national elections until 1892, when the People's Party scored an
overwhelming majority. In 1894, while still partially a unit on
national issues, the parties were widely separated on State affairs
and each put a ticket in the field.
The reign of the Populists was of short duration. The eccentricities
of Gov. Davis H. Waite brought upon his party an unmerited degree of
censure. The Republicans raised a cry of "Redeem the State!" and under
that motto called to their aid women of former Republican
affiliations. At no subsequent election have women given such close
allegiance to party lines. Mrs. J. Ellen Foster, who was sent by the
National Republican Committee to canvass the State, probably won many
straight Republican votes by arousing in the minds of the women the
fear that by attempting to scratch a ticket they might lose their vote
entirely. They have learned since that the Australian ballot is not so
intricate that any one who can read and write need stand in awe of it.
The Populist women had formed clubs to assist that party before the
suffrage was granted. In February, 1894, they opened headquarters in
Denver and began organizing throughout the State. Miss Phoebe W.
Couzins of St. Louis assisted them in this campaign. Mrs. Helen M.
Gougar of Indiana worked for the Prohibitionists. When the annual
convention of the National Republican League Clubs was held at Denver,
in June, the Republican women were as yet unorganized. At this time
Mrs. Frank Hall was persuaded to take charge of that department under
the direction of the State Central Committee. Women's Republican
leagues were established throughout the State, and in the larger towns
and cities complete precinct organizations were effected. In Denver
women's Republican clubs were formed in every district and, with their
committees subject to the county central committee, worked separately
from the men. That known as the East Capitol Hill Women's Republican
League, founded by Mrs. H. B. Stevens, acquired a membership of 1,000.
The East Denver Women's Republican Club, president, Mrs. Alma
Lafferty, was equally successful. These were very active in managing
the large mass meetings which contributed so much to the success of
their party.
The Democratic women had a peculiar task. Their party was in the
minority and it was divided into Silver Democrats and White Wings
(Cleveland Democrats). The women refused to acknowledge either
faction. Mrs. Anna Marshall Cochrane and Mrs. Mary C. C. Bradford
called a meeting of the Democratic women of Denver at the home of the
latter in May, 1894, and organized the Colorado Women's Democratic
Club with a membership of nine: President, Mrs. Mary V. Macon;
secretary, Mrs. Cochrane; treasurer, Mrs. Mary Holland Kincaid. The
National Committee recognized this as the only straight Democratic
association in Colorado, and appointed Mrs. Bradford as organizer. She
canvassed the State and being a pleasant and convincing speaker and
bringing letters from the chairmen of the two State committees, both
factions attended her meetings. She formed twelve large women's clubs
and set them to work. When the two State conventions met in Denver,
they were both quite willing to acknowledge delegates from these
clubs, but the delegates refused to act except with a united
convention. Mrs. Bradford was nominated as State Superintendent of
Public Instruction, being the first woman named in Colorado for a
State office. Mrs. Macon was nominated for regent of the State
University. Since there was no chance of electing their ticket, the
principal work of the Democratic women in this campaign was the
unifying of the party.
The Republicans elected Mrs. Antoinette J. Peavy Superintendent of
Public Instruction and three women members of the Legislature--Mrs.
Clara Cressingham, Mrs. Frances S. Klock and Mrs. Carrie C. Holly.
During this campaign women gained a good deal of insight into
political machinery and learned much which dampened their ardor as
party politicians. The idea began to prevail that at least in
municipal government the best results could be attained by
non-partisan methods.
In the spring of 1895 Mrs. Hall, as vice-chairman of the Republican
State Central, Committee, being in charge of the woman's department,
called a conference of the several presidents of the women's
Republican clubs of Denver. Their object was to purify the ballot and
to overcome corrupt gang rule and present worthy candidates. A meeting
of all the clubs was called in the Broadway Theater and the house was
crowded. Mrs. E. M. Ashley read an announcement of the objects to be
accomplished "in the party if they could, out of it if they must." At
this election, for the first time, the _demi-monde_ were compelled to
register. Desiring to avoid it they sent a petition to this woman's
organization, imploring its interference in their behalf. A committee
of three women of high standing was appointed and appeared before the
Fire and Police Board to request that these unfortunates should not be
forced to vote against their will. The board promised compliance but
disregarded their pledge and those women were compelled to vote.
It is no wonder that other organizations sprang up in rebellion
against such corrupt methods. The Tax-Payers' Party and the
Independent Citizens' Movement were examples of these attempts,
defeated at first but succeeding later. The Civic Federation of
Denver, an outcome of these efforts, is an organization composed of
women from all parties, which has endeavored to enforce the selection
of suitable candidates.
The Silver Issue of 1896 created a division in the ranks of the
Republican party which dissolved many of its women's clubs. The larger
wing, under the name of Silver Republican, fused with the other silver
parties and elected their State ticket. Miss Grace Espy Patton, who
had been prominent in Democratic politics, was chosen State
Superintendent of Public Instruction. Three women were elected to the
Lower House: Mrs. Olive C. Butler, National Silver Party; Mrs. Martha
A. B. Conine, Non-Partisan; Mrs. Evangeline Heartz, Populist, all of
Denver.
In the campaign of 1898 voters were divided between the National
Republican party under U. S. Senator Edward O. Wolcott and a fusion of
the Silver Republicans, Democrats and Populists under the leadership
of U. S. Senator Henry M. Teller, Thomas M. Patterson and Charles S.
Thomas. In Arapahoe County, owing to various conflicting interests in
the municipal government of Denver, fifteen tickets were filed. Each
of the principal parties appointed a woman as vice-chairman of the
State Central Committee: National Republican, Mrs. Ione T. Hanna;
Silver Republican, Mrs. Arras Bissel; Democratic, Mrs. S. E. Shields;
Populist, Mrs. Heartz. A woman's executive committee was formed in
each party.
The Fusion party elected Mrs. Helen M. Grenfell, Silver Republican, as
State Superintendent of Public Instruction; and Mrs. Frances S. Lee,
Democrat, Mrs. Harriet G. R. Wright, Populist, and Dr. Mary F. Barry,
Silver Republican, as members of the House of Representatives.
Conditions in the State changed materially between the Presidential
elections of 1896 and 1900. The depression in the price of silver,
which closed many mines and reduced the working force in others, set
countless men adrift and led to much prospecting and the discovery of
new gold fields. The mines of Cripple Creek gave Colorado the foremost
place among gold-producing States, California taking second.
Consequently, although interest in the silver question did not cease,
its pressure was less felt. In 1896 the McKinley Republicans had no
hope of carrying the State, while the Silver Republicans, Populists
and Democrats had united and were confident of the success which
always had attended a complete fusion of those parties. Thus in both
cases the incentive to the utmost exertion was wanting.
In 1900 the situation was different. The Republicans thought there was
a chance to win and the Fusionists were not over-confident, hence both
parties were stimulated to greater efforts. In 1896 the straight
Republicans had only one daily and not more than five weekly papers.
In 1900 they had fifteen daily and 103 weekly papers supporting their
ticket. They were thoroughly organized throughout the State. In Denver
a Woman's Republican League was formed which vied in size with the
organization of 1894. Mrs. Stanley M. Casper, a most efficient member
of the Equal Suffrage Club in the campaign of 1893, was president;
Mrs. A. L. Welch, vice-president and Miss Mary H. Thorn, secretary.
They organized every district in the city of Denver, appointing women
to look after the registration, secure speakers and get out the vote.
It was through this league that U. S. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge came
to the State. Mrs. J. Ellen Foster and U. S. Senator J. B. Foraker
also spoke under their auspices, as well as other distinguished
orators, and from their own ranks Mrs. Hanna, Mrs. Lucy R. Scott, Mrs.
Peavey and Mrs. Thalia M. Rhoads.
The Colorado Woman's Bryan League were not less active, under the
following officers: Chairman, Mrs. Salena V. Ernest; vice-chairmen,
Mesdames Sarah Platt Decker, Katherine A. G. (Thomas M.) Patterson and
Mary L. Fletcher; secretary, Mrs. Helen Thomas Belford; treasurer,
Mrs. Harriet G. R. Wright.
Both organizations kept open headquarters, and the daily papers
contained long lists of parlor meetings held throughout the city,
addressed by men and women of prominence. The Bryan League was
fortunate in having among its own members many excellent speakers,
including Mrs. Decker, Mrs. Patton Cowles, formerly State
Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Rose Kidd Beare, Mrs.
Bradford, Mrs. Dora Phelps Buell and Mrs. Wright. Mrs. Grenfell,
present State Superintendent, and Mrs. Heartz, now Representative,
both candidates for re-election, made many speeches.[190]
The committees of men and women worked together. On October 27 the
Woman's Bryan League held a rally of the Silver Parties and a
reception to U. S. Senator Teller at the Coliseum. The same evening
the Woman's Republican League gave a reception to their candidates at
Windsor Hall. Women seem to have an unsuspected gift for managing
large meetings. The Denver _Times_ (Republican) said: "The women have
shown an ability to handle campaigns for which they never were given
credit in the past."
In the election of 1900 the Republicans not only lost their electoral
ticket but carried fewer counties than they had done for years, yet
their vote of 26,000 for McKinley in 1896 was increased to 93,000; and
the Bryan vote was reduced from 161,000 to 122,700. John F. Shafroth
and John C. Bell, Fusionists, both strong advocates of woman suffrage,
were elected by large majorities. The Legislature was overwhelmingly
Democratic, which defeated the re-election to the U. S. Senate of
Edward O. Wolcott, that the women had especially determined upon.
Thomas M. Patterson was elected.
I. N. Stevens, of the _Colorado Springs Gazette_, Republican, in
closing an article on the State campaign says:
The women have demonstrated their effectiveness in political
campaigns, and wherever party candidates and party politics are
up to the high standard which they have a right to demand they
can be counted upon for loyal support. The Republican party in
Colorado can only hope to triumph in one way and that is by
appealing to the judgment of the honest and intelligent people of
the State with clean candidates for commendable policies and
under worthy leadership.
This testimony certainly implies two things, viz.: That the women of
Colorado are a power in politics which must be reckoned with, and that
their loyal support can be fully counted upon only when the character
of the candidates as well as the political methods and aims of the
party receive due consideration.
The vote at the second presidential election after the suffrage was
conferred on women was as follows:
Percentage of population in the State: Males, 55; females, 45 (in
round numbers).
Percentage of vote cast: Males, (nearly) 58-1/2; females, (over)
41-1/2.
Percentage of vote cast in Denver: Males, 57-1/2; females, 42-1/2.
This vote shows that from all causes an average of only three per
cent. of the women in the entire State failed to exercise the
suffrage.
LEGISLATIVE ACTION: The legislation of most importance which is
directly due to woman suffrage may be summed up as follows: Equal
guardianship of children; raising the "age of protection" for girls
from 16 to 18 years; establishment of a State Home for Dependent
Children; a State Industrial School for Girls; indeterminate sentence
for criminals; a State Arbitration Board; open meetings of school
boards; the removal of emblems from ballots; placing drinking
fountains on the corners of most of the down-town streets of Denver.
Indirectly, the results have been infinitely greater. The change in
the conduct of Denver stores alone, in regard to women employes, is
worthy a chapter. Probably no other city of the same size has more
stores standing upon the so-called White List, and laws which prior to
1893 were dead letters are enforced to-day.
The bills introduced by women in the Legislature have been chiefly
such as were designed to improve social conditions. The law raising
the "age of protection" for girls, the law giving the mother an equal
right in her children, and the law creating a State Home for Dependent
Children were secured by women in 1895. In the next session they
secured the Curfew Law and an appropriation for the State Home for
Incorrigible Girls. By obtaining the removal of the emblems from the
ballot, they enforced a measure of educational qualification. They
have entirely answered the objection that the immature voter would be
sure so to exaggerate the power of legislation that she would try to
do everything at once.
Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton said that when she viewed the exhibit of
woman's work at the Centennial, her heart sank within her; but when
she bethought her to examine into the part women had had in the work
accredited to men, she took new courage. In like manner much of the
legislative work women already have done in Colorado is unchronicled.
When a woman finds that there are several other bills besides her own
advocating the same measure of reform, she wisely tries to concentrate
this effort, even if it is necessary to let the desired bill appear in
the name of another. Many excellent bills for which they receive no
credit have run the gauntlet of legislative perils piloted by women.
A notable instance of this is what was called the Frog-Blocking Bill,
for the protection of railroad employes, which was introduced by a man
but so ably engineered by Mrs. Evangeline Heartz that upon its passage
she received a huge box of candy, with "The thanks of 5,000 railroad
men." While she introduced a number of bills herself, only two of them
finally passed--one compelling school boards to hold open meetings
instead of Star Chamber sessions, and the present law providing for a
State Board of Arbitration. In order to make the latter effective it
should have a compulsory clause, which she will strive for in the
Legislature of 1901.
