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MRS. CARRIE CHAPMAN CATT.
President of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance from its founding In 1904 and of the NationaJ

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. >

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THE HISTORY

WOMAN SUFFRAGE

EDITED BY

IDA HUSTED HARPER

ILLUSTRATED WITH COPPERPLATE AND PHOTOGRAVURE
ENGRAVINGS

IN SIX rOLUMES

VOLUME VI

19001920

S'S'.

IN A TRUE DEMOCRACY EVERY CITIZEN HAS A VOTE

NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION

MINTED AND BOUND BY

J. J. LITTLE ft IVES COMPANY

NEW YORK

INTRODUCTION

WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN THE STATES OF THE UNION

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 move-
ments 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.

In Volume IV it was possible to give a resume 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
Stat< le for mothers' pensions, a modern tendency. About

half of the States now have equal guardianship laws. Theiv is
a gradual increase in those enlarging the property and I KIM
rights of married women. The "age of consent" and the
for marriage have been raised in most States where they were

iii

IV INTRODUCTION

too low. In every State for a number of years the large organiza-
tions 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.

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 resume
of existing laws that had been prepared for this volume was
soon at least partially obsolete in many of them. A brief state-
ment 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 legisla-
tion 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 uni-
versities still bar their doors but women have all needful opportu-
nities 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.

Women now have in a general sense equality of rights, al-
though 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.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGB

INTRODUCTION i

Position of women in regard to laws, office holding, edu-
cation, etc.

CHAPTER I.

ALABAMA I

Early work Progress of organization Conventions held, re-
ports and speeches made, activities of the association Officers
and workers Legislative action Campaigns Help of the Na-
tional Association Action on ratification of the Federal Suf-
frage Amendment Interest taken by President Wilson, Na-
tional Committees and party leaders Celebrations.

[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.]

CHAPTER L.

WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN THE TERRITORIES AND THE PHILIPPINES . . 713

ALASKA 713

Legislature gives suffrage to women Privileges to Indian
women Other laws Women in prohibition campaign
Women's war work.

HAWAII 715

Congress refuses to let its Legislature control the suffrage
National Suffrage Association protests Its president, Mrs.
Carrie Chapman Catt, at Honolulu Mrs. Pitman, of Brook-
line, Mass., holds meetings there Legislature sends resolution
to Congress Senator John F. Shafroth gets Bill through Con-
gress Efforts of Hawaiian women with their Legislature.

THE PHILIPPINES 719

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 ef-
forts for the suffrage.

yi TABLE OF CONTENTS

VAOX

PORTO Rico 722

Status of suffrage for men They demand their own Legis-
lature 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.

CHAPTER LI.

GREAT BRITAIN 7 2 6

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 Con-
stitutional 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 "pil-
grimage" Outbreak of war Important war work of the suf-
frage 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.

CHAPTER LII.

WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN BRITISH COLONIES ........ 752

NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA 752

CANADA 753

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 Newfound-
land still disfranchised.

SOUTH AFRICA 767

The National Parliament persistently declines to enfranchise
women Their strong efforts for the vote Granted in sev-
eral of the States Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, president of the
International Woman Suffrage Alliance, spends several months
in South Africa conferring with the women.

INDIA 769

TABLE OF CONTENTS Vli

CHAPTER LIU.

PACK

WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN MANY COUNTRIES 771

FINLAND 771

NORWAY 774

DENMARK 776

ICELAND 779

SWEDEN 780

THE NETHERLANDS 783

BELGIUM 786

LUXEMBURG 788

RUSSIA 788

GERMANY 789

AUSTRIA 792

HUNGARY 793

BOHEMIA 794

SWITZERLAND 795

ITALY 797

FRANCE 799

GREECE, SPAIN, PORTUGAL, PALESTINE, CHINA, JAPAN, SOUTH

AND CENTRAL AMERICA, MEXICO 802-804

CHAPTER LIV.

THE INTERNATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE ALLIANCE 805

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 Organiza-
tion Declaration of Principles Valuable Reports on the
Status of Women.

PERMANENT ORGANIZATION IN BERLIN IN 1904 809

CONFERENCE AND CONGRESS IN COPENHAGEN IN 1906 .... 812
Delegates present, addresses, Memorials for Miss Anthony,
reports, social entertainments, Badge adopted.

CONGRESS IN AMSTERDAM IN 1908 817

Welcome of Dr. Aletta Jacobs, president of the National Suf-
frage Association Mrs. Catt's president's address "Militants"
present Entertainments Victories in Finland and Norway
Jus Suffragii established A day in Rotterdam.

THE FIRST QUINQUENNIAL IN LONDON 828

Mrs. Catt's address Mrs. Fawcett, president of the British
Suffrage Association, speaks, refers to "militants" Mass meet-
ings in Albert Hall In touch with Queens Flag and Hymn
selected Resolutions adopted Officers elected Dr. Shaw in
the pulpits.

Vlii TABLE OF CONTENTS

PACK

CONGRESS IN STOCKHOLM 838

Honors to Mrs. Catt Many delegates and eminent guests
Dr. Shaw preaches in State church Selma Lagerlof speaks
Growth of Alliance Non-partisanship declared Men's In-
ternational League formed Beautiful outdoor entertainments
Tributes to Sweden.

CONGRESS IN BUDAPEST 847

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 Offi-
cers elected.

CONFERENCE IN GENEVA 860

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 coun-
tries 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.

APPENDIX 872

Anti-suffrage Manifesto of Nebraska men.

SUFFRAGE MAPS 626-629

ANTHONY MEMORIAL BUILDING Opp. page 442

CHAPTER I.

ALABAMA. 1

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 Hunts-
ville 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."

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 back-
ward, 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 main-
tained by a few devoted women. The new era was ushered in
by the organization in Selma in 1910 of an Equal Suffrage

1 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.

2 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

Association which was the beginning of an aggressive, tireless
fight. Miss Mary Partridge, after seeing the defeat of a con-
stitutional 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. ..."

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.'*

The Birmingham Equal Suffrage Association was the out-
growth 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 : Presi-
dent, 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 secre-
tary, Mrs. J. E. Frazier; treasurer, Mrs. A. J. Bowron.

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

ALABAMA 3

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 Suf-
frage 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, corre-
sponding secretary ; Mrs. Julian Parke, recording secretary ; Mrs.
C. M. Spencer, treasurer; Miss Partridge, State organizer. 1

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.

The first annual convention was held in Selma Jan. 29, 1913,
with twenty-five representatives from Selma, Birmingham, Hunts-
ville 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.

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 ; Birming-
ham, Mrs. Hundley; Montgomery, Mrs. Sallie B. Powell; Hunts-
ville, 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.

In January, 1915, a resolution to submit a woman suffrage

1 Those who held offu e in tin State association during the next eight years were as
follows: Mrs. Milton Humes, Mrs. Frederick D. Losey, Mrs, Parke. Mrs. Angug Taylor.
Mrs. J. D. Wilkms, Mrs. W. J. Chambers, Mis* Annie Joe Coates, Mrs. John Lusk, Mrs.
Leon WeiL

4 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 in-
definitely." 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 neces-
sary to submit an amendment. As the Legislature meets only
once in four years this was the only action ever taken on a State
amendment.

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.

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.

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

ALABAMA 5

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 congres-
sional 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 News got out a suffrage edition. Four travel-
ling 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.

The State convention was held in Selma May 7-8, 1918. The
reports made by local and State officers showed that the suf-
fragists had lent themselves and all their machinery of organiza-
tion 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 ad-
ministration 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."

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

6 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 Con-
gress 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.

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 under-
taken 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.

On May I the campaign was under way although the amend-
ment 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 mem-
ber, 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 litera-
ture 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 cam-
paign as an organizer and lobbyist. Press work was sys-
tematically 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

ALABAMA 7

convened. 1 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.

RATIFICATION. 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 tele-
graphed to Governor Kilby as follows : "I hope you will pardon
me if I express my very earnest hope that the suffrage amend-
ment 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 move-
ment which, in my judgment, is based upon the highest considera-
tion both of justice and expedience."

On the same date Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels
sent a long message to Mrs. McNeel, chairman of the Ratifica-
tion 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

1 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 Leapue. with Mrs. Finckard
chairman, Mrs. Charles Henderson, vice-chairman; Mrs. W. T. Sheehan, secretary, Mrs.
Marie Bankhead Owen (daughter of the Senator), chairman of the Legislative C-m-
mittee. Members of the Executive Committee were Mesdames Charles S. Thin-n. Hails
Janney, Jack Thorington, J. A. Winter, Ormond Somcrville. W. J. Hannah. Clayton
T. Tullis, J. Winter Thorim ry Thomas, Wil! I llsberry. T. H. Naftel.

W. R. Kelly and Miss Mae Harris. They sent a memorial to the Legislature which
began: "We lor.k with OOOftdraO t" you to protect us from this device of northern
Abolitionists." They "worked ni^ht a- snnally and by letter," and, after the

defeat of ratification in the Alabama I Mr-?. 1'imkard and others transferred

their efforts to those of Louisiana and Tennessee, where they "lobbied" for many daya

8 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

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 i6th. 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.

The House did not act on the measure until September 1 7 and
during the interim every possible pressure was made on its mem-
bers 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.

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. 1

1 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

ALABAMA 9

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.

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.

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.

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 Mont-
gomery; 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 Tusca
loosa; John D. Leigh, of Brewton; Emmett O'Neal and E. D. Smith, of Birmingham.
VOL. vx

CHAPTER II.

ARIZONA. 1

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.

Undaunted Mrs. Catt and Miss Hay came back in 1900 and
organized the first full-fledged suffrage association in the Ter-
ritory, with Mrs. Pauline O'Neill, wife of that staunch suffrage
friend, the gallant Rough Rider, William O'Neill, as its presi-
dent; 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.

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

1 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.

ARIZONA II

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 Asso-
ciation 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 them-
selves 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, Alex-
ander 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 suf-
frage bill.

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 Ari/mia
were in touch with each other. In the spring of T^n; Mrs. Mary
C. C. Bradford of Denver \v;is sent by the National it inn

and spent several weeks working with the Legislature but re-
1 practically no cooperation from the Wai \\-nnu-n, as it
1 that the situation was hopeless while Kibbey was
Governor. Mrs. Robinson moved fmni the Territory and the
organization was without a head. It languished for about three

12 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

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 avail-
ing 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 member-
ship of about 3,000 men and women.

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 Demo-
cratic 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 suf-
frage in the constitution for fear that the voters would not accept

ARIZONA 13

it, and yet those same men wrote into it the initiative and referen-
dum, 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'' con-
stitution, 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.

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 amend-
ment 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 Legis-
lature. 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 Legisla-
ture 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 ter-
ritorial days, prepared and introduced such a measure but it failed
in both Houses. The Legislature was 90 per cent. Democratic.

It was then determined to use the initiative and collect the

;isite number of names on a petition that would compel the

Legislature to submit the question. Women in every county

vnlii- ;o jjet these signatures, liny or sixty altogether, and

14 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

did the drudgery of canvassing until the required number of
signatures were obtained.

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.

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 dis-
franchised by an educational requirement.

The campaign was conducted without parades or demonstra-
tions 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.

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

ARIZONA 15

children. Since then others have been added, partly through the
efforts of women legislators.

RATIFICATION. 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 Amend-
ment. 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.

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 Repre-
sentative. 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.

About ten times as many women as men are teachers in the
public schools.

CHAPTER III.

ARKANSAS. 1

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 Na-
tional American Association prior to 1913, there was only corre-
spondence between individual suffragists and national officers.

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 Arkansas Gazette, 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.

Immediately following this occurrence Mrs. J. W. Markwell
called a public meeting in one of the Methodist churches to dis-
cuss 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 courte-
ously 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

1 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. Cotnarn, State treasurer
during these years and chairman of the State Suffrage Central Committee from 1917.

ARKANSAS \*J

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.

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.

In October, 1913, Mrs. O. F. Ellington was elected president
of the Little Rock League. At that time it was holding its meet-
ings 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. Im-
portant local, State and national affairs were studied and dis-
cussed and prominent State and national speakers addressed that
eager body of women.

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 .-Irkiinsas
Gazette 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,

l8 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

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 re-
sponse 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 fol-
lowing: 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 ; corre-
sponding secretary, Mrs. P. J. Henry, Hot Springs; recording
secretary, Mrs. Cunningham, Little Rock; treasurer, Mrs. Cot-
nam, Little Rock.

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.

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

ARKANSAS IQ

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 asso-
ciation 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. 1

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 move-
ment throughout the country, especially in the southern States.

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 Cen-
tral Committee and so on through the organization. The object
was to teach women how to work through and with political par-
ties 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.

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 as-
sumed it, as no one can vote until it is paid. This was held to
be legal by Attorney General John D. Arbuckle.

Mrs. Ellington left Arkansas on August I and Mrs. Cotnain
was elected by the State Board to take charge of affairs. ( hi
November 28 she was elected chairman of the State Suffrage Cen-

1 The following officers were elected: Chairman, Mrs. Ellington; secretary, Mrs. (libb.
Little nance Committee: Chairman, Mrs. Cotnam; Mrs. C. C. Gate, Jone*-

boro; Mrs. Land, Mrs. William KIN, Texarkana; Mrs. W. H. Conncll. 1!
Committee that framed constitution: Mis. Fuller. Magazine; Mrs. Head, Mrs. Bl
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,
dtrict chairmen.

2O HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

tral Committee upon the receipt of Mrs. Ellington's formal resig-
nation. Mrs. Cotnam appeared before the State Farmers' Union
in August and secured a unanimous endorsement of woman suf-
frage and in September at the meeting of its executive committee
she secured a resolution calling on Arkansas Senators and Repre-
sentatives 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.

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.

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 Briz-
zolara 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 tne
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 con-
ceded that the opposition caused by the suffrage amendment was
negligible.

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

ARKANSAS 21

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 at-
tended in force all minor committee meetings and controlled
the action of some of these committees. The Arkansas Gazette
of July 1 1 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 plat-
form, the resolutions and all prominent committees. The suf-
frage plank, as written by the women, was unanimously adopted
and for the first time a woman was elected member of the State
( Vntral 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.

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.

RATIFICATION. 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 eager-
ness to hold the ratification session. Many offered to pay their
own expenses and waive the regular per diem. With this sup-
port 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 ami
^iid he believed his children would be prouder of that act of his
than of anything else he ini^lit ever do. An identical resolution
introduced in the llmi^e by Representatives Riggs, Joe

22 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

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.

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' In-
dustrial School; that of 1915 removed all legal disabilities of
married women.

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.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION: 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 suf-
frage, 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. Mark-
well, 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 n, 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.

1913. House joint resolution giving women the right to vote
was introduced by Robert Martin. This year the suffragists had

ARKANSAS 23

a most successful hearing before the House Committee on Con-
stitutional 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.

Between the two Legislatures the State Woman Suffrage Asso-
ciation was formed and its influence was immediately felt in
political circles.

1915. Senator George W. Garrett, Okolona, introduced a
joint resolution proposing an amendment to the constitution giv-
ing 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.

1917. On January n 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. Islington, presi-
dent 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 ^o into a referen-
dum campaign without the consent of the National Hoard, if they
expected financial assistance from that ordain/at ion, and the

lution was withdrawn. ( )n i ; el>niary 7 Representative K
introduced what was known as the Primary Bill, which in brief

24 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 regu-
lating 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."

This form of suffrage is unique and deserves some explana-
tion. 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 simi-
lar 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." 1 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.

The Legislature of 1917 was soon discovered to be a progres-
sive 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 readi-
ness to do any special work needed, which they did quietly and

1 In June, 1912, Miss Kate Gordon offered a Primary bill as a substitute for the con-
stitutional 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."

ARKANSAS 25

effectively, seeing legislators when necessary, but the Legislature
was not harassed by a large and conspicuous lobby. 1

Sufficient pledges were secured in both House and Senate be-
fore 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.

When the bill came up in the Senate Walker Smith of Mag-
nolia 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 dur-
ing the session that every man in the Senate was in his seat to
vote was when the Primary bill came up. Two Senators un-
alterably opposed to woman suffrage had been expelled for
bribery and this made its success possible.

The Senate slightly amended the bill and returned it to the
1 1 raise, 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 1 amid great enthusiasm.

The Legislature met Jan. 13, 1919, after thousands of women
had voted at the Primary election. Not one member had been
present a resolution proposing a constitutional amend-
ment for woman suffrage. In fact the woinc'ii were following
closely the advice of the National Association and were ardently

1 Most of the women whose names a; 1 in this chapter, with the addition of

Mrs, John P. Ahmand, Mrs. De Mott Henderson and Mis* Jennie De Neler, did valu-
able legislative work during this and other session*.
VOL. Yl

26 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 con-
stitution. The women had felt certain that this would be impos-
sible. In August, 1920, full suffrage was conferred by the
Federal Amendment.

CHAPTER IV.

CALIFORNIA. 1

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 Con-
stitution.

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 Chris-
tian Temperance Union, with its franchise department and its
well organized army of workers, and, although somewhat dis-
couraged for a few years, held its annual convention and reorgan-
ization 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 resolu-
tion was adopted commending the former State president, Kllen
('Ink (Mrs. Aaron A.) Sargent, for instituting suit against the
< nlkrtnr for the return of her taxes paid in San Francisco
tinder written protest. [See Volume IV, page 504.] 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 sub-
mit an amendment to the voters. A vote of thanks was given

1 For the "assembling" of the different parts of this chapter and much of the work on

it the History it indebted to Mary M William) Krith, president of the

Fxjual Suffrage Asso, Action to Mrs. Lillian Harris Coffin,

hairman of the State Legislative Committee; fir matter on Southern California to

Mist M. Frances Wills and Mrs. Adelia D. Wade.

28 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

to Miss Clara Schlingheyde for her success in obtaining dona-
tions for the national suffrage bazaar in New York and appre-
ciation 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 Fran-
cisco, Mrs. E. O. Smith, San Jose, Mrs. Annie K. Bidwell, Chico ;
corresponding secretary, Miss Carrie Whelan, Oakland; record-
ing secretary, Mrs. Dorothy Harnden; treasurer, Miss Schling-
heyde, both of San Francisco; auditors, Mrs. A. K. Spero and
Mrs. Keith.

A visit in 1901 from Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, president
of the National American Suffrage Association, greatly encour-
aged 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 com-
munity property law, the W. C. T. U., the Women's Parliament
of Southern California and the State Suffrage Association send-
ing representatives to plead with the legislators. A School suf-
frage bill passed the House and was defeated by only seven votes
in the Senate and there was constant agitation. The State con-
vention 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 meet-
ings 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 Examiner

CALIFORNIA 2Q

had declared herself in favor of woman suffrage and a letter
of appreciation was sent to her.

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 com-
munication with the national officers ; an organizer, Mrs. Florence
Stoddard, had been engaged; the treasury receipts were increas-
ing; 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 presi-
dency. 1 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
Mcrriam, head of the U. S. biological department and Dr. Gan-
nett, of the geological department.

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.

1 Mrs. Sperry was reelected the next six years. Miss Carrie A. Whclan and Miss
Clara Schlingheyde were retained six year* 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. Ch.nl. tic Hnkcr, Miss Belle Angler,
Miss Josephine R. Cole. Rev. Mrs. Wilkes, Dr. Avery, Mrs. Itlinn. Mrs. M. A Woog,
Mrs. Chapman J. Arnott, Mrs. Nellie S. Scoville, Mrs. Lulu Pylc Little, Mrs. Josephine
Mastick. Mrs. Therese S. Speddy, Mrs. Coffin, Mrs. Ella MiuhHl. Dr. Minerva Good-
man, Mrs. Franceses s. Lucretia Watson Taylor, Mrs. H< !< n Moore, Mrs.
Lilian Hough, Mrs. Lehman Blum. Mrs. Martha Pierce. Mrs. Augusta Jones.

3O HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 cam-
paign. 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.

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.

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 affilia-
tion had now been made was enthusiastically received. The
movement had been active in Southern California, where federa-
tions, 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.

In answer to an invitation from the Los Angeles city and

CALIFORNIA 31

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 con-
vention was welcomed by Mrs. Ada J. Lingley and Mrs. Mabel
V. Osborne, county and city presidents. Mrs. Sperry in respond-
ing 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 Schling-
heyde, told of $2,063 contributed for organization work. Sub-
scriptions to the amount of $1,110 were made, Mrs. Keith lead-
ing 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 resolu-
tions presented by the chairman of the committee, Mrs. Nellie
Holbrook Blinn, were adopted. Mrs. Severance and Mrs. Spring
were made honorary presidents.

The work for the coming months was to secure a large petition
to the Legislature for the submission of a woman suffrage amend-
ment and Mrs. Osborne was appointed chairman of the com-
mittee. Heading the 15,000 names which were eventually ob-
tained were those of Governor George C. Parclee, 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. Muraskv, all men of influence.
The amendment was endorsed by the State association of 1,000
icrs. With the aid of the National Association 10,000 copies
of Mrs. ( 'att's leaflet, Do You Know? were circulated.

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

32 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 sev-
eral 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 hun-
dreds. A mass meeting of 1,500 was arranged by the Equal
Suffrage League in the Alhambra Theater, San Francisco. 1
Similar meetings and receptions awaited them in Southern Cali-
fornia and they addressed an audience of 10,000 at Venice, the
noted seaside resort.

The State convention met in Wheeler's Auditorium, San Fran-
cisco, 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 indi-
viduals sent more than that amount. Mrs. Keith gave $1,000
in the name of the State the following year.

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

1 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.

CALIFORNIA 33

dominant Republican party. The work was continued through-
out 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 rilled 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 The Yellow Ribbon, a monthly magazine edited by
Mrs. Katharine Reed Balentine in the interest of woman suffrage
on the Pacific coast, was distributed among the delegates.

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
Mature 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
Me of the suffrage clubs had now declared for suffrage.

In January, 1908, Mrs. Maud Wood Park was invited to ad-
dress 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 Lcland Stanford University. All
the year were asked through Mrs. Keith's
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 Legis-

34 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE/

lature 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.

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 Stock-
ton September 3O-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 greet-
ings 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 Legis-
lature; 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 conven-
tion at Seattle in July.

After the ^arthquake 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 Build-
ing, corner of Market and Fourth Streets. Here the increasing

CALIFORNIA 35

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 associa-
tion's committees on Child Labor, Education, Peace and other
public questions were actively at work. The committee on Peti-
tions 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 natipnal 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. 1
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 be-
fore labor unions, church societies, W. C. T. U.'s, "native daugh-
ters," 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 stand-
ing vote for equal suffrage.

The annual suffrage convention took place Sept. 30, Oct. i,
1910, in the Palace Hotel, San Francisco, the 4Oth that had been
held in the State. The long program of prominent speakers,
fraternal greetings, committee and club reports, showed tlu-
gathering weight and importance of the movement. J. Stitt
Wilson, Mayor of IVil ; -Icy and Socialist candidate for Governor,

1 Mr*. Keith was by no meant 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 tu
bout $15,000. Ed.

36 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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, Pro-
fessor Frances Squire Potter, Mrs. Florence Kelley and Mrs.
Ella S. Stewart had greatly inspired the workers and the favor-
able action of the next Legislature seemed almost certain.

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 Repub-
licans/' 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.

The Legislative Committee was composed of Mrs. Coffin, Mrs.
Blaney, Mrs. Edson and Mrs. Arthur Cornwall Juilliard. Sen-
ator 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 amend-
ment 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 plat-
forms. Mrs. Shelley Tolhurst closed the appeal. Then Mrs.

CALIFORNIA 37

George A. Caswell of Los Angeles, representing the women anti-
suffragists, read a paper of fifty minutes.

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 Marys-
ville, president pro tern., 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 pres-
sure 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 resolu-
tion was submitted in the Assembly and voted on February 2.
Gallery and lobbies were thronged and only time limited the ora-
tory. It received 66 ayes, 12 noes. Governor Johnson had
insisted on the submission of the amendment as a party pledge.

Pink roses were sent by the committee to Mrs. Johnson, wife
of the Governor, and violets to Mrs. Wallace for their helpful
eration. 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.

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 not to mention the suffrage amendment, as much needed
contributions had been made on this condition lest it might cause
some of the others to be defeated. There was strenuous objec-
tion to this plan by some of its friends but the majority prevailed.
Governor Johnson was present at the meeting and carried out iN
program during the entire campaign, not referring to the stiff:
amendment in his speeches. It was said that he expected it to

38 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

The general political situation in California at the time, how-
ever, 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 constitu-
tional amendments, for which a special election was called Octo-
ber 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 suf-
frage convention :

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 super-
vision 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.

The suffragists of Southern California, whose work with the
Legislature had been of incalculable value, led by J. H. Braly, presi-
dent 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. . . .

There was scarcely a corner of the State un visited by good
speakers. Under the supervision of Mrs. Rose M. French, the State
association issued 3,000,000 pages of literature, while the College

CALIFORNIA 39

Women's Equal Suffrage League and other organizations in the
North, and the Political Equality League of Los Angeles, also pub-
lished 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, superin-
tended by Mrs. Lucretia Watson Taylor, were very effective, par-
ticularly 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 pro-
foundly 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 parti-
sanship or militant methods. The victory in the State of Washing-
ton in 1910 and the manner in which the enfranchised women used
their newly acquired power contributed much to the success in Cali-
fornia. 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.

Our inland co-workers largely financed their own special lines of
propaganda. The generous contributions of the National Associa-
tion 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. . . .

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.

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
IKT at the Woman's Hub House. Here it was determined to
revive the Woman Suffr igue and an executive committee

4O HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

was appointed, Mrs. Sarah Burger Stearns, a veteran suffragist,
formerly of Minnesota, chairman. On December i 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 sym-
pathy was strong for suffrage. The years from 1900 to 1910-11
were just years of "carrying on" and well the pioneers did their
work. 1 They kept the fires burning and gradually all kinds of
organizations of women became permeated with a belief in suf-
frage for women and were ready for the final campaign.

The work of John Hyde Braly in Southern California deserves
a places 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 citi-
zens 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 secur-
ing 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 move-
ment 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

1 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, Mr*.
Mary Alderman Garbutt, Mrs. Martha Salyer, Miss Margaret M. Fette, Mrs. Cora D.
Lewis.

CALIFORNIA 41

have women become associate members of the organization, they
to select nine women to be governors with the men. The move-
ment was thus popularized and desirable men and women of all
classes rapidly joined it.

Headquarters were established in the Story Building and sys-
tematic work begun. Judge Yorke was chairman of the legisla-
tive 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 plat-
form 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 re-
turn 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."

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
pled- <>te 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 expres-

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 South-

alifornia in company with a party consisting of himself and
Neely, Judge W. S. Harbert and Senator Lee C.

. at his own expense, as was all of his work. Mrs. Edson

to him after the campaign : "Without the platform pledges

of the Republican county and State conventions we could never

VOL. n

42 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

have held the legislators and to you the women of California are
indebted for making this possible."

Mrs. Simons in her comprehensive report said in part :

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. . . .

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 effec-
tive 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 clul> 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.

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, promi-
nent lawyers, physicians, ministers, noted educators and philanthro-
pists and by men and women from all callings and occupations. . . .

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

CALIFORNIA 43

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 polit-
ical demonstration in the history of Southern California.

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 move-
ment 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. . . .

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
'actorily reached by the country press.

The anti-suffragists made a more open fight in California than
before. A month preceding election a Committee of Fifty
organized in Los Angeles composed of the reactionary ele-
ments, men representing "l>ii; business," corporation lawyers, a
number connected with the Southern Pacific R.R., some socially
.incut. The only one known nationally was former U. S.
itOt Frar.k 1*. Flint. The president WVB a Southerner, George
S Patten, who wrote IOMJJ articles iisjn^ the arguments and objec-
tion-, employed in the very earliest days ,,f the suffrage movement

44 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

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.

Theodore Roosevelt lectured in California in the spring of
191 1. 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 Examiner of the next morning said in its report :

Here is what Colonel Roosevelt said on the burning question of
woman suffrage :

"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."

CALIFORNIA 45

There were flourishing suffrage societies in all parts of the
State. An Equal Suffrage League had been formed in San Fran-
cisco from a consolidation of suffrage clubs, with a large mem-
bership 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. Dur-
ing 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 com-
plete 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 com-
mittee 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.OOO. 1

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.

1 Among the names that constantly onur in the State work as speakers, writers, on
committees, etc., besides those specially mentioned, ., SLiit. r Howard,

Miss Mary S. Keene, Mrs. J I -..I.. I A M.il.lwsn. Miv l-'.ll.i K. Green-

man, Miss Mary Fairbroth >< y, Miss Anna Chase, Mrs. Abbie E.

Krebs. Miss Ina Coolbrith, Mrs. Nellie Blessing Eystcr, Mrs. Frances Williamson.

The comprehensive booklet published by Miss Sclina Solomons, "How We Won the
Vote in (.'> ; icservcs scores of these names and contains a wealth of details in

regard to this interesting campaign.

46 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE'

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 organiza-
tions 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
Calif ornian and ex-mayor of Oakland, sent through Mr. Laid-
law. 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.

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.

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. Be-
fore the end of the brief campaign, under her efficient manage-
ment, almost every paper of prominence either endorsed it or
remained silent. The Los Angeles Express, Sacramento Bee,
Star and Union, the San Jose Mercury, the Oakland Enquirer,
the San Francisco Bulletin and the Daily News were especially
helpful. James H. Barry, editor of the Star, was an unfailing
advocate. The Call made a sustained fight for it and the Ex-
aminer and Post advised a vote in favor. The German papers
were outspokenly opposed. The Chronicle in San Francisco,
owned by M. H. De Young, and the Times, 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.

A most important feature of this remarkable campaign was

CALIFORNIA 47

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), record-
ing secretary; Miss Genevieve Cook (California Woman's Hos-
pital), corresponding secretary; Mrs. Genevieve Allen (Stan-
ford), 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 (Cali-
fornia). 1

Altogether $2,075 were sent to tne league from the East. Its
total receipts were $11,030 in fixed sums and the personal dona-
tions 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.

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 coun-
try; advertising of every possible kind; huge electric and other
; long weeks of automobile campaigning in the country and
tin- villages; special speakers for all sorts of organizations; a
handsome float in the labor day parade; ^peaking at vaudeville
vhows there was no cessation of these ciidit months' strenuous
work. The campaigning in Sacramento was in charge of Mrs.

1 After the election was ov 'ague at a general request issued a pamphlet

of 139 pages, edited by Louise Hern, k Wall, describing in detail its many activities during
the campagn, every page of which is a record of marvelous work.

48 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

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 after-
wards 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 L' Italia; 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.

The campaign closed with a ''business men's meeting" in
Cort's Theater from 12 to I 130 p. m. the day before election. The
theater was crowded and it was necessary to begin before noon.

CALIFORNIA 49

For several hours the speakers held forth to an audience chang-
ing every half hour. Mr. Elliott presided and the speakers were
F. G. Athearn of the Southern Pacific R. R. ; Dr. Aked, Mr.
\Yilson, 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 !

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 address-
ing 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.

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. Oak-
land was put in charge of Mrs. Coolidge, who had a corps of
efficient helpers in the members of the Amendment League, com-
posed 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.
I .inn ia Shirtzer, Mrs. Jean Kellogg, Mrs. F. M.
Murray and Mrs. !'. Marian. Of these league members 240
stood at thr pull.s 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.

Four weeks before election two representatives of each of the

suffrage associations of San Francisco met and placed in

the capable hands of Miss Laughlin the difficult task of looking

50 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 Michel-
son 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 chair-
men 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.

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 aves > 78i8 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 suf-
fragists judged from the vote in the cities that they were de-
feated 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. 1

1 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.

CALIFORNIA 5!

With the winning of this old, wealthy and influential State
the entire movement for woman suffrage passed the crisis and vic-
tory 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 Associa-
tion, of which this State had forty-five life members, more than
any other except New York.

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 neighbor-
ing 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.

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 pro-
motion 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.

The Women's Legislative Council of California was organized

in December. KJIJ, the outgrowth of the Legislative Committee

of the State Federation of Women's Clubs. This council, which

n-sectarian, non-partisan and non-political, is in reality a

Central Committee of State, county and some local organizations

about sixty in all represent injj a membership of ovc-r IOO,OOO

ten. Its purpose is to coordinate the efforts and concentrate

52 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

the influence of women's organizations behind a legislative pro-
gram, 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. 1

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 Suf-
frage 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.

In 1916-17 the Committee of Political Science of the State
Federation of Women's Clubs, Mrs. Seward A. Simons, presi-
dent, made a Survey of the results of five years of woman suf-
frage in California, which was widely circulated. It was a most
valuable, resume 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 suf-
frage on women and on public life. A very complete report was
made also by Mrs. Coolidge, president of the Civic League.

1 The very complete resum of the activities of these organizations made by Miss
Martha A. Ijams, Council Secretary, had to be much condensed for lack of space.

CALIFORNIA 53

LEGISLATIVE AND CONVENTION ACTION. 1901. A bill for
School suffrage was defeated.

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.

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 con-
tinued its activities in behalf of an amendment to the State con-
stitution for the next five years. The plan was to secure its
endorsement by all conventions and organizations and have it in-
corporated 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 Com-
mittee, 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 com-
pletely under the control of the "machine." It was at this con-
vention 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, ap-
proached 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, in-
corporated 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.

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
I.. Johnson of Sacramento the first week of the session. Mrs.
Coffin. Mrs. Moore and Thomas K. llaydcn, an attorney retained
by the State association, were the lobby maintained in Sacra-

54 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

mento 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 reconsidera-
tion. When the vote was next taken it showed that the San Fran-
cisco 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.

Then began the long struggle in the Senate. President pro
tern. Edward I. Wolf of San Francisco and Senator J. B. San-
ford 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 Re-
publican convention, saying he was only fooling! The amend-
ment went down to defeat, lacking two votes.

1908. The Democratic convention in Stockton in 1908 again
incorporated the amendment in the platform. The Labor conven-
tion 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 Metro-
pole 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

CALIFORNIA 55

Resolutions Committee the evening before, with two minutes
allotted to each. Mrs. Josephine Manahan, Miss Younger, Mrs.
LaRue, Mrs. Barren 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 chair-
man 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.

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 organiza-
tion 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

>duced 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 bc^an
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
n, under the direction of Assemblyman J. J. McManus,

: up with them. The debate lasted an hour. Assemblymen
Juilliard and Ilinkel were among those speaking for

amendment. The atmosphere seemed favorable but at u
when the vote should have been taken, to the amaze-
ment of it> friends, Mr. Johnson moved for a rtCCSfl until one

56 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

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 Assembly-
man 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.

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 assist-
ing 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 con-
vention of that party failed to endorse it. The reason was
simple the "machine" forces which had hitherto dominated the

CALIFORNIA 57

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 con-
tributing 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 com-
mittee of the leading legislators was appointed to see that a
woman suffrage amendment to the constitution was submitted.

1911. The action taken in 1911 has been described.

In 1915 the Legislature by unanimous vote of both Houses
passed resolutions which said in part :

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

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.

