa chapter, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>.</li> +<li>Dunne, Gov. Edward F. (Ills.), <a href="#Page_146">146</a>; <a href="#Page_152">152</a>; <a href="#Page_157">157</a>; <a href="#Page_159">159</a>.</li> +<li>DuPont, T. Coleman. Pierre, Alfred I, <a href="#Page_93">93-4-5</a>; <a href="#Page_98">98</a>; <a href="#Page_100">100</a>.</li> +<li>Dye, Eva Emery, <a href="#Page_541">541</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Eacker, Helen N, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>; <a href="#Page_201">201-2</a>.</li> +<li>Eastman, Max, <a href="#Page_276">276</a>; for Men's League, <a href="#Page_484">484-5</a>; <a href="#Page_702">702</a>.</li> +<li>Eaton, Cora Smith, in Md, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Minn, <a href="#Page_317">317</a>, <a href="#Page_320">320</a>;</li> + <li>N. Dak, <a href="#Page_501">501</a>;</li> + <li>Wash, <a href="#Page_674">674</a>, <a href="#Page_678">678</a>. See King.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Eddy, Sarah J, in R. I, <a href="#Page_570">570</a>, <a href="#Page_578">578</a>.</li> +<li>Edge, U. S. Sen. Walter E, <a href="#Page_429">429</a>; <a href="#Page_430">430</a>.</li> +<li>Edson, Katharine Philips, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>.</li> +<li>Edwards, Betsy Jewett, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>; <a href="#Page_172">172</a>; <a href="#Page_409">409</a>.</li> +<li>Edwards, Gov. Edward I. (N. J.), <a href="#Page_429">429</a>, <a href="#Page_430">430</a>.</li> +<li>Edwards, Mrs. Richard E, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>; <a href="#Page_180">180</a>.</li> +<li>Elkins, U. S. Sen. Stephen B, <a href="#Page_697">697</a>.</li> +<li>Ellicott, Mrs. Charles E, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>; <a href="#Page_264">264-5-6</a>.</li> +<li>Ellicott, Elizabeth King, <a href="#Page_263">263-4</a>.</li> +<li>Ellington, Mrs. O. F, see Ark. chapter, <a href="#Page_16">16-20</a>, <a href="#Page_23">23-25</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Va, <a href="#Page_220">220</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Elliott, Albert H, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>; <a href="#Page_48">48-9</a>.</li> +<li>Elliott, John Lovejoy, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>.</li> +<li>Elliott, Maud Howe, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>; <a href="#Page_280">280</a>; <a href="#Page_291">291</a>; <a href="#Page_578">578</a>.</li> +<li>Elliott, Sarah Barnwell, <a href="#Page_597">597-8</a>; <a href="#Page_608">608-9-10</a>.</li> +<li>Engle, Lavinia, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>; <a href="#Page_114">114</a>; <a href="#Page_579">579</a>; <a href="#Page_633">633</a>; <a href="#Page_690">690</a>.</li> +<li>Equal Guardianship, in Mass, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Utah, <a href="#Page_647">647</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Erwin, Margaret, <a href="#Page_333">333</a>; <a href="#Page_607">607</a>. See Ford.</li> +<li>Evans, Mrs. Glendower, in Maine, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_277">277</a>;</li> + <li>Mich, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>;</li> + <li>R. I, <a href="#Page_570">570</a>;</li> + <li>Wis, <a href="#Page_702">702</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Evans, Sarah A, see Ore. chapter, <a href="#Page_538">538</a>, <a href="#Page_541">541</a>, <a href="#Page_545">545</a>.</li> +<li>Ewing, Robert, in La, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>; <a href="#Page_226">226</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Fallows, Bishop Samuel, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>.</li> +<li>Farmer, Eugenia B, <a href="#Page_318">318</a>.</li> +<li>Farrell, Mrs. Percy J, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>; <a href="#Page_315">315-16</a>.</li> +<li>Fawcett, Millicent Garrett, pres. Brit. Natl. Suff. Assn, writes chap, for History, <a href="#Page_725">725</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>on "militancy," <a href="#Page_728">728</a>;</li> + <li>heads deptn. to Asquith, <a href="#Page_733">733</a>;</li> + <li>work completed, <a href="#Page_749">749</a>;</li> + <li>elected vice-pres. Intl. Alliance, <a href="#Page_811">811</a>; <a href="#Page_816">816</a>; <a href="#Page_826">826</a>; <a href="#Page_827">827</a>;</li> + <li>invites Alliance to London, greets, <a href="#Page_828">828</a>;</li> + <li>suff. work of her assn, <a href="#Page_833">833</a>;</li> + <li>on "militancy," <a href="#Page_834">834</a>; <a href="#Page_835">835</a>;</li> + <li>presides in Albert Hall, <a href="#Page_836">836</a>;</li> + <li>re-elected, <a href="#Page_837">837</a>; <a href="#Page_854">854</a>;</li> + <li>on "white slave" traffic, <a href="#Page_855">855</a>;</li> + <li>manifesto at beginning of war, work on Headqrs. Com, <a href="#Page_865">865</a>; <a href="#Page_867">867</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li><a name="Federal_Woman_Suffrage_Amendment" id="Federal_Woman_Suffrage_Amendment"></a>Federal Woman Suffrage Amendment, Ala. women demand, <a href="#Page_5">5</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>endorsed in Ark, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>;</li> + <li>petition from Calif, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Legis. appeals for, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>;</li> + </ul></li> + <li>Colo. Legis. demands, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>;</li> + <li>work for in Conn, <a href="#Page_73">73</a> et seq;</li> + <li>Del, <a href="#Page_88">88</a> et seq;</li> + <li>Fla, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>;</li> + <li>Ga, <a href="#Page_123">123-4-5</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>;</li> + <li>members of Cong. vote for, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>; <a href="#Page_136">136</a>;</li> + <li>Ills, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>;</li> + <li>Ind, <a href="#Page_178">178-180</a>;</li> + <li>Iowa, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>;</li> + <li>Kans, <a href="#Page_203">203-4</a>, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>;</li> + <li>Ky, <a href="#Page_211">211</a>;</li> + <li>La, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>, <a href="#Page_227">227-8</a>;</li> + <li>Maine, <a href="#Page_237">237-8</a>;</li> + <li>Md, <a href="#Page_257">257-261</a>;</li> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_280">280-1</a>, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>;</li> + <li>Mich, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>;</li> + <li>Minn, <a href="#Page_319">319</a>, <a href="#Page_321">321</a>;</li> + <li>Miss, <a href="#Page_331">331</a>, <a href="#Page_334">334</a>;</li> + <li>Mo, <a href="#Page_353">353</a>, <a href="#Page_357">357</a>;</li> + <li>Neb, <a href="#Page_372">372</a>;</li> + <li>Nev, <a href="#Page_390">390</a>;</li> + <li>N. H, <a href="#Page_408">408</a>;</li> + <li>N. J, <a href="#Page_415">415</a>, <a href="#Page_429">429</a>;</li> + <li>N. Mex, <a href="#Page_436">436-7</a>;</li> + <li>N. Y, <a href="#Page_488">488-9</a>;</li> + <li>N. C, <a href="#Page_493">493</a>, <a href="#Page_495">495</a>;</li> + <li>N. Dak, <a href="#Page_504">504</a>, <a href="#Page_507">507</a>;</li> + <li>Ohio, <a href="#Page_517">517</a>;</li> + <li>Penn, <a href="#Page_552">552</a>, <a href="#Page_562">562</a>;</li> + <li>R. I, <a href="#Page_566">566</a>, <a href="#Page_570">570-1</a>;</li> + <li>S. C, <a href="#Page_580">580-1</a>, <a href="#Page_584">584</a>;</li> + <li>Tenn, <a href="#Page_599">599</a>, <a href="#Page_600">600</a>, <a href="#Page_606">606-7</a>, <a href="#Page_609">609</a>, <a href="#Page_612">612-13-14</a>, <a href="#Page_625">625</a>;</li> + <li>Texas, <a href="#Page_635">635-6</a>, <a href="#Page_639">639</a>, <a href="#Page_640">640</a>, <a href="#Page_642">642</a>;</li> + <li>Utah, <a href="#Page_645">645</a>, <a href="#Page_649">649</a>;</li> + <li>Vt, <a href="#Page_656">656-660</a>;</li> + <li>Va, <a href="#Page_665">665</a>, <a href="#Page_668">668</a>, <a href="#Page_670">670</a>;</li> + <li>Wash, <a href="#Page_685">685</a>;</li> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_693">693-4</a>;</li> + <li>Wis, <a href="#Page_700">700</a>, <a href="#Page_708">708</a>;</li> + <li>Wyo, <a href="#Page_709">709</a>;</li> + <li>U. S. Sup. Ct. decision, <a href="#Page_617">617</a>;</li> + <li>Solicitor Genl. Frierson's, <a href="#Page_617">617</a>;</li> + <li>proclaimed by Secy. of State, <a href="#Page_625">625</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Federations of Labor, for wom. suff, Ala, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Calif, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>;</li> + <li>give hall for suff. meet. in Atlanta, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>;</li> + <li>for wom. suff. in Maine, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>;</li> + <li>Md, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>, + <ul class="IX"> + <li>refused, <a href="#Page_253">253</a>;</li> + </ul></li> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>;</li> + <li>Nev, <a href="#Page_396">396</a>;</li> + <li>N. H, <a href="#Page_402">402</a>;</li> + <li>N. J, <a href="#Page_415">415</a>;</li> + <li>Okla, <a href="#Page_523">523</a>;</li> + <li>Ore, <a href="#Page_546">546</a>;</li> + <li>Penn, <a href="#Page_552">552-3</a>;</li> + <li>S. C, <a href="#Page_581">581</a>;</li> + <li>Tenn, <a href="#Page_597">597-9</a>;</li> + <li>Vt, <a href="#Page_660">660</a>;</li> + <li>Va, <a href="#Page_669">669</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Federation of Women's Clubs, record in each State chapter. Genl. Fedn. declares for wom. suff, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>applauds it in Boston, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Feickert, Lillian F, <a href="#Page_418">418-19</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>work in N. J; see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_420">420</a> et seq.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Fels, Mrs. Joseph, in Mass, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Nev, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Felton, Rebecca Latimer, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>; <a href="#Page_128">128</a>; <a href="#Page_131">131</a>.</li> +<li>Ferguson, Gov. James E, opp. wom. suff. in Texas, <a href="#Page_633">633</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>at Dem. Natl. Conv, <a href="#Page_633">633</a>;</li> + <li>women work against, <a href="#Page_634">634-5</a>, <a href="#Page_638">638</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Fernald, U. S. Sen. Bert, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>; <a href="#Page_245">245</a>.</li> +<li>Fernald, Fannie J, <a href="#Page_236">236-7</a>; <a href="#Page_402">402-3</a>.</li> +<li>Fess, Simeon D, chmn. Rep. Congrssl. Com, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>.</li> +<li>Fessenden, Susan S, in Del, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>;</li> + <li>N. H, <a href="#Page_400">400</a>;</li> + <li>Vt, <a href="#Page_660">660</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Field, Sarah Bard, <a href="#Page_398">398</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Ore, <a href="#Page_548">548</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Finland, great "strike," wom. suff. granted, women in Parliament, <a href="#Page_771">771-773</a>; <a href="#Page_824">824</a>.</li> +<li>Finnegan, Annette, work in Texas, <a href="#Page_630">630-1-2</a>.</li> +<li>FitzGerald, Susan W, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>; <a href="#Page_282">282</a>; <a href="#Page_294">294</a>; <a href="#Page_297">297</a>; <a href="#Page_301">301</a>; <a href="#Page_309">309</a>; <a href="#Page_406">406</a>; <a href="#Page_655">655</a>.</li> +<li>Fitzhugh, Gen. G. T, in Tenn, <a href="#Page_602">602</a>.</li> +<li>Fletcher, U. S. Sen. Duncan U, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>.</li> +<li>Florida, effort for wom. suff, workers, legis. action, see State chap, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>.</li> +<li>Foley, Margaret A, in Mass, <a href="#Page_276">276-7</a>, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Nev, <a href="#Page_397">397</a>;</li> + <li>R. I, <a href="#Page_572">572</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Foltz, Clara Shortridge, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>.</li> +<li>Forchhammer, Henni (Denmark), on League of Nations, <a href="#Page_814">814</a>; <a href="#Page_871">871</a>.</li> +<li>Ford, Mr. and Mrs. Henry, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>.</li> +<li>Ford, Margaret Ervin, work in Tenn; see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_604">604</a>, <a href="#Page_607">607</a> et seq.</li> +<li>Fordyce, Mrs. William C, <a href="#Page_348">348</a>; <a href="#Page_354">354</a>; <a href="#Page_357">357</a>.</li> +<li>Fort, Gov. John Franklin (N. J.), <a href="#Page_418">418</a>.</li> +<li>Foster, J. Ellen, <a href="#Page_401">401</a>.</li> +<li>Foulke, William Dudley, <a href="#Page_267">267</a>.</li> +<li>France, U. S. Sen. Joseph I, <a href="#Page_257">257-8</a>.</li> +<li>France, effort for wom. suff, <a href="#Page_799">799</a>.</li> +<li>Frazier, Helen, <a href="#Page_351">351</a>.</li> +<li>Frelinghuysen, U. S. Sen. Joseph S, <a href="#Page_429">429</a>; <a href="#Page_430">430</a>.</li> +<li>French, Mrs. L. Crozier, <a href="#Page_598">598</a>; <a href="#Page_600">600</a>; <a href="#Page_607">607</a>; <a href="#Page_609">609</a>; <a href="#Page_610">610</a>; <a href="#Page_621">621</a>.</li> +<li>Frick, St. Sen. George Arnold (Md.), suit against Fed. Suff. Amend, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>.</li> +<li>Frierson, U. S. Solicitor Genl, <a href="#Page_617">617</a>.</li> +<li>Fuller, Minnie Rutherford, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>; <a href="#Page_18">18</a>; <a href="#Page_22">22</a>.</li> +<li>Funck, Emma Maddox, see Md. chapter, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Wis, <a href="#Page_701">701</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Funck, Dr. J. William, <a href="#Page_249">249</a>; <a href="#Page_250">250-1</a>; <a href="#Page_256">256</a>; <a href="#Page_701">701</a>.</li> +<li>Funk, Antoinette, in Ills, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Mont, <a href="#Page_364">364</a>;</li> + <li>Nev, <a href="#Page_398">398</a>;</li> + <li>N. H, 405:</li> + <li>N. J, <a href="#Page_432">432</a>;</li> + <li>Penn, <a href="#Page_561">561</a>,</li> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_691">691</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Furman, Eleanor, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>.</li> +<li>Furuhjelm, Annie, work in Finland, <a href="#Page_772">772</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Parliament, <a href="#Page_773">773</a>; <a href="#Page_815">815</a>;</li> + <li>report on wom. suff. in Finland, <a href="#Page_824">824</a>; <a href="#Page_826">826</a>; <a href="#Page_829">829</a>;</li> + <li>elected vice-pres. Intl. Alliance, <a href="#Page_837">837</a>; <a href="#Page_843">843</a>; <a href="#Page_854">854</a>; <a href="#Page_860">860</a>; <a href="#Page_863">863</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Gale, Zona, in N. H. 405; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Wis, <a href="#Page_704">704</a>; <a href="#Page_706">706</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Gallinger, U. S. Sen. Jacob, <a href="#Page_400">400</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>death, <a href="#Page_406">406</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Gannett, Mrs. William C, <a href="#Page_442">442</a>; <a href="#Page_457">457</a>.</li> +<li>Gardener, Helen H, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>; <a href="#Page_110">110</a>; <a href="#Page_112">112</a>.</li> +<li>Garesché, Marie R., see Mo. chapter, <a href="#Page_342">342-3</a>.</li> +<li>Garrett, Mary E, <a href="#Page_249">249</a>.</li> +<li>Garrison, Francis J, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>.</li> +<li>Garrison, Wm. Lloyd, memorials, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>work in Mass, <a href="#Page_267">267</a> et seq.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Garwood, Omar E, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>; <a href="#Page_198">198</a>; <a href="#Page_330">330</a>.</li> +<li>Gates, Susa Young, see Utah chapter, <a href="#Page_644">644</a>; <a href="#Page_648">648</a>; <a href="#Page_650">650</a>.</li> +<li>Gay, U. S. Sen. Edward J, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>.</li> +<li>Gay, Dr. Ruth A, <a href="#Page_524">524-7</a>.</li> +<li>Gellhorn, Mrs. George, <a href="#Page_346">346</a>; <a href="#Page_350">350-1-2-3-4</a>; <a href="#Page_358">358</a>.</li> +<li>George, Mrs. A. J, in Neb, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Ohio, <a href="#Page_513">513</a>;</li> + <li>N. H, <a href="#Page_401">401</a>;</li> + <li>R. I, <a href="#Page_575">575</a>;</li> + <li>Vt, <a href="#Page_661">661</a>, <a href="#Page_663">663</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Georgia, effort for wom. suff, workers, legis. action, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>.</li> +<li>German American Alliance, in Neb, <a href="#Page_377">377</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Ohio, <a href="#Page_510">510</a>;</li> + <li>Wis, <a href="#Page_708">708</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Germany gives wom. suff, elects women, <a href="#Page_789">789-92</a>.</li> +<li>Geyer, Rose Lawless, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>; <a href="#Page_241">241</a>; <a href="#Page_243">243</a>; <a href="#Page_690">690</a>.</li> +<li>Gillett, Emma M, <a href="#Page_106">106-7</a>; <a href="#Page_249">249</a>.</li> +<li>Gillmore, Inez Haynes, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>.</li> +<li>Gilman, Charlotte Perkins, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>; <a href="#Page_250">250</a>; <a href="#Page_276">276</a>; <a href="#Page_387">387</a>; <a href="#Page_414">414</a>; <a href="#Page_540">540</a>; <a href="#Page_630">630</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Budapest, <a href="#Page_857">857</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Glasgow, Ellen, <a href="#Page_655">655</a>; <a href="#Page_668">668</a>.</li> +<li>Glass, U. S. Treasurer Carter, <a href="#Page_671">671</a>.</li> +<li>Goldstein, Vida (Aus.), in Calif, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>;</li> + <li>intl. suff. conf, <a href="#Page_806">806-7</a>; <a href="#Page_815">815</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Goodrich, Ellen Knox, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>.</li> +<li>Goodrich, Gov. James P. (Ind.), on ratif. of Fed. Amend, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>.</li> +<li>Goodwin, Grace W, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>.</li> +<li>Gordon, Anna A, <a href="#Page_437">437</a>.</li> +<li>Gordon, Rev. Eleanor, <a href="#Page_182">182</a>.