LAWS: While the laws of Colorado always have been liberal to women in
many respects, there are a few notable exceptions.
The first Legislature of the Territory, in 1861, passed a bill to the
effect that either party to the marriage contract might dispose of
property without the signature or consent of the other. The men of
this new mining country often had left their wives thousands of miles
away in the Eastern States; there was no railroad or telegraph; mining
claims, being real estate, had to be transferred by deed, often in a
hurry, and this law was largely a necessity. It now works great
injustice to women, however, through the fact that all the property
accumulated after marriage belongs to the husband and he may legally
dispose of it without the wife's knowledge, leaving her penniless.
Even the household goods may be thus disposed of.[191]
A law of recent years exempts from execution a homestead to the value
of $2,000 for "the head of the family," but even this can be sold by
the husband without the wife's signature, although he can not mortgage
it. This property must be designated as a "homestead" on the margin of
the recorded title, and it must be occupied by the owner. "A woman
occupying her own property as the home of the family has the right to
designate it as a homestead. The husband has the legal right to live
with her and enjoy the homestead he has settled upon her."(!) He has,
however, the sole right to determine the residence of the family, as
in every other State, and by removing from a property the homestead
right is destroyed. If the husband abandon the wife and acquire a
homestead elsewhere, she has a right only in that.
Neither curtesy nor dower obtains. The surviving husband or wife, if
there are children or the descendants of children living, receives,
subject to the payment of debts, one-half of the entire estate, real
and personal. If there is no living child nor a descendant of any
child, the entire estate goes to the survivor.
Husband and wife have the same rights in making wills. Each can will
away from the other half of his or her separate property.
In buying and selling, making contracts, suing and being sued, the
married woman has the same rights as the unmarried.
In 1895 fathers and mothers were made joint guardians of the children
with equal powers.
The expenses of the family and the education of the children are
chargeable upon the property of both husband and wife, or either of
them, and in relation thereto they may be sued jointly or separately.
In case a man fails to support his family, he can be compelled to do
so on the complaint of the wife, the chairman of the board of county
commissioners, or the agent of the humane society. Unless he show
physical incapacity, or some other good reason for this failure, he
may be committed to jail for sixty days.
The "age of protection" for girls was raised from 10 to 16 years in
1891; from 16 to 18 in 1895. The penalty is confinement in the
penitentiary not less than one nor more than twenty years.
SUFFRAGE: School Suffrage was granted to women by the constitution in
1876, the year Colorado became a State.
The amendment to the constitution adopted by 6,347 majority, Nov. 7,
1893, is as follows:
Every female person shall be entitled to vote at all elections,
in the same manner in all respects as male persons are or shall
be entitled to vote by the constitution and laws of this State,
and the same qualifications as to age, citizenship and time of
residence in the State, county, city, ward and precinct, and all
other qualifications required by law to entitle male persons to
vote, shall be required to entitle female persons to vote.
OFFICE HOLDING: Possessing the Full Suffrage, women of course are
eligible to all offices, but naturally the men will not surrender them
unless compelled to do so. That of State Superintendent of Public
Instruction is generally conceded by all parties as belonging to a
woman, and no man has been a candidate for this office since 1893. It
can best be spared, as it does not encourage idleness or enable its
holder to amass wealth.
Beginning with 1895 ten women have been elected to the Lower House of
the Legislature but none to the Senate. Not more than three have been
members during any one term.
Only two women were elected to State offices in 1900. The others
holding office at present are as follows: County school
superintendents, 29; school directors, 508; county clerk, one; county
treasurer, one; assessor, one; clerk of County Court, one; clerk of
District Court, one. Of the county superintendents, three were elected
by a fusion of Democrats and Prohibitionists, three by Democrats,
Prohibitionists and Silver Republicans; ten by Democrats and thirteen
by Republicans.
The State Board of Charities and Corrections, which has general
supervision over all the charitable and penal institutions, has had
Mrs. Sarah Platt Decker for its president through this and previous
administrations. Dr. Eleanor Lawney also is on this board. On the
board of control of the State Industrial School for Girls, three out
of five members are women; State Home for Dependent Children, four out
of five; State School for Deaf and Blind, one out of five; State
Normal School, two out of seven; State Board of Horticulture, one out
of six. There have been women on the State Board of Pardons.
There are women physicians in the State Insane Asylum and connected
with all institutions containing women and children.
The law for jurors is construed by the judges to apply equally to men
and women, but thus far it has been so manipulated that no women have
been drawn for service.
In 1897-98 two counties had women coroners.
There are eight women clerks in the Senate and seven in the House of
the present Legislature. A number are employed in the court-house and
in the county offices.
This partition of offices does not appear very liberal, considering
that women have cast as high as 52 per cent. of the total vote; but
there are in the State 30,000 more men than women, who could vote if
they chose, and they are much more accustomed to holding offices and
much more anxious to get them. The less the probabilities of election,
the more liberal the parties have been in granting nominations to
women.
OCCUPATIONS: The only occupation legally forbidden to women is that of
working in mines. Children under fourteen can not be employed,
legally, in mines, factories, stores, etc.
EDUCATION: All the institutions of learning are open alike to both
sexes. There are five women on the faculty of the State University,
one on that of the School of Agriculture, nine in the State Normal
School, and in the State Institute for Deaf Mutes seventeen of the
thirty-three teachers are women. The Medical Department of the
University of Denver has three women professors.
In the public schools there are 727 men and 2,557 women teachers. The
average monthly salary of the men is $67; of the women, $48.42.
Colorado spends a larger amount per capita for public school education
than any other State.
* * * * *
On June 29, 30, 1894, a general meeting of Colorado suffragists was
held in Denver and a reorganization of the State association effected.
The reason for its continuance was the desire to help other States in
their efforts to win the franchise, and a feeling of loyalty to the
National Association, to which in common with all other women those of
Colorado owed so much.
In May 1895, Miss Susan B. Anthony, president of the National
Association, and the Rev. Anna Howard Shaw, vice-president at large,
on their way to California, addressed a large and delighted audience
in the Broadway Theater, and a reception was given them by the Woman's
Club.
In 1896 the Colorado E. S. A. raised the funds to send Mrs. Mary C. C.
Bradford to aid in the Idaho amendment campaign.
During the Biennial of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, held
in Denver in June, 1898, the E. S. A. celebrated the Jubilee
Anniversary of the first Woman's Rights Convention at Seneca Falls, N.
Y., by a meeting in the Auditorium and a reception in the parlors of
the Central Christian Church, with addresses by eminent local and
visiting speakers. In these rooms, for the entire week, this
organization and the Civic Federation kept open house, and in a
flag-draped booth gave an illustration of the Australian system of
voting.[192]
In January, 1899, Denver entertained Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt,
chairman of the national organization committee, and Miss Mary G. Hay,
secretary, as they were passing through the State. Mrs. A. L. Welch
gave a reception in their honor, at which ex-Gov. Charles S. Thomas
and Gov. Alva Adams spoke enthusiastically of the results of equal
suffrage, followed by Mrs. Chapman Catt in an interesting address. The
occasion was especially happy because that day the Legislature had
almost unanimously passed a joint resolution as follows:
WHEREAS, Equal suffrage has been in operation in Colorado for
five years, during which time women have exercised the privilege
as generally as men, with the result that better candidates have
been selected for office, methods of election have been purified,
the character of legislation improved, civic intelligence
increased and womanhood developed to greater usefulness by
political responsibility; therefore,
_Resolved_, by the House of Representatives, the Senate
concurring, That in view of these results the enfranchisement of
women in every State and Territory of the American Union is
hereby recommended as a measure tending to the advancement of a
higher and better social order.
That an authenticated copy of these resolutions be forwarded by
the Governor of the State to the Legislature of every State and
Territory, and the press be requested to call public attention to
them.[193]
This year Mrs. Katherine A. G. Patterson, who had been president of
the State E. S. A. for three years, retired and was succeeded by Mrs.
Welch, who was followed in 1900 by Mrs. Amy K. Cornwall, and in 1901
by Prof. Theodosia G. Ammons.
One of the uncongenial tasks of the officers of the association has
been the answering of the many attacks made in Eastern papers on the
position of women in Colorado, though this becomes far less trying
when it is remembered that in most States public opinion on the
question of woman suffrage is still in its formative stage. So soon do
we become accustomed to a new thing, if it is in the order of nature,
that the women of Colorado have almost ceased to realize that they
possess an uncommon privilege. It seems as much a matter of course
that women should vote as that they should enjoy the right of free
speech or the protection of the _habeas corpus_ act. It is seldom
defended, for the same reason that it is no longer thought necessary
to defend the Copernican vs. the Ptolemaic theory. One aim of the
association is to arouse a more altruistic spirit, and another so to
unite women that they will stand together for a good cause
irrespective of party. There is at present a strong legislative
committee which has been studying the statutes from a non-partisan
standpoint, with a view to influencing needful legislation.[194]
Before the autumn of 1893 there were many clubs in Denver, mostly of a
literary nature, each formed of women of a certain rank in life, with
similar tastes and pursuits. Some had a membership so limited as to
render them very difficult of access, but in their way all were good.
Perhaps the only truly democratic association, if those of the
churches were excepted, where the rich and the poor met together on a
plane so perfectly level that only mental or moral height in the
individual produced any difference, was the equal suffrage club.
Whether related to it or not, this new ideal of club life followed
closely after the gaining of political equality.
The Woman's Club of Denver was organized April 21, 1894, with 225
charter members, and now has nearly 1,000. It contains many women of
wealth and high social standing, many quiet housekeepers without the
slightest aspirations toward fashionable life, and many women who earn
their daily bread by some trade or profession. What the public school
is supposed to do for our youth in helping us to become a homogeneous
nation, the modern woman's club is doing for those of maturer years.
The North Side Woman's Club of Denver is second to the Woman's Club
only in size and time of organization. The Colorado Federation of
Women's Clubs was formed April 5, 1895, with a charter membership of
thirty-seven. It now is composed of over 100 clubs, containing about
4,000 individuals.
* * * * *
This is merely a plain tale from the hills. Colorado women feel that
they have done well but have made only a beginning. The fact that
women are factors in politics underlies and overrules many things not
directly connected with the results of election day. Many of the dire
effects predicted of equal suffrage have proved their prophets false.
In some cases the women themselves have been surprised to find they
had entertained groundless fears. This is particularly true concerning
the fierce partisanship which is supposed to run riot in the female
nature. There is a strong tendency on the part of women to stand by
each other, though not always to the extent evinced by one lady who
was and still is a pronounced "anti." At the first election she voted
for every woman placed in nomination for the Legislature, Populist,
Democrat, Republican and Prohibitionist, until she had filled out her
ticket. Women frequently scratch their ballots when by so doing they
can elect a better man. In legislative work there are absolutely no
party lines. The Republican and the Democratic women both want the
same measures, and they look upon themselves as constituents whether
the member belongs to their party or not.
The vote of the _demi-monde_ always has been a stumbling-block to
certain particularly good people. These women never register, never
vote and never attend primaries except when compelled to do so. Their
identity is often a secret even to their closest associates. It is
almost impossible to learn their true names. All they ask is to be let
alone. Unfortunately the city of Denver is under what is known as the
Metropolitan Fire and Police System. The firemen and police are
controlled by boards appointed by the Governor. If he is a politically
scrupulous man and his appointments are good ones, this class is not
molested. Gov. Davis H. Waite did not compel these women to vote for
him in 1894, though he had the power. Under the administration of
Governor Adams, when the Hon. Ralph Talbot was president of the board,
they took no part whatever.
Possibly those who have been most disappointed at the workings of
equal suffrage are the Prohibitionists, yet they really have reason
for congratulation. Weld County, which gave the largest vote for equal
suffrage of any in the State, has excluded liquor from its borders
except in one small town, a coal mining camp with a heavy foreign
vote. In many sections the liquor traffic has been abolished, always
by the votes of women, but there are many more men than women in the
State and without their co-operation no general reform can be enacted
or enforced. Every political party has banished liquor and tobacco
from its headquarters, as desiring to win the women's support they are
careful not to give offense. On election days Denver has a holiday
appearance. The vote is cast early and the members of a family usually
go together to the polls.
The most noteworthy result is the improved character of the
candidates, as one of the most important points to be considered is
whether they can get the votes of women. The addition of a large
number of independent and conscientious voters to the electorate; the
wider outlook given to woman herself through the exercise of civic
rights; and the higher degree of comradeship made possible by the
removal of political inequality between man and woman; these are the
greatest benefits which equal suffrage has brought to Colorado.