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 dis-
senting vote the following passed both Houses in just twelve
minutes: "Whereas, the women of the United States are being
railed 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
MI amendment to the U. S. Constitution -ranting women
the riidit to vote."

KAMI; Governor William D. Stephens called the

58 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

Legislature to meet in special session Nov. i, 1919, for the one
purpose of ratifying the Federal Amendment, which had been sub-
mitted June 4. The Women's Legislative Council had unani-
mously 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.

Mrs. Mary L. Cheney, secretary of the University of Cali-
fornia, prepared for this chapter a complete list of the offices
filled by women and the positions held by women in the uni-
versities, 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 Stan-
ford Junior University are one woman professor emeritus
(psychology) ; two associate professors, eight assistant pro-
fessors over 40 women on the teaching force.

CHAPTER V.

COLORADO. 1

Iii 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.

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 pro-
vision 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 an 'l

<:ed by a majority of 6,347. Women were thus entitled l>
on the same terms as men but it was by law and not by

itntional amendment. Aliens could vote on six months' resi-
dence and on their "first papers," without completing their citi
;liip. In FO/H (lie Legislature submitted the following amend-
ment : "Kvery person over the age of twenty-one years, pos
ing the following qualifications, shall be entitled to vote al all

: He or she shall be a citizen of the United Si
and shall have resided in the State twelve months imniediatdv

ding the election at which he or she offers to vote." It [$

'The Hintory is indrhtrd for thi rl- -turinr Tiptnn (Mrs. Grm C r E. >

Mate Equal Suffrage Amociation. Mrs. Hosmer wishes tn r

igatinn for assistance in securing data to the past presidents and executive officers
of the association.

60 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

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. Katharine
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.
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 Colo-
rado 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 Gazette
and later of the Pueblo Chieftain, member of the Legislature
and prominent in politics, was always an ardent and influential
supporter of woman suffrage. Among the pioneer workers \vh<>
are still living are Mrs. lone T. Hanna, the first woman elect nl
member of a school board in the State; Mrs. Alma V. Lafferty

COLORADO 6 1

and Mrs. Harriet G. R. Wright, former members of the Legis-
lature; Dr. Mary Barker-Bates, Dr. Minnie C. T. Love, Mrs.
William N. Byers, Mrs. James B. Bel ford and Mrs. Celia Bald-
win Whitehead. 1

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 hus-
bands 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 to-
gether 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
(In- 'pickets' and the sources of its money supply. ..."

Though actively engaged with serious problems of State

government, of city administration and of home economics, the

intioii has never overlooked the fact that social activities

iosc who worked in the first decade of this century were: Helen L. Grenfell.
Mary C. C. Bradford, Ellis Meredith. Hattir E. Westover, Mrs. John F. Shafroth, Minnie
I. Reynolds, Gail Laughlin, Drs. Elizabeth Cassady, Jean Gale, Mary Long, Mary E.
Bates. ROM- Ki-ld Beere and Sarah Townsend; Lillian C. Kerns, Martha A. Pease, Alice
if.ll. Mrs. A. C. Sisk. Mrs. A. L. Cooper, Bessie Lee Pogue, Helen Wixson, Anna
tt. Carrie Marshall, Nora B. Wright, Laura Holtzschneider, Hattie Howard, Rosetta
Sarah Purchase, Helen Bedford. Inez Johnson Lewis, Eva Rinkle, Evangcline
..sa M. Tyler. Mary Nichols. Hrl-n Miller, Louise Blanchard, Margaret Keat-
ing, Lillian Hartman Johnson.

62 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

are essential to good government and right living and has made
its social affairs a noteworthy feature during the past years.

There has never been any question among the people generally
in Colorado as to the benefit of woman suffrage. Sanitary condi-
tions are improved, beginning at everybody's back yard and ex-
tending 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 op-
portunity for doing has led to more deeds of kindness ; their inter-
est in State government and civic economics has improved their
ideas of home government and domestic economy; their assist-
ance in State and civic "house-cleaning" has imbued them with
a higher sense of duty to society and their own homes.

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 misrepresenta-
tions became so vicious there was a general feeling that as the
men voters largely outnumbered the women they should not re-
main silent. Through the efforts of Assistant District Attorney
Omar E. Gar wood the Equal Suffrage Aid Association of men
was formed with former Governor Alva Adams president ; Isaac
N. Stevens, vice-president, and Mr. Garwood secretary. Prom-
inent 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

COLORADO 63

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 organiza-
tions, 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 cer-
tain 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 news-
papers 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.

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 :

\Yhereas, 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
\\ -man suffrage ; therefore be it

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.

Both Democratic and Republican parties, and the Populist and
Progressive parties when they existed, have stood for equal suf-
frage 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.

64 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

Steele, successfully filled this place in the Democratic party dur-
ing a time fraught with difficulties, as the then Congressional
Union opened headquarters in Denver to oppose every Demo-
cratic 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 acrimoni-
ous controversy. The Democratic Senator, Charles S. Thomas,
and Democratic Representatives who had always been friends
of woman suffrage, were re-elected.

Beginning with 1908 the following women were sent as dele-
gates 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.

On Jan. I, 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 asso-
ciation. 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.

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

COLORADO 65

salary or compensation of any kind all necessary clerks, stenog-
raphers, pages and sergeants-at-arms in order that the State
should be put to no expense except for the mileage of the legis-
lators, whose salaries are paid by the year. When the amend-
ment was finally submitted on June 4 the newspapers, which had
been loyal to the cause all these years, and the men and women
ulmse interest and support had never flagged, were overjoyed
with thanksgiving and jubilation. The Rocky Mountain Herald
of Denver was one of the first papers to support the Equal Suf-
frage 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, claim-
ing 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.

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. Harring-
ton, State Senator E. V. Dunkley and Captain Morrison Sha froth
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 celebra-
tion 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.

RATIFICATION. 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

66 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

all three names. It requires three days for action on a resolu-
tion and the ratification was completed on the I2th, both Houses
voting unanimously in favor. The day of the final passage was
made a great occasion for the Equal Suffrage Association. Legis-
lators 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. 1 The bill went immediately to
the Governor, who signed it on the I5th. Colorado had by this
ratification placed the seal of her approval on the twenty-six
years of woman suffrage in the State.

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.

The legislative council of the State Federation of Women's
Clubs holds weekly meetings during the sessions of the Legisla-
ture and takes up bills for consideration, particularly those relat-
ing 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 in-
formed as to their action.

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

1 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.

COLORADO 67

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, audi-
tors, 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.

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.

CHAPTER VI.

CONNECTICUT. 1

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 move-
ment for its organization, had been its president. Closely asso-
ciated 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 an( ^ 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."

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 associa-
tion 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

1 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.

CONNECTICUT 69

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 dis-
tribution in the convention the copies of the Memorial which had
been printed. Charles Hopkins Clark, editor of the Courant, was
chairman. Two suffrage resolutions were presented in the con-
vention at the request of the State association, by Daniel Daven-
port of Bridgeport and Colonel Norris Osborn of New Haven,
and were defeated without debate.

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. Eliza-
beth 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.

During these years the annual expenditures never amounted
to $200. In 1905 at the convention in Hartford on November
i the treasurer reported that $137 had been spent. In 1906,
when the convention was held at Meriden, November 2, the dis-
bursements were reported as $162. There were only nine dele-
gates 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.

The convention of 1907 was held in Hartford October 29;

and the following year it met in New Haven on October i. \

slightly increased membership was reported and some younger

women had come into the movement, including Mrs. Jessie Adler

lartfnrd, who was responsible later for the candidacy of

Mrs. Thomas N. Hepburn. The expenditures for 1908 were

. In ic)of) the convention was held at Meriden. It was

that the National Association had sent a request In

sectinit for a petition to Congress with a quota of at least

70 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

30,000 signatures but that the number collected had fallen con-
siderably 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. Hep-
burn, who had lately come into the State, were in attendance
with the delegation from the Equal Rights Club of Hartford.

In October Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst, whose "militant" move-
ment in England was attracting world-wide attention, spoke in
Hartford. At this meeting Mrs. Hepburn met Miss Emily Pier-
son 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.

In the fall of 1910 the State convention was held at Green-
wich, 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 conven-
tion 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 at-
tended the meetings and aided the newer workers with her ex-
perience and advice until her death in 1918. The income for
1910 had been $400, the largest ever received.

CONNECTICUT 71

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.

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 open-
ing 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.

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 ac-
complished during the year, as reported at the convention, had
included the collection of 18,000 names to a petition to the Legis-
lature 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.

The convention of 1914 again took place in Hartford and
Mr*;. Hepburn, with practically the whole board, was re-elected.
The work of the year included a "ward campaign," in which
.[inning 1 was made of organizing on the lines of a political
v, 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 suf-
frage plank in the D-niM,-r;itic State platform. The total income
for the year was $17,779.

In 1915 at the State convention in Hartford Mrs. Hepburn was

72 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

again re-elected. The reports included accounts of the activities
of the sixty-nine clubs and leagues affiliated with the State asso-
ciation. 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 lo-
bally 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. 1

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 coun-
ties 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 Pier-
son 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 Hart-
ford county. The income for the year was $27,442, nearly all
of which was expended. The membership of the State associa-

1 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.

CONNECTICUT 73

tion 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 mem-
ber. 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 suf-
frage was presented to the Resolutions Committee of the Re-
publican National Convention.

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 Presi-
dential 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.

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 suf-
frage headquarters. In response some 540 hours of work were
i 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 Com-
mittee had chiefly to do with food conservation and $5,350 were
by it for this purpose.

In addition to the money contributed by suffragists for war

VOX. VI

74 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 Fran-
chise 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 na d been contributed for the oversea hospitals of the
National Suffrage Association. The work of the year had been
directed towards (i) 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.

At the jubilee convention of 1919, held at Bridgeport after the
Federal Amendment had been submitted in June, a new constitu-
tion 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

CONNECTICUT 75

progress of woman suffrage. This resolution pledged the asso-
ciation to a fight against the Republican "machine," which was
made with intense determination.

RATIFICATION. The final struggle came in 1920 over rati-
fication 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 he 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 Legis-
lature 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 suf-
frage bill such as had been adopted by a number of States. In
support of this a petition signed by over 98,000 women in-
creased 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.

\Yhen Congress finally sent the amendment to the Legisla-
tures 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
nd of a constitutional limitation of the Governor's power.

c constitution provides that the Governor may convene
imeral Assembly "on special emergencies" and he held that

:! emergency existed The association then concent rated
on the Republican State Central Committee and the oilier leaders

nthcyo I the chief opponents of suffrage. A petition

"d by 47^ prominent members of the Republican party was

1 to the chairman of this committee on Feb. II, i<
he Men's Ratification Committee a committee friendly to

76 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

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 Repub-
licans 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 ob-
durate. 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 per-
sistent appeals do not constitute an emergency. Finally on April
10, in reply to a letter fom 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 send-
ing 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 "march-
ing orders and field instructions" from her and Miss Ludington.

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

CONNECTICUT 77

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.

The Governor appointed Friday morning at n 130 for the
interview and the visitors and the officers and staff of the State
Suffrage Association were at the Capitol. Every possible point
hearing 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 Tues-
day he made public his answer, which was that, while the argu-
ments proved that there was a strong desire for a special session,
they did not prove the existence of the "special emergency" men-
tioned in the constitution and he felt compelled to decline.

A petition asking for a special session was then sent to the
crnor 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 "ma-
chine." Miss Ludington issued a manifesto giving in detail
their action which had determined this policy and saying:

Our fight now is "November, 1920." One of the most important

lential elections in years is to be held then. Women are just as

!y affected by it and as deeply interested in it as men. Although

tit of the necessary 36 States have ratified, no women can vote

m this election under the Federal Amendment until the 36th State

78 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 Massachu-
setts, 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.

"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 Courant
obligingly explained that the suffrage resolution it passed was a pre-
tense 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 Repub-
lican 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.

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.

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 ques-
tioning the sincerity of the party in regard to woman suffrage.
In August thirty Connecticut women, headed by Miss Luding-

CONNECTICUT 79

ton, 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 Lud-
ington, 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 Ver-
mont, 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 prom-
ised. ... 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
natiunal party in regard to ratification."

The speaker then quoted the resolution adopted by the Na-
tional 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 i, 1920: "Such Republican States as have not
already done so are urged to take such action by their Gov-
ernors 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 I9th Amendment to the end that all women may par-
ticipate in the election of 1920," and said: "We have had no
proof as yet that the party means to make good on these declare. 1
itions in fact many things seem to point the other way;
the Republican failure to ratify in Delaware; second, the
weak plank in the Republican national platform, which was emas-
culated at the request of the Connecticut delegates until it was

8O HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

an affront to the intelligence of women and a mockery of the
Connecticut and Vermont Legislatures; third, the present situa-
tion in Connecticut.

"From the time when suffrage became an issue/' Miss Luding-
ton 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 opposi-
tion, and have been cooperating with a Republican Men's Rati-
fication Committee formed for this purpose, but we are appar-
ently no nearer a special session than we were a year ago." She
then concluded:

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.

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 inter-
ference 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.

Connecticut women will remain voteless unless their State or Ver-
mont 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.

The situation in Connecticut remained unchanged but about
two weeks after this interview the Tennessee Legislature ratified

CONNECTICUT 8l

by means of both Republican and Democratic votes. This made
the 36th State and Secretary Colby proclaimed the Federal Suf-
frage 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 him-
self two years before had urged that he was powerless to pre-
vent it from enacting any bills that it pleased when once it had
been called in special session. The members of House and Sen-
ate were almost unanimous in resenting this attempt to fetter
their action and plans were laid to ratify the Federal Amendment.

Before September 14, however, developments in regard to the
Tennessee ratification seemed to threaten its validity and Gov-
ernor 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 Amend-
ment 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." *

As soon as the special session opened Governor Holcomb went
before it and asked it to adjourn without action, as he intended

.withstanding 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
13.446 fewer votes than the Republican candidate for President.

82 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 acccede to his request but by unani-
mous vote in the Senate and by a vote of 216 to 1 1 in the House,
the Federal Suffrage Amendment was ratified, although the
Governor had not submitted the certified copy to them. 1 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.

When the Legislature met on September 21 the Governor ap-
peared before the two Houses and asked them to ratify the
amendment which he now laid before them. Many of the mem-
bers were unwilling to do this, as it seemed a confession that
their former action was invalid. Wiser counsels prevailed, es-
pecially 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 unani-
mously, 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 what-
ever about Connecticut.

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

1 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.

CONNECTICUT 83

convention in New Haven the League of Women Voters came
into existence with Miss Mabel C. Washburn chairman. 1

LEGISLATIVE ACTION. 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.

1901. A bill for Municipal suffrage was adversely reported
from committee and defeated.

1903. The same bill was defeated in the House on roll call
by 105 noes, 40 ayes; in the Senate without roll call.

1905. The same measure had a favorable report from the*
Joint Woman Suffrage Committee but it was not accepted by
House or Senate.

1907. In addition to the Municipal suffrage bill the associa-
tion presented one for Presidential suffrage. The Senate re-
jected both without a roll call; House vote on Municipal suf-
frage, noes, 86; ayes, 56; on Presidential, noes 93; ayes, 55.

1909. For the usual bill the Legislature substituted one giv-
ing 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.

1911. The two usual bills received unanimous favorable re-
ports 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.

1913. State constitutional amendment defeated in the Senate
by 20 noes, 9 ayes, and in the House without roll call.

1915. The above action was repeated except that both
Houses defeated without a roll call.

1 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-
igio; corresponding and recording secretaries. Mrs. Ella B. Kendrick, Mrs. Marcia West,
Mrs. Jessie Adler, Mrs. Annie G. Porritt, Miss Mabel C. Washburn, Mrs. Frederick
ncer, Mrs. Hiram P. Maxim, Mrs. William H. Deming, Mrs. Samuel T. Davis,
Jr., Mrs. S. H. Benton, Mrs. William C. Cheney.

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. De-
LOM. Carlos F. Stoddard, Henry Townshend, Jonathan A. Rawson, T. S. McDdiu. tt,
Ruth Mclntire Dadourian; Misses Emily Whitney, Mary A. Goodman, Mary Bulkley,
Frances Osborn.

The names of the many women whu gave devoted service to this cause during this
score of years can never be recorded.

84 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

1917. Three measures were introduced a bill for Presiden-
tial 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.

1919. The State constitutional amendment came automati-
cally 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 11 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 com-
pletely controlled both Houses.

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 im-
portant House committees anti-suffragists held eleven of the
chairmanships. The chairman of the Woman Suffrage Com-
mittee, 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

CONNECTICUT 85

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 Times, was one of its most valuable supporters.

The liquor forces always employed lobbyists against the suf-
frage 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 proclama-
tion of the Federal Suffrage Amendment put an end to her organ-
ization. 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.

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 plat-
form 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.

CHAPTER VII.

DELAWARE. 1

During the past twenty years the advocates of woman suf-
frage 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 con-
ventions every year. Many distinguished advocates from out-
side 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 Re-
public, Ministerial Union, Central Labor Union and Woman's
Christian Temperance Union. The last is the only leading
woman's organization to give official sanction.

The annual State convention was held Nov. 6, 1901, at New-
port, 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.

The convention of 1902 took place November 8 in Wilming-
ton. 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

1 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.

DELAWARE 87

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 volun-
tarily sought as an infusion of indispensable new elements into
our citizenship."

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 cam-
paign was subscribed. The State convention took place at New-
port on Nov. 6, 1906. This year the G. A. R. endorsed both
State and national suffrage.

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. Fessen-
den of Massachusetts. A chairman of church work was ap-
pointed. Reports showed that much suffrage sentiment was now
manifested in the State.

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.

The convention of Nov. 29, 1909, in Wilmington, was ad-
dressed by Miss Campbell and Miss Mary Winsor of Haverford,

88 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 Wil-
mington 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. 1 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.

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.

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 com-
mittee 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 un-
failingly for the equality of men and women before the law. The
State convention met Nov. 9, 1911, at Newport.

At the State convention held Nov. 20, 1912, in Wilmington,

J The Women's College affiliated with Delaware College at Newark, the State College
for men, was opened in September, 1914.

DELAWARE 89

addresses were made by Mrs. Harriet Taylor Upton, State presi-
dent of Ohio, and Miss Harriet May Mills State president of
Xew York; and on the subject Why Delaware Needs a College
for Women by Mrs. Emalea P. Warner and Dr. Hay ward.
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.

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 suf-
frage 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 superintend-
ent of schools ; George B. Miller, president of the board of edu?
cation; Miss Grace B. Tounsend and Miss de Vou. This was
refused and the charter was defeated by an overwhelming ma-
jority 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 Dick-
inson 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.

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 Con-

<>nal Union. The music was generously furnished as usual

ly the treasurer, Miss Lore. There were now 174 dues-paying

members and 560 registered sympathizers; 12 executive sessions

>een held and 35 meeting. iS outdoors, and 10,000 fliers

-aflets distributed. On February 18-20, the association

sponsor for "General" Rosalie Jones and her Pilgrim Rand en

route from New York to Washington, D. C. Mayor Howell of

9O HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 rep-
resented 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. John-
son in charge. The two organizations joined forces and opened
headquarters in Wilmington, from which petitions to Congress
were circulated and much literature sent out.

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 Con-
gressional Union. In Wilmington a meeting was held February
15 in honor of Miss Anthony's birthday, with Miss Anna Max-
well 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 hon-
ored in August 13; members were enrolled by the hundreds and
fifteen executive meetings were held. The City Council's invita-
tion was accepted to march in the Old Home Week parade.

The convention for 1915 took place on November n, in Wil-
mington, with speakers, Dr. Shaw, Miss Worrell on Elizabeth
Cady Stanton's looth Birthday; Miss Ethel Smith of Washing-
ton, D. C., on National Work. Mrs. Cranston, "the Susan B.
Anthony of Delaware," the association's first and only president

DELAWARE QI

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 rep-
resented in May in the parade of the Woman Suffrage Party in
Philadelphia, under the auspices of the National Association.

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 peti-
tioned in vain for an endorsement of woman suffrage.

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. Fed-
eral Amendment Day was observed by tableaux on the Court
House steps in Wilmington, with Mrs. Florence Updegraff, na-
tional 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
succeeded by Miss Agnes Y. Downey, first vice-president.

The annual convention in Wilmington Nov. 29, 1918,

addressed by Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, president and Mrs.

I falsey W. Wilson, recording secretary of the National Asso-

<>n. Mrs. Albert Robin was elected president. In May a

Tessional petition campaign was launched at a large snb-

>tion luncheon given in Hotel DuPont, Wilmington, with

Mrs. Catt, Mrs. Frank Vandcrlip, Mrs. Maud Wood Park and

J. Borden Harriman guests of honor and speakers. Mrs.

rank Ball, State vice-president, presided. Miss Mabel \Vil

9 2 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

lard, 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.

The State convention took place in November, 1919, at Dover,
with Mrs. Raymond Brown, national vice-president, as the prin-
cipal 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.

Reports showed that in January the National Association sent
an organizer, Mrs. Maria McMahon, and with the financial as-
sistance 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 Sen-
ator 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 2ist, when the amend-

DELAWARE 93

ment was passed by the Lower House, Caleb R. Layton, Dela-
ware's one member, voted "aye." In the Senate, the newly
elected Senator, L. Heisler Ball, was paired in favor, Senator
Wulcott 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 chair-
man 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, legis-
lative chairman; Miss deVou, press chairman and Mrs. Brassing-
ton chairman of literature. Mrs. Ridgely of Dover was elected
president and activities for the campaign were soon centralized.

RATIFICATION. 1 When it became evident that the Federal Suf-
frage 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 Reho-
both 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.

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
, from the State Federation of Women's Clubs, State
Methodist convention, State Federation of Labor, State com-
mittees of Republican and Democratic parties, and the Wilming-
ton City Republican Committee, the largest in the State. No

1 The Hiitory is indebted to Miss Winifred Morris, secretary of the State Equal Suf-
frage Association, for much of the material in this story of the effort for ratification.

94 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 Con-
gressional Committee, through its chairman, Simeon D. Fess,
rendered every possible assistance and the latter sent a repre-
sentative 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.

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 situa-
tion. 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 Legis-
lature 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

DELAWARE 95

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.

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 Mar-
jorie 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

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

Morning News, under the ownership of Alfred I. du Pont, came

out for ratification and made a strong fight for it to the end.

In his message to the two Houses in joint session the Governor

"Woman suffrage has been a subject of public discussion

>ver 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 tn think and act for the (>>< 1 <>f your State and nation."

were introduced in Senate and I louse, the

Republican, John M. Walker of Hockessin, the latter

A'alter K. Hart, Democrat, of Townsend, the only one of

n Democrats in the House who favored it.
On March 25 there was a hearing before the General As-

] y. The opponents had rushed into town every farmer and
politician they could secure and the women "antis" pinned

g HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

a red rose in his buttonhole. The suffragists had given a yellow
jonquil to every friend. Behind the Speaker's desk hung a hu-
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 asso-
ciation, 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 argu-
ments 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 Evening Journal, "one of the clearest,
strongest and most reasonable arguments for votes for women
ever heard in Delaware."

From this time until the vote was taken telegrams from out-
side the State urging ratification were poured into the Legis-
lature. 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 Repub-
lican 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

DELAWARE 97

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 Repub-
lican 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.

The Governor did everything possible to make it easy for the
leaders of the southern part of the State to bring over its repre-
sentatives 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 Cum-
mings, 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. Pen-
nevvell 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 de-
feat. Prominent among the lobbyists were Henry B. Thompson
\ ilmington, husband of the president of the Anti-Suffrage
Association; Major Edmund Mitchell, former Republican State
chairman; George Gray, former Federal Judge; George A.
Elliott, Mifilin 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 Con-
stitution, the State of Delaware will receive in the near future
the greatest possible glory."

vcrnor Townsend went to New York and laid the danger

9 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

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 I, 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 op-
ponents were connected with the Pennsylvania railroad.

The Republican State convention met in Dover April 20 and
the Equal Suffrage Association made one of the most remark-
able 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."

The speech of the permanent chairman of the convention, a
staunch suffragist, Robert Houston of Georgetown, Sussex

DELAWARE 99

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.

While no Republican could now vote against ratification with-
out 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
\Yolcott 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.

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 Repub-
lican vote of 13 to 4. The roll was called on the resolution to
ratify and it was adopted by u 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
taken and the plan was to send the resolution to it Thurs-
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 tern. J. D. Short, whose recent
accession to the suffrage ranks had made the Senate victory sure.

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 encour-

IOO HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

agement to him until the Republican floor leader, William Lyons,
had to ask her to stop.

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 ratifica-
tion 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. Alice, Secretary of State
Johnson, Charles Warner, former Congressman Hiram R. Bur-
ton, Speaker Charles Grantland and others. These men argued
and pleaded with the Republican legislators to give the 36th and
final ratification of the iQth Amendment but without effect.

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 Com-
mittee 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 car-
ried that the House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole.
Representative Lyons here offered a motion to vote on the resolu-
tion, 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.

The causes that led to the defeat were briefly: i. Factional
differences in the Republican party; antagonism toward Gov-
ernor Townsend; half-hearted interest and even treachery on the

DELAWARE IOI

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.]

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.

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. Hoi-
loway, Adam Stengle, Alexander T. Bowser, Joel S. Gilfillan;
Mrs. John F. Thomas, Congressman Thomas W. Miller, George
Carter, editor Evening Journal; 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.

State officers not named otherwise were Mrs. William L.

Duggin, Mrs. Alfred D. Warner, Mrs. Willard Morse, Mrs.

Mary II. Thatcher, Miss Elizabeth S. Gawthorp, Mrs. Mary

Phillips, Mrs. Frederick L. Steinlein, Mrs. R. Barclay

r, Mrs. Harry Hay ward, Mrs. George Newcombe, Miss

Willabelle Shurter.

LEGISLATIVE A< i ION, 1913. A bill to strike from the suffrage
clause of the State constitution the word "male" was for the
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 circu-
larized 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 Feb-

IO2 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

ruary 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 Sen-
ators Reinhardt, John M. Walker, and a number of leading
women. Senators Zachary T. Harris and Dr. George W. Mar-
shall 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 n 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.

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 auto-
mobile. "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.

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

DELAWARE IO3

enthusiasm equalled that of the suffrage hearing. Thomas F.
Bayard, brother of Mrs. Hilles, opened the hearing and intro-
duced Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Grace W. Goodwin of Westfield
and Mrs. Preston Lea, wife of a former Governor. On Feb-
ruary 9 the suffragists were granted a second hearing, all mem-
of the Senate and several of the House being present. On
February 1 6 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 1 1 noes
to 6 ayes. Legislative friends were Senators Edward Hart,
John A. Barnard and Speaker Charles H. Grantland.

Preceding the vote was a gay and colorful parade of suffra-
gists, 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 n, three days after the defeat, at a well-attended
luncheon in Hotel du Pont, Wilmington, was opened the cam-
paign for 1917 in true Bunker Hill spirit.

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 re-
ported 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
6 noes to 8 ayes. Among the anti-suffrage leaders were
c George Gray, General James H. Wilson, Miss Emily P.
1. Mrs. George A. Elliott and Mrs. Henry P. Scott.

CHAPTER VIII.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 1

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 Dis-
trict one really for equal suffrage, men and women alike being
without the vote. The Congress itself now has entire jurisdic-
tion, each branch appointing a committee for the purpose.

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 popu-
lation. Local self-government also is advocated by some resi-
dents but the majority are behind the movement to obtain repre-
sentation 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.

Although the suffragists of the District had no hope of en-
franchisement 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

1 The History is indebted for this chapter to Miss Mary O'Toole, attorney and coun-
sellor 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.

104

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IO5

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 Both birthday in February, 1900, gave a
new impetus to the cause. The various societies had been organ-
ized in 1898 into the District of Columbia State Equal Suffrage
Assocation, 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 carry-
ing 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 pur-
pose of working for suffrage in the district. Mrs. Glenna Smith
Tinnin was the first chairman, followed by Mrs. George A.

-shart and Mrs. Louis Brownlow.

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

o^rcssive work. The following served as presidents : Mrs.

and Tindall, 1898; Mrs. Ellen Powell Thompson, 1899;

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.

i R. Allender, 1913; Mrs. Kent, 1914; Miss Mary O'Toole,

5 to 1920.*

-: Justice Wendell P. Stafford, Commissioner Henry B. F. McFar-
land. Dr. William Tindall. Mrs. Hrlm H. Gardener, Mrs. Harvey W. Wiley,
Mrs. Belva A. Lockwood, Mrs. Philander P. Claxton, Mrs. Wesley, M. Stoner, Mrs.
TOI- *i

IO6 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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, compul-
sory 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 associa-
tion, two public comfort stations were built at a cost of $35,000,
with bath, rest rooms and all sanitary conveniences, the first in

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 Eastment. There were few years when Dr. and Mrs.
Tindall did not occupy some official position.

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.

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.

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.

Auditors: George A. Warren, Miss Edith Harris, William Lee, Mrs. R. G. Whit-
ing, 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.

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.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IO7

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 associa-
tion 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.

In 1910 at a hearing granted to the National Association by
the Judiciary Committee of Congress the District was repre-
sented by Miss Emma M. Gillett and Mrs. Katharine Reed Balen-
tine, 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 con-
tributed $100 and used the fund to circularize every candidate
for Congress in the 1910 campaign. She appealed through the
Woman's Journal 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 Chapter X, Volume V.]

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, pro-

onal and other bodies national in extent." The program was

elude (1: us 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.

in answering Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt's criticism that

had not Ixrn invited, said it had not occurred

to him that women would be interested but that he would ]>

IO8 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

the name of the National Suffrage Association on the list for
future calls of ajike character.

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 Hi f ton 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 build-
ings, Miss Anna MacLaren arranging for it.

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.)

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 Com-
mittee 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

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ICX)

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.

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.

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 abey-
ance until a constitutional amendment was passed enabling Con-
gress 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.

I Hiring the closing years of the long campaign for woman
rage street meetings were held. Among those who helped
in this work were Mrs. Frank Hiram Snell, Miss Florence 1

li.ss Kli/a1>cth Kggcrt, Miss O'Toole and Miss Sellers.
Receptions were given to the "yellow flier," the automobile sent

IIO HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 Q'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 acompanied 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.

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 head-
quarters were in Washington, Dr. Anna Howard Shaw chairman.
They rejoiced in the submission of the Federal Suffrage Amend-
ment 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.

More women hold office in Washingon 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:

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 per-
centage 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 establish-
ments, engineer departments, reclamation service projects, lighthouse

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA III

service and the like; also the letter-carriers, city and rural, railway
mail clerks and such classes.

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.

These positions are open to any who pass the civil service exami-
nations 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.

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 grow-
ing out of the war, and Miss Mabel T. Boardman as Com-
missioner of the District. The Commissioners appointed two
women trustees of the public library. Formerly it was neces-
sary 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 depart-
ments, War Risk, Treasury, especially the income and customs
ions, and in the Solicitor \ office for the State Department.
The Interior Department appointed Miss Florence Etheridge, at
one time president of the D. C. State Equal Suffrage Associa-

112 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

tion, 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.

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.

The national appointments of women have attracted the atten-
tion 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). Presi-
dent 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 Com-
mission; Mrs. Annette A. Adams, U. S. Attorney in San Fran-
cisco, Assistant Attorney General; Miss Mary Anderson, chief
of the Women's Division of the Department of Labor.

CHAPTER IX.

FLORIDA. 1

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 numer-
ous signatures. It is interesting to note that, from the begin-
ning of the suffrage movement in Florida, men as well as
women have been its active supporters.

As the years passed and the movement waxed strong through-
out 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.
icrine 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-
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

1 The History it indebted for this chapter to Alice G. (Mm. George) Kollock, prom-
inent in the work for woman suffrage in Florida, with thanks to others who assisted.

114 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

league affiliated with the National American Suffrage Associa-
tion, which the next year sent a field worker to help in legisla-
tive work. In 1914 it published a special edition of The State,
which was put into the hands of all the Florida members of
Congress and the Legislature. Mrs. Medill McCormick, chair-
man 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.

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 2 7th the Equal Suffrage League
of Orlando was organized with the Rev. Mary A. Safford presi-
dent, and in October the first demand for suffrage was made
here. The Mayor issued a notice that all freeholders must reg-
ister for the sewerage bond election by the 9th, and a few suf-
fragists 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.

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?"

During the summer through conversation with interested

FLORIDA 115

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-presi-
dent, Mrs. C. J. Huber, Webster; second, Mrs. Ella Chamber-
lain, Tampa; third, Miss Caroline Brevard, Tallahassee; cor-
responding 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.

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
nan'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 amend-
ment were obtained. It had had "teas" for replenishing the treas-
ury and closed the year with a banquet complimentary to the
Men's League. A committee was preparing a program on the
of the State for the next year's work. The Pensacola league
arranging to issue a special edition of the Journal and have
a booth at the tri-county fair. Most of the leagues had formed
<-s to study history and the duties of citizenship and had
buted literature and some of them had held a celebration
lay 2, as the National Association had requested.

The first annual convention, held at Pensacola, Dec. 8-10,
'1 tlic pledging of candidates for Congress and

Il6 . HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

Legislature and securing signatures to petitions. The second,
at Orlando, Feb. 3, 1915, formed congressional districts, accord-
ing 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.

While the State association could show no definite accomplish-
ment, 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 Pleas-
aunce Baker, Zellwood; Mrs. Grace Hanchett, Orlando.

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.

FLORIDA 117

In 1916 Miss Safford went for a month to assist the campaign
in Iowa, to which the association sent $100, and the vice-presi-
dent, 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 co-
operation with the Congressional Committee of the National
Association and work in the Legislature was done.

By 1918 a number of counties had been organized and the
State convention, encouraged by the granting of Primary suf-
frage 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 confer-
ence 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 art
e campaign was undertaken for Primary suffrage.

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
York, to spend several weeks in a quiet campaign to in-
fluence 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 news-
paper comment in favor, interviews with prominent people and
resolutions from conventions, but these had no effect. At the
tl convention in October the following officers were elected:
'lent, Mrs. John T. Fuller, Orlando; first vice-president,
A Lewis, Fort Pierce; second, Miss Elizabeth
, Duncdin; third, Dr. Minerva B. Cushman, St. Peters-

Il8 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

burg; 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. Mc-
Collum, Mrs. J. D. Stringfellow, Gainesville; Legislative Com-
mittee, Mrs. Amos Norris, chairman, Tampa. A memorial meet-
ing was held for Dr. Shaw, who had died July 2.

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 i, 1921, and Mrs.
J. B. O'Hara was elected chairman.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION. Before the State Association was organ-
ized 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 Repre-
sentatives 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.

"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

FLORIDA 119

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 wait-
ing, 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."

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.

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.

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 suf-
e, 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 Amend-
ment was submitted by Congress a delegation of women Mrs.
ik Stranahan, chairman of the Legislative Committee; Dr.
rd, Mrs. W. S. Jennings, Mrs. Edgar A. Lewis went to
Tallahassee to try to have the Legislature ratify it, arriving one
before adjournment. They quickly canvassed the members
found a small majority willing to vote for it but there was

I2O HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

SUFFRAGE. 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 Lauder-
dale, Moore Haven, Orlando, Clearwater, Dunedin, St. Peters-
burg, Tarpon Springs. Felsmere was the pioneer, receiving its
charter in 1915.