</li> +<li>Gordon, Jean, in Atlanta, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in La, <a href="#Page_216">216-17</a>; <a href="#Page_221">221</a>; <a href="#Page_225">225</a>; <a href="#Page_232">232</a>;</li> + <li>in Miss, <a href="#Page_328">328</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Gordon, Kate M, proposes Primary suff, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_222">222</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Fla, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>;</li> + <li>Atlanta, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>;</li> + <li>work in La.: see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>;</li> + <li>brings natl. conv. to New Orleans, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>;</li> + <li>org. South. Conf, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>;</li> + <li>Dem. natl. conv, <a href="#Page_220">220</a>;</li> + <li>opp. Fed. Amend, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>, <a href="#Page_622">622</a>;</li> + <li>in Miss, <a href="#Page_328">328-9</a>, <a href="#Page_336">336</a>; <a href="#Page_338">338</a>;</li> + <li>Okla, <a href="#Page_524">524</a>, <a href="#Page_526">526</a>;</li> + <li>Ore, <a href="#Page_540">540</a>, <a href="#Page_542">542-3</a>;</li> + <li>S. C, <a href="#Page_580">580</a>;</li> + <li>Tenn, <a href="#Page_609">609</a>;</li> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_688">688</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Gordon, Laura de Force, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>.</li> +<li>Graham, Gov. Horace F. (Vt.), <a href="#Page_663">663</a>.</li> +<li>Grand Army of the Republic, endorses wom. suff, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>, <a href="#Page_522">522</a>.</li> +<li>Grange, Natl. and State, endorsement of wom. suff. in many St. chapters.</li> +<li>Great Britain (United Kingdom), lone effort for wom. suff; action of Parliament; see chapter, <a href="#Page_727">727</a> et seq; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>work of Natl. Union, <a href="#Page_730">730</a> et seq;</li> + <li>great pilgrimage, <a href="#Page_737">737</a>;</li> + <li>war work, <a href="#Page_739">739</a>;</li> + <li>society changes form, <a href="#Page_749">749</a>;</li> + <li>Labor Party for wom. suff, <a href="#Page_730">730-1</a>, <a href="#Page_737">737</a>;</li> + <li>war work of women, <a href="#Page_738">738</a>;</li> + <li>Coalition Govt, <a href="#Page_742">742</a>;</li> + <li>Conference formed, Commons passes bill, <a href="#Page_744">744</a> et seq;</li> + <li>Lords accept, <a href="#Page_748">748</a>;</li> + <li>women vote, <a href="#Page_749">749</a>;</li> + <li>favorable laws for women, <a href="#Page_750">750</a>;</li> + <li>elected to Commons, <a href="#Page_750">750</a>;</li> + <li>universities opened, <a href="#Page_751">751</a>; see <a href="#Page_833">833</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Greece, organizes for wom. suff, King, Queen and Venizelos favor, <a href="#Page_802">802</a>.</li> +<li>Greeley, Helen Hoy, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>; <a href="#Page_48">48</a>; <a href="#Page_90">90</a>; <a href="#Page_546">546</a>.</li> +<li>Gregg, Laura, in Ariz, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>; <a href="#Page_318">318</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Mont, <a href="#Page_360">360</a>;</li> + <li>Neb, <a href="#Page_368">368</a>, <a href="#Page_370">370</a>;</li> + <li>Nev, <a href="#Page_397">397</a>;</li> + <li>Okla, <a href="#Page_520">520-1</a>;</li> + <li>Ore, <a href="#Page_542">542</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Grenfell, Helen Loring, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>; <a href="#Page_64">64</a>.</li> +<li>Grey, Sir Edward, on wom. suff, <a href="#Page_735">735</a>.</li> +<li>Griffin, Frances A, suff. pioneer in Ala, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Ga, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Griggs, Prof. Edward Howard, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>.</li> +<li>Grim, Harriet, <a href="#Page_148">148-9</a>.</li> +<li>Gripenberg, Baroness Alexandra, work in Finland, <a href="#Page_772">772</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Hungary, <a href="#Page_793">793</a>; <a href="#Page_815">815</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Grossman, Leonard J, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>.</li> +<li>Guise, Mrs. John A, <a href="#Page_317">317</a>; <a href="#Page_322">322</a>.</li> +<li>Gullen, Dr. Augusta Stowe, work in Canada, see chapter, <a href="#Page_754">754</a>; <a href="#Page_757">757</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Hackstaff, Priscilla D, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>; <a href="#Page_401">401</a>; <a href="#Page_417">417</a>; <a href="#Page_459">459</a>.</li> +<li>Haines, Dr. Blanche M, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>; <a href="#Page_312">312</a>.</li> +<li>Hale, U. S. Sen. Frederick, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>.</li> +<li>Hale, Mrs. Forbes-Robertson, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>; <a href="#Page_91">91</a>; <a href="#Page_208">208</a>; <a href="#Page_309">309-10</a>; <a href="#Page_654">654</a>; <a href="#Page_692">692</a>; <a href="#Page_702">702</a>.</li> +<li>Haley, Margaret A, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>; <a href="#Page_48">48</a>; <a href="#Page_145">145</a>.</li> +<li>Hall, Florence Howe, work in N. J, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_412">412</a>; <a href="#Page_578">578</a>.</li> +<li>Hallam, Julia Clark, <a href="#Page_182">182</a>.</li> +<li>Harbert, Elizabeth Boynton, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>.</li> +<li>Hardie, Keir, help in Great Brit, <a href="#Page_730">730</a>; <a href="#Page_857">857</a>.</li> +<li>Harding, U. S. Sen. and Pres. Warren G, app. wom. Judge, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>opposes anti-suff. referendum, <a href="#Page_516">516</a>;</li> + <li>votes for Fed. Amend, <a href="#Page_517">517</a>;</li> + <li>for ratification in Tenn, <a href="#Page_620">620</a>;</li> + <li>Gov. Clement of Vt. visits, <a href="#Page_658">658</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Hardwick, U. S. Sen. Thos. W, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>; <a href="#Page_136">136</a>.</li> +<li>Hardy, Jennie C. Law, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>; <a href="#Page_316">316</a>.</li> +<li>Harper, Ida Husted, speaks in Md, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>writing in Rochester, <a href="#Page_442">442</a>;</li> + <li>in New York, <a href="#Page_450">450-7</a>;</li> + <li>Ore, <a href="#Page_540">540</a>; <a href="#Page_812">812</a>;</li> + <li>memorial address for Miss Anthony in Copenhagen, <a href="#Page_816">816</a>;</li> + <li>resolutions com. in Amsterdam, <a href="#Page_827">827</a>;</li> + <li>in London, <a href="#Page_837">837</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Harriman, Mrs. J. Borden, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>; <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.</li> +<li>Harris, U. S. Sen. Wm. J, votes and works for Fed. Amend, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>.</li> +<li>Harris, U. S. Commissioner of Education, William T, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>.</li> +<li>Harrison, Gov. Genl. Francis Burton, <a href="#Page_722">722</a>.</li> +<li>Harrison, U. S. Sen. Pat, <a href="#Page_341">341</a>.</li> +<li>Hart, Prof. Albert Bushnell, <a href="#Page_298">298</a>.</li> +<li>Hart, Gov. Louis F. (Wash.), <a href="#Page_684">684-5</a>.</li> +<li>Hartness, Gov. James (Vt.), <a href="#Page_660">660</a>.</li> +<li>Harvey, Col. George, <a href="#Page_418">418</a>; <a href="#Page_485">485</a>.</li> +<li>Haskell, Gov. Charles W. (Okla.), <a href="#Page_523">523-4</a>.</li> +<li>Haskell, Oreola Williams, work in New York, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_459">459</a>, <a href="#Page_461">461</a>.</li> +<li>Haslam, Thomas J. and Anna M. (Ireland), <a href="#Page_834">834</a>.</li> +<li>Hauser, Elizabeth J, in Ohio, <a href="#Page_509">509</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_688">688</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Havemeyer, Mrs. H. O, <a href="#Page_424">424</a>.</li> +<li>Haver, Jessie R, <a href="#Page_391">391</a>.</li> +<li>Hawaii, effort for wom. suff, action of U. S. Congress, <a href="#Page_715">715-17</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>status of women, Mrs. Catt visits, <a href="#Page_716">716</a>;</li> + <li>Mrs. Pitman assists, <a href="#Page_717">717-18</a>;</li> + <li>action of Hawaiian Legis, <a href="#Page_718">718</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Hawk, George, carries referendum on Fed. Suff. Amend. to U. S. Supreme Court, <a href="#Page_519">519</a>, <a href="#Page_617">617</a>.</li> +<li>Hay, Mary Garrett, work in Ariz, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Del, <a href="#Page_86">86-7</a>;</li> + <li>speaks in Chicago, <a href="#Page_161">161</a>;</li> + <li>in Mass, <a href="#Page_281">281</a>;</li> + <li>work in New York, <a href="#Page_446">446</a>, <a href="#Page_455">455</a>;</li> + <li>chmn, N. Y. City, first campaign, <a href="#Page_461">461</a> et seq; <a href="#Page_465">465</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>second, <a href="#Page_469">469</a> et seq;</li> + </ul></li> + <li>in Ore, <a href="#Page_547">547</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Hays, Natl. Chmn. Will H, interviewed by Conn. wom, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>assists ratification in Del, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>;</li> + <li>in Tenn, <a href="#Page_620">620</a>;</li> + <li>in Vt, <a href="#Page_657">657-8</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Hayward, St. Sen. Elizabeth A. (Utah), <a href="#Page_645">645-9</a>.</li> +<li>Hayward, Prof. H. H, <a href="#Page_87">87-8-9</a>.</li> +<li>Hayward, Mary Smith, <a href="#Page_368">368-9</a>.</li> +<li>Headquarters, Natl. Suff, opened in New York City, <a href="#Page_445">445</a>.</li> +<li>Hearst, William R, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>.</li> +<li>Heaslip, Chas. T, in Penn, <a href="#Page_555">555</a>; <a href="#Page_692">692</a>.</li> +<li>Hebard, Dr. Grace Raymond, work in Wyo, <a href="#Page_709">709</a>, <a href="#Page_712">712</a>.</li> +<li>Hemphill, Robert R, in Atlanta, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>.</li> +<li>Henderson, Arthur (Gt. Brit.), <a href="#Page_730">730</a>.</li> +<li>Heney, Francis J, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>.</li> +<li>Henrotin, Mrs. Charles, <a href="#Page_146">146</a>.</li> +<li>Henry, Alice, <a href="#Page_146">146</a>.</li> +<li>Henry, Josephine K, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>, <a href="#Page_596">596</a>.</li> +<li>Hepburn, Katharine Houghton; see Conn. chapter, <a href="#Page_68">68</a> et seq; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Del, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>;</li> + <li>in N. H, <a href="#Page_404">404</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Higgins, Gov. Frank M. (N. Y.), <a href="#Page_454">454</a>.</li> +<li>Higgins, Gov. James H. (R. I.), <a href="#Page_574">574</a>.</li> +<li>Higginson, Col. Thomas W, work in Mass, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>memorial, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>"Hikes" for wom. suff, <a href="#Page_451">451</a>.</li> +<li>Hill, Mrs. Homer M, <a href="#Page_673">673</a>; <a href="#Page_676">676</a>; <a href="#Page_686">686</a>.</li> +<li>Hilles, Mrs. Bayard, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>; <a href="#Page_91">91</a>; <a href="#Page_96">96</a>; <a href="#Page_102">102</a>.</li> +<li>Hipple, Ruth B, see S. Dak. chapter, <a href="#Page_585">585</a>; <a href="#Page_588">588</a>.</li> +<li>Hirsch, Mrs. Solomon, <a href="#Page_547">547</a>.</li> +<li>Hirschberg, Rabbi Emil, in Wis, <a href="#Page_702">702</a>.</li> +<li>History of Woman Suffrage, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Miss Anthony gives to Norwegian library, <a href="#Page_774">774</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Hitchcock, U. S. Sen. Gilbert H, <a href="#Page_383">383</a>.</li> +<li>Hitz, Justice William, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>.</li> +<li>Hobby, Gov. William P. (Tex.), <a href="#Page_636">636-7-8-9</a>.</li> +<li>Hoch, Gov. Edward W. (Kans.), <a href="#Page_195">195</a>; <a href="#Page_205">205</a>.</li> +<li>Hodges, Gov. George H. (Kans.), <a href="#Page_202">202</a>; <a href="#Page_205">205</a>.</li> +<li>Hodges, Justice William, proposes Primary suff. for women, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>.</li> +<li>Hoffman, Catharine A, <a href="#Page_195">195-6-7</a>; <a href="#Page_200">200</a>; <a href="#Page_204">204</a>.</li> +<li>Holcomb, Gov. Marcus A. (Conn.), opp. Fed. Amend, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81-2</a>.</li> +<li>Hollis, U. S. Sen. Henry F, <a href="#Page_405">405-6</a>.</li> +<li>Holmes, Lydia Wickliffe, see La. chapter, <a href="#Page_226">226</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Tenn, <a href="#Page_621">621</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Holmgren, Ann Margret (Sweden), <a href="#Page_815">815</a>; <a href="#Page_826">826</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>greets Alliance congress, <a href="#Page_843">843</a>, <a href="#Page_846">846</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Holt, Hamilton, <a href="#Page_485">485</a>.</li> +<li>Hooker, Mrs. Donald, <a href="#Page_257">257-260</a>; <a href="#Page_263">263</a>.</li> +<li>Hooker, Isabella Beecher, <a href="#Page_68">68-9</a>.</li> +<li>Hooper, Mrs. Ben, in Nev, <a href="#Page_390">390</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Wis, <a href="#Page_705">705-6</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Hooper, Gov. Ben W. (Tenn.), <a href="#Page_599">599</a>; <a href="#Page_608">608</a>; <a href="#Page_619">619</a>.</li> +<li>Hosmer, Katharine Tipton, see Colo. chapter, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>; <a href="#Page_60">60</a>; <a href="#Page_63">63</a>; <a href="#Page_65">65</a>.</li> +<li>Howard, Prof. George W, <a href="#Page_379">379</a>.</li> +<li>Howard, H. Augusta, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>; <a href="#Page_123">123</a>.</li> +<li>Howe, Julia Ward, memorials, in Del, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Boston, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>;</li> + <li>N. J, <a href="#Page_417">417</a>;</li> + <li>work in Mass, <a href="#Page_267">267</a> et seq; <a href="#Page_274">274</a>;</li> + <li>R. I, <a href="#Page_566">566</a>;</li> + <li>birthday celebr, <a href="#Page_281">281</a>, <a href="#Page_571">571</a>, <a href="#Page_578">578</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Howe, Marie Jenney, <a href="#Page_443">443</a>; <a href="#Page_448">448</a>.</li> +<li>Howells, William Dean, <a href="#Page_485">485</a>.</li> +<li>Howland, Emily S, <a href="#Page_442">442</a>.</li> +<li>Hubbs, Harriet L, see Penn. chapter, <a href="#Page_550">550</a>; <a href="#Page_561">561</a>.</li> +<li>Hughes, Gov. Charles E. (N. Y.), <a href="#Page_457">457</a>.</li> +<li>Hughes, Dr. James L. (Canada), <a href="#Page_754">754</a>; <a href="#Page_806">806</a>.</li> +<li>Hughes, Rev. Kate, <a href="#Page_146">146</a>.</li> +<li>Hughes, U. S. Sen. William, <a href="#Page_428">428</a>.</li> +<li>Hughston, Augusta, in Me, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Mich, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>;</li> + <li>Vt, <a href="#Page_655">655-6</a>;</li> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_693">693</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Hull, U. S. Rep. Harry E. (Iowa), <a href="#Page_185">185</a>.</li> +<li>Hultin, Rev. Ida C, <a href="#Page_250">250</a>; <a href="#Page_267">267</a>, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>, <a href="#Page_403">403</a>.</li> +<li>Hundley, Mrs. O. R, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>.</li> +<li>Hungary, struggle for wom. suff, entertains Intl. Alliance; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Mrs. Catt speaks in eight cities, <a href="#Page_793">793</a>; <a href="#Page_856">856</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Hunt, Alice, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>.</li> +<li>Hunt, Augusta M, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>; <a href="#Page_242">242</a>.</li> +<li>Hurd, Dr. Ethel E, <a href="#Page_318">318</a>; <a href="#Page_320">320</a>.</li> +<li>Hurst, Sadie D, <a href="#Page_388">388</a>; <a href="#Page_390">390-1-2</a>.</li> +<li>Hussey, Cornelia C, <a href="#Page_413">413</a>.</li> +<li>Hussey, Dr. Mary D, work in N. J, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_412">412</a>.</li> +<li>Hutson, Ethel, see La. chapter, <a href="#Page_226">226</a>.</li> +<li>Hutton, May Arkwright, <a href="#Page_676">676</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Iceland, gives suff. to women, elects to office, <a href="#Page_776">776</a>.</li> +<li>Idaho, 25 years of wom. suff, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>.</li> +<li>Ijams, Martha A, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>.</li> +<li>Illinois, effort for wom. suff., workers, legis. action, campaigns, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>.</li> +<li>India, efforts for wom. suff, <a href="#Page_769">769</a>.</li> +<li>Indiana, effort for wom. suff., workers, legis. action, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>.</li> +<li>Initiative and Referendum, used for wom. suff. in Ariz, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Mo, <a href="#Page_347">347</a>, <a href="#Page_355">355-6</a>;</li> + <li>Neb, <a href="#Page_372">372</a>, <a href="#Page_373">373</a>;</li> + <li>petitions, <a href="#Page_379">379</a>;</li> + <li>fraudulent, carried into court, <a href="#Page_380">380</a>, <a href="#Page_382">382</a>;</li> + <li>in Ohio, <a href="#Page_511">511</a>;</li> + <li>courts reject, <a href="#Page_515">515</a>;</li> + <li>to refer ratif. of Fed. Amend, <a href="#Page_518">518</a>;</li> + <li>attacked, <a href="#Page_519">519</a>;</li> + <li>in Okla, <a href="#Page_524">524</a>;</li> + <li>Ore, <a href="#Page_539">539</a>, <a href="#Page_544">544-5</a>;</li> + <li>S. Dak, <a href="#Page_585">585</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>International Council of Women, meets in Berlin, <a href="#Page_790">790</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Standing Com. on Wom. Suff, <a href="#Page_805">805</a>; <a href="#Page_822">822</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>International Woman Suffrage Alliance, inception, founding and eight Congresses, <a href="#Page_805">805-871</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>preliminary meeting and Intl. Com. formed in Washtn, names of delegates, decl. of principles, <a href="#Page_805">805</a>;</li> + <li>organized in Berlin, names of delegates, officers elected, <a href="#Page_809">809</a>;</li> + <li>conf. and cong. in Copenhagen, <a href="#Page_812">812</a>;</li> + <li>in Amsterdam, <a href="#Page_817">817</a>;</li> + <li>quinquennial in London, <a href="#Page_828">828</a>;</li> + <li>congress in Stockholm, <a href="#Page_838">838</a>;</li> + <li>Budapest, <a href="#Page_847">847</a>;</li> + <li>Geneva, after the war, <a href="#Page_859">859</a>;</li> + <li>names of delegates and speakers, Mrs. Catt's president's address, extracts from speeches, reports, resolutions, action taken, entertainments given, under each heading;</li> + <li>women in pulpits, Dr. Shaw in London, <a href="#Page_838">838</a>, + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Stockholm, <a href="#Page_839">839</a>,</li> + <li>in Budapest, <a href="#Page_850">850</a>;</li> + </ul></li> + <li>A. Maude Royden and Edith Picton Turberville in Geneva, <a href="#Page_860">860</a>;</li> + <li>object of Alliance, <a href="#Page_807">807</a>, <a href="#Page_810">810</a>, <a href="#Page_822">822</a>, <a href="#Page_830">830</a>, <a href="#Page_832">832</a>, <a href="#Page_844">844</a>, <a href="#Page_861">861</a>, <a href="#Page_864">864</a>, <a href="#Page_866">866</a>;</li> + <li>non-partisanship, <a href="#Page_827">827</a>, <a href="#Page_833">833</a>, <a href="#Page_844">844</a>;</li> + <li>growth, <a href="#Page_821">821</a>, <a href="#Page_829">829</a>, <a href="#Page_842">842</a>, <a href="#Page_851">851</a>, <a href="#Page_863">863</a>;</li> + <li>financial help of U. S, <a href="#Page_854">854</a>, <a href="#Page_868">868-9</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>of Great Brit, <a href="#Page_868">868</a>;</li> + </ul></li> + <li>action on "social evil," 855; <a href="#Page_870">870</a>;</li> + <li>attitude toward war, <a href="#Page_861">861</a>, <a href="#Page_866">866</a>;</li> + <li>work during war, <a href="#Page_867">867</a>;</li> + <li>position on League of Nations, <a href="#Page_870">870</a>;</li> + <li>future of Alliance, <a href="#Page_861">861-2</a>, <a href="#Page_871">871</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Iowa, effort for wom. suff, legis. action, workers, campaign; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Ireland, Archbishop, for wom. suff, <a href="#Page_317">317</a>.