FOOTNOTES:
[188] The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Emily R.
Meredith and her daughter, Ellis Meredith of Denver, both strong
factors in securing suffrage for the women of their State; the latter
is on the staff of the _Rocky Mountain News_ and editor of the
_Western Clubwoman_.
[189] In 1900 Mr. Bonynge was a candidate for Congress on the
Republican ticket and was overwhelmingly defeated by the votes of
women.
[190] Mrs. Grenfell was re-elected on the Fusion ticket, having been
indorsed by the heads of all the State institutions, most of the
county superintendents and all the prominent educators. The
Republicans had a woman candidate for this office. Mrs. Heartz was
re-elected on the Fusion ticket. There was a Republican woman
candidate for the Legislature also.
[191] A bill was introduced in the Legislature of 1901 to give the
wife a half-interest in all the earnings after marriage, but it failed
to pass either House, perhaps owing to the time consumed by the
important revenue bill.
[192] Governor Adams did a splendid work for equal suffrage in his
welcome to this great body of women. Quite unaware that it was a
tabooed subject, he made a most eloquent address openly glorying in it
and advocating its wholesale extension. Probably no one act of his
administration made him so many friends among women, and it is said
that scores of those from other States went home thoroughly converted.
[193] See Appendix--Testimony from Woman Suffrage States.
[194] The Legislature of 1901 passed 116 bills, a number being of
special interest to women. Among these was one establishing truancy
schools; another for the care of the feeble-minded; several humane
society bills; a measure permitting the State Board of Charities and
Corrections to investigate private charitable institutions; a bill for
an eight-hour day; one for the preservation of forest trees; one for a
bi-weekly pay-day, and an Insurance Bill providing that in cases where
a company has to be sued for the amount of a policy it must pay the
costs of said suit. This last was indorsed by nearly every woman's
organization in the State. The Eight Hour Law requires a
constitutional amendment, and will be voted on in the fall of 1902.
This is also true of a bill consolidating and reducing the number of
elections, and of one providing for full citizenship and an
educational qualification as requisites for suffrage.
CHAPTER XXX.
CONNECTICUT.[195]
The Connecticut Woman Suffrage Association was organized in September,
1869, after a memorable two days' convention in Hartford, under the
call and management of Mrs. Isabella Beecher Hooker,[196] The Rev.
Nathaniel J. Burton, D. D., was elected its first president and in
1871 he was succeeded by Mrs. Hooker, who has now held the office
thirty years with unswerving loyalty and devotion to the cause. During
the first fifteen years eight conventions were held, addressed by the
most prominent speakers in the country.
In 1884 a State convention took place in Hartford, attended by Miss
Susan B. Anthony and a large delegation of men and women from various
parts of the State. But one other (1888) intervened between this and
that which met in Meriden in 1892, when the society was reorganized
under a broader constitution, with the name of Connecticut
Woman Suffrage Society for the Study of Political Science.
Mrs. Hooker was made president and Mrs. Elizabeth D. Bacon
vice-president-at-large.[197]
Since then annual conventions have been held in Hartford (four),
Meriden, Willimantic and Southington. Several executive meetings have
been called yearly and the business of the association has been
systematically arranged. Public meetings have been addressed by Miss
Anthony, president of the National Association, Mrs. Carrie Chapman
Catt, chairman of its organization committee, Mrs. Mary Seymour
Howell of New York, Miss Elizabeth Upham Yates of Maine and many
others.[198]
The Hartford Equal Rights Club was organized in 1885 through the
efforts of Mrs. Emily P. Collins and Miss Frances Ellen Burr, both
pioneers in the work. Located in the capital, it is the center of the
effort for the enfranchisement of women.
The Meriden Political Equality Club was formed in 1889. The late Hon.
Isaac C. Lewis, one of its charter members and a lover of justice and
equality, in 1893 gave $10,000 in invested funds to aid its work. The
Equal Rights Club of Willimantic, founded in 1894, is an active body.
A series of public meetings was held in 1892 at Seymour, Willimantic,
Winsted and Ansonia, arranged and financially supported by the Meriden
Club and addressed by Mrs. Howell.
In 1895, under the auspices of the State society, a course of twenty
lectures was arranged by Mrs. Bacon for Miss Yates.
The local clubs have kept the question before the people through
addresses, the circulation of literature and other methods of
propaganda. For several years a suffrage tent was supported at the
State Fair held in Meriden, and one day set apart as Woman's Day, with
good speakers to present the subject. The press department has been an
important feature of the work, most efficiently conducted by Mrs. Ella
B. Kendrick, its superintendent for the past three years.
LEGISLATIVE ACTION AND LAWS: Women have been instrumental in securing
the passage of laws prohibiting the sale of tobacco in any form to
boys under sixteen years of age; compelling merchants to provide women
and girls in their employment with seats when not engaged in their
duties; securing scientific temperance instruction in the public
schools; and requiring a police matron in all cities of 20,000 or more
inhabitants.
In 1884 a bill giving women the right to vote in school district
meetings was rejected in the House by 83 ayes, 95 noes, and in the
Senate by a majority vote.
In 1885 a bill for School Suffrage was rejected by both Houses.
In 1886 a bill for Full Suffrage was defeated in both Houses.
In 1887 two bills were introduced, one asking Full Suffrage and the
other that unmarried women be exempt from taxation. In both cases the
committee reported "Ought not to pass," and the petitioners were given
leave to withdraw. At this session women were made eligible to serve
as School Trustees.
This year the annual sessions were changed to biennial.
In 1889 the petitions for Full Suffrage of Mrs. Elizabeth D. Bacon and
others were indefinitely postponed. During the same session women were
made eligible to hold the office of assistant town clerk, and to
become members of ecclesiastical societies.
In 1891 a legal dispute as to the result of a gubernatorial election
caused the former Governor to hold over, and all legislative business
to be postponed for two years.
In 1893 the committee, after giving several hearings upon a bill
asking Full Suffrage, substituted, with the consent of the State
association, one for School Suffrage. Upon the third reading this
passed the House, but the Senate referred it back to the committee as
imperfect. There it would have remained but for the efforts of the
Hartford Equal Rights Club. It finally passed the Senate and the
House, was signed by Gov. Luzon B. Morris and became law. Several
attempts have been made to repeal it but unsuccessfully.
In 1895 a bill providing for the right of women to vote for
Presidential electors was reported unfavorably by the committee, the
report being accepted. The same year a Municipal Suffrage Bill went to
a third reading and was passed by the House, but failed in the Senate
by unanimous vote.
In 1897 a bill conferring upon women the right to vote for
Presidential electors was rejected after a third reading both in the
House and Senate. Another was presented for the exemption of women
from taxation, the committee reported, "Ought not to pass," and the
report was accepted. A bill for Municipal Suffrage met the same fate.
This year a bill was introduced at the request of the Hartford club,
creating the office of woman factory inspector, with the same salary
as the male inspector. The Judiciary Committee reported unanimously in
favor. Great opposition developed in the House, but after some
amendments it passed, but failed in the Senate.
In 1899 a Municipal Suffrage Bill was again introduced and reported
upon favorably, but on the third reading it was rejected in the House,
and defeated by 9 ayes, 12 noes in the Senate. A bill also was
presented providing that any woman who pays taxes on real estate
wherein she resides may vote at any meeting upon questions of taxation
or appropriation of money. This passed the House, but was rejected in
the Senate. The House refused to concur, and the Senate adhered to its
former action.
There have been hearings before the Judiciary Committees of several
Legislatures for the purpose of securing a Reformatory for Women.
Members of the Woman's Aid Society of Hartford and others equally
interested have appeared in its behalf.
The law regarding the property rights of women upon the statute books
of to-day, except one amendment, was passed in April, 1877, and reads
as follows:
In case of marriage on or after April 20, 1877, neither husband
nor wife shall acquire, by force of marriage, any right to or
interest in any property held by the other before, or acquired
after such marriage, except as to the share of the survivor in
the property as provided by law. The separate earnings of the
wife shall be her sole property. She shall have power to make
contracts with third persons and to convey to them her real
estate, as if unmarried. Her property shall be liable to be taken
for her debts except when exempt from execution, but in no case
shall be liable to be taken for the debts of her husband. And the
husband shall not be liable for her debts contracted before her
marriage, nor upon contracts made after her marriage, except as
provided by the succeeding sections.
The dower rights of women married before this date are: A life
estate in one-third the husband's realty and one-half his
personalty absolutely, unless they shall have made together with
their husbands a written contract and recorded the same in the
Probate Records, in which they mutually agree to abandon their
respective common-law rights in the property of each other, and
to claim in place thereof certain other rights as provided by
statute made in 1877 as below. The husband before that date took
the whole of the wife's personal estate absolutely and the use
for life of all her real estate.
Women married on or after April 20, 1877, and those married
earlier, who have made and recorded contracts with their husbands
as above stated, have no dower rights, and their husbands have no
rights by curtesy, but both have, in place of these, rights more
valuable.
Where there are children, the survivor is entitled to one-third
of decedent's real and personal estate absolutely, and in the
absence of children, takes all of the decedent's estate
absolutely to the extent of $2,000, and one-half of the remainder
absolutely after the decedent's debts have been paid.
The father always has been entitled to the custody and control of the
minor children with power to appoint a guardian by will; but a law was
passed the present year (1901) which gives the father and mother equal
rights of guardianship, and on the death of the father makes the
mother the legal guardian.
If a husband neglect to support his wife he may be committed to the
workhouse or county jail and sentenced to hard labor not more than
sixty days, unless he can show good cause why he is unable to furnish
such support, or unless he can give a bond. If he neglect to comply
with his bond the selectmen of the town shall immediately furnish
support to the extent provided for in such bond. (1895.)
In 1887 the "age of protection" for girls was raised from 10 to 14
years, and in 1895 this was increased to 16. The penalty is
imprisonment in the penitentiary not less than three years.
SUFFRAGE: The School Suffrage Law of 1893 allows all women citizens
who have arrived at the age of majority, and have resided one year in
the State and six months in the town, to vote at any meeting held for
election of school trustees or for any educational purpose.
At the first election after the passage of this Act, 4,471 women voted
in the State. Since then the number has gradually decreased for
several reasons. Women soon learned that their vote amounted to but
little because of the fact that Connecticut has a minority
representation upon its school boards. This practically eliminates
contest in the election of school officers, for it often occurs that
only the exact number of candidates to be elected are placed in
nomination. In cities men are frequently placed on school boards to
pay political debts or as an opening for further advancement,
therefore it has been found almost impossible to secure the nomination
of women. This, of course, decreases their interest in the election.
In several marked instances, however, where some question of
importance has arisen, women have registered and voted in large
numbers.
Willimantic offers a good illustration. All the schools in the town of
Windham, of which Willimantic is a borough, were under the district
system. For some time the largest school district had been unwisely
managed through the influence of one man, who controlled enough votes
to insure his retention as chairman year after year. In June, 1895,
when he had entirely forfeited confidence, Mrs. Ella L. Bennett,
president, and other wide awake members of the Equal Rights Club,
determined he should no longer hold this office. The best citizens
assured the women that their fears of his re-election were groundless,
but they kept on in their efforts and secured the attendance of fifty
women at the district meeting, where he was defeated by about twenty
votes.
The level-headed ones saw that consolidation of all the school
districts was absolutely necessary. Before the election in October the
women did valiant work in agitating this question. Previous to this
not more than 200 women ever had voted; but now the number registered
reached 1,129, and on election day, although the rain fell in torrents
and rivers of water ran down the streets, 975 cast their ballots. The
Equal Rights Club conducted the election so far as the women were
concerned, assisted in preparing ballots, kept a check-list and sent
carriages where it seemed necessary. Every little while, all day long,
could be heard from the hall where the voting was going on, "Fall
back, ladies, fall back and give the men a chance." At the noon hour a
crowd of male voters saw a line of women coming down the street and,
seizing a ladder, they set it against a window over the stairway,
scrambled up and thus got into the hall and headed off the women until
the men had voted. The measure for consolidation was carried.
In Hartford the question of consolidation of districts has twice come
before the people since women voted, and in both instances they cast a
large number of ballots. In several districts in this city women have
shown much interest in the annual meetings. One woman has served three
years upon a district committee very acceptably, and it is due to the
efforts and votes of women that wise management has been sustained and
a good principal kept in office.
