[347] The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Hala Hammond
Butt of Clarksdale, president of the State Woman Suffrage Association
and editor of the _Challenge_, a county paper.
[348] Officers elected: President, Mrs. Hala Hammond Butt;
vice-president, Mrs. Fannie Clark; corresponding secretary, Mrs.
Harriet B. Kells; recording secretary, Mrs. Rebecca Roby; treasurer,
Miss Mabel Pugh. Other officers have been Miss Belle Kearney and
Mesdames Nellie Nugent, Charlotte L. Pitman and Pauline Alston Clark.
[349] Any municipality of 300 or more inhabitants may be declared a
"separate school district" by an ordinance of the mayor or board of
aldermen if it maintain a free public school at least seven months in
each year. Four months is the ordinary public term, the additional
three months' school being supported by special taxation. Thus as soon
as a woman has to pay a special tax she is deprived of a vote.
CHAPTER XLIX.
MISSOURI.[350]
The movement toward equal suffrage in Missouri must always recognize
as its founder Mrs. Virginia L. Minor. She was a thorough believer in
the right of woman to the franchise, and at the November election of
1872 offered her own vote under the provisions of the Fourteenth
Amendment to the Federal Constitution. It was refused; she brought
suit against the inspectors and carried her case to the Supreme Court
of the United States, where it was argued with great ability by her
husband, Francis Minor, but an adverse decision was rendered.[351]
The first suffrage association in the State was organized at St. Louis
in the winter of 1867. Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Miss Susan B.
Anthony lectured under its auspices at Library Hall in the autumn of
that year, and a reception was given them in the parlors of the
Southern Hotel. For many years meetings were held with more or less
regularity, Mrs. Minor was continued as president and some legislative
work was attempted.
On Feb. 8, 9, 1892, an interstate woman suffrage convention was held
in Kansas City. Mrs. Laura M. Johns, president of the Kansas
association, in the chair. Mrs. Minor, Mrs. Beverly Allen and Mrs.
Rebecca N. Hazard were made honorary presidents and Mrs. Virginia
Hedges was elected president. Addresses were given by Mrs. Clara C.
Hoffman, the Rev. Anna Howard Shaw, Mrs. Mary Seymour Howell of New
York and Miss Florence Balgarnie of England. A club was formed in
Kansas City with Mrs. Sarah Chandler Coates as president.
During the next few years the State association co-operated with other
societies in public and legislative work. Mrs. Minor passed away in
1894, an irreparable loss to the cause of woman suffrage.
In May, 1895, the Mississippi Valley Congress was called at St. Louis
under the auspices of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and
various other organizations participated. Miss Anthony and Miss Shaw,
president and vice-president-at-large of the National Association,
stopped on their way to California and made addresses. Just before
Miss Anthony began her address, seventy-five children, some of them
colored, passed before her and each laid a rose in her lap, in honor
of her seventy-five years.
The preceding spring the National Association had sent Mrs. Anna R.
Simmons of South Dakota into Missouri to lecture for two months and
reunite the scattered forces. A State suffrage convention followed the
congress and Mrs. Addie M. Johnson was elected president. At its close
a banquet with 200 covers was given in the Mercantile Club Room, with
Miss Anthony as the guest of honor. A local society, of nearly one
hundred members, was formed in St. Louis. During October Mrs. Simmons
again made a tour of the State at the expense of the National
Association.
On June 15, 16, 1896, the annual convention took place in St. Louis
with delegates present from seventeen clubs. Addresses were made by
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, chairman of the national organization
committee, Henry B. Blackwell, editor of the _Woman's Journal_, Mrs.
Mary C. C. Bradford of Colorado and others who were in the city trying
to obtain some recognition for women from the National Republican
Convention. Miss Ella Harrison was made president. Public meetings
were called for November 12, 13, in Kansas City, as it was then
possible to have the presence of Miss Anthony, Miss Shaw and Mrs.
Chapman Catt on their return from the suffrage amendment campaign in
California.
In January, 1897, Mrs. Bradford spent three weeks lecturing in the
State, and the president devoted a month to this purpose during the
autumn. The annual meeting convened in Bethany, December 7-9, Mrs.
Johns and Mrs. Hoffman being the principal speakers.
The convention of 1898 was held at St. Joseph, October 17-19, with
Miss Anthony and Mrs. Chapman Catt in attendance, and the board of
officers was re-elected.
In the fall of 1899 a series of conferences, planned by the national
organization committee, was held in twenty counties, being managed by
Mrs. Johnson and Miss Ella Moffatt, and addressed by Miss Lena Morrow
of Illinois and Mrs. Mary Waldo Calkins. These ended with a State
convention at Chillicothe in October.
The annual meeting of 1900 was held in St. Joseph during October, and
Mrs. Johnson was elected president.[352]
LEGISLATIVE ACTION AND LAWS: In 1887, through the efforts of Mrs.
Julia S. Vincent and Mrs. Isabella R. Slack, a bill was introduced in
the Legislature to found a Home for Dependent Children. The bill was
amended until when it finally passed it created two penal
institutions, one for boys and one for girls.
In 1893 a bill proposing an amendment to the State constitution,
conferring Full Suffrage on women, was brought to a vote in the
Assembly and received 47 ayes, 69 noes. In 1895 a similar bill was
lost in the Assembly.
In 1897, largely through the efforts of Miss Mary Perry, a bill was
secured creating a State Board of Charities, two members of which must
be women. This was supported by the Philanthropic Federation of
Women's Societies, who also presented one for women on school boards,
which was not acted upon.
Bills for conferring School Suffrage on women have been presented on
several occasions, but never have been considered. One has been
secured compelling employers to provide seats for female
employes.[353]
Dower and curtesy both obtain. If there are any descendants living,
the widow's dower is a life-interest in one-third of the real estate
and a child's share of the personal property. If there are no
descendants, the widow is entitled to all her real estate which came
to the husband through the marriage, and to all the undisposed-of
personal property of her own which by her written consent came into
his possession, not subject to the payment of his debts; and to
one-half of his separate real and personal estate absolutely, and
subject to the payment of his debts. If the husband or wife die
intestate, leaving neither descendants, father, mother, brothers,
sisters, or descendants of brothers or sisters, the entire estate,
real and personal, goes to the survivor. If a wife die, leaving no
descendants, her widower is entitled to one-half of her separate real
and personal estate absolutely, subject to her debts. (Act of 1895.)
In 1889 an attempt was made to give a married woman control of her
separate real estate, which up to that time had belonged to the
husband. Endless confusion has resulted, as the law applies only to
marriages made since that date. To increase the complications a wife
may hold real property under three different tenures: An equitable
separate estate created by certain technical words in the conveyance,
and this she can dispose of without the husband's joining in the deed;
a legal separate estate, which she can not convey without his joining;
and a common-law estate in fee, of which the husband is entitled to
the rents and profits. In either case, if the wife continually permits
the husband to appear as the owner and to contract debts on the credit
of the property, she is estopped from withholding it from his
creditors. There may be also a joint estate which goes to the survivor
upon the death of either.
No married woman can act as executor or administrator.
The wife's separate property is liable for debts contracted by the
husband for necessaries for the family. If he is drunken and worthless
she may have him enjoined from squandering her property. For these
causes and for abandonment the court may authorize her to sell her
separate property without his signature.
The wife may insure the husband's life, or he may insure it for her,
and the insurance can not be claimed by his creditors.
A married woman may sue and be sued, make contracts and carry on
business in her own name, and possess her wages. She may recover in
her own name for injuries which prevent her from conducting an
independent business, but not for those which interfere with the
performance of household duties, as her services in the home belong to
the husband. She may, however, bring suit in her own name for bodily
injuries.
The wife may sue for alienation of her husband's affections and
recover, according to a recent Supreme Court decision, "even though
they may not be entirely alienated from her and though he may still
entertain a sneaking affection for her."
The husband is liable for torts of the wife and for slanders spoken by
her, although out of his presence and without his knowledge or
consent. (1899.)
The father is the guardian of the persons, estates and education of
minor children. At his death the mother is guardian, but if she
marries again she loses the guardianship of the property because no
married woman can be curator of a minor's estate.
If the husband abandon or fail to support his family, he may be fined
and imprisoned and the court may decree their maintenance out of his
property. The wife must live where and how the husband shall
determine. If she chooses to live elsewhere his obligation to support
her ceases. In case of divorce he must support the children, even if
their custody is given to the mother.
The "age of protection" for girls was raised from 12 to 14 years in
1889 and to 18 years in 1895. The penalty was reduced, however, and is
at present "imprisonment in the penitentiary for a term of two years,
or a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500, or imprisonment in
the county jail not less than one month nor more than six months, or
both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court."
Between the ages of 14 and 18 years, the girl must be "of previously
chaste character."
SUFFRAGE: Women possess no form of suffrage.
OFFICE HOLDING: In 1897 the Supreme Court decided that women may hold
any office from which they are not debarred by the constitution of the
State. They are now eligible as county clerks, county school
commissioners and notaries public, and for various offices up to that
of judge of the Supreme Court, which are not provided for by the
constitution. It is the opinion of lawyers that they may serve on city
school boards, and they have been nominated without objection, but
none has been elected. Women are barred, however, from all State
offices.
Two women sit on the State Board of Charities, but they can not do so
on any other State boards.
A number are now serving as county clerks and county commissioners.
The W. S. A. and the W. C. T. U. have secured the appointment of
salaried police matrons from the board of police commissioners in St.
Louis, Kansas City and St. Joseph. There are also depot matrons in
these cities, and the first two have women guards at the jails and
workhouses.
St. Louis has a woman inspector of shops and factories.
OCCUPATIONS: No profession or occupation is legally forbidden to
women.
EDUCATION: This was one of the first States in the Union to open its
Law and Medical Schools to women. In 1850, when Harriet Hosmer, the
sculptor, could not secure admission to any institution in the East
where she might study anatomy she was permitted to enter the Missouri
Medical College.
In 1869 the Law College of Washington University at St. Louis admitted
Miss Phoebe W. Couzins, and she received her degree in 1872.
The State University and all the State institutions of learning are
co-educational. The Presbyterian Theological School admits women.
In the public schools there are 5,979 men and 7,803 women teachers.
The average monthly salary of the men is $49.40; of the women,
$42.40.