CHAPTER X.

GEORGIA. 1

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.

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 re-
mainder 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.-

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.
firiitin of Alabama to lecture. F. Henry Richardson, editor of
\tlanta Journal, and Lucian Knight, editor of the Atlanta

1 The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Mary Latimer McLendon. a resident
<nta over 60 years, who also wrote the Georgia chapter for Volume IV. Before the
absolutely necessary condensation of the present chapter it included 22,000 \\nnls rr
most remarkable production for a woman in her 8ist year. It will be preserved int;ut
in another place.

During the yean from 1901 the following held office in the State association: honorary
sidrnt. Miss Madeline J. S. Wylie; I' II Moore. Miss

''.resham, Miss Rebecca Vaughn. Miss H. Augusta H. \vnnl. I M.irtin.

Mrs. J. Dejournctte. Mrs. W. Y. Atkinson; < F"l

MB Wynne. Miss Katherine Koch, Mrs. DeLacy Fast man. > K \V

'tig secretaries. Miss Willettr A! lice C. Danieln; treasurers, Mrs. I <>

y Osborne. M: V K M,thrwi, Mrs. K. C. Crcs
W !

vi 121

122 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

Constitution, brought the "woman's rights movement" as prom-
inently before the public as they were permitted to do by the
managers of those newspapers.

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 em-
ploy a State lecturer and organizer.

With but two exceptions State conventions or conferences
were held every year, always in Atlanta until 1919, in the Con-
gregational 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 gradu-
ally 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.

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

GEORGIA 123

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.

During these years the suffragists found it very difficult to
jKTsuade 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
ention and made an earnest but unsuccessful effort to have
it adopt a franchise department. Thousands of pieces of suf-
frage 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
ion to the Legislature to pass a resolution asking Congress
i hni it a Federal Suffrage Amendment.

The membership of the association was increased in 1907 by

iddition of three prominent W. C. T. U. officials, Mrs. J. I

Mrs. Ji-nnie Hart Sibley and Mrs. L. W. Walker, who

promptly appointed superintendents of Church Work,

ion and Petition and Christian Citizenship. Miss Jean

of New Orleans and Mrs. Florence Kelley of New York

Yndid addresses in favor of woman suffrage when they

\tlanta in April to attend the Child Labor Convention.

Dr. Shaw gave a stirring suffrage speech in the hall of the I louse

on May 4.

cms of the annual convention in mnX were
in the Senate Chamber of the Capitol. Miss Laura Clay,
Miss II. ^UgUSta Howard and W. S. William were
the . with Mrs. Md.endon presiding. Miss ("

itlrd Who W<>rks Against Woman SnfTr
ofound inn and she was of much assist-

124 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

ance. 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 plat-
form 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 The Southern Star,
worked faithfully for this plank.

In 1909, at the request of the National Association, letters
were written to Georgia's Senators and Representatives in Con-
gress, 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 de-
cided 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 Metho-
dist 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,

GEORGIA 125

the well-known national organizer and lecturer for the W. C.
T. IL, and four years president for Georgia, joined the suffrage

-iation.

The National Association's petition to Congress had been
distributed throughout the State for signatures and returned to
\Vashington. In 1910 letters were written to President Taft, to
the members of Congress from Georgia and to Governor "Joe"

.11, as requested by Dr. Shaw, national president. Senator

and Representatives W. C. Brantley, S. A. Roddenberry

and \Y. C". Adamson were the only ones who could spare time to

. er. 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 h.id
appealed to the City Federation of Women's Clubs to "make the
men go to the polls to vote for bonds." The suffragists dis-
tributed 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.

Over 6,000 pages of suffrage literature were distributed in
the State, a considerable amount of it to young people engaging

bates or writing essays. Dr. James W. Lee and Dr. Frank
M. Siler, Methodist ministers of Atlanta, fearlessly expressed
themsdve> in their pulpits as in favor of the enfranchisement
<>f women, regardless of the fact that Bishop Warren A. Candler

bitterly opposed to it. Dr. Len G. Broughton of the Baptist
chun :h and Dr. Dean Ellenwood of the Universalist also declared
themselves as favoring equal rights in Church and State for

en. Judge John L. Hopkins, one of Georgia's foremost
lawyers, who codified the laws, proclaimed himself a believer
in equal ri-hN for women in a letter to the Constitution. In
when it was a^ain proposed to revise the charter of Atlanta,
from the Civic League went before the charter com-
mittee and presented a petition asking Municipal suffrage for

icn. Later at a meeting of the city council the petition was

up for consideration and was treated with ridicule and

1 )n August 8 the association held its convention in

hall of the Federation of Labor, its true friend. Walter

Breath of Fulton county offered a resolution that the House

126 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

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 per-
mit women to practice law. Mrs. Rebecca Latimer Felton be-
came a member and was elected a delegate to the national suf-
frage convention in Philadelphia. Attorney Leonard J. Gross-
man joined the association and was made general counsel.

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 imme-
diately on returning home, with the following officers : Presi-
dent, 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 conven-
tions of the Federation of Labor, obtaining their formal endorse-
ment 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 ad-
dressed women's clubs, civic bodies, city councils and legislative
committees. The members of the Men's League gave whatever
assistance was required.

The many State victories in 1912 put new life into the move-
ment in 1913. The Georgia Young People's Suffrage Associa-
tion was organized with Miss Ruth Buckholz as president. To
represent the association Mrs. Amelia R. Woodall, correspond-
ing, and Miss Katherine Koch, recording secretary ; Miss Mamie

GEORGIA 127

Matthews, treasurer of the young people's society, Mrs. Landis
Sanna, Mrs. Margaret Gardner, editor Trox Bankston of West
Point and J. J. \Yilliams of Chatterton, were sent to Washing-
ton to march in the parade on March 3. They carried the suf-
frage 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 suf-
frage was given to Illinois women in 1913, the Atlanta Consti-
tution 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
\\ . 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
ention which met July 9, 10. The Legislature was per-
suaded by John Y. Smith of Fulton county to permit an evening
session in the House of Representatives. Senator Starke op-
posed the use of the Senate Chamber * 'because Christ did not
t women for his Disciples" but saner counsels prevailed and

pened for a session.

1 hiring 1914 there were 275 meet ings in Atlanta, Rome,

Athens, Decatur, Macon and Bainbrid-e by the auxiliary soci-

with five open air meeting. ( )n March I a mass minting

held in the Atlanta theater to which members of the I .<

lature were especially invited. The speakers were officers of the

nal Association, including the vice-president, Miss Jane

:ins. To enlarge the scope- of the wrk there was organized

ebruary the \Voman Suffrage Party Incorporated, as a

branch of the State association, with Mrs. McLeixlnn president.

128 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

It secured a charter and prepared for an aggressive state-wide
suffrage campaign. A chairman for each of the twelve con-
gressional 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 suf-
frage news and members of the Legislature with suffrage litera-
ture. 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 Asso-
ciation, was selected to welcome the White Ribboners in behalf
of the suffragists of the State. 1

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 Mclntyre Wheeler, a practicing attorney of West Vir-
ginia, helped greatly in securing the Woman Lawyer Bill. At-
lanta 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 Woman's Journal. 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 ad-
dresses in favor of suffrage for women before the student body.

1 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 so-
ciety never endorsed votes for women, although local societies did so.

GEORGIA 129

There was a growing sentiment in favor of it among clergymen
of various denominations.

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
:t ion without representation Dr. Shaw allowed it to be sold
for taxes and it was bought by Miss Sallie Fannie ( ileaton 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 i. 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 The Woman's
Magazine.

In February, 1916, the State association and its three auxil-
iaries 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
1 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
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
on of the Legislature which made the State "bone dry," but

I3O HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

this year it enacted a number of laws for which the association
had long worked.

On Feb. 12, 13, 1917, officers of the National Association
held a suffrage school in Atlanta. When the Legislature assem-
bled 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 Woman Citizen, for a year to the United States Sen-
ators 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 con-
vention 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 suf-
frage bills. During this and the following year the suffrage asso-
ciations did their full share of war work. Mrs. McLendon rep-
resented the State association on the Women's Council of
National Defense, and Mrs. Martin, first vice-president, was
chairman of the State Americanization Committee.

In 1918 the Parent-Teacher Association adopted strong suf-
frage 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 Journal gave the State associa-
tion a column in its Sunday issues, which Mrs. Martin edited.
Raymond E. White wrote a number of fine suffrage editorials
for the Constitution. 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.

On May 3, 1919, a progressive city Democratic Central Com-
mittee 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

GEORGIA 131

women to see tha' they registered and nearly 4,000 did so, paying
one dollar for the privilege.

Mrs. McLendon represented the State Association at the con-
vention 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
\Y. D. Upshaw, member from the fifth congressional district of
Georgia, vote for the submission of the Federal Suffrage Amend-
ment, 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 Legis-
lature 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.

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.

On June I, 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 en-
dorsed the re-election of Mayor Key and worked for him, ai.
he was returned by a majority of three to one on July 28. After-
wards several other cities and villages permitted women to vote in
tin- primaries and on bond issues.

After the Federal Suffrage Amendment was ratified in Au.^r
1920, it was announced that women would not be permitted to

132 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

register and vote in the primary on September 8 and the run-
over 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 Repre-
sentatives 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 iQth
Amendment should be ratified. They promised faithfully to do
this and the Senators did so, but it was held back. The Represen-
tatives 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.

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-com-
mittee 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."

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

GEORGIA 133

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
1 6, 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 ipth Amend-
ment is above the laws of any State." Women in Georgia, how-
ever, were not permitted to vote at the Presidential election two
months after they had been enfranchised by this amendment.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION. 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 em-
ployment 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
lull 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
\. The suffrage association had worked for it twenty-three
rs and always asked that the age be 18.

In H)\2 another association to further the movement for

woman suffrage was formed in Atlanta, the Woman Suffrage

_, r ue, and Mrs. Frances Smith Whiteside, who had been from

days a member of the old association, was elected president.

Whiteside was for thirty years principal of the Ivy Street

ol and during the first ten years of the existence of the State

-ion she \\.is the only teacher who dared avow herself a

as the very name <>f suffrage \v.i< BO <><1i"ii- in the

public. Through her family connections and wide acquaintance

134 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 con-
verted some of the leading legislators. It inaugurated an educa-
tional 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.

When Leagues of Women Voters were authorized by the
National American Suffrage Association in 1919, the organiza-
tion 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 Haw-
kins ; 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.

THE EQUAL SUFFRAGE PARTY OF GEORGIA. 1

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

1 The History is indebted for this part of the chapter to Mrs. Emily C. McDougald,
president of the Equal Suffrage Party of Georgia.

GEORGIA 135

for a State charter was filed under the name of the Equal Suffrage
Party of Georgia.

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 Savan-
nah; Miss Anna Griffin of Columbus; Mrs. Charles C. Harrold of
Macon. Affiliated branches were organized with presidents as
follows: In Savannah, Mrs. F. P. Mclntire; in Augusta, Mrs.
Owens; in Columbus, Miss Anabel Redd; in Atlanta, Miss
Kleanore Raoul; in Macon, Mrs. Harrold; in Athens, Mrs.
\V. B. Hill; in Albany, Mrs. D. H. Redfearn.

From these centers a great deal of work was done for suf-
frage in the adjacent smaller towns. The city organizations
opened offices and committees of local women were put in charge
t'\ the work of raising money and distributing suffrage propa-
ganda. Tens of thousands of letters, leaflets, books and speeches
were distributed throughout the State. All of the women's clubs
uriH-fl to endorse suffrage; schools were asked to debate the
Mihject and prizes offered for the best arguments in debate and
in written composition. Suffrage parades on foot and in auto-
:i es were had in all the cities, suffrage plays put into the
theaters, suffrage slides into the movies and every means of
atin^ the public was used. The best national speakers were
Jit into the State and immense audiences worked up for
them. The beloved Dr. Anna Howard Shaw spoke in Atlanta
oo. The National American Woman Suffrage Asso-
ciation, of which the Kcjiial Suffrage Party was an affiliati'

heart v CM operation in securing these speakers. The

party held annual conventions, where new officers were generally

of democratic policy. The second took place

'lanta Nov. 17. 101;. where Mrs Mcl)nn^al<l was re-elected

ident and the other officers selected were Mrs. J. D. Pou of

136 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

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 obtain-
ing the signatures of 6,000 women and 3,000 men. All the dele-
gates to three national Presidential conventions had been circu-
larized 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. Mclntire of Savannah
was selected for president. The convention was omitted in
1918, as the women were occupied with war work.

At the convention held in Savannah Jan. 15, 1919, Mrs. Mc-
Dougald 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.

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 Con-
gress 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

GEORGIA 137

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 achieve-
ments 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 con-
gratulatory 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.

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, sub-
mitted 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

nittee recommended its adoption. The president, Mrs.
James F. Hayes of Montezuma, ruled it out of order. Mrs.
Rogers Winter of Atlanta appealed from the decision of the

r; 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 4O. 1

When the report of this action was received in Macon, an

1 The resolution was voted on in the last hours of the convention and a number of
the roffrairiJrts bad taken trains for home. Mr*. Hayes desired to have the reolution
pM but as the :. year had sustained the ruling of the president

that it was out of order slv a similar one.

VOL. TT

138 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

indignant protest went up from the anti-suffragists. Mrs. Bruce
Carr Jones, secretary of the State Federation, sent in her resigna-
tion. Mrs. Walter D. Lamar and Mrs. Thomas Moore went
before the women's clubs of the city and urged that they with-
draw from the federation. The Macon Telegraph 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. 1

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 favor-
able report. A resolution written by Mrs. McDougald was
adopted by a vote of 24 to i. 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 meet-
ing of women was called at once to name a central committee
to take charge of the task of getting the women registered imme-
diately as a city election was near at hand. Miss Eleanore Raoul
was made chairman, and with her able co-workers in every ward

3 The only organized antagonism to woman suffrage came from a very small hut very
vindictive association in Macon, vigorously abetted and encouraged by the TcJcgrnph. the
only paper in the State which fought suffrage and suffragists. Every week a cnlumn 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).

GEORGIA 139

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.

In 1919 all the district school superintendents inaugurated a
series of competitive debates on the question, Shall Georgia
(irant 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."

LEGISLATIVE ACTION. In June, 1915, the Equal Suffrage
Party made its first effort to sponsor a suffrage bill in the Legis-
lature. 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. Repre^
sentatives from all the suffrage associations were present and
made speeches. Mrs. XValter D. Lamar and Miss Mildred Ruth-

"f\. head of the Lucy f'obh Institute of Athens, represented
the Anti-Suffrage Association. Mrs. Lamar's arguments were

1 upon the theory that women did not have sufficient integ-
- -listed with the ballot; that long years ago when
New Jersey had it it had to he taken from them he

di-lnnicst in their use of it. She- also s;nd thai

en were universally the hardest taskmasters, requiring more

-I pavinv r it than men. Mi^ Rutherford IK

the ! egard the request of the few women desiring

I4O HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 legis :
lators, 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.

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.

RATIFICATION. In 1919 came the great struggle over ratifica-
tion. 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 Representa-
tive 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.

The suffragists had more friends and stronger ones on the
House Committee than the "antis" and more than they r^d
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 hear-
ing 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. Jack-
son 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

GEORGIA 141

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 chair-
man 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.

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 sup-
porters 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,
d 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,
king for ratification, the rejection resolution was carried on
July 24 by 39 to 10. The Senate then voted down a
>osition to submit to the voters a woman suffrage amend-
ment to the State constitution. On the same day the Jackson
resolution to reject was presented in the House and after a
ted debate led by Judge Covington and A. S. Anderson for
ratification the resolution was carried by 132 to 34.

This contest had occupied about two-thirds of the time since

142 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 Constitution, 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.

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. 1

1 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?"

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 1

CHAPTER XL

IDAHO. 1

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 im-
proved since women have been electors. No strictly suffrage asso-
ciation 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 Federa-
tion 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
many good laws and have seen the most of them passed.

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 Cham-

'The History it indebted for ihii el Mi Margaret S. Robert*. Librarian of

the Idaho Free Travelling Library. A full account of the winning of woman suffrage
m 1896 will be found in Volume IV, History of Woman Suffrage.

143

144 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

berlain, Miss Bernice McCoy, Miss May Scott, Miss Grace Shep-
herd, 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.

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 Mc-
Fadden, Mrs. Carrie Harper White.

RATIFICATION. Governor Davis called a special session to
ratify the Federal Suffrage Amendment Feb. n, 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 ratifica-
tion: 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. 1

1 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.

CHAPTER XII.

The Illinois Equal Suffrage Assocation 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 num-
ber 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.

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 vari-
ous 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

1 The History it 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.

145

146 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

were Dr. Julia Holmes Smith, Mrs. Lucy Flower and Mrs. Lydia
Avery Coonley-Ward.

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.

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 member-
ship 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 re-
ported out of committee with favorable recommendations, and
in the Senate it reached second reading.

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,

ILLINOIS 147

formerly of Australia, editor of the magazine Life and Labor,
gave valuable assistance in organizing suffrage clubs. Educa-
tional 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 asso-
ciation. 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.

At the convention of 1906 Mrs. Stewart was re-elected. Much
literature was published and valuable educational work was car-
ried 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 incor-
porate a woman suffrage plank in its platform. An active educa-
tional campaign was started to appeal again for Municipal suf-
frage 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' Fed-
eration, 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.

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

148 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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, includ-
ing 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.

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 n, and the edition of the Tribune 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 Examiner, Record Herald, Post and
Journal 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 prom-
inent street corner, previously arranged for by the local com-
mittees. 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.

ILLINOIS 149

Sixteen towns were visited, and the Tribune 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 Build-
ing 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 associa-
tion, afterwards (1913) renamed the Chicago Equal Suffrage
Association.

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 Legis-
lature 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.

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 man-
ncnt of Mrs. Alice Bright Parker. Many of the younger
suffr -f)ok part in this social event. Every afternoon and

evening there were suffrage speeches and several Grand Opera
<TS contributed their services. It was an excellent piece of
propaganda work and aroused interest among people who had not
been reached through other forms.

the April primaries in Chicago in 1912, through the initia-
tive of Mrs. McCulloch, a "preferential" ballot on the question

I5O HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

of suffrage for women was taken. This was merely an expres-
sion 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 memberehip 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.

During the Legislature of 1911 Mrs. Trout had twice accom-
panied Mrs. McCulloch to Springfield and the antagonism mani-
fested 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 oppo-
nents. 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.

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

ILLINOIS 151

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 dif-
ferent legislators in a way to overcome their individual preju-
dices. All effort was to be concentrated on the bill, which, with
variations, the State association had had before most of the
Legislatures since 1893. ^ rea d as follows :

All women [naming usual qualifications] shall be allowed to vote
for presidential electors, members of the State Board of Equaliza-
tion, 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.

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.

Separate ballot boxes and ballots shall be provided. . . .

As soon as the Legislature convened in 1913 a struggle de-
veloped 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.

The Progressives had a large representation and had made

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 politir.il

They finally agreed, but Mrs. McCulloch had accompanied

Mrs. Booth to Springfield taking the bill which she herself had

drafted and which .1ie insisted upon having substituted. Out of

cnce to her long years of service her bill was taken instead

152 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

of the Progressives'. It named the officers for which women
should be allowed to vote instead of being worded like the Pro-
gressive 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 Leg-
islature, 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. 1

On March 10 Mrs. Trout went to Springfield to secure if pos-
sible the support of the Democratic Governor, Edward F. Dunne,
for the bill. Mrs. Booth said in her official report: "The Gov-
ernor 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 administra-
tion 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

1 The State association always did everything possible to cooperate with the National
Suffrage Association. On March i, 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.

ILLINOIS 153

they were especially needed during the six months' struggle.
After considerable educational work the Springfield newspapers
also became friendly and published suffrage editorials at oppor-
tune times. The papers were refolded so that these editorials,
blue penciled, came on the outside, and placed on the desks of
the legislators.

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.

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 Monnmuth. In each place resided a member of

.ho 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

. over to (lie House. The two women wished the bill to

to the friendly Klections Committee and the opponents were

ing to put it into the Judiciary Committee, where it would

in during the rest of the ^e^ioii. The suffrage lobby worked

the Mnall hours of the night making plans to frustrate this

\rrangenienN were made with Speaker MeKinley to

turn it over to the Klections Committee, and when the morning

ion opened this was done before the opponents reali/.ed

heir plot had failed.

The women were indebted to Mavid R. Shanahan, for many
an influential Republican member, who, representing a

154 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

"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.

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 2ist it was
reported with a recommendation that it "do pass." The oppo-
nents were now thoroughly alarmed. Anton J. Cermak of Chi-
cago, 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.

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

ILLINOIS 155

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 clays 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.
A deluge of letters and telegrams from every section of Illinois
awaitt-d the Speaker when he arrived in Springfield Tuesday
Ing, He needed no further proof and announced that the
bill would be called up for final action June u. The women
in charge of it immediately he^an to marshal their forces for
the last stru^lc. Messages were sent to each friend of the
in the House, uri'jni; him to be present without fail. 1
< >n the eventful morning there was much excitement at the
ol. The "captains," previously requested to be on hand

arm-UK tli Mirnislic.l uiMi a li-.t

: wa hi* <lulv .. -rr th.-it the men on it wci < HI their seat* wli'iuv. r tlx- hill

Mi- f.-ll,,
\\ il' ..I- ! ' ID. Shut tlriT. I '

Wilson. Rri-nliluaii-.; .l"hn I' ' -Miam

nison, Democrat*; Roy

1,11 Mi-<-..nni.k an.l I Ila. Progressive*; Seymour

Stcdman. Sr

156 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

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. \Yheii 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.

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 testi-
mony 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

ILLINOIS 157

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.

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 suffra-
gists came from over the State. Mrs. Trout asked Mrs. McCor-
mick 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 Gov-

r 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

constitutional, and he stood out against all opposition and
1 it on June 26.

July i a jubilee automobile parade was arranged by Mrs.

hvell with Mrs. Kenneth McLennan as grand marshal, and

the cars tilled with enthusiastic suffragists extended several miles

:; 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
nuntli> and included railroad fare for the lobbyists, innunierahle
telegrams and Ion- distance telephone calls, postage, stationery,

158 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 Examiner. 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. lunik 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 commis-
sions 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.

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" inter-
ests, 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 Com-
missioners 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

ILLINOIS 159

for the association to secure the best and they engaged John J.
llcrrick 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 con-
ferred 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.

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 pos-
sible 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 im-
]) rtance to arouse the Chicago women. This work was in charge
Mrs. Fdward 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
1 organization for the Chicago Political Equality League ;
Mrs. Joseph T. Bowen, president of the Woman's City Club, and
Mrs. James Mnrrisson, president of the Chicago Equal Suffrage
nation. There were public meetings in every ward, and a
s meeting the Sunday before the election in the Auditorium
Theater, which seated over 4,000 people, but overflow meetings
necessary. As a result of this united effort over 200,000
-tercd in Chicago alone and thousands more through-
out t!

On May 2, 1914, was held the first large suffrage parade in

Illinois It was managed by the State association and its affiliated

Mrs. 'front, with the members nl" tin- K<ard and

1 pioneer suffragists, led the procession, and Gov-

1 nine and M rter II. Harrison reviewed it. The

Tinnent sent t. head the parade the niMimted police, led

by Chief Ueason, called "the beauty squad," only brought out

special occasions. Nearly 15,000 women, representing

l6o HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 fol-
lowed by music and speaking.

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, realiz-
ing 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 Federa-
tion 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. Blanken-
burg of Philadelphia, an officer of the Federation, was adopted
on June 13:

WHEREAS, the question of the political equality of men and
women is today a vital problem under discussion throughout the
civilized world, therefore,

Resolved, 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.

There were between 1,700 and 1,800 delegates present, repre-
senting all sections of the country. The vote was viva voce and
so overwhelmingly in the affirmative that it was not counted.
The Chicago Tribune 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 con-
siderable chorus of nays when it was put, but not enough for

ILLINOIS l6l

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.

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
1 -\M It-ration, 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
1 lay and other well known suffragists, as well as the officers of
the Federation, made speeches.

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 Sen-
ator Robert LaFollette, and for William Jennings Bryan.

The State convention was held in Chicago in 1914 and Mrs.
Trout was again re-elected president. During this year the
('hicai, r o F.qual 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.

At the annual convention held in Peoria in 1915 Mrs. Trout
ively refused to stand again for president and Mrs. Adella
Maxwell Brown of Peoria was elected. Four State conferences
held during the year and Mrs. I'rown represented the asso-
ciation at the National Suffrage Association at Washington in
December; the Mississippi V'alley Conference at Minneapolis tin-
May: tin- National Council of Women Voters at Cheyenne
in July and the National SnlTr.ii'c Association at Atlantic City in
In June. 1916, the State association, assisted by
e of Ch: 'ook charge of what hecanie known as the

'.mis rainy day suffrage parade." held in that city while the
i Republican convention was in session. Mrs. Brown

T62 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

was chairman of the committee, Mrs. Morrisson vice-chairman
and Mrs. Kellogg Fairbanks grand marshal of the parade.

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.

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 conven-
tion. 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.

[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. Representa-
tives of all the leading organizations of women assisted at Spring-
field from time to time. The resolution had the powerful sup-
port of Governor Frank C. Lowden, Congressman Medill Mc-
Cormick, 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

ILLINOIS 163

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

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.]

After the victory was gained in the Legislature and just as
all plans were laid for the campaign in the spring of 1917 the
l/nited 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.

The State convention was held in the autumn of 1917 in Dan-
ville and Mrs. Trout was re-elected. The association now had

ated 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

rage Amendment and spent many months there while Mrs.

raw 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

y 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

Ic committee that worked in co-operation with the state-

nmittee of women. 'Pu- annual suffrage convention was

164 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

held in the latter part of October, 1918, in Chicago, and Mrs.
Trout was re-elected.

RATIFICATION. When Congress submitted the Federal Suffrage
Amendment June 4, 1919, Mrs. Trout and Mrs. McGraw imme-
diately 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 Repub-
licans, 50 Democrats; three nays, all Democrats, Lee O'Xc-il
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 Gov-
ernor 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.

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 Wash-
ington. 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.

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

ILLINOIS 165

suffrage article in the new constitution when it was submitted to
the voters. At the convention of the National American Asso-
ciation 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 ac-
count in 'Chapter XIX, Volume V.]

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
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
tlu- Illinois Equal Suffrage Association, its work finished, dis-
banded, and its members formed a State League of Women
Voters, with Mrs. II. W. Cheney of Chicago as chairman.

CHAPTER XIII.

INDIANA. PART I. 1

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 pre-
vailed 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, Logans-
port, 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 re-
mained an auxiliary. Mrs. Davis left the State during this year
and there seems to be no record of anything done by this board.

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.

1 The History is indebted for this part of the chapter to Mrs. Anna Dunn Noland,
president of the State Equal Suffrage Association.

1 66

INDIANA 167

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 hus-
band, 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
Reporter, 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 Indian-
apolis 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.

In 1911 a resolution to amend the State constitution by strik-
ing out the word "male'' was presented to the Legislature, drafted

frs. Leach. It passed the House committee unanimously,
went to third reading and was shelved because of a proposed plan

a new constitution brought out by Governor Thomas R.
Marshall. The Municipal League composed of the mayors and
"iincilmen of all the cities in the State invited the Equal Suf-

o Association to provide speakers for the annual meeting at

fordsville June 20 and Mrs. Noland, Miss Noble and Mrs.

1 They were courteously received and heard

with much applause. 'I lie convention was not interested in

woman suffrage but the pr< < much publicity. A State

suffrage convention was held at this time. In August a monthly

al called the ll'tninui Citizen was established in Indianapolis
issociation with Mrs. I. each as editor, its columns open

l68 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

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 Satur-
day 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 Pathe 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 ; mem-
ber National Executive Committee, Mrs. Leach; standing com-
mittees, Legislation, Mrs. Leach; Church, Mrs. Alice Judah
Clark, Vincennes; Endorsement, Mrs. Harriet Hotiser; Press,
Mrs. Neff, both of Logansport.

A publicity campaign was begun. Billboards were covered
with posters and barns, fences and stones along the country road-
ways 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.

On Oct. 12-14, I 9 I 4 the annual convention was held in

INDIANA 169

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 Ken-
tucky, 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
\Yattles. 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

introduced until the Assembly adjourned.
In February, 1915, Mrs. Noland went before the national con-
vention of miners in Indianapolis and secured a unanimous resolu-
tion 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
i 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
11:4 -it Crawfordsville in 1911. At the State convention in
inmittee was appointed for interviewing candidates
pring primaries, especially those for Governor and
the Legislature and Congress. Mrs. Ray, Mrs.
h and Mrs. Xoland composed the committee.
In the fall of 1916 the question of a new State constitution
referred to the voters and the association placed women at
all jx>llr in the cities and large towns. In the small

- and country the voters received literature and letters asking
t<> vote in favor. It was lost hut the work gave the women
w /.eal and with the enlightenment of the voters the effort
nore than worth while. At the State meeting in October

I7O HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 deci-
sion 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.

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 fol-
lowing State organizations representing 80,000 organized women :
Federation of Women's Clubs, Woman's Christian Temperance
Union, Mothers' Congress, Woman's Franchise League, Wo-
man'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. Fdward 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 Com-
mittee was composed of the president and one delegate from each
organization and Mrs. S. C. Stimson of Terre Haute was chair-
man. The Council was financed by these organizations, assisted
by churches, business men's clubs, ministers', teachers' and
farmers' associations and individual contributions.

The Act was ruled unconstitutional in October but the women
had a taste of citizenship, for all over the State they had regis-
tered and in some places they had voted on prohibition and public
improvements. The Legislative Council sent out 75,000 registra-
tion 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.

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

INDIANA 171

Municipal League of Indiana does hereby recommend full and
equal suffrage for women in both State and nation."

By a vote of the local societies it was decided not to call a con-
vention 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 suf-
frage 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.

INDIANA. PART II. 1

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 unor-
ganized favorable opinion. The State had never been entirely
organized but there were several centers where flourishing asso-
ciations 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.

The Indianapolis Fqual Suffrage Society, organized in 1878
under the direction of Mrs. May Wright Sewall, had never sus-
pended activities. Dr. Amelia 1\. Keller was its president in
1909 and in order t> stimulate interest and give an outlet for the
-y of its members, assisted by Mrs. Grace Julian Garke,
Mrs. Felix T. Me\Yhirter. Mrs. John F. Barnhill, Mrs. W. T.
Barnes. Mrs. Winfield Scott Johnson and Dr. Rebecca Rogers

ry is indebted for this part of the cl- i kin. Lenore TIanna Cox. an

hinc League from its ln-Rinnin K in ion until its wo, k
finithcd in 19^0,

172 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

George, she formed the Women's School League on October i,
"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.

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 Fran-
chise 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.

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. 1 By May,

1 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:
Adah E. Bush, Kentland; Mrs. A. H. Beardsley. Elkhart; Mrs. Charles J. Gill, Muncie;
Mrs. Chester Evans, Bloomington; Miss Betsy Jewett Edwards, Shelbyville.

INDIANA 173

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 exceed-
ingly 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 car-
ried 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 multiply-
ing the branch leagues and the members by five. Miss Ben-
bridge'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.

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
cies. 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 Asso-
ciation; Mrs. Fred McCullodl 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 "l'.iir minute speakers" \\lio at their own expense- \\c\\\ over
the 5 eaking for Liberty Loans, Red Cross, etc.

( nder the able direction of Miss Benbridge the league con-
tinued to increase until there were but four counties in which it
had no representation. The i handed status of members from

Mrs. Julia C. Henderson, seen i to 1917, was succeeded by Miss Dora

Bosart, both of Indianapolis; Mrs. John C. Morrison of Lafayette, and Mrs. Richard
wards, of Peru.

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.

174 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

suffrage workers to voters necessitated a different sort of activ-
ity. 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 appre-
ciate 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.

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 Presi-
dential 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 presi-
dent. 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.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION. 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 recon-
sidered and the amendment laid on the table.

1907. Municipal suffrage bill was defeated by the Senate.

INDIANA 175

1911. A similar measure was reported favorably out of com-
mittees but lost in the Lower House by 41 ayes, 48 noes, and no
action was taken by the Senate.

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.

1915. A Presidential suffrage bill passed in the Senate by
37 ayes, 3 noes, was held up in the House.

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.

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 rep-
resentatives 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 191^ and sustained by the courts.

The Council had quarters in the State House granted by the
Governor; the Women's Franchise League immediately estab-
lished a bureau there by his consent with Mrs. John F. Barnhill
and Miss Alma Sickler in charge and all the women labored dili-
gently for the success of the measure. The work over the State
necessarily done largely by the I ranchise League, as it had
the local societies necessary. The Council secured the aid of

176 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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. 1
This was granted but it resulted in an enthusiastic suffrage meet-
ing. 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 Nich-
olson, Mrs. Edward Franklin White, now president of the
Council, former Mayor Charles A. Bookwalter and a number
of others spoke for the bill.

The calendar of suffrage events in the Legislature of 1917 was
as follows : On January 23 the bill for a constitutional conven-
tion passed the House by 87 ayes, 10 noes; on the 3ist it passed
the Senate by 34 ayes, 14 noes, and on February i 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.

Although it was early apparent that these laws would be car-
ried into the courts preparations were at once made by the women
for registering. The Franchise League opened booths in tha
shopping districts in the cities and urged the women in the coun-
try to go to the court house and register when in town. They
sent out women notaries with blanks to register the women. 2

1 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
Rowland and Josephine Hershall.

2 Issued by the Campaign Organization Committee of the Woman's Franchise League
and circulated by the thousands.

This is a Statewide campaign drive, so do your part by fully carrying out the following

INDIANA 177

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.

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.

This decision did not affect the limited suffrage law, which
gave women the right to vote for (i) Presidential electors; (2)
all State officers not expressly named in the constitution, includ-
ing 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.

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 Octo-
ber 26 the Supreme Court upheld this decision concerning Muni-
cipal suffrage and implied that the entire Act was invalid. The
sel for the suffragists, including some of the foremost law-
program: i. On Saturday. June 30, an auto tour must be made in < ;u h r.umty.
Start these tours in every town where there is an ornaiiizt-d leagur ".! pi.m-ed through
the county, distributing flyers, posting hills and making trn-mir. <s in every

town and village. 2. Sunday, July i. is Woman Citizen's Sunday throughout the State.
Aik that forceful appeal be made fn.m all pulpits urging every woman to recognize and
*T her new citizenship duty. The clergy of all denominations del the impor-
tance of this step you will tm<l tlicm ready and willing to cooperate. 3. Push rcgis-
of women during the week of July 4 as a patriotic im-a- < favorable

n 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.
S. Secure all the newspaper space possible for this patriotic week. Publish this entire
program and report its progress daily to your local papers . . .