In his report of 1896, Secretary Charles D. Hine of the State Board of
Education, after speaking in unmeasured terms of the efficient
service rendered by women as school visitors, on boards of education
and on town and district committees, says:
The returns indicate that women are not anxious to vote upon
educational matters alone. If men were reluctantly permitted as a
great favor to vote for agent of the town-deposit fund, they
would not swarm to the polls. The exciting interests of State
elections are important and varied enough to allure 85 per cent.
of the male voters to the polls, but in many districts it is
difficult to obtain enough of them to transact the business of
the annual meeting. In the largest district in the State, school
meetings have been held and considerable sums of money voted,
with less than a dozen men present. Woman can not be adjudged
peculiarly lacking in interest because they are not found voting
in large numbers on one question and one set of officers.[199]
In 1897 the Legislature amended the School Suffrage Law. The women
believed that this change was effected to make the process of becoming
a voter more disagreeable. Heretofore they had been permitted to go at
any time before the town clerk, answer the necessary questions and be
registered. The amendment required them to observe the same
regulations as the men who have the full franchise. They must make
application to the registrar at one fixed time, fill out a blank and
have their names published in the newspapers in the list of those who
wish to be made voters. Then at another fixed time they must go before
the selectmen, await their turn, take the necessary oath, etc. In many
towns and cities it was ruled that all who had been made voters under
the old law must re-register. Feeling the injustice of this, many
women refused. In Hartford they rebelled absolutely, and after much
discussion in the papers and otherwise the city attorney decided that
the law was not retroactive.
OFFICE HOLDING: Since 1887 women have been eligible as school
trustees, and at present 45 are serving, of whom 29 are school
visitors. The latter prescribe rules for the management,
classification, studies and discipline of the public schools. The old
school district system prevails in many cities and towns and there are
a dozen or more women on district committees.
Women are filling other offices, elective and appointive, as follows:
Public librarians, 27; police matrons, 5; matron of the State
Hospital for the Insane, one; matrons of Reform School for Boys, six,
and one assistant; visiting committee of State Industrial School for
Girls, 12, two acting each month; assistant superintendent for same,
one; in each of the eight Homes connected with this school are to be
found a matron and an assistant.
Two of the five members of the State Board of Charities must be women.
Women may serve as notaries public and forty-two are now doing so.
They are eligible as assistant town clerks.
OCCUPATIONS: No profession or occupation is forbidden to women by law.
EDUCATION: Wesleyan University, in Middletown, admitted women to equal
privileges with men in 1872. By a vote of the trustees in 1900 the
number of women was limited to 20 per cent. of the total number of
students.
In 1889 the Theological Seminary (Cong'l) of Hartford admitted women
upon the same terms as men.
In 1892 Yale University opened the courses of the post-graduate
department, with the degree of Ph. D. to women.
In 1893, by an Act of the Legislature, the State Agricultural School,
at Storrs, admitted women to its full course.
In the public schools there are 387 men and 3,692 women teachers. The
average monthly salary of the men is $89.87; of the women, $43.61.
* * * * *
The State Federation of Women's Clubs was organized in 1897 and under
its auspices traveling libraries have been formed for rural schools,
free kindergartens supported, etc.
The Society of Colonial Dames has loaned to the library committee
twenty libraries which have been placed in public schools.
The Civic Club of Hartford, organized in 1895 with a membership of 150
women, has been instrumental in securing greater cleanliness of
streets and public places. It has raised $3,000 for the support of
vacation schools, for three years, and has instituted plans for public
playgrounds.
In 1898 the Home for Incurable Children was founded by the Children's
Aid Society, entirely the work of women.
FOOTNOTES:
[195] The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Elizabeth D.
Bacon of Hartford, vice-president-at-large of the State Woman Suffrage
Association.
[196] See History of Woman Suffrage, Vol. III, p. 321.
[197] County vice-presidents, Mesdames Ella B. Kendrick, J. H. Hale,
Rose I. Blakeslee, Mary L. Hemstead, George Sanger, Mary C. Hickox,
the Hon. Edwin O. Dimock, Miss Elizabeth Sheldon; recording secretary,
Miss Frances Ellen Burr; corresponding secretary, Mrs. G. W. Fuller;
treasurer, Mrs. Mary J. Rogers; auditors, Joseph Sheldon, Mrs. S. E.
Browne; member national executive committee, Miss Sara Winthrop Smith.
Among others who have served as State officers are Miss Hannah J.
Babcock, Mesdames Jane S. Koons, Emma Hurd Chaffee, Annie C. S.
Fenner, Ella S. Bennett, Ella G. Brooks, B. M. Parsons, Mary J.
Warren.
[198] Among those who have advocated and worked for equal suffrage are
the Hon. John Hooker, Judge Joseph Sheldon, Judge George A. Hickox,
the Hon. Radcliffe Hicks, the Rev. John C. Kimball, the Hon. Henry
Lewis, Judge M. H. Holcomb, ex-Speaker John H. Light, ex-Gov. Charles
B. Andrews, the Hon. George M. Gunn, Miss Emily J. Leon and Mrs. Susan
J. Cheney. Honorable mention might be made of many others who have
spent time and money without stint in efforts to advance this cause.
[199] In 1902 a revised State constitution was submitted and only 15
per cent. of the electors voted on it.
CHAPTER XXXI.
DAKOTA.
The Territory of Dakota was created in 1861, but in 1889 it entered
the Union divided into two separate States, North and South Dakota. As
early as 1872 the Territorial Legislature lacked only one vote of
conferring the full suffrage on women. The sparsely settled country
and the long distances made any organized work an impossibility,
although a number of individuals were strong advocates of equal
suffrage.
In 1879 it gave women the right to vote at school meetings. In 1883 a
school township law was passed requiring regular polls and a private
ballot instead of special meetings, which took away the suffrage from
women in all but a few counties.
At the convening of the Territorial Legislature in January, 1885,
Major J. A. Pickler (afterward member of Congress), without
solicitation early in the session introduced a bill in the House
granting Full Suffrage to women, as under the organic act the
legislative body had the power to describe the qualifications for the
franchise. The bill passed the House, February 11, by 29 ayes, 19
noes. Soon afterward it passed the Council by 14 ayes, 10 noes, and
its friends counted the victory won. But Gov. Gilbert A. Pierce,
appointed by President Arthur and only a few months in the Territory,
failed to recognize the grand opportunity to enfranchise 50,000
American citizens by one stroke of his pen and vetoed the bill. Not
only did it express the sentiment of the representatives elected by
the voters, but it had been generally discussed by the press of the
Territory, and all the newspapers but one were outspoken for it. An
effort was made to carry it over the Governor's veto, but it failed.
In 1887 a law was passed enlarging the School Suffrage possessed by
women and giving them the right to vote at all school elections and
for all school officers, and also making them eligible to any
elective school office. At this time, under the liberal provisions of
the United States Land Laws, more than one-third of the land in the
Territory was held by women.
In this same Legislature of 1887 another effort was made to pass an
Equal Suffrage Bill, and a committee from the franchise department of
the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, consisting of Mesdames Helen
M. Barker, S. V. Wilson and Alice M. A. Pickler, appeared before the
committee and presented hundreds of petitions from the men and women
of the Territory. The committees of both Houses reported favorably,
but the bill failed by 13 votes in the House and 6 in the Council.
It was mainly through women's instrumentality that a local option bill
was carried through this Legislature, and largely through their
exertions that it was adopted by sixty-five out of the eighty-seven
organized counties at the next general election.
In October, 1885, the American Woman Suffrage Association held a
national convention in Minneapolis, Minn., which was attended by a
number of people from Dakota, who were greatly interested. The next
month the first suffrage club was formed, in Webster. Several local
societies were afterwards started in the southern part of the
Territory, but for five years no attempt was made at bringing these
together in a convention.[200]
The long contention as to whether the Territory should come into the
Union as one State or two was not decided until 1889, when Congress
admitted two States. Thenceforth there were two distinct movements for
woman suffrage, one in North and one in South Dakota.
NORTH DAKOTA.[201]
On July 4, 1889, a convention met at Bismarck to prepare a
constitution for the admission of North Dakota as a State. As similar
conventions were to be held in several other Territories, Henry B.
Blackwell, editor of the _Woman's Journal_, came from Boston in the
interest of woman suffrage. His object was to have it embodied in the
constitution if possible, but failing in this he endeavored to have
the matter left as it had been under the Territorial government, viz.:
in the hands of the Legislature. To this end, H. F. Miller introduced
the following clause:
The Legislature shall be empowered to make further extensions of
suffrage hereafter at its discretion to all citizens of mature
age and sound mind, not convicted of crime, without regard to
sex, but it shall not restrict suffrage without a vote of the
people.
Toward the adoption of this all efforts were directed. Two public
meetings were addressed by Mr. Blackwell, and on July 8 the
Constitutional Convention itself invited him to speak to its members.
After remaining in Bismarck two weeks he went to Helena to attend the
Montana convention, but before leaving he succeeded in obtaining the
promise of 30 votes out of the 38 necessary for the adoption of the
clause. During his absence Dr. Cora Smith (Eaton), secretary of the
Grand Forks Suffrage Club, was called to Bismarck to carry on the
work. The secretary of the Territory, L. B. Richardson, placed at her
service a room on the same floor as Convention Hall, and to this the
friends of woman suffrage brought members who had not yet declared
themselves in favor. Some ladies were always there to receive them and
present the arguments in the case, among these Mrs. Mary Wilson, Mrs.
George Watson, Dr. Kate Perkins and Mrs. Benjamin of Bismarck.
Everything was managed with scrupulous formality and courtesy.
Mr. Miller's proposition was championed by R. M. Pollock and Judge
John E. Carland in Committee of the Whole, and after a second reading
was referred to the Committee on Elective Franchise, but on July 25 it
reported the substitute of S. H. Moer, confining the suffrage to
males. A minority report was offered, directing the Legislature at its
first session to submit an amendment to the voters to enfranchise
women. After a heated discussion the minority report was defeated, and
the constitution provided as follows:
No law extending or restricting the right of suffrage shall be
enforced until adopted by _a majority of the electors of the
State voting at a general election_.
By requiring not merely a majority of those voting on the question but
of the largest number voting at the election, no amendment for any
purpose ever has been carried.
On the question of School Suffrage women received greater
consideration, the constitution providing that all women properly
qualified should vote for all school officers, including State
Superintendent, also upon any question pertaining solely to school
matters, and should be eligible to any school office.
ORGANIZATION: The suffragists were widely scattered over this immense
Territory and there had been little opportunity for organized work. In
the spring of 1888 a call had been issued in Grand Forks, signed by
seventy-five representative men and women, for a meeting to form an
association, and on April 12 this was held in the court-house, which
was crowded to the doors. The extension of the franchise to women was
strongly advocated by Judge J. M. Cochrane, Prof. H. B. Wentworth,
Mrs. Sara E. B. Smith, Mrs. Sue R. Caswell and others; and encouraging
letters were read from the Hon. William Dudley Foulke, Lucy Stone and
Julia Ward Howe of the American Suffrage Association. A public meeting
on July 25 at the same place was addressed by Mrs. Ella M. S. Marble
of Minnesota. On September 9 Mrs. Lillie Devereux Blake of New York
gave a strong lecture.
Other local clubs were formed during the following years, and the
first State convention was held in Grand Forks, Nov. 14, 15, 1895. It
was called to order by Dr. Cora Smith Eaton, president of the local
society. Mrs. Laura M. Johns of Kansas, a national organizer who had
just made a successful lecturing tour of the State, was elected
chairman and Mrs. Edwinna Sturman was made secretary. Cordial letters
of greeting were read from Miss Susan B. Anthony, president of the
National Suffrage Association, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, chairman of
the national organization committee, U. S. Senator Henry C.
Hansbrough,[202] Miss Elizabeth Preston, president of the State W. C.
T. U., and others. In Miss Anthony's letter was outlined the plan of
work that she never failed to recommend to State organizations, which
said in part:
First, your local clubs should cover the respective _townships_,
and the officers should not only hold meetings of their own to
discuss questions pertaining to their work, but should have the
men, when they go into their _town meetings_ for any and every
purpose pertaining to local affairs--especially into the meetings
which nominate delegates to county conventions--pledged to
present a resolution in favor of the enfranchisement of women. By
this means you will secure the discussion of the question by the
men who compose the different political parties in each
township--an educational work that can not be done through any
distinctively woman suffrage meeting, because so few of the rank
and file of voters ever attend these.
Then, when the time comes for the county convention to elect
delegates to the State nominating convention, let every town
meeting see to it that they are instructed to vote for a
resolution favoring the submission and indorsement of a
proposition to strike the word "male" from your constitution. If
the State conventions of the several parties are to put
indorsement planks in their platforms, the demand for these must
come from the townships composing the counties sending delegates
thereto. Women going before a committee and asking a resolution
indorsing equal suffrage, are sure to be met with the statement
that _they have heard nothing of any such demand among their
constituents_. This has been the response on the many different
occasions when this request has been made of State conventions.