</li> +<li>Irish, Col. John P, in Calif, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Iowa, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Italy, organizes for wom. suff, efforts with Parliament, civil rights granted, <a href="#Page_797">797</a>.</li> +<li>Ivins, William M, <a href="#Page_485">485</a>.</li> +<li>Ivins, Mrs. William M, <a href="#Page_446">446</a>; <a href="#Page_448">448</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Jackson, Alice Day, <a href="#Page_398">398</a>.</li> +<li>Jacobs, Dr. Aletta, in S. Africa, <a href="#Page_768">768</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>work in Netherlands, <a href="#Page_783">783</a>; <a href="#Page_785">785</a>;</li> + <li>in Hungary, <a href="#Page_793">793</a>;</li> + <li>at Berlin conf, <a href="#Page_810">810</a>; <a href="#Page_815">815</a>;</li> + <li>brings Alliance to Amsterdam, <a href="#Page_818">818</a>;</li> + <li>address, <a href="#Page_820">820</a>;</li> + <li>presents Chinese banner, <a href="#Page_849">849</a>; <a href="#Page_852">852</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Jacobs, Pattie Ruffner, work in Ala, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Miss, <a href="#Page_333">333</a>;</li> + <li>N. C, <a href="#Page_492">492</a>;</li> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_691">691</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>James, Ada L, <a href="#Page_701">701-2</a>; <a href="#Page_704">704-5</a>, <a href="#Page_707">707-8</a>.</li> +<li>Jameson, Mrs. Ovid B, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>.</li> +<li>Janney, Dr. O. Edward, <a href="#Page_249">249</a>; <a href="#Page_250">250-1</a>.</li> +<li>Janney, Mrs. O. Edward, <a href="#Page_254">254</a>; <a href="#Page_263">263</a>.</li> +<li>Japan, prospect for wom. suff, <a href="#Page_803">803</a>.</li> +<li>Jeffreys-Myers, Dr. Annice, <a href="#Page_538">538-9</a>; <a href="#Page_540">540-1</a>.</li> +<li>Jenks, Agnes M, work in N. H, <a href="#Page_403">403-4</a>; <a href="#Page_410">410</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>R. I, <a href="#Page_569">569</a>, <a href="#Page_571">571</a>;</li> + <li>Vt. <a href="#Page_662">662</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Jennings, Mrs. Chester, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>; <a href="#Page_22">22</a>.</li> +<li>Johnson, Adelaide, <a href="#Page_450">450</a>.</li> +<li>Johnson, Gov. Hiram (Calif.), elected, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>has suff. amend. submitted, fails to speak for it, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>; <a href="#Page_57">57</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Johnston, Mary, in R. I, <a href="#Page_568">568</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Tenn, <a href="#Page_598">598</a>, <a href="#Page_608">608-9</a>;</li> + <li>Va, <a href="#Page_655">655</a>; <a href="#Page_668">668-9</a>;</li> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_687">687</a>, <a href="#Page_698">698</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Johnston, Ch. Justice William A, <a href="#Page_197">197-8</a>.</li> +<li>Johnston, Mrs. William A, work in Kans, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>.</li> +<li>Jones, U. S. Sen. Andrieus A, <a href="#Page_435">435</a>.</li> +<li>Jones, Anna Maxwell, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>; <a href="#Page_631">631</a>.</li> +<li>Jones, Dr. Effie McCollum, in Iowa, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Minn, <a href="#Page_321">321</a>;</li> + <li>N. H, <a href="#Page_406">406</a>;</li> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_692">692</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Jones, Dr. Harriet B, work in West Va, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_687">687</a>.</li> +<li>Jones, Jenkin Lloyd, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>.</li> +<li>Jones, Rosalie Gardiner, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>; <a href="#Page_356">356</a>; <a href="#Page_364">364</a>; <a href="#Page_376">376</a>; <a href="#Page_398">398</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>organizes suff. "hikes," <a href="#Page_451">451</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Jordan, David Starr, helps wom. suff. in Calif, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>.</li> +<li>Jordan, Secy. of State, Frank, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>.</li> +<li><i>Jus Suffragii</i>, official organ Intl. Alliance, begun, <a href="#Page_817">817</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>moved to London, <a href="#Page_853">853</a>;</li> + <li>during the war, <a href="#Page_854">854</a>, <a href="#Page_865">865</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Kansas, effort for wom. suff, legis. action, workers, campaign, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>.</li> +<li>Kearney, Belle, in Md, <a href="#Page_256">256</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>work in Miss, <a href="#Page_326">326</a> et seq;</li> + <li>in Tenn, <a href="#Page_596">596</a>; <a href="#Page_812">812</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Keith, Mary McHenry (Mrs. William), work in Calif, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_27">27</a> et seq; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>contributions, <a href="#Page_32">32-35</a>; <a href="#Page_45">45</a>; <a href="#Page_51">51-2</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Keith, William, gives picture to suff. bazaar, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>; <a href="#Page_29">29</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>paints portrait of Miss Anthony, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Keller, Dr. Amelia, <a href="#Page_171">171-2-3</a>.</li> +<li>Kelley, Florence, in Calif, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Ga, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>;</li> + <li>Md, <a href="#Page_253">253</a>;</li> + <li>N. Y, <a href="#Page_443">443</a>, <a href="#Page_456">456</a>;</li> + <li>Vt, <a href="#Page_660">660</a>;</li> + <li>Wis, <a href="#Page_702">702</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Kelly, Dr. Howard, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>.</li> +<li>Kelly, Marion Booth, <a href="#Page_282">282</a>; <a href="#Page_654">654</a>.</li> +<li>Kendall, Dr. Sarah A, <a href="#Page_673">673</a>; <a href="#Page_682">682</a>.</li> +<li>Kenney, Annie (Gt. Brit.), speaks in Nev, <a href="#Page_398">398</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Germany, <a href="#Page_790">790</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Kenny, Mrs. John M, see Tenn. chapter, <a href="#Page_596">596</a>; <a href="#Page_616">616</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>work for ratification, <a href="#Page_619">619</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Kent, Mrs. Carrie E, <a href="#Page_105">105-6</a>.</li> +<li>Kent, U. S. Rep. and Mrs. William, in Del, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Nev, <a href="#Page_398">398</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Kentucky, effort for wom. suff, legis. action, workers, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>.</li> +<li>Ketcham, Emily Burton, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>.</li> +<li>Keyes, Gov. Henry W. (N. H.), <a href="#Page_406">406</a>.</li> +<li>Kilbreth, Mary G, in Tenn, <a href="#Page_621">621</a>.</li> +<li>Kimball, Martha S, <a href="#Page_403">403-4-5</a>; <a href="#Page_409">409-10</a>.</li> +<li>Kimber, Helen, <a href="#Page_193">193-4</a>.</li> +<li>Kimbrough, Mrs. D. T, <a href="#Page_599">599</a>; <a href="#Page_600">600-1</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>poll tax refused, <a href="#Page_616">616</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>King, Dr. Cora Smith, see Wash. chapter, <a href="#Page_673">673</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>see Eaton.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Kirby, U. S. Sen. W. F, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>.</li> +<li>Klatschken, Martha, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>; <a href="#Page_452">452-3</a>.</li> +<li>Koch, Dr. Margaret, <a href="#Page_318">318-19-20-22</a>.</li> +<li>Kollock, Alice G; see Fla. chapter, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>.</li> +<li>Kramers, Martina G, intl. secy, <a href="#Page_811">811</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>edits official paper, <a href="#Page_817">817</a>;</li> + <li>report of conf. in Amsterdam, <a href="#Page_818">818</a>; <a href="#Page_837">837</a>;</li> + <li>Alliance thanks, <a href="#Page_854">854</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Krog, Gina, work in Norway, <a href="#Page_774">774</a>; <a href="#Page_815">815</a>; <a href="#Page_823">823</a>; <a href="#Page_848">848</a>; <a href="#Page_857">857</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Labor party (Gt. Brit.), on wom. suff, <a href="#Page_730">730</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>women support, <a href="#Page_737">737</a>;</li> + <li>in Manitoba, <a href="#Page_754">754</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Labriola, Prof. Teresa (Italy), <a href="#Page_797">797-8</a>; <a href="#Page_813">813</a>.</li> +<li>Laddey, Clara S, in Mich, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>work in N. J, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_412">412</a>;</li> + <li>Wis, <a href="#Page_701">701</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>LaFollette, Fola, <a href="#Page_347">347</a>.</li> +<li>LaFollette, U. S. Sen. Robert M, <a href="#Page_708">708</a>.</li> +<li>LaFollette, Mrs. Robert M, speaks in Md, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in R. I, <a href="#Page_572">572</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Lagerlöf, Selma, assists wom. suff. in Sweden, <a href="#Page_781">781</a>, <a href="#Page_783">783</a>; <a href="#Page_839">839</a>, <a href="#Page_843">843</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>great speech, <a href="#Page_844">844</a>; <a href="#Page_847">847</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Laidlaw, James Lees, in Calif, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>pres. Natl. Men's Suff. League, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>; <a href="#Page_126">126</a>;</li> + <li>in Mont, <a href="#Page_364">364</a>;</li> + <li>Nev, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>;</li> + <li>N. Y, <a href="#Page_467">467</a>; <a href="#Page_469">469</a>;</li> + <li>work for Men's League, <a href="#Page_485">485</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Laidlaw, Mrs. James Lees, in Calif, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Mont, <a href="#Page_364">364</a>;</li> + <li>Nev, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>;</li> + <li>N. Y, <a href="#Page_450">450</a>, <a href="#Page_462">462</a>, <a href="#Page_464">464</a>, <a href="#Page_475">475-6-7</a>; <a href="#Page_488">488</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Lamar, Mrs. Walter D, <a href="#Page_138">138-9</a>.</li> +<li>Langhorne, Orra, <a href="#Page_665">665</a>.</li> +<li>Langley, U. S. Rep. John W. (Ky.), <a href="#Page_213">213</a>.</li> +<li>Larch-Miller, Aloysius, <a href="#Page_536">536</a>.</li> +<li>Lathrop, Julia C, chief Federal Children's Bureau, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>.</li> +<li>Laughlin, Gail, work in Calif, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Colo, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>;</li> + <li>Minn, <a href="#Page_318">318</a>;</li> + <li>Mont, <a href="#Page_360">360-1</a>;</li> + <li>Neb, <a href="#Page_369">369</a>, <a href="#Page_370">370-1</a>;</li> + <li>Nev, <a href="#Page_398">398</a>;</li> + <li>Ore, <a href="#Page_540">540-1</a>, <a href="#Page_543">543</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Lawrence, Mrs. Pethick (Great Brit.), <a href="#Page_208">208</a>; <a href="#Page_704">704</a>; <a href="#Page_790">790</a>; <a href="#Page_868">868</a>.</li> +<li>Laws, for women and children much improved, <a href="#Page_1">1</a>.</li> +<li>Lawther, Anna B, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>; <a href="#Page_187">187</a>.</li> +<li>Lea, U. S. Sen. Luke, <a href="#Page_603">603</a>; <a href="#Page_606">606</a>; <a href="#Page_608">608</a>.</li> +<li>Leach, Antoinette D, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>; <a href="#Page_169">169</a>.</li> +<li>League of Nations, attitude toward of Intl. Wom. Suff. Alliance, <a href="#Page_870">870-1</a>.</li> +<li>League of Women Voters, organized, chairmen, see each St. chapter near close.</li> +<li>Leckenby, Ellen S, <a href="#Page_673">673-4</a>.</li> +<li>Leech, Mrs. James A, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>.</li> +<li>Legislatures, action on wom. suff, listed in each St. chapter; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>women members, see Officers.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Leighty, Mrs. John R, <a href="#Page_348">348</a>; <a href="#Page_352">352</a>; <a href="#Page_357">357-8-9</a>.</li> +<li>Lenroot, U. S. Sen. Irvine L, <a href="#Page_708">708</a>.</li> +<li>Leonard, Gertrude Halliday, <a href="#Page_282">282</a>; <a href="#Page_285">285-6-7</a>; <a href="#Page_299">299</a>.</li> +<li>Leser, Judge Oscar (Md.), <a href="#Page_261">261</a>.</li> +<li>Leslie Woman Suffrage Commission, assists Ala, <a href="#Page_5">5</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Me, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>;</li> + <li>Vt, <a href="#Page_660">660</a>;</li> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_692">692</a>;</li> + <li>Intl. Suff. Alliance, <a href="#Page_869">869</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Lewis, Mrs. George Howard, contribution, <a href="#Page_444">444</a>; <a href="#Page_456">456</a>.</li> +<li>Lewis, Mrs. Lawrence, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>.</li> +<li>Lexow, Caroline, <a href="#Page_456">456</a>; <a href="#Page_487">487</a>.</li> +<li>Life and Work of Susan B. Anthony, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>, <a href="#Page_253">253</a>, <a href="#Page_418">418</a>.</li> +<li>Lindemann, Anna (Germany), <a href="#Page_837">837</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>report of Alliance cong. in Stockholm, <a href="#Page_846">846</a>;</li> + <li>Budapest, <a href="#Page_850">850</a>, <a href="#Page_854">854</a>;</li> + <li>Geneva, <a href="#Page_860">860</a>, <a href="#Page_869">869</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Lindsey, Judge Ben, in Kans, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_276">276</a>;</li> + <li>Wash, <a href="#Page_678">678</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Lindsey, Gov. Washington E. (N. M.), <a href="#Page_436">436</a>; <a href="#Page_438">438</a>.</li> +<li>Lindsey, Mrs. Washington E, see N. Mex. chapter, <a href="#Page_434">434</a>, <a href="#Page_436">436</a>.</li> +<li>Lindsey, Mrs. Z. T, <a href="#Page_373">373-4-5</a>.</li> +<li>Lippitt, U. S. Sen. Henry F, <a href="#Page_569">569</a>.</li> +<li>Liquor interests, opposed to wom. suff. in Ariz, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Calif, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>;</li> + <li>Fla, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>;</li> + <li>Ills, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>;</li> + <li>Iowa, <a href="#Page_188">188-9</a>;</li> + <li>Kans, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>;</li> + <li>Ky, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>;</li> + <li>Md, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>;</li> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>;</li> + <li>Mich, <a href="#Page_307">307-8-9</a>;</li> + <li>Minn, <a href="#Page_325">325</a>;</li> + <li>Mont, <a href="#Page_365">365</a>;</li> + <li>Neb, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>;</li> + <li>Nev, <a href="#Page_394">394</a>;</li> + <li>N. J, <a href="#Page_424">424-5</a>;</li> + <li>N. Y, <a href="#Page_483">483</a>;</li> + <li>N. Dak, <a href="#Page_506">506</a>;</li> + <li>Ohio, <a href="#Page_510">510-11</a>, <a href="#Page_513">513</a>;</li> + <li>work with women "antis," 513, <a href="#Page_515">515</a>, <a href="#Page_519">519</a>;</li> + <li>Okla, <a href="#Page_524">524</a>;</li> + <li>Ore, <a href="#Page_543">543</a>;</li> + <li>Penn, <a href="#Page_561">561</a>;</li> + <li>S. Dak, <a href="#Page_586">586</a>;</li> + <li>Wis, <a href="#Page_703">703</a>, <a href="#Page_708">708</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Livermore, Mrs. Arthur L, in Md, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>N. H, <a href="#Page_407">407</a>;</li> + <li>N. Y, <a href="#Page_448">448</a>, <a href="#Page_468">468</a>, <a href="#Page_476">476</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Livermore, Mary A, see Mass. chapter, <a href="#Page_267">267</a> et seq; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>pres. from 1893; birthday, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>;</li> + <li>tribute to Mr. Blackwell; death, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>;</li> + <li>memorial in N. J, <a href="#Page_414">414</a>;</li> + <li>Vt, <a href="#Page_652">652</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Livingston, Deborah Knox, work in Me, <a href="#Page_238">238-9</a>, <a href="#Page_242">242-3</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>N. H, <a href="#Page_405">405</a>;</li> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_689">689</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Lloyd George, action on wom. suff. in Gt. Brit, <a href="#Page_733">733</a>, <a href="#Page_736">736</a>, <a href="#Page_744">744</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>receives deputation, has bill drafted, <a href="#Page_745">745</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Lockwood, Belva A, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>; <a href="#Page_250">250</a>; <a href="#Page_700">700</a>.</li> +<li>Lodge, U. S. Sen. Henry Cabot, anti suff. work in N. H, <a href="#Page_406">406</a>, <a href="#Page_408">408</a>.</li> +<li>Loines, Mary H, <a href="#Page_454">454</a>.</li> +<li>London, Mary Parke, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>.</li> +<li>Lord, Eliza H, <a href="#Page_253">253</a>.</li> +<li>Lore, Ch. Justice Charles B, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>.</li> +<li>Lore, Emma, <a href="#Page_88">88-9</a>.</li> +<li>Louisiana, effort for wom. suff, legis. action, workers, Southern Conf, + <ul class="IX"> + <li>see State chapters, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>, <a href="#Page_226">226</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Low, Seth, ignores women, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>.</li> +<li>Lowden, Gov. Frank C. (Ills.), <a href="#Page_162">162</a>; <a href="#Page_164">164</a>.