178 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

yers 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 hand-
ing down a dissenting opinion, so that two men virtually decided
this momentous question.

By Jan. i, 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 reso-
lution 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.

There still remained from the legislation of 1917 the amend-
ment 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 over-
whelmingly Republican victory. Since the party had the Gov-
ernor 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 Hunting-
ton; 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.

RATIFICATION. When the U. S. Senate finally voted on
June 4 to submit the Federal Suffrage Amendment the Legisla-
ture of 1919 had adjourned. The question of ratification was of
course uppermost in the minds of the leaders of the Franchise

INDIANA 179

League and there would be no regular session until 1921. Gov-
ernor 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 Gov-
ernor 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 im-
portunities 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.

Although both political parties had declared in favor of ratify-
ing 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 Gov-
ernor 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
rwards."

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 Janu-
ary 4. It certainly was a surprise to the politicians when on the
afternoon of January 13 Miss Benbridge was able to take to
crnor Goodrich signed pledges from 35 Senators and (*~
Representatives, a two-thirds majority in each House. The Gov-
ernor at once issued a call for a special session on January [6i
allowing two days for members to reach Indianapolis. That
many legislators were willing to lay aside party prejudice and
meet for a non-partisan purpose speaks volumes for the per-
sonnel of the General Assembly of [919, Recognition is due

l8o HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

especially to the Democratic members, as the Republicans were
obeying the call of their chief but the Democrats, on the sum-
mons of a Republican Governor, laid aside their convictions and
acted solely in the interest of the women of their State.

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 Ben-
bridge, president, and Mrs. Edwards, past president of the
league, sat on the rostrum in the Senate Chamber beside Lieu-
tenant 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-suffra-
gists who voted no Kline, Haggerty and Franklin McCray of
Indianapolis. Forty-three votes were cast in favor. The reso-
lution 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 neces-
sary. 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.

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 mem-
bers everywhere, who have won the sentiment of their localities
for woman suffrage."

CHAPTER XIV.

IOWA. 1

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
\Yoman Suffrage. It seemed at times a deadly dull process and
there rose bolder spirits occasionally who suggested more vig-
orous and spectacular means of bringing the cause to the atten-
tion of the general public and of focusing the suffrage senti-
ment, which evidently existed, on the members of the Legisla-
tures 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 evolu-
from which not even the most non-progressive woman can
protect herself, much less protect her daughters. The associa-
never missed an annual meeting and the women elected
each year to carry on its work were those who knew that the
nii^lit be delayed but could not be permanently defeated
The convention of 1901 was held in November at Waterloo
and Mrs. Adelaide Rallard was elected president, having pre-
viously served two terms. The conventions of 1902, 1903 and
1904 took place in October in Des Moines, Boone and Sheldon,
and Mrs. Mary J. C'o^^esliall was each year elected president,
eld tin- other two yean .-it earlier dates. The annual
"f 1905 was held in November at Panora: that of 1906

1 Thr : , piinlap. prrsidrnt oi

Equal Suffrage Association 1913 1915 and chairman ..t th' league of Women Voters.

181

l82 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

in September at Ida Grove, and Bertha A. Wilcox was each
year elected president.

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 con-
vention. 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 Daily News 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.

In 1909 at the State convention held in Des Moines Mrs.
Hallam was made president. In 1910, at the convention in Cory-
don, Mrs. Harriet B. Evans was elected to this position. The re-
port 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 Legisla-
ture on their attitude towards woman suffrage; to sign the peti-
tions to Congress for a Federal Amendment, which were sent
to them ; to strengthen their organization ; to increase their

IOWA 183

propaganda work, for which quantities of literature were fur-
nished. The report showed the activities of the State officers,
meetings arranged, addresses made and legislative work done.

At the annual meeting in October, 1911, at Perry, the Rev.
Mary A. Safford became president. This year the Woman's
Standard, 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 Suf-
frage 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 suf-
fragist 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 asso-
ciation 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.

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 Fail
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.

The State convention met in October, 1913, in Boone and Miss

a Dunlap was made president. An automobile trip crossing

the State twice, with open air meetings in thirty (owns, had been

undertaken in September. Governor George W. Clark and ITar-

vey Ingham, editor of the Des Moines Register, a long time sup-

184 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

porter 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 news-
papers 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 mem-
ber 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 Gov-
ernor's opening speech, gave a helpful official sanction.

The annual meeting took place in October, 1914, at Des Moines
and Miss Dunlap was re-elected president. In March the Missis-
sippi 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 after-
noon mass meeting in the largest theater. When the convention
met at Des Moines in October, 1915, a woman suffrage amend-
ment 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 Sep-
tember, 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.

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

IOWA 185

long, full days for the war and far into the night for suffrage.
\Yhen 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
\Yoman 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, Oska-
loosa, 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.

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.

The work of the Equal Suffrage Association seemed finished.
The half century of agitation, education and evolution was com-
pleted. 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

tie 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.

\TIVE ACTION. A resolution to submit to the voters
a woman suffrage amendment to the State constitution was

hired 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
v were almost entirely given up, as they had no effect.
The resolution was introduced according to custom in the Legis-
f 1902. Bng to custom, not always so care-

fully observed, the Senate passed the resolution by 28 to 16, this

; the Senate's year for this courtesy, and the House accepted
the report recommending indefinite postponement.

YOU Yl

l86 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 gra-
ciousness 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.

In 1911 the Senate treated the resolution in a most contemptu-
ous 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.*'

The neighboring State of Kansas fully enfranchised its women
in 1912, as did several other western States, and favorable pres-
sure 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.

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 1 1, 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.

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 aus-
pices and until the last few weeks it seemed that victory was cer-

IOWA 187

tain 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 num-
bers of Iowa women who had never helped before now did effec-
tive 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 Suf-
frage Association. There were the closest cooperation and the
greatest harmony in the work of the two organizations. An un-
usually 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 news-
papers 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."

Dr. Effie McCollum Jones was finance secretary; Miss Mabel
Lodge was the first organizer in the field and there is a long list
"f men and women whose names deserve mention for the abun-
dant time and unstinted devotion they gave to the campaign, In
some of the counties along the Mississippi River, where the situa-
tion was the most difficult, were strong groups of men and
women workers. Miss Anna B. Lawther of Dubuque headed
f 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

1 88 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 headquar-
ters from one to three months before the end of the campaign and
2,000 precinct workers were enrolled. The whole State was cov-
ered 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.

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 consider-
able 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, Daven-
port, 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 circu-
lated 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.

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 Repub-
lican party to sacrifice woman suffrage to its "wet" candidate for
Governor, as it felt sure that he could not be elected in Novem-

IOWA 189

her if the vote should be given to women in June. A prominent
supporter said openly: "We had to do it in self-defense."

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.

The adverse vote was almost entirely in the counties along the
Mississippi River. They were in revolt against the State prohi-
bition law and there was constant evasion of it and agitation for
its repeal. Naturally those opposed to prohibition were also op-
posed 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 capi*
tal 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 can-
didate for Governor received a majority of 126,754 and this
party could easily have carried the amendment.

It was evident that there were many irregularities in the elec-
tion and the board of the State Suffrage Association conferred
with competent attorneys but after much consultation it was de-
cided that it would not be practical to contest it. The defeat of
the amendment was a serious disappointment to the temperance
s 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
!y typewritten pages. The Des Moines Register of Oct. 15,
nid of this report:

The im vcral Mran^e conditions. The records

in the Secretary of State's office d : at there were 29,341 more

on the equal suffrage amendment than the total* cast for

all candidates for Governor by all parties. The canvass in these 44

IQO HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 1 5,898 more names are found on the poll books than there
were ballots cast on woman suffrage. If this proportion is main-
tained 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 td
vote for anybody or anything ?"

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.

The investigators found that in the 44 counties . . . 4,743 ballots,
shown to have been cast by the list of voters, are absolutely unac-
counted for. ... In 15 counties it was found that in certain pre-
cincts 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.

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
precints appears and in many of these the violations are most flagrant.
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. . . .

Many other instances were given of incompetence and dis-
honesty beyond question, but, notwithstanding this positive evi-
dence, the legal requirements and restrictions were such as made
any effort for a recount or another election of no avail. 1

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 fur-
ther effort. It was decided that while their forces were well

1 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.

IOWA 191

organized they should at once begin another campaign. The
half -century-old resolution was presented to the General Assem-
bly of 1917, and, though there were arguments that the voters
had just spoken and that the question ought not again be sub-
mitted 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.

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.

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 naively dis-
closed 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.

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 sim-
ilar bills in other States, particularly the recent victory in Mis-
i, which had completed the circle of "white" States surround-
ing Iowa. One of the features of the debate in the Senate was
;he reading of a letter from John T, Adams, vice-chairman of
' Mational Republican Committee, beret. .fore an anti-suffra-
gist, by Senator Eugene Schaffter, tlu- sponsor of the bill, in
which be impressed upon the Republicans the political urgency of
ting the Presidential franchise to women. After a hard cam-
) by tin- itivc Committee of the State Suffrage Asso-

11, with Mrs. I-Ynnk \V. Dodson of Des Moines as chairman,
the Iowa legislators joined the procession and on April 4, 1919,

HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

RATIFICATION. 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 Gov-
ernor William L. Harding to call a special session of the Legis-
lature 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 n 140 the vote had been taken in
both Houses. Every Senator but two was present and was re-
corded in the affirmative; the vote in the House was 96 ayes, 5
noes; E. H. Knickerbocker, Linn county; T. J. O'Donnell, Du-
buque; 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.

An informal luncheon followed in one of the Des Moines tea
rooms which had often housed the suffragists in times of desola-
tion 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.

CHAPTER XV.

KANSAS. 1

Kansas was not yet a State when in 1859 twenty-five of hei
justice-loving men and women met and formed the first associa-
tion 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.

During 1901 Miss Helen Kimber, president of the associa-
tion, 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 dona-
tions, a car load of flour from the Kansas Millers* Association
and two hundred pounds of butter from the Continental Cream-
rompany of Topeka. She was re-elected president at the
ention 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
before were elected on school boards, for which women
Id vote.

The convention of 1902 was held in Topeka October 14-15

and Miss Kimber was re-elected; Mrs. John B. Sims, secretary.

ral thousand people listened to the inspiring addresses of

1 The History is indebted for this chapter to Lucy B. (Mrs. William A.) Johnston,
president of thr il Suffrage Association when the victory was won. She is

under obligations < H ', I., timer, legislative reference and bill drafting department;
Mm Henrietta Alexander, legislative reference librarian; L. J. Pettyjohn, Secretary of
State; Mist Lorraine E. Wooster, State iuperintendent of public instru. ti.n; Miss Su-
zanne Henry. Supreme Court law clerk; Pr. 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.

193

194 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, president of the National American
Woman Suffrage Association, and the senior editor of the
Woman's Journal, Henry B. Blackwell. Headquarters were es-
tablished 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.

The State convention of 1903 was held in Abilene December
8-9 and Miss Kimber was again re-elected. She reported suf-
frage 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.

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 conclu-
sion of Mrs. Monroe's report she moved that "the Kansas Equal
Suffrage Association withdraw from the National." After dis-
cussion 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

KANSAS x 195

decided to publish the Club Member, devoted to women's ac-
tivities.

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. Mon-
roe 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, in-
terest was awakened only at biennial periods by the convening
of the Legislature.

At the convention of 1909 in Topeka, December 10, n, T. A.
McXeal 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, audi-
tors. 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 meet-
ings 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, Gov-
ernor \V. R. Stubbs and wife and former Governor W. E. Hoch
and wife having seats of honor. Mrs. Hoffman was toastmis-
tress and about twenty men and women responded to toasts.

Mrs. Hoffman's policy was to make a strong appeal to the
ture for the submission of a full suffrage amend-
ment 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

196 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 ap-
pointed 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.

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, presi-
dent 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 resolu-
tion 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.

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. Eullard 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.

KANSAS 197

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 ap-
pointed; also Mrs. Hoffman, chairman of press; Dr. Alberta
Corbin, of membership extension, and Miss Effie Graham of
education.

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 in-
stances were more than doubled before the vote was taken. This

>f self -denial and consecration gave strength and courage to

> others, for worthy as was the cause money would not come
without asking. The big public is much like the Lord, who helps

who help themselves. The half-million voters to obtain
is many women living in 105 counties to educate

it work as well as faith.
The hottest summer and the coldest, stormiest winter followed

the workers learned what it meant to travel across country
with the mercury ranging from no in the shade to 22 dei

ro; to have a Turkish bath while making a "votes for

di or be delayed for hours on a freight or passenger

train by a snow blockade. My January. 1912, however, one-third

mixed, many newspapers pledged to help.

and headquarters established in the best business building in
Topeka. Then hrgan a "day in and day out" battle for \

198 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

At first there was one stenographer, later three and two secre-
taries, and the president broke all the maximum hour laws. Be-
sides 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, teach-
ers, professors and politicians. It gave the campaign prestige
with the voters and its members were invaluable as advisers and
active workers.

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 Federa-
tion of Clubs. Mrs. Mitchner pledged the support of the W. C.
T. U. and Mrs. W. D. Atkinson, president of the State Federa-
tion of Women's Clubs, brought its endorsement and pleaded
with other State organizations to "bring in the reserves." Tele-
grams and letters were read from Miss Alice Stone Blackwell,
editor of the Woman's Journal; Governor John F. Sha froth of
Colorado ; Judge Ben Lindsey of Denver ; Omar E. Gar wood, sec-
retary 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 inter-
esting report of her work, which included addressing 176 audi-
ences 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 amount-
ing 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.

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

KANSAS 199

were made by chairmen of the three departments and eight con-
gressional districts and many county presidents. The State
officers were all re-elected; Mrs. C. W. Smith was made presi-
dent of the sixth district and Mrs. Babb of the eighth. The after-
noon features were an automobile ride by courtesy of the Com-
merce 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.

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
and reverent touch. For instance, one letter enclosed a
check for $ioo, 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 conic while she lived." \nother woman wrote: "This is

-ainted mother's birthday and I want this $5 used in her

One had made provisions in her will to leave $200

campaign, hut thanked dod it had come while she

1 work as well a- I here \\ere the widows' mites, many

^ meaning sacrifice and toil, and single dollars came from
who were too old or too ill to work but wanted to have

rt There were also a few surreptitious dollars from women
isbands wei ing that their wives did not want to

. and "joy dollars" for sons and daughters or the new-born
babe. All tin were thrice !>!<

With votes as with most of the dollars they were not coming

2OO HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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. John-
ston ; 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.

Arthur Capper, owner and publisher of the Topeka Daily
Capital, and L. L. Kiene, editor of the State Journal, were most
helpful. The favorable Catholic vote was largely due to the
excellent work of Mrs. Mary E. Ringrose and her sister of Cali-
fornia and to David Leahy of Wichita, an active worker in the
Men's League. W. Y. Morgan, member of Congress from Kan-
sas, 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.

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. Tibbies of Chicago, cunningly

KANSAS 2O I

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 tw
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.

Thanks to the splendid manhood of Kansas, these were suffi-
cient, and women came into their own on November 5, 1912, by
tc 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
c on the list of equal suffrage States. 1

The Jubilee Convention, May 19-20, 1913, was held in the

Church at Lawrence, and men and women came from

rt of the State. The evening program was under the

ices of the Men's League, Dr. Pettyjohn, presiding. Pro-

ng thr 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, th<

GafTord. the Rev. Festus Foster, the Rev. S. S. Estey, D.D.. William Allen White.

' >hn J. Bmwn; Mesdames Doster Cook, C. W. Smith. Nanon Hcrrcn,

' Ml. Mat-Karri Brandenburg, Edwin Knapp, L. S.

vmsjr Clark, Z. Nason, Geo. W. Rose, Effie

Miwcs Laura French, Eva Corning, Florence

Welch. Rrrtha Hrmstead, Olga House, . Galloo, Mary Dobbs, Dorothy Sherman.

VOL. VI

2O2 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

fessor 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 (Repub-
lican), 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 Represen-
tatives, gave an interesting address. As befitted a jubilee con-
vention, 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 declin-
ing 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, record-
ing secretary; Mrs. Magdalen B. Munson, treasurer; Mrs. W. T.
Johnston, auditor, and eight district presidents.

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 legisla-
tive 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.

In 1915 the convention was held in Topeka. As war problems
were filling the hearts and minds of the people, only a business

KANSAS 2O3

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.

In 1916 the convention was held in Memorial Hall, Topeka,
and the name Equal Suffrage Association was restored. Gov-
ernor 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 conven-
tions. 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.

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 Congress-
men from the South, and it is gratifying to remember that the
; n^ of the last necessary votes in the House in January
t be attributed to the efforts of these two women. It was
1 to send money and speakers to help in the Oklahoma cam-
. where the liquor interests were making a strong fii^lit
against the amendment. Mrs. l.ronks' excellent work soon
brought results. It was hard to raise money for anything except

2O4 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 asso-
ciation represented families with men in uniform. The suffra-
gists 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.

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 citi-
zenship 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.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION. After an amendment to the State con-
stitution 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.

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 Repre-
sentative J. A. Butler of Wyandotte county introduced a bill
the purpose of which was to deprive women of Municipal suf-
frage. 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,

KANSAS 2O5

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 1 1 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.

1905. Governor Edward W. Hoch in his message to the Leg-
islature 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.

1907. A House concurrent resolution to submit a constitu-
tional amendment died in Committee of the Whole and no action
was taken in the Senate.

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
ersely.

1911. The amendment resolution was introduced by Repre-

itive Henry Block, and all available space on the floor and

in the galleries was filled during the discussion. It passed on

uary 7 by 94 ayes, 28 noes. The Senate resolution intro-

1 by Senator George H. Hodges was passed on February n

-7 ayes, 12 noes. A two-thirds majority is required to pass

;nen<linent resolution and Senator Frank Travis cast the last

and deciding vote. It was signed by Governor Stubbs. The

(lim-nt went to the voters Nov. 5, 1912, and received a

rity in favor of l6,<

13. The attitude of the Legislature this year was in marked
rast to that of previous sessions and those who feared that
!(-n would lose influence by being enfranchised were cer-
tainly undeceived. Judging from the number of welfare bills

206 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 com-
mittees their advice and wishes were sought.

1915. The following resolution was passed unanimously by
both Houses : "Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Kan-
sas, 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 them-
selves." This was approved March 15 by the Governor and sent
to Congress, and similar resolutions were passed by each Legis-
lature until the Federal Amendment was submitted.

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.

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. 1

RATIFICATION. Governor Henry J. Allen called a special ses-
sion 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 I7th.

1 A complete resume 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 consti-
tution 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.

CHAPTER XVI.

KENTUCKY. 1

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
uoiiu-n as Mrs. Josephine K. Henry, Mrs. Eliza Calvert Oben-
chain and many others, much was accomplished in the improve-
ment of the laws and in other ways beneficial to women.

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 conven-
tion which should have been held in the fall of this year was post-
poned because of work for ratification and became a "victory"
convention held Jan. 6-7, 1920, in Frankfort and Lexington.

The first president of the Equal Rights Association, Miss

a 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

'1 in November, 1912, and in 1915 Mrs. Thomas Jefferson

'The History is indebted for this chapter to Mai '..well (Mrs. Desha) Breck-

of the Statr Kju.il Rights Association 1912-1915 and 1919
president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association 1913-1914.

207

2O8 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

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 n counties; 4,655 members were reported
in November, 1913, and 10,577 m November, 1914, with com-
pletely organized suffrage leagues in 64 counties ; partially organ-
ized leagues in 23 ; a roll of members in 32 and but one county
in which there was no membership.

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 Chap-
man Catt, Mrs. Charlotte Perkins Oilman, 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.

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 litera-
ture. 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 Courier- Journal, 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 out-
side of Louisville and of great influence in central Kentucky, the
Lexington Herald, owned and edited by Desha Breckinridge,

KENTUCKY 2CK)

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 propa-
ganda and is largely responsible for making the question one of
paramount political moment/' The Herald of Louisville has
been also a valued supporter of the cause.

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.

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 con-
tributor 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 Dem-
ocrat voting against the repeal and but one Republican for it.

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 prnu-st against the repeal Mrs. Mary
C. Roark, afterwards head of the Eastern Kentucky Normal
School, was a leader. Mrs. A. M. Harrison, member of tin 1
school board in Lexington, was prominently identified with tin-
effort. This proved a long, hard struggle, as it was considered

21O HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

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.

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 Com-
mittees, it was placed on the Senate calendar, but after its defeat
in the House by 52 noes, 29 ayes, was not. considered.

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. Breckin-

KENTUCKY 211

ridge, chairman, and Mrs. Hubbard, vice-chairman. The resolu-
tion 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 administra-
tion, even invoking the aid of the Kentucky delegation in Con-
gress, to kill the measure in the House.

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.

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 man-
agement 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.

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 n>
conform to the desire of the National Association to avoid State
campaigns and concentrate on the Federal Amendment and no
resolution was presented.

At the State convention, held March u, 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

212 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 organiza-
tion 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 Lex-
ington. It issued an "open letter to the public," an able argu-
ment for the State's control of its own suffrage and an arraign-
ment of interference by Congress, which it declared would "be-
come possessed of an autocratic power dangerous to free institu-
tions." 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: "\Ve reaffirm our belief in the justice
and expediency of suffrage for women and call upon our repre-
sentatives 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."

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 :

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.

Every candidate for the nomination for Governor had stood
on a suffrage platform and the successful Democratic candidate,

KENTUCKY 213

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 ratifica-
tion 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.

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.

RATIFICATION. The November legislative election in 1919 re-
sulted in a Republican House and a Democratic Senate. The
Republicans caucused and agreed to vote for ratification. Gov-
ernor Morrow urged it in a vigorous message personally deliv-
ered to the Legislature in which he said :

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
I "allot . Every member of this General Assembly is unequivocally
committed by his party's platform declaration to cast his vote and
his influence for the immediate enfranchisement of women in
hnth 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.

By agreement, a Democrat, Senator Charles M. Harriss, pre-
<1 the resolution for ratification in the Senate, and a Repub-
lican. Joseph I.a/anis, in the House. On Jan. 6, 1920, the first
day of t on, it was passed by a vote of 30 ayes, 8 IK

214 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 de-
feated 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 !

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 conven-
tion 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.

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 n it passed the House and on
the 1 5th 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 i6th 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.

Kentucky women who rendered conspicuous service in the

KENTUCKY 215

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 Castle-
man, 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 associa-
tion is indebted to Mr. McDowell for legal assistance. An im-
portant factor was the press work of Miss Eleanor Hume. 1

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 pub-
lished in the Lexington Herald and supplied to women's clubs,
suffrage associations and newly formed Leagues of Women Cit-
izens, soon to become Leagues of Women Voters.

The Equal Rights Association voted at its convention in Jan-
uary, 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 organ-
ized on December 15, with Miss Mary Bronaugh of Hopkins-
ville chairman.

The first vice-president of the State Equal Suffrage Associa-
tion, Mrs. South, was elected as chairman of the Women's
Division of the National Republican Committee, and the second
president, Mrs. Castleman, as Kentucky member of the Na-
tional Democratic Woman's Committee.

1 In addition to the presidents the following served as officers of the association: Vice-
'nts: Mrs. Mary B. Clay, Mrs. Mary Cramer, Mrs. N. S. McLaughlin, Mrs. John
Caslleman. Mrs. E. L. Hutchinson. Mrs. Charles Firth. Mi- .ludah. Mrs. Smith
Samuel Castleman, Mrs. Leech, Mrs. McDowell, Mrs. Joseph Alderson. Mrs. F. A.
Rothir 'Tiding scnrtnri- s: Mis Anna Milln. v C. Roark, Mrs. Alice

Mer, Miss Clay, Mrs. tli. Recording snntaries: Mrs.

Kmma Roebuck, Mrs. McDowell, Mrs. Firth, Mrs. J. D. Hays. Treasurers: Mrs.
Isabella Shepherd. Mrs. WarflHd Her 'udah. Auditors: Miss Laura White,

Mrs. Charlet L. Nield, Mrs. W. F. Lillard, Mrs. Alderson. HlttorUns:

Ogle, Mrs. M. B. R- Mrs. Obenchain. Members National

< ommittee: Miss Mary K. Giltner. Mrs. Post, Miss '

CHAPTER XVII.

LOUISIANA. PART I. 1

The history of woman suffrage in Louisiana is unique inas-
much 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 flour-
ishing under the stimulus and prestige gained by the successful
Drainage, Sewerage and Water Campaign of 1899.2 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, secre-
taries, 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.

The secretary entered into active correspondence with indi-
viduals 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

1 The History is indebted for this chapter to Miss Kate M. Gordon, corresponding sec-
retary of the National American Woman Suffrage Association from 1901 to 1909; presi-
dent 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.

* The gaining of partial suffrage for taxpaying women and this campaign are fully
described in the Louisiana chapter in Volume IV of the History of Woman Suffrage.

216

LOUISIANA 217

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
Remain, 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. Remain in 1908 Mrs. Judith Hyams
Douglas was appointed in her place.

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 con-
vention was held Nov. 12, 1913, in New Orleans, and the follow-
ing 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.
("arruth, New Roads, corresponding secretary; Miss Lois Janvier,
Xew Orleans, recording secretary; Miss Olivia Munson, Napo-
leonville, treasurer; Mrs. Fannie Wolfson, Coushatta, auditor.

This hoard was unchanged until 1915, when Mrs. Clarence
King of Shreveport became treasurer and Mrs. M. H. Lawless

larck'ii City and Mrs. D. C. Scarborough of Natchitoches,
auditors. There was no further change until 1920, when Mrs.
Mr! '.rule became treasurer and Mrs. Horace Wilkinson took
Mrs. Scarborough's place. State conventions met in Alexandria
in 10,14 and in Shreveport in 1915. Conferences were held in

:y-five parishes in anticipation of the proposed constitu-
tion of Hji 5. A convention was held in Alexandria
in July, mi 8, and chairmen were appointed in forty-eight par-

in preparation for the State amendment campaign.
In reviewing the history of woman suffrage in Louisiana three
and out prominently as influences that molded a favor-
able public opinion. These are the national suffrage convention

>O3 ; the inauguration of charity campaigns on the lines of
political organization and the forming of the Southern States

ian Suffrage Conference, the object of which was to place

VOL. TX

2l8 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

the Democratic party on record for woman suffrage in this
Democratic stronghold of the "solid South."

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 conven-
tion. 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. 1
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.

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 fran-
chise for taxpaying women and its achievements in the following
years made it an acknowledged power. 2 In 1910 a great charity
and educational benefit was launched for the Anti-Tuberculosis
League and the Woman's Dispensary. A complete plan of organ-
izing with Era Club members as ward and precinct leaders taught
them political organization.

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

1 For full report see Chapter III of Volume V.

'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.

LOUISIANA 219

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 :

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
"\<>tes for women" is a world movement and unless the South squarely
the issue and takes steps to preserve the State's right the force
of public opinion will make it mandatory through a National Con-
stitutional Amendment. . . .

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 Ameri-
can citizen. We, therefore, appeal to you gentlemen vested with the
r 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.

It was not expected that the Governors would come, but the
desired publicity was secured and several of them sent represen-
tative women. At the invitation of the Era Club the conference
held in Xew Orleans Nov. 10-11, with an excellent attend-
ance. The Southern States Woman Suffrage Conference was
li/ed with Miss Gordon president. On May i, 1914, head-
quarters 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.
I 'or the next three years Miss Gordon went regularly to these
and <;ave her entire time to the promotion of the
hern Conference without financial remuneration. In October
< ma^a/.inc'. the New Southern Citizen, made its appear
. which became self -supporting and proved to be a nmst
valuable factor in the work of the conference. The first conven-
tion was he-Id in Chattanooga, Tenn.. on Nov. 10, nji.j. just
re that of the National American Association in Nashville,
which its d< attended. It was welcomed by the Mayor,

if lent of the Chamber <>f Commerce and many club pn si

from twelve States and in addi-
a number of distinguished visitors. Mrs. Oliver H. P.

22O HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

Belmont brought with her Miss Christabel Pankhurst of Great
Britain and both made addresses. About $1,500 were pledged.

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 suf-
fragists 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 concen-
tration upon the Democratic party to declare itself."

In December, 1915, a national conference was held in Rich-
mond, Va. Smaller conferences were held in Atlanta, Green-
ville, 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-govern-
ment." This was not adopted, but the platform did recommend
"the extension of suffrage to the women of the country by the
States/'

Although the principal object of the conference had been
attained, its leaders hesitated to dissolve it because of its excel-
lent 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. 1

LEGISLATIVE ACTION. 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

1 Further matter on the Conference will be found in Vol. V, Chapter XXI.

LOUISIANA 221

included at least twelve bills which they proposed to have enacted
into law in one session. 1 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 audi-
ence, boarded a morning train for Baton Rouge and descended
upon the Capitol. Article 210 of the State constitution adopted
in iS<)S made women ineligible to serve in any official capacity.,

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 hear-
ing, but a few minutes after their arrival they were pleading
their cause before its members. They then called on Governor

<>n lilanchard, 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.

1906. Wiser by two years' experience, the Legislative Com-
mittee 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

; on which it was written. She then studied the child labor

of every State and selected what was best suited to southern

ions, and put it into form for submission.
1908. The legislative program was limited to the attempt to

<\ Article 210, pass a School suffrage bill and the Child

Labor bill. The School suffrage bill, under the skillful manage-

of Senator R. I . ( Jucydan, assisted by Senators Albert

opal and James Brady and Lieutenant Governor Thos. C.

1 Among those specially identified with legislative work were Mrs. Celeste Claiborne
Carruth. Mrs. McBride, Mrs, Hackenjos, Mrs. Fred W. Price, Mrs. Wooten. Mrs. Wal-
lace Sylvester. Mrs. George Wesley Smith, Mr*. Lawless.

222 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

Barrett, passed the Senate but failed in the House. The Child
Labor bill passed the House but not the Senate.

1910. Senator Gueydan introduced the amendment of Article
210. Representative S. O. Shattuck introducced the first resolu-
tion 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.

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 Federa-
tion of Women's Clubs were very active, but it was defeated.

An interesting phase of this year's session in connection with
the suffrage amendment was the presenting of the idea <>f
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.]

1914. The full suffrage bill was introduced by Representative

LOUISIANA 223

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 -con-
dition which required a certain annual revenue from the city.
She desired to be a member of the hospital board, but was ineli-
gible 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-opera-
tive 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.

1918. Governor Rufrm G. Pleasant recommended in his mes-
sage the submission of a woman suffrage amendment to the State
o institution. The State association had a resolution for it intro-
duced in the House by Frank Powell; the Woman Suffrage Party
one in the Senate by Leon Haas, and it passed in both.

CAMPAIGNS. There- have been two campaigns in the interest
of woman suffrage in Louisiana, one for preparing for an ex-
d constitutional convention which would have met in mi 5.
and the other in ioiS to amend the State constitution by striking
out the w.rd "male." A special session of the Legislature in
1015 proposal a convention to revise the constitution and sub-
mitted the question to the voters. Immediately Miss Jean
Ion, president of the State Suffrage' Association, accompanied
Lilly Richardson and Mrs. Ida I'orter Royer, visited
the various parishes and formed working committees in .40 of
the h^. The enthusiatic reception wherever they went was prac-

224 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

tical 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.

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 Legisla-
ture 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 an-
nounced 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 Daily States and Shreveport Times, and a political
power, offered his support if the Woman Suffrage Party would
unite with the State association and leave the Federal Amend-
ment 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 organ-
ized 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 d<

All was ready for beginning a whirlwind campaign on October
I, 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,

LOUISIANA 225

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.

In 1920 the State Suffrage Association stood alone in again
having a resolution introduced for amending the State constitu-
tion, all the other suffrage societies concentrating on the ratifica-
tion of the Federal Amendment, which had been submitted by
Congress on June 4. It was presented in the Lower House by
I. L. Upton, in the Senate by J. O. Stewart. They were fol-
lowed immediately by Representative S. O. Shattuck and Senator
Xorris C. Williamson with one to ratify the Federal Amendment.
At the close of the session Miss Jean Gordon issued the following
statement :

T the Frieiiols uf Woman Suffrage:

w that the smoke of battle has cleared ... as president of the
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 open-
ing clay of the Legislature until its adjournment I can give all the
and some of the reasons for one of the most remarkable con-
s ever held in Louisiana.

<<! amendment to the State constitution having been

ted in pjitt by the malevolent influences of the influenza

throughout the State and Mayor Behrman in New Orleans, it was

another sent to the voters in 1920.

S3 having submitted a Federal Amendment to the Legisla-

'r<l that men and women who believe in

g the voting power in ( would work for its ratifi-

, hut that those who claimed to be ardent suffragists would

lefeat State >ubmission after they fountl the sentiment for

< ation amounted to almost nothing in both Houses seems incred-

The fact remains, however, that while the actual defeat of the

226 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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-intro-
duced 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, pro-
voked because one of his bills had been defeated, slipped away and
it was again deprived of the one vote needed.

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, know-
ing the Federal Amendment had been killed overwhelmingly. There-
fore 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. . . .

Very different was the spirit among the proponents of the Federnl
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 Amend-
ment 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 Daily States 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 al-
though avowed anti -suffragists, they worked hard to secure the sub-
mission of the State amendment while so-called ardent suffragists
worked overtime for its defeat.

LOUISIANA. PART II. 1

Louisiana had no State organization for woman suffrage when
in March, 1913, Mrs. A. B. Singletary of Baton Rouge organ-
ized there the State Equal Suffrage League, 2 and in April Mrs.
John T. Meehan organized the Woman Suffrage Party of Louisi-

1 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.

J Other workers were Mrs. Lydia, Wickliffe Holmes, Professor W. O. Scroggs,

C. C. Devall, Mrs. C. Harrison Parker, Mrs. Horace Wilkinson, Mrs. Elmo Bodly, Mrs.

D. R. Weller, Alma Sabourin, Nellie Spyker.

LOUISIANA 227

ana in New Orleans. 1 Both enrolled men as well as women, affili-
ated with the National American Suffrage Association and
worked harmoniously for the enfranchisement of Louisiana
women by State and national legislation. Later the League be-
came 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.

By June 15 the Party, with Airs. 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 chair-
men were appointed by the beginning of 1914. This year the
Teachers' Political Equality Club and the Newcomb College Suf-
frage Club became branches of the Party, and the Orleans Parish
I 'ranch was organized. Delegates were sent to the national
suffrage convention at Nashville in November.

The first State convention of the Party was held in April, 1915,
at I'aton 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 conven-
itsclf was voted down at the polls. A Men's League was
formed and among its members were Dr. Henry Dickson Bruns,
\V. A. Kt-rna^han, M. J. Sanders, Solomon Wolff, Oscar
Srhuinert, I. A. Strauss, J. J. Eineran, Lynn Dinkins, James
Wilkinson. Louis J. liryan, Captain James Dinkins, L. H. Gos-
serand, Rabbi Max I leller and Rabbi Emil Leipziger.