From this repeated and sad experience we have learned that _we
must begin with the constituents_ in each township and have the
demand start there.
Dr. Eaton was elected president of the association.
The second convention took place at Fargo, Nov. 30, 1897. An extra
meeting was held this year at the Devil's Lake Chautauqua Assembly on
Woman's Day, with Mrs. Julia B. Nelson, president of the Minnesota,
and Mrs. Ella Knowles Haskell, of the Montana W. S. A., among the
speakers. Dr. Eaton having removed from the State, Miss Mary Allen
Whedon was made president.
The third convention met in Larimore, Sept. 27, 28, 1898, with
delegates from eleven counties. Mrs. Chapman Catt was present and
contributed much to the success of the meetings. These were held in
the M. E. Church with the active co-operation of the pastor, the Rev.
H. C. Cooper. Mrs. Flora Blackman Naylor was chosen president.
The fourth convention was held in Hillsboro, Sept. 26, 27, 1899, at
which Mrs. Susan S. Fessenden of Massachusetts gave valuable
assistance. A page to be devoted to suffrage matter was secured in the
_White Ribbon Bulletin_, a paper published monthly under the auspices
of the State W. C. T. U.
The annual meeting of 1900 convened in Lakota, September 25, 26, in
the M. E. Church, its pastor, the Rev. Stephen Whitford, making the
address of welcome. A Matron's Silver Medal Oratorical Contest was
given under the direction of Mrs. Cora Ross Clark.[203]
LEGISLATIVE ACTION AND LAWS: In the Legislature of 1893 a bill was
introduced granting women taxpayers the right of suffrage. This was
voted down by the House: 18 ayes; 22 noes. A motion was offered that
all woman suffrage bills hereafter presented at this session should be
rejected, but it was tabled.
A bill to submit to the voters an amendment conferring Full Suffrage
on women in the manner provided by the constitution was introduced in
the Senate by J. W. Stevens and passed by 16 ayes, 15 noes. It was
called up in the House on the last day of the session. Miss Elizabeth
Preston was invited to address that body, and the Senate took a recess
and came in. The bill received 33 ayes, a constitutional majority, and
was returned to the Senate. The House then took a recess, and during
this brief time the enemies of the measure secured enough votes to
recall it from the Senate. This body by vote refused to send it back,
thus endorsing it a second time. The Speaker of the House, George H.
Walsh, refused to sign it. Then began a long fight between the House
and the Senate. A motion was made by Judson La Moure instructing the
President of the Senate to sign no more House bills until the Speaker
signed the Woman Suffrage Bill. This armed neutrality lasted until 10
o'clock that night when some of the senators, who had important
measures yet to pass, weakened and voted to send the bill back to the
House. When it reached there a motion prevailed to expunge all the
records relating to it.
In the Legislature of 1895 a bill for a suffrage amendment was
introduced in the House by A. W. Edwards, editor of the Fargo _Forum_.
Mrs. Emma Smith DeVoe was sent by the National Association to assist
in the work for the passage of this and other bills of interest to
women. The courtesy of the floor was extended to her in the House and
she was invited to address the members, the Senate again taking a
recess and coming in to listen. Col. W. C. Plummer spoke against the
bill, which received 28 ayes but not a constitutional majority. No
suffrage bill has been introduced since.[204]
Dower and curtesy have been abolished. If either husband or wife die
without a will, leaving only one child or the lawful issue of one
child, the survivor is entitled to one-half of the real and personal
estate. If there is more than one child living, or one child and the
lawful issue of one or more children, the widow or widower receives
one-third of the estate. If there is no issue living, he or she
receives one-half of the estate; and if there is neither father,
mother, brother nor sister, the whole of it. The survivor may retain a
homestead to the value of $5,000, which on his or her death the minor
children are entitled to occupy.
A married woman may contract, sue and be sued and proceed in all
actions as if unmarried. She may dispose of all her separate property
by deed or will, without the consent of her husband. He can not do
this.
The father is the legal guardian of the persons, estates and earnings
of the minor children. If he abandon them the mother is entitled
thereto. At his death she is the guardian, if suitable. Should she
marry again she loses the guardianship but, by agreement, the court
may re-appoint her.
If the husband is not able to support the family the wife must
maintain him and the children to the best of her ability, and her
separate estate may be held liable. If he wilfully neglect to provide
for them his separate property shall be held liable, and he may be
imprisoned in the county jail not less than sixty days nor more than
six months.
In case either husband or wife abandons the family and leaves the
State for a year or more, or is sent to prison for a year or more, the
court may authorize the one remaining to sell or encumber the property
of the other for the maintenance of the family or the debts which were
left unpaid after due notice has been given to the absent one.
The causes for divorce do not differ from those in a number of other
States, but by requiring a residence of only six months a great
inducement is offered to persons from outside to come here for the
express purpose of securing a divorce.
The "age of protection" for girls was raised from 10 to 14 years in
1887. The women attempted in 1895 to have it raised to 18 but
succeeded only in getting 16 years. The reduction of the penalty,
however, made this of small avail. For the first degree it is
imprisonment in the penitentiary not less than ten years; second
degree, imprisonment in the penitentiary not less than five years.
"But no conviction can be had in case the female is over the age of 10
years and the man under the age of 20 years, and it appears to the
satisfaction of the jury that the female was sufficiently matured and
informed to understand the nature of the act and consent thereto."
SUFFRAGE: The Territorial Legislature of 1879 gave women a vote on
questions pertaining to the schools, which were then decided at school
meetings. This was partially repealed by a law of 1883 which required
regular polls and a private ballot, but this Act did not include
fifteen counties which had school districts fully established, and
women still continued to vote at these district school meetings. In
1887 a law was enacted giving all women the right to vote at all
school elections for all officers, and making them eligible for all
school offices. By the State constitution adopted in 1889 all women
properly qualified may vote for all public school officers, including
State Superintendent, and on all questions pertaining solely to school
matters.
At the special school election held in Grand Forks, Aug. 4, 1890, Mrs.
Sara E. B. Smith and Dr. Cora Smith (Eaton) voted. Objections were
raised, but with the law and the constitution back of them they
carried the day. On September 5, in response to a request from the
Grand Forks W. S. A., Attorney-General J. M. Cochrane gave a written
opinion that the provision of the constitution relating to woman
suffrage was not self-executing, and that until supplementary
legislation was enacted providing the requisite machinery for
recording school ballots cast by women, they could not vote. As the
authorities in a number of places refused to provide separate boxes,
the Legislature of 1893 passed an act requiring them.
OFFICE HOLDING: Women are eligible for all school offices, but for no
other elective office.
In 1892 Mrs. Laura J. Eisenhuth was elected State Superintendent of
Public Instruction on the Democratic ticket. In 1894 she was again
nominated but was defeated by Miss Emma Bates on the Republican
ticket.
Eleven women are now serving as county superintendents, and many on
local school boards. They do not sit on any State boards. All of the
directors of the Woman's Reformatory, under control of the W. C. T.
U., are women.
In the Legislature they serve as librarians, journal, enrolling and
engrossing clerks and stenographers. They act also as deputies in
State, county and city offices. By special statute of 1893 they may be
notaries public.
OCCUPATIONS: No profession or occupation is legally forbidden to
women.
EDUCATION: All of the educational institutions are open to both sexes
alike and women are on the faculties. Dr. Janette Hill Knox was
vice-president of Red River Valley University (Meth. Epis.) for five
years.
There are in the public schools 1,115 men and 2,522 women teachers.
The average monthly salary of the men is $39.92; of the women,
$35.57.
The Woman's Christian Temperance Union was the first and still
continues to be the largest of the organizations. It works for the
franchise through public lectures, petitions, legislative bills and
various educational measures. The Woman's Relief Corps and a large
number of church, lodge and literary societies enlist women's
activities in a marked degree. They sit on the official boards of many
churches and some of these are composed entirely of women.
SOUTH DAKOTA.[205]
In June, 1883, a convention was held at Huron to discuss the question
of dividing the Territory and forming two States, and a convention was
called to meet at Sioux Falls, September 4, and prepare a constitution
for those in the southern portion. The suffrage leaders in the East
were anxious that this should include the franchise for women. Mrs.
Matilda Joslyn Gage of New York, vice-president-at-large of the
National Suffrage Association, lectured at various points in the
Territory during the summer to awaken public sentiment on this
question. On September 6 a petition signed by 1,000 Dakota men and
women, praying that the word "male" should not be incorporated in the
constitution, was presented to the convention, accompanied by personal
appeals. There was some disposition to grant this request but the
opponents prevailed and only the school ballot was given to women,
which they already possessed by Act of the Legislature of 1879.
However, this constitution never was acted upon.
The desire for division and Statehood became very urgent throughout
the great Territory, and this, with the growing sentiment in Congress
in favor of the same, induced the Legislature of 1885 to provide for a
convention at Sioux Falls, composed of members elected by the voters
of the Territory, to form a constitution for the proposed new State of
South Dakota and submit the same to the electors for adoption, which
was done in November, 1885. Many of the women had become landholders
and were interested in the location of schoolhouses, county seats,
State capital and matters of taxation. As their only organization was
the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, a committee was appointed
from that body, consisting of Alice M. A. Pickler, Superintendent of
the Franchise Department, Helen M. Barker and Julia Welch, to appear
before the Committee on Suffrage and ask that the word "male" be left
out of the qualifications of electors. They were helped by letters to
members of the convention from Lucy Stone, Henry B. Blackwell, Susan
B. Anthony, Lillie Devereux Blake and others of national reputation.
Seven of the eleven members of the committee were willing to grant
this request but there was so much opposition from the convention,
lest the chances for Statehood might be imperiled, that they compelled
a compromise and it was directed that the first Legislature should
submit the question to the voters. They did incorporate a clause,
however, that women properly qualified should be eligible to any
school office and should vote at any election held solely for school
purposes. This applied merely to school trustees, as State and county
superintendents are elected at general and not special elections.
The constitution was ratified by the voters in 1885, with a provision
that "the Legislature should at its first session after the admission
of the State into the Union, submit to a vote of the electors at the
next general election, the question whether the word 'male' should be
stricken from the article of the constitution relating to elections
and the right of suffrage."
Congress at that time refused to divide the Territory and thus the
question remained in abeyance awaiting Statehood.
In 1889, an enabling act having been passed by Congress, delegates
were elected from the different counties to meet in convention at
Sioux Falls to prepare for the entrance of South Dakota into
Statehood. This convention reaffirmed the constitution adopted in
1885, and again submitted it to the voters who again passed upon it
favorably, and the Territory became a State, Nov. 2, 1889.
The first Legislature met at once in Pierre, and although they were
required by the constitution to submit an amendment for woman suffrage
a vote was taken as to whether this should be done. It stood in the
Senate 40 yeas, one nay; absent or not voting, 4; in the House 84
yeas, 9 nays; 21 absent.
On Nov. 11, 1889, Miss Anthony, in response to urgent requests from
the State, made a lecture tour of twelve cities and towns and
addressed the Farmers' Alliance at their convention in Aberdeen, when
they officially indorsed the suffrage amendment. On her return home
she sent 50,000 copies of Senator T. W. Palmer's great woman suffrage
speech to individual voters in Dakota under his frank.
A State Suffrage Association had been formed with S. A. Ramsey,
president, Alonzo Wardall, vice-president, the Rev. M. Barker,
secretary, and Mrs. Helen M. Barker, treasurer and State organizer;
but the beginning of this campaign found the women with no funds and
very little local organization. Mr. Wardall, who was also secretary of
the Farmers' Alliance, went to Washington and, with Representative and
Mrs. J. A. Pickler, presented a strong appeal for assistance to the
national suffrage convention in February, 1890. It was heartily
responded to and a South Dakota campaign committee was formed with
Miss Anthony chairman. The officers and friends made vigorous efforts
to raise a fund and eventually $5,500 were secured. Of this amount
California sent $1,000; Senator Stanford personally gave $300; Rachel
Foster Avery of Philadelphia, the same amount; Mrs. Clara L. McAdow of
Montana, $250; a number gave $100, among them U. S. Senator R. F.
Pettigrew of South Dakota, and different States sent various
sums.[206]
The first of May Miss Anthony returned to South Dakota and established
campaign headquarters in Huron. A mass convention of men and women was
held and an active State organization formed with Mrs. Philena Everett
Johnson, president, Mr. Wardall, vice-president, which co-operated
with the national committee and inaugurated an active campaign. The
new State had adopted as its motto, "Under God the People Rule," and
the suffragists wrote upon their banners, "Under God the People Rule.