</li> +<li>Ludington, Katharine, see Conn. chapter, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>issues manifesto, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>;</li> + <li>interviews Natl. Com. Chmn. Hays, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>; <a href="#Page_82">82</a>;</li> + <li>in N. H, <a href="#Page_657">657</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Luxemburg, grants wom. suff, <a href="#Page_788">788</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Mack, Mrs. O. H, work in Nev, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_384">384</a>.</li> +<li>Mackay, Mrs. Clarence, encourages Nev. women, <a href="#Page_384">384-5</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>society in N. J, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>;</li> + <li>organizes Equal Franchise Society, work in N. Y, <a href="#Page_444">444-5</a>, <a href="#Page_456">456-7</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>McAlarney, Emma L, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>; <a href="#Page_265">265</a>; <a href="#Page_692">692</a>.</li> +<li>McCallum, Jane Y, see Texas chapter, <a href="#Page_630">630</a>, <a href="#Page_637">637</a>.</li> +<li>McClung, Nellie, <a href="#Page_321">321</a>; <a href="#Page_322">322</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Minn, <a href="#Page_321">321-2</a>;</li> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_691">691-2</a>;</li> + <li>Wis, <a href="#Page_704">704</a>;</li> + <li>Canada, <a href="#Page_755">755</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>McComas, Alice Moore, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>; <a href="#Page_40">40</a>.</li> +<li>McCormack, Mrs. James M., <a href="#Page_598">598</a>; <a href="#Page_610">610-11-12</a>; <a href="#Page_615">615</a>.</li> +<li>McCormick, Katharine Dexter, in Mass, <a href="#Page_276">276</a>, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>elected vice-pres. Intl. Alliance, <a href="#Page_854">854</a>;</li> + <li>in Geneva, <a href="#Page_862">862</a>;</li> + <li>contributes to Alliance, re-elected, <a href="#Page_869">869</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>McCormick, Medill, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>; <a href="#Page_374">374</a>.</li> +<li>McCormick, Mrs. Medill, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>work in Ills. Legis, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>;</li> + <li>assists Mo. campaign, <a href="#Page_355">355</a>;</li> + <li>heads deleg. to Pres. Wilson, <a href="#Page_609">609</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>MacCracken, Pres. Henry Noble (Vassar), <a href="#Page_485">485</a>.</li> +<li>McCrea, Mrs. Willis S, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>.</li> +<li>McCulloch, Catharine Waugh, work in Ills, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Calif, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>;</li> + <li>Ind, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>;</li> + <li>Md, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>;</li> + <li>Mich, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>;</li> + <li>Ore, <a href="#Page_540">540</a>;</li> + <li>S. Dak, <a href="#Page_590">590</a>;</li> + <li>Wis, <a href="#Page_700">700-1</a>;</li> + <li>Amsterdam, <a href="#Page_827">827</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>McDougald, Emily C, work in Ga, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_134">134</a>.</li> +<li>McFarland, Henry B. F, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>.</li> +<li>McGraw, Mrs. J. W, work in Ills, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>.</li> +<li>McKellar, U. S. Sen. Kenneth, assists ratif. in Del, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Md, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>;</li> + <li>Tenn, <a href="#Page_599">599</a>, <a href="#Page_603">603</a>, <a href="#Page_614">614</a>; <a href="#Page_621">621-2</a>;</li> + <li>secures suff. plank in natl. Dem. platform, <a href="#Page_618">618</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>McKelvie, Gov. Samuel R. (Neb), <a href="#Page_383">383</a>.</li> +<li>McLendon, Mary L, work in Ga, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>tries to vote, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>McMahon, Mrs. Albert, in Ala, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Del, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>;</li> + <li>Fla, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>;</li> + <li>Minn, <a href="#Page_321">321</a>;</li> + <li>report on S. Dak, <a href="#Page_592">592</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Macmillan, Chrystal, makes digest of British laws for women, <a href="#Page_750">750</a>; <a href="#Page_823">823</a>; <a href="#Page_826">826</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>addresses Judic. Com. of House of Lords, <a href="#Page_833">833</a>; <a href="#Page_841">841</a>; <a href="#Page_845">845</a>; <a href="#Page_854">854</a>;</li> + <li>report of Alliance conf, in Geneva, <a href="#Page_862">862</a>; <a href="#Page_865">865</a>; <a href="#Page_869">869</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>McNaughton, Dr. Clara, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>.</li> +<li>McNeel, Mrs. John D, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>.</li> +<li>McPike, Sara, work in N. Y, <a href="#Page_487">487</a>.</li> +<li>McWhirter, Mrs. Felix T, <a href="#Page_170">170-1-2</a>; <a href="#Page_175">175</a>.</li> +<li>McWhorter, Judge J. C. (West Va.), <a href="#Page_689">689</a>; <a href="#Page_691">691</a>.</li> +<li>Maddox, Etta, in Md, <a href="#Page_253">253</a>; <a href="#Page_255">255</a>; <a href="#Page_257">257</a>.</li> +<li>Maine, efforts for wom. suff, workers, legis. action, campn, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_236">236</a>.</li> +<li>Malone, Dudley Field, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>.</li> +<li>Manitoba, work for wom. suff, <a href="#Page_754">754</a>.</li> +<li>Mann, Gov. S. A. (Utah), <a href="#Page_644">644</a>; <a href="#Page_650">650</a>.</li> +<li>Mansfield, Mrs. Howard, <a href="#Page_469">469</a>; <a href="#Page_480">480</a>.</li> +<li>Marble, Amanda J, <a href="#Page_369">369</a>; <a href="#Page_370">370-1-2</a>.</li> +<li>Marbury, William F, opp. wom. suff. in Md, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>; <a href="#Page_260">260</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>brings suit, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Martin, Anne, in Del, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>see Nev. chapter, <a href="#Page_386">386</a>, <a href="#Page_392">392</a>;</li> + <li>N. Mex, <a href="#Page_436">436</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Martin, U. S. Sen. George B, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>.</li> +<li>Martine, U. S. Sen. James E, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>; <a href="#Page_421">421</a>.</li> +<li>Maryland, effort for wom. suff, legis. action, workers, great opposition, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>.</li> +<li>Massachusetts, effort for wom. suff, New England Assn, legis. action, campaign, workers, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_267">267</a>.</li> +<li>Maud, Queen, greetings to suff. cong, <a href="#Page_836">836</a>.</li> +<li>Mead, Edwin D, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>; <a href="#Page_295">295</a>.</li> +<li>Mead, Lucia Ames, in Me, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>work in Mass, <a href="#Page_269">269</a> et seq;</li> + <li>in Mo, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Men's Advisory Committee, in N. C, <a href="#Page_493">493</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_689">689</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Men's Leagues for Woman Suffrage, in Ala, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Calif, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>;</li> + <li>Conn, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>;</li> + <li>Fla, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>;</li> + <li>Ga, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>;</li> + <li>Ills, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>;</li> + <li>Iowa, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>;</li> + <li>Kans, <a href="#Page_200">200-1</a>;</li> + <li>La, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>;</li> + <li>Me, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>;</li> + <li>Md, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>;</li> + <li>Harvard, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>;</li> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>;</li> + <li>Mich, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>;</li> + <li>Mo, <a href="#Page_345">345</a>;</li> + <li>Mont, <a href="#Page_364">364</a>, <a href="#Page_366">366</a>;</li> + <li>Neb, <a href="#Page_372">372</a>, <a href="#Page_374">374</a>;</li> + <li>Nev, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>, <a href="#Page_394">394</a>, <a href="#Page_397">397</a>;</li> + <li>N. J, <a href="#Page_417">417-18</a>, <a href="#Page_423">423</a>;</li> + <li>N. Y, <a href="#Page_447">447</a>, <a href="#Page_469">469</a>, <a href="#Page_476">476</a>;</li> + <li>full account of, <a href="#Page_484">484</a>;</li> + <li>in Penn, <a href="#Page_552">552</a>, <a href="#Page_557">557</a>;</li> + <li>Tenn, <a href="#Page_611">611</a>;</li> + <li>Texas, <a href="#Page_632">632</a>;</li> + <li>Wis, <a href="#Page_702">702</a>;</li> + <li>Sweden, <a href="#Page_782">782</a>;</li> + <li>Netherlands, <a href="#Page_784">784</a>;</li> + <li>Hungary, <a href="#Page_794">794</a>, <a href="#Page_856">856</a>;</li> + <li>Italy, <a href="#Page_798">798</a>;</li> + <li>Gt. Brit, <a href="#Page_835">835</a>;</li> + <li>Intl. League founded, <a href="#Page_843">843</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Meredith, Ellis, in Colo, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>N. J, <a href="#Page_414">414</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Meriwether, Lide A, work in Tenn, <a href="#Page_596">596-7</a>; <a href="#Page_615">615</a>.</li> +<li>Merrick, Caroline E, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>; <a href="#Page_596">596</a>.</li> +<li>Mexico, grants wom. suff, <a href="#Page_804">804</a>.</li> +<li>Michigan, effort for wom. suff, campaigns, legis. action, workers, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>.</li> +<li>Miles, General Nelson, <a href="#Page_317">317</a>.</li> +<li>Milholland, Inez, speaks in Wis, <a href="#Page_702">702</a>.</li> +<li>"Militancy," <a href="#Page_342">342</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>effect in N. Y, <a href="#Page_466">466</a>, <a href="#Page_478">478</a>;</li> + <li>in Gt. Brit, <a href="#Page_727">727</a>; <a href="#Page_734">734</a>;</li> + <li>analysis of by Mrs. Fawcett, <a href="#Page_728">728</a>, <a href="#Page_834">834</a>;</li> + <li>Mrs. Catt's comment, <a href="#Page_822">822</a>, <a href="#Page_855">855</a>;</li> + <li>attitude of Intl. Alliance, <a href="#Page_825">825</a>, <a href="#Page_854">854</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Miller, Alice Duer, <a href="#Page_702">702</a>.</li> +<li>Miller, Anne Fitzhugh, <a href="#Page_443">443</a>; <a href="#Page_454">454</a>; <a href="#Page_456">456</a>; <a href="#Page_682">682</a>.</li> +<li>Miller, Elizabeth Smith, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>; <a href="#Page_443">443</a>; <a href="#Page_682">682</a>.</li> +<li>Miller, Florence Fenwick (Gt. Brit.), <a href="#Page_414">414</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>at intl. suff. conf. in Washtn, <a href="#Page_806">806-808</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Miller, Mrs. John O, <a href="#Page_558">558</a>; <a href="#Page_564">564</a>.</li> +<li>Miller, Josephine, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>; <a href="#Page_17">17</a>; <a href="#Page_19">19</a>; <a href="#Page_22">22</a>; <a href="#Page_530">530</a>; <a href="#Page_604">604</a>; <a href="#Page_670">670</a>.</li> +<li>Miller, Mrs. Walter McNab, in Miss, <a href="#Page_333">333</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>work in Mo, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_345">345</a> et seq.;</li> + <li>N. C, <a href="#Page_492">492</a>;</li> + <li>N. Dak, <a href="#Page_504">504</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Milliken, Gov. Carl E. (Me.), <a href="#Page_242">242</a>; <a href="#Page_244">244</a>; <a href="#Page_246">246</a>.</li> +<li>Mills, B. Fay, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>.</li> +<li>Mills, Harriet May, in Del, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Md, <a href="#Page_249">249</a>;</li> + <li>N. J, <a href="#Page_414">414</a>;</li> + <li>work in N. Y, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_441">441-3-4</a>; <a href="#Page_448">448</a>; <a href="#Page_468">468</a>; <a href="#Page_476">476</a>;</li> + <li>edits <i>Club Letter</i>, <a href="#Page_449">449</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Millsaps, Major R. W, <a href="#Page_341">341</a>.</li> +<li>Milton, George Fort, <a href="#Page_602">602</a>; <a href="#Page_611">611</a>.</li> +<li>Milton, Mrs. George Fort, work in Tenn, see State chapter, <a href="#Page_596">596</a> et seq.</li> +<li>Minnesota, effort for wom. suff, legis. action, workers, see State chap, <a href="#Page_317">317</a>.</li> +<li>Minor, Virginia L, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>.</li> +<li>Mirovitch, Zeneide (Russia), <a href="#Page_815">815</a>; <a href="#Page_825">825-6</a>; <a href="#Page_834">834</a>.</li> +<li>Mississippi, effort for wom. suff, legis. action, workers, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_326">326</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>telegram of Legis. to Del. Legis, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Missouri, efforts for wom. suff, legis. action, workers, campaign, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_342">342</a>.</li> +<li>Mitchel, Mayor John Purroy (N. Y.), <a href="#Page_465">465</a>; <a href="#Page_479">479</a>; <a href="#Page_485">485</a>.</li> +<li>Mitchner, Lilian, <a href="#Page_196">196-7</a>; <a href="#Page_198">198</a>; <a href="#Page_206">206</a>.</li> +<li>Mondell, U. S. Rep. Frank W. (Wyo.), <a href="#Page_575">575</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>offers bill for wom. suff. in Alaska, <a href="#Page_713">713</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Montana, effort for wom. suff, legis. action, campaign, workers, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_360">360</a>.</li> +<li>Montefiore, Dora B. (Gt. Brit.), <a href="#Page_277">277</a>; <a href="#Page_793">793</a>; <a href="#Page_816">816</a>; <a href="#Page_825">825</a>.</li> +<li>Moore, Laura, <a href="#Page_652">652</a>.</li> +<li>Moore, Mrs. Philip, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>.</li> +<li>Morgan, St. Rep. W. Y. (Kans.), <a href="#Page_200">200</a>; <a href="#Page_202">202</a>.</li> +<li>Morgan, Mrs. W. Y, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>; <a href="#Page_203">203</a>.</li> +<li>Morrisson, Mrs. James W, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>; <a href="#Page_159">159</a>; <a href="#Page_161">161</a>.</li> +<li>Morrow, Gov. Edwin P. (Ky.), <a href="#Page_210">210</a>; <a href="#Page_213">213-14</a>.</li> +<li>Moses, U. S. Sen. George H, <a href="#Page_401">401</a>; <a href="#Page_406">406-7-8</a>.</li> +<li>Moses, Judge Jacob M, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>; <a href="#Page_253">253</a>; <a href="#Page_262">262-3</a>.</li> +<li>Moss, Mrs. Robert, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>; <a href="#Page_259">259</a>; <a href="#Page_266">266</a>.</li> +<li>Mott, Lucretia, <a href="#Page_550">550</a>.</li> +<li>Munds, Frances W, see Ariz. chapter, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>elected Senator, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Municipal Suffrage, in Del, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Fla, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>;</li> + <li>action on in Ga, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>;</li> + <li>Atlanta, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_136">136</a>, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>;</li> + <li>Ills, <a href="#Page_146">146-7</a>;</li> + <li>Chicago, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>;</li> + <li>work in Ills. Legis, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>;</li> + <li>gained, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>;</li> + <li>in Ind, gained, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>,</li> + <li>adverse court decis, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>;</li> + <li>bill to repeal in Kans. Legis, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>;</li> + <li>in Mass, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>;</li> + <li>Mich, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>;</li> + <li>Neb, <a href="#Page_379">379</a>;</li> + <li>N. H, <a href="#Page_410">410-11</a>;</li> + <li>N. Mex, <a href="#Page_438">438</a>;</li> + <li>N. Dak, <a href="#Page_506">506</a>;</li> + <li>Ohio, <a href="#Page_513">513</a>;</li> + <li>S. Dak, <a href="#Page_590">590</a>;</li> + <li>Tenn, gained, <a href="#Page_602">602</a>, <a href="#Page_616">616</a>;</li> + <li>Vt, gained, <a href="#Page_660">660</a>, <a href="#Page_663">663-4</a>;</li> + <li>West Va, vote on, <a href="#Page_688">688</a>;</li> + <li>in Finland, <a href="#Page_773">773</a>;</li> + <li>Norway, <a href="#Page_775">775-6</a>;</li> + <li>Denmark, <a href="#Page_777">777</a>;</li> + <li>Iceland, <a href="#Page_779">779</a>;</li> + <li>Sweden, <a href="#Page_783">783</a>;</li> + <li>Belgium, <a href="#Page_787">787</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Mussey, Ellen Spencer, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>; <a href="#Page_108">108</a>; <a href="#Page_166">166</a>; <a href="#Page_250">250</a>.</li> +<li>Myers, Dr. Annice Jeffreys, see Ore. chapter, <a href="#Page_538">538</a>.</li> +<li>Myers, Jefferson, <a href="#Page_540">540</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Nash, Prof. Henry S, <a href="#Page_567">567</a>.</li> +<li>Nathan, Maud, in Md, <a href="#Page_250">250-1</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>N. Y, <a href="#Page_456">456</a>;</li> + <li>Wis, <a href="#Page_702">702</a>;</li> + <li>Budapest, <a href="#Page_857">857</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>National American Woman Suffrage Association, assists Ala, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Ariz, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>;</li> + <li>Ark, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>;</li> + <li>Calif, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>;</li> + <li>Conn, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>;</li> + <li>Del, <a href="#Page_91">91-2</a>, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>, <a href="#Page_101">101-2</a>;</li> + <li>Fla, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>;</li> + <li>Kans, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>;</li> + <li>Me, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>;</li> + <li>Md, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>;</li> + <li>Okla, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>;</li> + <li>Mich, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>;</li> + <li>Minn, <a href="#Page_318">318</a>, <a href="#Page_321">321</a>;</li> + <li>Miss, <a href="#Page_334">334</a>;</li> + <li>Mont, <a href="#Page_365">365</a>;</li> + <li>Neb, <a href="#Page_377">377</a>;</li> + <li>Nev, <a href="#Page_394">394</a>;</li> + <li>N. H, <a href="#Page_406">406</a>, <a href="#Page_408">408</a>, <a href="#Page_410">410</a>;</li> + <li>N. J, <a href="#Page_414">414</a>;</li> + <li>N. Mex, <a href="#Page_435">435</a>;</li> + <li>N. Y, <a href="#Page_478">478</a>;</li> + <li>N. C, <a href="#Page_492">492</a>, <a href="#Page_497">497</a>;</li> + <li>N. Dak, <a href="#Page_502">502</a>, <a href="#Page_504">504</a>;</li> + <li>Okla, <a href="#Page_530">530</a> et seq;</li> + <li>Ore, <a href="#Page_541">541-2</a>;</li> + <li>S. C, <a href="#Page_579">579</a>; <a href="#Page_581">581-2</a>;</li> + <li>S. Dak, <a href="#Page_589">589</a>, <a href="#Page_592">592-3-4</a>;</li> + <li>Texas, <a href="#Page_640">640</a>;</li> + <li>Vt, <a href="#Page_655">655</a>, <a href="#Page_660">660</a>;</li> + <li>Va, <a href="#Page_667">667</a>, <a href="#Page_670">670</a>;</li> + <li>Wash, <a href="#Page_682">682</a>, <a href="#Page_692">692-3</a>;</li> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_690">690</a>;</li> + <li>Wis, <a href="#Page_701">701</a>;</li> + <li>urges suff. for and assists Hawaiian women, <a href="#Page_716">716</a>;</li> + <li>Filipino women, <a href="#Page_719">719</a>;</li> + <li>Porto Rican women, <a href="#Page_723">723-4</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>National Council of Women Voters, <a href="#Page_683">683-4</a>.