In \<\\(* the resolution for a constitutional amendment to elim-
inate the word "male" again failed to pass when introduced by
'..well of Me Ridder in the Lower House, though

1 Amonj? charter members of the Woman Suffrage Tarty were Mrs. E. C. G. Ferguson,
Mr. a UjrVB, Mr. and M r. E. J.

Grab.. Kosella Bayhi, Mrs. M. M. KM Hunt Hrisl>;m. .

I, James M. Thomson, T.\: ;

Mr. and Mrv J. K. Kdimmds, Trist W B, Mr. and Mrs. N. J.

all of .ins; Mrs. J. K. Muton. of Jennings, Katlicrinc ("liunmlle and W I

Krebs. of Lake Charles, Mrs. M. M. Bodenbendcr of Covington.

228 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

State headquarters, known as Suffrage House, were estab-
lished 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 resolu-
tion 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 in-
fluenza epidemic thousands of signatures were obtained to a
petition asking Governor Ruffin G. Pleasant to issue a proclama-
tion 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.

In the winter of 1919 an attempt was made to secure such a
modification of the Federal Suffrage Amendment before Con-
gress 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

LOUISIANA 22Q

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.

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 head-
quarters, now removed to 417 Royal Street, and Mrs. Holmes
was elected to her fourth term. 1

The \Yoman 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
;ue of \Yomen 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 clc 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, Mar-
shall 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 1
would gain their political liberty. A silver vase was presented

1 Amon* nthcr officers ind workers were: Mrs. TT. As< liaffenburg, Mrs. Eva C.

WriRht. Mr,. T. O. Skinnrr. Mr, C. A. Mciwner, Mrs. C. G. Robinson. Mrs. Le

-. Mist E. J. Harral. Mrs. W. W. Van Meter. Miss Anna MorrHl. Mrv L. B.

Mrs. J. E. Friend. Mrs. J. E. Wilkinson, Mrs. A. F. Storm. Mrv James M.

Thomson, Mrs. Reuben Chauvin.

23O HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

to the retiring chairman, Mrs. Holmes, from her fellow workers,
and she was unanimously chosen honorary chairman of the new
league.

RATIFICATION. On the eve of departure for the national con-
vention 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 Amend-
ment while we are in Chicago will you send Mrs. Carrie Chap-
man 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 suf-
fragist, 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.

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 ban-
quet eight months earlier he had told the women that 'if Louis-
iana 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, Donald-
son Caffery and many other men of affairs. The New Orleans
Item had always advocated woman suffrage and the Federal
Amendment especially; the Times-Picayune now approved rati-
fication, as did nearly all the papers in the State. The Orleans
Democratic Association, which had put Governor Parker in

LOUISIANA 231

office, passed a resolution endorsing it. The State Central Com-
mittee 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.

Mrs. Holmes had a number of interviews with Governor-elect
Parker alone, with other women and with Marshall Ballard,
editor of the Item, 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 ratifica-
tion. 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
>. 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 ratifica-
tion, Mr. Parker said to Mrs. Holmes: "I have always been
\\oman suffrage any way it could be obtained and I have
never understood a suffragist's taking any other stand."

Karly in March Governor-elect Parker told a group of suf-

that the women should get together on a program for

the Legislature if they wished to be successful. Acting on this

>n the Party publicly invited all suffrage organizations

ther and form a Joint Ratification Committee. Men

and women from all parts of the State attended this meeting

\pril 7 and one of the speakers, Charles Rosen, pledged

ker to ratification, while Marshall P.allard vouched for the

authenticity of his statement. The bodies that composed this

mittee were the Natchitoches Kqual Rights Club, represented

1 Henry; the Shreveport Suffrai'.f ( 'Inb by Mrs. J. D.

Mrs. \V. A. Wilkinson; the Louisiana branch of the National

Woman's j'arty. by Mrs. M. R. P.aiikston. Mrs. K. J. ( iraham.

Mr- I'.ayhi : the Woman Suffrage Party by Mrs. Joseph

Devereux, Mrs. J. E. I-ricnd. Mrs. Holmes was made chairman,

232 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

headquarters were taken in Baton Rouge and 46 lobbyists were
at the Capitol day and night during the session.

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. 1 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.

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 with-
out 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 announc-
ing 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 i ith the rival woman suffrage bills were introduced. Rep-
resentative 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 Louis-
iana. Thirty-five State Legislatures had ratified and the Repub-
licans 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

> For their further efforts see Tennessee chapter in this volume.

LOUISIANA 233

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.

On May 13 Governor Pleasant submitted the Federal Amend-
ment 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 i6th, 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.

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 \v<mld be unwise.

v orts made by the "antis" to force an immediate vote on
the Federal Amendment failed and it was decided that all suf-

c bills should take the usual course and be referred to com-
mittees for hearings. Women thronged the capital. On June 2
[ousc passed the Upton bill for State suffrage by 93 ayes

7 noes. That same night a hearing before the Joint Com-
mittees on Federal Relations was held, which lasted five hours,
with some notable speeches. S. O. Shattuck, Phanor Breazeale,

\ Saint, Judge Rufus E. Foster, Congressman Jared Y.
Sanders, Mrs. Holmes, Mrs. Bass, Mrs. E. J. Graham, Miss

rnce Huberwald, Mrs. Joseph Devereux and Mrs. M. R.

red for the Federal Amendment, while the oppo-

1 by Senator Stewart, ex-Governor Pleasant, Miss

rdon, and Miss Charlotte Rowe. On June 4, the Federal

VOL. VI

234 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

Amendment was reported favorably in the Senate. "Get suf-
frage out of the way" became the slogan, but neither side was
ready to risk a vote. The Federal bill was passed to third read-
ing. 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.

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 6/
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.

On June 18, Representative Conrad Meyer sought to re-intro-
duce the Federal measure but permission was refused by 61 to 18,
while a motion to re-consider the Upton bill passed the Senate by
1 8 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 Demo-
cratic 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 constitu-
tion 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 rati-

LOUISIANA 235

fied 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."

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/ "...

CHAPTER XVIII.

MAINE. 1

There were meetings and some organized work for woman
suffrage in Maine from the early '70*5 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 Associa-
tion. 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.

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 assem-
bly at Ocean Park made "suffrage day" a part of its regular pro-
gram. 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 reso-
lution in favor of this measure, placed woman suffrage on its
convention program and from that time gave active support to
the movement.

The State convention took place at Auburn in 1903 and the
association became an incorporated body that year. The organi-
zation 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 taxpay-
ing women. Mrs. Fannie J. Fernald was elected as her successor

1 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.

MAINE 237

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.

In 1906 woman suffrage was endorsed by the Maine Federa-
tion 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 Amend-
ment. 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.

The association increased in size and interest and at the con-
vention 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 Amend-
ment. 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.

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
paign work. The Methodist Episcopal Church endorsed
woman suffrage at its state conference.

238 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 meet-
ings 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 acount 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.

From January 8th to 2Oth, 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 approach-
ing campaign.

CAMPAIGN. 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

MAINE 239

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 : ( i ) 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/'

A copy of this letter was sent to the president of the associa-
tion 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. . . ." Never-
theless the National Association at its next convention (still be-
lieving that the referendum would not be submitted until 1918),
voted to back the Maine campaign, although against the judgment
of Mrs. Catt. 1

At the request of the Maine association the National Associa-
tion 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
tmpaigning 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
trly in September only about six months' time was given us
for the campaign. Deducting from this time the months of April

1 The above paragraphs have been copied for the sake of historical accuracy from an
official report of tlic national corresponding secretary. Ed.

240 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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."

A campaign committee was formed from members of organi-
zations 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.

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

MAINE 241

received these lists. The petitions did a vast amount of educa-
tional work among the women and answered the men who insisted
that the women did not want to vote.

The newspapers on the whole were favorable. Especial men-
tion should be made of the valuable assistance continued
throughout the campaign of the Lewiston Journal, Portland
Argus, Kennebec Journal, Brunswick Record and Waldo County
Herald. 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 pub-
lish even letters on the other side. It would not publish President
Wilson's letter even as a paid advertisement. From July I to
September 10 Mrs. Rose L. Geyer, a member of the staff of the
Woman Citizen, official organ of the National Suffrage Associa-
tion, conducted the publicity work in connection with Miss
Florence L. Nye, the State press chairman. On August 18 the
Lewiston Journal issued a supplement for the State association,
edited by Miss Helen N. Bates, of which 65,000 copies were
distributed through twenty-two newspapers.

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 cam-
paign 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."

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 Cam-
paign Committee, fastened on trees, fences, windows and every
lable space, carried the message to all passers by. Mrs.
ton said in her report: "We can not express too grate-
fully our appreciation of the value of the work accomplished by
the experienced organizers sent to us by the National Association

242 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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."

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 Septem-
ber 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.

Not in any other State campaign had the women anti-suffra-
gists 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

MAINE 243

"machines" of both political parties expected to defeat the
amendment.

The election took place Sept. 10, 1917, and the amendment
received 38,838 noes, 20,684 aves 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 : i. Inher-
ent conservatism and prejudice. 2. Resentment at the "picket-
ing" 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. 1

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 fur-
nished speakers, organizers, posters and literature will make the
women of Maine forever its debtors. 2

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, chair-
man ; Miss Connor, Miss Bates, Mrs. Pattangall, Mrs. Cobb and

1 Mrs. Clarence Hale, State president of the anti-suffrage organization, issued the fol-
lowing: "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."

On November 7 the "East" spoke again when the voters of New York by a majority
f 102,353 gave full suffrage to won

* 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 !.<>lu
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 < specially for .M.unr
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 Yon 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
ited the services of Mrs. Geycr for press work from July i to September 10.
This campaign cost the National Association $i,^82 and the Leslie Commission $4.986,
a total of $15,268. Ed.

244 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

Mrs. Guy P. Gannett, with Miss Lola Walker as executive secre-
tary to the chairman.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION. The State Suffrage Association and
the State Woman's Christian Temperance Union always worked
for woman suffrage measures in the Legislature in cordial co-
operation, beginning in 1887.

1901. Suffrage bills did not come out of committee.

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 no noes, 29 ayes.

1905, 1907, 1909, no suffrage bills were reported out of com-
mittee.

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.

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.

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.

1917. The resolution was adopted in the House February 21
by 112 ayes, 35 noes; unanimously adopted by the Senate Febru-
ary 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

MAINE 245

what a campaign should be." The amendment was defeated at the
polls in September.

1919. In March an Act granting women the right to vote for
Presidential Electors, prepared by George H. Allan, was intro-
duced 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 Journal, 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
\Yallace 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.

The favorable vote was obtained after six months of quiet,
continuous and intensive political work by the Legislative Com-
mittee. Members of the Legislature worked for the success of
the bill ; the Governor supported it and the press was largely
in favor.

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

246 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 sub-
mitted 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.

RATIFICATION". 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.

The same Legislative Committee of women that had charge of
the Presidential bill had charge of the ratification.

At the annual convention of the State Suffrage Association ia
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,
loo 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

MAINE 247

November 12 it was merged into the League of Women Voters
with Miss Mabel Connor as chairman.

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 incom-
plete 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 Farm-
ington; Miss Anna L. Dingley and Miss Alice Frost Lord,
connected with the Lewiston Journal. 1

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.

1 Among the active workers in the Anti-Suffrage Association were Mesdames John F.
A. Merrill, Merrill 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.

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.

CHAPTER XIX.

MARYLAND. PART I. 1

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 Balti-
more 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. 2

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 Both 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 dis-
cussions, followed by addresses in the evening. The State

1 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 Asso-
ciation eighteen years.

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 con-
tinued 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 re-
ferred to the Committee on Federal Relations."

2 4 8

MARYLAND 249

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 Xew York and Emma M. Gillett, a lawyer of Washing-
ton, 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.
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 depart-
ments 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
nation to hold its annual convention in Baltimore. The
(1 was accepted and the convention took place Feb. 7-13,
. 1 lalf of the $1,200 raised for it was given to the National
ciation. Most of the delegates were entertained in homes.
The mi-flings 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 pro-
1 for every session by the Charles M. Stieff Piano Company
and clergymen came from various churches for the opening
ional services. Three men gave unlimited time and assist-
in the work of the convention. Dr. J. William Funck, Dr.
Janney and Charles II. Ilolton. As this was the native city of
Mary (iarrett and Dr. M. Carey Thomas they united as
ihe association during the convention and thereafter
me important factors in the national work. 1 This was thf
cntion attended by Mi^ Anthony, who died a month
\ memorial held in 1'altiniore. the following

art: the Rev. Alexander Kent of Washington. Mary
llolton, Mrs. Fnnck. Mrs. Janney, Mrs. Holme and

1 For full arrount of the convention cc Chapter VI, Volume V.
vot- TI

250 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

Miss Maddox. Music was furnished by the Cecilian quartette of
women's voices.

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 pro-
gram 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.

In 1908 the annual meeting was held in McCoy Hall, Johns
Hopkins University, with Charlotte Perkins Oilman 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
Osier 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 of-
fered for essays on woman suffrage by girls in the high school.

At the convention of 1911 in Heptasophs Hall the California
victory of October 1 1 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

MARYLAND 25!

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.

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
; ck 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
I.aFollette 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 Wash-
n Maryland had the largest delegation.

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
fleeted under the name of the Woman Suffrage
Party of Maryland. Mrs. Funck was elected president and
'1 two years.

The annual meeting of i<n6 was held on the lawn at the home

li/.aheth Bruce Gwynn ; that of I')!/ on the grounds of the

Young Woman's Christian tinn; in miS at Tnlchcster

Beach and in 1919 at the home of Evelyn Albaugh Timanus.

The worker^ during these years always were volunteers, who

^d without financial compensation. The association is in-

252 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

debted for the past ten years to Mary Elizabeth Ward for all
stenographic work and to Margaret A. Maddox for most of the
publicity work.

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, Jose-
phine 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.

BALTIMORE CITY CLUB. For more than twenty years this
club averaged from four to twenty public meetings annually
in theaters, churches and suffrage headquarters. Scores of busi-
ness 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 comer 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 Osier Hall on Ideal Democracy, followed by Sylvia
Pankhurst and Mrs. Philip Snowden, the latter speaking at the
Seventh Baptist Church, the pastor presiding.

In 1909 at a mass meeting one Sunday afternoon in the

MARYLAND 253

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 tfye 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
\Yharton and W. H. Baylor of the Baptist Church; George
Scholl and Thomas Beadenkoph of the Lutheran Synod;
Richard \Y. Hogue and George W. Dame of the Episcopal, E. L.
Hubbard of the Methodist and Wynne Jones of the Highland-
town Presbyterian Churches.

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 His-
tory 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

:tcd for Progress and the Woman's Journal; press work was
pushed ; oportunities were sought to speak before all kinds of

: i/.ations 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

in Maryland: and to Miss Maddox, the first to be admitted
t<> the bar. a gold pin bearing the State coat-of-anns as an e\]
sion of esteem for her onerous work in securing its passage.
In 1906 and thereafter by specially appointed committees

ed in the platforms <,f the political

it with no success. In n,<>7 a delegation appeared before
ition of Labor asking for its endorsement of
woman suffrage, which was refused.

254 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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, speak-
ing on woman suffrage and distributing 5,000 leaflets. Three
women attended the hearing before the House Judiciary Com-
mittee 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.

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.

In 1914 a large suffrage bazar was held under the auspices
of all the clubs in the Fifth Regiment Armory with good finan-
cial results. This year the association entered the political arena,
the logical culmination of previous years of work. Legislation
and Publicit^ was the slogan. It specialized in ward work, be-
sieged 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.

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.

MARYLAND 255

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.

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 Thorn, Mrs. Coyle Haslup Adams, Mrs.
George A. Frick and Mrs. William L. Marbury. This associa-
tion 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 Amend-
ment by their Legislatures.

I J.CI.^LATIVE ACTION. The Maryland Woman Suffrage

'ciation 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 <>f education and on
all public institutions; the abolition of capital punishment; initia-

and referendum; co-education ; abolition of child labor.

1906. Legislators declined to introduce any suffrage measure
and treated the request as a joke.

1907. A special committee appointed by the Legislature to
revise the election laws was asked that the word "male" be

ken out. No attention was paid to the request.
1910. The resolution for submitting an amendment was
framed by l.tta 11. Maddox, introduced by Delegate William

256 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 Wis-
consin, 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.

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 1 6 noes, 9 ayes in the Senate.

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 quali-
fication, endorsed only by the Equal Suffrage League, failed to
get a hearing. One in the Senate requiring a literacy test only
was not reported.

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

MARYLAND 257

who voted no. The lobbyists were Mrs. Hooker, Mrs. Dora Ogle,
Mrs. Robert Moss, Miss Lucy Branham, Miss Maddox, Miss
( Iwendolyn Willis, the Rev. Olympia Brown, Mrs. Charles E.
Kllicott, Mrs. Ross Thompson, Miss Emma Weber, Mrs. William
II. Maloy, Mrs. Calvin Gabriel, Mrs. Timanus, Mrs. Howard
Schwartz, Mrs. Funck. This was the last time a State amend-
ment was asked for.

1917. At the special session a bill for Presidential suffrage,
supported by the State association and the Just Government

uc, 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 Repre-
sentative Jeannette Rankin. In the House it failed by a vote
of 41 ayes, 56 noes.

1918. The Presidential suffrage bill received in the House
42 ayes, 53 noes; in the Senate 12 ayes, 13 noes.

RATIFICATION. For twenty-five years the women of Maryland
tried to get some form of suffrage from their Legislature with-
out success and it is not surprising that they felt obliged to look
to a Federal Amendment for their enfranchisement. The dele-
gation in Congress was divided on its submission, Senator Joseph
I. K ranee (Republican) voting in favor and Senator John
Walter Smith (Democrat) in opposition; two Representatives in
r and five in opposition. After it had been sent to the Legis-
latures for ratification in June, 1919, pressure was brought to
m ( iovernor Kmerson C. Harrington to call a special session,
was reported that a majority in favor might be secured.
U. S. Attorney ( ieneral A. Mitchell Palmer urged it in a letter
July ID. saying: "Pennsylvania has already ratified and it will
be a to our party if a Democratic State like Maryland

will promptly follow suit." The Governor advised waiting till
the n-gif his Legislature was not elected with the

question of this amendment hefore the people."

The regular session convened Jan 7, KJJO, and Albert Cabcll
Ritchie had l>een elected Governor. Mrs. William Milnes Maloy
' hairman of the Suffrage Campaign Committee and Mrs.
Robert Muss of the legislative w<>rk in Annapolis, and the com-
mittee was composed of prominent suffragists from all the

258 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

On Friday, February 6, Governor Ritchie submitted the Fed-
eral Woman Suffrage Amendment to the General Assembly.
Senator Metzerott (Republican) introduced a resolution for
ratification in the Senate and Representative Cobourn (Demo-
crat) in the House. It was sent to the Senate Committee on
Federal Relations, Senator Grason, chairman ; to the House Com-
mittee on Constitutional Amendments, Mr. Roberts chairman.
A hearing was set for February n 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 i8th.

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 1 1. A hasty canvass of his committee showed
that a majority was in favor of deferring it until the i8th, 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.

MARYLAND 259

Delegates Cobourn, Shartzer, Curry and the minority floor leader,
Vernon Simmons, explained how the suffragists had been de-<
ceived and made an earnest plea for fair play.

It had been intended to bring the measure to a vote immedi-
ately but the feeling against this was so intense that it was finally
set for the I7th. 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 i/th. Long before the hour set suffragists from
many places began to gather. At 10:30 the larger delegations
arrived, heralded by Parson'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 resi-
dents of Maryland. They were from many State labor associa-
tions, 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 Shoe-
maker, chairman of the women's State branch of the National
Council of Defense, who made an eloquent appeal for the pro-
posed 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
;e in opposition. The Hon. Thomas Parran summed up for
the suffragists.

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 repre-
senting the Society of Friends; Mrs. Robert H. Walker, the
college women; Miss Hunt, the nurses; Miss Mary Dubrau, the
liore. 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

26O HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

it and that he could not ask the legislators to repudiate the plat-
form. Mrs. Hooker in vigorous language held him wholly
responsible for the action they took on it.

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, Mclntosh and Legg spoke against it. The
vote stood 1 8 noes, 9 ayes, seven Republicans and two Demo-
crats. In the House 32 of the 45 Republicans and 4 of the 56
Democrats voted in favor.

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.

Committees of both Houses had reported a resolution of defi-
nite 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."

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 Dele-
gates 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-

MARYLAND 26 1

called 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 Mary-
land, to "have the so-called Eighteenth Amendment and the Vol-
stead Act declared null and void." The reason for his opposition
oman suffrage was clearly apparent.

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 hus-
tling 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
II<use by 51 to 42, nearly a month after the Federal Amendment
had been proclaimed !

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
vs. Garnett, Judge Leser and his associate lawyers rep-
ting this League, Mr. Garnett representing the Board of
of the 7th Precinct of the nth 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 tost the validity of what the "antis" called the
"alle ih Amendment. The plea was that it exceeded the

.'unending power of Article Y in the Federal Constitution nn<f
that it W2L9 not legally ratified by 36 States. The States arraigned
aving illegally ratified were West Virginia and Missouri.
The case came before the court of romnion pleas, Judge Heuisler
Irs Mr. Marbury the attorneys for the petitioners
were Thomas Cadwalader, Senator Frick and Everett P. Wheeler

262 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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."

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 be-
yond all further controvesy.

MARYLAND. PART II. 1

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 dis-
tricts 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.

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

1 The History is indebted for this chapter to Miss Clara Turnbull Waite, vice-president
of the Equal Suffrage League of Baltimore.

MARYLAND 263

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.

In 1910 the league had a bill introduced in the Legislature giv-
ing 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 Dele-
gates; 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 repre-
senting 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 I lusted 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. E. Beacliam and Mr. Henderson.
It received 67 noes, 24 ayes and did not come before the
Senate. Three other woman suffrage bills \\ere defeated this

In io/>'- Donald R. 1 looker, chairman of the Lecture

tnittee, \vn<; instrumental in securing many noted speakers
public meetings. In \<>\o she formed the Just Government

264 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

League of Maryland, which was affiliated with the National
Association for six years. Miss Lent was president two years
and then Mrs. Hooker continuously.

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 New Voter was started, a lively suffrage paper, with
Miss Anne Wagner as editor-in-chief. A committee was ap-
pointed, 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.

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
\Valbrook, College Suffrage League of Frederick, Equal Fran-
chise 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 mem-
bers, 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

MARYLAND 265

development of the Children's Playground Association under her
leadership is well known throughout the State. 1

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 organiza-
tion 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.

In the spring of 1917 a Suffrage School was held in Baltimore
by the league to which all were invited. The National Associa-
tion sent some of its best teachers, among them Mrs. Arthur L.
rmore, Mrs. Halsey W. Wilson and Mrs. Shuler, members
of its official board. The climax of the week was a parade, street
and a mass meeting, * at which Mrs. Carrie Chapman
Catt, national president, was the principal speaker. An outcome
of tin- school was the printing in Maryland newspapers of the
suffrage literature supplied by the National Association.

When the United States entered the World War Mrs. Ellicott,

lent of the league, was appointed by the Governor a State

mi-nil XT nf tin* Woman's Council of National Defense and the

ic cooperated in all of the departments of war work created

ly the National Suffrage Association. A Red Cross Circle was

islu-d in its headquarters and it entered actively into the sale

* of women who held office or were prominent in work of the Equal
^^^HK League of Baltimore r tin- State mchise League of Maryland are

Lillian \VYMi. Mary Sherwood. Florence Snhin. Clarinet '

-. George Lamb, S. Johnson Poe. J. William*
II \Vii K lit. .1 II \\VM. 1'eploe. Jacob Nf.

Mary N. Parry and W. W. I Misses Mary Bartlett Dixon

tta Morris, Romaine Mcllvaine and Emma Weber.
VOL. VI

266 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

of Liberty Bonds. Its war work brought into it many new
members.

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, inter-
views with legislators and the other work of a vigorous campaign.
The officers were : Mrs. Ellicott, president ; Mrs. Edward Shoe-
maker, Mrs. William Milnes Maloy and Mrs. Sidney Cone, vice-
presidents; Miss Julia Rogers and Mrs. Robert Moss, corre-
sponding and recording secretaries ; Mrs. Frank Ramey, treas-
urer; Mrs. George Crawford and Mrs. William Silver, auditors.

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. 1

LEGISLATIVE ACTION. This has been described. A Rati-
fication Committee of Men was formed in 1919 with N.
Winslow Williams chairman, De Courcy W. Thorn vice-chair-
man, 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. Federa-
tion 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.

1 Among these directors, active members of the city committee, chairmen of standing
committees and devoted workers not elsewhere mentiond 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 KaU.

CHAPTER XX.

MASSACHUSETTS. 1

From the beginning of the present century the Massachusetts
\Yoman 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.

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 chair-
man 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
Xational Executive Committee. There was a long list of distin-
hed vice-presidents. Mr. I.lackwell had been secretary for
over twenty years and was re-elected.

At the Festival on May 22, Mrs. Julia Ward Howe presided,
Sarah Cone Bryant was toastnustretfl and there were ad-
dresses by William M. Sailer, the I Inn. William Dudley Foulke

' Thr HiMory i* indrhtrd for thr first part of this ch.iptrr to Miss Alice Stone ni.uk
wrii, an officer of the National American Woman Suffrage Association from is.,o i
ive; president of thr New England Woman from H>I

president of the Massachusetts Woma n almost continuously from

1909 to 19*0; and for the second part of thr diaptrr to Mrs. Trrena A. Crowlry, chair-
man of the Legislative Committee of the State association from 1909 for many years.

267

268 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 Crocker, 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.

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 recep-
tion in honor of Mrs. Livermore's 8oth 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 organi-
zation 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 Sefiorita 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.

In 1901 the Boston Equal Suffrage Association for Good Gov-
ernment 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 Com-
mittee, and Mrs. Park as executive secretary. 1 It continued to
be a power in the State till suffrage was won and aimed to devote

1 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 na-
tional congressional chairman in 1916 Mrs. Wenona Osborne Pinkham succeeded her as
executive secretary.

MASSACHUSETTS 269

itself not only to suffrage but to all activities in which women
could be especially useful to the community.

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.

1902. At the annual meeting on January 23, Mrs. Park pre-
sided 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 investiga-
tion of the tax records by Mr. Blackwell showed that in Boston
alone 18,500 women paid taxes on several hundred million dol-
lars' worth of property.

1903. At the annual meeting of the State association on Janu-
ary 13, Mrs. Shaw and Mrs. Park presided. Mrs. Livermore

made honorary president and Mrs. Lucia Ames Mead presi-
dent, Mrs. Mary Schlesinger, vice-president; Miss Harriet E.
Turner, corresponding secretary ; William Lloyd Garrison, treas-
urer; Mrs. Otto B. Cole, clerk; Mr. Blackwell, member of the
National Executive Committee. Mrs. Page, chairman of the Or-
ganization 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 birth-
day anniversary was celebrated by a pilgrimage to the old farm
house near West Brook fii-M where she was born. About 400
persons gathered from vain ven California being rep-

resented. Her niece, Mrs. Phebe Stone Beeman, president of the

270 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

Warren Political Equality Club, presided and there were ad-
dresses 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 de-
voted to religion, that I have ever known. The hill was a Mount
of Transfiguration, the faces of the people shone."

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 re-
peatedly for the association. Work conferences were held in
various counties and equal rights plays by Mr. Page were per-
formed 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. Gor-
man D. Gilman gave the address of welcome and Mrs. Florence
Kelley and Dr. Shaw spoke. The Enrollment Committee re-
ported 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 succeed-
ing her later in the year.

1904. The Festival was held on May 10, Mrs. Howe presid-
ing. The speakers were Judge Edward E. Reynolds of Port-
land, Maine, the Rev. Florence Kollock Crooker of Michigan,
Frank K. Foster of the State Federation of Labor, Mrs. Liver-
more, Professor George E. Gardner of the Boston University

MASSACHUSETTS 271

Law School, Mrs. May Alden Ward, president of the State Fed-
eration 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 Interna-
tional 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 celebra-
tion 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 ad-
dresses by Miss Jane Addams, Miss Sheriff Bain of New Zea-
land 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.
1905. There was a very large attendance at the Festival on
May 10, with Mrs. Mead presiding. Professor Edward Cum-
mings 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 Both birthday
(May 4), with the presentation of a silver pitcher from the State
association and addresses by William Lloyd Garrison and Mrs.
I .ivermore. 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

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 ser-

his fraternal spirit." She died a few days later and there

profound sorrow for her loss.

At the meeting of the New England Association on May n
Blackwell presided. Francis J. Garrison was elected treas-
urer. The State annual meeting was held at Holyoke, October
24, 25, in the Second Baptist Church and Mayor Nathan P.
i\e tin- address of welcome. Miss Blackwell was made
<hairman of the board of directors; Mrs. Mead was elected

:dent; Mrs. Schlesingcr vice president. The association
took part in the celebration of the centennial of William Lloyd

272 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 note-
worthy memorial meeting for Mrs. Edna D. Cheney, long a
pillar of the suffrage association and of the New England Hos-
pital for Women and Children. Catherine Breshkovsky, "the
little grandmother of the Russian revolution," visited Massachu-
setts this year and addressed a number of meetings arranged by
the suffragists, including a large one in Faneuil Hall.

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 monu-
ment. 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.

1907. The annual meeting took place in Worcester at Trin-
ity Church. Letters were read from Colonel Thomas W. Hig-
ginson and Mrs. Elizabeth Smith Miller, the only two survivors
of the 89 men and women who signed the Call for the first Na-
tional 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.

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, Assist-
ant Professor of Economics at Smith College; Professor Helen
M. Searles of Mt. Holyoke; Dr. Emma Culbertson of the New

MASSACHUSETTS 273

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.

On August 13 suffragists from different parts of the State
again made a pilgrimage to Lucy Stone's old home, West Brook-
field, to celebrate her birthday. Mrs. Cobden Sanderson, a
daughter of Richard Cobden, one of the "militant" English suf-
fragettes, 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.

The Association of Collegiate Alumnae celebrated its quarter
centennial in Boston November 5-9, which brought many distin-
guished suffragists from other States. In 1872 the New Eng-
land 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 Let-
ter Carriers' Association endorsed woman suffrage.

The Massachusetts Association Opposed to the Further Ex-
tension of Suffrage to Women changed its organ The Remon-
strance from an annual to a quarterly and sent out a copy broad-
The suffragists followed with an answer. The Woman's
Journal 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
>o6 the total receipts were $2,907, of which $2,018 were
expended on salaries. 1

1 At the annual meeting of S. W. on May i, officers were elected

ft follows: President. Mr< md Shaw; vice-presidents. Mrs. J. H (dolidRe,

Hiss Anna U Dawes, Mrs. Charles D. Homans, Miss Agnes Irwin. Mrs. Henry M. Wl.it

274 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

1908. The State annual meeting was held in Boston October
27, 28. Mrs. Mead presided and Mrs. Ethel Snowden of Eng-
land 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 Addanis gave suf-
frage lectures this year at Radcliffe, Smith, Mt. Holyoke and
Wellesley colleges and Boston University, arranged by the Col-
lege 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 en-
dorsed equal siilTraijv. 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.

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.

ney; 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.

MASSACHUSETTS 275

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 Vic-
torian 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 de-
voted his life to securing equal rights for women. In his youth
a reward of $10,000 was offered for his head at a public meet-
ing 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 na-
tional 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 constitu-
tional amendment campaigns in Kansas, Vermont, Colorado,
Michigan, Rhode Island and South Dakota. In 1889, when
-hington, 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 Woman's
Journal from its founding in 1870 till his death. An able writer.
an eloquent speaker, he was widely beloved for his kindness,
humor and geniality.

Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst, the leader of the "militant" suffra-.

gettes of England, visited Boston this year. She was met at the

<>n by the suffragists with automobiles and flags and was

-i through the streets to the headquarters Boston's first suf

e procession and later addressed in Tremont Temple a huge

audience, critical at first, highly enthusiastic at the close. A re-

givcn by prominent suffragists to Miss I thel M.

276 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

Arnold of England, and there were lectures by her and Mrs.
Charlotte Perkins Oilman; a series of "petition teas" and meet-
ings 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.

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 Mc-
Cormick 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. 1 Suffrage buttons and lit-
erature were distributed, posters put up, and sometimes mam-
moth 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 Nan-
tasket, 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.

1910. Among the speakers at the Festival in May were Mrs.
Frances Squire Potter, former Professor of English at the Uni-
versity of Minnesota; Professor Max Eastman of Columbia Uni-
versity, secretary of the New York Men's League for Woman
Suffrage, and Professor Henry S. Nash of the Episcopal Theo-
logical 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;

1 Additional speakers through the summer were Miss Margaret Foley, Miss Gertrude
Y. Cliff, Miss Edith M. Haynes, Mrs. Marion Craig Wentworth, Miss Florence Lus-
comb, Miss Katherine Tyng, Miss Alfretta McClure and Miss Rosa Heinzen, the last
four college girls.

MASSACHUSETTS 277

four factory meetings were held ; the suffrage slides were ex-
hibited twelve times at the Merrimac Theater; Miss Foley and
Miss Anne Wellington addressed seven trade unions; 27,000
fliers were distributed and four street meetings held.

An eight-weeks' summer campaign of open-air meetings was
conducted through the great industrial cities of eastern Massa-
chusetts, 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. Glen-
dower Evans, Miss Emily Pierson of Connecticut, and others.
In each city, besides the outdoor meetings, there was some spe-
cial 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. Sev-
eral 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 Yid-
dish 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 conn-
Mrs. A. Watson-Lister of Australia and Mrs. Dora B.
Montefiore of England addressed a number of meetings.

A week of meetings took place in Springfield, State speakers

Cooperating with the local suffr.i mon^ them Mrs. Henry

Phillips, president of the suffrage league; Mrs. McDuffie and Mr.

Myrick, publisher of the "Farm and Home" and "Good House-

: iig." Headquarters were opened in a vacant store with

daily meetings and tra< : addl ( n before the Board

rade. the trarher^, the Woman's, the Mothers', the Socialist

and the College Clubs, the Y. M. C. A. training school and

278 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 headquar-
ters 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.

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.

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 Oiggs. The Boston as-
sociation 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 or-
ganized 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.

Colonel Thomas Wentworth Higginson, one of the few sur-
viving 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 mar-
ried Lucy Stone and Henry B. Blackwell in 1855 and prefixed
an approving foreword to their published protest against the in-
equalities 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 asso-
ciations until his death. For years he was a great power as a

MASSACHUSETTS 279

lecturer and writer and addressed suffrage conventions in many
States. Beginning with 1870 he contributed a long series of
brilliant editorials to the Woman's Journal. 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?

1912. The State annual meeting was held in Boston, October
n, with an unusually large attendance from western Massa-
chusetts. In 1913 it met in Boston May 27, 28. The executive
secretary, Mrs. Marion Booth Kelley, reported that in 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.

1914. The State annual meeting was held in Boston May i
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 Col-
leges, 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.