Women Are People." A large number of national speakers came in the
summer. Local workers would organize suffrage clubs in the
schoolhouses and these efforts would culminate in large rallies at the
county seats where some noted speakers would make addresses and
perfect the organization.
Those from the outside who canvassed the State were Henry B.
Blackwell, editor _Woman's Journal_, Boston, the Rev. Anna Howard
Shaw, national lecturer, Mary Seymour Howell (N. Y.), the Rev. Olympia
Brown (Wis.), Matilda Hindman (Penn.), Carrie Chapman Catt (Wash.),
Laura M. Johns (Kan.), Clara Bewick Colby (Neb.), the Rev. Helen G.
Putnam (N. D.), Julia B. Nelson (Minn.) Miss Anthony was always and
everywhere the moving spirit and contributed her services the entire
six months without pay. When $300 were lacking to settle the final
expenses she paid them out of her own pocket. Mr. Blackwell also
donated his services. Most effective State work was done by Mrs. Emma
Smith De Voe, and the home of Mr. and Mrs. De Voe was a haven of rest
for the toilers during the campaign. Among the other valuable State
workers were Dr. Nettie C. Hall, Mrs. Helen M. Barker, and Mrs.
Elizabeth M. Wardall, superintendent of press. A large number of
ministers indorsed the amendment. Two grand rallies of all the
speakers were held, one in Mitchell, August 26, 27, during which time
Miss Anthony, Mr. Blackwell, Miss Shaw and Mrs. Pickler addressed the
Republican State Convention; the other during the State Fair in
September. The 17th was "Woman's Day" and the Fair Association invited
the ladies to speak. Miss Anthony, Miss Shaw and Mrs. De Voe complied.
The summing up of the superintendent of press was as follows: Total
number of addresses by national speakers, 789; State speakers, 707;
under the auspices of the W. C. T. U., 104; total, 1,600; local clubs
of women organized, 400; literature sent to every voter.
It would be difficult to put into words the hardships of this campaign
of 1890 in a new State through the hottest and dryest summer on
record. Frequently the speakers had to drive twenty miles between the
afternoon and evening meetings and the audiences would come thirty
miles. All of the political State conventions declined to indorse the
amendment. The Republicans refused seats to the ladies on the floor of
their convention although Indians in blankets were welcomed. The
Democrats invited the ladies to seats where they listened to a speech
against woman suffrage by E. W. Miller, land receiver of the Huron
district, too indecent to print, which was received with cheers and
applause by the convention. The minority committee report asking for
an indorsement, presented by Judge Bangs of Rapid City, was
overwhelmingly voted down. A big delegation of Russians came to this
convention wearing huge yellow badges lettered, Against Woman Suffrage
and Susan B. Anthony.
The greatest disappointment of the campaign was the forming of an
Independent party by the Farmers' Alliance and the Knights of Labor.
The Alliance at its convention the previous year, 478 delegates
present, at the close of Miss Anthony's address, had declared that
they would do all in their power to carry the suffrage amendment, and
it was principally on account of their assurances of support and on
the invitation of their leaders, that she undertook the work in South
Dakota. The Knights of Labor at their convention in January of the
present year had adopted a resolution which said: "We will support
with all our strength the amendment to be voted on at the next general
election giving women the ballot ... believing this to be the first
step toward securing those reforms for which all true Knights of Labor
are striving."
But the following June these two organizations formed a new party and
absolutely refused to put a woman suffrage plank in their platform,
although Miss Anthony addressed their convention and implored them to
keep their promise, assuring them that their failure to support the
amendment would be its death blow. The previous summer H. L. Loucks,
president of the Farmers' Alliance, had made a special journey to the
State suffrage convention at Minneapolis to invite her to come to
South Dakota to conduct this canvass. He was a candidate for Governor
on this new party ticket and in his speech of acceptance did not
mention the pending amendment. Before adjourning the convention
adopted a long resolution containing seven or eight declarations,
among them one that "no citizen should be disfranchised on account of
sex," but so far as any party advocacy was concerned the question was
a dead issue.
A bitter contest was being made between Huron and Pierre for the
location of the State capital, and the woman suffrage amendment was
freely used as an article of barter. There were 30,000 Russians,
Poles, Scandinavians and other foreigners in the State, most of whom
opposed woman suffrage. The liquor dealers and gamblers worked
vigorously against it, and they were reinforced by the women
"remonstrants" of Massachusetts, who sent their literature into every
corner of the State.
At the election, Nov. 4, 1890, the amendment received 22,072 ayes,
45,862 noes, majority opposed 23,790. The Republicans carried the
State by 16,000 majority.
At this same election an amendment was submitted as to whether male
Indians should be enfranchised. It received an affirmative vote of 45
per cent.; that for woman suffrage received 35 per cent. Of the two
classes of voters it seemed the men preferred the Indians. It was
claimed by many, however, that they did not understand the wording of
the Indian amendment and thought they were voting against it.[207]
As the School Suffrage possessed by women applied only to trustees and
did not include the important offices of State and county
superintendents, and as it was held that the franchise for this
purpose could be secured only by a constitutional amendment, it was
decided to ask for this. Through the efforts of Mrs. Anna R. Simmons
and Mrs. Emma A. Cranmer, officers of the State Association, a bill
for this purpose was secured from the Legislature of 1893. As there
seemed to be no objection to women's voting for school trustees it was
not supposed that there would be any to extending the privilege for
the other school officers. It was submitted at the regular election in
November, 1894, and defeated by 17,010 ayes, 22,682 noes, an opposing
majority of 5,672.
In 1897 the above ladies made one more effort and secured from the
Legislature the submission again of an amendment conferring the Full
Suffrage on women. The campaign was managed almost entirely by Mrs.
Simmons and Mrs. Cranmer. The National Association assisted to the
extent of sending a lecturer, Miss Laura A. Gregg of Kansas, who
remained for two months preceding the election; and $100 worth of
literature also was furnished for distribution. The Dakota women
raised about $1,500, and every possible influence was exerted upon the
voters. The returns of the election in November, 1898, gave for the
amendment 19,698; against, 22,983; adverse majority, 3,285.
In 1890 the amendment had received 35 per cent. of the whole vote cast
upon it; in 1898 it received 77 per cent. The figures show
unmistakably that the falling off in the size of the vote was almost
wholly among the opponents.[208]
ORGANIZATION: After the defeat of the suffrage amendment in 1890 a
more thorough State organization was effected and a convention has
been held every year since. That of 1891 met in Huron and Mrs. Irene
G. Adams was elected president. Soon afterwards she compiled a leaflet
showing the unjust laws for women which disgraced the statute books.
In 1892 a successful annual meeting took place at Hastings and Mrs.
Mary A. Groesbeck was made president. In September, 1893, the
convention was held in Aberdeen during the Grain Palace Exposition.
The State president and the president elect, Mrs. Emma A. Cranmer, had
charge of the program for Woman's Day, and Mrs. Clara Hoffman (Mo.)
gave addresses in the afternoon and evening.
In 1894 Mrs. Anna R. Simmons was elected president and continued in
office for six years. This year $100 was sent to aid the Kansas
campaign. During 1894 and '95 she made twenty public addresses and
held ten parlor meetings. At the convention in Pierre in September,
1895, she was able to report fifty clubs organized with 700 members.
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, chairman of the national organization
committee, was present at this convention.
Active work was continued throughout 1896 and 1897, when the
submission of a suffrage amendment was secured. The year of 1898 was
given up to efforts for its success. Mrs. C. C. King established and
carried on almost entirely at her own expense the _South Dakota
Messenger_, a campaign paper which was of the greatest service. The
State convention met in Mitchell September 28-30. Miss Elizabeth Upham
Yates (Me.) came as representative of the National Association and
gave two addresses to large audiences. The following October a
conference of National and State workers was held at Sioux Falls, the
former represented by Mrs. Chapman Catt, the Rev. Henrietta G. Moore
(O.) and Miss Mary G. Hay, national organizers. Several public
sessions were held.
The annual meeting of 1899 took place in Madison, September 5, 6. The
tenth convention met in Brookings, Sept. 5, 1900. Mrs. Simmons having
removed from the State, Mrs. Alice M. A. Pickler was elected
president. Mrs. Philena Everett Johnson was made vice-president.[209]
Among the prominent friends of woman suffrage may be mentioned the
Hon. Arthur C. Mellette, first State Governor; U. S. Senators Richard
F. Pettigrew, James H. Kyle and Robert J. Gamble; Lieutenant-Governor
D. T. Hindman; members of Congress J. A. Pickler, W. B. Lucas and
E. W. Martin; the Hons. S. A. Ramsey and Coe I. Crawford;
Attorney-General John L. Pyle, Judge D. C. Thomas, General W. H.
Beadle, Professor McClennen, of the Madison Normal School, and
ministers of many churches. The Hon. J. H. Patton and the Hon. W. C.
Bowers paid the expenses of the legislative committee of the suffrage
association while they were in Pierre during the winter of 1897 to
secure the submission of an amendment. Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court A. J. Edgerton, was a pronounced advocate of woman suffrage and
appointed a woman official stenographer of his judicial district, the
best salaried office within his gift. Associate Justice Seward Smith
appointed a woman clerk of the Faulk County district court.[210]
LAWS: Neither dower nor curtesy obtains. If either husband or wife die
without a will, leaving only one child or the lawful issue of one, the
survivor is entitled to one-half of the separate estate of the other;
or one-third if there are more than one child or the issue of more
than one. If there are no children nor the issue of any, the survivor
is entitled to one-half of the estate and the other half goes to the
kindred of the deceased. If there are none the survivor takes all. A
homestead of 160 acres, or one-quarter of an acre in town, may be
reserved for the widow or widower.
Either husband or wife may dispose of separate property, real or
personal, by deed or will, without the consent of the other. Joint
real estate, including the homestead, can be conveyed only by
signature of both, but the husband may dispose of joint personal
property without the consent of the wife.
In order to control her separate property the wife must keep it
recorded in the office of the county register.
On the death of an unmarried child the father inherits all of its
property. If he is dead and there are no other children, the mother
inherits it. If there are brothers and sisters she inherits a child's
share.
A married woman can not act as administrator. Of several persons
claiming and equally entitled to act as executors, males must be
preferred to females.
A married woman can control her earnings outside the home only when
living separate from her husband.
The father is the legal guardian and has custody of the persons and
services of minor children. If he refuse to take the custody or has
abandoned his family or has been legally declared a drunkard, the
mother is entitled to the custody.
The law declares the husband the head of the family and he must
support the wife by his separate property or labor, but if he has not
deserted her, and has no separate property, and is too infirm to
support her by his labor, the wife must support him and their children
out of her separate property or in other ways to the extent of her
ability. An act of Feb. 21, 1896, makes the wife liable for
necessaries for the family purchased on her own account to the same
extent that her husband would be liable under a similar purchase, but
with no control over the joint earnings.
The causes for divorce are the same as in most States but only six
months' residence is required. The disposition of the children is left
entirely with the court.
In 1887, through the efforts of the W.C.T.U., the "age of protection"
for girls was raised from 10 to 14 years. In 1893 they tried to have
it made 18 but the Legislature compromised on 16 years. Rape in the
first degree _is punishable_ by imprisonment in the penitentiary not
less than ten years; in the second degree, not less than five years.
The penalty for seduction and for enticing away for purposes of
prostitution is prescribed by the same words "is punishable," which in
reality leaves it to the judgment of the court, but the statutes fix
the penalty for all other crimes by the words "shall be punished." In
addition to this latitude the penalty for seduction or enticing for
purposes of prostitution is, if the girl is under 15, imprisonment in
the penitentiary not more than five years, or in the county jail not
more than one year, or by fine not exceeding $1,000, or both; with no
minimum penalty.
SUFFRAGE: The Territorial Legislature of 1879 gave women a vote on
questions pertaining to the schools, which were then decided at school
meetings. This was partially repealed by a law of 1883 which required
regular polls and a private ballot, but this act did not include
fifteen counties which had school districts fully established, and
women still continued to vote at these district school meetings. In
1887 a law was enacted giving all women the right to vote at all
school elections for all officers, and making them eligible for all
school offices. The constitution which was adopted when South Dakota
entered the Union (1889) provided that "any woman having the required
qualifications as to age, residence and citizenship may vote at any
election held solely for school purposes." As State and county
superintendents are elected at general and not special elections,
women can vote only for school trustees. They have no vote on bonds or
appropriations.
OFFICE HOLDING: The State constitution provides that all persons,
either male or female, being twenty-one years of age and having the
necessary qualifications, shall be eligible to the office of school
director, treasurer, judge or clerk of school elections, county
superintendent of public schools and State Superintendent of Public
Instruction. All other civil offices must be filled by male electors.