</li> +<li>National Woman's Party (see Congressional Union), Colo. objects to, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Conn, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>;</li> + <li>Ga, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>;</li> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>;</li> + <li>N. Y. repudiates, <a href="#Page_466">466</a>, <a href="#Page_478">478</a>;</li> + <li>in Tenn, <a href="#Page_621">621</a>;</li> + <li>Va, <a href="#Page_670">670</a>;</li> + <li>Wis, <a href="#Page_705">705</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Nebraska, effort for wom. suff, legis. action, campaigns, workers, petitions, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_368">368</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Omaha Men's Anti-suff. Manifesto, <a href="#Page_873">873</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Negro women vote in Tenn, <a href="#Page_606">606</a>.</li> +<li>Nelson, Julia B, in Minn, <a href="#Page_318">318</a>; <a href="#Page_322">322</a>.</li> +<li>Nesbitt, W. D, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>.</li> +<li>Netherlands, effort for wom. suff, eminent women, entertains Intl. Alliance, suff. granted, <a href="#Page_783">783</a>.</li> +<li>Nevada, effort for wom. suff, legis. action, campaign, workers, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_384">384</a>.</li> +<li>New Brunswick, work for wom. suff, <a href="#Page_764">764</a>.</li> +<li>Newfoundland, work for wom. suff, <a href="#Page_766">766</a>.</li> +<li>New Hampshire, effort for wom. suff, legis. action, workers, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_400">400</a>.</li> +<li>New Jersey, effort for wom. suff, legis. action, workers, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_412">412</a>.</li> +<li>Newlands, U. S. Sen. Francis G, <a href="#Page_389">389</a>; <a href="#Page_394">394</a>.</li> +<li>New Mexico, effort for wom. suff, legis. action, workers, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_434">434</a>.</li> +<li>Newspapers, listed in each State chapter.</li> +<li>New York, effort for wom. suff, legis. action, campaigns, workers, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_440">440</a>.</li> +<li>New Zealand, wom. suff. in, <a href="#Page_752">752</a>.</li> +<li>Neymann, Clara, speaks in Wis, <a href="#Page_702">702</a>.</li> +<li>Nicholes, Anna, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>.</li> +<li>Nicholson, Meredith, speaks for wom. suff., <a href="#Page_176">176</a>.</li> +<li>Noble, Harriet, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>; <a href="#Page_172">172-3</a>.</li> +<li>Noland, Anna Dunn, work in Ind, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>.</li> +<li>Norbeck, Gov. Peter (S. Dak.), <a href="#Page_591">591</a>; <a href="#Page_594">594</a>.</li> +<li>Nordica, Lillian, sings for wom. suff. in Calif, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in New York, <a href="#Page_450">450</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Norris, U. S. Sen. George W, <a href="#Page_383">383</a>.</li> +<li>North Carolina, efforts for wom. suff, legis. action, workers, memorial to Dr. Shaw, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_490">490</a>.</li> +<li>North Dakota, effort for wom. suff, legis. action, campaigns, workers, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_501">501</a>.</li> +<li>Northrup, Dr. Cyrus, <a href="#Page_323">323</a>.</li> +<li>Norway, work for wom. suff, petitions, success, women in office, <a href="#Page_774">774</a>; <a href="#Page_826">826</a>.</li> +<li>Nova Scotia, work for wom. suff, <a href="#Page_764">764</a>.</li> +<li>Nozaleda, Archbishop, <a href="#Page_719">719-20</a>.</li> +<li>Nugent, James R, <a href="#Page_424">424-5</a>; <a href="#Page_430">430</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Obenchain, Eliza Calvert, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>.</li> +<li>Oddie, Gov. Tasker H. (Nev.), <a href="#Page_389">389</a>.</li> +<li>Odell, Gov. Benjamin F. (N. Y.), <a href="#Page_454">454</a>.</li> +<li>Officers, Women, in Calif, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Colo, <a href="#Page_64">64-66</a>;</li> + <li>D. C. (National), <a href="#Page_108">108</a>, <a href="#Page_110">110-11-12</a>;</li> + <li>Mont, <a href="#Page_367">367</a>;</li> + <li>Nev, <a href="#Page_390">390</a>;</li> + <li>Okla, <a href="#Page_537">537</a>;</li> + <li>Tex, <a href="#Page_638">638</a>;</li> + <li>Utah, <a href="#Page_646">646</a>, <a href="#Page_648">648</a>;</li> + <li>Wyo, <a href="#Page_710">710-11-12</a>;</li> + <li>Gt. Brit, <a href="#Page_750">750-1</a>;</li> + <li>Canada, <a href="#Page_755">755-6-7</a>, <a href="#Page_764">764</a>;</li> + <li>Finland, <a href="#Page_773">773</a>;</li> + <li>Norway, <a href="#Page_776">776</a>;</li> + <li>Denmark, <a href="#Page_778">778</a>;</li> + <li>Iceland, <a href="#Page_779">779</a>;</li> + <li>Sweden, <a href="#Page_782">782-3</a>;</li> + <li>Netherlands, <a href="#Page_786">786</a>;</li> + <li>Luxemburg, <a href="#Page_788">788</a>;</li> + <li>Russia, <a href="#Page_789">789</a>;</li> + <li>Germany, <a href="#Page_791">791</a>, <a href="#Page_864">864</a>;</li> + <li>Austria, <a href="#Page_793">793</a>;</li> + <li>Hungary, Bohemia, Czecho-Slovakia, Poland, <a href="#Page_794">794-5</a>;</li> + <li>Palestine, <a href="#Page_803">803</a>; <a href="#Page_863">863</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Ogden, Esther G, before Natl. Dem. Com, <a href="#Page_620">620</a>.</li> +<li>Ohio, effort for wom, suff, legis. action, campaigns, law suits, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_508">508</a>.</li> +<li>Oklahoma, effort for wom. suff, legis. action, campaigns, workers, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_520">520</a>.</li> +<li>Oliver, U. S. Rep. Wm. B. (Ala.), <a href="#Page_8">8</a>.</li> +<li>Olzendam, Lilian H, <a href="#Page_655">655-8</a>; <a href="#Page_660">660</a>.</li> +<li>O'Neil, Mrs. David, <a href="#Page_346">346</a>; <a href="#Page_351">351-2</a>; <a href="#Page_354">354</a>; <a href="#Page_357">357</a>.</li> +<li>Ontario, work for wom. suff, <a href="#Page_757">757</a>.</li> +<li>Ordway, Evelyn, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>.</li> +<li>Oregon, effort for wom. suff, legis. action, campaigns, workers, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_538">538</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Mass. contributes to campaigns, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>O'Reilly, Leonora, <a href="#Page_276">276</a>; <a href="#Page_456">456</a>; <a href="#Page_461">461</a>.</li> +<li>Organizations of Women, endorsement of wom. suff, in every State chapter.</li> +<li>Organizers, lists of, <a href="#Page_554">554</a>; <a href="#Page_692">692</a>.</li> +<li>Orr, Pauline V, <a href="#Page_333">333-4</a>.</li> +<li>Osborn, Gov. Chase S. (Mich.), <a href="#Page_306">306-7</a>; <a href="#Page_315">315</a>.</li> +<li>Osborne, Eliza Wright, <a href="#Page_442">442-3</a>; <a href="#Page_448">448</a>; <a href="#Page_456">456</a>.</li> +<li>Osborne, Thomas Mott, <a href="#Page_442">442</a>; <a href="#Page_572">572</a>.</li> +<li>Otis, Harrison Gray, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>.</li> +<li>O'Toole, Mary, work in D. C, app. Judge, see chapter, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>.</li> +<li>Overman, U. S. Sen. Lee S, <a href="#Page_493">493</a>; <a href="#Page_496">496</a>.</li> +<li>Owen, U. S. Sen. Robert L, for wom. suff. in Okla, <a href="#Page_522">522-3</a>, <a href="#Page_537">537</a>.</li> +<li>Owens, Helen Brewster, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Page, U. S. Sen. Carroll S, <a href="#Page_652">652</a>; <a href="#Page_655">655-6</a>.</li> +<li>Page, Mary Hutcheson, see Mass, chapter, <a href="#Page_267">267</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in N. H, <a href="#Page_403">403</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Palestine, women vote and hold office, <a href="#Page_803">803</a>.</li> +<li>Palmer, Attorney General A. Mitchell, urges Fed. Amend. in Del, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Md, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>;</li> + <li>Miss, <a href="#Page_340">340</a>;</li> + <li>N. J, <a href="#Page_430">430</a>;</li> + <li>Va, <a href="#Page_671">671</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Palmer, U. S. Sen. Thomas W, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>.</li> +<li>Pankhurst, Christabel, in La, <a href="#Page_220">220</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Tenn, <a href="#Page_610">610</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Pankhurst, Mrs. Emmeline, in Conn, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>D. C, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>;</li> + <li>Ky, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>;</li> + <li>Md, <a href="#Page_252">252</a>;</li> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>, <a href="#Page_285">285</a>;</li> + <li>Harvard refuses, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>;</li> + <li>in Mo, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>;</li> + <li>Neb, <a href="#Page_372">372</a>;</li> + <li>N. J, <a href="#Page_419">419</a>;</li> + <li>N. Y, <a href="#Page_486">486</a>;</li> + <li>R. I, <a href="#Page_567">567</a>;</li> + <li>Wis, <a href="#Page_701">701</a>;</li> + <li>organizes "militant" suff. society in Great Brit, <a href="#Page_727">727</a>;</li> + <li>its work, <a href="#Page_728">728-9</a>, <a href="#Page_732">732</a>, <a href="#Page_734">734</a>;</li> + <li>war work, <a href="#Page_739">739</a>;</li> + <li>in Toronto, <a href="#Page_758">758</a>;</li> + <li>refuses to send delegates to Intl. Alliance cong, <a href="#Page_825">825</a>, <a href="#Page_834">834</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Pankhurst, Sylvia, in Calif., <a href="#Page_47">47</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Md, <a href="#Page_252">252</a>;</li> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_285">285</a>, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>;</li> + <li>Mo, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>;</li> + <li>N. H, <a href="#Page_404">404</a>;</li> + <li>N. Dak, <a href="#Page_501">501</a>;</li> + <li>Wis, <a href="#Page_702">702</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Parades for Woman Suff, in Ala, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Calif, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>;</li> + <li>Conn, women, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>;</li> + <li>Del. women, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102-3</a>;</li> + <li>D. C, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>;</li> + <li>Ga, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>;</li> + <li>Chicago, in 1913, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>,</li> + <li>in 1914, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>,</li> + <li>in 1916, <a href="#Page_161">161</a>;</li> + <li>Iowa, <a href="#Page_182">182</a>;</li> + <li>Kans. women, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>;</li> + <li>Ky, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>;</li> + <li>Md. women, <a href="#Page_252">252</a>, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>;</li> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>, <a href="#Page_279">279</a>, <a href="#Page_285">285-6-7</a>, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>;</li> + <li>Minn, women, <a href="#Page_320">320-1-2</a>;</li> + <li>in Miss, <a href="#Page_332">332</a>;</li> + <li>Mo, <a href="#Page_347">347</a>, <a href="#Page_349">349</a>;</li> + <li>Mont, <a href="#Page_366">366</a>;</li> + <li>Neb, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>;</li> + <li>N. H, <a href="#Page_405">405</a>;</li> + <li>N. J. women, <a href="#Page_417">417-8</a>, <a href="#Page_421">421</a>, <a href="#Page_426">426</a>;</li> + <li>in N. Y, <a href="#Page_450">450</a>, <a href="#Page_470">470</a>, <a href="#Page_474">474</a>;</li> + <li>first men marched, <a href="#Page_485">485</a>;</li> + <li>R. I. women, <a href="#Page_570">570</a>;</li> + <li>Tenn. women, <a href="#Page_599">599</a>, <a href="#Page_609">609</a>, <a href="#Page_612">612</a>;</li> + <li>in Utah, <a href="#Page_650">650</a>;</li> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_689">689</a>;</li> + <li>Wis. women, <a href="#Page_705">705</a>;</li> + <li>Canadian women, <a href="#Page_759">759</a>;</li> + <li>in Holland, <a href="#Page_785">785</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Pardee, Gov. George C. (Calif.), <a href="#Page_31">31</a>.</li> +<li>Park, Alice, in Ariz, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Nev, <a href="#Page_398">398</a>;</li> + <li>see Calif, chapter, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Park, Maud Wood, in Calif, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Del, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>; <a href="#Page_91">91</a>;</li> + <li>Me, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>;</li> + <li>see Mass. chap, <a href="#Page_267">267</a>; <a href="#Page_281">281</a>;</li> + <li>in Mich, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>;</li> + <li>Minn, <a href="#Page_319">319</a>;</li> + <li>Neb, <a href="#Page_372">372</a>;</li> + <li>Nev, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>;</li> + <li>N. H, <a href="#Page_401">401</a>, <a href="#Page_406">406</a>;</li> + <li>N. Dak, <a href="#Page_495">495</a>;</li> + <li>Ore, <a href="#Page_540">540</a>;</li> + <li>R. I, <a href="#Page_566">566</a>;</li> + <li>Vt, <a href="#Page_661">661</a>;</li> + <li>Va, <a href="#Page_668">668</a>;</li> + <li>Wis, <a href="#Page_700">700</a>;</li> + <li>helps wom. suff. in Hawaii, <a href="#Page_717">717-18</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Parker, Adella M, <a href="#Page_674">674-7</a>; <a href="#Page_679">679</a>; <a href="#Page_681">681</a>; <a href="#Page_686">686</a>.</li> +<li>Parker, Gov. John M, see La. chapter from 230.</li> +<li>Parker, Dr. Valeria H, <a href="#Page_391">391</a>; <a href="#Page_649">649</a>.</li> +<li>Parkhurst, Gov. Frederick H. (Me.), <a href="#Page_247">247</a>.</li> +<li>Parmelee, Annette W, work for wom. suff. in Vt, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_651">651</a>.</li> +<li>Parsons, Herbert, <a href="#Page_483">483</a>; <a href="#Page_485">485</a>.</li> +<li>Partridge, Mary, <a href="#Page_2">2</a>; <a href="#Page_3">3</a>.</li> +<li>Patterson, Hannah J, work in Penn, <a href="#Page_553">553-4</a>; <a href="#Page_560">560</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_690">690-1</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Paul, Alice, chmn. Congressl. Com, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>org. Congressl. Union, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>; <a href="#Page_394">394</a>;</li> + <li>N. C. objects to, <a href="#Page_491">491</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Peabody, George Foster, <a href="#Page_457">457</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>pres. N. Y. Men's League, <a href="#Page_484">484-5</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Peck, Mary Gray, <a href="#Page_318">318</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>describes Alliance meeting in Stockholm, <a href="#Page_845">845</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Peet, Mrs. Sturtevant, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>.</li> +<li>Penfield, Jean Nelson, in Nev, <a href="#Page_391">391</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Utah, <a href="#Page_649">649</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Pennsylvania, effort for wom. suff, legis. action, campaign, workers, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_550">550</a>.</li> +<li>Pennybacker, Mrs. Percy, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>.</li> +<li>Penrose, U. S. Sen. Boies, promises help, does not give it, <a href="#Page_561">561</a>; <a href="#Page_563">563</a>.</li> +<li>Petition, of National Assn. for Fed. Amend, in Mass, <a href="#Page_281">281-300</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Mich, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>;</li> + <li>Minn, <a href="#Page_319">319</a>, <a href="#Page_322">322</a>;</li> + <li>Neb, <a href="#Page_372">372</a>;</li> + <li>N. Y, <a href="#Page_447">447</a>, <a href="#Page_465">465</a>, <a href="#Page_480">480</a>;</li> + <li>Penn, <a href="#Page_552">552</a>;</li> + <li>R. I, <a href="#Page_566">566</a>;</li> + <li>Utah, <a href="#Page_645">645</a>;</li> + <li>Wis, <a href="#Page_700">700</a>;</li> + <li>for wom. suff. in Philippines, <a href="#Page_719">719</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Pettyjohn, Dr. E. S, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>.</li> +<li>Philippines, The, effort for wom. suff; Natl. Suff. Assn. petitions for, Gov. Genls. and Archbishop recommend, action of U. S. Congress, of Filipino Congress, Mrs. Catt visits Manila, Philippine Commssr. De Veyra and wife urge it, status of women, <a href="#Page_719">719</a>.</li> +<li>"Picketing," Colo, objects, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>New York protests, <a href="#Page_466">466</a>, <a href="#Page_478">478</a>;</li> + <li>President Wilson on, <a href="#Page_479">479</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Pidgeon, Mary E, <a href="#Page_494">494</a>; <a href="#Page_497">497</a>; <a href="#Page_592">592</a>; <a href="#Page_670">670</a>; <a href="#Page_693">693</a>.</li> +<li>Pierce, Emma S, see N. Dak. chapter, <a href="#Page_501">501</a>.</li> +<li>Pierce, Katherine, see Okla. chapter, <a href="#Page_520">520</a>, <a href="#Page_536">536</a>.</li> +<li>Pinchot, Mrs. Gifford, <a href="#Page_563">563</a>.</li> +<li>Pinckard, Mrs. James S, in Ala, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Tenn, <a href="#Page_621">621</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Pitman, Mrs. B. F, work in Mass, <a href="#Page_279">279-80</a>, <a href="#Page_284">284</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Hawaii, <a href="#Page_717">717-8</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Pittman, U. S. Sen. Key, <a href="#Page_389">389</a>.</li> +<li>Pleasant, Gov. Ruffin G. (La.), <a href="#Page_223">223-4</a>; <a href="#Page_230">230</a>; <a href="#Page_233">233</a>.</li> +<li>Pleasant, Mrs. Ruffin G, in Tenn, <a href="#Page_622">622</a>.</li> +<li>Poland, grants wom. suff, elects women, <a href="#Page_795">795</a>.</li> +<li>Pollock, U. S. Sen. William P, <a href="#Page_582">582</a>.</li> +<li>Pomerene, U. S. Sen. Atlee, <a href="#Page_517">517</a>.</li> +<li>Porritt, Annie G, see Conn. chapter, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>; <a href="#Page_83">83</a>.</li> +<li>Porto Rico, efforts for wom. suff, action of U. S. Cong; of its Legis, <a href="#Page_722">722</a>.</li> +<li>Portugal, <a href="#Page_802">802</a>.