1916. At the State annual meeting in Boston May 18, i<),
dues were abolished and provision made for organizing the State
along political party lines, as recommended by the National As-
sociation. Mrs. B. F. Pitman of Brookline gave a large recep-
tion. The treasurer reported receipts of $67,232, expenditures
of $63,483.*

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

1 Much help was given for years by the steady financial support of Mrs. R. D. Evnns.
Mrs. Robert Gould Shaw and Mrs. Quinry A. Shaw. The last 'named paid the rent of
the suffrage headquarters during many years and her heirs continued this assistance for
ome time after her death in 1917.

280 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

and the world," especially along the five lines recommended by
the National Suffrage Association; urging nation-wide prohibi-
tion 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," be-
cause of the war emergency. The Twentieth Century Club
rooms were crowded at the New England Conference and Fes-
tival. Miss Blackwell presided. A greeting from the National
Association was brought by Mrs. Nettie Rogers Shuler, its corre-
sponding 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.

1918. At the winter business meeting held in Fitchburg Feb-
ruary 26 Mrs. Pitman reported that more than $30,000 had been
raised by the association for war work. The State annual meet-
ing 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 re-
quest of Mrs. Catt, president of the National American Suffrage
Association, to follow its program of war work. The conven-
tion 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 Okla-
homa, where a suffrage campaign was in progress and the Mas-
sachusetts "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.

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,

MASSACHUSETTS 28l

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.

1919. The mid-winter meeting was held in Worcester Feb-
ruary 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 Fed-
eral Suffrage Amendment had passed the U. S. House of Rep-
resentatives. 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 Mas-
sachusetts woman!" The following Sunday the Boston asso-
ciation 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 Demo-
crat, and Secretary of State Langtry for Governor Coolidge.
10, jo. The annual meeting was again held in Boston, May 27,
Mrs. Bird presiding. She stated that it was the looth anni-
try of the birth of Julia Ward Howe, to whose work for
suffrage and other good causes a heart-felt tribute was paid.
Mrs. T.ird presented Miss Blackwell with a laurel wreath as rep-
ting the pioneers and as having been at the head of the
iation when victory was won. As the complete ratification
almost at hand it was voted to take legal steps to dissolve
Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association. Later it was
decided, in accordance with the policy of the National Associa-
tion, to continue it as a skeleton organization with the same
:ntil all possible need for it should be over. The State
ue of Women Voters was organized, with Mrs. ( Jeorge R.
Jr., as chairman and Miss Blackwell as honorary presi-
the delegates and members of the association enrolling
in the new society. The New England Woman Suffrage Asso-
11 never formally dM>andcd but simply ceased to meet.
m 1910 onward what had tended most to increase member-
ship was the formation of the Woman Suffrage Party to work

VOL. VI

282 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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-parti-
san 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 Brook-
line, 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.

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 Octo-
ber, 1917. Upon her resignation Mrs. Grace A. Johnson was
chosen, who was succeeded by Mrs. Charles Sumner Bird.

In 1912 a new State organization, called the Political Equality
Union, was formed, with Miss Mabel Gillespie as chairman, Mrs.
EitzGerald 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.

MASSACHUSETTS 283

CAMPAIGN. Through the campaign year of 1914, preceding
the vote on a constitutional amendment, which had been sub-
mitted 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 under-
graduates, 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
Kmerson Hall before a large audience.

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

li/ation chairman, and by the spring of 1914 there were i.^S

ics and committees. Just before the vote in November, i < > i 5 ,

these had .^rown to 2OO. Monthly conferences of the district

leaders were held at State headquarters. A systematic effort

made to l.uild up strong suffrage or^ani/.ations in the cities

de of Boston, Worker* and speakers were sent through the

State to help the local workers. In MM j a scries of two-day

conferences wa* held in eleven of the sixteen counties, the first

devoted to discussion .f work with local leaders and the

;d to holding often as many as twenty meetings by a corps

284 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

of speakers, at factories, stores, men's clubs, labor unions, church
organizations, on the street, etc.

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 car-
ried 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.

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 associa-
tion from the verge of debt and filled up its treasury. Her com-
mittee accomplished this by a Bay State Bazaar held every year
at the Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston; by balls, theatrical perform-
ances, outdoor fetes, pageants and other entertainments.

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.

For two years educational work was pushed in every \vay.
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.

Among the means employed to draw attention were huge

MASSACHUSETTS 285

"Votes for Women" kites, voiceless speeches (a series of plac-
ards held up to view in a store window or other public place),
distribution of literature in the baseball parks; a suffrage auto-
mobile 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 conspicu-
ous 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.
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
('aid well Willard, innumerable street meetings were held for a
before the vote, with mass meetings every Sunday in the
Tremont Theater and on the historic Common.

Press material was supplied to city and country papers. The

papers as a whole grew more favorable as time went by

but their editorial pages were much more friendly than the news

nns, which frequently carried stories that werei unfair or

wholly untrue. The Boston Snudii\ Herald printed regular suf-

For some months before the vote and once the daily

>n gave the suffragists a full page. The Boston American

liein issue a special supplement, in charge of Mrs. Jennet U*

A. S Jeffrey and Mrs. Leonard, and this example was followed

by other papers in the State. As always, the Woman's Journal

did much to hold together, encourage and stimulate the workers.

rial committee distributed more than 100,000 copies of suf-

eeches made in Con id more than 300,000 pieces

of other literature within thr last few months before the election.

286 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

The most impressive publicity put forth by the State associa-
tion 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 chair-
manship 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 Da-
vidson, 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 Grimke 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.

The second, called the Victory Parade, was even more suc-
cessful. It included about 15,000 marchers with a substantial
men's section and was viewed by 500,000 people. It was re-
viewed 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' Build-
ing, addressed by the Mayor and others. Parades were held also
in other large cities.

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 organ-
ize 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

MASSACHUSETTS 287

by 28 State federations but in no other had the defeated minority
undertaken to organize another society.

Thirty county fairs out of thirty-seven were covered system-
atically. Special help in the campaign work was given by Ohio,
Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Connecti-
cut. 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, dis-
tributing literature and urging the men to vote yes.

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 i ,675 were supplied with speakers. Big meetings were ad-
dressed 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
published at length in the Boston papers by the Men's

^ue. At the last moment mass meetings were held in Boston
at Symphony Hall and in the largest halls of many other cities.

.mbolical and picturesque flag-raising took place on Boston
Common. A last-minute circular was sent to each of the State's
6oo,OOO rc-i-tercd voters. The day hi- fore the vote the railroad

ns in Boston were visited morning and evening and thou-

ds of pieces of literature were -iven to the commuters.

On election day, Nov. 2. [915, practically all the polling places

in the State were covered by S,ooo women, who stond for hours

holding a loft placards reading. "Show your l-'aith in the Women

of Massachuscti m Woman Suffrage." And yet

r all this strenuous effort and self sacrificing devotion the
idment was defeated by a vote of 295,489 to 163,406, a

288

HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

majority of 132,000. The vote in Boston was: Noes, 53,654;
ayes, 31,428; opposing majority, 22,226.

Louis D. Brandeis said in an address on Columbus Day: "I
doubt if there has been carried on ever in Massachusetts cer-
tainly 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 en-
franchisement." 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 immigra-
tion from Europe, largely ignorant and imbued with the Old
World ideas as to the subjection of women. The religious ques-
tion 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 influ-
enced by the priests.

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 power-
ful 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 pro-
test, the real strength of the movement was in the men.

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 Har-
vard College and the treasurer of the Copley Society. Other

MASSACHUSETTS 289

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 meet-
ings, 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 misrepre-
sentations, 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."

The vote was curiously uniform. Every part of the State gave
an adverse majority; so did every city and town except Tewks-
bury 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.

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

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,

and powerful directors of the monied section of Boston.

the suffrage campaign fund came from fairs, sales

entertainments and of the personal contributions more than

four-fifths were from women, their average donation being $17.

2QO HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 Amend-
ment. 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.

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 associa-
tion 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 congres-
sional districts, each of the forty senatorial districts had its
chairman, all working under the State Chairman of Organiza-
tion, Mrs. Sara S. Gilson. She was followed by Mrs. Mary P.
Sleeper and by Mrs. Elizabeth Tilton, who formed an Advisory
Council of loo influential men in preparation for the campaign
to ratify the Federal Amendment.

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 Govern-
ment. They served on all committees, took part in all "drives,"
sold Liberty Bonds and continued their service till the last de-
mand had been met.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION. 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 argu-
ments 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 Rus-
sell, Aaron H. Latham, Charles R. Saurders or Robert Luce, as

MASSACHUSETTS

attorney for the Anti-Suffrage Association. Miss Blackwell
usually replied for the petitioners. In recent years the suffra-
gists had influential politicians of both parties to speak at the
hearings, thus making woman suffrage a political question.

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. 1 The measure was defeated March
ii by a vote, including pairs, of 156 to 53. Individuals peti-
tioned for Municipal suffrage for women taxpayers, which was
referred to the next Legislature without a roll call.

1902. The association's petition for a constitutional amend-
ment was debated in the House on March 5 and defeated by
a vote (including pairs) of 153 to 61. Petitions from indi-
viduals 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
\Yoman's Christian Temperance Union that women might vote
on licenses, were all rejected, after lively hearings. The Anti-
Suffrage Association opposed all of them.

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

1 Many of the same persons appeared at these hearings year after year. Among tho,.-
not mentioned who spoke for suffrage between 1900 and 1910 were Mrs. I.mia Anns
Mead, Henry B. Blackwell, the Rev. Charles G. Ames, Mrs. Fanny H.
Sarah Cone Bryant, the Rev. Charles F. Dole, Mrs. Anna Christy Fall. Mrs.
Campbell. Miss Mary Ware Allen, Miss Eva Channing, Mrs. Al.hy Morton Dia/. Mi
Lillian Fr< eman Claikr, Mrs. Maud Howe Elliott, Frank B. Sanborn, Mrs. Kliza K.
Whiting, Mrs. Mary Kcnney O'Sullivan, Mrs. A. Watson Lister, of Australia; ex-Gov-
ernor John I). Long. Letters in favor were read from Professor Borden P. Bowne, of
Boston University; U. r. ex-Governor George S. Boutwell, Dr.

Withrow < .: -irrh. Com-: .::iud W. Mi-Call. 1'rofcssor W. O.

Crosby of the Massachusetts I'latt Decker, president

ral Federation of Women'H Clubs, M: president of the

\. Shiek, president of the Wyoming Federation, and Judge

ng those who s, Professor William T. Sedgwick of the

Massachusetts IT logy and Mrs. Sedgwick, Mrs. A. J. George, Mra. Bar-

Vemlell, 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.

292 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 con-
ducted the funeral service, with the six little coffins ranged
before the pulpit. He made a careful inquiry into all the cir-
cumstances and gave a full account of them in the Boston Herald
of April 15, 1901 (republished in the Woman's Journal 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.

When the Equal Guardianship bill was introduced by Repre-
sentative George H. Fall of Maiden 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.

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 Woman's Journal 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 Glouces-
ter 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 ex-
claimed: "If you want to enact legislation which will disrupt
the home and sunder the tenderest and most sacred relations,

MASSACHUSETTS 2Q3

pass this bill!" The House rejected the committee's adverse
report by a viva voce vote and the next day passed the bill with-
out 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.

.1903. The bill for taxpayers' Municipal suffrage was de-
feated February 5 without a roll call; the association's petition
for a constitutional amendment by 99 to 87.

1904. Governor John L. Bates recommended woman suf-
frage 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.

1905. The association's petition for a constitutional amend-
ment 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.

1906. The association's petition for a constitutional amend-
ment 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 de-
feated without a division, as were the petitions for License suf-

and for a vote on school nominations.

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 sup-
ported by representatives of the. Anti-Saloon League, the W. C.
T. I" ., tin- ( hristian Endeavorers, etc., and opposed by the Anti-
Siiffra-r 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.

1908. Municipal suffrage for all women, asked for by the

294 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

association, was vigorously debated and voted down by 99 to 30.
Municipal suffrage for women taxpayers, asked for by individ-
uals, was defeated without a roll call.

1909. At the hearing on February 23 the Boston Herald,
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. 1 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 Jose-
phine Casey, secretary of the Women's Trade Union League;
Henry Abrahams of the Central Labor Union ; Miss Rose Bren-
nan 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. 2
The constitutional amendment was debated March 23. The gal-
leries were reserved for women, yet many were turned away.
The vote stood 171 noes to 54 ayes, including n pairs.

1910. The hearing February 23 on a constitutional amend-
ment 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

1 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.

J 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.

MASSACHUSETTS 2Q5

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 urider 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.

1911. For the first time in many years, the Legislative Com-
mittee 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

iblican party ignored it. The legislators were interviewed
both at flic State I louse and by representative suffragists within
their districts, and they received suffrage literature. The hearing

Vbrnarv 23 was unusually successful from a political and
publicity standpoint. It was conducted by Mrs. Crowley and was
adduced by Mrs. I 'ark and Mrs. Katharine Dexter McConnick :
John Sherman Weaver, representing the State branch of the
American Federation of Labor, and Henry Abrahams for the
ton Central Labor 1'nion. Sylvia Pnnkhurst addressed the
committee in a simple and effective v\;ty. Two of the opposition

essor Sedgwick. The debate

itcd and was conducted for the suffragists by prominent
Senators and Representatives. Four members spoke in opposi-

296 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

tion. 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.

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 candi-
date 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 sensa-
tional 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.

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 Har-
vard and the Hon. Joseph Walker for their help at the hearing.
The amendment had able support from members and the cam-
paign work began to show results. The vote in the House was
ayes, 96, noes, 116; in the Senate, ayes, 14, noes, 17.

In the autumn the method was introduced which many be-
lieved was ultimately responsible for putting the amendment
through the Legislature. It was the defeating of individual

MASSACHUSETTS 297

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 con-
sisted 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 cam-
paign defeated him at the polls and a Democrat was returned
from that district for the first time in many years.

This year marked the high tide of the Progressive party in
Massachusetts. It had put a straight suffrage plank in its plat-
form and its members in the Legislature were very helpful. The
defeat of Wolcott, the publicity, the increasing vote in the Legis-
lature and the general stirring of the suffrage question, had

<\ the opponents to fear that the constitutional amendment

would be submitted. Consequently a bill was filed calling for

her referendum like the one in 1895 which would have no

t after it was taken. The Executive Board of the State

iation protested against it but the situation looked extremely
dark. Levi 1 1. ( ireenwood, President of the Senate, and Grafton
I >. < nulling, Speaker of the House, were bitter opponents of
woman suffrage and on the Committee on Constitutional Amend-
ment* there was only one avowed friend, Lewis H. Sullivan of
The association's Legislative Committee worked

noiisly to pledge votes against the bill. A visit to every editor
in the city by Mr- Page and Mrs. Crowley enlisted them against
it and the numerous editorials that followed were sent day by day
to th itors. The bill's support dwindled, and on April 18

VOL. VI

298 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

At the hearing on the submission of the constitutional amend-
ment, 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 Demo-
crat. 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 Com-
mittee consented that it might be voted down in the Senate,
provided the "straw" vote bill was defeated at the same time.

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 2ist Suf-
folk District; the Legislative Committee of the State Association
defeated Representatives Butler of Lowell and Underbill of
Somerville at the primaries, and Bliss of Maiden and Green-
wood, 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.

In 1914 the Progressive party, the State Federation of Labor,
the Socialists and the State Suffrage Association all intro-
duced suffrage measures. The Progressive and Democratic
parties had planks in their platforms recommending the submis-
sion 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 ex-
pediency, 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 conven-
tion; 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

MASSACHUSETTS 2QQ

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.

In 1915 the legislative work was less onerous and the amend-
ment 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.

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.

In 1916 no suffrage bill of any kind was presented to the Legis-
lature by the State Association but it turned its attention to con-
gressional work. This was skilfully conducted by Mrs. Grace A.
Johnson, chairman; members of Congress were interviewed,
letters and telegrams sent to the Congressional Judiciary Com-
mittee 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 sunmuT the
celebrated with a mass meeting in Faneuil I Fall.

In 1917 Massachusetts held a Constitutional Convention. The
Act calling it, in describing those to whom its recommendations
should l>e submitted for ratification, used the word "people." A
bill drawn by Mrs. Crowley was filed in the Legislature by tin-
State Suffrage Association asking that women be considered
people within the meaning of this Act. The Senate asked the

3OO HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

The directions of the National Suffrage Association for con-
gressional 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 pass-
ing 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 leader-
ship 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.

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. Con-
centrated 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.

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

MASSACHUSETTS 3<DI

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, acording 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.

RATIFICATION. When the Federal Amendment was sub-
mitted by Congress on June 4, 1919, the Legislative Committee
of the State Association, Mrs. Anna C. M. Tillinghast, chair-
man, 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. Til-
linghast 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
ration 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 Char-
lotte Rowe of Yonkers, N. Y., for the "antis." B. Loring
Youni:, Republican floor leader in the House,, acted as chairman
of the suffrage Steering Committee in the House and Joseph
\ in the Senate. The committee reported in favor of ratili-
n with two dissenting.

The debate in the House on June 25 was notable, about fifteen

ibers speaking on each side. An amendment calling for a

referendum was defeated by 166 to 67 and ratification carried by

3O2 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

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.

LAWS. [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 rilling nine typewritten pages, has to be
omitted for lack of space.]

CHAPTER XXI.

MICHIGAN. 1

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.

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 con-
vened 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. 2
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.

1 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.

1 Following are the times and places of holding State conventions: Oct. 23-35, 1901,

Saginaw; Oct. 29-31, 1902. Charlotte; Nov. 10-12, 1903, Paw Paw; Oct. 25-27, 1904,

Jackson; Nov. 1-3, 1905, Port Hur<>n; Oct. 9, 10, 1906, Kalamazoo; Sept. 18-20, 1907,

Charlotte; Nov. 5, 6. 1908, Bay ' 7, 8, 1909. C.r.-ui.l Rapids; Nov. 6-8, 1910,

Kalamazoo; Nov. 16, 17, 1911, Knl.miaroo; no convention in 1912; Jan. 15, 16, 1913,

Lansing; Nov. 5-7, 1913. Jackson; Nov. 4-6, 1914, Traverse City; Nov. 10, n, i95,

Saginaw; Nov. 15-17, 1916, Grand Rapids; no convention in 1917; March 26, 27, 1918,
. April 3, 4, '9'9, Grand Rapids.

303

304 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 constitu-
tion 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.

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 Woman's Journal 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.

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 situa-
tion 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.

The Committee on Elective Franchise of the constitutional

MICHIGAN 305

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,
\Yoman's Christian Temperance Union, State Federation of
Labor, Detroit Garment Workers, State Woman's Press Asso-
ciation and several women's and farmers' clubs. A petition rep-
resenting 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 pro-
posed 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 constitu-
tion 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 constitu-
tion 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.]

In the spring Mrs. Arthur with Mrs. Maud Wood Park,

ni/.er for the National College Suffrage League, formed

in the colleges at Albion, Hillsdale, Olivet and Ann

Arlx>r and among the collegiate alumnae in Detroit, of which

Hr Mary Thompson Stevens was made president. In June the

six State delegates to the National Democratic convention

petitioned for a woman suffrage plank in the platform.

'1 he next task was to try to comply with the re-quest of the

National Suffrage Association to secure 100,000 names to a

11 -\\ide petition to be presented to Congress for a Federal

Amendment. Mr- I cm Kichardson Rowe, Grand

was chairman of the work, which took up the greater

of the year 1909 and went over into 1910. This last year

3O6 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

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 submis-
sion 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 immedi-
ately 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 remain-
ing were devoted to an intensive educational campaign, made
possible only by the organizing work since 1906.

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

MICHIGAN 307

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 over-
whelmingly in favor of the amendment. The newspapers fixed
its majority at figures varying from 3,000 to 12,000. Immedi-
ately 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.

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 de-
manded 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.

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 cooper; it
ing 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 Ant i- Suffrage Association. Their

3O8 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

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. 1

A placard printed in English and German and posted in saloons
in various parts of the city by the Michigan Staatterbund an-
nounced 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 K.
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.

On March 29, with the election less than a week away, John
Dohrinan and Senator James R. Murtha, representing Mr. Liv-
ingston, and Carl Bauer of the Staatterbund appeared before the
Circuit Court with a petition to have the suffrage amendment

1 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 com-
mittee, Miss Julia Russell, Mrs. A. A. Griffiths, Mrs. J. A. McMillan, Mrs. Fred Rey-
nolds, Mrs. Edward H. Parker, Mrs. Richard Jackson and Miss Caroline Barnard.

MICHIGAN 309

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.

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
ick 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 circulariz-
ing were done under the immediate direction of the county chair-
men. 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, receiv-
ing 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.

The preceding year the liquor forces had not realized the need
live 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 Associa-
tion. 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
previ ison of the presidential election.

After the election county chairmen and all suffragists were
d to urge their representatives in Congress to support (lie
ral Amendment. This was followed by a trip through the

310 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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. 1

Although recovering from two successive defeats the associa-
tion found itself in 1914 able to carry on more systematic work
than had ever been attempted. In February a monthly magazine,
the Michigan Suffragist, 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.

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 confer-
ences were held. All State and national candidates were inter-
viewed on woman suffrage personally or by letter. Many meet-
ings were addressed by national and international speakers.

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

1 Mrs. Brotherton writes: "Special tribute should be paid to the splendid adminis-
trative 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.

MICHIGAN 311

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.

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 Repre-
sentative 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
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
quet in Hotel Statler, where the convention took place.

The State Board presented a full report and program for
war activities but no plan for campaign. Most of the
:ates 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.

3 12 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 cheer-
fully 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 ].
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. Brother-
ton, Mrs. G. W. Patterson, Dr. Raines, 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.

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., de-
voted 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

MICHIGAN 313

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.

Few campaigns ever had so much help from organizations out-
side 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."

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 dis-
tricts. They financed their own work entirely, using their own
skilled organizers whenever it was necessary, especially in the
I pper Peninsula, where no other workers were sent. The story
of Mr<. 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.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ford, Mr. and Mrs. Willard Pope, Mr.
and Mrs. (Itistavus Pope, Mrs. John B. Ford, Mrs. Delphine
Dodge Ashbau^h 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
ess women. Many of the larger cities financed their own
campaigns for the last six v \mong the individual men

who gave great financial a ^i stance at this time were James
Couzens, Chas. B. Warren, member of the Republican National

VOU VI

314 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

The National Suffrage Association gave in cash $1,400, paid
the bill for literature and posters, $1,335, an d made other contri-
butions amounting to $6,000. It paid salaries and part of the
expenses from Jan. i, 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 cam-
paigned 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 win-
dows, 1,000 street car advertisements, 174 large billboard posters
and 1,766 inches of paid advertisements in newspapers."

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 dis-
organized; 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.

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 Woman Citizen,
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.

MICHIGAN 315

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 ma-
jority was over three times as large 207,520 and the amend-
ment was defeated.

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 approach-
ing ratification campaign were made and she was authorized to
secure chairmen for the new departments of work. The willing-
ness of women to accept the various chairmanships was in marked
contrast to the difficulties encountered during suffrage campaigns.

RATIFICATION. The Federal Suffrage Amendment was sub-
mitted 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
slature assembled at 2 o'clock on Tuesday, June 10. The
Senate and House at once voted unanimously in favor of ratifi-
cation. The same day the Wisconsin and Illinois Legislatures
also ratified. These three States were the first to take action.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION. 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.

1905. A similar resolution was introduced by Representative
rge E. Dewey but failed to pass by seven votes.
,i i. The same resolution received in the House 55 ayes,
44 noes, lacking the necessary two-thirds, and failed in the
Senate by two votes.

1912. In the call for a special session Governor Osborn in-

316 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

eluded 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.

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 presi-
dent, 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.

1915, The bill for Municipal suffrage was rejected as uncon-
stitutional.

1917. Two measures were introduced, one for the amend-
ment 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.

CHAPTER XXII.

MINNESOTA. 1

The great event for the Minnesota Woman Suffrage Associa-
tion in 1901 was the convention of the National American
\Yoman Suffrage Association May 3O-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 Woman s Journal, 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.

The State convention of 1901 was held in Mankato in October,
with Mrs. Catt as the principal speaker. Mrs. Maud C. Stock-
well 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 Minne-
apolis Miss Anna Gjertsen was engaged to organize the Scandi-
navian women. Among the names enrolled in the suffrage booth at
the State Fair were those of Theodore Roosevelt, Vice-Presi-
dcnt 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
elected vice-president. The press chairman stated that fifteen
papers were using suffrage articles and the enrollment and
the petition work for Presidential suffrage was being success-

1 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.

317

HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

fully carried on. The association was incorporated this year.

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 con-
tinued 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.

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.

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 suf-
frage 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

MINNESOTA 319

committees in twelve towns. It was decided to circularize the
teachers of the State.

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 Hiilletin, 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 her-
self, sometimes had it typwritten and when possible printed,
always herself addressing and mailing copies to the State mem-
bers. An important event of the year was the unanimous
endorsement of woman suffrage by the State Editorial Associa-
tion, 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.

In November, 1910, the State convention was entertained by
the Minneapolis Political Equality Club, organized in 1868.
Mrs. Stock-well, 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
-urer ten years, first vice-president. The petition was re-
ported as finished with 20,300 names. It \v;is sent to Washington
presented to Congress by Senator Moses E. Clapp with an
est plea for its consideration. In October, 1911, the con-
vention again went to St. Paul and Mrs. A. T. Hall of this city
> elected president.

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

32O HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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. 1

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 Henne-
pin County suffrage organization. A Women Workers' Suffrage
Club was formed with Mrs. Gertrude Hunter, president.

In November, 1914, at the convention in Minneapolis, Mrs.
Ueland was elected president and served for the next five years. 2
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 dem-
onstration May 2 with mass meetings in each city, a street meet-
ing and parade in St. Paul at noon and a joint parade in Minne-
apolis in the afternoon with 2,000 men and women in line.

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. Or-
ganization by districts was arranged for. In conformity with
plans sent out from the National Association, quarterly confer-
ences were held in different sections of the State. "Organization
day" on February 15, Miss Anthony's birthday, was celebrated

*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 Min-
neapolis 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.

1 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 Asso-
ciation to the letter, secured legislation, and not only took advantage of every opportunity
for propaganda but created opportunities.

MINNESOTA 321

in fifteen legislative districts with meetings and pageants. Dur-
ing 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. 1

In October, 1916, at the convention in Minneapolis, a delight-
ful 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 Asso-
ciation 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 stop-
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, organ-

3 and speakers were contributed to the Iowa campaign.
In December, 1917, the convention again met in Minneapolis
with Mrs. Nellie McClting of Kdmonton, Alberta, as speaker.
Pledges were made of $8,000 for State work and $3,000 to the
onal Association as the State's apportionment. In order to
push Federal Amendment work chairmen were secured for the
congressional districts. Resolutions for it were passed at
many conventions. In May Dr. Effie McCollum Jones of Iowa
bad made a lecture tour of the State, contributed by the Na-
il Association, and addressed 10,000 people. An attractive

1915 the Congressional Union, afterward the National Woman's Party, formed an

organization in St. i'aul with Mrs. Alexan.l- r < olvin chairman. The members were

urn the State association and for a few yrars were active in both organizations.

322 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

concrete building had been erected on the State Fair grounds by
the Scandinavian Association and presented to the State associa-
tion. 1 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.

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 follow-
ing plank had appeared in the platform of the Democratic State-
wide 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 Demo-
cratic endorsement ever received and there was none from the
Republicans. 2

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.

RATIFICATION. 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, golden-

1 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.

* 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. Kurd 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.

MINNESOTA 323

rod, yellow bunting and the word "suffrage" on the windshields.
By 10 o'clock the galleries and the corridors were filled to over-
flowing 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 1 20 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 Minne-
sota, and with no debate went through by 60 to 5.

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.

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 ulti-
mate attainment of justice.

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. 1 Mrs. Ueland soon resigned to take the chair-

1 Following are a few names not mentioned elsewhere in the chapter of the many
devoted friend* and workers during the score of years: Dr. I.TUH Northrup, Professor
Maria Sanford, Judge A. ( i. Professor A. W. Rankin, Dr. Elizabeth Wood-

worth, Mesdames Margaret K. Rogers, Martha A. Dorsctt, May Dudley Grcclcy, M. A.
. Eva S. Jerome, Alice Taylor, Lilla P. Clark, Milton E. Purdy, C. P. Noycs,
ie Lawrci. vans, George M. Partridge, J. W. Andrews, C. M. Stockton,

Burr. J. M. C-uinr. J. \V. Straight; Misses Ella Whitney, A. A. Connor. Nellie
Merrill, Hope McDonald, Josephine Schain, Blanche Segar, Cornelia Lusk, Martha
Anderson (Wyman); Messrs. C. W. Dorsctt, S. R. Child. A. H. Bright.

324 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

manship of the Legislative Committee and was succeeded by Miss
Wells, the vice-chairman.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION. 1903. A Presidential suffrage bill
was introduced in the House and energetically pushed but was
not reported by the Judiciary Committee.

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 Legisla-
ture but he failed to do so. The resolution to submit a consti-
tutional amendment was introduced in the House but not re-
ported by the Judiciary Committee.

1907. After the resolution for a suffrage amendment was
presented a hearing was granted by the Senate Elections Com-
mittee 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 Uni-
versity of Minnesota and the committee reported favorably. It
was defeated in the Senate and not brought up in the House.

1909. At the hearing before the Joint Committee on Elec-
tions 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.

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 dele-
gations from the Twin Cities of a Memorial to a joint gathering
of the two Houses with pleas for a State amendment. The reso-
lution 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.

1913. Senator Sageng again had charge of the suffrage reso-
lution, which passed the House by a majority of 43 votes but
failed in the Senate by three.

1915. Mrs. Andreas Ueland was chairman of the Legislative
Committee from 1915 to 1919 inclusive. Senator Sageng pre-
sented the amendment resolution in the Senate and Representa-

MINNESOTA 325

tive 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. 1 It failed
by one vote and was not brought up in the House. A Presiden-
tial suffrage bill was also introduced but did not come to a vote.

1917. The suffrage work was confined to the Presidential
suffrage bill which was defeated in the Senate by two votes.

1919. This Legislature adopted a resolution calling upon
Congress to submit the Federal Suffrage Amendment; House
loo to 28 in favor, Senate 49 to 7. It was decided not to intro-
duce 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, n noes. It was signed by Governor
J. A. A. Burnquist two days later in the presence of a group
of suffragists. 2

1 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.

1 Among legislators not mentioned who were helpful during these years were Senator
Stockwell and Representatives W. I. Norton, H. H. Harrison, W. I. Nolan,
Sherman Child, John Sanborn and Claude Southwick.

CHAPTER XXIII.

MISSISSIPPI. 1

From 1899 to I 9^ 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 ex-
istence. 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.

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 enroll-
ment 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.

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 2ist, in response to a call sent out by her, a
meeting was held in the parlor of the Edwards House in Jack-
son. Those in attendance were Miss Kearney, Mrs. Butt, Mrs.

1 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.

326

MISSISSIPPI 327

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 re-
organize 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.

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
Democrat, J. R. Oliphant of the Poplarville Free Press, Frank R.
Birdsall of the Yazoo Sentinel, C. E. Glassco of the Cleveland
Enterprise, Joseph Norwood of the Magnolia Gazette, James
Fan Ik of the Greene County Herald.

Adverse articles were carefully answered and private letters
t, the enemy quietly reasoned with and in most cases
verted. News bulletins furnished by the national press de-
partment were u>ed but most of the matter sent out was pre-
! at home in the belief that an ounce of Mississippi was worth
ind of Massachusetts. Articles published in leaflet form and
ibnted ] ' were written by Mrs. Somerville, Miss

Kearney. Mrs. Thompson, the Rev. Thomas K. Mellen and the
If. Walter Keatherstnn, Methodist ministers. One of the
valuable contributions was The Legal Status of Mississippi
Women, by Robert Campbell, an attorney of Greenville.

In November. 10,07. a conference lasting five days was held at
in the home of Charles II. Thompson, a devoted suf
and his wife, Lily Wilkinson Thompson. Among those

HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

attending were Miss Kearney, Mrs. Somerville, Mrs. Harriet B.
Kells, president of the State W. C. T. U. and a life-long suf-
fragist; 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 Legis-
lature he mentioned woman suffrage as one of the questions
"pressing for solution in a National Constitutional Convention."

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 Gark of Clarksdale having come from the greatest dis-
tance, and about fourteen were in attendance. The officers
elected were: President, Mrs. Somerville; vice-presidents, Mrs.
Thompson, Mrs. Fannie Clark, Mrs. Kells ; corresponding secre-
tary, 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.

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. Thomp-
son gave a report of the press work, which had grown to such
proportions that it was considered very significant of advance in

MISSISSIPPI 329

suffrage sentiment throughout the State. The Rev. George
Whitfield, a venerable Baptist minister, came from the neighbor*
ing 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.

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 Daily News, had given space for
a weekly suffrage column edited by Mrs. Thompson. Mrs. J. C.
nicy edited a similar column in the Greenville Democrat.
Mrs. Madge Quin Fugler supplied five papers and Mrs. Mont-
gomery two. Miss Ida Ward of Greenville wrote articles for the
papers of that town and Mrs. Mohlenhoff edited a column in the
Cleveland Enterprise. Among other papers publishing suffrage
material were the McComb City Journal and the Enterprise and
the M a (idzcttc. From the press superintendent there had

"lit 1.700 articles, ranging in length from a paragraph to
a half p.i-v. many of them written by her, and they were given
pnnnimnrr in special editions. Ten copies of the Woman's
'.// which came from the national press department for years
t'nrwank-d to college, town and State libraries and to editors.
H"\v far and deep the influence of those Journals reached is

imputation.

In the fall of 1910 the State association joined the Tennessee

1 Suffrage Association in a booth at the Tri-State Fair in

\n interesting feature was the press exhibit, con-

f a width of canvass many yards long on which had

<<! clipping from Mi^Nsippi newspapers, suffrage argu-

Mc ("inimnt. Tin- annual convention was held

in i -HI. Miss Gordon and Judge Thomas spoke

VOL. Yl

33 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

at the evening session. Editor C. E. Glasco gave an earnest talk
at a morning session. The department chairmen brought encour-
aging reports of their work. A letter was read from Colonel Clay
Sharkey of Jackson, which later was published in leaflet form.

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 after-
wards 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. Somer-
ville, 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.

In response to the call to take part in the parade in Wash-
ington 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 superin-
tendent 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 Herald, edited by N. A. Mott, was

MISSISSIPPI 331

a new recruit. The Purple and White, a Millsaps College paper,
was supplied with suffrage material by a bright senior, Janie
Linfield.

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 suf-
frage booth was the most popular place on the grounds. For
the first time the association was invited to take part on Woman's
Pay 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.

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.

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
^poke were Mrs. Fannie S. Clark, Mrs. E. T. Edmonds, presi-
dent of the Equity League, and Mrs. Royden-Douglas, preside 1 ! it
of the State Federation of Women's Clubs. In her president's
address Mrs. Thompson recommended that the association ask the
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.