There are at present eleven women serving as county superintendents.
They sit on the school boards in many places and have been treasurers.
A woman was nominated for State Superintendent of Public Instruction
by the Independent party.
Efforts to secure a law requiring women on the boards of State
institutions have failed. The Governor is required to appoint three
women inspectors of penal and charitable institutions, who are paid by
the State and make their report directly to him. They inspect the
penitentiary, reform school, insane hospitals, deaf and dumb institute
and school for the blind. There is one assistant woman physician in
the State Hospital for the Insane. Women in subordinate official
positions are found in all State institutions.
They act as clerks in all city, county and State offices and in the
Legislature, and have served as court stenographers and clerk of the
Circuit Court.
There are eight women notaries public at the present time.
OCCUPATIONS: No profession or occupation is legally forbidden to
women. Ten hours is made a legal working day for them. Four women are
editing county papers.
EDUCATION: All institutions of learning are open alike to both sexes
and there are women on the faculties. In the public schools there are
1,225 men and 3,581 women teachers. The average monthly salary of the
men is $36.45; of the women $30.82.
* * * * *
The W.C.T.U. was the first organization of women in the State and
through its franchise department has worked earnestly and collected
numerous petitions for suffrage. The Woman's Relief Corps is the
largest body, having 1,800 members. The Eastern Star, Daughters of
Rebekah, Ladies of the Maccabees, and other lodge societies are well
organized. The Federation of Clubs, the youngest association,
represents 200 members. A number of churches have women on their
official boards.
FOOTNOTES:
[200] At the New Orleans Exposition in 1885 the displays of Kansas,
Dakota and Nebraska taught the world the artistic value of grains and
grasses for decoration, but it was exemplified most strikingly in the
Dakota's Woman's Department, arranged by Mrs. J. M. Melton of Fargo.
Among the industrial exhibits was a carriage robe sent from a leading
furrier to represent the skilled work of women in his employ. There
were also bird fans, a curtain of duck skins and cases of taxidermy,
all prepared and cured by women, and a case of work from women
employed in the printing office of the Fargo Argus. Four thousand
bouquets of grasses were distributed on Dakota Day and carried away as
curious and beautiful memorials. All were made by women in the
Territory.
[201] The History is indebted for this part of the chapter to Dr.
Janette Hill Knox, of Wahpeton, corresponding secretary of the State
Woman Suffrage Association.
[202] U. S. Senator W. N. Roach also wrote and voted in favor of woman
suffrage. Martin N. Johnson, M. C., was a strong advocate.
[203] Officers elected: Honorary presidents, Dr. Cora Smith Eaton and
Miss Mary Allen Whedon; president, Mrs. Flora Blackman Naylor;
vice-president, Mrs. G. S. Roberts; corresponding secretary, Dr.
Janette Hill Knox; recording secretary, Mrs. Henrietta Paulson
Haagenson; treasurer, Mrs. Anna Carmody; auditors, Mrs. J. S. Kemp,
Mrs. Addie L. Carr; member national executive committee, Mrs. Lois L.
Muir; organizer and lecturer, Mrs. Mary E. Slater; press
superintendent, Mrs. Flora P. Gates.
In addition to these, the following have served as State officers:
Vice-presidents, Mesdames Mary Wilson, Florence Dixon and G. S.
Roberts; corresponding secretaries, Mrs. Sara E. B. Smith, Mrs. Delia
Lee Hyde; recording secretary, Mrs. Helen de Lendrecie; treasurer,
Mrs. Katherine V. King; auditors, Dr. Helena G. Wink and Mesdames M.
B. Goodrich, L. C. McKinney and L. C. Campbell.
Among other efficient workers may be mentioned Gov. Eli Shortridge,
Gov. Roger Allen, Dr. M. V. B. Knox, Miss Bena Halerow, and Mesdames
Ida S. Clark, Mazie Stevens, Nellie Mott, Frances M. Dixon, R. C.
Cooper and S. M. Woodhull.
[204] In the Legislature of 1901 a bill was introduced in the House by
H. E. Lavayea of Grand Forks County, to take away School Suffrage from
women. The bill was unconstitutional and was never reported from the
committee, but its introduction stirred up indignant protests from all
parts of the State.
[205] The History is indebted to Mrs. Alice M. A. Pickler of Faulkton,
president of the State Woman Suffrage Association, for the material
contained in this part of the chapter.
[206] The speakers raised about $1,400 which went toward paying their
expenses. Over $1,000 were secured by other means. Most of the State
workers donated their expenses.
[207] A graphic account of this campaign, with many anecdotes and
personal reminiscences, will be found in the Life and Work of Susan B.
Anthony, Chap. XXXVIII.
[208] Petitions have been presented to several Legislatures to grant
Municipal Suffrage by statute but a bill for this purpose has been
brought to a vote only once, in 1893, when it was passed by the
Senate, 27 ayes, 11 noes; and defeated in the House by only one vote.
[209] Others who have served in official position are vice-president,
Mrs. Emma A. Cranmer; corresponding secretaries, Mesdames Kate Uline
Folger, F. C. Bidwell, Hannah V. Best; treasurers, Mrs. Elizabeth M.
Wardall, Mrs. Marion L. Bennett, Mrs. Clara M. Williams; auditor, Mrs.
John Davis; superintendents of literature, Mrs. Jane Rooker Breeden,
Mrs. Delia Robinson King.
[210] The list of men and women who are not so widely known but who
have stood faithfully for woman suffrage would be a long one. Among
them are S. H. Cranmer, Rev. and Mrs. C. E. Hagar, Mrs. Alice Gossage,
Mrs. C. E. Thorpe, Mrs. Luella A. Ramsey, Mrs. Ruby Smart, Kara Smart
and Floy Cochrane.
CHAPTER XXXII.
DELAWARE.[211]
In the campaign of 1884 the Republicans had a Ship of State called the
New Constitution, with an eagle on the top, which was mounted on
wheels and taken from place to place where they held public meetings.
When they came to Greenwood, the home of Mrs. Mary A. Stuart, she put
a "blue hen" upon it, saying they should not have an eagle to
represent freedom for men and nothing to represent women. So the hen
went from one end of Delaware to the other, sitting in state in a
glass coop. Some of the Republican speakers announced from the
platform this year that they favored enfranchisement of women.
In 1888 the State Woman's Christian Temperance Union adopted the
franchise department with Mrs. Patience Kent as superintendent, and
held several public meetings. In 1889 Mrs. Martha S. Cranston was
elected her successor, and still occupies the position.
Mrs. Rachel Foster Avery, corresponding secretary of the National
Association, organized the Wilmington Equal Suffrage Club, the first
in the State, on Nov. 18, 1895, with twenty-five members. The
membership soon increased to fifty-three.
The following winter Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, chairman of the
national organization committee, sent into the State the Rev.
Henrietta G. Moore of Ohio and Miss Mary G. Hay of New York, the
latter to arrange meetings and the former to address them and organize
clubs. On Jan. 17, 18, 1896, they assisted in a convention at
Wilmington, where a State Association was formed.
As Delaware was to hold a Constitutional Convention in 1897, the
National Association was especially interested in pushing the suffrage
work there. Mrs. Chapman Catt met with the executive committee in
Wilmington to arrange plans, and Mrs. Mary C. C. Bradford of Colorado
and Miss Laura A. Gregg of Kansas were sent during March and April to
further organization. Three county associations were formed, and Mrs.
Hortense Davenport held parlor meetings in various towns throughout
May.
On Nov. 27, 1896, the second annual convention was held in the New
Century Club parlors in Wilmington. Judge William N. Ashman of
Philadelphia and Mrs. Mary Heald Way of Oxford, Penn., addressed the
audience in the evening.
Petitions were circulated throughout the State, and Mrs. Cranston and
Miss Hay went to Dover to present the Constitutional Convention with a
memorial, which was referred to the Committee on Elections. It
contained the signatures of 1,592 men and 1,228 women. A hearing was
granted Jan. 13, 1897. Mrs. Emalea P. Warner, Mrs. Margaret W. Houston
and Miss Emma Worrell made addresses. Mrs. Chapman Catt was the chief
speaker. Only two members of the committee were absent. A vote was
taken February 16 on omitting the word "male" from the new
constitution, and the proposition was defeated by 7 yeas, 17 nays,
with 6 not present.
A national conference was held in Wilmington April 22, 23.
Mrs. Chapman Catt and the Rev. Anna Howard Shaw, national
vice-president-at-large, were the principal speakers, and Mrs.
Elizabeth G. Robinson, Mrs. Elizabeth Walling and Mrs. Houston
assisted in making the meetings a success. On Sunday Miss Shaw
preached in the Union M. E. Church in the morning and the Delaware
Avenue Baptist Church in the evening.
The third State meeting took place at Wilmington, Dec. 2, 1897, with
addresses by Miss Diana Hirschler of Boston and Mrs. C. O. H. Craigie
of Brooklyn.
There was no convention in 1898, but the State association held a
meeting in the Unitarian Church, in Wilmington, Dec. 15, 1899, which
was addressed by Mrs. Chapman Catt.
After the national convention in February, 1900, Mrs. Bradford made a
few addresses in the State. The annual meeting took place in
Newcastle, Nov. 15, 1900. Among the speakers were Mrs. Ellen H. E.
Price of Pennsylvania and Professors William H. Purnell and Wesley
Webb.
Mrs. Martha S. Cranston has been president of the State association,
and Mrs. Margaret W. Houston vice-president, since its beginning.
Others who have served in official capacity are Mrs. Margaret H. Kent,
Edward Mullen, Miss Emma Lore, Mrs. Mary R. De Vou and Mrs. May Price
Phillips. Among those not previously mentioned who have given valuable
assistance are Chief Justice Charles B. Lore and Mrs. Gertrude Nields.
LEGISLATIVE ACTION AND LAWS: No bill for woman suffrage has been
presented to the Legislature since 1881.
On the petition of women a law was passed in 1887 requiring employers
to provide seats for female employes when not on duty.
In 1889 a police matron was appointed for Wilmington.
In 1893 the Bastardy Law, which compelled the father of an
illegitimate child to pay fifty cents a week for its support during
seven years, was repealed; $3 a week for ten years were asked, but the
law made it $1 a week for ten years.
Until 1889 the "age of protection" for girls was only seven years.
That year, on petition of many women, it was raised to fifteen, but
the violation of the law was declared to be only a "misdemeanor,"
punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not
more than seven years, or both, at the discretion of the court, with
no minimum penalty named. In 1895 the Legislature, on the insistence
of women, raised the "age of protection" to eighteen years, but
continued to extend the "protection" to boys as well as girls. It has
been found very difficult to secure the conviction of men for this
crime, and those convicted have been repeatedly pardoned by the
Governor.
On May 10, 1897, the Legislature passed a bill requiring the
proprietors of mills, factories and stores in the city of Wilmington
to provide comfortable toilet-rooms for their female employes, and one
giving power for the appointment of women as factory inspectors. One
was appointed by Chief Justice Lore the same year.
If there is a child or the lawful issue of a child living, the widow
has a life-interest in one-third of the real estate and one-third
absolutely of the personal property. If there is no child nor the
descendant of any child living, the widow has a life-interest in
one-half of the real estate and one-half absolutely of the personal
estate. If there are neither descendants nor kin--brothers, sisters,
their descendants, father nor mother--the widow has the entire real
estate for her life, and all the personal estate absolutely. If a
child of the marriage was born alive, whether living or dead at the
death of the wife, the widower has her entire real estate during his
life, and the whole of her personal estate absolutely, subject to all
legal claims. If there has not been a child born alive, the widower
has a life-interest in one-half of her real estate, but the whole of
her personal estate absolutely.
The father is the legal guardian of the children, and he alone may
appoint a guardian at his death.
For failure to support his wife and minor children, a man may be fined
from $10 to $100; and, by Act of 1887, arrested and required to give
bail not exceeding $500. The court may order him to pay reasonable
support not exceeding $100 per month and give security to the State.
If he fail to comply, he may be committed to jail. The wife is
competent as a witness.
SUFFRAGE: The women in Milford, Townsend, Wyoming and Newark who pay a
property tax are privileged to vote for Town Commissioners in person
or by proxy. All such women in the State may vote for School Trustees.
OFFICE HOLDING: In January, 1900, the Supreme Court denied the
application of a woman to practice at the bar, on the ground that a
lawyer is a State officer and all State officers must be voters.
In the one city of Wilmington women are eligible as school directors,
but none ever has been elected.