FOOTNOTES:
[350] The History is indebted for material for this chapter to Mrs.
Addie M. Johnson of St. Louis, president of the State Woman Suffrage
Association.
[351] See History of Woman Suffrage, Vol. II, p. 734, and following,
or Wallace's Supreme Court Reports, Vol. XXI.
[352] Other officers elected: Vice-president, Mrs. Kate M. Ford;
corresponding secretary, Dr. Marie E. Adams; recording secretary, Mrs.
Sue DeHaven; treasurer, Mrs. Alice C. Mulkey; auditors, Miss Almira
Hayes and Mrs. Ethel B. Harrison; member national executive committee,
Mrs. Etta E. M. Weink.
Among those who have held official position since 1894 are:
Vice-presidents, Mrs. Cordelia Dobyns, Mrs. Amelie C. Fruchte;
corresponding secretaries, Mrs. G. G. R. Wagner, Mrs. Emma P. Jenkins;
recording secretary, Mrs. E. Montague Winch; treasurer, Mrs. Juliet
Cunningham; auditors, Mrs. Maria I. Johnston, Mrs. Minor Meriwether.
[353] In 1901 women obtained a law and appropriation for a State Home
for Feeble-Minded Children.
CHAPTER L.
MONTANA.[354]
In August, 1883, Miss Frances E. Willard, national president, came to
Montana and formed a Territorial Woman's Christian Temperance Union in
Butte. At this time Miss Willard in her speeches, and the union in its
adoption of a franchise department, made the initiative effort to
obtain suffrage for the women of Montana. This organization has been
here, as elsewhere, a great educative force for its members, training
them in parliamentary law, broadening their ideas and preparing them
for citizenship. Out of its ranks have come the Rev. Alice S. N.
Barnes, Mesdames Laura E. Howey, Delia A. Kellogg, Mary A. Wylie,
Martha Rolfe Plassman, Anna A. Walker and many other earnest advocates
of the ballot for women. Within the past five or six years a number of
professional and business women have joined the suffrage forces and
to-day they compose a majority of the active leaders.
No attempt was made to organize the State until Mrs. Emma Smith De Voe
was sent by the National Association in 1895. She visited most of the
prominent towns and formed clubs or committees. The first State
convention was called at Helena in September of this year by the
suffrage association of that city, Miss Sarepta Sanders, president,
and Mrs. Kellogg, secretary. It was assisted by Mrs. Carrie Chapman
Catt, chairman of the national organization committee, to whose
eloquent addresses was due the great impetus the cause received at
this time.[355]
Mrs. De Voe again visited the State in the spring of 1896. The annual
meeting took place at Butte in November. Mrs. Harriet P. Sanders, wife
of Senator Sanders, having declined re-election, was unanimously made
honorary president, and Mrs. Ella Knowles Haskell succeeded her in the
presidency. Nearly 300 members were reported.
A large and successful convention met at Helena in November, 1897,
when a State central committee was appointed, with Mrs. Haskell as
chairman and members in nearly every county. Madame F. Rowena Medini
was made president, but she left the State before her year of office
had expired and Dr. Mary B. Atwater filled her place. No convention
being held in 1897 or 1898 she acted as president until that of
October, 1899, when Dr. Maria M. Dean was elected. Mrs. Chapman Catt
was present.
To Mrs. P. A. Dann of Great Falls, a contemporary of Miss Susan B.
Anthony, too much honor can not be given for her years of service and
financial help. U. S. Senator Wilbur F. Sanders has been a loyal
friend. Foremost among the early workers for woman suffrage in Montana
was Mrs. Clara L. McAdow, whose energy and business talent made the
Spotted Horse, a mine owned by herself and husband, a valuable
property.
In July, 1889, Henry B. Blackwell, corresponding secretary of the
American W. S. A., came to Montana to present the question to the
Constitutional Convention. His address was received with warm applause
but the convention refused to adopt a woman suffrage amendment by 34
yeas, 29 nays. A resolution was presented that the Legislature might
extend the franchise to women whenever it should be deemed expedient,
thus putting the matter out of the hands of its proverbial enemies.
The measure had able champions in B. F. Carpenter, W. M. Bickford, J.
E. Rickards, Hiram Knowles, P. W. McAdow, J. A. Callaway, Peter Breen,
T. E. Collins, W. A. Burleigh, W. R. Ramsdell, Francis E. Sargeant,
William A. Clark (now U. S. Senator), its president, and others.
Prominent among those opposed were Martin Maginnis and Allen Joy. It
was lost by a tie vote, July 30. A proposal to submit the question
separately to the electors was defeated by the same vote, August 12.
The constitution conferred School Suffrage, which women already
possessed under Territorial government, and gave to taxpaying women a
vote on questions of taxation.
LEGISLATIVE ACTION AND LAWS: In 1895 women secured an enactment that
the commissioners of any county, at the request of a certain number of
petitioners, must call a special election for a vote on licensing the
sale of liquor. A two-thirds vote is necessary to prohibit this. Women
themselves can neither petition nor vote on the question.
This year a bill was introduced by Representative John S. Huseby for a
constitutional amendment granting suffrage to women. It was passed in
the House, 45 yeas, 12 nays; indefinitely postponed in the Senate by a
"rising vote," 14 yeas, 4 nays.
In 1897 a systematic effort was made to secure a bill for this
amendment. Mrs. Ella Knowles Haskell, chairman of the State central
committee, invaded the legislative halls with an able corps of
assistants from the W. S. A. Petitions signed by about 3,000 citizens
were presented, and it looked for a time as if the bill might pass. It
was debated in the House and attracted much attention from the press,
but lacked five votes of the required two-thirds majority. It was not
acted upon in the Senate.
In 1899 Dr. Mary B. Atwater, then president of the State Association,
with other officers and members, succeeded in having a Suffrage
Amendment Bill introduced. Some excellent work was done, but the
measure was lost in Committee of the Whole.
Dower is retained but curtesy abolished. If there is only one child,
or the lawful issue of one child, the surviving husband or wife
receives one-half of the entire estate, real and personal; if there is
more than one child, or one child and the lawful issue of one or more
deceased children, the survivor receives one-third. If there is no
issue living the survivor takes one-half of the whole unless there is
neither father, mother, brother, sister nor their descendants, when
the widow or widower takes it all.
The wife may mortgage or convey her separate property without the
husband's signature. He may do this but can not impair her dower right
to one-third.
A married woman may act as executor, administrator or guardian. She
may also sue and be sued and make contracts in her own name.
A married woman can control her earnings by becoming a sole trader
through the necessary legal process. She thus makes herself
responsible for the maintenance of her children.
The father, if living, or if not, the mother, while she remains
unmarried and if suitable, is entitled to the guardianship of minor
children. In case of divorce, other things being equal, if the child
be of tender years, it is given to the mother, and if of an age to
require education and preparation for business, then to the father.
By the code of 1895 the husband is required to furnish support for the
family as far as he is able, and the wife must help if necessary. Her
personal property is subject to debts incurred for family expenses.
Even though divorce be denied, the court may award maintenance to wife
and children.
Montana is one of three States which make 18 years the legal age for
the marriage of girls. In all others it ranges from 12 to 16 years.
In 1887, on petition of women, the "age of protection" for girls was
raised from 10 to 15 years, and in 1895 to 16. The penalty is
imprisonment not less than five years.
SUFFRAGE: Women may vote for school trustees on the same terms as men,
but not for other school officers. They had this privilege under
Territorial government. Those possessing property may vote also on all
questions submitted to taxpayers. These privileges were incorporated
in the first State constitution.
OFFICE HOLDING: Women may serve as county superintendents or hold any
school district office.
In 1884 there were two women county superintendents; now every county
in the State has a woman in this office. The superintendent of the
Helena schools is a woman. The Rev. Alice S. N. Barnes held the
position of school trustee as early as 1888. Dr. Maria M. Dean has
been elected three times in succession as a trustee in Helena. She is
chairman of the board and has been influential in many progressive
measures.
Women have served on library boards and been city librarians. Miss Lou
Guthrie has been for a number of years librarian of the State Law
Library, and Mrs. Laura E. Howey fills this position in the State
Historical Library.
There has been a woman on the State Board of Charities since its
organization in 1893, Mrs. Howey, Mrs. M. S. Cummins and Mrs. Lewis
Penwell having been successively elected.
Dr. Mary B. Atwater has been for over three years chairman of the
Board of Health of Helena.
Women served as notaries public until a ruling of Attorney-General C.
B. Nolan (1901) declared this illegal.
In 1892, the first year the Populist party put a ticket in the field,
it nominated Miss Ella Knowles for the office of Attorney-General. She
made a spirited campaign, addressing more than eighty audiences, and
alone organized some fourteen counties, being the first Populist to
speak in them. She ran 5,000 votes ahead of her ticket, in a State
which casts only about 50,000. The contest was so close that it was
three weeks before it was decided who had been elected; but when the
votes came in from the outlying precincts, where she was unknown, it
was found that her Republican opponent, H. J. Haskell, had a majority.
Miss Knowles was then appointed Assistant Attorney-General, an office
which she filled for four years to the eminent satisfaction of the
people. During this time she married her rival.
OCCUPATIONS: No occupation is now legally forbidden to women. Mainly
through the efforts of Mrs. Haskell, a bill was passed by the
Legislature of 1889 which gave women the right to practice law. The
Rev. Alice S. N. Barnes was ordained in the Congregational Church in
1896, and has preached regularly ever since. In 1889 she was chosen as
moderator at the Conference of the Congregational Churches of Montana,
at Helena.
EDUCATION: The educational advantages for women are the same as those
accorded men. All institutions of learning--the State University, the
Agricultural College, even the School of Mines--are open to both
sexes.
In the public schools there are 201 men and 885 women teachers. The
average monthly salary of the men is $69.28; of the women, $48.61.
* * * * *
Montana women were awarded seven medals at the World's Fair in Chicago
in 1893. Their botanical exhibit was one of the most notable at the
exposition. It was artistically arranged by Mrs. Jennie H. Moore, the
flowers being all scientifically labeled and properly classified. Of
the $100,000 appropriated to the use of the State Commission, the men
assigned $10,000 to the women for their department, exercising no
supervision over them. At the close of the exposition they brought
back $2,800, which they turned into the State treasury, and $3,000
worth of furniture, which they presented to various State
institutions.
