The gaining of the franchise in this influential State made a Federal

Amendment a certainty of the not distant future and in December the

following official notice was sent to the branches of the National

League:

At the meeting of the annual council of the National College

Equal Suffrage League, held at the New Ebbitt Hotel in

Washington, D. C., on Dec. 15, 1917, it was unanimously voted on

recommendation of the president and executive secretary to close

its work and go out of existence. The delegates present, the

officers, and many other suffragists who had been consulted were

of the opinion that the objects for which the league was

originally organized had been fully attained and that there was

no reason for it to continue its work as a separate suffrage

organization....

At the time when the league began its work the subject of

suffrage could scarcely be mentioned in gatherings of college

students and college faculties and was forbidden even as a topic

for discussion in the annual conventions of the Association of

Collegiate Alumnae, but in the nine years that have elapsed since

then an overwhelming change of opinion has taken place. Many

colleges in which it was planned to organize chapters have stated

that there is no need for them, as practically all the members of

their faculties and most of their students are already

suffragists. At the last biennial convention of the Association

of Collegiate Alumnae held in Washington, D. C., in April, 1917,

by a unanimous vote it not only reaffirmed its belief in woman

suffrage but urged its members to win it for all American women

by working for the Federal Amendment. In bringing about this

revolution in educated opinion we are happy to believe that the

National College Equal Suffrage League has played an important

part....

There are belonging to the National League 5,000 members enrolled

in over fifty State leagues and chapters and it suggests that

they become "Federal Amendment Suffrage Clubs" and arrange for

speakers and student debates on the amendment.... Its officers

wish to make an urgent appeal to all its leagues and chapters and

to every one of its individual members to put their whole force

behind the drive for this amendment.... We can perform no more

patriotic service for our country or for the world than to win

woman suffrage while we are working with all our might to win the

war.[142]

This notice contained a statement that the small dues and special

gifts had never been sufficient to meet the expenses of the league and

said: "With the exception of $450 lent by one of its former officers

all the loans and debts of the National College League, amounting to

$6,686 were paid off by its president, who stated that in thus

financing its work during the past few years she believed she was

making the most valuable financial contribution that she could make to

the cause of woman suffrage."

FRIENDS' EQUAL RIGHTS ASSOCIATION.[143]

The Society of Friends always has held advanced views on the woman

question and was for a long time the only religious body which gave

women equal rights with men in the church. Women of this sect were

naturally leaders in the great movement for the emancipation of women

educationally, professionally and politically. Lucretia Mott stepped

forth almost alone at first but soon Susan B. Anthony and Lucy Stone

(both of Quaker ancestry) stood by her side, powerful in vision to see

and will to do and dedicated to their great task.

With such heritage comes unusual responsibility, and, feeling the

surge of this tremendous wave everywhere for human rights, the Society

of Friends at its Biennial or General Conference (liberal branch)

representing the seven Yearly Meetings of the United States and

Canada--Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and

Genesee (western New York and Canada)--held at Chautauqua, N. Y., 8th

month, 24th day, 1900, through the Union for Philanthropic Labor,

created a new department to be known as Women in Government and

recommended to the committees of the various Yearly Meetings that they

"should work in this direction." Before the adjournment of the

conference Mariana W. Chapman of Brooklyn was made superintendent of

the department and the name was changed to Equal Rights for Women.

This official action committed all the Yearly Meetings of this branch

of Friends to the endorsement of political rights for women.

Realizing the need for increased enthusiasm and active participation

in the imminent struggle for the enfranchisement of women, members of

the New York Yearly Meeting organized the State Friends' Equal Rights

Association, with annual membership dues to meet necessary expenses. A

definite list of members was thus made, who could be called upon when

opportunity for service occurred. At Westbury (Long Island) Quarterly

Meeting in 1901 a proposal was approved that this association should

ask to co-operate as an auxiliary with the National American Woman

Suffrage Association and at the following annual convention of that

body in Washington, D. C., it was represented by five delegates. In

December, 1902, Mrs. Chapman, president of the New York association,

addressed a meeting in Philadelphia and a branch was formed there,

which in less than three months numbered about 200 members, with Susan

W. Janney as president. The Baltimore Yearly Meeting quickly followed

with a paid-up membership of 85, which increased the following year to

114, with Elizabeth B. Passmore president.

In 1904 the entire dues-paying membership was over 500. The New York

association sent letters to members of the State Senate and Assembly

bearing on woman suffrage bills and was active in all State suffrage

campaigns. Much energy was devoted to public meetings and literature.

The Philadelphia and Baltimore associations worked mainly along

educational lines. This year the Baltimore branch sent out 4,000

leaflets--For Equal Rights. The Philadelphia association reorganized

in 1905, with an enrolled instead of a paid membership. Their Yearly

Meeting is a large body with a membership scattered over Pennsylvania,

New Jersey, Delaware and the eastern shore of Maryland....

The associations continued their work, holding meetings and "round

tables," especially at times of annual and biennial conferences, one

of the most effective of these meetings being held at Saratoga in

1914, addressed by Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, president of the

International Woman Suffrage Alliance. The subject was kept constantly

under consideration by the Society of Friends at large and in local

gatherings, such as monthly and quarterly meetings, where it was

brought up in regular order as one of the departments of philanthropic

labor or social service to be reported upon. Each branch held a

meeting at the time of its Yearly Meeting. A business meeting of the

whole association (branches and general membership) was always held at

the Biennial Conference of the seven Yearly Meetings. Usually a fine

speaker was engaged to address the conference at a public meeting

numbering from 800 to 1,500. The Superintendent of the Department for

Equal Rights in the General Conference was always the president of the

Friends' Equal Rights Association as a whole and made the contact

between the Society of Friends and the National American Woman

Suffrage Association.

In 1911 Mrs. Effie L. D. McAfee, a member of the New York branch, was

sent by the Friends' Equal Rights Association to the congress of the

International Alliance held at Stockholm, Sweden, where, in honor of a

sect so long identified with the cause of woman suffrage, she was

given a place on the program and filled it most acceptably. In 1916

the Philadelphia branch returned to the regular dues-paying basis,

with Rebecca Webb Holmes of Swarthmore as president. The New York

branch, notwithstanding the enfranchisement of the women of that State

in 1917, continued its organization in order to help the less

fortunate sisters, with P. Francena Maine as president. The Illinois

Yearly Meeting in 1919 added to the membership of the Friends' Equal

Rights Association.

The association usually has been represented at the annual conventions

of the N. A. W. S. A. Its presidents have been: Mrs. Chapman, New

York; Lucy Sutton, Baltimore; Mary Bentley Thomas, Ednor, Md.; Ellen

H. E. Price, Philadelphia; Anne Webb Janney, Baltimore. The specific

task of the association has been to get a clear utterance on woman

suffrage from the different Yearly Meetings, representing in total

membership about 20,000. Invariably they have endorsed the principle

and any pending legislation in favor. Affiliation with the National

Association has been deeply appreciated by its members, as to be an

integral part of one of the glorious world forces is a privilege not

to be lightly held.

THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY CONFERENCES.[144]

For half a dozen years toward the end of the long contest for the

enfranchisement of women--1912-1917 inclusive--an organization that

played a considerable part in it was the Mississippi Valley

Conference. From the time that the National Suffrage Association was

formed in 1869 to 1895 its annual conventions were held in Washington,

and from that date to 1912 nine of the seventeen were held in eastern

States. Because of the expense of travel the representation of western

women was very small compared to that of the eastern section of the

country. All the national presidents were from the East and in order

that the officers might attend board meetings and conferences most of

them were eastern women. Those of the West keenly realized the need of

greater opportunity of getting together, becoming acquainted,

developing leadership and planning their work, as all of the suffrage

campaigns at this time took place in the western States. This was felt

more especially by the women of the Middle West, as many of the States

in the far West had given the vote to their women.

Finally in 1912 the initiative was taken by a group of women in

Chicago, headed by Mrs. Ella S. Stewart, six years president of the

Illinois Suffrage Association; Miss Jane Addams, national vice

president, and Mrs. Catharine Waugh McCulloch, a former State and

national officer, to form an organization in the central part of the

country that could hold occasional conferences. They asked the

presidents of the State associations in that section if they would

join in a call for a meeting in Chicago for this purpose and sixteen

responded in the affirmative. Mrs. Stewart, as chairman of the

committee, took charge of the arrangements, assisted by Mrs. Mary R.

Plummer, and prepared the program. The meeting took place in La Salle

Hotel, May 21-23, with the following States represented by women

prominent in the movement for woman suffrage: Illinois, Wisconsin,

Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama,

Mississippi, Louisiana, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Nebraska,

South Dakota, Mrs. Elvira Downey, president of the Illinois Suffrage

Association, presiding. There were three sessions daily with large

audiences and the _Woman's Journal_ said: "Every session was like a

great study class with teachers and students, questions, answers and

discussion. It was not an occasion for a display of oratory but a

practical and business-like conference." All phases of the work for

suffrage were considered and especially the management of campaigns,

which were now frequent. The third day a meeting was held in

Milwaukee, arranged by Miss Gwendolen Brown Willis. The great need and

value of such an organization was clearly apparent and the Mississippi

Valley Conference was organized with Mrs. Stewart president. There was

no constitution or fixed rules, it was simply decided to hold a

meeting the next year and a committee to arrange for it appointed:

Mrs. Stewart, chairman; Miss Kate Gordon of Louisiana and Mrs. Maud C.

Stockwell of Minnesota.

The second conference met in St. Louis April 2-4, 1913, in the

Buckingham Hotel, at the Call of nineteen State presidents. Mrs.

George Gellhorn, president of the Missouri association, had charge of

the arrangements, with a corps of committee chairmen. Mrs. Stewart

presided and the conference was welcomed by Mrs. David M. O'Neil. The

three daily sessions were crowded with eager, interested women. At one

evening mass meeting in the Sheldon Memorial Governor Joseph K. Folk

made an address. Miss Harriet E. Grim of Illinois was elected

president and Mrs. Gellhorn and Mrs. Pattie Ruffner Jacobs, president

of the Alabama Suffrage Association, were appointed to assist her in

arranging for the next conference.

The third conference took place in Des Moines, Iowa, March 29-31,

1914, in the Savery Hotel, with the presidents of twenty State

Suffrage Associations among the delegates. It opened with a mass

meeting on Sunday afternoon in Berchel Theater and an overflow meeting

had to be held for the hundreds who could not gain admittance.

Governor George W. Clark, Miss Jane Addams, Rabbi Mannheimer, Miss

Dunlap and Mrs. Stewart were the speakers. In the morning and evening

most of the pulpits in the city were filled by delegates. The

conference was welcomed Monday by Miss Flora Dunlap, president of the

Iowa Suffrage Association and Mrs. Marie M. Carroll, president of the

Des Moines Woman's Club, and at the mass meeting in the evening by

Mayor James R. Hanna. Several hundred delegates were in attendance and

a valuable program of work occupied the sessions. Mrs. Harriet Taylor

Upton, president of the Ohio association, was elected president and

with Miss Laura Clay and Mrs. John Pyle, presidents of the Kentucky

and South Dakota Suffrage Associations, was appointed to arrange for

the next conference.

The fourth conference was held at Indianapolis, March 7-9, 1915, in

the Hotel Claypool, with Dr. Amelia R. Keller, president of the Equal

Franchise League, chairman of the committee of arrangements. It opened

with a mass meeting Sunday afternoon in Murat Theater, Dr. Keller

presiding. An address of welcome was made by James A. Ogden in behalf

of the Chamber of Commerce, to which Mrs. Upton responded. The

principal speaker was Rosika Schwimmer of Hungary, formerly an officer

of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance. Presidents and delegates

from twenty-two State Suffrage Associations carried out the usual

comprehensive program. Mrs. Florence Bennett Peterson of Chicago was

elected president, with Mrs. W. E. Barkley and Miss Annette Finnegan,

presidents of the Nebraska and Texas Suffrage Associations, to assist

in the plans for the next meeting.

The conference of 1916 met in Minneapolis, May 7-10, four days now

being none too long to carry out the important program of work. Mrs.

Andreas Ueland, president of the Minnesota Suffrage Association, was

chairman of the large committee of arrangements. The conference opened

with a mass meeting in the Auditorium Sunday afternoon, Mrs. Ueland

presiding. The invocation was pronounced by Dr. Cyrus Northrop,

president emeritus of the State University. The conference was

welcomed by Mayor Wallace G. Nye and Mrs. Peterson responded.

Professor Maria L. Sanford of the State University; president Frank

Nelson of Minnesota College; Mrs. Nellie McClung of Alberta, Can.;

Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, president of the International Suffrage

Alliance and the National American Association, and others made

addresses. An evening mass meeting was held in St. Paul. At a banquet

attended by 500 guests Dr. George E. Vincent, president of the State

University, made his first declaration in favor of woman suffrage.