</li> +<li>Post, Mrs. Edmund M, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>.</li> +<li>Post, Louis F, in Wis. campaign, <a href="#Page_701">701</a>.</li> +<li>Post, Mrs. Louis F, in Md, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>.</li> +<li>Potter, Prof. Frances Squire, speaks in Calif, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_276">276</a>; <a href="#Page_318">318</a>;</li> + <li>Mo, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>;</li> + <li>N. J, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>;</li> + <li>N. Y, <a href="#Page_446">446</a>;</li> + <li>Ore, <a href="#Page_547">547</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Presidential Suffrage, legis. action, in Ills, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>, <a href="#Page_150">150</a> et seq; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>gained, <a href="#Page_156">156</a>;</li> + <li>in court, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>;</li> + <li>women's first vote, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>;</li> + <li>in Ind, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>;</li> + <li>law suits, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>;</li> + <li>re-passed, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>;</li> + <li>Iowa, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>;</li> + <li>Kans. Legis, <a href="#Page_204">204-5</a>;</li> + <li>in Ky, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>;</li> + <li>Me, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>;</li> + <li>Md, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>;</li> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>;</li> + <li>Mich, <a href="#Page_311">311</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>;</li> + <li>Minn, <a href="#Page_324">324-5</a>;</li> + <li>Mo, <a href="#Page_351">351</a>, <a href="#Page_357">357-8-9</a>;</li> + <li>Neb, <a href="#Page_379">379</a>;</li> + <li>N. H, <a href="#Page_410">410-11</a>;</li> + <li>N. J, <a href="#Page_427">427</a>, <a href="#Page_432">432-3</a>;</li> + <li>N. Mex, <a href="#Page_438">438</a>;</li> + <li>N. C, <a href="#Page_500">500</a>;</li> + <li>N. Dak, <a href="#Page_506">506</a>;</li> + <li>Ohio, in court, <a href="#Page_514">514</a>, <a href="#Page_519">519</a>;</li> + <li>Okla, <a href="#Page_523">523</a>;</li> + <li>Penn, <a href="#Page_562">562</a>;</li> + <li>R. I, <a href="#Page_570">570</a>, <a href="#Page_573">573-4</a>, <a href="#Page_576">576</a>;</li> + <li>S. C, <a href="#Page_583">583</a>;</li> + <li>S. Dak, <a href="#Page_590">590</a>;</li> + <li>Tenn, <a href="#Page_601">601-5</a>;</li> + <li>in court, women vote, <a href="#Page_605">605</a>; <a href="#Page_616">616</a>;</li> + <li>Texas, <a href="#Page_634">634</a>;</li> + <li>Vt, <a href="#Page_660">660</a>;</li> + <li>vetoed by Gov, <a href="#Page_664">664</a>;</li> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_697">697</a>;</li> + <li>Wis, <a href="#Page_707">707-8</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Primary Suffrage, Ark. Legis. grants, <a href="#Page_19">19-25</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>legis. action in Fla, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>;</li> + <li>Iowa, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>;</li> + <li>Miss, <a href="#Page_339">339</a>;</li> + <li>S. C, <a href="#Page_581">581</a>;</li> + <li>Texas Legis. grants, <a href="#Page_634">634</a>; <a href="#Page_638">638</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Progressive State conventions, in Ky, <a href="#Page_211">211</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_297">297-8</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Prohibition, women's votes for, in Mich, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Wash, <a href="#Page_686">686</a>;</li> + <li>Alaska, <a href="#Page_714">714</a>; <a href="#Page_754">754</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Prouty, Gov. George H. (Vt.), <a href="#Page_653">653</a>.</li> +<li>Pyle, Mrs. John L, work in S. Dak, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_587">587</a> et seq.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Quebec, work for wom. suff, <a href="#Page_765">765</a>.</li> +<li>Quinby, Gov. Henry B. (N. H.), <a href="#Page_403">403</a>.</li> +<li>Qvam, Mrs. F. M, work in Norway, <a href="#Page_774">774</a>; <a href="#Page_815">815</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>reports on wom. suff, <a href="#Page_826">826</a>; <a href="#Page_829">829</a>;</li> + <li>brings message from Queen, <a href="#Page_836">836</a>; <a href="#Page_848">848</a>; <a href="#Page_857">857</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Raker, U. S. Rep. John E, at La. Legis, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>for wom. suff. in Hawaii, <a href="#Page_718">718</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Rankin, Jeannette, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Fla, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>;</li> + <li>Md, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>;</li> + <li>work in Mont, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_360">360</a>;</li> + <li>elected to Congress, <a href="#Page_367">367</a>;</li> + <li>in N. H, <a href="#Page_405">405</a>;</li> + <li>N. C, <a href="#Page_493">493</a>;</li> + <li>R. I, <a href="#Page_577">577</a>;</li> + <li>Wash, <a href="#Page_679">679</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Rathbone, Eleanor (Gt. Brit.), <a href="#Page_740">740</a>; <a href="#Page_869">869</a>.</li> +<li>Ratification of Federal Woman Suffrage Amendment, account near end of each State chapter; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>see especially Ala, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>;</li> + <li>Conn, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>;</li> + <li>Del, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>;</li> + <li>Ga, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>;</li> + <li>La, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>, <a href="#Page_230">230</a>;</li> + <li>Md, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>;</li> + <li>Miss, <a href="#Page_337">337</a>;</li> + <li>N. C, <a href="#Page_495">495</a>;</li> + <li>Tenn, <a href="#Page_616">616</a>;</li> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_694">694</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Reed, U. S. Sen. James A, <a href="#Page_358">358</a>, <a href="#Page_641">641</a>.</li> +<li>Reedy, William Marion, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>.</li> +<li>Reid, Mrs. Ogden Mills, <a href="#Page_475">475</a>; <a href="#Page_482">482</a>.</li> +<li>Reports, to Intl. Suff. Cong, <a href="#Page_808">808</a>, <a href="#Page_813">813</a>, <a href="#Page_864">864</a>.</li> +<li>Republican National Committee, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>; <a href="#Page_79">79</a>; <a href="#Page_80">80</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>assists ratification in Del, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>; <a href="#Page_100">100</a>;</li> + <li>N. H, <a href="#Page_409">409</a>;</li> + <li>Tenn, <a href="#Page_621">621</a>;</li> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_694">694</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Republican State conventions and committees, in Calif, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_53">53-4</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Conn, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>;</li> + <li>Del, <a href="#Page_93">93-4</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>;</li> + <li>Ills, <a href="#Page_146">146</a>;</li> + <li>Iowa, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>;</li> + <li>Ky, <a href="#Page_210">210-11-12</a>;</li> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>, <a href="#Page_298">298</a>;</li> + <li>Minn, <a href="#Page_322">322</a>;</li> + <li>Mo, <a href="#Page_348">348</a>;</li> + <li>N. Y, <a href="#Page_446">446</a>, see <a href="#Page_483">483</a>;</li> + <li>N. C, <a href="#Page_493">493</a>, <a href="#Page_495">495</a>, <a href="#Page_500">500</a>;</li> + <li>R. I, <a href="#Page_576">576</a>;</li> + <li>Tenn, <a href="#Page_599">599</a>, <a href="#Page_613">613</a>;</li> + <li>Vt, <a href="#Page_657">657</a>;</li> + <li>Va, <a href="#Page_667">667</a>;</li> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_691">691</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Reynolds, Minnie J, in Colo, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>N. J, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>, <a href="#Page_418">418</a>; <a href="#Page_420">420-1</a>; <a href="#Page_432">432</a>; <a href="#Page_449">449</a>;</li> + <li>Wash, <a href="#Page_680">680</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Rhode Island, effort for wom. suff, legis. action, workers, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_565">565</a>.</li> +<li>Richards, Emily S, see Utah chapter, <a href="#Page_644">644</a> et seq.</li> +<li>Richards, Janet, in Del, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Md, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>;</li> + <li>N. J, <a href="#Page_415">415</a>; <a href="#Page_488">488</a>;</li> + <li>Wash, <a href="#Page_679">679</a>, <a href="#Page_682">682</a>;</li> + <li>Stockholm, <a href="#Page_840">840</a>, <a href="#Page_844">844</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Riddle, State Sen. Agnes, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>; <a href="#Page_67">67</a>; <a href="#Page_202">202</a>.</li> +<li>Ridgely, Mrs. Henry, <a href="#Page_93">93-4</a>; <a href="#Page_96">96</a>; <a href="#Page_101">101</a>.</li> +<li>Riggs, St. Rep. John A. (Ark.), <a href="#Page_23">23-4-5-6</a>.</li> +<li>Ringrose, Mary E, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>; <a href="#Page_200">200</a>; <a href="#Page_398">398</a>.</li> +<li>Roark, Mary C, <a href="#Page_209">209</a>.</li> +<li>Roberts, Gov. Albert H. (Tenn.), <a href="#Page_605">605</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Mrs. Catt asks to call extra session, <a href="#Page_617">617</a>;</li> + <li>confers with Pres. Wilson, urged by Dems, <a href="#Page_618">618</a>;</li> + <li>calls it, threatened with defeat, <a href="#Page_619">619</a>;</li> + <li>message to Legis, <a href="#Page_622">622</a>;</li> + <li>upholds ratif. and forwards certificate, <a href="#Page_623">623-4</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Roberts, Caroline, <a href="#Page_265">265-6</a>.</li> +<li>Roberts, Margaret S, see Idaho chapter, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>.</li> +<li>Robertson, U. S. Rep. Alice, <a href="#Page_528">528</a>, <a href="#Page_537">537</a>.</li> +<li>Robertson, Sir Forbes, <a href="#Page_548">548</a>.</li> +<li>Robinson, State Sen. Helen Ring, in Ga, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Col, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>;</li> + <li>Ky, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>;</li> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_285">285</a>;</li> + <li>N. H, <a href="#Page_404">404</a>;</li> + <li>Geneva, <a href="#Page_863">863</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Robinson, Lida P, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>.</li> +<li>Roessing, Mrs. Frank M, see Penn. chap, <a href="#Page_553">553</a> et seq; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in West Va, <a href="#Page_689">689</a>;</li> + <li>assists Intl. Alliance, <a href="#Page_868">868</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Roosevelt, President Theodore, appealed to for Fed. Amend. from Calif, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>faint praise for wom. suff, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>;</li> + <li>Del. women petition, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>;</li> + <li>urges wom. suff. in Me, <a href="#Page_241">241</a>; <a href="#Page_280">280</a>;</li> + <li>petitioned by Mich. women, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>;</li> + <li>enrolls for wom. suff, <a href="#Page_317">317</a>;</li> + <li>appeals to U. S. Sen. Moses for Fed. Suff. Amend, <a href="#Page_408">408</a>;</li> + <li>N. J. women petition, <a href="#Page_415">415</a>;</li> + <li>speaks for wom. suff. in New York, <a href="#Page_450">450</a>;</li> + <li>advice as Governor, <a href="#Page_454">454</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Root, Elihu, <a href="#Page_483">483</a>.</li> +<li>Roraback, John Henry, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>.</li> +<li>Rowe, Charlotte, in Del, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>La, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>;</li> + <li>N. H, <a href="#Page_407">407</a>, <a href="#Page_409">409</a>;</li> + <li>Okla, <a href="#Page_529">529</a>;</li> + <li>Texas, <a href="#Page_641">641-2</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Royden, A. Maude (Gt. Brit.), in Md, <a href="#Page_250">250</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Budapest, <a href="#Page_857">857-8</a>;</li> + <li>preaches in Geneva, <a href="#Page_860">860</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Ruhl, Mrs. John L, <a href="#Page_687">687</a>; <a href="#Page_693">693-4</a>; <a href="#Page_697">697</a>.</li> +<li>Rumsey, Mrs. Dexter P, <a href="#Page_444">444</a>; <a href="#Page_448">448</a>; <a href="#Page_456">456</a>; <a href="#Page_468">468</a>; <a href="#Page_475">475</a>.</li> +<li>Russell, Gov. Lee M. (Miss.), <a href="#Page_339">339</a>.</li> +<li>Russia, efforts for wom. suff, Prof. Miliukov assists, women hold cong, elected, <a href="#Page_788">788-9</a>; <a href="#Page_825">825</a>.</li> +<li>Ruutz-Rees, Caroline, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>.</li> +<li>Rye, Gov. Tom C. (Tenn.), <a href="#Page_599">599</a>; <a href="#Page_601">601</a>; <a href="#Page_603">603</a>; <a href="#Page_616">616</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Sacajawea, unveiling of Statue in Ore, <a href="#Page_540">540-1</a>.</li> +<li>Safford, Rev. Mary A, work in Fla, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Iowa, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>;</li> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_270">270</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Salamon, Dr. Alice (Germany), <a href="#Page_791">791</a>.</li> +<li>Sanderson, Annie Cobden (Gt. Brit.), <a href="#Page_252">252</a>; <a href="#Page_273">273</a>; <a href="#Page_825">825</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>on "militants," <a href="#Page_855">855</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Sanford, Prof. Maria, <a href="#Page_322">322</a>.</li> +<li>Sapp, Bernice A, <a href="#Page_674">674</a>; <a href="#Page_686">686</a>.</li> +<li>Sargent, Ellen Clark, see Calif. chap, <a href="#Page_27">27</a> et seq; <a href="#Page_52">52</a>.</li> +<li>Saskatchewan, work for wom. suff, <a href="#Page_755">755</a>.</li> +<li>Schlingheyde, Clara, work in Calif, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>for Intl. Suff. Alliance, <a href="#Page_868">868</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Schlumberger, Mme. DeWitt, pres, natl. suff. assn. of France, <a href="#Page_800">800</a>; <a href="#Page_843">843</a>; <a href="#Page_854">854</a>; <a href="#Page_858">858</a>; <a href="#Page_860">860</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>appeals to League of Nations for wom. suff, <a href="#Page_867">867</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Schmidt, Prof. Nathaniel, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>; <a href="#Page_444">444</a>; <a href="#Page_456">456</a>.</li> +<li>Schools for Citizenship, in Me, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Mo, <a href="#Page_352">352</a>;</li> + <li>N. H, <a href="#Page_408">408</a>; S. C, <a href="#Page_582">582</a>;</li> + <li>Wis, <a href="#Page_706">706</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Schools for Woman Suffrage, in Ala, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Fla, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>;</li> + <li>Atlanta, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>;</li> + <li>Ind, <a href="#Page_174">174</a>;</li> + <li>Iowa, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>;</li> + <li>Kans, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>;</li> + <li>Me, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>;</li> + <li>Md, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>;</li> + <li>Mich, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>;</li> + <li>Neb, <a href="#Page_379">379</a>;</li> + <li>N. J, <a href="#Page_421">421</a>;</li> + <li>R. I, <a href="#Page_570">570</a>;</li> + <li>S. C, <a href="#Page_581">581</a>;</li> + <li>Va, <a href="#Page_667">667</a>;</li> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_688">688</a>;</li> + <li>Wis, <a href="#Page_704">704</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Schoonmaker, Nancy, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>; <a href="#Page_245">245-6</a>; <a href="#Page_572">572</a>; <a href="#Page_706">706</a>.</li> +<li>Schurman, Pres. Jacob G, <a href="#Page_485">485</a>.</li> +<li>Schwimmer, Rosika, in Ky, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Wis, <a href="#Page_704">704</a>; <a href="#Page_812">812</a>; <a href="#Page_815">815</a>; <a href="#Page_826">826</a>; <a href="#Page_838">838</a>; <a href="#Page_844">844</a>;</li> + <li>Intl. Suff. Alliance Cong, in Hungary, <a href="#Page_793">793</a>; <a href="#Page_849">849</a>; <a href="#Page_854">854</a>;</li> + <li>report for Hungary, <a href="#Page_855">855</a>; <a href="#Page_857">857</a>;</li> + <li>countrywomen honor, <a href="#Page_858">858</a>, <a href="#Page_865">865</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Scott, Mrs. William Force, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>.</li> +<li>Sellers, Kathryn, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>; <a href="#Page_111">111</a>.</li> +<li>Seton, Mrs. Ernest T, <a href="#Page_73">73-4</a>.</li> +<li>Severance, Caroline, M, <a href="#Page_30">30-1</a>; <a href="#Page_40">40</a>.</li> +<li>Severance, Sarah, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>.</li> +<li>Sewall, May Wright, lectures in Calif, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>organizes in Ind, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>;</li> + <li>work in Wis, <a href="#Page_701">701</a>; <a href="#Page_772">772</a>;</li> + <li>at cong. in Budapest, <a href="#Page_859">859</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Sexton, Minola Graham, see N. J. chapter, <a href="#Page_412">412</a> et seq.