In 1894 there was an exciting contest over removing the location of
the permanent capital and some fear that Helena would lose it. A
number of her leading women, in a special car provided by the Northern
Pacific R. R., visited the prominent towns in Eastern Montana,
speaking and working in the interest of their city and undoubtedly
gaining many votes for Helena, which was selected instead of the
rival, Anaconda.
In 1896 Mrs. Haskell was made a delegate to the Populist convention of
Lewis and Clarke County, which met in Helena, and also to the Populist
State and National Conventions. She took a prominent part in their
proceedings, and was instrumental in securing a woman suffrage plank
in the Populist State platform after a hard fight on the floor of the
convention. At the Populist convention in St. Louis that year she was
chosen a member of the National Committee.
In the autumn of 1900 a number of prominent women of Helena appeared
as representatives of the suffragists before the Lewis and Clarke
County Conventions, and before the State conventions--Republican,
Democrat and Populist--asking that they insert a plank in their
platforms recommending the submission of the question of woman
suffrage to the voters. Only the Populists adopted it. The ladies also
attended the State conventions of the three parties with the same
resolution; but the Populists alone indorsed it, "demanding" suffrage
for women.
One of the important factors in this movement is the Woman's Relief
Corps, an organization which has grown in strength during the last
decade and is making its members staunch patriots and woman
suffragists. It has had an educative influence equal to that of the W.
C. T. U. but on different lines. Women are actively identified with
lodges and clubs, many of the latter being members of the General
Federation of Women's Clubs.
FOOTNOTES:
[354] The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Mary Long
Alderson of Helena, one of the first officers of the State Woman
Suffrage Association.
[355] Officers elected: President, Mrs. Harriet P. Sanders;
vice-president, Mrs. Martha Rolfe Plassman; corresponding secretary,
Mrs. Delia A. Kellogg; recording secretary, Mrs. Mary Long Alderson;
treasurer, Dr. Mary B. Atwater; auditors, Mrs. Martha E. Dunckel and
Mrs. Hiram Knowles; delegate-at-large, Mrs. Mary A. Wylie. Dr. Atwater
has been elected to the same office at each succeeding convention.
CHAPTER LI.
NEBRASKA.[356]
After the defeat of the constitutional amendment to confer the
suffrage, which was submitted to the voters of Nebraska in 1882, the
women were not discouraged, but continued to hold their State
conventions as usual. That of 1884 took place at York, in January, and
was welcomed by Mayor Harlan.
On Jan. 16, 17, 1885, the annual meeting was held at Lincoln. Mrs. Ada
M. Bittenbender was the principal speaker, and the convention was
specially favored with music by the noted singer of ante-bellum days,
James G. Clark. Mrs. Clara Bewick Colby, editor of the _Woman's
Tribune_, was elected president.
The convention of 1886 met at Madison, August 18, 19, and was
addressed by Mrs. Elizabeth Lyle Saxon of New Orleans.
On Jan. 6-8, 1887, the convention assembled in the Hall of
Representatives in Lincoln. It was fortunate in having Miss Susan B.
Anthony, who was enthusiastically received by large audiences. The
chancellor postponed the opening lecture of the university course so
that the students might hear her address. Mrs. Saxon again rendered
valuable assistance.
The convention of 1888 met in the opera house at Omaha, December 3, 4,
memorable in being honored by the presence of the two great leaders,
Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, president, and Miss Susan B. Anthony,
vice-president-at-large of the National Association. A reception was
held at Hotel Paxton, and short speeches were made by prominent men. A
notable feature was the exhibit of the rolls containing the names of
12,000 Nebraska men and women asking for equal suffrage.
The convention for 1889 took place in May, at Kearney, James Clement
Ambrose being among the speakers.
Fremont claimed the tenth annual meeting, Nov. 12, 1890, Miss
Anthony, and Mrs. Julia B. Nelson of Minnesota stopping off to attend
it on their return from several months' campaigning in South Dakota.
The convention of 1891 was held at Hastings in October, and that of
1892 at Pender, July 1, 2. In 1893 all efforts were concentrated on
the work done at the World's Fair in Chicago, and the raising of money
to assist the Colorado campaign, and the convention was omitted.
Miss Anthony, now national president, also attended the meeting of
1894, in Beatrice, November 7, 8. This time she was on her way home
from a campaign in Kansas for a suffrage amendment, to which the
Nebraska association had contributed liberally. A telegram announcing
its defeat was handed her on the platform, just as she was about to
begin her speech, and no one who was present ever will forget her
touching account of the efforts which had been made in various States
for this measure during the past twenty-seven years. The delegates
were welcomed by Mayor Schultz.
David City was selected for the next convention, Oct. 30, 31, 1895;
and that of 1896 was enjoyed at the summer session of the Long Pine
Chautauqua Assembly. Mrs. Colby had spent two months lecturing
throughout the State and preparing for this meeting. Money was raised
for the Idaho suffrage campaign, then in progress. Mrs. Colby and Miss
Elizabeth Abbott addressed the Resolution Committee of the Populist
State convention, asking for a woman suffrage plank.
The meeting of 1897, at Lincoln, September 30, was assisted by Mrs.
Ida Crouch Hazlett, a lecturer and organizer from Denver, who was
engaged for State work.
In October, 1898, the convention was held in Omaha during the
executive meeting of the National Council of Women, which enabled it
to have addresses by Miss Anthony, the Rev. Anna Howard Shaw,
vice-president-at-large of the National Association, Mrs. Adelaide
Ballard of Iowa, and other prominent speakers. Mrs. Colby declining to
stand for re-election, after sixteen years' service, Mrs. Mary Smith
Hayward was the choice of the association. One hundred dollars were
sent to South Dakota for amendment campaign work.
In October, 1899, the National W. S. A. sent eight organizers into the
State to hold a series of forty-nine county conventions; 250 meetings
were held, 18 county organizations effected and 38 local clubs formed.
The canvass ended in an enthusiastic convention in the capitol
building at Lincoln, with Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, chairman of the
national organization committee, the Rev. Ida C. Hultin of Illinois,
Mrs. Evelyn H. Belden of Iowa, Miss Laura A. Gregg of Kansas and Miss
Mary G. Hay of New York, among the speakers. State headquarters were
opened at Omaha with Miss Gregg in charge. Her work has been so
effective that it has been necessary to employ assistants to send out
press articles, arrange for lectures, etc.
In 1900 a very successful annual meeting took place in Blair, October
23, 24, with a representation almost double that of the previous year
and an elaborate program. Mrs. Chapman Catt was again present, there
was much enthusiasm and it was resolved to continue the efforts to
create a public sentiment which would insure a woman suffrage clause
in the new State constitution which is expected in the near
future.[357]
Among the many flourishing local societies may be mentioned that of
Table Rock, which is so strong an influence in the community that the
need of any other club for literary or public work is not felt. It
holds an annual banquet to which husbands and friends are invited, and
the husbands, in turn, under the name of the H. H. (Happy Husband)
Club give a reception to the suffragists, managing it entirely
themselves.
The society at Chadron, under the inspiration of Mrs. Hayward, is one
of the most active, and has sent money to assist campaigns in other
States. A canvass of the town in February, 1901, showed that 96 per
cent. of the women wanted full suffrage.
Mrs. Colby organized a Club in Lincoln which has done excellent
service under the leadership of Dr. Inez C. Philbrick.
Suffrage headquarters have been established at the Chautauquas held at
Long Pine, Beatrice, Salem and Crete, and various Woman's Days have
been held under the auspices of the State Association, at which
speakers of national reputation have made addresses. Anthony and
Stanton Birthdays have been largely observed by the suffrage clubs.
The history of the Nebraska work for the past sixteen years is
interwoven with that of the president, Mrs. Colby, who has given her
life and money freely to the cause. At a convention in Grand Island in
May, 1883, it was voted to establish a suffrage paper at Beatrice, for
which the State association was to be financially responsible, and
Mrs. Colby was made editor. A year later, when the executive committee
withdrew from the arrangement, she herself assumed the entire burden,
and has edited and published the _Woman's Tribune_ to the present
time. In 1888 she issued the paper in Washington, D. C., during the
sessions of the International Woman's Council and the National W. S.
A., publishing eight editions in the two weeks, four of sixteen and
four of twelve pages, each averaging daily 12,500 copies. A few years
afterwards the office was permanently removed to Washington. As long
as Mrs. Colby was a resident of Nebraska she stood at the head of
every phase of the movement to obtain equal rights for women. Miss
Mary Fairbrother, editor and proprietor of the _Woman's Weekly_, has
made her paper a valuable ally.
Miss Helen M. Goff, a lawyer, acted as corresponding secretary of the
State Association for many years, speaking for the cause in political
campaigns, holding a suffrage booth at State fairs, and working in the
Legislature for suffrage bills.[358]
LEGISLATIVE ACTION AND LAWS: In 1887 a bill for Municipal Suffrage was
introduced by Senator Snell of Fairbury, and by Representative Cole of
Juniata. Mrs. Colby had secured 3,000 signatures for this measure, and
with Mrs. Jennie F. Holmes, president of the State Woman's Christian
Temperance Union, worked all winter to secure its passage.[359]
In 1893 three bills were introduced into the Legislature relating to
suffrage for women, and one asking for a law providing for police
matrons in cities of 25,000 or more inhabitants. Miss Goff remained at
the capital all winter looking after these bills. Mrs. Colby,
representing the State W. S. A., and Mrs. Zara A. Wilson the State W.
C. T. U., had charge of the Bill for Municipal Suffrage. J. F. Kessler
introduced this in the House and worked for it. It was defeated by 35
ayes, 48 noes.
The bill for Full Suffrage was introduced into the House by G. C.
Lingenfelter, and championed by W. F. Porter (now Secretary of State)
and others. It was defeated by 42 ayes, 47 noes. The Populist members
supported this, but considered that Municipal Suffrage discriminated
against women in the country. The bill for extended School Suffrage
was introduced too late to reach a vote. The Police Matron Bill was
carried.
In 1895 the W. S. A. decided to do no legislative work except to
second the efforts of the W. C. T. U. to have the "age of protection"
for girls raised to 18 years; and to secure a resolution asking
Congress to submit a woman suffrage amendment to the Federal
Constitution. The latter measure was not acted upon; the former was
successful.