Twenty-six States were now members of the organization and nearly all

of those who took part at this time were prominent in the activities

of their various States. The _Woman's Journal_ said: "It was a

magnificent and glorified Work Conference." Mrs. Peterson was

continued as president and Mrs. Ueland and Miss Elizabeth J. Hauser of

the Ohio Suffrage Association were placed on her committee, the latter

to act as chairman for arranging the next conference.

The sixth annual meeting of what had now become an important factor in

the movement for woman suffrage took place at Columbus, O., May 12-14,

1917, in Hotel Deshler. At the Sunday afternoon mass meeting in

Memorial Hall, the Hon. William Littleford of Cincinnati, president of

the Ohio Men's League for Woman Suffrage, was in the chair and a

number of eminent men and women were on the platform. The speakers

were Governor James M. Cox and Mrs. Catt. The Governor strongly

endorsed the movement and pledged his support. Mrs. Catt gave a

masterly review of its progress throughout the world. Twenty-one

States were represented on the program. An important feature of this,

as of several preceding conferences, was the reports of what women had

been able to accomplish in the many States where they were now

enfranchised. Organization and political action in order to carry

State amendments formed the principal theme of discussion. Mrs. John

R. Leighty of Kansas was elected president with Mrs. Ueland and Mrs.

Grace Julian Clarke of Indianapolis on her committee to arrange for

the next conference. The shadow of war rested over the meeting, yet in

all the speeches was a note of victory for woman suffrage, which

evidently was not far distant.

It was planned to hold the next Conference in Sioux Falls, May 26-28,

1918, as South Dakota was in the midst of an amendment campaign, but

Mrs. Catt called the Executive Council of the National Association to

meet at Indianapolis during the Indiana State convention April 16-18,

to plan action on the Federal Amendment, which seemed near passing.

This required the attendance of its members from every State and as

many of them did not wish to spare the time and money for another

meeting so soon the conference was given up. In 1919 the convention of

the National Association was held in St. Louis and in 1920 in Chicago,

which made the conference unnecessary, and then the Federal Amendment

was ratified and the long contest was ended.

THE SOUTHERN WOMAN SUFFRAGE CONFERENCE.

The Southern Woman Suffrage Conference was formed as the result of a

Call sent out in 1913 by women of the southern States to the Governors

of those States to meet them in conference and prepare for the

extension of woman suffrage by State enactment rather than by Federal

Amendment. Women from every southern State signed the Call, although

in North and South Carolina and Florida not a vestige of suffrage

organization existed. Miss Kate Gordon, who inaugurated the

conference, felt impelled to begin some distinctly southern suffrage

movement when listening to the effort of the Speaker of the House of

Representatives in Louisiana, to secure the ratification of the Income

Tax Amendment upon the sole and only ground that it was a Democratic

party measure. To make woman suffrage a Democratic party measure

seemed then the logical field for immediate, intensive propaganda. The

Congressional Committee of the National American Association was

vitalizing into activity the Federal Woman Suffrage Amendment. What

more logical from a political standpoint than for the southern

suffrage forces to advance with a flank movement in harmony with the

traditions and policies of the Democratic party?

In November, 1913, there assembled in New Orleans the organization

force of the Southern Conference, with representatives from almost all

of the southern States. The platform adopted was primarily for State's

Right Suffrage. Miss Gordon was elected president and Miss Laura Clay

of Kentucky vice-president; Mrs. John B. Parker of Louisiana

corresponding secretary; Mrs. Nellie Nugent Somerville of Mississippi

treasurer. The plan of campaign consisted of the establishment of

headquarters in New Orleans; the creating of an active press bureau

and the holding of conferences in the southern States, particularly

those where no suffrage organization existed. It was originally hoped

that the National Association would encourage with active support the

development of this specialized suffrage work but it refused any

financial assistance.

The founders undaunted pursued their own plan of financing, when

suddenly through the generosity of Mrs. Oliver H. P. Belmont of New

York the wheels were set in motion. Under caution that secrecy be

maintained, Mrs. Belmont, a southern born woman, attracted by the

practicability of the plan, endorsed it by sending a check for

$10,000. Later at a meeting of the conference in Chattanooga, Tenn.,

she said: "I plead guilty to so strong a desire for the political

emancipation of women that I am not at all particular as to how it

shall be granted. I have sworn allegiance to the National Amendment

for woman suffrage, while the Southern States Conference, of which I

am proud to be a member, holds rigidly to the principle of State's

rights. As a southerner I thoroughly understand the problems which

create this attitude and if that method proves effective I shall

gratefully accept the results."

In May, 1914, the headquarters were opened in New Orleans with Mrs.

Ida Porter Boyer of Pennsylvania as their secretary. Within three

months 1,000 southern newspapers were using the specially prepared

weekly editorials and fillers sent out. In October was launched the

_New Southern Citizen_, a monthly suffrage magazine, which made its

initial trip with a distinctively southern suffrage appeal. This

little arsenal of facts reached every legislator in the South prior to

the sessions of the Legislatures. Special bills endorsed by

suffragists or women were made the theme of weekly news articles,

which called out editorials by wholesale. To illustrate: When

Mississippi women were making an effort to secure an amendment to

enable women to serve on public boards, an enthusiastic Mississippian

wrote to the conference of the support given by local papers in their

editorials and general comments. Every word printed had been furnished

by the news bulletins from the conference headquarters.

The work of the Southern Conference would be incomplete without

special mention of the valuable services of Mrs. Wesley Martin Stoner

of Washington, D. C. Mrs. Stoner had been sent as the special

representative of the National Association's Congressional Committee

to make a survey of southern conditions, in the winter of 1913-14, and

reported that her observations led her to believe that the best

results would be obtained by a furtherance of the policies of the

Southern Conference and from that time she became a valued worker in

its ranks.

The conference felt that in a great measure its chief purpose had been

achieved when the Democratic party, in its national platform of 1916,

went on record for woman suffrage by State enactment. It kept up an

active organization throughout the South, however, until May, 1917,

when the war situation demanded caution in continuing a movement which

was costing over $600 a month. An additional reason for discontinuance

was that Miss Gordon, who had been donating all of her time to the

work, was obliged to give attention to her own business affairs.

[Prepared by Miss Kate Gordon.]

INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL MEN'S LEAGUES FOR WOMAN SUFFRAGE.

The National Men's League for Woman Suffrage in the United States was

the outgrowth of the State League in New York, formed in 1910, an

account of which is in the New York chapter. National Leagues were

afterwards formed in other countries. In Great Britain the Earl of

Lytton was president and among the vice-presidents were Earl Russell,

the Lord Bishop of Lincoln, Sir John Cockburn, K.C., M.G., Forbes

Robertson, Israel Zangwill and others of prominence in various fields.

At the time of the congress of the International Woman Suffrage

Alliance in Stockholm in the summer of 1911 delegates from these

national leagues held a convention there and formed an International

Men's League. The United States League was represented by Frederick

Nathan of New York. A second international convention of National

Men's Leagues took place in London in 1912, the sessions continuing

one week. The third convention occurred in Budapest in June, 1913,

when the International Woman Suffrage Alliance held its congress and

the delegates were warmly welcomed by the Men's League of Hungary. In

1914 came the World War. At the next congress of the Alliance, in

Geneva in 1920, the International Men's League was represented by a

fraternal delegate, Colonel William Mansfeldt, president of the

National League of The Netherlands.

The New York Men's League soon received requests for information from

far and wide and it was evident that such a league was needed in every

State. Correspondence followed and in 1911 Omar E. Garwood, Assistant

District Attorney of Colorado, came to New York. An association of

influential men had been formed in that State two years before to

refute the misrepresentations of the effects of woman suffrage and he

was interested in the New York Men's League. While here he assisted in

organizing a National League and consented to act as secretary. James

Lees Laidlaw, a banker and public-spirited man of New York City, who

was at the head of the State Men's League, was the unanimous choice

for president and continued in this office until the Federal Woman

Suffrage Amendment was ratified in 1920. In a comparatively short time

Men's Leagues were formed in California, Colorado, Connecticut,

Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland,

Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New

Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and

Virginia.

As the years went by leagues were formed in other States and were more

or less active in furthering the cause of woman suffrage according to

their leaders. Their officers assisted the campaigns in various

States, spoke at hearings by committees of Congress and sent

delegations to the conventions of the National American Suffrage

Association. Here an evening was always set apart for their meetings,

at which Mr. Laidlaw presided, and addresses were made by men well

known nationally and locally. A delegation from the National League

marched in the big suffrage parade in Washington March 3, 1913. In

every State the members were of so much prominence as to give much

prestige to the movement. For instance in Pennsylvania Judge Dimner

Beeber was president and the Right Reverend James H. Darlington a

leading member. In Massachusetts Edwin D. Mead was president; former

Secretary of the Navy John D. Long vice-president; John Graham Brooks

treasurer; Francis H. Garrison chairman of the executive committee. A

similar roster could be given in other States. In New York the most

eminent men in many lines were connected with the league. The leagues

remained in existence until their services were no longer needed.

THE NATIONAL WOMAN'S PARTY.

The National Woman's Party was organized in the spring of 1913 under

the name of the Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage. Its original

purpose was to support the work of the Congressional Committee of the

National American Woman Suffrage Association and its officers were the

members of that committee: Miss Alice Paul (N. J.); Miss Crystal

Eastman (Wis.); Miss Lucy Burns (N. Y.); Mrs. Lawrence Lewis (Penn.);

Mrs. Mary Beard (N. Y.). In successive years names added to its

executive committee were those of Mesdames Oliver H. P. Belmont,

William Kent, Gilson Gardner, Donald R. Hooker, John Winters Brannan,

Harriot Stanton Blatch, Florence Bayard Hilles, J. A. H. Hopkins,

Thomas N. Hepburn, Richard Wainwright; Miss Elsie Hill, Miss Anne

Martin and others. A large advisory committee was formed.

The object of the Union was the same as that of the National

Association--to secure an amendment to the Federal Constitution which

would give universal woman suffrage. At the annual convention of the

association in December, 1913, a new Congressional Committee was

appointed and the Congressional Union became an independent

organization. Its headquarters were in Washington, D. C. It never was

regularly organized by States, districts, etc., although there were

branches in various States. The work was centralized in the Washington

headquarters and the forces were easily mobilized. The exact

membership probably was never known by anybody. It was a small but

very active organization and Miss Paul was the supreme head with no

restrictions. A great deal of initiative was allowed to the workers in

other parts of the country who were often governed by the exigencies

of the situation. After the first few years annual conventions were

held in Washington.

While the principal object of the National Association always was a

Federal Amendment, for which it worked unceasingly, it realized that

Congress would not submit one until a number of States had made the

experiment and their enfranchised women could bring political pressure

to bear on the members. Therefore the association campaigned in the

States for amendments to their constitutions. The Union did no work of

this kind but when it was organized nine States had granted full

suffrage to women, the time was ripe for a big "drive" for a Federal

Amendment and it could utilize this tremendous backing. Within the

next five years six more States were added to the list, including the

powerful one of New York. In addition the National Association,

cooperating with the women in the States, had secured in fourteen

others the right for their women to vote for Presidential electors.

The Federal Amendment was a certainty of a not distant future but

there was yet a great deal of work to do.

In carrying on this work, while the two organizations followed similar

lines in many respects there were some marked differences. The

National Association was strictly non-partisan, made no distinction of

parties, and followed only constitutional methods. The Congressional

Union held the majority party in Congress wholly responsible for the

success or failure of the Federal Amendment and undertook to prevent

the re-election of its members. In the Congressional elections of 1914

its representatives toured the States where women could vote and urged

them to defeat all Democratic candidates regardless of their attitude

toward woman suffrage. This policy was followed in subsequent

campaigns.

In 1915 the Union held a convention in San Francisco during the

Panama-Pacific Exposition and sent envoys across the country with a

petition to President Wilson and Congress collected at its

headquarters during the exposition. In 1916 it held a three days'

convention in Chicago during the National Republican convention and at

this time organized the National Woman's Party with the Federal

Suffrage Amendment as the only plank in its platform and a Campaign

Committee was formed with Miss Anne Martin of Nevada as chairman. At a

meeting in Washington in March, 1917, the name Congressional Union was

officially changed to National Woman's Party and Miss Paul was elected

chairman.

On Jan. 10, 1917, the Union began the "picketing" of the White House,

delegations of women with banners standing at the gates all day "as a

perpetual reminder to President Wilson that they held him responsible

for their disfranchisement." They stood there unmolested for three

months and then the United States entered the war. Conditions were no

longer normal, feeling was intense and there were protests from all

parts of the country against this demonstration in front of the home

of the President. In June the police began arresting them for

"obstructing the traffic" and during the next six months over 200 were

arrested representing many States. They refused to pay their fines in

the police court and were sent to the jail and workhouse for from

three days to seven months. These were unsanitary, they were roughly

treated, "hunger strikes" and forcible feeding followed, there was

public indignation and on November 28 President Wilson pardoned all of

them and the "picketing" was resumed. Congress delayed action on the

Federal Amendment and members of the Union held meetings in Lafayette

Square and burned the President's speeches. Later they burned them and

a paper effigy of the President on the sidewalk in front of the White

House. Arrests and imprisonments followed.