</li> +<li>Shafroth, Gov. and U. S. Sen. John F, <a href="#Page_5">5</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>assists wom. suff. in Kans, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Md, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>;</li> + </ul></li> + <li>at Dem. Natl. Conv, <a href="#Page_349">349</a>;</li> + <li>N. J, <a href="#Page_431">431</a>;</li> + <li>Hawaii, <a href="#Page_717">717</a>;</li> + <li>Porto Rico, <a href="#Page_723">723</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Shaw, Dr. Anna Howard, letter to Ala, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>visits Ark, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>;</li> + <li>in Ariz. campaign, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>;</li> + <li>entertained in Calif, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>;</li> + <li>speaks in Del, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>;</li> + <li>memorial, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>; <a href="#Page_102">102</a>; <a href="#Page_110">110</a>;</li> + <li>in Fla, <a href="#Page_116">116-7</a>;</li> + <li>Ga, <a href="#Page_122">122-3</a>, <a href="#Page_135">135</a>;</li> + <li>Iowa, <a href="#Page_182">182</a>, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>;</li> + <li>letter to Kans, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>;</li> + <li>speaks in Ky, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>;</li> + <li>in southern States, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>;</li> + <li>Md, <a href="#Page_249">249</a>, <a href="#Page_253">253</a>, <a href="#Page_256">256</a>;</li> + <li>Mass, 270 to 294;</li> + <li>Mich, <a href="#Page_305">305</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>;</li> + <li>Minn, <a href="#Page_317">317-18-19</a>;</li> + <li>Miss, <a href="#Page_326">326</a>, <a href="#Page_329">329</a>, <a href="#Page_333">333</a>;</li> + <li>Mo. 349;</li> + <li>at natl. suff. conv. 1919, <a href="#Page_351">351</a>;</li> + <li>memorial, <a href="#Page_354">354</a>;</li> + <li>before Legis, <a href="#Page_355">355</a>;</li> + <li>Mont, <a href="#Page_364">364</a>;</li> + <li>Neb, <a href="#Page_370">370-1</a>, <a href="#Page_373">373-4</a>, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>;</li> + <li>work in Nev, <a href="#Page_384">384</a>, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>, <a href="#Page_397">397</a>;</li> + <li>N. H, <a href="#Page_401">401-2-3</a>;</li> + <li>N. J, <a href="#Page_413">413-14-15</a>, <a href="#Page_417">417</a>, <a href="#Page_420">420</a>, <a href="#Page_424">424</a>, <a href="#Page_431">431</a>;</li> + <li>N. Y, <a href="#Page_441">441-2-3</a>, <a href="#Page_450">450</a>, <a href="#Page_455">455</a>, <a href="#Page_464">464</a>, in campaign, <a href="#Page_483">483</a>;</li> + <li>wants Men's League, <a href="#Page_484">484</a>;</li> + <li>in N. C, <a href="#Page_492">492-3</a>;</li> + <li>memorial bldg, <a href="#Page_495">495</a>;</li> + <li>N. Dak, <a href="#Page_502">502</a>;</li> + <li>Okla, <a href="#Page_520">520</a>;</li> + <li>Ore, <a href="#Page_540">540</a>, <a href="#Page_542">542-3</a>, <a href="#Page_545">545</a>;</li> + <li>R. I, <a href="#Page_567">567-8</a>;</li> + <li>memorial in S. C, <a href="#Page_581">581</a>;</li> + <li>in S. Dak, <a href="#Page_589">589</a>;</li> + <li>Tenn, <a href="#Page_597">597</a>, <a href="#Page_607">607</a>, <a href="#Page_613">613</a>;</li> + <li>Texas, <a href="#Page_630">630</a>, <a href="#Page_632">632</a>;</li> + <li>Vt, <a href="#Page_652">652-3</a>;</li> + <li>Va, <a href="#Page_666">666</a>;</li> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_688">688</a>, <a href="#Page_691">691</a>, <a href="#Page_697">697</a>;</li> + <li>work for Wis, <a href="#Page_701">701-2-3</a>;</li> + <li>for wom. suff. in Hawaii, <a href="#Page_718">718</a>;</li> + <li>chmn, suff. comn. Intl. Council of Women, <a href="#Page_805">805</a>;</li> + <li>at Berlin conf. Intl. Suff. Alliance, <a href="#Page_810">810</a>;</li> + <li>at Copenhagen, <a href="#Page_815">815</a>, + <ul class="IX"> + <li>memorial to Miss Anthony, <a href="#Page_816">816</a>;</li> + </ul></li> + <li>at Amsterdam, <a href="#Page_826">826</a>, <a href="#Page_828">828</a>;</li> + <li>speaks in Albert Hall, <a href="#Page_836">836</a>;</li> + <li>preaches in London, <a href="#Page_838">838</a>;</li> + <li>great sermon in Stockholm, <a href="#Page_839">839</a>;</li> + <li>in Budapest, <a href="#Page_850">850</a>; <a href="#Page_857">857</a>;</li> + <li>memorial tribute in Geneva, <a href="#Page_861">861</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Shaw, Mrs. Quincy A, work in Mass, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>; <a href="#Page_269">269</a>; <a href="#Page_270">270</a>; <a href="#Page_279">279</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Nev, <a href="#Page_394">394</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Sheepshanks, Mary, <a href="#Page_865">865</a>.</li> +<li>Sheldon, Rev. C. M., <a href="#Page_202">202</a>.</li> +<li>Sheppard, U. S. Sen. Morris, <a href="#Page_638">638</a>; <a href="#Page_642">642</a>.</li> +<li>Sherwood, Dr. Mary, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>.</li> +<li>Shields, U. S. Sen. John K, opp. wom. suff, <a href="#Page_605">605</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>writes Pres. Wilson, <a href="#Page_613">613</a>; <a href="#Page_614">614</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Shippen, Rev. Eugene R, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>.</li> +<li>Shuler, Marjorie, in Del, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Fla, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>;</li> + <li>Nev, <a href="#Page_391">391</a>;</li> + <li>N. H, <a href="#Page_408">408</a>;</li> + <li>N. C, <a href="#Page_494">494</a>;</li> + <li>Okla, <a href="#Page_531">531</a>, <a href="#Page_536">536</a>;</li> + <li>S. C, <a href="#Page_582">582</a>;</li> + <li>Tenn, <a href="#Page_619">619-20</a>;</li> + <li>Utah, <a href="#Page_649">649</a>;</li> + <li>Vt, <a href="#Page_655">655</a>, <a href="#Page_658">658</a>;</li> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_694">694</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Shuler, Nettie Rogers, work in Me, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Md, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>;</li> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>;</li> + <li>Mich, <a href="#Page_311">311</a>;</li> + <li>N. H, <a href="#Page_410">410</a>;</li> + <li>N. Y, <a href="#Page_441">441</a>, <a href="#Page_448">448</a>, <a href="#Page_456">456</a>, <a href="#Page_470">470</a>;</li> + <li>Okla, report on campaign, <a href="#Page_529">529</a>;</li> + <li>R. I, <a href="#Page_570">570</a>;</li> + <li>S. Dak, <a href="#Page_593">593</a>;</li> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_693">693-4</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Simmons, U. S. Sen. F. M, <a href="#Page_493">493</a>; <a href="#Page_496">496-7</a>.</li> +<li>Simons, Mrs. Seward A, work in Calif, <a href="#Page_41">41-2</a>; <a href="#Page_52">52</a>.</li> +<li>Simpson, Mrs. David F, <a href="#Page_317">317</a>; <a href="#Page_321">321</a>.</li> +<li>Sims, Rear Admiral and Mrs. William S, <a href="#Page_578">578</a>.</li> +<li>Slosson, Dr. and Mrs. Edwin A, <a href="#Page_417">417</a>.</li> +<li>Smith, Gov. Alfred E. (N. Y.), <a href="#Page_489">489</a>.</li> +<li>Smith, Mrs. Draper, <a href="#Page_373">373</a>; <a href="#Page_375">375</a>; <a href="#Page_379">379</a>; <a href="#Page_381">381</a>.</li> +<li>Smith, Ethel M, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>.</li> +<li>Smith, U. S. Sen. Hoke, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>; <a href="#Page_136">136</a>.</li> +<li>Smith, U. S. Sen. John Walter, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>.</li> +<li>Smith, Dr. Julia Holmes, <a href="#Page_146">146</a>; <a href="#Page_700">700</a>.</li> +<li>Smith, Mrs. Thos. Jefferson, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>; <a href="#Page_215">215</a>.</li> +<li>Snowden, M. P. Philip, <a href="#Page_276">276</a>; <a href="#Page_285">285</a>; <a href="#Page_344">344</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Gt. Brit, <a href="#Page_730">730</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Snowden, Mrs. Philip, in D. C, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Ky, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>;</li> + <li>Md, <a href="#Page_252">252</a>;</li> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>, <a href="#Page_276">276</a>, <a href="#Page_285">285</a>;</li> + <li>Mo, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>;</li> + <li>Neb, <a href="#Page_372">372</a>;</li> + <li>Toronto, <a href="#Page_758">758</a>;</li> + <li>London, <a href="#Page_836">836</a>;</li> + <li>Stockholm, <a href="#Page_844">844</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Somerville, Nellie Nugent, work in Miss, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_327">327</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in N. C, <a href="#Page_491">491</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>South, Mrs. John Glover, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>; <a href="#Page_215">215</a>.</li> +<li>South Africa, effort for wom. suff, Premiers' action; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Mrs. Catt and Dr. Jacobs visit, <a href="#Page_767">767</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>South Carolina, effort for wom. suff, legis. action, workers; see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_579">579</a>.</li> +<li>South Dakota, effort for wom. suff, legis. action, workers; see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_585">585</a>.</li> +<li>Southern States Woman Suffrage Conference, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>, <a href="#Page_610">610</a>.</li> +<li>Spain, efforts for wom. suff, <a href="#Page_802">802</a>.</li> +<li>Spargo, John, in N. Y. Legis, <a href="#Page_546">546</a>.</li> +<li>Spencer, Rev. Anna Garlin, in Mass, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>R. I, <a href="#Page_565">565-6</a>, <a href="#Page_571">571</a>;</li> + <li>Wis, <a href="#Page_702">702</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Spencer, U. S. Sen. Selden P, <a href="#Page_358">358</a>.</li> +<li>Sperry, Dr. Mary, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>; <a href="#Page_398">398</a>.</li> +<li>Sperry, Mary S, see Calif. chap, <a href="#Page_27">27</a> et seq; <a href="#Page_52">52</a>.</li> +<li>Spring, Rebecca, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>.</li> +<li>Springer, Elmira E, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>.</li> +<li>Sproul, Gov. William C. (Penn.), <a href="#Page_562">562-3</a>.</li> +<li>Stanford, Mrs. Leland, for wom. suff, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>.</li> +<li>Stanislawsky, Mrs. Henry, in Calif, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Nev, <a href="#Page_384">384-5-6</a>; <a href="#Page_393">393</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Stanley, Gov. A. O. (Ky.), <a href="#Page_211">211</a>.</li> +<li>Stanton, Elizabeth Cady, birthdays, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>100th, <a href="#Page_487">487</a>;</li> + <li>memorial in Neb, <a href="#Page_370">370</a>;</li> + <li>pioneer, <a href="#Page_440">440</a>;</li> + <li>memorial in Seneca Falls, <a href="#Page_444">444</a>;</li> + <li>for Intl. Suff. Assn, <a href="#Page_805">805</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Starbuck, Kathryn H, <a href="#Page_459">459</a>.</li> +<li>Starrett, Helen Ekin, <a href="#Page_549">549</a>.</li> +<li>Stearns, Sarah Burger, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>.</li> +<li>Steinem, Pauline, <a href="#Page_508">508</a>.</li> +<li>Stephens, Adelia C, work in Okla, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_520">520</a>.</li> +<li>Stephens, Gov. William D. (Calif.), <a href="#Page_57">57</a>.</li> +<li>Stevens, Doris, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>; <a href="#Page_407">407</a>.</li> +<li>Stevens, Isaac N, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>; <a href="#Page_62">62</a>.</li> +<li>Stevens, Dr. Mary Thompson, <a href="#Page_305">305-6</a>; <a href="#Page_316">316</a>.</li> +<li>Stewart, Ella S, in Calif, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Ills, <a href="#Page_146">146</a>; <a href="#Page_149">149</a>;</li> + <li>Ind, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>;</li> + <li>Md, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>;</li> + <li>Mich, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>;</li> + <li>S. Dak, <a href="#Page_590">590</a>;</li> + <li>Wis, <a href="#Page_702">702</a>;</li> + <li>Amsterdam, <a href="#Page_826">826</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Stimson, Henry L, <a href="#Page_483">483</a>.</li> +<li>Stimson, Mrs. S. C, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>.</li> +<li>Stockwell, Maud C, work in Minn, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_317">317</a>.</li> +<li>Stone, Lucy, birthdays celebr, in Del, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>;</li> + <li>marriage, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>;</li> + <li>work in N. J, <a href="#Page_412">412</a>, <a href="#Page_417">417</a>; <a href="#Page_423">423</a>;</li> + <li>in R. I, <a href="#Page_565">565</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Stone, U. S. Sen. William R, <a href="#Page_357">357-8</a>.</li> +<li>Stoner, Mrs. Wesley Martin, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>at Dem. conv, <a href="#Page_220">220</a>;</li> + <li>in Tenn, <a href="#Page_609">609</a>;</li> + <li>West Va, <a href="#Page_689">689</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Stowe, Dr. Emily Howard, suff. pioneer in Canada, <a href="#Page_754">754</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>memorial in Toronto, <a href="#Page_760">760</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Strachan, Grace C, <a href="#Page_254">254</a>.</li> +<li>Stritt, Marie (Germany), <a href="#Page_827">827</a>; <a href="#Page_845">845</a>; <a href="#Page_854">854</a>; <a href="#Page_857">857</a>.</li> +<li>Strong, Rev. Josiah, <a href="#Page_456">456</a>.</li> +<li>Stuart, Gov. Henry Carter (Va.), <a href="#Page_666">666</a>.</li> +<li>Stubbs, Pres. J. E, <a href="#Page_385">385</a>; <a href="#Page_389">389</a>.</li> +<li>Stubbs, Gov. W. R. (Kans.), <a href="#Page_195">195-6</a>; <a href="#Page_198">198</a>; <a href="#Page_202">202</a>; <a href="#Page_205">205</a>.</li> +<li>Stubbs, Mrs. W. R, <a href="#Page_195">195-6</a>; <a href="#Page_202">202</a>; <a href="#Page_206">206</a>.</li> +<li>Sulzer, Gov. William (N. Y.), <a href="#Page_451">451-2</a>.</li> +<li>Sumner, Dean Walter T, <a href="#Page_410">410</a>.</li> +<li>Sutherland, U. S. Sen. Howard, <a href="#Page_696">696</a>.</li> +<li>Suttner, Baroness von, speaks in Wis, <a href="#Page_702">702</a>.</li> +<li>Sweden, efforts for wom. suff, great petitions, entertains Intl. Alliance, women in Parliament, <a href="#Page_780">780</a>, <a href="#Page_783">783</a>.</li> +<li>Swift, Mary Wood, see Calif. chap, <a href="#Page_27">27</a> et seq; <a href="#Page_52">52</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Denmark, <a href="#Page_812">812</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Switzerland, effort for wom. suff, entertains Intl. Alliance, <a href="#Page_795">795</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Taft, President William Howard, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>appoints Miss Lathrop, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>;</li> + <li>Tenn. women petition, <a href="#Page_607">607</a>;</li> + <li>advises wom. suff. in Philippines, <a href="#Page_720">720</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Taxes, Mrs. Sargent sues for in Calif, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>women protest against in Atlanta, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>, <a href="#Page_124">124</a>;</li> + <li>Dr. Shaw's car sold for, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>;</li> + <li>women pay in Mass, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>;</li> + <li>Miss Daniels of Vt, refuses, <a href="#Page_654">654</a>;</li> + <li>women's poll tax refused in Tenn, <a href="#Page_616">616</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Taylor, Lucretia Watson, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>; <a href="#Page_39">39</a>; <a href="#Page_45">45</a>.</li> +<li>Tennessee, effort for wom. suff, legis. action, workers, ratification; see St. chapters, <a href="#Page_596">596</a>, <a href="#Page_607">607</a>.</li> +<li>Territories of the United States, wom. suff. in, <a href="#Page_713">713</a> et seq.</li> +<li>Territt, Amelia, <a href="#Page_596">596</a>; <a href="#Page_615">615</a>.</li> +<li>Terry, Mrs. D. D, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>.</li> +<li>Texas, efforts for wom. suff, legis. action, campaign, workers, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_630">630</a>.</li> +<li>Thomas, Mary Bentley, <a href="#Page_249">249</a>; <a href="#Page_254">254</a>; <a href="#Page_596">596</a>.</li> +<li>Thomas, Pres. M. Carey, work for natl. suff. conv, <a href="#Page_249">249</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in R. I, <a href="#Page_567">567</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Thompson, Ellen Powell, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>.</li> +<li>Thompson, Lily Wilkinson, work in Miss, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_326">326</a>.</li> +<li>Tiffany, Mrs. Charles L, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>; <a href="#Page_469">469</a>; <a href="#Page_573">573</a>.</li> +<li>Tindall, Helen Rand, <a href="#Page_105">105-6</a>.</li> +<li>Tindall, Dr. William, <a href="#Page_105">105-6</a>; <a href="#Page_248">248</a>.</li> +<li>Todd, Helen, in Calif, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Conn, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>;</li> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>;</li> + <li>Mo, <a href="#Page_356">356</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Tolhurst, Mrs. Shelley, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>; <a href="#Page_40">40</a>; <a href="#Page_42">42</a>.</li> +<li>Topping, Lucile Dyas, see Mont. chapter, <a href="#Page_360">360</a>.</li> +<li>Tours for wom. suff, "yellow flier," "prairie schooner," <a href="#Page_110">110</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Ills, <a href="#Page_148">148-9</a>;</li> + <li>Iowa, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>;</li> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_276">276-7</a>, <a href="#Page_283">283-4-5</a>;</li> + <li>Minn, <a href="#Page_321">321</a>;</li> + <li>Neb, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>;</li> + <li>N. J, <a href="#Page_422">422</a>;</li> + <li>N. Y, <a href="#Page_470">470</a>;</li> + <li>Ohio, <a href="#Page_513">513</a>;</li> + <li>Wis, <a href="#Page_702">702</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Townsend, Gov. John G, in Del, <a href="#Page_91">91-2</a>; <a href="#Page_94">94-5</a>; <a href="#Page_97">97</a>; <a href="#Page_100">100</a>.</li> +<li>Trax, Lola, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>; <a href="#Page_91">91</a>; <a href="#Page_581">581</a>.</li> +<li>Treadwell, Harriette Taylor, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>; <a href="#Page_157">157-8</a>.</li> +<li>Trinkle, Gov. E. Lee (Va.), <a href="#Page_671">671-2</a>.</li> +<li>Trout, Grace Wilbur, work in Ills, see St. chap, <a href="#Page_145">145</a> et seq; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Wis, <a href="#Page_702">702</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Tumulty, Joseph P, <a href="#Page_425">425</a>.</li> +<li>Turkey, <a href="#Page_802">802</a>.</li> +<li>Tyler, Pres. Lyon G, <a href="#Page_666">666</a>; <a href="#Page_671">671</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Ueland, Mrs. Andreas, tribute to, <a href="#Page_320">320</a>; <a href="#Page_323">323-4</a>.</li> +<li>Underwood, U. S. Sen. Oscar W, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>.</li> +<li>U. S. Supreme Court, decision on Fed. Wom. Suff. Amend, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>.</li> +<li>Untermeyer, Samuel, <a href="#Page_457">457</a>; <a href="#Page_485">485</a>.</li> +<li>Upshaw, U. S. Rep. W. D. (Ga.), <a href="#Page_131">131</a>.</li> +<li>Upton, Harriet Taylor, in Calif, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>; <a href="#Page_30">30</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Del, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>;</li> + <li>Ind, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>;</li> + <li>Iowa, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>;</li> + <li>work in Ohio, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_508">508</a>;</li> + <li>political position, <a href="#Page_519">519</a>;</li> + <li>helps ratific, in Tenn, <a href="#Page_519">519</a>, <a href="#Page_619">619</a>, <a href="#Page_621">621</a>;</li> + <li>in West Va, <a href="#Page_688">688</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Uruguay, effort for wom. suff, <a href="#Page_804">804</a>.