In 1897 bills were introduced for the Federal Amendment, for Municipal
Suffrage, to allow women property holders to vote on issuing bonds,
and to make the right of the surviving husband or wife equal in the
family estate. Both branches of the Legislature invited Mrs. Colby to
address them. Immediately afterward the House Judiciary Committee
approved an amendment to the State constitution, striking out the word
"male," but this was defeated later in the session. The other bills
were not reported from the committees.
In 1899 a hearing was granted to a committee from the suffrage
association urging a resolution asking Congress to submit a woman
suffrage amendment to the State Legislatures, and such a measure was
reported to the House but not adopted.
Dower and curtesy both obtain. A widow is entitled to the life use of
one-third of the real estate. In case the husband die without a will,
after the payment of all debts, charges, etc., she may have household
furniture to the value of $250 and other personal property not
exceeding $200. If any residue remains she is entitled to the same
share that a child receives. If there is no issue living, a widow
takes the use for life of the entire estate, both real and personal.
If there is no kindred of the husband, the widow comes into absolute
possession. If a wife die, leaving no issue, the husband has the life
use of all her real estate. If she leave children by a former husband
they are entitled to all of the estate which did not come to her as a
gift from her surviving husband. If she leave issue by the latter
only, or by both, then the widower has a life interest in one-third of
her real estate. After the payment of her debts her personal property
is distributed in the same way as her real estate.
The wife can mortgage or sell her real estate without the husband's
signature and without regard to his curtesy. He can do the same with
his separate property but subject to her dower. Both must join in an
incumbrance or sale of the homestead.
A married woman may control her own property and wages and carry on
business in her own name.
Father and mother have equal guardianship and custody of minor
children. (1895.)
The husband is expected to furnish suitable maintenance according to
his own ideas. The property which belonged to the wife before marriage
can be levied on for the husband's debts for necessaries furnished the
family if he have no property.
The mother is not "next of kin" and can not sue for damages to a minor
child. In 1900 a child of thirteen was injured by a locomotive, and
the Judge held that the father and not the mother was entitled to
bring suit, although she had a divorce years before and had brought up
the child without any assistance from him.
If a divorce is granted for the wife's adultery "the husband may hold
such of her personal estate as the court may term just and
reasonable." If she secure a divorce on account of his adultery, "the
court may restore to her the whole, or such part as may seem just, _of
her own property_ which she had at marriage. If this is insufficient
for the support of herself and her children the court may decree
alimony from the husband's estate."
The "age of protection" for girls was raised in 1885 from 10 to 12
years; in 1887 from 12 to 15; in 1895 from 15 to 18. The penalty is
imprisonment in the penitentiary not more than twenty nor less than
three years, but the law provides that if such "female child is over
15 and previously unchaste" this penalty shall not be inflicted. For
such the law offers no protection. Nor shall there be conviction for
the crime against a child of any age without other evidence than her
own testimony. (1895.)
SUFFRAGE: In 1869 School Suffrage was conferred on women. In 1875 the
Legislature repealed this law except for widows and spinsters. In 1881
it was again changed, and women since then have voted in school
district matters on the same terms as men; _i. e._, if parents of
children of school age or assessed on property real or personal they
may vote at all elections pertaining to schools. They can not,
however, vote for State or county superintendents or county
supervisors (commissioners). As the last named levy the taxes, and the
other two are the most important officers connected with the schools,
it will be seen that women are deprived of the most valuable school
vote. All efforts, however, to secure an extension of the school
franchise have resulted in failure.
As it requires a majority of the highest number of votes cast at an
election to carry an amendment, it is useless to ask the Legislature
to submit one conferring Full Suffrage upon women.
OFFICE HOLDING: There is nothing in the State constitution or the
statutes making women ineligible to any elective office except
membership in the Legislature.
Although they are not allowed to vote for county superintendents there
are at present sixteen women filling this office, eight of them
serving a second term and three a third, while nineteen are
superintendents or principals of schools. A woman was candidate on the
Fusion ticket for regent of the State University; another has been
registrar since the university opened, and one is at present recorder.
Mrs. Ada M. Bittenbender was candidate for Supreme Judge.
A woman is deputy State auditor. Women are serving or have served as
postmasters and as clerks in both houses of the Legislature, clerk of
the State library and member of the State examining committee of
education. Miss Mary Fairbrother was proof-reader in the House in
1899. Miss Helen M. Goff is assistant reporter in the State department
of the Judiciary. Women act as notaries public.
The W. S. A. and W. C. T. U. secured a bill requiring the appointment
of women physicians at three State insane asylums. There are matrons
at all of the State institutions for the blind, feeble-minded, etc.,
and also at the Girls' Industrial School, although the superintendent
is always a man. The Milford Industrial School has a woman physician,
a woman superintendent and a board of five women visitors. At the Home
for the Friendless all the officers and employees are required to be
women and there is a board of women visitors.
All cities of 25,000 or more are required to appoint police matrons at
$50 per month. This includes only Omaha and Lincoln.
A woman is Secretary of the Board of Trade in Omaha and official agent
for the Humane Society with police powers.
OCCUPATIONS: No profession or occupation is legally forbidden to
women. A woman is president of one bank and vice-president of another.
Among the many in newspaper work, an Indian, Mrs. Susette La F.
Tibbles, is prominent.
EDUCATION: All institutions of learning are open to women. In the
public schools there are 2,038 men and 7,154 women teachers. The
average monthly salary of the men is $45.05, of the women, $36.56.
* * * * *
The Prohibition party always puts a suffrage plank in its State
platform and women candidates on its ticket, even for the office of
Lieutenant-Governor, but it polls so small a vote that this can be
only complimentary. The Populist and Republican parties have indorsed
equal suffrage at county conventions and elected women on their
tickets. Women go as delegates to the Prohibition and Populist
conventions. One of the strongest of the State organizations is the
Woman's Relief Corps.
FOOTNOTES:
[356] The History is indebted for the material for this chapter to
Mrs. Mary Smith Hayward of Chadron, former president of the State
Woman Suffrage Association.
[357] The present officers of the association are: President, Mrs.
Clara A. Young; vice-president, Mrs. Amanda J. Marble; corresponding
secretary, Miss Nelly E. Taylor; recording secretary, Mrs. Ida L.
Denny; treasurer, Mrs. K. W. Sutherland; auditors, Mrs. Mary Smith
Hayward and Mrs. Getty W. Drury.
[358] Other names which appear from time to time as doing good work
for this cause are the Hon. J. D. Ream, M. H. Marble, J. W. Dundas,
Mesdames A. J. Marble, Susanna A. Kendall, Irene Hernandez, Miriam
Baird Buck, Lucy Merwin, Vannessa Goff, Maria C. Arter, Mary E.
McMenemy, F. C. Norris, M. A. Van Middlesworth, M. A. Cotton, Misses
Viola Kaufman and Edna Naylor.
[359] Mrs. Colby gives this interesting bit of description: "Our
husbands were both in the Senate. We had apartments in the same house,
where, hobnobbing over our partnership housekeeping, we planned our
public work. Our husbands each had a spell of sickness at the same
time, and while our functions of State presidency were temporarily
exchanged for those of nursing, our enemies took advantage of us and
killed that bill, on the very day, February 15, that Gov. John A.
Martin signed the bill under which the women of Kansas have ever since
enjoyed the municipal ballot."
CHAPTER LII.
NEVADA.[360]
The question of equal political rights for women always has been a
subject of discussion in Nevada. Through the efforts of Miss Hannah K.
Clapp and a few other women a suffrage bill was passed by the Senate
in 1883, but was defeated in the House. Miss Mary Babcock was one of
the most efficient of these early workers. Many party leaders,
whenever opportunity permitted, have referred to the justice of
enfranchising the women who with the men braved the dangers and
endured the hardships of pioneer life, and are equally interested in
the material development and political well-being of the State. After
the organization of the Nevada Woman's Christian Temperance Union the
superintendent of the franchise department distributed literature,
brought up the topic at public meetings, urged it as a subject of
debate in clubs and schools and thus secured a steady gain in suffrage
sentiment.
The first step toward associated effort was taken by the women of
Austin, Nov. 30, 1894, in forming the Lucy Stone Non-Partisan Equal
Suffrage League. One or two others were organized that year, and a
general agitation was begun through press and petition work by the
suffragists in every community.
In the spring of 1895 the visit of Miss Susan B. Anthony, president of
the National Association, and the Rev. Anna Howard Shaw,
vice-president-at-large, who were on their way to California, created
such widespread enthusiasm that a new impetus was given to the
movement. A little later Mrs. Emma Smith DeVoe of Illinois was sent by
the National Association to canvass the State with the help of the
local workers. As a result a convention was held at Reno, October 29,
30. Mrs. DeVoe and Mrs. Frances A. Williamson were the principal
speakers, and the ten minutes' addresses by the delegates from various
counties were very clever and acceptable. A State Equal Suffrage
Association was formed with Mrs. Williamson as president; Miss Clapp
and Dr. Eliza Cook, vice-presidents; Fannie Weller, corresponding
secretary; Phoebe Stanton Marshall, recording secretary; Elda A. Orr,
treasurer; Kate A. Martin and Alice Ede, auditors; Annie Warren, press
work; Mary A. Boyd, State Fair work; Emma B. Blossom, superintendent
of literature; Marcella Rinkle, member national executive committee.
The president, who was also chairman of the legislative work
committee, was in the lecture field four months. She had to act as her
own advance agent, but during this time she spoke in every city and
town in the State and organized numerous clubs. Her meetings were well
attended, and great interest was manifested. The second convention was
held at Reno, Sept. 24, 1896, with every county represented. Mrs. Elda
A. Orr was elected president and Mrs. Williamson, State organizer and
lecturer. Mrs. Orr has ever since been continued as president, and to
no one person in Nevada is the cause of woman suffrage so much
indebted for hospitality, financial aid and valuable work.
The public meeting called on November 9 to greet Miss Anthony and Mrs.
Carrie Chapman Catt, chairman of the national organization committee,
was very successful. Miss Anthony gave a _resume_ of the exciting
campaign just closed in California, and made an object lesson of its
critical points which greatly amused the audience. Mrs. Chapman Catt
followed in an able argument on woman suffrage as the best and safest
means to secure and maintain good government.
In order to give the movement a more pronounced individuality Mrs.