While these violent tactics were being followed the Union worked also

along legitimate lines, organized parades, lobbied in Congress,

attended committee hearings, went to political conventions,

interviewed candidates and worked unceasingly. When the amendment was

submitted for ratification it transferred its activities to the

Legislatures and the Presidential candidates.

After the Federal Amendment was proclaimed a convention was called to

meet in Washington Feb. 15-19, 1921, and decide whether the

organization should disband or continue its work until women stood on

the same legal, civil, and economic basis as men. The convention

decided on the latter course. The name was retained. Miss Paul

insisted upon retiring from office and Miss Elsie Hill, who had long

been an officer, was elected chairman. A large executive committee was

named, headed by Mrs. Oliver H. P. Belmont of New York. An impressive

ceremony took place in the rotunda of the Capitol on February 15, the

101st birthday of Susan B. Anthony, when the party presented to

Congress a marble group of Miss Anthony, Mrs. Stanton and Lucretia

Mott, the work of Mrs. Adelaide Johnson, with representatives of sixty

organizations of women taking part. It was officially accepted by

Congress.

The National Woman's Party will undertake to secure a Federal

Amendment removing all disabilities on account of sex or marriage and

will also have bills for this purpose introduced in State

Legislatures. In 1921 Mrs. Belmont, who had been the largest

contributor, gave $146,000 for the purchase of a historic mansion in

Washington to be used for permanent headquarters and for a national

political clubhouse for women. At a new election Mrs. Belmont was made

president; Miss Paul vice-president and Miss Hill chairman of the

executive committee.

ASSOCIATIONS OPPOSED TO WOMAN SUFFRAGE.

The first society of women opposed to the suffrage seems to have been

formed in Washington, D. C., in 1871, with the wife of General

Sherman, the wife of Admiral Dahlgren and Mrs. Almira Lincoln Phelps,

a sister of Miss Emma Willard, as officers. Their first public effort

on record was two letters to the Washington _Post_ published in 1876

and a memorial from Mrs. Dahlgren in 1878 to a Senate Committee which

was to grant a hearing to the suffragists on a Federal Amendment.

An Anti-Suffrage Committee was formed in Massachusetts in the early

'80's with Mrs. Charles D. Homans as chairman. About twenty prominent

women signed a remonstrance against a State suffrage amendment, which

was first presented to the Legislature in 1884 and each year

afterwards when there was a resolution before it for this purpose. An

Association Opposed to the Further Extension of Suffrage to Women was

organized in Massachusetts in May, 1895, with Mrs. J. Elliott Cabot

president and Mrs. Charles E. Guild secretary; Laurence Minot,

treasurer. Executive Committee, chairman, Mrs. Henry M. Whitney. A

paper called the _Remonstrance_, started about 1890, was published

quarterly in Boston, edited for some years by Frank Foxcroft. It

ceased publication October, 1920, at which time Mrs. J. M. Codman was

editor.

In 1894, when a convention for revising the constitution of New York

State was held, Anti-Suffrage Committees were formed in Brooklyn,

April 18; in New York City, April 25; in Albany, April 28. These

committees combined to form the New York State Association Opposed to

Woman Suffrage on April 8, 1895, with Mrs. Francis M. Scott,

president. The other States in which there was an association or

committee in late years were as follows: Alabama, Connecticut,

Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Michigan,

Minnesota, New Hampshire, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio,

Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, D. C., Wisconsin.

The National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage was organized in

New York City in November, 1911, with the following officers:

President, Mrs. Arthur M. Dodge; vice-presidents, Miss Mary A. Ames,

Boston, and Mrs. Horace Brock, Philadelphia; secretary, Mrs. William

B. Glover, Fairfield, Conn.; treasurer, Mrs. Robert Garrett,

Baltimore. Mrs. James W. Wadsworth, Jr., succeeded Mrs. Dodge in July,

1917, and was followed by Miss Mary G. Kilbreth in 1920. The aim of

the association was "to increase general interest in the opposition to

universal woman suffrage and to educate the public in the belief that

women can be more useful to the community without the ballot than if

affiliated with and influenced by party politics." It held mass

meetings during campaigns; sent delegates to hearings given by

committees of Congress on a Federal Suffrage Amendment and other

matters connected with national woman suffrage; also to Legislatures

to oppose State amendments; sent speakers and workers to States where

amendment campaigns were in progress and circulated vast quantities of

literature.

The national headquarters were in New York City at 37 West 39th St.

until 1918 when they were moved to Washington, D. C. Three papers were

published, the _Anti-Suffragist_ in Albany; the _Woman's Protest_ in

New York from May, 1912 to March 1, 1918, when it was succeeded by the

_Woman Patriot_, published in Washington.

THE MAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION.

It is difficult to get statistics of the men's association to prevent

woman suffrage. Everett P. Wheeler, a prominent lawyer of New York

City, always the moving spirit of the association and its branches,

sent the following information:

"The Man Suffrage Association, opposed to political suffrage for

women, was organized in New York in 1913 at the request of the State

Woman's Anti-Suffrage Association. Its officers were: Everett P.

Wheeler, chairman; executive committee: Walter C. Childs, Arthur B.

Church, John R. DosPassos, Chas. S. Fairchild, Eugene D. Hawkins,

Henry W. Hayden, George Douglas Miller, Robert K. Prentice, Louis T.

Romaine, Herbert L. Satterlee, George W. Seligman, Prof. Munroe Smith,

Francis Lynde Stetson, John C. Ten Eyck, Gilbert M. Tucker, Dr.

Talcott Williams, George W. Wickersham.

"The association issued many pamphlets, briefs, legal arguments,

articles and speeches by prominent men, editorials, etc. The Case

Against Woman Suffrage, a pamphlet of 80 pages, was prepared as a

Manual for writers, lecturers and debaters and contained historical

sketches, statistics, opinions of men and women, bibliography, answers

to suffrage arguments--a mass of information from the viewpoint of

opponents.

"The association continued in existence until after the adoption of

the suffrage amendment to the State constitution of New York in

November, 1917. It was not national in scope but was in affiliation

with similar societies in other States. The name of the New Jersey

association was Men's Anti-Suffrage League and its principal officers

were: Colonel William Libbey, president; Edward Q. Keasbey,

vice-president; Walter C. Ellis, secretary; John C. Eisele, treasurer.

There was also an association in Maryland and other States.

"The name of the New York association was not changed but in November,

1917, a new one called the American Constitutional League, was formed.

The reason for the change was that the question so far as the

constitution of New York was concerned had been settled by vote and

agitation was being pressed with vigor in Congress for the proposal by

that body of a National Suffrage Amendment. This league is still in

existence (1920). It was active in opposing the adoption of the

Federal Amendment, was heard before committees of Congress and

afterwards before committees of the Legislatures opposing

ratification. It is national in its scope and has members in fifteen

States.

"When it was announced that the Legislature of West Virginia had

passed a resolution ratifying the Federal Amendment, the league

presented to Secretary of State Colby the evidence that it had not

been legally adopted. This evidence he declared he had no power to

consider but was bound by any certificate he might receive from the

Secretary of West Virginia. The league also urged upon him that under

the constitution of Tennessee, when the Legislature was called in

extra session it had no power to ratify the amendment. This evidence

he also declined to consider. Thereupon a suit was brought in the

Supreme Court of the District of Columbia to restrain him from issuing

the proclamation of ratification. The ground was taken that the

proposed amendment was not within the amending power of Article V of

the National Constitution; that its first ten amendments form a Bill

of Rights which can only be changed by the unanimous consent of all

the States. It was contended that it was essential to a republican

form of government that the States should have the right to regulate

and determine the qualifications for suffrage for the election of

their own officers and that the guarantee in the National Constitution

of a republican form of government would be violated if this amendment

should be held to be valid. The bill was dismissed in the Supreme

Court on several grounds, partly technical, and the decree was

affirmed in the District Court of Appeals apparently on the ground

that the proclamation of ratification was not final. An appeal from

this decree is now pending in the Supreme Court of the United States.

All this litigation has been conducted by the American Constitutional

League.

"The New York headquarters are in Mr. Wheeler's office in William

Street; the Washington headquarters are where the official

anti-suffrage organ, the _Woman Patriot_, is published. While the

declared object of the League is 'to protect the Federal Constitution

from further invasion' the only effort it has made is to defeat woman

suffrage. The Hon. Charles S. Fairchild, Secretary of the Treasury

under President Cleveland, is president; honorary vice-presidents, Dr.

Lyman Abbott, Francis Lynde Stetson, Herbert L. Satterlee, George W.

Wickersham, John C. Milburn, George W. Seligman, the Rev. Anson P.

Atterbury and Dr. William P. Manning; Mr. Wheeler, chairman of the

executive committee."

During the struggle to secure ratification of the Federal Suffrage

Amendment from the Tennessee Legislature in August, 1920, Mr. Wheeler

went to that State and a branch of the league was formed there. The

strongest possible fight against it was made. Chancellor Vertrees

wrote articles and delivered speeches against it. Professor G. W. Dyer

of Vanderbilt University; Frank P. Bond, a Nashville attorney, and

others made a speaking tour of the State. When Governor Roberts sent

the certificate of ratification to Secretary of State Colby, Speaker

of the House Seth M. Walker headed a delegation to Washington to

protest against its being accepted. Failing in this they went on to

Connecticut to try to prevent ratification by its Legislature.

In Maryland the Men's Anti-Suffrage Association took the name of

League for State Defense. Having defeated ratification in the

Legislature of that State a delegation went to the West Virginia

Legislature in a vain effort to prevent it there. After Maryland women

had voted in 1920, suit was brought in the Court of Common Pleas to

invalidate the action in the name of Judge Oscar Leser and twenty

members of the league's board of managers. Receiving an adverse

decision they carried the case to the Court of Appeals, which

sustained the decision. Mr. Wheeler and William L. Marbury, George

Arnold Frick and Thomas F. Cadwalader of Baltimore represented the

league. They carried the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, where it

remains at present.[145]

FOOTNOTES:

[142] The following were the officers of the National College Equal

Suffrage League at the time it disbanded: President, M. Carey Thomas,

president of Bryn Mawr College; First vice-president, Dr. Anna Howard

Shaw, honorary president of the National American Woman Suffrage

Association; vice-presidents: Mary E. Woolley, president of Mount

Holyoke College; Ellen F. Pendleton, president of Wellesley College;

Lucy M. Salmon, professor of history in Vassar College; Lillian Welch,

professor of physiology and hygiene in Goucher College (Baltimore);

Virginia C. Gildersleeve, dean of Barnard College (Columbia

University); Lois K. Mathews, dean of women in the University of

Wisconsin; Eva Johnston, dean of women in the University of Missouri;

Florence M. Fitch, dean of college women and professor of Biblical

literature, Oberlin College; Maud Wood Park, Boston; executive

secretary, Mrs. Ethel Puffer Howes, New York City; treasurer, Mrs.

Raymond B. Morgan, president Washington, D. C., Collegiate Alumnae.

ETHEL PUFFER HOWES, M. CAREY THOMAS,

Executive Secretary. President.

[143] The History is indebted for this sketch to Anne Webb (Mrs. O.

Edward) Janney, president of the Friends' Equal Rights Association and

superintendent of the department of equal rights of the Committee of

Philanthropic Labor of the Friends' General Conference.

[144] Detailed accounts of these conferences may be found in the

_Woman's Journal_ (Boston) of the dates following those on which they

were held.

[145] As this volume goes to press the U. S. Supreme Court on Feb. 27,

1922, rendered a unanimous adverse decision in both cases and declared

that the Federal Amendment had been legally ratified.

CHAPTER XXII.

THE LEAGUE OF WOMAN VOTERS.[146]

The League of Women Voters was first mentioned at the convention of

the National American Woman Suffrage Association in Washington, D. C.,

Dec. 12-15, 1917, when its president, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt,

outlined a plan to unite the women of the equal suffrage States. She

suggested organization committees of five women in each, these

committees to be united in a central body known as the National League

of Women Voters. Upon the enfranchisement of its women each State

would automatically join the organization, which would provide a way

to retain suffrage associations for work on the Federal Amendment and

various reforms. It was voted that a committee be appointed to

undertake such a plan of organization. [Handbook of convention, page

48.]

The League of Women Voters was organized at the national convention in

St. Louis March 24-29, 1919, in commemoration of the Fiftieth

Anniversary of the first grant of suffrage on equal terms with men in

the world (in Wyoming) and the Fiftieth Anniversary of the

organization of the first National Woman Suffrage Association. Women

were eligible at this time to vote for President in twenty-eight

States. The submission of the Federal Woman Suffrage Amendment was

promised by the Sixty-sixth Congress and early ratification was

assured, so that the object for which the association had labored

through half a century of arduous sacrifice and toil was nearly

attained. The natural question, therefore, was, Should the association

make plans to dissolve immediately upon ratification or was there

reason for continuance?