</li> +<li>Utah, half century of wom. suff, first women voters, Council of Women, good laws, women in office, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_644">644</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Valentine, Lila Mead, in N. C, <a href="#Page_490">490</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>S. C, <a href="#Page_580">580</a>, <a href="#Page_583">583</a>;</li> + <li>work in Va, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_655">655</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Vanderlip, Frank A, <a href="#Page_485">485</a>.</li> +<li>Vanderlip, Mrs. Frank A, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>; <a href="#Page_476">476</a>; <a href="#Page_489">489</a>.</li> +<li>Van Sant, Gov. Samuel R. (Minn.), <a href="#Page_317">317</a>.</li> +<li>Van Winkle, Mina C, police lieut, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in N. J, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>; <a href="#Page_421">421-2</a>; <a href="#Page_424">424</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Vardaman, Gov. and U. S. Sen. (Miss.), <a href="#Page_328">328</a>; <a href="#Page_331">331</a>.</li> +<li>Vermont, effort for wom. suff, legis. action, workers, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_651">651</a>.</li> +<li>Vernon, Mabel, in Del, <a href="#Page_89">89</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Nev, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>, <a href="#Page_394">394-5</a>; <a href="#Page_398">398</a>;</li> + <li>N. Mex, <a href="#Page_436">436</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Vertrees, Judge John J. (Tenn.), <a href="#Page_604">604-5</a>.</li> +<li>Vessey, Gov. Robert S. (S. Dak.), <a href="#Page_587">587</a>.</li> +<li>Villard, Fanny Garrison (Mrs. Henry), in Mass, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>N. Y, <a href="#Page_443">443</a>, <a href="#Page_448">448</a>, <a href="#Page_455">455-6</a>; <a href="#Page_682">682</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Villard, Oswald Garrison, work in N. Y, <a href="#Page_456">456-7</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>for Men's League, <a href="#Page_484">484-5</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Vincent, Dr. George E, declares for wom. suff, <a href="#Page_321">321</a>.</li> +<li>Virginia, efforts for wom. suff, legis. action, workers, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_665">665</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Wadsworth, U. S. Sen. James W, opp. wom. suff. in N. H, <a href="#Page_408">408</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in N. Y, <a href="#Page_455">455</a>, <a href="#Page_483">483</a>, <a href="#Page_489">489</a>;</li> + <li>in Texas, <a href="#Page_641">641</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Wadsworth, Mrs. James W, pres. Anti-Suff. Assn, in Me, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Texas, <a href="#Page_641">641</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Waite, Clara Turnbull, see Md. chapter, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>.</li> +<li>Walker, Lola, <a href="#Page_243">243-4</a>; <a href="#Page_435">435</a>; <a href="#Page_530">530</a>.</li> +<li>Walker, Speaker Seth M, telegram to N. C. Legis, <a href="#Page_499">499</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>opp. ratific, in Tenn, <a href="#Page_605">605</a>, <a href="#Page_623">623-4</a>;</li> + <li>goes to Washington and Conn, to opp. <a href="#Page_625">625</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Walsh, Gov. and U. S. Sen. David I, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>; <a href="#Page_285">285</a>; <a href="#Page_286">286</a>; <a href="#Page_300">300</a>.</li> +<li>War Work of Suffragists, see record in each State chapter and <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29878/29878-h/29878-h.htm#CHAPTER_XXIV">Chap. XXIV, Vol. V</a>.</li> +<li>Ward, Mrs. Humphry, in Great Brit, <a href="#Page_726">726</a>.</li> +<li>Ward, Lydia A. Coonley, <a href="#Page_146">146</a>.</li> +<li>Warner, Mrs. Leslie, <a href="#Page_598">598</a>; <a href="#Page_600">600</a>; <a href="#Page_604">604</a>; <a href="#Page_613">613</a>; <a href="#Page_614">614</a>; <a href="#Page_619">619</a>.</li> +<li>Warwick, Countess of, speaks in Wis, <a href="#Page_702">702</a>.</li> +<li>Washington, efforts for wom. suff, legis. action, campaigns, workers, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_673">673</a>.</li> +<li>Watkins, Gertrude, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>; <a href="#Page_22">22</a>; <a href="#Page_334">334</a>; <a href="#Page_435">435</a>; <a href="#Page_492">492</a>; <a href="#Page_530">530</a>; <a href="#Page_593">593</a>.</li> +<li>Watson, Elizabeth Lowe, work in Calif, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_34">34</a> et seq; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>rep. on campaign, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>; <a href="#Page_55">55</a>;</li> + <li>in Wis, <a href="#Page_702">702</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Watson-Lister, Mrs. A. (Aus.), <a href="#Page_277">277</a>.</li> +<li>Watterson, Col. Henry, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>.</li> +<li>Way, Amanda, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>.</li> +<li>Weaver, U. S. Rep. Zebulon (N. C.), <a href="#Page_493">493</a>.</li> +<li>Webb, U. S. Rep. Edwin Y. (N. C.), <a href="#Page_493">493</a>.</li> +<li>Weeks, Anna Ross, <a href="#Page_692">692</a>.</li> +<li>Weeks, U. S. Sen. John W, women defeat, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>; <a href="#Page_408">408</a>.</li> +<li>Wells, Emmeline B, see Utah chap, <a href="#Page_644">644</a> et seq.</li> +<li>Wells, Gov. Heber M. (Utah), <a href="#Page_650">650</a>.</li> +<li>West, Bina M, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>.</li> +<li>West Virginia, efforts for wom. suff, legis. action, campaigns, workers, see State chap, <a href="#Page_687">687</a>.</li> +<li>Wester, Catharine J, <a href="#Page_608">608-9</a>; <a href="#Page_611">611</a>; <a href="#Page_615">615</a>.</li> +<li>Wheeler, Mrs. Benjamin Ide, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>.</li> +<li>Wheeler, Everett P, in Md, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Tenn, <a href="#Page_621">621</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Wheeler, Grace M, see Neb. chapter, <a href="#Page_368">368</a>.</li> +<li>White, Gov. Albert B. (West Va.), <a href="#Page_696">696-7</a>.</li> +<li>White, Armenia S, <a href="#Page_400">400-1</a>; <a href="#Page_405">405</a>.</li> +<li>White, Mrs. Edward F, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>; <a href="#Page_176">176</a>.</li> +<li>White, Mrs. Lovell, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>.</li> +<li>White, Nettie Lovisa, in D. C, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Denmark, <a href="#Page_812">812</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>White, Sue S, <a href="#Page_598">598</a>; <a href="#Page_601">601-2</a>; <a href="#Page_621">621</a>.</li> +<li>Whitehead, Judge Reah M, <a href="#Page_684">684</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>digest of laws for women, <a href="#Page_686">686</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Whitehouse, Mrs. Norman deR, work in N. Y, see St. chapter from <a href="#Page_469">469</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Switzerland, <a href="#Page_488">488</a>;</li> + <li>R. I, <a href="#Page_578">578</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Whitehouse, Judge Robert Treat, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>; <a href="#Page_243">243</a>.</li> +<li>Whitehouse, Ch. Justice William Penn, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>.</li> +<li>Whiteside, Frances Smith, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>; <a href="#Page_134">134</a>.</li> +<li>Whitlock, Anna (Sweden), <a href="#Page_815">815</a>.</li> +<li>Whitman, Gov. Charles S. (N. Y.), <a href="#Page_478">478-9</a>; <a href="#Page_483">483</a>; <a href="#Page_485">485</a>.</li> +<li>Whitney, Charlotte Anita, work in Calif, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Nev, <a href="#Page_398">398</a>;</li> + <li>Ore, <a href="#Page_546">546</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Wickersham, George W, <a href="#Page_483">483</a>.</li> +<li>Wicksell, Anna B, work in Sweden, member League of Nations, <a href="#Page_780">780</a>; <a href="#Page_812">812</a>; <a href="#Page_815">815</a>; <a href="#Page_844">844</a>; <a href="#Page_857">857</a>; <a href="#Page_869">869</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>on Mandates Commission, <a href="#Page_871">871</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Wier, Prof. Jeanne Elizabeth, <a href="#Page_384">384</a>; <a href="#Page_386">386</a>.</li> +<li>Wilbour, Charlotte B, <a href="#Page_566">566</a>.</li> +<li>Wiley, Dr. Harvey W, <a href="#Page_654">654</a>.</li> +<li>Wiley, Mrs. Harvey W, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>; <a href="#Page_108">108</a>.</li> +<li>Wilfley, U. S. Sen. Xenophon P, <a href="#Page_358">358</a>.</li> +<li>Wilhelmina, Queen, <a href="#Page_818">818</a>; <a href="#Page_836">836</a>.</li> +<li>Wilkes, Rev. Eliza Tupper, in Calif, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>; <a href="#Page_40">40</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Budapest, <a href="#Page_850">850</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Willard, Mabel Caldwell, in Del, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_285">285</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Williams, Charl, in Tenn, <a href="#Page_619">619</a>, <a href="#Page_620">620-1</a>.</li> +<li>Williams, U. S. Sen. John Sharp, <a href="#Page_332">332</a>; <a href="#Page_341">341</a>.</li> +<li>Williams, Mary H, see Neb. chap. from <a href="#Page_368">368</a>.</li> +<li>Williams, Mrs. Richard, <a href="#Page_444">444</a>.</li> +<li>Williams, Gov. Robert L. (Okla.), <a href="#Page_528">528</a>; <a href="#Page_535">535</a>; <a href="#Page_537">537</a>.</li> +<li>Willis, Gwendolen Brown, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>; <a href="#Page_699">699</a>; <a href="#Page_701">701</a>; <a href="#Page_706">706</a>.</li> +<li>Wills, M. Frances, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>.</li> +<li>Wilson, Miss B. M, work in Nev, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>, <a href="#Page_392">392</a>, <a href="#Page_394">394</a>.</li> +<li>Wilson, Rev. Clarence True, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>; <a href="#Page_547">547</a>.</li> +<li>Wilson, Mrs. Halsey W, in Del, <a href="#Page_91">91-2</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Fla, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>;</li> + <li>Me, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>;</li> + <li>Md, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>;</li> + <li>Mich, <a href="#Page_311">311</a>;</li> + <li>N. H, <a href="#Page_406">406</a>;</li> + <li>S. Dak, <a href="#Page_593">593</a>;</li> + <li>Vt, <a href="#Page_655">655-6</a>, <a href="#Page_658">658</a>, <a href="#Page_663">663</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Wilson, J. Stitt, work for suff. in Calif, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Nev, <a href="#Page_398">398</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Wilson, President Woodrow, urges Ala. Legis. to ratify Fed. Suff. Amend, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>urges Del. Legis, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>;</li> + <li>appoints women to office, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>, <a href="#Page_111">111-12</a>;</li> + <li>urges Ga. Legis. to ratify, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>;</li> + <li>same, La, <a href="#Page_233">233</a>;</li> + <li>urges St. Suff. Amend. in Me, <a href="#Page_241">241</a>; <a href="#Page_280">280</a>;</li> + <li>Miss. women petition, <a href="#Page_331">331</a>;</li> + <li>to N. J. women, <a href="#Page_422">422</a>;</li> + <li>votes for wom. suff, <a href="#Page_425">425</a>;</li> + <li>assists N. Y, campn, <a href="#Page_479">479</a>;</li> + <li>refers to "picketing", <a href="#Page_479">479</a>; <a href="#Page_493">493</a>;</li> + <li>urges ratification in N. C, <a href="#Page_497">497</a>;</li> + <li>in Okla, <a href="#Page_537">537</a>;</li> + <li>Pres. suff in Tenn, <a href="#Page_604">604</a>;</li> + <li>women call on, <a href="#Page_609">609</a>;</li> + <li>writes Sen. Shields for Fed. Amend, <a href="#Page_613">613</a>;</li> + <li>assists ratification, <a href="#Page_617">617</a>;</li> + <li>telegraphs Gov. Roberts for special session in Tenn, <a href="#Page_618">618</a>;</li> + <li>Texas women appeal to for Fed. Amend, <a href="#Page_635">635</a>;</li> + <li>urges State amend, <a href="#Page_640">640</a>;</li> + <li>urges ratification in Va, <a href="#Page_671">671</a>;</li> + <li>in West Va, <a href="#Page_694">694</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Wisconsin, effort for wom. suff, legis. action, campaign, workers, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_699">699</a>.</li> +<li>Wise, Rabbi Stephen S, for Men's League, <a href="#Page_484">484</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in R. I, <a href="#Page_569">569</a>;</li> + <li>in Budapest, <a href="#Page_858">858</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Wolcott, U. S. Sen. Josiah O, <a href="#Page_92">92-3</a>; <a href="#Page_99">99</a>.</li> +<li><i>Woman Citizen</i>, natl. suff. assn. official paper, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>; <a href="#Page_314">314</a>.</li> +<li>Woman Suffrage in Many Countries, manner and time of gaining, see chapter on, <a href="#Page_771">771</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>also on British Colonies, <a href="#Page_752">752</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Woman Suffrage Party, in Calif, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Ga, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>;</li> + <li>La, <a href="#Page_224">224-226</a>;</li> + <li>Md, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>;</li> + <li>Mass, <a href="#Page_281">281</a>;</li> + <li>N. J, <a href="#Page_418">418</a>;</li> + <li>organized in New York, <a href="#Page_445">445</a>, <a href="#Page_460">460</a>;</li> + <li>work in city, <a href="#Page_461">461</a> et seq; <a href="#Page_468">468</a> et seq;</li> + <li>org. in State, <a href="#Page_475">475</a>; <a href="#Page_477">477</a>;</li> + <li>in Penn, <a href="#Page_553">553</a>;</li> + <li>R. I, <a href="#Page_568">568</a>, <a href="#Page_572">572</a>, <a href="#Page_577">577</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Woman's Christian Temperance Union, work for wom. suff. referred to in each State chapter.</li> +<li><i>Woman's Journal</i>, its founding, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>; <a href="#Page_279">279</a>; <a href="#Page_285">285</a>; <a href="#Page_329">329</a>.</li> +<li>Women's Political Union, work in N. J, <a href="#Page_420">420</a>, <a href="#Page_424">424</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in N. Y, <a href="#Page_486">486</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Wood, Mary I, <a href="#Page_402">402</a>; <a href="#Page_404">404</a>; <a href="#Page_406">406-7-8-9</a>.</li> +<li>Wood, Judge William H, <a href="#Page_419">419</a>.</li> +<li>Woodall, Amelia R, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>; <a href="#Page_129">129</a>; <a href="#Page_132">132</a>.</li> +<li>Woods, Dr. Frances, in Ariz, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Okla, <a href="#Page_521">521-2</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Works, U. S. Sen. John D, <a href="#Page_575">575</a>.</li> +<li>Worrell, Emma, <a href="#Page_87">87-8</a>; <a href="#Page_89">89</a>; <a href="#Page_90">90</a>.</li> +<li>Wright, Edna, <a href="#Page_408">408</a>; <a href="#Page_705">705</a>.</li> +<li>Wright, Harriet G. R, <a href="#Page_60">60-1</a>.</li> +<li>Wyoming, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_709">709</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>university confers doctor's degree on Mrs. Catt, <a href="#Page_712">712</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Yaggy, Laura Reed, <a href="#Page_202">202-3</a>.</li> +<li>Yates, Elizabeth Upham, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>work for wom. suff. in R. I, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_568">568</a>;</li> + <li>tribute to, <a href="#Page_577">577</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Yorke, Judge Waldo M, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>; <a href="#Page_40">40-1</a>.</li> +<li>Yost, Mrs. Ellis A, work in West Va, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_687">687</a>; <a href="#Page_697">697</a>.</li> +<li>Youmans, Theodora W, work in Wis, see St. chapter, <a href="#Page_704">704</a> et seq.</li> +<li>Young, Brigham, <a href="#Page_645">645</a>; <a href="#Page_647">647</a>.</li> +<li>Young, Clara A, <a href="#Page_368">368-9</a>; <a href="#Page_371">371-2</a>.</li> +<li>Young, Rose, in New York, <a href="#Page_469">469</a>, <a href="#Page_473">473</a>, <a href="#Page_481">481</a>.</li> +<li>Young, Virginia Durant, <a href="#Page_579">579</a>; <a href="#Page_582">582</a>.</li> +<li>Younger, Maud, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>; <a href="#Page_45">45</a>; <a href="#Page_55">55</a>; <a href="#Page_398">398</a>.</li> +<li>Yukon Territory, grants wom. suff, <a href="#Page_764">764</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li>Zueblin, Prof. Charles, <a href="#Page_567">567</a>; <a href="#Page_660">660</a>; <a href="#Page_702">702</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<div class="trans-note"> +<a name="END" id="END"></a> +<p class="heading">Transcriber's Notes</p> + +<p>The transcriber made changes as below +indicated to the text to correct obvious errors:</p> + +<pre class="note"> + 1. p. 105 Assocation --> Association + 2. p. 110 acompanied --> accompanied + 3. p. 110 Washingon --> Washington + 4. p. 135 affiliat??? --> affiliated + 5. p. 145 Assocation --> Association + 6. p. 150 memberehip --> membership + 7. p. 223 enthusiatic --> enthusiastic + 8. p. 266 Fn #78, mentiond --> mentioned + 9. p. 319 typwritten --> typewritten + 10. p. 340 committe --> committee + 11. p. 378 specificed --> specified + 12. p. 429 over held --> ever held + 13. p. 531 acount --> account + 14. p. 537 joint --> join + 15. p. 538 ratianal --> rational + 16. p. 541 Christion --> Christian + 17. p. 578 ocasion --> occasion + 18. p. 581 progagandists --> propagandists + 19. p. 585 activites --> activities + 20. p. 605 Footnote anchor #168 missing; + placed at most appropriate place. + 21. p. 641 acompanied --> accompanied + 22. p. 648 ocasionally --> occasionally + 23. p. 706 thoughout --> throughout + 24. p. 753 ristory --> history + 25. p. 787 shoud --> should + 26. p. 795 reportd --> reported + 27. p. 805 geting --> getting + 28. p. 834 sacraficing --> sacrificing + 29. p. 839 demonination --> denomination + 30. p. 840 annnounced --> announced + 31. p. 842 beginnning --> beginning + 32. p. 843 Annnie --> Annie + 33. p. 843 Colocel --> Colonel + 34. p. 845 magnificest --> magnificent + 35. p. 858 responsibilties --> responsibilities + 36. p. 859 adress --> address + 37. p. 863 elibility --> eligibility + 38. p. 891 Milsaps --> Millsaps + 39. p. 893 Parmalee --> Parmelee +</pre> + +</div> + +<hr class="full" /> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The History of Woman Suffrage, Volume +VI, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE, V6 *** + +***** This file should be named 30051-h.htm or 30051-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/0/5/30051/ + +Produced by Richard J. 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