Williamson and her daughter, M. Laura Williamson, founded the _Nevada
Citizen_, a monthly paper devoted to the social, civil and industrial
advancement of women. They edited and managed it, publishing it at
their own risk, and it received a liberal patronage. After a
successful existence of two years, business called both from the State
and it was discontinued.
In 1897 Mrs. Williamson again canvassed the various counties, and the
most prominent men and women were found willing to give the measure
their indorsement. The third annual meeting was held at Carson City,
October 30, with delegates from most of the counties. The numerous
greetings from leading politicians showed an increasing interest in
this question. Mrs. Orr and Mrs. Williamson were both re-elected. The
former made an able address, and Mrs. Frances Folsom gave a general
review of the laws relating to the property rights of women in the
different States.
The fourth convention was postponed till the meeting of the
Legislature in the winter of 1899, in order that the speakers might
appear before that body with their arguments for the submission of a
woman suffrage amendment to the voters.[361]
LEGISLATIVE ACTION AND LAWS: In 1895 a bill was introduced in the
House by Henry H. Beck, to amend the State constitution by eliminating
the word "male" from before the word "citizen" wherever it occurs. All
amendment bills have to pass two successive Legislatures and then be
submitted to the voters. The Rev. Mila Tupper Maynard and Mrs. Frances
A. Williamson managed the legislative work this year. The former made
an eloquent address before the Legislature in joint assembly. An
exciting debate followed in the House, but the bill was defeated by
six votes. About ten days later it was introduced in the Senate by Dr.
William Comins, who supported it with an able speech. It was strongly
opposed but finally passed by a two-thirds vote. Toward the close of
the session it was reconsidered in the House, and after a spirited
debate was passed by four votes.
In 1897 the legislative work was conducted by Mrs. Williamson. She
read a brief of the constitutional grounds on which women claim the
right of suffrage before the Judiciary Committees of both Houses, and
addressed the Legislature in joint assembly.[362] This year the bill
for a constitutional amendment was introduced in the Senate by Dr.
Comins. The Judiciary Committee recommended its passage, and after a
lively debate it received a two-thirds vote. Later on the bill was
presented in the House by Frank Norcross. It was held in committee and
delayed in every possible way, but finally was brought up in joint
assembly. A stubborn debate followed, in which the advocates made an
able defense, but it was defeated by a tie vote. A motion to
reconsider it was defeated also.
In 1899 the Constitutional Amendment Bill again passed the Senate by
the usual two-thirds vote, and was defeated again in the House by the
usual small vote.
Governors Colcord, Jones and Sadler recommended in their biennial
messages to the Legislature that the proposed suffrage amendment to
the State constitution be submitted to the voters.[363] The Reno
_Gazette_ and Wadsworth _Dispatch_ merit special mention for the able
manner in which they have advocated the suffrage movement.
A married woman may control her separate property if a list of it is
filed with the county recorder, but unless it is kept constantly
inventoried and recorded it becomes community property.
The community property, both real and personal, which includes all
accumulated after marriage, is under absolute control of the husband,
and at the death of the wife all of it belongs to him without
administration. On the death of the husband the wife is entitled to
one-half of it. If he die leaving no will and no children, she may
claim all of it after she has secured the payment of debts to the
satisfaction of creditors. The inheritance of separate property is the
same for both, and either may claim a life interest in a homestead not
exceeding $5,000 in value.
To become a sole trader a woman must comply with certain legal
conditions. Her earnings are considered by law to belong to her if her
husband has allowed her to appropriate them to her own use, when they
are regarded _as a gift from him to her_.
A married woman may sue and be sued and make contracts in her own
name.
The father is the legal guardian of the children and may appoint one
by will. If this is not done, the mother, if suitable, is the guardian
while she remains unmarried.
The husband is required to furnish the necessaries of life to the
family; but there is no penalty for failure to do so, except that
where the neglect has been continued for one year, when it could have
been avoided by ordinary industry, the wife is entitled to a divorce.
In 1889 the "age of protection" for girls was raised from 12 to 14
years. The penalty is imprisonment in the penitentiary for a term of
not less than five years, which may extend for life.
SUFFRAGE: Women possess no form of suffrage.
OFFICE HOLDING: Women are not eligible to any elective or appointive
offices except those of county school superintendents and school
trustees. There are serving at present one county superintendent and
fifteen trustees.
Women act as clerks in State, county and city offices. They can not
serve as notaries public.
OCCUPATIONS: No profession or occupation is legally forbidden to
women. A number are carrying on mining, and have had mines patented in
their own names.
EDUCATION: Women are admitted to all educational institutions on the
same terms as men.
In the public schools there are 40 men and 274 women teachers. The
average monthly salary of the men is $101; of the women, $61.50.
FOOTNOTES:
[360] The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Frances A.
Williamson, first president of the State Equal Suffrage Association.
[361] Among those who have filled the various offices are: Vice
presidents, Margaret Campbell and Susan Humphreys, corresponding
secretaries, May Gill and Catharine Shaw; auditors, A. A. Rattan, Mary
Cowen and Laura A. Huffines; superintendent of press work, Margaret
Furlong; superintendent of literature, Hester Tate; members national
executive committee, Caroline B. Norcross and Elizabeth Webster.
Prominent among the active suffragists, besides those already
mentioned, are Sadie Bath, Lettie Richards, Martha J. Wright, Gerty
Grey, Annie Ronnow, Emma Hilp, Mary Haslett, Mamie Dickey, Edith
Jenkins, Louisa Loschenkohl, Clara Dooley, Mary Bonner, Eliza Timlin
and Josie Marsh.
[362] Mrs. Williamson was assisted by Elda A. Orr, Elizabeth Webster,
Mary Alt, Mary A. Boyd, Jane Frazer, Kate A. Martin, Elizabeth Evans,
Marcella Rinkle, Susan Humphreys, Sara Reynolds, Frances Folsom, Emma
B. Blossom and others, whose womanly and dignified work was
complimented by the legislative body and the public in general.
[363] Among the members of both Houses who from time to time have
championed this question and favored all legislation for the
advancement of women are Messrs. Bell, Birchfield, Coryell, Denton,
Ernest, Garrard, Gregooich, Haines, Julien, Kaiser, Lord, Mante,
Martin, Marshall, McHardy, McNaughton, McCone, Murphy, Richards,
Skagg, Vanderleith and Williamson.
CHAPTER LIII.
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
New Hampshire has been rich in distinguished citizens who believed in
woman suffrage. Ex-United States Senator Henry W. Blair always has
been one of its most devoted advocates, and his successor, Dr. Jacob
H. Gallinger, is no less a staunch friend. The names of both for many
years have stood as vice-presidents of the State Association. From
1868 the Hon. Nathaniel P. and Mrs. Armenia S. White were the pillars
of the movement and there was an efficient organization. His death in
1880 and her advancing years deprived it of active leadership and,
while the sentiment throughout the State continued strong, there was
little organized work. Mrs. White was president for many years and
afterwards was made honorary president. Parker Pillsbury was for a
long time vice-president and later the Hon. Oliver Branch. Mrs. Jacob
H. Ela and Mrs. Bessie Bisbee Hunt served several years as chairmen of
the executive committee.[364] Many petitions for suffrage were
circulated and sent to the Legislature and money was raised for the
National Association. The Grange and the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union have been valuable allies.
On June 29, 30, 1887, a convention was held in Concord and
arrangements made for a systematic canvass of the State.
On Jan. 10, 1889, Mrs. White and other officers of the State
Association were granted a hearing by the Constitutional Convention
then in session. They presented petitions and made a plea that the
State constitution be amended so as to prohibit political
distinctions on account of sex. The special committee reported
"inexpedient to legislate" and their report was adopted.
A State meeting was held in Concord, Dec. 14, 1892, a full board of
officers was elected and it was voted to become auxiliary to the
National American Association and to remain auxiliary to the New
England Association.
On Jan. 10, 1895, the New England W. S. A. held a convention in Nashua
with Miss Elizabeth Upham Yates of Maine, Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, Henry
B. Blackwell and Miss Alice Stone Blackwell, editors of the _Woman's
Journal_, Boston, as speakers. The day after its close the annual
business meeting of the New Hampshire Association was held and was
addressed by Miss Blackwell. On November 8 it called a meeting at the
same place for the transaction of some special business.
On Jan. 10, 1896, and on Feb. 24, 1897, the annual meetings were held
in Nashua, the latter addressed by Miss Blackwell. Mrs. Marilla M.
Ricker, a former officer of the society but now practicing law in
Washington, D.C., was candidate for U. S. Minister to Colombia, and
New Hampshire was one of six States which petitioned for her
appointment. Ex-Senator Blair exerted himself in her behalf, but it is
hardly necessary to say that she was not appointed.
The desire for a more effective organization had grown so strong that
in November, 1900, Mrs. Susan S. Fessenden of Boston was sent into the
State by the New England Association and spent two weeks, forming
clubs in Concord, Newport, Littleton, Andover and North Conway, and
preparing for societies in Nashua and Manchester.
In the autumn of 1901 Miss Mary N. Chase of Andover spent a month
organizing local societies. A convention was called for December 16,
17, in Manchester, at which ten towns were represented. The meetings
were held in the City Hall, and Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, president of
the National Association, was introduced to a fine audience the first
evening by Cyrus H. Little, Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Addresses were made also by Mr. and Miss Blackwell. A strong official
board was elected[365] and an effort will be made to educate public
sentiment to demand a woman suffrage clause from the convention to
revise the State constitution, which is likely to be held within a
short time. On the evening of December 17 Mrs. Chapman Catt spoke in
Concord, the State capital.
LEGISLATIVE ACTION AND LAWS: The suffrage association has been
petitioning the Legislature since 1870. That year it secured a law
allowing women to serve on school boards. In 1878 it obtained School
Suffrage for women.
In 1885 it presented a petition, signed by several thousand citizens,
asking the Full Franchise for women, and was given "leave to
withdraw."
In 1887 a bill conferring Municipal Suffrage and permitting women to
hold all municipal offices was presented with a petition signed by
2,500 citizens. A hearing was granted by the committee on July 6 and
300 persons were present. On the 13th it was favorably reported in the
House, but August 6, it was defeated by 87 ayes, 148 noes. This year
the House raised the "age of protection" for girls from 10 to 14 years
but the Senate amended to 13 years.