Letters to tlie president and secretary from U. S. Senators
John Sharp Williams and James K Vardaman were read in
reply to appeals that they r the Federal Amendment.

Senator Vardaman said that when the amendment came up lie

33 2 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

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. Head-
quarters were again maintained, for which space tkree 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.

In April, 1914, the State convention was again held in Jack-
son. 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, Pur fey and they were generously cheered along the way.

MISSISSIPPI 333

In the spring of 1915 the State convention was held in Green-
ville. 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 Revolu-
tion, 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 in-
fluence 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.

The annual convention was held in 1916 in the city hall in
Meridian, where nineteen years before the State Woman Suf-
frage 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 Stark-
ville 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, presi-
dent 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
Mates had now entered the war and the suffragists began
to concentrate on war work. As chairman of the Woman's
Committee, Mississippi l)ivi>imi of the National Council of De-
fense, she was able to help popularize woman suffrage. 1

In April, 191 <S, a one-day coiitVrence was held in the Capitol

1 Besides thosr following served on the official board: Mrs. Jimniie

Andrews Lipscomb, Mm. Nella Lawrence Lee, Miss Mattie Kirkpatrick, Mrs. Annie

Kinkead Dmt. Mrs. Ella O. Biggs, Mrs. Alma Dorsey Birdull, Mrs. Durrant, Mrs.

Marshall Tucker, Mrs. Mary I'owcll Crane, Miss Ethel Clagett, Mrs. C. C. Miller,

Mrs. T. P. Buntin, Miss Estelle Crane, Miss Nannie Herndon Rice.

334 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 Clarks-
dale 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 Con-
gress 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 Com-
mittee; 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, news-
papers 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 Federa-
tion, held in Gulfport, closed with a "suffrage luncheon," a bril-
liant 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.

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. Mc-
Grath 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. Rosen-

MISSISSIPPI 335

baum) 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 dis-
senting vote, that of Mrs. Lizzie George Henderson of Green-
wood, 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.

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.

There never has been any organized opposition among Missis-
sippi 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.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION. 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 Kin-
kead Dent, and other members. The president at her own ex-
pense sent the Woman's Journal and other literature to all legis-
lators 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 Talla-
hatchie county offered it in the Senate three days later. The
I tallM ( 'onunittce on Constitution, to which the hill was referred,
ted a hearing, at which speeches were made by Mrs. Monroe

HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 Daily News had gone to press and
the Clarion Ledger, a morning paper, had some time before for-
bidden its columns to any news or notices in any way favoring
woman suffrage or advertising it.

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 morn-
ing 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. Repre-
sentative S. Joe Owen of Union county vigorously led the fight
against it and it was lost by 80 noes, 42 ayes.

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 intro-
duced in the Senate a concurrent resolution to amend the State

MISSISSIPPI 337

constitution. The members of the Equity League gave assist-
ance; 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
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.

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.

RATIFICATION. Congress submitted the Federal Amendment
in June, and the Ratification Committee was organized in Novem-
ber. 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
matically interviewed, literature distributed, petitions cir-
.ted and the press kept supplied with arguments and news.

Mrs. Thompson, in charge of the Jackson press, wrote innu-

tble articles, and Mrs. Somerville and others contributed to

the press work. letters, telegrams and petitions from all over the

< urging ratification poured in daily upon both lloiisc-s.

Delegations of women came to urge their represent at ives to vote

for ratification. Nine influential women came from Landerdale

county bringing a petition of 2,100 names of prominent people

HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

obtained in a day and a half and begged their representatives to
vote for the amendment but not one of them did so.

Many of the State's leading newspapers were in favor of
ratification. The Daily News of Jackson, in keeping with its
policy for years, gave editorial support and generously of its
space. The Clarion Ledger, also a Jackson daily, boasted of
being the only paper in the State which openly fought ratifica-
tion. 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 in-
fluence 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.

The retiring and incoming State officials were almost to a
man outspoken in their advocacy of ratification. Governor Theo-
dore 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

MISSISSIPPI 339

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.

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 danger-
ous 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 announce-
ment received with cheers and laughter. Sennett Conner of Cov-
ington county was the Speaker of the House whose ruling per-
mitted this unparliamentary action.

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 ratify-
ing 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.

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 11 In Mississippi a nomination is equivalent to

an election. Both bills were defeated. A resolution for a woman
suffrage amendment to tin- Slate constitution to be submitted
to the voters at the election of November, 1920, passed both

34 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 Whit-
worth introduced two bills, one giving suffrage to women in
primary elections and the other in general elections, both con-
tingent upon ratification. These bills passed without opposition.

During the last week of the Legislature Senator Roberts called
out of the committe 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.

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 Ratifica-
tion." 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 Com-
mittee, Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels, Attorney Gen-
eral 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 ratifica-
tion 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

MISSISSIPPI 341

this session) spoke against ratification and while he was speak-
ing 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.

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.

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.

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 be-
fore 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.

CHAPTER XXIV.

MISSOURI. 1

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 strenu-
ous work. A few women kept up a semblance of a State organiza-
tion, 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.

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 Eng-
land. In no State perhaps was there more bitter invective hurled
at them than by the press and people of Missouri but the con-
science of the convinced suffragists was aroused. Stirring ad-
dresses in St. Louis by Stanton Coit of London and John Love-
joy Elliott of New York in defense of the English "militants"

1 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.

342

MISSOURI 343

brought matters to a crisis and a few bold spirits decided to
reorganize the scattered suffrage forces.

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 Rom-
bauer ; recording secretary, Miss Heltzell ; treasurer, Mrs. Knefler ;
auditor, Mrs. Leslie Thompson.

Miss Arnold's lecture took place April 11 and her charm,

ire and cogent reasoning won many friends to the cause and

med many of its opponents. Branch organizations were

formed in the northern and southern parts of the city with

Mrs. Atlanta Hecker and Miss Cecilia Ka/.nvsky as presidents.

Meetings were held in the Cabanne Branch Library and before

nd of the year the members had increased to 275. 1 During

1 Thirteen men were enrolled this year, Eugene Angert, George Blackman, R \V.
RoTMelier, Dr. W. W. Boyd, Mr. Cha M. Grossman, Charles Haanel, Stephen

> Van Dyke Hill, Dr. John C. Morfit, II. J. Peifer, Judge R. E. Roml-.iucr
and Percy Werner.

344 , HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

the first year the league brought a number of lecturers to the
city, realizing that this was the most valuable form of propa-
ganda 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.

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 Asso-
ciation invited Miss Sylvia Pankhurst to lecture and the result
was most gratifying to the friends of suffrage.

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 Suf-
frage, 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

MISSOURI 345

of schools in St. Louis and later U. S. Commissioner of Educa-
tion, with his strong testimony in favor of woman suffrage.

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.

1 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, secre-
tary; 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 propa-
ganda extended gradually to every section of the State. Mrs.

:;er, president of the St. Louis Women's Trades Union,

nized a league among its members, which, under the leader-
ship of Mrs. Sarah Spraggon and Miss Sallie Quick, did excellent
\vi.rk in the campaigns that followed.

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 Tniversity Law School, and Miss Jessie Lansing

Mollcr, which starting with 50 members, eventually numbered

The same year the Junior I'ranch of the St. Louis League

anized, which included many of the younger society girls

and matrons. Miss Ann Drew (later Mrs. James Platt) was

l(i it In Kansas City in the autumn the Southside Equal

Suffrage League was formed with Mrs. Cora Kramer Leavens,

;dent, and Miss Cora Best Jewell, secretary. A Men's K<|ual

I 'ague was also organized with D. II. Holt president ;

I. li in, vice-president; David Proctor, secretary, which

YOU VI

34-6 f HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

did a large work in securing the big vote given to the suffrage
amendment in Kansas City and Jackson county in 1914.

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 endorse-
ment of woman suffrage.

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 strenu-
ous 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.

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 Post
Dispatch offered prizes amounting to $100 for the best argu-
ments in favor and often contained strong editorials. Thanks
largely to Miss Jane Winn, on the editorial staff of the Globe
Democrat, suffrage news was seldom refused by that paper.
The Kansas City Star and the Post gave strong support. Best

MISSOURI 347

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 "Every-
body's doing it.'' The details were arranged by Mrs. W. W.
Boyd, Jr.

The time was judged to be ripe for an organized effort to
secure action at the general election of 1914 and two plans pre-
sented 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 $i 1,000 were pledged, which
were turned over to Mrs. B. B. Graham, campaign treasurer.
Headquarters were opened down town with Mrs. Knefler, cam-
paign manager, in charge. The interest aroused throughout the
c by the circulating of the petition was manifested at the State
ron vent ion in Columbia, in May, 1914, which was attended by
a number of delegates from the country districts. Mrs. Miller
re-elected president. On "suffrage day," May I, men and
women addressed crowds between acts at different theaters and
of public buildings. Miss Fola LaFollette was
the B] at a large evening meeting and addressed the Men's

City Club at luncheon the next day. The slogan was sent out
and wide, "Suffrage for Missouri in 1914." After the
heavy task of obtaining 14,000 names to the petition and a
nuous campaign the amendment was defeated at the polls.

In 1915 an offer was made by a newspaper man in Monet to

34-8 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

publish a suffrage magazine and eagerly accepted, the suffragists
agreeing to furnish the material and to work up the subscrip-
tions. Mrs. Blair was the first editor of the Missouri Woman
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 prom-
inent 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.

During 1916 the St. Louis Equal Suffrage League reorgan-
ized 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 unani-
mously elected chairman. At the convention held in Spring-
field 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 associa-
tion also was reorganized on political lines and a Congressional
Committee of sixteen members representing the sixteen con-
gressional districts was appointed. The St. Louis League sub-
scribed $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 plat-
form 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.

The National Democratic Convention held in St. Louis in

MISSOURI 349

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 con-
'1 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.

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
1>\ 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
were the States in which only partial suffrage had been
granted, impersonated by women dressed in gray. At the bottom,
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
Museum, when Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, William Jennings
n, U. S. Senator John F. Shafroth and Mrs. Miller addressed
thusiastic audiences. The Town Club, an organiza-
women, gave a dinner with covers laid for 300, which
was followed by music and speaking in front of the Jefferson
el. On the same night there was street speaking on the
principal down town corners for two hours, one speaker relieving
he crowds called for more. Miss Scott brought out
an impressive number of the Missouri Woman during the con-
ion. William Hums, a well-known artist on the Post
itch. (It-signed an attractive and significant cover and Miss
Martin illustrate. 1 a story by Mrs. Blair; editors of

35 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

the St. Louis dailies, Louis Ely, Casper Yost and Paul W. Brown,
contributed editorials and William Marion Reedy, editor of the
St. Louis Mirror, 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.

The result partially of all the hard work and enthusiasm was a
woman suffrage plank in the platform according to the Demo-
cratic principle of State's rights, which, though not entirely
satisfactory to the suffragists, was regarded as a decided victory.

The entrance of the United States in the World War in 1917
acted as a deterrent of suffrage activities, as the various organiza-
tions 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 enfran-
chisement of the women of America. Missouri's quota for the
Oversea Hospitals organized by the National Suffrage Asso-
ciation 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 Na-
tional Association and Mrs. George Gellhorn organized its work
for Missouri. All demands of the Government were fully met.

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
Geeks 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, resign-
ing because of illness, Mrs. Gellhorn was elected.

MISSOURI 351

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

- meetings at the Odeon, and was declared by Mrs. Catt to
have been "the best convention ever held anywhere." A large

:p 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.

On the evening of March 28 was held one of the mass meet-
ings. The large auditorium of the Odeon, beautifully decorated
for the occasion under the supervision of Mrs. Fred Taussig and
Mrs. Kverett 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

ouri delegation, composed of Mrs. Miller, Mrs. David

il, Mrs. \V. 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

met at the door and escorted down the center aisle by Mrs.

(iellhorn, holding aloft a banner bearing the words, "Now we

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 pre-

d to tin- audience by the presiding officer, I )r. Shaw, who
ratulated them and the rest of the women of Missouri on
the great victory. [Full account of convention in Chapter
XVIII, Volume V.]

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 Motel.
The guests of honor were Senator James W. McKni-ht and

35 2 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 de-
lightful afternoon. Mrs. Fred English was elected president of
the league. At the State convention held at St. Louis Mrs. Gell-
horn was elected president, Mrs. Miller honorary president, Mrs.
David O'Neil honorary vice-president of the association.

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.

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 congres-
sional districts. Miss Ames and Miss Lutie Stearns, two expert
organizers, traveled through the State holding meetings and con-
ducting schools. Mrs. Leighty and Mrs. Alfred Buschman as-
sisted 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 import-
ance 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 espe-
cially noteworthy; in one school over 300 were in constant at-
tendance. Mrs. McBride, secretary of the Jackson county

MISSOURI 353

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 govern-
ment, organization, publicity, public speaking, suffrage history
and argument, parliamentary law and use of literature.

The submission of the Federal Suffrage Amendment by Con-
gress in June, 1919, was celebrated with the greatest joy through-
out 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
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.

RATIFICATION. Steps were at once taken to secure the ratifi-
cation of the amendment by the Legislature. Edward F. Goltra,
National Democratic Committeeman, a proved friend, and Ben
Is, State Democratic chairman, were often asked for advice
and other help. Jacob Babler, Republican National Committee-
man, and W. L. Cole, Republican State chairman, Mayor Keil
and many others of both political parties assisted the suffrage
iations in placing before Governor Gardner the urgency of
calling a special session. He was not slow in responding and
called for July 2, 1919. All the suffrage organizations
in the State, with the Federated Clubs and the Woman's Christian
'IVmperance Union, started to work immediately to make sure
large majority. Legislators were visited by their constitu-
and letters and telegrams were showered on them by proini
men and women from other sections of the State.
On July i the MiffragisN gathered in Jefferson City and opened
ate board meeting with a luncheon and speeches at the New
ral Hotel to which every one was welcome. At 7 o'clock the
at ion dinner took place, with members of the Legislature
ivited guests of tin association. Every foot of

e in the dining-room, ante-room and lobby of the hotel was

354 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

filled with tables. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor were
escorted to the hall by prominent suffragists and both made
stirring appeals.

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 cele-
bration 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.

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.

Missouri women will forever remember gratefully the 5Oth
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.

A called convention of the State association was held October
1 6- 1 8, at the Hotel Statler in St. Louis and the name was
changed to the Missouri League of Women Voters. Mrs. Gell-
horn was elected chairman. Every district was represented by
the 122 delegates present.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION. 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 amend-
ment 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

MISSOURI 355

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 Suf-
frage 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.

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

urged to take charge of the work, the St. Louis Suffrage
League agreeing to look after the three most difficult congres-
sional 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 organ-
ization 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

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
to present the petitions to Secretary of State Cornelius
Roach. I Ie received them in a most friendly manner, saying that
he hoped this work, which had been done at such great c

d bring the desired reward.
It had only he^un and the ta^k during the next six months was

duce the men to vote for the amendment, which now had
an assured place on the ballot. Help came from the outside. ELS
well as within the State. Ruth Hanna (Mrs. Medill) Me

356 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

Cormick 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 Ken-
tucky, 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 down-
town building in St. Louis with Miss Rumbold as director of
publicity, Miss Genevieve Tierney and Mrs. R. L. San ford 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 Sommer-
ville for St. Louis. 1 The St. Louis Times, the Kansas City Post
and the \Varrensburg Daily Star allowed the women to get out
a special suffrage edition.

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.

1915. It had been decided at the first State board meeting
after the defeat to attempt again to have an amendment sub-
mitted 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 Representa-
tive Roney, as before. A joint hearing was arranged at which
twelve Missouri women, representing various professions and
ocupations, 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

1 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.

MISSOURI 357

opposed to woman suffrage, was persuaded to report it favorably
but it did not come to a vote in the Senate.

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.

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 Cali-
fornia, Mo., in charge and a strong lobby of State women re-
mained 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 intro-
duced by Senator Robert J. Mitchell of Aurora and Representa-
tive Xick 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
Xew 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.

Missouri women now turned their attention to furthering the
ral 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
i 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 assist-
ance of Miss Mabel Stone, daughter of the Missouri Senator,
William R. Stone, for a meeting in his office between them and
State's members of Congress. They presented their petitions
and made earnest appeals for the amendment.

Suffragists throughout the State kept up a constant stream of

35$ HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 concen-
trated 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 Spen-
cer and the entire delegation in the House voted in favor. Sena-
tor Reed fought it every time it came before the Senate.

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 at-
tended the Democratic convention in Jefferson City; Mrs. Gell-
horn 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.

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.

On February 6 the Presidential bill was put on the cal-
endar over the adverse report of the Election Committee, an
action almost without precedent. On the nth the Speaker left
the chair and delivered a powerful address urging its passage.
Representative Frank Farris also made a strong speech in its

MISSOURI 359

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
jjth 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 ac-
cepted 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
;t or Me Knight was reading a telegram from the National
Suffrage Convention in session at St. Louis urging the imme-
diate passage of the Presidential suffrage bill Senator Gray
quietly walked in and took his seat! The opposition, out-witted
and out-gciK-raled, threw up their hands and the bill was passed
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.

CHAPTER XXV.

MONTANA. 1

Before 1900 the National American Woman Suffrage Asso-
ciation, 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:

On May I, 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 cam-
paign 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 or-
ganizations 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 head-
quarters 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 laboi
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.

Miss Laughlin spent the summer and fall visiting every town of
importance, organizing more than thirty clubs and securing com-
mittees to circulate petitions where organization was impracticable.

1 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.

360

MONTANA 36l

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 Gov-
ernor 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. 1

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
\Yhipple, 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.

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

O'Xeill addressed the committees but the vote was adverse.

For a number of years little was done except in a desultory

The suffrage resolution was presented at almost every

"ii of the Legislature but there was no intensive work for it.

e of the political equality clubs lived on, the strongest one

ula with J. Washington McCormick president and Miss

Rankin vice-president. In 1911 Dr. J. M. Donahue

had introduced the suffrage resolution in the Legislature but no

had been done for it and this club sent Miss Rankin to

ia to press for its passage. It found champions in Colonel

. B. Nolan, W. W. Berry and D. G. O'Shea and opponents in

James E. McNally and Joseph Binnard. Miss Rankin obtained

'n to address the House. The Senate refused to attend

hr intensive work thgt followed, Mrs. Tower was assisted by Dr. Dean, Mrs.

James U. Sanders. Mrs. T. J. Walsh, Mrs. Bessie Hughes Smth.

Dunkel, Mrs. Ilia Kru.wlcs Haskell, Mrs. Adelaide Staves Reedcr, Dr.

Mrs. C. B. Nolan. Mrs. Donald Bradford, Madame F. Rowena

, Sarepta Sanders, Dr. Mary B. Atwatcr, Mrs. H. L. Sherlock, Mrs. Hughes

and Miss Mai> C. Wheeler.

362 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

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 chair-
man 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, stop-
ping 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.

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; secre-
tary, Mrs. Harvey Coit, Big Timber ; treasurer, Mrs. Wilbur L.
Smith, Helena; finance chairman, Mrs. Wallace Perham, Glen-
dive; press chairman, Miss Auerbach. The organization never
had any constitution or by-laws. Letters from all over the State

MONTANA 363

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
< invernor 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.

On June 27 the second meeting of the State Central Com-
mittee 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 Sep-
tember 22, 23, just before the State Fair, where it had a booth.
It was decided to open headquarters in Butte Feb. I, 1914.

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.

Headquarters were opened in Butte in January, 1914. Letters
were sent to granges, labor unions, women's clubs and other or-
ganizations asking them to pass resolutions in favor of the
amendment and aid the campaign as far as they could. Every
paper in the State received each week a letter of suffrage
news and items from Miss O'Neill and occasionally some propa-
ganda material. letters were sent regularly to the county chair-
men and other workers giving instructions and keeping them in
h with the campaign. Lari;c 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 2O.OOO voters in the country districts. The
Mn-liMiivc canvass nf the women in the towns and cities was
the most effective work done. Montana women spoke in every

HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

county and women from outside the State in all but a few of the
smaller ones.

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.

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 Rosa-
lie 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 for-
mation presented great difficulties.

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 dis-
tricts 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

MONTANA 365

Led for their votes would say : "Do you ladies really want to
e? 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.

To the women specifically mentioned the names of the follow-
ing 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. Ste-
. Mrs. A. E. Richardson, Mrs. Frank D. O'Neill, Mrs. J. B.
Kills, 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 San-
ders, 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 Ronmey, Joseph H. Griffin, Lewis J. Duncan, W. W. Mc-
Dowell, Lieutenant Governor, and the two U. S. Senators,
mas J. Walsh and Henry L. Myers.

At the beginning of the campaign a travelling organizer of
the National Anti-Suffrage Association came to Butte, and, say-
that she acted officially, had an interview with the editors of
the National I'ornm, the organ of the liquor interests. She told

366 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 National Forum described the
interview. Before the election the National Anti-Suffrage Asso-
ciation 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 chair-
man; Mrs. David Nixon, active worker; Mrs. Oliphant chal-
lenged Miss Rankin to a debate, which was held in the old audi-
torium in Helena. At the meeting, which had been packed by
the liquor interests, Mrs. Oliphant was noisily applauded and
the confusion was appalling.

Although the speakers travelled to remote districts up to the
night before election in November, the instructions from head-
quarters 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 The
Suffrage Daily was issued. The editors were Mrs. L. O. Ed-
munds, Miss O'Neill, Mrs. M. E. McKay and Miss Belle Fligel-
man, 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 dur-
ing 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.

During the entire campaign the Woman's Christian Temper-
ance Union, one of the strongest organizations in the State, con-

MONTANA 367

ducted a vigorous fight for the amendment, sending its speakers
to every locality. For many years it had worked for woman
suffrage.

At the election Nov. 3, 1914, the amendment received 41,302
ayes; 37,588 noes, a majority of 3,714, and women were en-
franchised on equal terms with men.

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 impor-
tant 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 Super-
intendent 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.
Kmnia A. Ingalls have served two terms each as State Repre-
sentatives. All the county superintendents of schools are women.

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.
Morris chairman.

RATIFICATION. Governor Samuel V. Stewart called a spe-
cial session of the Legislature to meet in August, 1920, and the
Federal Suffrage Amendment was ratified on the 2nd by unani-
mous 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.

CHAPTER XXVI.

NEBRASKA. 1

The History of the movement for woman suffrage in Ne-
braska 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 faith-
ful 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 cam-
paign for full suffrage by an amendment to the State constitu-
tion 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 de-
fense 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.

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 Com-
mittee of the National American Suffrage Association, and
remained four years. During that time conventions and confer-
ences 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, how-
ever, remained one of the suffrage strongholds and she was
always one of the largest contributors. Other officers elected

1 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.

368

NEBRASKA 369

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.

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 confer-
ences in Omaha and eleven other places. An address by Gov-
ernor E. P. Savage, one by Mrs. Catt, and a debate between Miss
Gregg and A. L. Bixby, editor of the State Journal, 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 Lin-
coln ; Mrs. K. W. Sutherland of Blair, Miss Taylor, Mrs. Mary
( i. Ward of Tecumseh, Mrs. Jennie Ross of Dakota City, Mrs.
Hetty W. Drury of Fender, 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
Auburn Granger, 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 Bray-
ton of Geneva and Mrs. Belle Sears of Tekamah.

The sum of $1,312 had been expended during the year, in-
cluding 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.

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 Headquarters
Message, 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,

370

HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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, Ne-
braska 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 Eliza-
beth 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.

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 ac-
companied home by Miss Laughlin for organizing work. As-
sisted 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 Chautau-
quas. 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 Re-
publics. 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.

In January, 1904, Miss Gregg was sent by Mrs. Catt to Okla-
homa, where her services as organizer were very much needed.
The State headquarters were transferred to Tecumseh with the

NEBRASKA

secretary, Mrs. Mary G. Ward, in charge. Mrs. Young edited
the Headquarters Message and Mrs. Myrtle W. Marble of Huni-
boldt attended to the publishing and mailing. A Suffrage Cook
Book was prepared and published and became a source of con-
siderable 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 Novem-
ber 2 1 -December i, 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.

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 com-
pelled 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 prin-
cipal speaker. There were seventeen addresses of welcome from
representative citizens.

Mrs. Marble kept up the work in 1906 as far as it was pos-
sible. 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
uln, October 2, 3, in All Souls' Church with Dr. Shaw as
ing speaker. A memorial meeting was held for Susan B.
Anthony, with the Rev. Newton Mann of Omaha, her former
OT in Rochester, \. Y.. as speaker.

The State convention of io; met in Kenesaw October I, 2.

37 2 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 As-
sociation to assist Mrs. Marble and remained until the middle
of January, doing office and field work.

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.

Early in 1909 the petition of the National Association to Con-
gress for an amendment of the Federal Constitution was begun
with Miss Williams chairman of the committee and 10,386 sig-
natures 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.

The convention of 1912 met in Omaha December 4-6, and
it was decided to go into an active campaign to secure the sub-
mission 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

NEBRASKA 373

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; com-
mittee chairmen; Mrs. Wheeler, Education; Mrs. A. E. Sheldon,
Finance ; Mrs. Hardy, Publicity ; Mrs. Edna M. Barkley,
Speakers ; Mrs. A. H. Dorris, Press.

Headquarters were opened Jan. 3, 1913, in the Brandeis Thea-
ter 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 chair-
man 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 con-
ference 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 com-
mittee 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 asso-
ciation. 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 rap-
idly. The last of February thirty-six Omaha women and others
from over the State went to Lincoln to see the vote taken in
The proposal vrai defeated, only one man from
county voting for it.

In the early spring the headquarters were moved to Lincoln
and the petition work for the State was managed from there,

374 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

with the exception of that of Omaha. Throughout the year
task was continued of obtaining the signatures in the vari<
counties, all done by volunteers. It was necessary at the sai
time to create public sentiment and organize clubs in prepara-
tion 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 conven-
tion was held in Lincoln and Mrs. Clara Bewick Colby, formerly
of Beatrice, was made honorary president.

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:

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 ob-
tained, 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 Cathe-
dral and the Rev. T. J. Mackay of All Saints declining. Petitions
were kept open at the Daily News 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 I2th, 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 mem-
bers of the Men's League was present. While the goal for Douglas

NEBRASKA 375

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.

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 ap-
pointed consisting of Mesdames Arthur C. Smith, J. C. Cowin, Her-
man 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. 1

On March n 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 after-
noon. Possibly half a dozen men had circulated petitions but
the bulk of the 1 1,507 names were obtained in Omaha by women.
On March 14 the completed petition for submitting the amend-
ment 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 ques-
tion and the amendment was submitted to the voters at the gen-
eral election, Nov. 4, 1914.

From that time until the election strenuous and unceasing ef-
forts 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

talc Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage was formed, whose Executiv.
mittre consisted of Mesdames Edward Porter Peck, chairman; Hc-nry W. Yatrs. Jnlm
~ Cowin, J. W. Griffith, W. H. Koenig, L. F. Crofoot, Gerrit Fort, John L. Webster,

Arion Lewis, Arthur ('rittendm Smith, T. J. M.ukiv, F. N. Conner; Miss lanrt
M. Wallace, with Mrs. William Archibald Smith, secretary, and Mrs. Frank J.
treasurer; Mrs. S. II. P.urnham of Lincoln, Mrs. J. D. Whitmorc and Mrs. Fi<
Ashton of Grand Island. Mrs. A. D. Sears, Mrs. Cha .,,.-1 Miss Maud May

rnont, with Mrs. Crumpacker as special representative of the National Ass...
in the headquarters at 536 Bee Building.

376

HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

in Omaha the famous Manifesto by the Nebraska Men's Asso-
ciation Opposed to Woman Suffrage, a pamphlet of nine pages,
signed by thirty prominent men, all of Omaha. 1 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 cam-
paign 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. Sev-
eral of the longest were made and financed by J. L. Kennedy
and James Richardson of Omaha and W. E. Hardy of Lincoln.

Miss Jane Addams came from Chicago and spoke several times
in October. William Jennings Bryan, who was making a po-
litical 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 3Oth, with an address in the auditorium.

The anti-suffragists were well financed and active. Their Na-
tional 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 attor-
ney for the Northern Pacific R. R.

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

1 This Manifesto will be found in the Appendix.

NEBRASKA 377

"suffrage means prohibition" and threatened the husbands in a
I nisi ness 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 vis-
ited. 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.

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:

\Ye 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
5, we should oppose it with all our might. . . . We most ear-
nestly 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.

On November 4 the Omaha suffragists stood all day at the
polls handing slips to the voters calling attention to the amend-
ment 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
nents of all kinds, was seen in the small adverse majority
of 1,188. Throughout the campaign the Omaha Daily News
valiantly championed the amendment and the Bee and the World
/</ as strongly opposed it. The National American Suf-
<ociation contributed $4,000 in cash, the services of two
nzers Miss Jane Thompson and Miss Elsie Benedict and
' the travelling c of a number of national speakers.

The State convention of TOT \ was held in Omaha in Decem-

nd it was decided to or -norc thoroughly and to seek

the advice of the National Association as to how and when to

HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

try again. The board which had served throughout the cam-
paign 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 oppo-
nents 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.

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 pres-
ence and her very able address given to a large evening audience
made this one of most notable conventions. Mrs. Barkley was
re-elected president. 1

In January, 1917, the National Association was beginning the
"drive'* to obtain partial suffrage from the Legislatures and Ne-
braska was urged to undertake it. The board agreed to concen-
trate on a bill which would be constitutional and would permit
women to vote for all officers not specificed in the State consti-
tution and upon all questions not referred to in it.

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 meas-
ure ever had more careful and persistent "mothering" than she
gave this one, watching over it for months. The bill passed the

1 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 War-
ner Demaree, Mrs. Ida Ensign, Mrs. Rosa Modlin, Mrs. F. B. Donisthorpe, Mrs. Mary
P. Jay, Mrs. Theresa J. Dunn, Mrs. Margaret J. Cams, Mrs. Julia N. Cox, Mrs. Ada
Shafer, Mrs. Frank Harrison, Mrs. E. L. Burke, Miss Ida Robbins, 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. . F. Bell. Miss Edith Tobitt, Mrs. Kate Chapin House.

NEBRASKA 379

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 Febru-
ary 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 2ist and gave women the suffrage for presi-
dential electors, all municipal and most county officers. 1

The opponents immediately started an initiative petition to
have the law submitted to the voters and on July 22 it was sus-
pended 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. Ac-
cordingly she summoned her board to discuss taking the proper
legal steps to prove that it was fraudulent and invalid. There
no money in the treasury with which to undertake expen-
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
unt was given by Mrs. Draper Smith in the Woman Citizen
of which the following is a part :

r the larger part of the session in 1917 the Senate had been
under great pressure from the public and the press t<> pass the hone
dry law that the House had almost unanimously adopted. Nineteen
mrmhrrs of the Senate belonged to the clique led by represent.-!

1 In M.irrh under the auspices of the National Association suffrage schools \v< re In 1<I
in Omaha and Lincoln. Thr instructor* w< Shulcr, rli.-iinn.ui nf

/ation, Mr*. Halsey W. Wilson, its recording secretary, and Mrs. T. T. Cot n am and

taught were Suffrage History and Argument. Organi/.-iti"ti. Iv.Mj,
ry Raining and Parliamentary Law. Of the ninetren schools held by tin
National Association in various Stair-; rune was larger. By request night schools were
opened with a crowded Attendance at all sessions.

HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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. . . .

On the 2 ist of July the opponents caused to be filed with the Sec-
retary of State a petition asking that the law be referred to the voters
at the general election in 1918 for approval or rejection. This peti-
tion 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 Secre-
tary 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.

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 clays 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.

The request of the suffragists to the Secretary of State said that
the circulators had committed perjury in certifying that these ficti-
tious persons had affixed their names in their presence ; that many
of the names written thereon were not placed there, as the law re-
quired, 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 cgming around and gathering them up. It also said

NEBRASKA 381

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.

The evidence in Omaha was matched by that in fifty-nine other
counties taken by the referee and attorney.

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 Sec-
retary 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:

Inspection of the original petition showed that of 116 petitions

] >y A. O. Barclay 68 were in the same handwriting. . . .

The name of one Omaha business man who had died three months

to the circulation of the petition was found; another who

was killed two months before, and another who had been dead for

years. Witness after witness testified that his name on it

forged.

nulators forged so many names we asked that all
their work be thrown out. The hearing developed that fort\

pers and bartenders had these petitions on the bars in their

soft drink places; 831 names were secured by Dick Kennedy, a negro

1 neither read nor write. He appeared in court in jail

under indictment for peddling "dope," and was unable

'ntify the petitions certified by him. Ten boys, ranging in age

from 8 to 15, were circulators. Several men who could not read or

3&2 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

The following question was asked of another "anti," wife of a rec-
tor : "Had you known that co-workers with you were Dick Kennedy,
an illiterate negro ; Abie Sirian ; Gus Tylee, employee of Tom Denni-
son and a detective of doubtful reputation; 40 soft drink men; Jess
Ross, colored porter for Dennison ; Jack Broomfield, a colored sport-
ing 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."

The testimony showed that the anti-suffrage association of Omaha,
under the leadership of Mrs. Crofoot, president, had at first endeav-
ored 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.

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.

RATIFICATION. 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

NEBRASKA 383

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 en masse 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 Sena-
tor 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.

The last State convention met in Omaha June 13-15, 1920,
with 104 delegates in attendance. With Mrs. Charles H. Die-
trich, who had been elected president the preceding year, in the
chair, the association was merged into the Nebraska League of
\Yomen Voters and Mrs. Dietrich was made chairman.

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 Wash-
ington that the woman suffrage amendment was now a part of
the constitution of the United States and the struggle was over.

In December, 1919, there assembled in Lincoln a convention
to rewrite Nebraska's constitution, to be submitted to the elec-
tors 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. i, 1921. This was done in order that women might vote
at the general election in November, 1920. Before the const it u-
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.

CHAPTER XXVII.

NEVADA. 1

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 Legisla-
ture but no record exists of any activities after 1899.

In November, 1909, Mrs. Clarence Mackay, who had organ-
ized an Equal Franchise Society in New York City, of which
she was president, wrote to Miss Jeanne Elizabeth Wier, pro-
fessor 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 au-
tumn 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 tem-
porary chairman ; Professor Wier, Mrs. Mack, Mrs. Henry Stan-
islawsky, 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 tele-
gram of greeting was read from Mrs. Mackay.

1 The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. O. H. Mack, vice-president of the
State Equal Franchise Society.

384

NEVADA 385

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. 1 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 hon-
orary president but took no further interest in it or in the amend-
ment campaign which soon followed and made no contribution.