A woman factory inspector was appointed by the Chief Justice in 1897,
and reappointed in 1900.
Women never have served as notaries public.
OCCUPATIONS: Only the practice of law is legally forbidden.
EDUCATION: Delaware has one college, at Newark, which receives State
funds. Women were admitted in 1872, and during the next thirteen years
eighty availed themselves of its advantages. It was then closed to
them. The only High School in the State, at Wilmington, is open to
girls.
There are in the public schools 211 men and 643 women teachers. It is
impossible to obtain their average salaries.
FOOTNOTES:
[211] The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Martha S.
Cranston of Newport, president of the State Woman Suffrage
Association.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.[212]
The women of the District of Columbia who desire the suffrage have a
unique place among those of other localities. As the franchise for men
even is not included in the privileges of citizenship, all are
compelled to work circuitously through Congress in order to gain that
which in the States is secured directly by the ballot. The suffrage
societies stand in especially close relation to the National
Association, as every year from 1869 until 1895, and each alternate
year since, they have served as its hosts and arranged the many
details of its delegate conventions. Being near, also, to the great
legislative body of the nation they often serve as messengers and
mediators between congressional committees and various State
organizations of women.
The District, however, has its own vital problems to solve, and in
these the suffrage association takes a prominent part. Since 1883,
through its organized and persistent efforts, alone or in co-operation
with other societies, many local reforms and improvements have been
secured. These have been unusually difficult to obtain because subject
to the dual authority of Congress and of the District Commissioners.
Nevertheless, so systematically and harmoniously have the women worked
that the entire personnel of the association's committees has often
been changed during the long delays in the introduction of a bill, the
lobbying for it and its final passage, without in the least imperiling
its success.
The District society never has languished since its organization in
1868. Dr. Clara W. MacNaughton is now president and there are over one
hundred active members.[213]
The Equal Suffrage Association of the District of Columbia is a
separate body, corresponding to a State association, and is composed
of delegates elected from the District society and the Junior Equal
Suffrage Club. It was organized Dec. 2, 1898, and holds regular
meetings. Mrs. Helen Rand Tindall is the president.[214]
The association made every possible effort to secure a bill to
recompense Anna Ella Carroll for her services during the war. It has
used its influence in favor of industrial schools and kindergartens in
the public schools and has urged Congress to appropriate money for
vacation schools. In 1895 it petitioned the national convention of the
Knights of Labor, meeting in Washington, to adopt a resolution asking
Congress to restore suffrage to the citizens of the District of
Columbia with no distinction of sex. This was unanimously adopted
without even the formality of referring to a committee. Delegates were
sent to the International Congress of Women in Brussels in 1897.
In 1900, for the first time, the suffrage women of the District gave
free entertainment to delegates to the national convention. Mrs. Ellen
Powell Thompson was chairman of the committee and contributed largely
to the success of that memorable convention, which ended with the
celebration of Miss Susan B. Anthony's eightieth birthday and her
retirement from the presidency of the National Association. Mrs.
Thompson was especially active in securing the handsome gift of a
purse of over $200, which was presented to her by the District
society. Mrs. Julius C. Burrows assisted in many ways and through her
influence the Corcoran Gallery of Art was opened to the brilliant
reception given in honor of Miss Anthony.
Among many who openly espouse woman suffrage are ex-Gov. and Mrs. John
W. Hoyt of Wyoming, now living in Washington, Mrs. John B. Henderson,
Mrs. A. L. Barber, Mrs. Judith Ellen Foster, president of the Woman's
Republican Association of the United States, and Miss Clara Barton,
founder and president of the National Red Cross Society; to whom might
be added hosts of others.
LEGISLATIVE ACTION AND LAWS: The suffrage association has been largely
instrumental in securing most of the District legislation in favor of
women, as the records of the past twenty years will show. What is
regarded as the most important achievement of this nature since 1884
is the passage by Congress, in 1896, of the Married Woman's Property
Rights Bill.
The removal of the disabilities of wives had been agitated for a
number of years by the association. In 1893 a bill for this purpose,
drafted by one of its members, Miss Emma M. Gillett, attorney-at-law,
was passed by the Senate. When it reached the House it went through
the usual stages, was tossed about from one committee to another and
deferred and delayed in the most exasperating manner. It was
championed by Miss Gillett, however, with an unswerving courage and
fidelity which never allowed it to be forgotten or neglected, and she
was treated always with the utmost courtesy when appearing before
congressional committees.
In 1894 Mrs. Ellen Spencer Mussey, always an ardent suffragist, as
chairman of the committee on legislation for the District Federation
of Women's Clubs, began a vigorous prosecution of this bill before
Congress. Miss Gillett and Mrs. Mussey were ably assisted by Mrs.
Belva A. Lockwood, Mrs. Lucia B. Blount, Mrs. M. E. Coues and Mrs.
Mary S. Lockwood.
At this time married women had no legal right to hold property, and in
most respects the District laws remained about as arbitrary as they
were in the reign of King Charles II. A mother had no right by law to
her own child, the father having legal sanction to dispose of the
offspring even before it was born. At the time this committee was
urging Congress to pass the bill, the public was horrified by a
notorious case in the courts of the District in which a profligate
father, who had never done anything to benefit his children, had
disposed of them by will, debarring the mother from their custody and
control. This cruelty and injustice was an object-lesson which
especially evoked the sympathy of Congress.
The bill finally passed both Houses, was approved by President William
McKinley, and became a law June 1, 1896. At a special meeting, held
June 11, Mrs. Belva A. Lockwood presented the association with an
engrossed copy of the new law, and the women held a jubilee to
celebrate their victory.
The law provides that the real, personal or mixed property which shall
come to a woman by descent, purchase, gift, etc., shall be and remain
her sole and separate property, notwithstanding her marriage, and
shall not be subject to the disposal of her husband or be liable for
his debts.
A married woman may bargain, sell and convey her real and personal
property, enter into any contract, sue and be sued the same as a
married man.
A married woman may carry on any business or enter any profession, by
herself or with others, and the proceeds shall be her separate
property and may be invested in her own name.
The law also provides that the father and mother shall be equal
guardians of their children, and that the survivor may by last will
and testament appoint a guardian.
The husband, if he have property, is required by a recent decision to
furnish his family with reasonable support; otherwise there is no
penalty for failure to do so.
Dower and curtesy obtain. The widow's dower is one-third for life of
the real estate, and one-third of the personal estate absolutely if
there is a child or descendant of any living. If there is no issue or
descendant of any, but father, mother, brother, sister or descendants
of these, the widow has one-half the personal estate. If none of
these, the widow may have all of the personal estate, and all of the
real estate if there is no kindred whatever. A widower, if his wife
has borne a living child, is entitled to the use of one-third of her
real estate for life, and one-third of her personal property. If there
are no heirs, lineal or collateral, he takes the whole estate
absolutely.
The "age of protection" for girls was raised in 1889 from 12 to 16
years. The penalty is, for the first offense imprisonment at hard
labor in the penitentiary not more than fifteen years, and for each
subsequent offense not more than thirty years. No minimum penalty is
fixed.
SUFFRAGE: Since the Territorial government was abolished and male
citizens disfranchised, in 1874, there have been numerous petitions to
Congress for the ballot by both men and women, but no action has been
taken by that body.
OFFICE HOLDING: Through the early '80's Mrs. Belva A. Lockwood, Mrs.
Jane H. Spofford and others worked unceasingly for the placing of
matrons at the jail and police stations. One was appointed in 1884,
and, during the sixteen years since, a matron has been secured for the
jail and three for the ten police stations, largely through the
efforts of the suffragists and especially of Mrs. Ellen Powell
Thompson, president of the District Association. The women have had
the hearty support of Major Richard Sylvester, Chief of Police.
In 1892 an act was passed for a Board of Guardians for Dependent
Children, of which at least three of the nine members must be women.
Principally to the efforts of Mrs. Sara A. Spencer, with the help of
other members of the association, is due the bill providing for a
Girl's Reform School, in 1892. The board of managers has always been
composed of men, but there are a woman superintendent and a woman
physician.
Mrs. Lockwood and Mrs. Elizabeth A. Russell worked long and arduously
to secure a House of Detention and also a special carriage and a
special court for the women and children arrested. To Major Sylvester
above all others, however, belongs the credit of securing this House
of Detention. Senator James McMillan of Michigan, chairman of the
Committee on the District of Columbia, framed the bill and it was
finally transformed into law. This house was opened in the summer of
1900. A Lieutenant of Police and three matrons have charge, under
supervision of the Chief.
Mrs. Marilla M. Ricker was made notary public and master in chancery
in 1885, and Miss Emma M. Gillett soon afterward. They secured the
legislation necessary for women to hold the latter office. There are
at present four or five women masters in chancery and twenty women
notaries in the District.
It required six years of agitation and effort on the part of the
suffrage association before women were allowed to serve as members on
the Board of Public School Education. The principal movers in this
work were Dr. Clara W. MacNaughton, Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Helen Rand
Tindall, Mrs. Lockwood and Mrs. Caroline E. Kent. During this time the
bill passed through many vicissitudes and its friends became
discouraged, but in 1894 Dr. MacNaughton went to work with a strong
determination to secure its passage. Great assistance was rendered by
Senator McMillan and the Hon. Edwin F. Uhl, at that time Assistant
Secretary of State. The bill was finally passed just before Congress
adjourned for that year. The school board, which has charge of both
white and colored schools, consists of five members, each with a
salary of $500 a year. Mrs. Mary C. Terrill (colored) served five
years and resigned. She was succeeded by Mrs. Betty G. Francis
(colored). Mrs. Mary Hope West (white) is the other woman member. A
woman is serving as assistant superintendent of the public schools,
receiving $2,500 per annum; and a woman is employed as assistant
secretary of the Board of Education.
Women sit on the Hospital Boards and those of Public Charities. It
never has been possible to secure the appointment of women physicians
at any of the hospitals or asylums.
As women are admitted to the various Government Departments there
naturally would be more of them holding office in the District of
Columbia than in all the States combined. The relative number of men
and women employed is as follows:
_LEGISLATIVE._
_Male._ _Female._
Senate, officers and employes 382 3
House of Representatives, officers and employes 272 ...
Capitol Police 65 ...
Library of Congress 216 151
United States Botanic Garden 28 ...
---- ----
963 154
_EXECUTIVE._
Executive Office 28 ...
State Department 92 17
Treasury Department 3,234 2,313
War Department[215] 2,411 300
Navy Department[216] 2,992 85
Postoffice Department 812 237
Interior Department 4,810 2,862
Department of Justice 191 21
Department of Agriculture 650 332
Government Printing Office 2,623 1,068
Department of Labor 74 10
Fish Commission 55 12
Interstate Commerce Commission 133 ...
Civil Service Commission 55 6
Industrial Commission 10 7
Smithsonian Institution 320 39
Bureau of American Republics 13 9
Local Postoffices in District 606 22
---- ----
19,109 7,340
_JUDICIAL._
Supreme Court of the United States 12 ...
Court of Claims 25 2
---- ----
37 2
_SUMMARY._
20,109 7,496
Whether the number of women is increasing or decreasing is a disputed
question. The Civil Service alone enables them to hold their places or
to secure new ones against the tremendous pressure for the offices
which is brought upon the appointing powers by the men who form the
voting constituency of the country. Chiefs of the Divisions rarely
call for a woman on the Civil Service list of eligibles.
Few women fill the highly salaried positions. One woman receives
$2,500 as Portuguese translator; one, working in the U. S. Land Office
at Lander, Wyoming, receives the same. One secured a $2,250 position
in the Federal Postoffice Department but was soon reduced to an $1,800
place and her own given to a man. The salaries of women in general
range from $900 to $1,600, not more than fifty receiving the latter
sum, while many hundreds of men clerks receive $1,800. Clerkships
under Civil Service rules are supposed to pay the same to men and
women, but the latter rarely secure the better-paid ones. There are a
large number of positions graded above clerkships and paying from
$2,000 to $3,000 a year to which women are practically never
appointed.
OCCUPATIONS: No professions or occupations are forbidden to women. Two
of the pioneer women physicians in the United States made name and
fame in Washington--Dr. Caroline B. Winslow and Dr. Susan A.
Edson--the latter the attending physician during the last illness of
President James A. Garfield.
EDUCATION: Howard University, for white and colored students, is the
only one which graduates women in medicine. In all of its ten
departments, including law, it is co-educational. Columbian University
(Baptist) opens its literary departments to women but excludes them
from those of law and medicine, which are its strongest
departments.[217] They were admitted to the Medical School in 1884,
but excluded in 1892 on the ground that the university could not
afford to have professors for separate classes and that the buildings
were too small for the increased number of students.