In 1889 the bill for Municipal Suffrage was again introduced, sent to
the Judiciary Committee and referred to the next session as
"unfinished business."
In 1891 the petitions for this bill contained 3,000 signatures, and
Mr. Angell of Derry also introduced a bill for suffrage for tax-paying
women, but neither was acted upon. This experience was repeated in
1893.
In 1895, after a hearing had been granted to the women, the bill was
reported favorably by the Judiciary Committee and passed a second
reading in the House, but a third was refused. D. C. Remick and M.
Lyford were earnest in their support of the measure. This year the
"age of protection" for girls was raised to 16, but the bill was
vetoed by Gov. Busiel who claimed that it was not properly framed.
Dower and curtesy both obtain. The widow is entitled to a life
interest in one-third of the real estate and a homestead right of
$500, and if she waive the provisions of the will in her favor she
may have, after the payment of debts, one-third of the personal
property if issue survive; if not, one-half. If she waive its
provisions and release her dower and homestead right, she may have,
after all debts and expenses of administration are paid, one-third of
the real estate absolutely if issue by her survive, and, if not,
one-half, and the same amount of personal property. The widower is
entitled to a life interest in all the wife's real estate, and a
homestead right of $500, and if he waive the provisions of her will in
his favor, the same amount of her personal property as she would
receive of his. If he release his curtesy and homestead right he is
entitled to the same amount of her real estate as she would have of
his.
A married woman retains control of her separate property. She can
mortgage or convey it without the husband's joinder but can not bar
his curtesy of life use of the whole or his homestead right; nor can
she deprive him of these by will. The husband has the same privileges,
subject to her dower.
A married woman may carry on business in her own name. She may sue and
be sued and make contracts. Her earnings are her sole and separate
property. She can not become surety for her husband.
The father is the legal guardian but if he is insane or has given
cause for divorce the court may award the minor children to the
mother. The judge of probate may appoint a guardian, when necessary,
to have care of the persons and property of minor children, and it may
be either the father or mother.
If the husband refuse to provide for his family he may be prosecuted
in criminal form. If he is insane or has given cause for divorce the
court may award support out of his property.
The common law making 12 years the legal age for a girl to marry has
been retained by special statute.
The "age of protection" for girls is 13 years with a penalty of
imprisonment not exceeding thirty years, but no minimum punishment
named.
SUFFRAGE: Since 1878 women, possessing the same qualifications
required of men, that is, residence in the district three months
preceding the election, are entitled to vote for members of the school
board and for appropriations of money. There are no county
superintendents, and the State Superintendent of Instruction is
appointed by the Governor and Council. The city ordinances of
Manchester, Franklin and Nashua prohibit women from this suffrage, but
they may vote in Concord, the capital.
New Hampshire was the first State in New England to give School
Suffrage to women.
OFFICE HOLDING: Women are eligible to all elective or appointive
School offices except where it is forbidden by special charters. They
are not eligible to any other elective office.
A number are serving on School Boards. They may sit on State Boards
which are appointed by the Governor. They have done so only on the
Board of Charities and Corrections and on that of the State Normal
School.
There is no law requiring women physicians in any State institutions,
or police matrons in any city. One has been appointed in Manchester.
Women may act as notaries public.
OCCUPATIONS: On July 25, 1889, Chief Justice Charles Doe of the
Supreme Court delivered the opinion that women may become members of
the bar and practice in all the courts. No occupation or profession is
legally forbidden. Ten hours are made a working day.
EDUCATION: The old college of Dartmouth at Hanover is for men only.
The State Agricultural College at Durham admits both sexes.
In the public schools there are 256 men and 2,714 women teachers. The
average monthly salary of the men is $69.75; of the women $40.59.
FOOTNOTES:
[364] Among other officers since 1884 are: Presidents, Mrs. E. J. C.
Gilbert and Miss Josephine F. Hall; vice-presidents, Judge J. W.
Fellows, Gen. Elbert Wheeler, the Rev. Enoch Powell, Mrs. Martha E.
Powell, John Scales, Mesdames C. A. Quimby, Caroline R. Wendell, N. H.
Knox, Marilla H. Ricker, M. L. Griffin, Fanny W. Sawyer and Mary
Powers Filley; corresponding secretaries, Mrs. Jacob H. Ela, Mrs.
Maria D. Adams; recording secretary, the Rev. H. B. Smith; treasurers,
Mesdames A. W. Hobbs, C. R. Meloon, Uranie E. Bowers and Miss Abbie E.
McIntyre; auditor, Mrs. C. R. Pease; executive committee, Mrs. Mary E.
H. Dow and Mrs. (Dr.) Tucker.
[365] President, Miss Mary N. Chase; vice-president, Mrs. Elizabeth B.
Hunt; secretary, Miss Mary E. Quimby; treasurer, the Rev. Angelo Hall;
auditors, Miss C. R. Wendell and the Hon. Sherman E. Burroughs.
CHAPTER LIV.
NEW JERSEY.[366]
Although many local suffrage meetings had been held in New Jersey
prior to 1867, in that year a State Society was organized by Lucy
Stone, which met regularly in various cities until she removed to
Massachusetts a few years afterwards, when the association and its
branches gradually suspended, except the one at Vineland, with Mrs.
Anna M. Warden as president. Mrs. Cornelia C. Hussey, Mrs. Katherine
H. Browning, Mrs. Warden and others continued to represent the State
as vice-presidents at the national conventions.
In 1890 Dr. Mary D. Hussey, who had been a member of the old society,
invited a number of active suffragists to unite in forming a new State
association. Eleven responded and, at the residence of Mrs. Charlotte
N. Enslin, in Orange, February 5, a constitution was adopted, Judge
John Whitehead elected president and Dr. Hussey secretary and
treasurer.[367]
In 1891 the Rev. Antoinette Brown Blackwell became president; Mrs.
Amelia Dickinson Pope was elected in 1892; and in 1893 Mrs. Florence
Howe Hall, daughter of Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, accepted the presidency.
The first public meeting of the association was held at Orange, March
4, 1893, where Mrs. Clara C. Hoffman of Missouri, gave an address. The
first auxiliary society formed was that of Essex County, with forty
members, Mrs. Jennie D. De Witt, president. Five other State meetings
were held and the membership trebled. Among the lecturers were Aaron
M. Powell, Mrs. Blackwell, Mrs. S. M. Perkins of Ohio, and the
president. A number of clergymen gave sermons on suffrage, 14,000
pages of literature were circulated in seventeen of the twenty-one
counties, and the _Woman's Column_ was sent to 200 persons at the
expense of Mrs. Cornelia C. Hussey. The women's vote at school
meetings greatly increased and a number were elected trustees. The
annual convention was held at Newark in November.
The constitutional amendment campaign in the neighboring State of New
York had a very favorable effect on public opinion in New Jersey
during 1894. In addition to the usual meetings a memorial service in
honor of Lucy Stone was held in Peddie Memorial Church, Newark, one of
the largest churches in the State, with more than 2,000 people
present, Mrs. Mary A. Livermore being the chief speaker. Another
meeting was held in Orange, Mrs. Julia Ward Howe making the principal
address.
A sunflower lunch was given to raise funds for the campaign in Kansas
and $200 were sent, of which half was contributed by Mrs. Hussey.
Among the vast amount of literature circulated were 1,000 copies of
suffrage papers. The State convention was held as usual in Newark,
November 24. This year the Populist party declared for woman suffrage
in its State convention. The Knights of Labor also have indorsed it.
In 1895, before entering upon the three years' campaign for the
restoration of School Suffrage, which had been declared
unconstitutional the previous year, the association presented to the
Legislature petitions signed by about 1,000 persons, asking for the
restoration of full suffrage to the women of New Jersey, which had
been taken away in 1807. This was done not with any expectation of
success but in order to place the association on record as having
demanded this right. In the new measure for School Suffrage they
begged that it might include the women of towns and cities instead of
merely country districts, according to the law of 1887, but this was
refused.
Mrs. Anna B. S. Pond arranged a course of lectures for the benefit of
the School Suffrage fund and, with a souvenir, $100 were raised. A
handsome suffrage flag was presented to the association by Miss Martha
B. Haines, recording secretary.
Four meetings of the State association were held in Newark, and one in
Plainfield during the year, and lectures were given by Mrs. Lillie
Devereux Blake of New York, Mrs. Annie L. Diggs of Kansas, Miss
Elizabeth Upham Yates of Maine, and Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, chairman
of the national organization committee. The fifth convention assembled
in the chapel of Trinity (Episcopal) Church, Elizabeth, November 29.
Mrs. Ella B. Carter, chairman on press work, stated that many leading
papers were advocating the restoring of School Suffrage. Mrs. Harriet
L. Coolidge, chairman of the School Suffrage Committee, reported that
about fifty women had held the office of trustee since 1873, when this
right was given, that twelve more were still serving despite the
Supreme Court decision, and that women had voted in school meetings in
almost every county.
The School Suffrage Resolution passed the Legislature, but as it had
to be approved by two successive Legislatures before it could be
submitted to the voters, it was necessary to agitate the subject so
the law-makers might see that the people really desired the passage of
this measure, and the winter of 1896 was devoted to this purpose. A
new circular setting forth the success it had previously been was
circulated in connection with the petition. As the president was
unable to attend the session of the Legislature, Miss Mary Philbrook,
chairman of the Committee on Laws, took charge of the measure, which
in March was passed for the second time without opposition. It was
decided, however, to have certain other proposed amendments to the
constitution altered, and that for School Suffrage was kept back with
the others, as the constitution can be amended only once in five
years.
In the spring circulars were sent to 300 newspapers to be published,
urging women to attend school meetings and to exercise the scrap of
franchise still left to them--a vote on appropriations.[368] New
Jersey sent $150 to the National Association and $50 to California for
its campaign this year, in addition to the money spent on State work.
The annual meeting was held in Orange, Nov. 27, 1896. A vote of thanks
was tendered Miss Jane Campbell of Philadelphia for her generous gift
of 300 copies of "Woman's Progress" containing an account of suffrage
in New Jersey by Mrs. Hall.