On the opening night of the convention Mrs. Catt answered this

question and gave the purpose and aims of the new organization in her

address The Nation Calls. She said in part:

Every suffragist will hope for a memorial dedicated to the memory

of our brave departed leaders, to the sacrifices they made for

our cause, to the scores of victories won.... I venture to

propose one whose benefits will bless our entire nation and bring

happiness to the humblest of our citizens--the most natural, the

most appropriate and the most patriotic memorial that could be

suggested--a League of Women Voters to "finish the fight" and to

aid in the reconstruction of the nation. What could be more

natural than that women having attained their political

independence should desire to give service in token of their

gratitude? What could be more appropriate than that such women

should do for the coming generation what those of a preceding did

for them? What could be more patriotic than that these women

should use their new freedom to make the country safer for their

children and their children's children?

Let us then raise up a League of Women Voters, the name and form

of organization to be determined by the members themselves; a

league that shall be non-partisan and non-sectarian and

consecrated to three chief aims: 1. To use its influence to

obtain the full enfranchisement of the women of every State in

our own republic and to reach out across the seas in aid of the

woman's struggle for her own in every land. 2. To remove the

remaining legal discriminations against women in the codes and

constitutions of the several States in order that the feet of

coming women may find these stumbling blocks removed. 3. To make

our democracy so safe for the nation and so safe for the world

that every citizen may feel secure and great men will acknowledge

the worthiness of the American republic to lead.

The following ten points covered by Mrs. Catt in her address were

adopted later as the first aims of the League of Women Voters and made

the plan of work for the Committee on American Citizenship: 1.

Compulsory education in every State for all children between six and

sixteen during nine months of each year. 2. Education of adults by

extension classes of the public schools. 3. English made the national

language by having it compulsory in all public and private schools

where courses in general education are conducted. 4. Higher

qualifications for citizenship and more sympathetic and impressive

ceremonials for naturalization. 5. Direct citizenship for women, not

through marriage, as a qualification for the vote. 6. Naturalization

for married women to be made possible. 7. Compulsory publication in

foreign language newspapers of lessons in citizenship. 8. Schools of

citizenship in conjunction with the public schools, a certificate from

such schools to be a qualification for naturalization and for the

vote. 9. An oath of allegiance to the United States to be one

qualification for the vote for every citizen native and foreign born.

10. An educational qualification for the vote in all States after a

definite date to be determined.

With Mrs. Catt in the chair and Miss Katharine Pierce of Oklahoma

secretary, after full discussion the League of Women Voters was

launched to replace the National American Woman Suffrage Association

when the work for which the latter was organized was fully

accomplished. Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, honorary president of the

association, expressed herself as "whole-heartedly in favor of the

proposed action." [Handbook of convention, page 43.] Mrs. Charles H.

Brooks of Kansas was elected national chairman. The recommendations of

the sub-committees on organization plans, Mrs. Raymond Brown (N. Y.)

chairman, were adopted as follows: 1. The Council of the League of

Women Voters will consist of the presidents of the States having full,

Presidential or Primary suffrage and the chairmen of the Ratification

Committees in the seven States of Montana, Idaho, Washington,

Colorado, Nevada, Arizona and Wyoming--this Council to pass upon all

policies of the league and approve the legislative programs. 2. The

permanent chairman, who will also be chairman of the legislative

committee, will conduct correspondence, direct organization in

unorganized States and visit States with the view of stimulating

organization and clarifying the objects of the league, the work for

suffrage to remain in the National Congressional Committee and the

State Ratification Committees. 3. The State Leagues of Women Voters

will consist of individual members and organized committees with the

addition of associations already established which subscribe to the

principles of the league. At the regular State convention or at a

special State conference to be called the object of the league will be

set forth and each department presented, with publicity and

advertising to bring it to the attention of the public.

Eight departments each composed of a national chairman and one woman

from every State were recommended, the members of these departments

to become familiar with all laws on the subjects under consideration,

recommend legislative programs, prepare and issue literature on their

subjects and work in the States through the State committees. A

"budget" of $20,000 was recommended.

The program for the Women in Industry Committee presented by Mrs.

Raymond Robins (Ills.) was adopted. The greatest needs for Unification

and Improvement of Laws defining the Legal Status of Women were named

by Mrs. Catharine Waugh McCulloch (Ills.), such as joint guardianship

of children, marriage and divorce laws, property rights, industry,

civil service, morality, child welfare and elections. Education was

set forth as the best means to Social Morality and Social Hygiene by

Dr. Valeria Parker (Conn.). Miss Julia Lathrop (Washington, D. C.),

chief of the Federal Child Welfare Bureau, spoke on present needs,

saying: "Child labor and an educated community, child labor and modern

democracy cannot co-exist.... Time does not wait, the child lives or

dies. If he lives he takes up his life well or ill equipped, not as he

chooses but as we choose for him."

The following needed Improvements of Election Laws were named by Mrs.

Ellis Meredith (Colo.): _Federal_--A national amendment guaranteeing

women the franchise on the same terms as men; restricting the

franchise to those who are citizens; repealing the Act of 1907 which

disfranchises women marrying foreigners; an extension of the present

five-year time after which a foreigner becomes a full citizen by

virtue of having taken out two sets of papers and giving the oath of

allegiance. _State_--Adoption of the Australian ballot; reduction of

number of ballots printed to not more than 5 per cent. more than

registration; for "military" and "poll tax" substitution of "election

tax," to be remitted to persons voting and collected from those

failing to do so when not unavoidably prevented by illness; adoption

of absent voter law--Montana or Minnesota statutes recommended;

discontinuance of vehicles except for sick or feeble or crippled

persons; even division of Judges between major political parties,

examination required, more latitude in appointment and removal for

cause; election of judicial, legislative and educational officers at a

different time from that for national and State.

Miss Jessie R. Haver, legislative representative of the National

Consumers' League and executive secretary of the Consumers' League of

the District of Columbia, read a paper on The Government and the

Market Basket, after which she presented a resolution urging the

chairman of the Senate and House Interstate Commerce Committee to

re-introduce and pass the bill drafted by the Federal Trade Commission

in reference to the Packers' Trust.

During the convention sectional conferences were held on the

department subjects. Out of these conferences came many suggestions

and two resolutions were adopted: 1. That the League of Women Voters

supports the Federal Trade Commission in its efforts to secure

remedial legislation in the meat-packing industry. 2. That the

convention endorses the principle of federal aid to the States for the

removal of adult illiteracy and the Americanization of the adult

foreign born.

In June, 1919, the initial conference of the president, Mrs. Brooks,

and the committee chairmen of the League of Women Voters, was held at

the headquarters of the National Suffrage Association, 171 Madison

Avenue, New York City, and plans were made to render the league

effective throughout the United States.

* * * * *

The record of the action of the Official Board of the National

American Woman Suffrage Association in 1919 on questions pertaining to

the League of Women Voters is as follows: In April it was voted that

the Americanization Committee and the Committee on Protection of Women

in Industry of the association be united with the committees of the

same name in the league. In May the following chairmen for new

committees were selected, subject to endorsement of the Council of the

league: Mrs. Edward P. Costigan, Washington, D. C., Food Supply and

Demand; Mrs. Jacob Baur (Ills.), Improvement of Election Laws and

Methods; Mrs. Percy V. Pennbacker (Tex.), Child Welfare. In July an

appropriation of $200 for each of the eight departments of the league

was made from the treasury of the association.

As the National Association was the convener of the first congress of

the League of Women Voters and there was no method of determining the

number of delegates that any league was entitled to, the Board on

December 30, in preparation for the approaching annual convention in

Chicago, adopted the following resolution: 1. That each State

auxiliary of the association be invited to secure for the league

congress, which would be held at the same time, one delegate from the

State Federation of Women's Clubs, one from the State Woman's

Christian Temperance Union and one from the State Women's Trade Union

League; and ten delegates at large from the national organizations of

each. 2. That invitations be extended to the following national

bodies, asking each to send ten delegates at large: Association of

Collegiate Alumnae, International Child Welfare League, Ladies of the

Grand Army of the Republic, Ladies of the Maccabees, National Council

of Jewish Women, National Congress of Mothers and Parent-Teachers'

Associations, Federation of College Women, Florence Crittenden

Mission, Women's Relief Corps, Women's Relief Society, Women's Benefit

Association of the Maccabees, Women's Department National Civic

Federation, United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Young Women's

Christian Association. 3. That each of the ten unorganized western

States be entitled to ten delegates to be secured by the chairman of

ratification.

At the convention of the National American Woman Suffrage Association

and the League of Women Voters in Chicago Feb. 12-18, 1920, there were

present 507 delegates, 102 alternates and 89 fraternal delegates.

Among the resolutions for dissolving the association recommended by

its Executive Council and adopted by vote of the delegates was the

following pertaining to the League of Women Voters:

_Citizenship_--Whereas, millions of women will become voters in 1920,

and, Whereas, the low standards of citizenship found in the present

electorate clearly indicate the need of education in the principles

and ideals of our Government and the methods of political procedure,

therefore be it resolved: 1. That the National League of Women Voters

be urged to make Political Education for the new women voters (but not

excluding men) its first duty for 1920. 2. That the nation-wide plan

shall include normal schools for citizenship in each State followed by

schools in each county. 3. That we urge the League of Women Voters to

make every effort to have the study of citizenship required in the

public schools of every State, beginning in the primary grades and

continuing through the upper grades, high schools, normal schools,

colleges and universities.

The recommendations were: 1. That the League of Women Voters, now a

section of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, be

organized as a new and independent society. 2. That the present State

auxiliaries of the association, while retaining their relationship in

form to the Board of Officers to be elected in this convention, shall

change their names, objects and constitutions to conform to those of

the league and take up the plan of work to be adopted in its first

congress.

At the opening session of the congress of the League of Women Voters

Saturday afternoon, February 14, Mrs. Brooks, the chairman, presiding,

Mrs. Catt was made permanent chairman and Mrs. Halsey W. Wilson

recording secretary for the convention. By vote of the convention the

chair named the following committees and chairmen: Constitution, Mrs.

Raymond Brown (N. Y.); Nominations, Mrs. George Gellhorn (Mo.);

Regions, Mrs. Andreas Ueland (Wis.). The constitution was adopted

defining the aims of the league--to foster education in citizenship;

to urge every woman to become an enrolled voter, but as an

organization the league not to be allied with or support any party.

Following are the officers elected for 1920-1921, the regional

division of States and the chairmen of departments: Directors at

Large--Mrs. Maud Wood Park (Mass.), Mrs. Richard E. Edwards (Ind.),

Mrs. Pattie Ruffner Jacobs (Ala.). Board as Organized--Chairman, Mrs.

Park; vice-chairman, Mrs. Gellhorn; treasurer, Mrs. Edwards;

secretary, Mrs. Jacobs. Mrs. Catt was made honorary chairman by the

board.

Regional Directors--First Region: Miss Katharine Ludington

(Conn.)--Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and

Rhode Island. Second: Mrs. F. Louis Slade (N. Y.)--New York, New

Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware. Third: Miss Ella Dortch

(Tenn.)--Virginia, District of Columbia, North Carolina, South

Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and

Tennessee. Fourth: Miss Elizabeth J. Hauser (O.)--Michigan, Ohio,

Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Fifth: Mrs.

James Paige (Minn.)--Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota,

Wyoming and Montana. Sixth: Mrs. George Gellhorn (Mo.)--Nebraska,

Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Missouri.

Seventh: Mrs. C. B. Simmons (Ore.)--Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada,

Utah, Arizona and California.

Chairmen of Departments.--1. American Citizenship, Mrs. Frederick P.

Bagley, Boston; 2. Protection of Women in Industry, Miss Mary

McDowell, Chicago; 3. Child Welfare, Mrs. Percy V. Pennybacker, Austin

(Tex.); Social Hygiene, Dr. Valeria H. Parker, Hartford (Conn.); 5.

Unification of Laws Concerning Civil Status of Women, Mrs. Catharine

Waugh McCulloch, Chicago; 6. Improvement in Election Laws and Methods,

Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, New York; 7. Food Supply and Demand, Mrs.

Edward P. Costigan, Washington, D. C.; 8. Research, Mrs. Mary Sumner

Boyd, New York.

The recommendations of the Committee on Plans for Citizenship Schools,

appointed by the National Suffrage Association, Mrs. Nettie Rogers

Shuler, chairman, were adopted as follows:

1. That a normal school be held in the most available large city in

each State, to which every county shall be asked to send one or more

representatives, the school to be open to all local people. 2. That no

State shall feel that it has approached the task of training for

citizenship which has not had at least one school in every county,

followed by schools in as many townships and wards as possible, with

the ultimate aim of reaching the women of every election district. 3.

That minimum requirement of a citizenship school should include (a)

the study of local, State and national government; (b) the technique

of voting and election laws; (c) organization and platform of

political parties; (d) the League of Women Voters--its aims, its

platforms, its plans of work. 4. That each State employ a director for

citizenship schools to be under the direction of the national director

of such schools. 5. That the States urge the assistance of State

universities through summer schools, extension departments and active

participation by professors from these departments to make the

teaching of citizenship of real benefit to the State. 6. That the

States invite the cooperation of local men who are experienced in

public affairs and that every agency, including that of publicity, be

employed which will tend to increased interest in the teaching of

citizenship. 7. That the States try to make the study of citizenship

compulsory in the public schools from the primary grades up.