Between the above meetings Assemblymen Arnold and Byrne
of Esmeralda county had introduced a joint resolution on Janu-
ary 30 to submit to the voters an amendment to the State consti-
tution to give full suffrage to women. It was referred to the
Committee on Elections, which on February 7 reported it un-
favorably. Assemblyman J. A. Denton of Lincoln county
secured a hearing before the Committee of the Whole on Feb-
ruary 20 and a large lobby from the society was present. Mrs.
Stanislawsky and Miss Cohn addressed the committee, empha-
sizing the fact that each of the political parties had declared in
tate 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 over-
1. After numerous parliamentary tactics it was at length
<"d by 31 ayes, 13 noes, four absent and the Speaker not
ig. The resolution was first read in the Senate on March 7

1 Charter members betides those already > were Mrs. J. E. Stubbs, J. D.

Flyman, C. A. Jacobson, Mrs. ' I '.ivl.,r, Mrs. Julia F. Bender, J. E.

Church, Miw Laura de Laguna, Grant Miller, Mis* Kate Bardenwerper. Mra. W. H.
Hood. Mrs. Orr, Mrs. Boyd. Mra. George McKenzte. Mra. May Gill.

HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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
1 6 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.

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, pre-
sented 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.

Headquarters were opened in the Cheney Building in Reno,
Mrs. Hodges assuming the rent, where visitors were made wel-
come and literature given out. A series of lectures until No-
vember 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.

Miss Martin attended the national suffrage convention at Phil-
adelphia in November, where she told of the need of funds to fur-
ther the campaign and secured many pledges and donations. Dr.
Shaw, the president, promised $1,000 from the association after

NEVADA 387

the amendment was submitted. Mrs. Oliver H. P. Belmont and
Mrs. Joseph Pels 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 litera-
ture; the Woman's Journal $45. California and Arizona gave
funds and literature. A pamphlet entitled Woman Under Ne-
vada Laws, by Miss B. M. Wilson, an attorney, had been pub-
lished in a special edition of 20,000 and proved effective in
rousing the women to a sense of their rights and wrongs.

The rapid organization had its effect on legislators and poli-
ticians. The resolution for submitting an amendment was pre-
sented 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.

The educational work was done through the press, the plat-
form and entertainments. Speakers of national note were se-
cured, among them Dr. Shaw, Mr. and Mrs. James Lees Laid-
law, and Mrs. Charlotte Perkins Gilman, of New York; Dr.
Charles F. Aked, of San Francisco; Miss Jane Addams of Chi-
cago, 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. I-:.
( hurch, Captain Applewhite, the Rev. Mr. Adams, the Rev.
Mr. Sheldon, George Taylor and John Wright.

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

HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

secretary, Mrs. J. B. Menardi ; treasurer, Mrs. Mabel Redman;
auditors, Mrs. P. B. Kennedy, Mrs. W. T. Jenkins.

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 chair-
man. Mrs. M. S. Bonni field as chairman of Humboldt county,
with her helpers, Mrs. A. W. Card, Mrs. Mark Walser of Love-
lock 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. Lang-
don, Storey ; Mrs. Caine, Elko ; Mrs. Minnie Comins MacDonald,
White Pine.

Mrs. Church, Miss Mary Henry, Mrs. Hurst, Mrs. Bel ford,
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.

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

NEVADA 389

the most scattered rural population in the United States. Reach-
ing and winning this vote was done mostly by press work and
literature. The new voters on the registration lists were circular-
ized. 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.

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 Gil-
bert C. Ross, President Stubbs, Bishop Robinson and many pro-
fessional and business men. There was fierce opposition from
some newspapers, including the Reno Evening Gazette, the lead-
ing Republican paper of the State, but active support from the
State Journal, owned and edited by George Darius Kilborn,
formerly of New York, who was always in favor 6f woman
suffrage. The Western Nevada Miner, owned and edited by
I. llolman Buck, gave much assistance in that part of the State.

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 1 80 were organized with a woman leader. On Nov. 3,
. every county was carried for the amendment but four,
of these a county with one of the largest and oldest towns
in the State. The vote in Washoe county was 1,449 f r 2 4r
against : in Reno, the county seat, 938 for, 1,587 against.
( )rmsby county with Carson City gave an adverse majority of
only i \\ ; 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.

At the annual meeting of the Washoe county Equal Franchise

Society after the election it was evident that, having won suf-

e, 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

39 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 secre-
tary, Mrs. Mack; recording secretary, Mrs. Bessie Mouffe;
financial secretary, Mrs. Harold Duncan ; treasurer, Mrs. Eichel-
berger; auditor, Mrs. Katherine Flett; librarian, Mrs. F. C.
MacDiarmid. This club succeeded in getting a year as a re-
quired 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 en masse to Carson City to
protest but the pressure on the other side was too strong and
the old law was restored.

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 Suf-
frage 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 mem-
bers. At the request of this committee a resolution was pre-
sented 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. Sen-
ators were requested to present and actively support it.

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 t<>
Mrs. Minnie S. Cunningham of Texas and Mrs. Ben Hooper
of Wisconsin, who were touring certain States under the aus-

NEVADA 391

pices of the National Association, to consult the Governors on
the question of special sessions for the ratification of the Fed-
eral Amendment, which had been submitted in June. Mrs. Pat-
rick and Mrs. Bel ford 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 2021, with Mrs. Mc-
Kenzie chairman of program, Mrs. Walser of finance, Mrs.
Hurst of halls and Mrs. Belford of publicity.

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 pre-
siding. Governor Boyle introduced Mrs. Catt, who gave a rous-
ing 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.

RATIFICATION. Governor Boyle issued a call for the Legis-
lature to meet in special session Feb. 7, 1920, for the express
purpose of acting on the Federal Amendment, and in his Mrs
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 de-
1 for such a time as to withhold the right to vote in a presi-
dential election from millions of the women of America."

To Mrs. Hurst, the one woman member, was given the honor

of ir.troducing the resolution to ratify in the House. On her

"ii the rules were suspended, the resolution was read the

'1 time by title and referred to the Committee on Federal

of ten minutes was taken and when the

inbly reconvened a from the Senate was received

g that the resolution had passed unanimously. The House

39 2 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 hav-
ing 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.

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 Com
mittee; 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 ses-
sion, to which most of the members had paid their own ex-
penses. 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.

A STORY OF THE NEVADA SUFFRAGE CAMPAIGN. 1

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 Ne-

1 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.

NEVADA 393

vada, 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 Suf-
frage Conference at St. Louis in April and to the National Suf-
frage 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.

In February, 1913, her report made to the State suffrage con-
vention in Reno showed that the Equal Franchise Society had
been ;>ed in one year into a State-wide body, with prac-

\ every county organized and a large number of auxiliary
'ieties, and with nearly one thousand paid-up members.
There was a bank balance of several hundred dollars, from col-
it meetings, monthly pledges of members and gifts from

\nna Howard Shaw, Mrs. Joseph Fels, Mrs. Oliver H. P.

ont. Miss Alice Stone Blackwell, Mrs. George Day (Conn.),
mccticut and Massachusetts suffrage associations and
rn supporters, and from suffrage leagues of Cali-
fornia. Oregon, Arizona and Colorado. Reports also showed
that a prc^s bureau had been organized at State headquarters

in pally Miss Martin and Mrs. Bridges) by which Nevada's

.-five newspapers, chiefly rural weeklies, were supplied regu-
larly with a ^>e< i.-il iews service; that every editor,
all public libraries and railroad men's reading rooms, more than

VOL- VI

394 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

one hundred school districts and three hundred leading men and
women throughout the State received the Woman's Journal
(Boston) every week, which always contained Nevada suffrage
news; that every voter on the county registration lists had been
circularized with suffrage literature.

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 organi-
zation, 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.

The problem before the State convention at Reno in February
was how to educate the voters and overcome the active opposi-
tion of the liquor and other vested interests, which were deter-
mined 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 amend-
ment 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 addi-
tion to promises of an organizer and money from Dr. Shaw,
the national president, she secured from Miss Alice Paul, chair-
man of the Congressional Union, the services of Miss Mabel
Vernon, perhaps its most capable organizer. She also obtained
pledges of $1,006 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 Associa-

NEVADA 395

tion ; $500 from Mrs. Pels, $300 from Miss Eileen Canfield ;
also $250 from Mrs. W. O'H. Martin of Reno and many
smaller sums from individuals and organizations.

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 en-
dorsement 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.

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 dis-
tant 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. "I very vote counts" was the slogan.

In July, H;I 4, Miss Martin and Miss Vernon started nut on
their final canvass of the Stale, "prospecting for votes" in the
mine underground in the vast mountains by tunnel, lad-

T in buckets lowered 1y windlass to talk to the miners who
M shift" and could not attend the street or hall meet-
ings. To reach less than 100 voters ;,t Austin, the county
of I.auder county, required a two da\V journey over the d<
many places were a several days' trip away from a rail

HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

road. 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 hay fields
or on the ground in the heart of the desert itself. The trip
covered 3,000 miles.

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 treas-
urer, Mrs. Bessie Eichelberger.

A State labor conference representing 6,000 members en-
dorsed 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 sup-
ported it but the party refused its approval and the leading Re-
publican newspaper, the Reno Evening Gazette, tinder 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 Nevada State Journal, ac-
tively supported it but many published campaign news. Reno
papers contained over 200 columns of suffrage matter. Fremont
Older, editor of the San Francisco Bulletin, gave to State head-
quarters 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 Septem-
ber 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 Uni-
versity, under the leadership of Miss Clara Smith, and a suffrage

NEVADA 397

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.

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 meet-
ings well advertised and arranged.

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.
Jane Addams gave a priceless four days to a whirlwind
tour. The Overland Limited was stopped for her to speak at
and \Vinnemucca. 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

;i in her honor at the Riverside Hotel by the State Franchise
Society. Dr. Shaw, tireless crusader and incomparable speaker,
lied swiftly through the State by train and automobile dur-
ing the eight days she gave in October, which were filled with

>tions and crowded meetings. Mrs. Martin i^ave a recep-
in her home in Reno, whose hospitality was extended

ughout the campaign to those who came from outside the
State to help it. Dr. Shaw's strenuous itinerary included meet-

at Battle Mountain, Winiiennuva, Lovelocks. Reno, \\aslioc-.

on City, Virginia City. li, < ioldtield, 1 .as Vegas and

'iite. She made many hundreds of votes for the amendment.

HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 Ne-
vada 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' cam-
paign was made at a cost of $7,000.

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.

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

NEVADA 399

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 amend-
ment 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.

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 informa-
tion about the wise use of the ballot.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

NEW HAMPSHIRE. 1

There has been a woman suffrage association in New Hamp-
shire 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 Bos-
ton, 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 Na-
tional American Woman Suffrage Association, and Henry B.
and Miss Alice Stone Blackwell, editors of the Woman's Journal.

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-presi-
dent, 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. Bur-
roughs (afterwards member of Congress), Manchester.

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 gth and
Mrs. Catt and Mr. and Miss Blackwell addressed the convention.
After long discussion by the delegates it was voted on the i ith,
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

1 The History is indebted for this chapter to Miss Frances M. Abbott, treasurer of
the State College Equal Suffrage League, writer and genealogist.

4OO

NEW HAMPSHIRE 4OI

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.

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-presi-
dent 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 Hamp-
shire 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.

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 Little-
ton; Winston Churchill of Cornish; Irving \V. Drew of Lan-
caster and George H. Moses of Concord. 1 On March 4 Repre-
sentatives' Hall was packed to hear addresses against the
amendment by Miss Kmily P. Bissell of Delaware; Mrs. A. J.
rge of Brookline, Mass. ; Judge David Cross of Manchester
and Dr. Abbott. The Concord Monitor of that date in a leading
1 : "Through a maudlin sense of false sentiment the
'itutional convention sent this question to the jR-ople . . .
ami the people will deal with it as it deserves." ( )n March 5 came

' Mr. Drew and Mr. Moses M U. S. Senators in 1918 were able to defeat the pas-
sage of the Federal Suffrage Amendn I ju-.t two votes. Mr Churchill
aftrrwards became an earnest advocate of woman suffrage.

4 02 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 Granite Monthly. 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.

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.

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. (Universa-
list) ; 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.

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

NEW HAMPSHIRE 403

first vote in the Senate on the Federal Suffrage Amendment.
Both were lifelong friends of the cause.

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.
Alary 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 n, 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.

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. Resolu-
tions 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 Manches-
ter November 1 1 , addressed by Mrs. Fernald and the Rev. Ida C.
Hultin (Unitarian), Sudbury, Mass.

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
;klin November 15, 16. Among the speakers was the Rev.
Florence Kollock Crooker (Universalist) of Roslindale, Mass.
Mi>s Chase had given addresses in thirty-one towns and cities and
organized nine new committees.

In 1911 an attractive booth at the Rochester Agricultural fair,
made possible by Miss Martha S. Kimball of Portsmouth, drew
ds and 10,000 leaflets were distributed and hundreds of
buttons and pennants sold. The l ; ree Baptist convention passed
a resolution favoring suffrage. Mrs. Jenks attended the congress
of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance at Stockholm,

44 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 Congre-
gational 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. 1
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, presi-
dent of the State Society Opposed to Woman Suffrage. The
large audience voted in favor of woman suffrage. The conven-
tion 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.

1 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, Con-
cord; Mrs. Edna L. Johnston, Manchester; Mrs. Arthur F. Wheat, Manchester; treas-
urers: 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.

NEW HAMPSHIRE 405

In 1914 the convention was held in the Y. M. C. A. Hall,
Manchester, November n, 12, with able State speakers. Major
Frank Knox, head of the Manchester Union, 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.

In 1915 State headquarters in charge of Miss Abbott were
opened in Concord and continued five months during the legisla-
tive 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 i5Oth anniversary celebra-
tion 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 Cali-
fornia 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. Me Lane, son of former Governor McLane of New Hampshire.

On May 7, 191''. 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 1 indebted. \Yith her husband, Nathaniel
White, she had been from the first identified with the unpopular
very, temperance' and equal suffrage. More men
and women of national prominence had been entertained under
their roof than in any other home in tin- State. A snc-

\vas held in Manchester I'Yhrnan
addressed by Mrs. Catt, president again of the National

HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

Association, and Mrs. Susan Walker Fitzgerald of Massachu-
setts. The State convention was held at Concord November 9,
10, with Dr. Effie McCollum Jones of Iowa as the chief speaker.

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.

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 Amend-
ment. 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 Repre-
sentatives Mason and Burroughs were in favor of it.

Irving W. Drew of Lancaster, an avowed "anti," was ap-
pointed 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 (Repub-
lican) 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

NEW HAMPSHIRE 407

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 reso-
lution 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 coop-
eration 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.

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 resolu-
tion 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 ->i<> lo 135 votes.

It was now most important to win the Senate. The twenty-
ra were again interviewed by the suffragists and
iteen declared their intention to vote for the resolution. ( )n
January i j it was introduced by Senator John J. Donalin-
Manchester and six Senators voted for it, fifteen against it !

408 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 i>at
ii 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 Demo-
crats; the Republican president of the Senate not voting.

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.

In March, 1919, the National Association sent one of its best
organizers, Miss Edna Wright, to interest the leagues in ratifica-
tion 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.

RATIFICATION. The Federal Suffrage Amendment had been

NEW HAMPSHIRE 409

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 Com-
mittee, and Alexander Murchie, chairman of the State Demo-
cratic COmniittee. The Governor can not call a session without
the consent of his Council, which consists of five men. It met on
August I,} 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
( base Webb of Lisbon made short speeches. After the hearing
the Council voted to call a special session for September 9.

Mr. Hall and Mr. Murchie immediately got in touch with the
members of the Legislature belonging to their respective parties.
I'lider 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 Union
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.
Lyfonl. 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
< d ^ervice and much financial assistance. Miss Wright had
entire charge of the office work, publicity, organization, etc.

The special session met on September <> and the Governor sent

e calling for ratification. The House voted on

pening day, 212 ayes to i.j^ noes. The real test was in the

ite, which on September < forty minutes to outside

Mrs. Mary I. Wood spoke for the suffragists and

Mrs. 1 S Streeter of Concord, Miss Charlotte Rowe and two

VOL. n

4-IO HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

Senators for the opponents. The Senate ratified by 14 to 10 and
Governor Bartlett signed the bill without delay.

The last meeting of the State Association, its work accom-
plished, 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.
LEGISLATIVE ACTION : 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.
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.

1909. The chairman of the Legislative Committee, Mrs. Bar-
ton 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.

1911. Bills for Municipal suffrage were introduced by Mr.
Whitcher and George S. Sibley of Manchester. The large com-
mittee 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. Ouinby and Clarence E. Carr, recent candi-
date for Governor. The committee reported the bill favorably
but on January 26 the House voted to postpone indefinitely by
160 to 121.

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 favor-

NEW HAMPSHIRE 411

ably 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.

1915. The bill for Municipal suffrage was unfavorably re-
ported 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 Dilling-
ham of Roxbury represented the "antis." The vote was 121
ayes ; 230 noes. A bill for Presidential suffrage had previously
been killed in committee.

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
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.

CHAPTER XXIX.

NEW JERSEY. PART I. 1

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 associa-
tion was organized, which held annual meetings and was active
thereafter, although interest diminished after women lost their
School suffrage in 1897. [See New Jersey chapter Volume IV. ]

Mrs. Florence Howe Hall, a daughter of Mrs. Julia Ward
Howe, was president from 1893 unt ^ 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, Moores-
town, 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.

The Orange Political Study Club was the first suffrage club to

1 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 year*.

4 I2

NEW JERSEY 413

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 lec-
tures. 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 suf-
frage leaflets to the farmers on their "salt water day" at Sea Girt
and to the Congress of Mothers at Trenton. Mrs. Eliza Button
1 lutcliinson, press superintendent, got some of the plate matter
from the National Association for the first time into four news-
papers. 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 meet-
ing was held in Newark and Mrs. Howe Hall was elected
honorary president.

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 Associa-
tion, 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' confer-
ence 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 dirt ; Mrs.
Joanna Hartshorn, Short Hills; Miss Susan \Y. Lippincott and
Kli/aheth Vail, Kast Orange. Memorials were read for
Klizabeth 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 suf-
e. work in New Jersey for many years. Mrs. Howe Hall
and Henry B. Blackwell gave addresses. Women's clubs were

HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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. Char-

lotte 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.

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
I )enver, Mrs. Stanton Blatch of New York and Miss Alice Stone
Blackwell of Boston were heard by different leagues. The con-
vention this year was held for the first time in Trenton.

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.

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.

NEW JERSEY 415

In 1906 Miss Anthony passed away and many leagues held mem-
orial 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.

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. Klla A. Kilborn and Miss Mary D. Campbell, secretaries.
Miss Mary \\illits and Mrs. Mary B. Kinsley were the only
other officers who had been added in the past seven years.

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
Mrs. Black-well was appointed to write to President Roose-
velt 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.

Mrs. Laddey visited all the leagues and spoke he-fore many

societies, including the lar:;e ' iennan Club at llohoken. With

Dr. llussey she attended the State convention of the Federation

of Labor and obtained its endorsement of the Federal Suffrage

idmeiit. She put new life into the association and was

re-elected at the State convention in 1909 at Newark. Over

delegates were present and it was reported that 5,000 names

HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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. Com-
mittees on legislation and organization were formed. Mrs.
Sexton was elected honorary president; Mrs. Elizabeth T. Bart-
lett 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.

In the fall of 1909 two young women in East Orange, Dr.
Emma O. Gantz and Miss Martha Klatschken, started the Pro-
gressive 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.

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

NEW JERSEY 417

Lakey, Cranford, vice-presidents; Mrs. Harry Campton, Newark,
corresponding secretary ; Miss Richards, Newark, recording secre-
tary ; Mrs. Charles Campbell, Hoboken, treasurer.

The delegation of the State association to the national con-
vention 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, \Yashington 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.

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
iblic" was sung. Mrs. Decker presented a flag to the associa-
tion in honor of Mrs. Sexton, the former president. Mrs.
ley gave a greeting from the Equal Franchise Society. How
it Works in Wyoming was told by Mrs. May Preston Slosson,
I'll. I)., and I )r. Fdwin A. Slosson. In the evening Mayor Charles
J. Fisk welcomed the convention. Professor Earl Barnes, who
had resided two years in Fnglund, gave an address on The
'ish woman. Chainplain Lord Kilcy of Plainfield announa-d
the or^ani/.ation in Xcwark on March 23 of the Men's League
for Woman Suffrage with Dr. William L. Saunders of PlainhYld,

HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

president; Merton C. Leonard, Arlington, vice-president; Dr.
Edward S. Krans, Plainfield, secretary; Edward F. Feickert,
Dunellen, treasurer and 17 members. 1

Mrs. Laddey was re-elected. Four new committees were ap-
pointed 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 com-
mittee approved it but the Legislature rejected it.

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

1 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.

NEW JERSEY 419

charge of it. Mrs. Bartlett secured the favorable opinions of
twelve New Jersey clergymen and had them printed for circula-
tion. The Equal Justice League of young women was started
in Bayonne with eighty members, Miss Dorothy Frooks, presi-
dent. At this time the State association had fourteen branches
and about $00 members.

The convention of 1911 was held in Willard Hall, Passaic, in
November. All rose to greet the Rev. Antoinette Brown Black-
well 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 American with an editorial on woman suffrage
in New Jersey sent by Arthur Brisbane were distributed.

It was voted to ask Governor Woodrow Wilson, as a Presi-
dential candidate, if he favored woman suffrage. Mrs. Rheta
Childe Dorr of the editorial staff of Hampton's Magazine
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.

Mrs. Feickert described the successful house-to-house canvass
in Jersey City by Miss Pope and herself, by which the member-
ship 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 secre-
tary and no other change was made in the board, most of whom
had served over ten years. With the cooperation of all the
societies tlie meeting at the auditorium in Newark addressed by
Kmmeline Pankhurst of England was a great success.

This re.-i.rd of details, niueh eondensed, represents the *
sowing in the first decade of the century in preparation for the
harvest which came at the end of the second decade.

4 20 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

NEW JERSEY. PART II. 1

In December, 1911, a Joint Legislative Committee, represent-
ing 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.

On Oct. 25, 1912, a parade was given in Newark under the
auspices of the State Suffrage Association with all four organiza-
tions 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.

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, ^liss
Bessie Pope. Twenty-five local branches were reported with a
total membership of 2,200.

In December the Legislative Committee was re-organized on
the basis of equal representation for each of the four organiza-
tions. 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

1 The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Lillian F. Feickert, president of
the State Woman Suffrage Association 1912-1920.

NEW JERSEY 421

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.

In June, 1913, the Women's Political Union held its first State
conference, at which the following officers were elected: Presi-
dent, Mrs. Van Winkle; vice-presidents, Miss Julia S. Hurlbut,
Mrs. E. T. Lukens, Mrs. H. R. Reed, Mrs. W. H. Gardner, Miss
Edna C. \Yvckoff, 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.

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 peti-
tions were presented to the Senate asking for the immediate
submission of the Federal Amendment, Mrs. Champlain Lord
Kiley. Mrs. ('olvin, Miss Helen Lippincott, Miss Edith Abbott
and Mi - I -Yickert. The New Jersey petitions of several thousand
names were unwillingly presented by Senator James E. Marline,
who made a speech against woman suffrage at the same time.

At the annual convention held in Newark in November reports

showed that the membership had more than doubled during the

, there being now 44 local branches with over 6,000 members.

Three changes took place in the board, Miss Lippincott, elected

nd vice-president : Mr- I -Kvard 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

4 22 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

to Washington at the request of the National Congressional Com-
mittee 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 satis-
factory. The speakers were its chairman, Mrs. Feickert, Mrs.
Van Winkle and Miss Melinda Scott, who represented the
organized working women of New Jersey.

In April, 1914, the State headquarters were transferred to
Pluinfield, 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 _>5<>
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.

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 litera-
ture 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 in-
creased 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

NEW JERSEY 423

elected were, second vice-president, Mrs. Robert P. Finley; cor-
responding secretary, Mrs. Bayard Naylor; recording secretary,
Mrs. L. H. Cummings. All attention and action were centered
on the approaching campaign.

The resolution to submit the amendment had passed two Leg-
islatures 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 execu-
tive 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.

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 but-

\\ere distributed. The association circularized all the

women's organizations <>f the State, the fraternal or^ani/ations,

vmen, .^ran-e officers, lawyers, office-holders and other

coups, Speakers were sent to grange picnics and county

f. iirs. Street meeting look place regularly in all the principal

.-iiicl automobile tours over the State. Over 4,000

outdoor and 500 indoor meetings were held. Four paid and thirty

iteer organizers were kept in the field for eight months.

The association arranged a conference of the leaders of the
four campaign States, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts
and \e\v Jersey, which was held in Kast Orange in connection
with the celebration on August I ^ of the birthday of its founder,

4 2 4 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

Lucy Stone. There was a pilgrimage of suffragists from almost
every county, and, after exercises at her old home and the unveil-
ing 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.

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. Have-
meyer, 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.

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 Mcllvaine and Mrs. Sherman B. Joost.

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 suffra-
gists 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

NEW JERSEY 425

on the editorial page. Among editors who were particularly
strong friends were James Kerney and John E. Sines of the
Trenton Evening Times; Joseph A. Dear and Julius Grunow of
the Jersey City Journal; John L. Matthews of the Paterson Press
Guardian; George M. Hart of the Passaic Daily News; the
Boyds of the New Brunswick Home News; J. L. Clevenger of
the Perth Amboy Evening News; William H. Fischer of the
New Jersey Courier; George W. Swift of the Elizabeth Daily
Journal and E. A. Bristor of the Passaic Herald.

Three weeks before the election President Wilson announced
himself in favor of the amendment, and he and his private secre-
tary, Joseph P. Tumulty, made a special trip to New Jersey to
vote for it. This had a marked effect over the country.

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 f tne I >^9 1 polling places in the
State were supplied with trained women watchers.

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 amend-
ment 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
i 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
>ite the IK tiling places by persons avowedly working to defeat
it. instructed how to vote on it, marshalled to the polling place
and a injr taken back to the saloon to be paid.

Finding at the last moment that no provision was made by the

- to pay f<>r ending in returns from special elections, the

'ion arranged with the Associated Press to obtain its

returns and a wire was run into the suffrage headquarters in

HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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.

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.

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.

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 discour-
agement 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.

In June New Jersey was represented at the National Republi-
can convention in Chicago by Mrs. Feickert, Miss Esther (i.
Ogden, Mrs. E. G. Blaisdell, Miss A. E. Cameron and Mrs.
Joseph Marvel. All of the New Jersey delegates were inter-
viewed and twelve of the twenty-eight promised to support a
suffrage plank in the platform.

In July the Women's Political Union disbanded and its local
branches joined the State association. The national suffrage

NEW JERSEY 427

convention held at Atlantic City in September gave a great im-
petus 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.

A bill for Presidential suffrage was introduced in the Legisla-
ture 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
the association responded to all demands of the war.

The annual convention was held in the Capitol at Trenton in
ember. 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 Stales should he kept up just as
actively as the war against autocracy abroad. Mrs. Wells P.
Kagleton was elected a vice-president, Mrs. E. G. Blaisdell a
secretary and Mrs. F. W. Veghte an auditor. The Slate Federa-
tion of Colored Women's Clubs was accepted as an affiliated
nization and its president, the KY\ Klorenee Randolph, was
made a member of the State Board. The convention voted to

HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 Con-
gressional work for the Federal Amendment and with the
Legislature for ratification.

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 asso-
ciation 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.

Because of the Baird campaign and the general unsettled feel-
ing 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 Col-
ored Women's Clubs, Woman's Christian Temperance Union,
Public Health Nursing, Teachers' Association ; chairman, Mrs.
Feickert; secretary, Mrs. James Simister; treasurer, Mrs. Olm-
sted. 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.

A very active primary and general election campaign was
made in 1919 for the election of men pledged to vote for ratifi-
cation, 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

NEW jEfeSEY 429

at Asbury Park in August opened the campaign and local meet-
ings were held in every county. A Governor and a majority in
both Houses were elected who w r ere pledged to ratification.

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.

On January 27 in Crescent Temple, Trenton, the Ratification
Committee staged the most spectacular suffrage mass meeting
over 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 organiza-
tions 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
; Mature were present and there was much enthusiasm.

RATIFICATION. The Federal Suffrage Amendment was sub-
mitted by Congress June 4, 1919. The resolution for ratifica-
tion was the first measure introduced when the Legislature con-
vened in 1920, by Senator William B. MacKay, Jr., of Bergen
county and Assemblyman Henry G. Hershfield of Passaic
county. A public hearing W8I lu'M February 2 with Mrs. Feick-
ert chairman. The principal suffrage speakers were U. S. Sena-

430 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

tor 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.

The opposition then concentrated its efforts upon the Assem-
bly, 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 un-
derstood 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 de-
termination 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 i 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.

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 Demo-
cratic 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.

NEW JERSEY 43!

The State Suffrage Association celebrated the successful
termination of its over fifty years of continuous effort by a Vic-
tory 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.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION: 1912. 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 Oilman, 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. War-
ren 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.

1913. In January the resolution was introduced by Senator
J. Warren Davis and Assemblyman Charles M. Egan. A hear-
ing 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 dis-
covered that the word "or" appeared in the printed resolution
instead of "and," making it necessary to have a new one intro-
duced, which went through by the same vote.

43 2 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

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 trust-
ingly 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.

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.

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 Pea-
cock, 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.

1916. A bill for Presidential suffrage for women was intro-
duced 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.

1917. Another bill for Presidential suffrage was introduced
by Senator Edmund B. Osborne of Essex county and Assembly-
man 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 chair-
man and Mrs. Antoinette Funk the chief speaker. Finally by
using what is known as the "rule of fifteen," in the Assembly

NEW JERSEY 433

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.

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 Feb-
ruary 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 Assembly-
man David Young of Morris county but the suffragists made so
strong a demonstration against it that it was killed in committee.

CHAPTER XXX.

NEW MEXICO. 1

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.

This department through its bold stand for woman suffrage
and better laws for women and children easily became the fore-
most 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 pro-
gram for one meeting each year in almost every club and gener-
ally 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.

Under direction of the executive board of the federation this

1 The History ia indebted for thia chapter to Deane H. (Mrs. Washington E.) Lindsey,
State chairman of the National Woman Suffrage Association.

434

NEW MEXICO

435

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 Legis-
lative 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 unani-
mously 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 excep-
tion, have needed no lobbying from suffrage forces in Wash-
ington. Senator Andrieus A. Jones, as chairman of the Suf-
frage Committee, made the submission of the amendment pos-
sible in the present Congress by his systematic and forceful
course in the last one.

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 Chap-
man Catt, sent one of its organizers, Miss Lola Walker of Pitts-
burgh, for ten days to look over the situation and she visited
Albuquerque, Santa Fe, 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
:ne of woman suffrage which aroused much interest. An ap
peal 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 Link- Rock
was sent to New Mexico in January, 1917. She visited the
rn and central parN f the State organizing leagues in must
of the towns. In Santa Fe one was formed of about thirty

43 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

members with Mrs. Paul A. F. Walter president; Mrs. R. W.
Twitchell secretary, and Mrs. Ellen J. Palen treasurer.

The Congressional Union also sent an organizer into the State
in 1916, Mrs. Thompson, who spent some time in Santa Fe,
Albuquerque and Las Vegas. The Santa Fe women were suffi-
ciently 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.

Washington E. Lindsey was Governor in 1917-18, and in No-
vember, 1918, all the suffrage forces in Albuquerque and Santa
Fe were invited by Mrs. Lindsey to meet at the Executive Man-
sion 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 sec-
retary; 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.

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 confer-
ences. 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 Fe 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 re-
joicing as word came that Governor Octaviano A. Larrazolo
would call a special session of the Legislature for the ratification.

NEW MEXICO 437

RATIFICATION. 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
1 6. 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 Feb-
rary 19 was 36 ayes, 23 Republicans, 13 Democrats; 10 noes, 8
Republicans, 2 Democrats.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION. 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 Tem-
perance Union, through its president, Mrs. Harriet L. Hender-
son, had a Prohibition Amendment endorsed by the State Re-
publican 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.

the State constitution rendered it impossible to carry an

amendment for woman suffrage the women made no attempt to

have the Legislature submit one, hut in \<n~ some of the Kcprr-

aives brought an amendment resolution before the House,

438

HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

which promptly killed it. As the State conventions of both
political parties this year had declared in favor of woman suf-
frage, 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 assist-
ance 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 Fe branch of the Congressional Union;
Mrs. N. B. Laughlin and Mrs. Lindsey.

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 20 Republican members TO voted for the bill; of the
18 Democratic members, IT voted for it.

SUFFRAGE. 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 chair-
man, Nestor Montoya, cast the deciding vote for it to come
before the convention. Both Democrats and Republicans rallied
to its support but Jose 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

NEW MEXICO 439

passed. The president of the convention, Charles A. Spiess,
spoke urgently in Committee of the Whole to save women's eli-
gibility 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 peti-
tion of the majority !"

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 possi-
bility of it until conferred by a Federal Amendment.

Among the women who worked for woman suffrage in addi-
tion 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. II. Elliot and I. H. Rapp.

As all women were fully enfranchised by the Federal Amend-
ment a State branch of the National League of Women Voters
was formed with Mrs. Gerald Cassidy as chairman.

CHAPTER XXXI.

NEW YORK. 1

New York was the cradle of the movement for woman suf-
frage 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 Asso-
ciation was organized in 1869 and its work never ceased. Not-
withstanding 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.

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 conven-
tions and legislative hearings and the superintendent of fran-
chise, 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

1 The History is indebted for this part of the chapter to Mrs. Ella Hawley Crossett,
president of the State Woman Suffrage Association, 1902-1910.

440

NEW YORK 441

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 presi-
dent, was the first federation to admit suffrage clubs and a suf-
frage resolution was passed at its convention in 1909, at which
time it had 35,000 members.

The annual conventions of the State association always were
held in October. The thirty-third in the long series met at Os-
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-presi-
dent-at-large ; Alice Stone Blackwell, its recording secretary;
Harriet May Mills and Julie R. Jenney of Syracuse. A memo-
rial service was held for one of the pioneers, Charlotte A. Cleve-
land of \Vyoming 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
iation a legacy of $2,000, the first it ever had received. Mrs.
Mariana \V. Chapman, president since 1896, was re-elected.

The convention of H)O2 was held in Buffalo at the Church
of the Messiah. The wife of the Mayor, Erastus Knight, repre-
sented him in giving a welcome from the city. Owing to the
illness of Mrs. Chapman. Mrs. Crossett presided. She was
1 president, after having served four years as vice-presi-
dent. Miss Mills was rhosen for that office and they served for
the next eii^ht years.

In I'/),} the convent inn was held in the 1 Yesbytcrial Church
at Honiellsville welcomed by Mayor C. F. Nelson and the Rev.
Charles Petty, \ nrch. Mrs. Crossett responded

and gave her annual address, which showed much activity dur-
ing the year. Miss Mills, chairman of the State organization
committee, said that she had arranged for fifty-five meetings.
Hr. Shaw had spoken in thirty different counties, the president

44 2 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE

or vice-president accompanying her and organizing clubs at many
places. The chairmen of the standing committees Organiza-
tion, Press, Legislative, Industries, Work Among Children, En-
rollment, 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.

The convention of 1904 met at Auburn. Mrs. Eliza Wright
Osborne, daughter of Martha Wright and