The signatures to the petition were increased to over 7,000 in 1897,
and the Legislature passed the resolution for the School Suffrage
Amendment for the third time, in March. The association at once began
active work to influence the voters. Meetings were held in halls,
churches and parlors in all parts of the State and many articles were
published explaining the scope of the amendment. The State Federation
of Women's Clubs, the Granges, Working Girls' Societies, Daughters of
Liberty, the Ladies of the G. A. R., the Junior Order of American
Mechanics and other organizations gave cordial indorsement. Mrs. Hall
delivered three addresses on this subject before the State Federation
of Clubs; Mrs. Emily E. Williamson, afterwards its president, also
made a strong speech, urging the members to work for the amendment,
and paid for 5,000 of the Appeals which were sent out. The W. C. T. U.
rendered every possible assistance in securing signers for the
petitions and educating public sentiment.
During the summer an extensive correspondence was carried on with
prominent people including the State board of education, State, county
and city superintendents of public instruction, etc. They were asked
to sign An Appeal to the Friends of Education which clearly set forth
the advantages of the proposed amendment. Having obtained the one
hundred influential signatures desired the document was widely
distributed to the press. Copies were sent to many organizations of
men and women, and also to the clergy, with the request that they
would use their influence with their congregations. A number did so,
but probably many were afraid to speak on this subject lest they
injure the chances of the Anti-Gambling Amendment to the constitution,
which was to be voted on at the same time. The school authorities
strongly indorsed the amendment and related the benefit which School
Suffrage for women had been within their experience. Extracts from
these letters, including one from the State Superintendent of Public
Instruction, the Hon. Charles J. Baxter, thanking the association for
work in its behalf, were widely published.
The Republican State Executive Committee and some county committees
indorsed the amendment. Efforts were made to have it presented at the
many meetings which were held in behalf of the Anti-Race Track
Amendment, but they were not always successful. Through an unavoidable
circumstance the press work fell principally on the president. The
corresponding secretary, Dr. Hussey, gave an immense amount of labor,
devoting the whole summer to the work of the campaign. Mrs. Angell
rendered most efficient service, a part of it the sending of a letter
to nearly every minister in the State. Mrs. L. H. Rowan was chairman
of the finance committee but so sure were the friends of success that
only $150 were expended.
The special election was held Sept. 28, 1897, and the result was a
great disappointment. The School Suffrage Amendment, to which it was
generally supposed there would be practically no opposition, was
defeated--65,021 ayes, 75,170 noes. The adverse vote came almost
entirely from the cities where the actual experiment never had been
made. The country districts, where women had exercised School
Suffrage, understood its workings and voted for the amendment. The
Germans in particular opposed it, and it was said that they and many
other voters understood it to give complete suffrage to women. As it
was printed in full on the ballot itself, the carelessness and
indifference of the average voter were thus made painfully apparent.
The labor was not altogether wasted, however, as through it the people
were brought to understand that women still had a partial vote at
school meetings. (See Suffrage.) For instance the women of Cranford,
where a new schoolhouse was badly needed, were told by their town
counsel that they had lost the ballot, but the president of the
suffrage association informed them of the error of this learned
gentleman, and they came out and voted, the campaign being conducted
by the Village Improvement Association, a club composed of women. The
majority in favor of the new schoolhouse was only seven. The
opposition called a second meeting and reversed this decision. The
women circulated petitions and compelled the school board to call a
third meeting where they won the day. It was voted to erect one new
building to cost $24,700 and another on the south side to cost nearly
$11,000.
This same year, in South Orange, two unsuccessful attempts were made
to get an appropriation to build a much-needed High School. The men
finally decided to call upon the women for help. Nearly 500 attended
the meeting, and the $25,000 appropriation was carried by an
overwhelming majority. The school at Westfield and two new High School
buildings at Asbury Park and Atlantic Highlands were built because of
the women's vote. Manual training was introduced into the Vineland
schools through the zeal of women. A report from Moorestown says: "The
year that women first began to vote at school meetings marks a decided
revival of intelligent interest in our public schools." In Scotch
Plains, where the meetings were held in the public school building, a
holiday afterwards had always been necessary in order to clean it.
With the advent of the feminine voters, expectoration and peanut
shells ceased to decorate the floors, and the children were able to
attend school the next day as usual. The Women's Educational
Association introduced manual training into the public schools of East
Orange.[369]
A number of meetings of the State association were held during 1897,
and among the speakers were Mrs. Mary C. C. Bradford and Mrs. Ellis
Meredith of Colorado, Mrs. Celia B. Whitehead and Miss Laura E.
Holmes. The annual convention took place at Wissner Hall, Newark,
November 30.
Three State meetings were held in 1898, the conference of the National
Board co-operating with the State association, taking the place of the
convention. This was held May 6, 7, at Orange, and was the strong
feature of the year. Through the efforts of the local committee, Mrs.
Minola Graham Sexton, chairman, a large attendance was secured. Among
the speakers were the Rev. Anna Howard Shaw, vice-president-at-large
of the National Association, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, Mrs. Mariana W.
Chapman, president of the New York State Association, and a number of
State women. New Jersey contributed this year $648 to the Organization
Committee of the National, most of which went to the Oklahoma
campaign. The largest contributions were from Mrs. Cornelia C. Hussey,
$450; Moorestown League (Miss S. W. Lippincott) $50; collections at
Orange, $41; Essex County, $40; Mrs. A. Van Winkle, $20.
The annual meeting was held at Camden, Nov. 29, 1898. Mrs. Rachel
Foster Avery, corresponding secretary of the National Association, and
Miss Jane Campbell, president of the Philadelphia county association,
were the afternoon speakers, Mrs. Bradford making the principal
address of the evening. The New Jersey Legal Aid Association was
formed this year in Newark, Dr. Hussey taking an active part. The
first president was Miss Cecilia Gaines, who was succeeded by Mrs.
Stewart Hartshorn. Its object is to give legal assistance to those
unable to pay for it, and especially to women. All its officers are
women, and a woman attorney is employed. Up to the present time (1901)
it has had applications from 700 persons.
Two meetings of the State Association were held in 1899. A
contribution of $220 was made to the National Organization Committee.
At the annual meeting, held November 28, at Jersey City, Major Z. K.
Pangborn, editor of the _Journal_, made an address at the evening
session. The principal speaker was Mrs. Percy Widdrington of London,
who gave an account of woman suffrage and its good practical results
in England.
Resolutions of deep regret for the death of Aaron M. Powell, editor of
_The Philanthropist_, were adopted.
The State Association held two meetings during 1900, and did a great
deal of work in preparation for the National Suffrage Bazar. Dr.
Hussey was made chairman of the Bazar Committee, while Mrs. Sexton
arranged the ten musical entertainments which were given during the
Bazar. The tenth annual convention was held at Moorestown, November
13, 14. There was a large attendance, including many men. The new
national president, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, was the principal
speaker. Others were Mrs. Lucretia L. Blankenburg, president of the
Pennsylvania Association; Mrs. Mary V. Grice, president of the State
Congress of Mothers; Mrs. Catharine B. Lippincott, representing the
Grange, and Mrs. Hall, who spoke on the American Woman in the American
Home.
Mrs. Hall, who had been president during the whole period of active
life of the association, declined re-election. She did so with the
greatest reluctance, but felt that the increasing pressure of work
made it important that some one with more leisure at her disposal
should fill the office. Mrs. Sexton was elected president.[370]
Mrs. Cornelia C. Hussey is the largest contributor in New Jersey to
the suffrage cause in general. Since many of her donations have been
made to the National Association directly, not passing through the
hands of the State treasurer, they can not be computed here, nor does
she herself know their full amount. She has given also most liberally
to State work and her contributions run well up into the thousands. A
number of New Jersey women have been made life members of the National
Association by her. She is a member of its organization
committee.[371]
In early days Mrs. Theresa Walling Seabrook stood almost alone in the
W. C. T. U. in her advocacy of woman suffrage and it required ten
years of effort to secure a franchise department, of which she was
made the first superintendent. For many years, however, this
organization has been an active and helpful force and undoubtedly has
made numerous converts, besides securing valuable legislation. The
Grange has been always a faithful ally of the woman suffrage cause.
LEGISLATIVE ACTION AND LAWS: On Feb. 13, 1884, a special committee of
the Assembly granted a hearing on the petition of Mrs. Celia B.
Whitehead and 220 others, asking the restoration of the right of Full
Suffrage which had been unconstitutionally taken away from women in
1807. (See Suffrage.) Henry B. Blackwell and the Rev. Phoebe A.
Hanaford of Massachusetts and Mrs. Theresa Walling Seabrook presented
the question. They asked also for School Suffrage. The committee
reported favorably on both measures. The former reached a vote and was
defeated by 24 yeas, 27 nays.
In 1887 Dr. William M. Baird, Speaker of the Assembly, had a bill
introduced conferring School Suffrage on women in villages and country
districts, and advocated it from the floor. It passed unanimously,
March 23, not on its merits but because the Speaker wanted it. It was
passed by the Senate March 31, by 15 yeas, 2 nays, and signed April 8,
by Gov. Robert S. Green.
This year Aaron M. Powell and the Rev. A. H. Lewis secured a law
raising the "age of protection" for girls from 10 to 16.
In 1894 the courts decided that the law granting School Suffrage to
women was unconstitutional and that an amendment to the constitution
would be necessary to enable them to exercise it. The suffrage
association immediately took steps to secure a resolution submitting
this amendment to the electors, as previously described. In 1895 it
was introduced in the Senate by Foster M. Voorhees (now Governor) and
passed in June by 13 yeas, 2 nays. It passed the Assembly by 36 yeas,
one nay. It had to be acted upon by two Legislatures. In March, 1896,
it passed the Senate unanimously; and the Assembly by 57 yeas, one
nay. A technicality required it to pass the third Legislature, which
it did in March, 1897--Senate, 15 yeas, 1 nay; Assembly, 42 yeas, 5
nays.
In April, 1894, it was enacted that women might be notaries.
In March, 1895, a bill was secured making women eligible to
appointment as Commissioners of Deeds, after having failed in 1891,
'92 and '94, and Miss Mary M. Steele was appointed.
In 1896 Miss Mary Philbrook, an attorney, with the help of the
suffrage officials, secured a bill making women eligible as Masters in
Chancery and was herself the first one appointed.
This year the State Teachers' Association secured a law permitting a
Teachers' Retirement Fund to be created, which, with some amendments
in 1899, enables a teacher after twenty years' service, if
incapacitated for further work, to receive from $250 to $600 per
annum. Some improvement also was made in the property laws for women.