The following resolutions were adopted: 1. That a copy of the

legislative program as selected by the Board of Directors shall be

submitted to all State presidents and presidents of national women's

organizations for approval, and that a deputation from the League of

Women Voters be sent to the conventions of two at least of the

dominant political parties to present this program to the delegates

and to chairmen of the Resolutions Committees if announced in advance,

leaders of these parties having been previously interviewed or

circularized. 2. That the recommendations of the standing committees

as accepted by the convention be referred to the Board of Directors of

the League of Women Voters; after consultation with the chairmen the

Board in turn to pass on its recommendations to the State chairmen

with the request that they use as many of them as possible. 3. That

resolutions relating to Federal legislation, after submission to the

National Board, be considered binding; that resolutions affecting

State legislation be considered recommendations to be submitted to

States. 4. That in order to create a better understanding of the

purposes of the League of Women Voters and its relation to other

national organizations of women, the directors of the league make the

purposes of the league exceedingly clear to local groups--namely, that

its function is for the purpose of fostering education in citizenship

and of supporting improved legislation; that as far as possible

organizations already existing and doing similar work be used and

asked to cooperate in the work of educating women to an understanding

of these purposes; that a Committee on Congressional Legislation be

created with headquarters in Washington and that in addition to a

chairman the committee be made up of a representative from each of

the great national organizations of women.

It was moved by Mrs. John L. Pyle (S. D.), seconded by Mrs. Harriet

Taylor Upton (O.) and carried by the convention that, Whereas, all

women citizens of the United States would today be fully enfranchised

had not James W. Wadsworth, Jr., misrepresented his State and his

party when continuously and repeatedly voting, working and

manoeuvering against the proposed 19th Amendment to the Federal

Constitution, be it Resolved, That we, representing the enfranchised

women of the country, extend to the women of New York our appreciation

and our help in their patriotic work of determining to send to the U.

S. Senate to succeed the said James W. Wadsworth, Jr., a modern-minded

Senator who will be capable of comprehending the great American

principles of freedom and democracy.

Before the convention opened there were eight conferences followed by

dinners presided over by the chairmen of the departments. The voting

members of each conference were the chairman and forty-eight State

members and representatives of other agencies doing the same work. The

purpose of each conference was to formulate a legislative program

combining the best judgment and experience of all workers for the same

cause. This program was presented to the convention of the League of

Women Voters for its consideration and after adoption it became the

platform to which the league was pledged. These conferences were open

to visitors without speaking or voting privileges.

The program as submitted by the chairmen, approved by the conferences

and amended and adopted by the convention was as follows: Women in

Industry, Mrs. Raymond Robins; recommendations presented by Miss Grace

Abbott (Ills.):

I. We affirm our belief in the right of the workers to bargain

collectively through trade unions and we regard the organization

of working women as especially important because of the peculiar

handicaps from which they suffer in the labor market.

II. We call attention to the fact that it is still necessary for

us to urge that wages should be paid on the basis of occupation

and not on sex.

III. We recommend to Congress and the Federal Government: 1. The

establishment in the U. S. Department of Labor of a permanent

Women's Bureau with a woman as chief and an appropriation

adequate for the investigation of all matters pertaining to wage

earning women and the determination of standards and policies

which will promote their welfare, improve their working

conditions and increase their efficiency. 2. The appointment of

women in the Mediation and Conciliation Service of the U. S.

Department of Labor and on any industrial commission or tribunal

which may hereafter be created. 3. The establishment of a Joint

Federal and State Employment Service with women's departments

under the direction of technically qualified women. 4. The

adoption of a national constitutional amendment giving to

Congress the power to establish minimum labor standards and the

enactment by Congress of a Child Labor Law extending the

application of the present Federal child labor tax laws, raising

the age minimum for general employment from 14 to 15 years and

the age for employment at night to 18 years. 5. Recognizing the

importance of a world-wide standardization of industry we favor

the participation of the United States in the International Labor

Conference and the appointment of a woman delegate to the next

conference.

IV. We recommend to the States legislative provision for: 1. The

limitation of the hours of work for wage earning women in

industrial undertakings to not more than 8 hours in any one day

or 44 hours in any one week and the granting of one day's rest in

seven. 2. The prohibition of night work for women in industrial

undertakings. 3. The compulsory payment of a minimum wage to be

fixed by a Minimum Wage Commission at an amount which will insure

to the working woman a proper standard of health, comfort and

efficiency. 4. Adequate appropriations for the enforcement of

labor laws and the appointment of technically qualified women as

factory inspectors and as heads of women in industry divisions in

the State Factory Inspection Departments.

V. We urge upon the Federal Board of Vocational Education and

upon State and local Boards of Commissioners of Education the

necessity of giving to girls and women full opportunity for

education along industrial lines, and we further recommend the

appointment of women familiar with the problems of women in

industry as members and agents of the Federal Board of Vocational

Education and of similar State and local Boards.

VI. Recognizing that the Federal, State and Local Governments are

the largest employers of labor in the United States, we urge (a)

an actual merit system of appointment and promotion based on

qualifications for the work to be performed, these qualifications

to be determined in open competition, free from special privilege

or preference of any kind and especially free from discrimination

on the ground of sex; (b) A reclassification of the present

Federal civil service upon this basis with a wage or salary scale

determined by the skill and training required for the work to be

performed and not on the basis of sex; (c) A minimum wage in

Federal, State and local service which shall not be less than the

cost of living as determined by official investigations; (d)

Provisions for an equitable retirement system for superannuated

public employees; (e) Enlarging of Federal and State Civil

Service Commissions so as to include three groups in which men

and women shall be equally represented; namely, representatives

of the administrative officials, of the employees and of the

general public, and (f) The delegating to such commissions of

full power and responsibility for the maintenance of an

impartial, non-political and efficient administration.

VII. Finally this department recommends that the League of Women

Voters shall keep in touch with the Women's Bureau of the U. S.

Department of Labor securing information as to the success or

failure of protective legislation in this and other countries, as

to standards that are being discussed and adopted and as to the

results of investigations that are made.

Upon motion of Miss Abbott, duly seconded, it was voted that the

following resolutions be adopted: "That the report of the Women in

Industry Department of the National League of Women Voters in its

entirety be officially transmitted by the secretary to the

congressional legislative bodies or committees thereof before which

legislation on the subject is now pending and to the administrative

officials who may have authority to act upon any of its

recommendations; that the article concerning the establishment on a

permanent basis of the Women's Bureau of the U. S. Department of Labor

be telegraphed tonight to Representative James W. Good and Senator

Francis E. Warren, chairmen of the House and Senate Appropriations

Committees in Congress, and to Senator William S. Kenyon and

Representative J. M. C. Smith, chairmen of the Senate and House

Committees on Labor before which this legislation is now pending; that

the whole of the article concerning the Federal civil service be

telegraphed tonight to Senator A. A. Jones, chairman of the Joint

Congressional Commission on Reclassification of the Federal Service;

to Senator Kenyon of the State Labor Committee; Senator Thomas

Sterling and Representative Frederick R. Lehbach, chairmen of the

Senate and House Committees on the Civil Service.

Food Supply and Demand, Mrs. Edward P. Costigan, chairman. Whereas, in

addition to the results of inflated currency due to the war, the high

cost of living in the United States is increased and the production of

necessary food supplies diminished by unduly restrictive private

control of the channels of commerce, markets and other distributing

facilities by large food organizations and combinations; and, Whereas,

if our civilization is to fulfil its promise, it is vital that

nourishing food be brought and kept within the reach of every home and

especially of all the growing children of the nation, be it

Resolved, First, that the principles and purposes of the

Kenyon-Kendrick-Anderson Bills now pending in Congress for the

regulation of the meat-packing industry be endorsed for prompt and

effective enactment into laws and that this declaration be brought to

the attention of the leading political parties in advance of an urgent

request for corresponding and unqualified platform pledges; Second,

that the Food Supply and Demand Committee be authorized to keep in

touch with the progress of the proposed legislation and to cooperate

with the National Consumers' League, the American Live Stock

Association, the Farmers' National Council and other organizations of

like policy in an effort to promote through legislation the

realization of such principles and purposes; furthermore, that the

committee be authorized to confer with the Department of Agriculture

in regard to the extension of its service, with a view to establishing

long-distance information to enable shippers and producers to know

daily the supplies and demands of the food market; Third, that the

early enactment of improved State and Federal Laws to prevent food

profiteering, waste and improper hoarding is urged and the strict

enforcement of all such present laws is demanded; Fourth, that the

various State Leagues of Women Voters are requested to consider the

advisability of establishing public markets, abattoirs, milk depots

and other terminal facilities; Fifth, that aid be extended to all

branches of the league in spreading knowledge of the methods and

benefits of legitimate cooperative associations and that endorsement

be given to suitable national and State legislation favoring their

organization and use.

The meat packers asked for a hearing and by vote of the convention ten

minutes were allowed them to present their case. This was done by

Louis D. Weld, manager of the commercial research department of Swift

and Company, Chicago, who said during his remarks: "I believe you

ladies are not prepared to pass on such a vital matter as this

proposed legislation; it is a mighty complicated and intricate

subject." A decided titter ran around the room. Women who had been

making a study of the question from the home side for a number of

years did not resent being told that they did not understand it but

they smiled at a man's coming to tell them so. To show that they were

fair, when he said that the packers did a great amount of good in

carrying food in time of war he was cheered. His argument had no

effect. After he had finished the league adopted the committee's

recommendations and passed the resolution against which the packers

had directed their efforts.

Social Hygiene, Dr. Valeria H. Parker, chairman. Resolutions

recommended and adopted on the abolition of commercialized

prostitution: (a) The abolition of all segregated or protected vice

districts and the elimination of houses used for vicious purposes. (b)

Punishment of frequenters of disorderly houses and penalization of the

payment of money for prostitution as well as its receipt. (c) Heavy

penalties for pimps, panderers, procurers and go-betweens. (d)

Prevention of solicitation in streets and public places by men and

women. (e) Elimination of system of petty fines and establishment of

indeterminate sentences. (f) Strict enforcement of laws against

alcohol and drug trades.

Drastic resolutions were passed for the control of venereal diseases,

applying alike to men and women. Those on delinquents, minors and

defectives were as follows: (a) Legal age of consent to be not less

than 18 and laws to include protection of boys under 18 as well as of

girls. (b) Trying cases involving sex offenses in chancery courts

instead of in criminal courts is advocated. (c) Mental examination and

diagnosis of all children, registration of abnormal cases, education

suited to their possibilities; supervision during and after school

age; custodial care for those unable to adjust to a normal

environment. (d) Reformatory farms for delinquent men and women ...

these institutions to have trained officers. (f) Women on governing

boards of all charitable and penal institutions; as probation and

parole officers; as State and local police; as protective officers; as

court officials, as jurors; as physicians in institutions for women

and on all State and local boards of health. The committee recommends

the establishment of local protective homes for girls in all the

larger cities, proper detention quarters for women awaiting trial and

separate detention quarters for juvenile offenders, as well as

Travelers' Aid agents at all large railroad stations and steamship

embarkation points.

Child Welfare--Mrs. Percy V. Pennybacker, chairman. The resolutions

adopted covered: 1. The endorsement of the Sheppard-Towner Bill for

the Public Protection of Maternity and Infancy; (2) of the principle

of a bill for physical education about to be introduced into Congress

to be administered by the Bureau of Education of the Department of the

Interior; (3) of an appropriation of $472,220 for the Children's

Bureau of the U. S. Department of Labor; (4) of the Gard-Curtis Bill

for the regulation of child labor in the District of Columbia.

American Citizenship--Mrs. Frederick P. Bagley, chairman. Resolutions

provided for: 1. Compulsory education which shall include adequate

training in citizenship in every State for all children between six

and sixteen nine months of each year. 2. Education of adults by

extension classes of the public schools. 3. English made the basic

language of instruction in the common-school branches in all schools

public and private. 4. Specific qualifications for citizenship and

impressive ceremonials for naturalization. 5. Direct citizenship for

women, not through marriage, as a qualification for the vote. 6.

Naturalization for married women made possible, American women to

retain their citizenship after marriage to an alien. 7. Printed

citizenship instruction in the foreign languages for the use of the

foreign born, as a function of the Federal Government. 8. Schools of

citizenship in conjunction with the public schools, a certificate from

such schools to be a qualification for the educational test for

naturalization. 9. An educational qualification for the vote in all

States after a sufficient period of time and ample opportunity for

education have been allowed.

Laws Concerning the Legal Status of Women, Mrs. Catharine Waugh

McCulloch, chairman. Following resolutions presented and adopted: 1.

Independent citizenship for married women. 2. Equal interest of

spouses in each other's real estate. 3. The married woman's wages and

business under her sole control. 4. Just civil service laws in all

cities and States now under the spoils system; amendments to existing

civil service laws to enable men and women to have equal rights in

examinations and appointments. 5. Mothers' pensions with a minimum

amount adequate and definite; the maximum amount left to the

discretion of the administering court; the benefits of all such laws

extended to necessitous cases above the age specified in the law, at

the discretion of the administering body, and residence qualifications

required. 6. The minimum "age of consent" eighteen years. 7. Equal

guardianship by both parents of the persons and the property of

children, the Utah law being a model. 8. Legal workers should read a

book published by the Department of Labor entitled Illegitimacy Laws

of the United States. 9. A Court should be established having original

exclusive jurisdiction over all affairs pertaining to the child and

his interests. 10. The marriage age for women should be eighteen

years, for men twenty-one years. The State should require health

certificates before issuing marriage licenses. There should be Federal

legislation on marriage and divorce and statutes prohibiting the

evasion of marriage laws. 11. Laws should provide that women be

subject to jury service and the unit vote of jurors in civil cases

should be abolished. 12. Members of committees of the League of Women

Voters should not use their connection with the league to assist any

political party.

On February 17 Miss Mary Garrett Hay in an appeal for funds secured

pledges of $44,450. Of this sum the amount of $15,000 by the Leslie

Commission was offered by Mrs. Catt as follows:

(1) The _Woman Citizen_ as an organ of the league until Jan. 1, 1921,

at which time we believe that it should issue a Bulletin of its own.

(2) The full use of the publicity department of the National American

Woman Suffrage Association until May 1, 1920.

(3) The remainder for the use of the league during the year.

Following the convention Mrs. Catt conducted a School of Political

Education in the Auditorium of Recital Hall, in Chicago, February

19-24. Its aim was to train women already equipped with competent

knowledge of civil government and political science to teach new

voters the ideals of American Citizenship, the processes of

registering and casting a vote, the methods of making nominations and

platforms, the nature of political parties and the best ways of using

a vote to get what they want and to effect the general welfare of the

people. Mrs. Catt urged each State to hold a similar State school to

be followed by others in every election district, to carry the message

to every woman that good citizens not only register and vote but know

how to do so and why they do it; to set a standard of good citizenship

with an "irreducible minimum" of qualifications below which no person

can fall and lay claim to the title good citizen. It was planned to

give certificates of endorsement to those who passed 75 per cent. in

the examinations at the close.

A widespread demand arose for Citizenship Schools, requests coming

even from women who were indifferent or opposed to suffrage but who,

now that the vote was assured, were anxious to make good and

intelligent use of the ballot. Under the direction of Mrs. Gellhorn,

vice-chairman of the National League of Women Voters and chairman of

Organization, twenty-seven field directors were employed and schools

held in thirty-five States. Missouri had 102 schools, Nebraska 30,

Ohio 35. In sixteen States, the State universities cooperated with the

League of Women Voters in their citizenship work. Those of Iowa and

Virginia employed in their extension departments directors of

citizenship schools, who, responding to calls, went to various

localities and conducted courses in citizenship. That of Missouri put

in a required course for every freshman, with five hours' credit. A

normal training school was conducted in St. Louis in August and a

correspondence course of twelve lessons was issued and used by

forty-two States. In many cases these schools made a thorough study of

the fundamental principles of government.

In compliance with the instruction of the convention the Board of

Directors of the League of Women Voters at its post-convention meeting

in Chicago selected from the program recommended by the standing

committees the issues to be presented to the Resolution Committees of

the political parties with a request that they be adopted as planks in

the national platforms. Two of the Federal measures endorsed by the

League in Chicago--the bill for the Women's Bureau in the Department

of Labor and the Retirement Bill for Superannuated Public

Employees--were passed by Congress the following June and became law.

Twelve others were grouped into six planks and later condensed into a

single paragraph as follows:

"We urge Federal cooperation with the States in the protection of

infant life through infancy and maternity care; the prohibition of

child labor and adequate appropriation for the Children's Bureau; a

Federal Department of Education; joint Federal and State aid for the

removal of illiteracy and increase of teachers' salaries; instruction

in citizenship for both native and foreign born; increased Federal

support for vocational training in home economics and Federal

regulation of the marketing and distribution of food; full

representation of women on all commissions dealing with women's work

and women's interests; the establishment of a joint Federal and State

employment service with women's departments under the direction of

technically qualified women; a reclassification of the Federal Civil

Service free from discrimination on account of sex; continuance of

appropriations for public education in sex hygiene; Federal

legislation which shall insure that American-born women resident in

the United States but married to aliens shall retain American

citizenship and that the same process of naturalization shall be

required of alien women as is required of alien men."

Deputations from the Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters

presented this program to the Resolutions Committee of the Republican

party at its convention in Chicago; to that of the Democratic party in

San Francisco, and to the convention of the Farmer Labor party and the

Committee of Forty-eight held jointly in Chicago. The last named

included the following planks: Abolition of employment of children

under 16 years of age; a Federal Department of Education; Public

ownership and operation of stock yards, large abattoirs, cold-storage

and terminal warehouses; equal pay for equal work. Five of the planks

were included in the Republican platform: Prohibition of child labor

throughout the United States; instruction in citizenship for the youth

of the land; increased Federal support for vocational training in home

economics; equal pay for equal work; independent citizenship for

married women. The Democratic Resolutions Committee incorporated in

its platform all of the requests made by the League of Women Voters

except a Federal Department of Education. The Socialist Party held its

convention before the planks were sent out. The Prohibition Party

adopted the full program of the League of Women Voters.

One of the important steps taken in 1920 by the League of Women Voters

in support of its social welfare program was the presenting of these

platform planks to the Presidential candidates of the two major

parties for their approval. Its representatives with a deputation went

to Marion, O., the home of Senator Harding, Republican candidate,

October 1 and to Dayton, O., the home of Governor Cox, Democratic

candidate, the following day. Each promised assistance in the event of

his election.

At the call of Mrs. Park, chairman of the league, delegates

representing national organizations which collectively numbered about

10,000,000 women, met in Washington on November 22. These included the

National League of Women Voters, General Federation of Women's Clubs,

National Council of Women, the Women's Christian Temperance Union,

National Women's Trade Union League, National Consumers' League,

National Congress of Mothers and Parent-Teachers' Associations,

Association of Collegiate Alumnae, American Home Economics Association,

National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs. They

formed a Woman's Joint Congressional Committee and endorsed the

largest constructive, legislative program ever adopted. It was

arranged that all organizations might participate to the limit of

their specific field of work and purposes and at the same time all

possibility was eliminated of any being involved in supporting a

measure or a principle outside of its scope or contrary to its

opinions.

FOOTNOTES:

[146] The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Nettie Rogers

Shuler, corresponding secretary of the National American Woman

Suffrage Association.

CHAPTER XXIII.

WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN NATIONAL PRESIDENTIAL CONVENTIONS.[147]

The courage and patience of the woman suffrage leaders in their long

struggle for the ballot is nowhere more strongly evidenced than in

their continued appeals to the national political conventions to

recognize in their platforms woman's right to the franchise. These

distinguished women were received with an indifference that was

insulting until far into the 20th century. To two parties, the

Prohibition and the Socialist, it was never necessary to appeal. The

Prohibition party was organized in 1872 and from that time always

advocated woman suffrage in its national platform except in 1896, when

it had only a single plank, but this was supplemented by resolutions

favoring equal suffrage. The Socialist party, which came into

existence in 1901, declared for woman suffrage at the start and

thereafter made it a part of its active propaganda. All the minor

parties as a rule put planks for woman suffrage in their

platforms.[148]

Before the conventions in 1904 the board of the National American

Woman Suffrage Association secured full lists of delegates and

alternates of the two dominant parties--667 Republicans and 723

Democratic delegates; 495 Republican alternates and 384 Democratic, a

total of 2,269. To each a letter was sent directing his attention to a

memorial enclosed, signed by the officers of the association, an

urgent request for the insertion in the platform of the following

resolution: "Resolved, That we favor the submission by Congress to the

various State Legislatures of an amendment to the Federal Constitution

forbidding the disfranchisement of United States citizens on account

of sex."

The Republican convention met in Chicago June 21-23. The committee

appointed by the National Association consisted of Mrs. Harriet

Taylor Upton and Miss Elizabeth J. Hauser of Ohio, its treasurer and

headquarters secretary, and Mrs. Catharine Waugh McCulloch of Chicago,

a former officer, who arranged the hearing. The beautiful rooms of the

Chicago Woman's Club were placed at their disposal, where they kept

open house, assisted by Mrs. Gertrude Blackwelder, president of the

Chicago Political League, Mrs. Ellen M. Henrotin and other prominent

club women. Mrs. McCulloch went to the Auditorium Annex to ask the

Committee on Resolutions for a hearing. Senator Hopkins of Illinois

presented her to Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, the chairman, and the

choice was given her of having it immediately or the next morning. She

chose the nearest hour and a little later returned with her committee.

Mrs. McCulloch introduced the speakers and made the closing argument.

Mrs. Upton, the Rev. Celia Parker Woolley and the Rev. Olympia Brown

addressed the committee. They were generously applauded, the suffrage

plank was referred to a sub-committee and buried.

The Democratic convention was held in St. Louis July 6-9 and Mrs.

Priscilla D. Hackstaff, an officer of the New York Suffrage

Association, secured a hearing before the Resolutions Committee. Mrs.

Louise L. Werth of St. Louis and Miss Kate M. Gordon of Louisiana

joined her on the opening day of the convention and at 8 o'clock the

evening of the 7th they appeared before the committee. Mrs. Hackstaff

argued on the ground of abstract justice and Miss Gordon from the

standpoint of expediency. The committee listened attentively and were

liberal with applause but the resolution never was heard from.

Undaunted by a failure which began in 1868 and had continued ever

since, the suffragists made their plans for 1908. The Republican

convention was again held in Chicago, June 16-20, and a committee of

eminent women presented the suffrage resolution--Miss Jane Addams,

Mrs. Henrotin, the Rev. Caroline Bartlett Crane, Miss Harriet Grim,

Mrs. Blackwelder and Mrs. Harriot Stanton Blatch. They were heard

politely but not the slightest attention was paid to their request.

Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, tried

to secure the adoption of a plank pledging the Republican party to

support a Federal Woman Suffrage Amendment but also was ignored.

When the Democratic party met in national convention in Denver July

7-11, all the delegates and alternates received an appeal which read:

"You are respectfully requested by the National American Woman

Suffrage Association to place the following plank in your platform:

'Resolved, That we favor the extension of the elective franchise to

the women of the United States by the States upon the same

qualifications as it is accorded to men.' We ask this in order that

our Government may live up to the principles upon which it was founded

and in order that the women in the homes and the industries may have

equal power with men to influence conditions affecting these

respective spheres of action. In making this demand for justice our

association calls your attention to the fact that more than 5,000,000

women who are occupied in the industries of the United States are

helpless to legislate upon the hours, conditions and remuneration for

their labor. We call your attention to the fact that through the

commercialized trend of legislation the children of our nation are

being sacrificed to a veritable Juggernaut--cheap labor--while this

same trend is wasting our mineral land and water resources, imperiling

thereby the inheritance of future generations. We call your attention

to the moral conditions menacing the youth of our country. Justice and

expediency demand that women be granted equal power with men to mould

the conditions directly affecting the industries, the resources and

the homes of the nation. We therefore appeal to the Democratic

convention assembled to name national standard bearers and to

determine national policies, to adopt in its platform a declaration

favoring the extension of the franchise to the women of the United

States."

This appeal was signed by Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, president, Kate M.

Gordon, Rachel Foster Avery, Alice Stone Blackwell, Harriet Taylor

Upton, Laura Clay and Mary S. Sperry, national officers. It received

no consideration whatever, but, although the suffragists did not know

it, this was the last year when the two powerful political parties of

the country could stand with a united front hostile to all progressive

movements. There was shortly to be brought to the assistance of such

movements strong forces which could not be resisted.

Early in 1912 President William Howard Taft and U. S. Senator Robert

M. La Follette announced their intention of trying to secure the

Republican nomination for the presidency and the press of the country

took up the burning question, "Will Roosevelt be a candidate for a

third term?" On February 25 he announced his candidacy and from then

until the date of the Republican national convention the public

interest was intense. The convention met in Chicago, June 16-20. Miss

Jane Addams, vice-president of the National American Woman Suffrage

Association, had arranged with a number of women to appear at a few

hours' notice before the Resolutions Committee but she could not give

even that, as she learned at 8:30 p.m. on the 19th that the committee

would meet at 9:30 in the Congress Hotel and she must appear at that

time. There was hastily mustered into service a small but

distinguished group of suffragists consisting of Mrs. Joseph T. Bowen

and Miss Mary Bartelme of Chicago; Professor Sophonisba Breckinridge

of Kentucky; Mrs. B. B. Mumford of Richmond, Va.; Miss Lillian D. Wald

and Mrs. Simkovitch of New York City; Miss Helen Todd of California;

Professor Freund of the Chicago University Law Faculty and a few

others. At ten o'clock the suffragists were admitted to the committee

room and greeted cordially by Governor Hadley of Missouri and

courteously by the chairman, Charles W. Fairbanks. Miss Addams was

told that she might have five minutes (later extended to seven) and

present one speaker. She introduced Mrs. Bowen, president of the

Juvenile Protective Association, who spoke earnestly four minutes,

leaving Miss Addams three to make the final plea. There were confusion

and noise in the room and the attention of the committee was

distracted. The platform contained no reference to woman suffrage.

Senator LaFollette presented his own platform to the convention in

which was a plank favoring the extension of suffrage to women but it

went down to defeat. Two days later the convention amid great

excitement nominated President Taft by a vote of 561 while Colonel

Roosevelt's vote was only 107. Directly after the convention adjourned

the delegates who favored Roosevelt assembled at Orchestra Hall and

nominated him in the name of the new Progressive party, Miss Addams

seconding the nomination.

Soon after Colonel Roosevelt announced his candidacy he was visited

by Judge "Ben" Lindsey of Denver, a representative of the progressive

element in politics, who pointed out to him the great assistance it

would be to his campaign for him to come out for woman suffrage.

Roosevelt, who was an astute politician, saw the advantage of

enlisting the help of women, who through their large organizations had

become a strong factor in public life. Judge Lindsay therefore was

authorized to announce that he would favor a woman suffrage plank in

the Progressive platform and Roosevelt confirmed it. This caused wide

excitement and the suffragists throughout the country began to rally

under the Roosevelt banner. He had always been theoretically in favor

but with many reservations and during his two terms as President he

had refused all appeals to endorse it in any way. When he went to

Chicago to the first convention of the Progressive party August 5 he

carried with him the draft of the platform and in it was a plank

favoring woman suffrage but calling for a nation-wide referendum of

the question to women themselves!

When this plank was submitted to the Resolutions Committee, on which

were such suffragists as Miss Addams, Judge Lindsay and U. S. Senator

Albert J. Beveridge, they vetoed it at once. It had already been

issued to the press in printed form and telegrams recalling it had to

be sent far and wide. The plank presented by the Resolutions Committee

and unanimously adopted by the convention read as follows: "The

Progressive party, believing that no people can justly claim to be a

true democracy which denies political rights on account of sex,

pledges itself to the task of securing equal suffrage to men and women

alike."

Many States sent women delegates and they were cordially welcomed. The

convention was marked by a deep, almost religious zeal, the delegates

breaking frequently into the singing of hymns of which Onward

Christian Soldiers was a favorite. Women took a prominent part in the

proceedings and woman suffrage was made one of the leading features.

Senator Beveridge referred to it at length in his speech, saying:

"Because women as much as men are a part of our economic and social

life, women as much as men should have the voting power to solve all

economic and social problems. Votes are theirs as a matter of natural

right alone; votes should be theirs as a matter of political wisdom

also."

Later in a glowing tribute Mr. Roosevelt said: "It is idle to argue

whether women can play their part in politics because in this

convention we have seen the accomplished fact, and, moreover, the

women who have actively participated in this work of launching the new

party represent all that we are most proud to associate with American

womanhood. My earnest hope is to see the Progressive party in all its

State and local divisions recognize this fact precisely as it has been

recognized at the national convention.... Workingwomen have the same

need to combine for protection that workingmen have; the ballot is as

necessary for one class as for the other; we do not believe that with

the two sexes there is identity of function but we do believe that

there should be equality of right and therefore we favor woman

suffrage." The Progressive party in State after State followed the

lead of the convention and women were welcomed into its deliberations.

From this time woman suffrage was one of the dominant political issues

throughout the country.

The Democratic National Convention met in Baltimore June 25-July 3.

The Baltimore suffragists applied on Thursday for a hearing before the

Resolutions Committee for Dr. Anna Howard Shaw and were informed that

the hearings had ended on Wednesday. Urged by the women the chairman,

John W. Kern of Indiana, finally consented to give a hearing that day,

although he said he had turned away hundreds of men who wanted

hearings, and he allotted five minutes to it. Mrs. W. J. Brown of

Baltimore, Mrs. Lawrence Lewis of Philadelphia and several others went

with Dr. Shaw but after a long wait only Mrs. Lewis and she were

admitted. With a strong, logical speech Dr. Shaw presented the

following resolution and asked that it be made a plank in the

platform:

Whereas, The fundamental idea of a democracy is self-government,

the right of citizens to choose their own representatives, to

enact the laws by which they are governed, and whereas, this

right can be secured only by the exercise of the suffrage,

therefore,

Resolved, That the ballot in the hand of every qualified citizen

constitutes the true political status of the people and to

deprive one-half of the people of the use of the ballot is to

deny the first principle of a democratic government.

The committee was courteous and listened with marked attention,

William Jennings Bryan among them, but took no action on the

resolution.[149]

The convention nominated Woodrow Wilson, who had answered a question

from a chairman of the New York Woman Suffrage Party the preceding

winter, while Governor of New Jersey: "I can only say that my mind is

in the midst of the debate which it involves. I do not feel that I am

ready to utter my confident judgment as yet about it. I am honestly

trying to work my way toward a just conclusion." President Taft had

written in answer to a letter of inquiry from the secretary of the

Men's Suffrage League of New York: "I am willing to wait until there

shall be a substantial, not unanimous, but a substantial call from

that sex before the suffrage is extended."

As the result of the year's political work a summing up in December,

1912, showed a woman suffrage plank in the national platforms of the

Progressive, Socialist and Prohibition parties; a plank in the

platform of every party in New York State and in that of one or more

parties in many States. The Progressive party with woman suffrage as

one of its cardinal principles had polled 4,119,507 votes. Kansas,

Oregon and Arizona by popular vote had been added to the number of the

equal suffrage States. In 1914 these were increased by Montana and

Nevada, making eleven where women voted on the same terms as men. In

1913 Illinois granted a large amount of suffrage including a vote for

Presidential electors. In 1915 President Wilson and all his Cabinet,

except Secretary Lansing; Speaker Champ Clark and Mr. Bryan publicly

endorsed suffrage for women. Constitutional amendments were defeated

in four eastern States but they polled 1,234,470 favorable votes.

By 1916, the year of the Presidential nominating conventions, there

had been so vast an advance of public sentiment that the official

board of the National American Woman Suffrage Association was

encouraged to believe that its effort of nearly fifty years to obtain

woman suffrage planks in the national platforms of the Republican and

Democratic parties would be successful. Its president, Mrs. Carrie

Chapman Catt, in the letters sent to the delegates, who were

circularized three times, called attention to the great gains and the

existing status of the movement, adapting the appeal to each party.

Under her direction, as a preliminary to the conventions, favorable

opinions were obtained from many leading men who were to attend them,

similar to the following: Representative John M. Nelson of the House

Judiciary Committee said: "The endorsement of equal suffrage by either

of the two great parties would do more at this time to simplify the

question than any other one thing. It seems to me that in directing

their efforts toward securing this endorsement its advocates have

exhibited sound practical judgment and admirable political acumen." "I

am in favor of an endorsement in the Republican platform of the

principle of equal suffrage," said Senator Borah, a Republican

delegate. "I have no doubt there will be a plank offered to that

effect and it will receive my active support." U. S. Senator Owen on

the floor of the Senate declared: "This demand ought to be made by men

as well as by thinking, progressive women. I hope that all parties

will in the national conventions give their approval to this larger

measure of liberty to the better half of the human race." The

suffragists began preparations for two striking demonstrations during

the conventions.

The Republican convention took place in Chicago June 7-10. On the 6th

a mass meeting was held under the auspices of the association at the

Princess Theater. Speeches by Mrs. Catt and others roused the audience

to great enthusiasm and the following resolution was adopted: "We,

women from every State, gathered in national assembly, come to you in

the name of justice, liberty and equality to ask you to incorporate in

your platform a declaration favoring the extension of suffrage to the

only remaining class of unenfranchised citizens, the women of our

nation, and to urge you to give its protecting power and prestige to

the final struggle of women for political liberty. We are not asking

your endorsement of an untried theory but your recognition of a fact.

The men of eleven States and Alaska have already fully enfranchised

their women and Illinois has granted a large degree of suffrage,

including the Presidential vote. The women of five States have gained

the vote since 1912, your last convention, and have party affiliations

yet to make."

A parade of 25,000 women had been planned to show the strength of the

movement. A cold, heavy rain upset these plans but on June 7, 5,500

women (the others believing the demonstration would not be given)

braved the storm, gathered in Grant Park and marched to the Coliseum,

where the Republican Resolutions Committee was meeting. The Chicago

_Herald_ in describing that march said: "Over their heads surged a

vast sea of umbrellas extending two miles down the street; under their

feet swirled rivulets of water. Wind tore at their clothes and rain

drenched their faces but unhesitatingly they marched in unbroken

formation. Never before in the history of this city, probably of the

world, has there been so impressive a demonstration of consecration to

a cause." The first division reached the convention hall before five

o'clock. The committee had given a hearing to the suffragists and was

listening to the "antis." Just as Mrs. A. J. George of Brookline,

Mass., was asserting, "there is no widespread demand for woman

suffrage" hundreds of drenched and dripping women began to pour into

the hall, each woman's condition bearing silent witness to the

strength of her wish for the vote. Thousands of converts were made

among those who witnessed the courage and devotion of the women in

facing this storm.

The hearing took place before a sub-committee of the Resolutions

Committee and instead of seven minutes being allotted to it, as in

1912, representatives of the National American Woman Suffrage

Association had half an hour, the National Association Opposed to

Woman Suffrage the next half hour and the Congressional Union a final

half hour. Mrs. Catt, Mrs. Abbie A. Krebs of California, Mrs. Ellis

Meredith of Colorado, Mrs. Grace Wilbur Trout of Illinois and Mrs.

Frank M. Roessing of Pennsylvania spoke for the National Suffrage

Association. They asked for the following resolution: "The Republican

party reaffirming its faith in government of the people, by the people

and for the people, as a measure of justice to one-half the adult

people of this country, favors the extension of the suffrage to

women." The speakers for the Congressional Union were Miss Anne

Martin, Mrs. Harriot Stanton Blatch and Mrs. Sara Bard Field and they

asked for an endorsement of the Federal Suffrage Amendment. The

"antis" were represented by their national president, Mrs. Arthur M.

Dodge, and national secretary, Miss Minnie Bronson; Miss Alice Hill

Chittenden, New York State president, and Mrs. George. They asked that

there should be no mention of woman suffrage.

The sub-committee reported against the adoption of a suffrage plank,

the vote standing five to four--Senators Lodge, Wadsworth, Oliver, and

Charles Hopkins Clark, editor of the Hartford (Conn.) _Courant_, and

former Representative Howland of Ohio opposed; Senators Borah,

Sutherland and Fall and Representative Madden of Illinois in favor.

The question was then taken up in the full Committee on Resolutions.

Senators Borah and Smoot led a vigorous fight for a plank; Senator

Marion Butler of North Carolina headed the opposition. The strongest

possible influence was brought to bear against it by the party

leaders, Senators W. Murray Crane and Henry Cabot Lodge of

Massachusetts; Boies Penrose of Pennsylvania and James W. Wadsworth,

Jr., of New York and Speaker Cannon of Illinois. Nevertheless it was

carried by 26 to 21. Within a half hour defeat was again threatened

when seven absent members of the committee came and asked for a

reconsideration. After repeated parleys it was reconsidered and

emerged as the last plank in the platform. The final vote was 35 to 11

but it was the result of a compromise, for it read: "The Republican

party, reaffirming its faith in government of the people, by the

people and for the people, as a measure of justice to one-half the

adult people of this country, favors the extension of the suffrage to

women but recognizes the right of each State to settle this question

for itself"!

For the first time this party declared for the doctrine of State's

rights, which was the chief obstacle in the way of the Federal

Amendment, the goal of the National Association for nearly fifty

years. Mrs. Catt knew that it would be utterly useless to ask for a

plank favoring this amendment and so she asked simply for a clear-cut

endorsement of the principle of woman suffrage. This was secured,

after women had been appealing to national Republican conventions

since 1868, and although it was weakened by the qualifying

declaration, she realized that an immense gain had been made. By the

press throughout the country the adoption of the plank was hailed as

"a victory of supreme importance," and as guaranteeing a suffrage

plank in the Democratic national platform, which could not have been

obtained without it. It was adopted by the convention without

opposition and with great enthusiasm.

The Democratic convention met in St. Louis June 14-16. The first day

the suffragists staged their "walkless parade," which the press

poetically called "the golden lane," as the 6,000 white-robed women

who formed a continuous lane from the convention headquarters in the

Jefferson Hotel to the Coliseum where the convention was held carried

yellow parasols and wore yellow satin sashes. They gave resplendent

color to the aisle through which hundreds of delegates walked to their

political councils. On the steps of the Art Museum the suffragists

presented a striking tableau showing Liberty, a symbolic figure

effectively garbed, surrounded by three groups of women, those in

black typifying the non-suffrage States; those in gray representing

the partial suffrage States; those in red, white and blue the States

where political equality prevailed. The suffragists had now no

difficulty in obtaining a hearing and plenty of time. Representatives

of the National American Association, the National Woman's Party, the

Southern States Woman Suffrage Conference and the National Association

Opposed to Woman Suffrage appeared before the sub-committee of the

Resolutions Committee.

The entire Resolutions Committee met in the evening of the 15th to

make the final draft of the platform. Although it was a foregone

conclusion that it would have to contain a woman suffrage plank the

enemies did not intend to concede it willingly. It was not reached

until 3 o'clock in the morning, when platform building was suspended

while a contest raged. The sleepy committeemen became wide awake and

their voices rose till they could be heard in the corridors and out

into the street. The unqualified endorsement of woman suffrage asked

for by the National Association was defeated by a vote of 24 to 20.

The approval of the Federal Amendment asked for by the National

Woman's Party was rejected by a vote of 40 to 4. The plea of the

"antis" not to mention the subject was defeated by 26 to 17. Finally

the committee fell back on what was said to have been President

Wilson's suggestion for a plank, which was adopted by 25 ayes, 20

noes. A minority report was immediately prepared by James Nugent of

New Jersey, Senator Smith of South Carolina, former Representative

Bartlett of Georgia, Stephen B. Fleming of Indiana, Governor Ferguson

of Texas and Governor Stanley of Kentucky, in opposition.

The Resolutions Committee adjourned at 7:15 a.m. and the convention

opened at 11. Senator William J. Stone of Missouri, chairman of the

Resolutions Committee, brought forward the platform but confessed that

he was too tired to read it, so Senators Hollis and Walsh took turns

at it and when the suffrage plank was reached it was greeted with

applause and cheers. Senator Stone moved the adoption of the platform

and Governor Ferguson was given thirty minutes to present the minority

report, which finally was signed by himself, Nugent, Bartlett and

Fleming. The resolution was supported by the chairman. The young

Nevada Senator, Key Pittman, handled the signers of the minority

report without gloves, showed up their unsavory records and stirred

the convention to a frenzy. Yells and catcalls on the floor were met

with the cheers of the women who filled the gallery and waved their

banners and yellow parasols. Again and again he was forced to stop

until Senator John Sharp Williams took the gavel and restored a

semblance of order. Senator Walsh of Montana made a powerful speech

from the standpoint of political expediency and pointed out that the

minority report was signed by only four of the fifty members of the

Resolutions Committee. Attempts were made to howl him down and in the

midst of the turmoil a terrific storm broke and flashes of lightning

and roars of thunder added to the excitement. At last the vote was

taken on the minority report and stood 888 noes, 181 ayes. That ended

the opposition.

Senator Stone had said to the delegates: "I may say that President

Wilson knows of this plank and deems it imperative to his success in

November that it be inserted in the platform." The plank, which was

adopted by a viva voce vote read as follows: "We favor the extension

of the franchise to the women of this country, State by State, on the

same terms as to the men." It transpired afterwards that President

Wilson had written it.

As soon as the convention adjourned Mrs. Catt, president of the

National Suffrage Association, who with the board of officers was

present, sent the following telegram to President Wilson: "Inasmuch as

Governor Ferguson of Texas and Senator Walsh of Montana made

diametrically opposite statements in the Democratic convention today

with regard to your attitude toward the suffrage plank adopted, we

apply to you directly to state your position on the plank and give

your precise interpretation of its meaning." To this message the

President replied on June 22: "I am very glad to make my position

about the suffrage plank clear to you, though I had not thought that

it was necessary to state again a position that I have repeatedly

stated with entire frankness. The plank received my entire approval

before its adoption and I shall support its principle with sincere

pleasure. I wish to join with my fellow Democrats in recommending to

the several States that they extend the suffrage to women upon the

same terms as to men." Later the President made it plain that the

Democratic plank was to be considered a distinct approval of the

suffrage movement and that it did not necessarily disapprove of a

Federal Amendment.

The general sentiment of the press was to the effect that as a result

of the endorsement of the national conventions woman suffrage went

before the country with its prestige immeasurably strengthened and

recognized as a great force to be reckoned with. The suffragists ended

their political convention campaign with planks in the platforms of

all the five parties, Republican, Democratic, Progressive,

Prohibitionist and Socialist. The Progressive party made its

declaration stronger than at its national convention in 1912, its

plank reading: "We believe that the women of the country, who share

with the men the burden of government in times of peace and make equal

sacrifice in times of war, should be given the full political right of

suffrage both by State and Federal action." It was adopted unanimously

and with great applause at the party's national convention in Chicago

June 7-10. The planks were taken by the suffragists as pledges that

the parties would help in a practical way to assist the movement in

the various States and nationally and this view was made plain to the

leaders and to the rank and file of the voters.

Results were soon apparent and between 1916 and 1920 the cause of

woman suffrage took immense strides forward. In 1917 New York State

gave the complete suffrage to women. In 1918 Michigan, South Dakota

and Oklahoma fully enfranchised them, increasing the number of equal

suffrage States to fifteen. In thirteen other States women obtained

the Presidential franchise and in two the vote in Primary elections.

The resolution for a Federal Amendment passed both Houses of Congress

in May and June, 1919, and was submitted to the State Legislatures for

ratification. By March 22, 1920, it had been ratified by 35, lacking

only one of the three-fourths required to make it a part of the

National Constitution. The women, therefore, approached the political

parties this year in quite a different frame of mind from that of the

past, feeling the strength of their position and realizing that where

they had formerly pleaded they could now demand. The burning question

of the hour was whether the 36th State would ratify in time to enable

the millions of women to vote in the Presidential elections in

November. The National Committees of the two dominant parties had

become ardently in favor of it. Through the influence of Republican

women suffragists, the committee of that party sent on June 1 to the

Republican Governors and legislators of Delaware, Connecticut and

Vermont the following appeal to ratify the Federal Amendment so that

the Republican party might have the credit of assisting women to win

their final battle and thus gain their gratitude and allegiance:

Whereas, The Republican National Committee at its regular

meetings has repeatedly endorsed woman suffrage and the 19th

Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and has

called upon the Congress to submit and the States to ratify such

amendment; and, whereas, it still lacks ratification by a

sufficient number of States to become a law, therefore be it

Resolved, by the Republican National Committee that the 19th

Amendment be and the same is hereby again endorsed by this

committee, and such Republican States as have not already done so

are now urged to take such action by their Governors and

Legislatures as will assure its ratification and establish the

right of equal suffrage at the earliest possible time.

When the Republican National Convention met in Chicago June 8-12 the

Resolutions Committee received the following memorial:

The National American Woman Suffrage Association asks permission

to place on record with the National Republican Convention its

appreciation of the resolution of the National Republican

Executive Committee on June 1.... It seems the spirit of fairness

underlying the committee's action must commend it to every lover

of liberty regardless of party and its political far-sightedness

must be evident to every Republican desirous of party victory.

Conceding to the committee's action its full and friendly

significance, this association further asks permission to

re-emphasize before this convention the fact that on the very eve

of complete victory a deadlock supervenes in the ratification of

this amendment and for that deadlock the Republican party must

carry its full share of responsibility, since three States with

Republican Legislatures remain on the unratified list. Republican

leaders frequently point out that their party has insured a far

larger proportion of ratifications than has the Democratic, and

apparently count on this situation to accrue to its advantage.

This position would be logical if the relative proportion between

Republicans and Democrats were the essential thing but it is by

no means the essential thing. The 36th State is the essential

thing.

Women who are waiting on that State for their right to vote in

the Presidential elections of 1920 cannot rest satisfied with the

assurance or the evidence that Republican leaders are doing all

in their power to bring about ratification. Women who are going

to vote the Republican ticket anyhow may be satisfied but they

are not the women whose vote is important to the party. The

important vote is the vote of the undecided woman who would just

as soon be a Republican as a Democrat. That woman has not been

convinced by the final Republican showing on ratification and she

will not be convinced until the 36th State has ratified. This

ratification is the only solution of the situation that can make

actual what is so far a merely potential claim of the Republican

party on the woman voter.

The National American Woman Suffrage Association urges upon this

convention the necessity for such action as will make inevitable

and immediate the ratification of the Federal Suffrage Amendment

by the 36th State.

This was signed by Mary Garrett Hay, acting president, in the absence

of Mrs. Catt in Europe; Gertrude Foster Brown, vice-president; Nettie

Rogers Shuler, corresponding secretary; Emma Winner Rogers, treasurer;

Esther G. Ogden, director, and Rose Young, press chairman.

Miss Hay called a conference of the suffragists attending the

convention in Chicago and a plank was drawn up. Miss Hay, Mrs. Richard

Edwards, Mrs. Maud Wood Park, Mrs. George Gellhorn, Miss Ada Bush and

Mrs. Pattie Ruffner Jacobs constituted a committee to present this

plank to the Resolutions Committee of which Senator James E. Watson

(Ind.) was chairman. Miss Hay made the principal speech and Mrs.

Gellhorn and Miss Bush spoke briefly. A sub-committee of the

Resolutions Committee accepted the plank which was given out to the

press on June 10. It read:

We welcome women into full participation in the affairs of

government and the activities of the Republican party. We urge

Republican Governors whose States have not yet acted upon the

suffrage amendment to call immediately special sessions of their

Legislatures for the purpose of ratifying said amendment, to the

end that all the women of the nation of voting age may

participate in the coming election, so important to the welfare

of our country.

As soon as this appeared in the Chicago papers, members of the

Connecticut delegation rushed to leaders of the Platform Committee and

protested that it was a gross insult to their Governor, Marcus H.

Holcomb, and they wanted the wording changed. Accordingly the

offending sentence was revised and in the plank adopted by the

convention read: "We earnestly hope that Republican Legislatures in

States which have not yet acted upon the suffrage amendment will

ratify it, to the end that all the women of the nation of voting age

may participate in the election of 1920 so important to the welfare of

our country."

Republican women in attendance at the convention united in a demand

for a fifty-fifty recognition inside of the party. They asked for a

woman vice-chairman of the National Republican Committee and for men

and women to be represented on it in equal numbers. The Committee on

Rules, responding to this demand, changed the rules for representation

and provided that seven members be added to the National Executive

Committee, all to be women. With this concession the women had to be

content.

The Democratic National Convention met in San Francisco June 28-July

5. Prior to the convention the National Committee had yielded to the

pressure from the suffrage leaders and Democratic women and on May 30

sent out the following Call: "This committee calls upon the

Legislatures of the various States for special sessions, if necessary,

to ratify woman suffrage when the Constitutional Amendment is passed

by Congress, in order to enable women to vote at the Presidential

election in 1920." On June 26, after the amendment had been submitted

by Congress, the committee again gave its aid by sending the following

message to Governor Roberts of Tennessee:

We most earnestly emphasize the extreme importance and urgency of

an immediate meeting of your State Legislature for the purpose of

ratifying the proposed 19th Amendment to the Federal

Constitution. We trust that for the present all other legislative

matters may, if necessary, be held in abeyance and that you will

call an extra session for such brief duration as may be required

to act favorably on the amendment. Tennessee occupies a position

of peculiar and pivotal importance and one that enables her to

render a service of incalculable value to the women of America.

We confidently expect, therefore, that under your leadership and

through the action of the Legislature of your State, the women of

the nation may be given the privilege of voting in the coming

Presidential election.

The National American Woman Suffrage Association appointed Mrs.

Mrs. Guilford Dudley, one of its vice-presidents, who was a

delegate-at-large from Tennessee to the convention and a member of the

Credentials Committee, to present the following plank to the

Resolutions Committee: "The Federal Suffrage Amendment, whose passage

in Congress was greatly furthered by the efforts of a Democratic

President, is one State short of the number required to make its

ratification effective. In two Republican States, Vermont and

Connecticut, where ratification could be at once achieved, Republican

Governors are refusing to call special sessions. In simple justice to

women, we, Democrats in national convention assembled, urge the

cooperation of Democratic Governors and legislators in North Carolina,

Tennessee, Florida and other Democratic States that have not ratified,

in a united effort to complete ratification by the addition of the

36th State in time for the women of America to participate in the

approaching elections."

The National Woman's Party through Mrs. Abby Scott Baker, its

publicity chairman, presented a plank through U. S. Senator Carter

Glass of the Resolutions Committee, which read: "The Democratic Party

endorses the proposed amendment to the U. S. Constitution

enfranchising women and calls upon all Democratic Governors of States

which have not yet ratified the amendment immediately to convene their

Legislatures so that they may act upon it and urges all Democratic

members of such Legislatures immediately to vote for the

amendment...."

The plank finally adopted by the convention read: "We endorse the

proposed 19th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States

granting equal suffrage to women. We congratulate the Legislatures of

35 States which have already ratified said amendment and we urge the

Democratic Governors and Legislatures of Tennessee, North Carolina and

Florida and such States as have not yet ratified it to unite in an

effort to complete the process of ratification and secure the 36th

State in time for all the women of the United States to participate in

the fall election. We commend the effective advocacy of the measure by

President Wilson."