In April, 1898, through the efforts of the Federation of Women's
Clubs, a law was passed and an appropriation made for State Traveling
Libraries.
Dower and curtesy obtain. The widow is entitled to a life use of
one-third of the real estate and, if there is a child or children, to
one-third of the personal property absolutely; if there are no
children, to one-half of it. The remainder of the real and personal
estate goes to the husband's kindred. "The widow may remain in the
mansion house of her husband free of rent until dower is assigned."
The widower is entitled to the life use of all the wife's real estate,
and if there is no will, to all her personal property without
administration. She may, however, dispose of all of it by will as she
pleases. She can not by will deprive the husband of his curtesy in
real estate, except by order of the Court of Chancery when she is
living separate from him. She can not encumber or dispose of her
separate estate without his joinder. He can mortgage or convey his
real estate without her joinder but it is subject to her dower. Her
separate property is liable for her debts but not for those of her
husband.
Since 1895 a married woman may contract as if unmarried, and sue and
be sued in her own name as to property, but for personal injuries the
husband must join. She can not become surety.
Since 1896 she may carry on business in her own name, her earnings and
wages are her separate property, and her deposits in savings banks are
free from the control of her husband.
The father is the legal guardian of the persons and estates of minor
children. At his death the mother becomes guardian. In case of
separation with no misconduct on the part of either, the mother has
the preference until the child is seven years old, after which the
rights are equal. Provision is made for the access of the mother to
infant children. On the death of the one to whom the child is assigned
it is subject to the order of the court.
The husband must furnish such support as will maintain the wife in the
position in which he has placed her by marriage. If he refuse he must
give bonds or go to jail. The wife must contribute to the support of
the family if the husband is unable.
The "age of protection" for girls was raised from 10 to 16 years in
1887. The penalty is a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment at
hard labor not exceeding fifteen years, or both. No minimum penalty is
named.
No girl under fourteen shall be employed in a factory, and no children
under fourteen shall be employed in any workshop or factory over ten
hours a day or sixty hours a week. The failure of employers to
provide seats for female employes beside a work bench or counter shall
be punished as a misdemeanor.
SUFFRAGE: New Jersey is the first State in which a woman ever cast a
ballot. The constitution adopted July 2, 1776, conferred the franchise
on "all inhabitants worth $250, etc." In 1790 a revision of the
election law used the words "he or she," thus giving legislative
sanction to a construction of the constitution which placed women in
the electorate. While the records show that women did vote for various
officers, including President of the United States and members of the
Legislature, yet in those days of almost absolute male supremacy, when
it was not customary for women to own even $250 worth of property and
all they possessed became the husband's at marriage, it is not to be
supposed that very many could avail themselves of the privilege.
Enough did so, however, to make them a factor in the fierce political
contentions which soon arose, and to gain the enmity of politicians.
In 1807 the Legislature passed an arbitrary act limiting the suffrage
to "white male citizens." This was clearly a usurpation of authority,
as the constitution could be changed only by action of the voters.
Nevertheless, men were in power and women were no longer permitted to
exercise the franchise.
In 1844 a convention framed a new constitution in which the suffrage
was restricted to "white males," and only men were allowed to vote on
its adoption. Women were still electors according to the existing
constitution, and yet they were not permitted to vote for delegates to
this convention nor for the ratification of the new constitution. No
Supreme Court could have rendered any other decision than that this
was illegally adopted.
For exactly eighty years women were deprived of any franchise. During
the last twenty of this period they made repeated efforts to vote and
presented numerous petitions to the Legislature to have their ancient
right restored. In 1887 this body enacted that women might vote at
school meetings (i. e. in villages and country districts) for
trustees, bonds, appropriations, etc.
In 1893 a law was enacted giving the right to vote for Road
Commissioner to "all freeholders." An election was very soon contested
at Englewood, and in June, 1894, the Supreme Court decided that the
act was illegal because "it is not competent for the Legislature to
enlarge or diminish the class of voters comprehended within the
constitutional definition." [The court had forgotten about that
Legislature of 1807.]
This gave the opportunity for those who were opposed to women's
exercising the School Suffrage. At a special election for school
trustees held in Vineland, July 27, 1894, the women were forcibly
prevented from depositing their ballots. The State Superintendent of
Public Instruction was appealed to and he directed the county
superintendent to appoint a board of trustees, as the election from
which the women were excluded was illegal. This was done on the advice
of the Attorney-General, who held that the constitution by empowering
the Legislature to "provide for the maintenance and support of a
system of free public schools," gave it the power to confer on women
the right to vote at school meetings for school officers.
Without following the details it is only necessary to relate that the
Supreme Court declared that "the State constitution says, 'Every male
citizen, etc., shall be entitled to vote for all officers that are now
or may be hereafter elective by the people' (!) and school trustees
are elective officers within this provision, therefore the Act
allowing women to vote for them is unconstitutional."
Women had been voting for these officers seven years under this Act,
and always for the benefit of the schools, according to the almost
universal testimony of educational authorities. It now became
necessary, in order to continue this privilege, to obtain an amendment
to the constitution. The story of the three years' effort made by the
State Suffrage Association for this purpose is related earlier in the
chapter. Since this had to be made they begged that the amendment
might include School Suffrage for the women in towns and cities also,
but this was refused. And yet even a proposition to restore School
Suffrage to those of villages and rural districts, when submitted to
the voters, was defeated at the election on Sept. 28, 1897, by 65,029
yeas, 75,170 nays, over 10,000 majority.
While the Supreme Court decision took away the vote for trustees it
did not interfere with the right of women in villages and country
districts to vote on questions of bonds and appropriations for the
building of schoolhouses and other school purposes, and that is the
amount of suffrage now possessed by women in New Jersey. When the
school laws were revised in 1900 this fragment was carefully guarded
and provision made for furnishing two boxes, one in which the men
might put their vote on all school matters, and the other where women
might put theirs on the ones above specified.
OFFICE HOLDING: In 1873 a law was passed that "no person hereafter
shall be eligible to the office of school trustee unless he or she can
read and write," and women were authorized to serve when duly elected.
In 1894, when the School Suffrage was taken away by the Supreme Court,
thirty-two were holding the office and the decision did not abrogate
this right. They have continued to be elected and twenty-seven are
serving at the present time. At Englewood, in 1899, Miss Adaline
Sterling was president of the board. Women are not eligible as State
or county superintendents.
Four of the nine trustees of the State Industrial School for Girls are
women, and a woman physician is employed when one is needed.
Dr. Mary J. Dunlop has been superintendent and medical director of the
State Institution for Feeble-Minded Women since 1886, and three of the
seven managers are women.
There are no women physicians in any other State institution and no
law requiring them. In most of the hospitals there are training
schools for nurses with women superintendents.
The State Board of Children's Guardians has a woman chairman of the
executive committee, and a woman attorney.
The State Charities Aid Association has seven women on the Board of
Managers, including the general secretary. Women sit on the boards of
the State School for Deaf Mutes, the Home for Waifs and those of some
county asylums. Most of the almshouses have matrons in the female
department but there are no women on the boards of management.
A matron and three assistants are in charge of the women in the
penitentiary and there is a matron at the jails of most cities. In
some of them police matrons have been appointed, but no law requires
this.
In the State Hospital at Trenton over eighty women are employed,
including four supervisors, a librarian, stenographers, nurses, etc.
In the State Home for Boys there are over twenty women, including
principal of school, teachers, matrons, typewriters, etc.
There are women on a number of Public Library Boards, and one, at
least, acts as treasurer. The head librarian and all the assistants of
the Plainfield public library are women. Sixty of the ninety-nine
public libraries in the State employ women librarians, and five are
served by volunteers. Most of the assistants in all cities are women.
Women act as masters in chancery, commissioners of deeds and notaries
public, and one at least has served as district clerk.
OCCUPATIONS: No profession or occupation is legally forbidden to
women. Admission to the bar having been denied to Miss Mary Philbrook,
in 1894, solely on account of her sex, she requested a hearing before
the Judiciary Committee of the Legislature of 1895, which was
addressed by Mrs. Florence Howe Hall, president of the State Suffrage
Association, Mrs. Carrie Burnham Kilgore, a lawyer of Philadelphia,
and Miss Philbrook herself. Soon afterward a law was enacted making
women eligible to examination for admission to the bar, which, in
June, was passed successfully by Miss Philbrook, who thus became the
first woman lawyer. There are now eight. In 1899, Miss Mary G. Potter
of the New York Bar, Miss Philbrook of the New Jersey Bar, and Dr.
Mary D. Hussey of the New York University Law School, called a meeting
of women attorneys at East Orange. A committee was appointed which
organized the Women Lawyers' Club in New York, on June 24, with
members in both States.
There are about one hundred women physicians in the State,
seventy-five allopathic and the rest belonging to other schools. They
are members of most of the county medical societies, which makes them
members of the State Medical Society. Dr. Sarah F. Mackintosh was the
first woman admitted to a county society (Passaic) in 1871. Dr.
Frances S. Janney was elected president of the Burlington County
Medical Society in 1900, the first to receive such an honor. The first
meeting of women physicians took place in Atlantic City, June, 1900,
when those of the State gave a reception to those from other States
who were attending the convention of the American Medical Association.
The Medical Club of Newark, the first organization of women
physicians, was formed the next November, with seventeen charter
members from Newark and its vicinity, Dr. Katherine Porter of Orange,
president.
EDUCATION: Princeton University is closed to women, and so are
Princeton Theological Seminary (Presb.), Drew Theological Seminary
(Meth. Epis.) and Rutgers College (Dutch Reformed). There is no
college for women in New Jersey. The State Normal School is
co-educational.
In the public schools there are 833 men and 5,806 women teachers. The
average monthly salary of the men is $86.21; of the women $48.12. In
Plainfield the principals of all the public schools, except the High
School, are women. This is due to the fact that the city
superintendent from 1881 to 1892 was a woman, Miss Julia Buckley
(afterwards dean of the woman's department of Chicago University), and
the custom established by her has been continued.
* * * * *
New Jersey has so many associations of women that they have acted as a
bar against the formation of suffrage clubs, women feeling that they
had already too many meetings to attend. The State Federation of
Women's Clubs has been an active and progressive force. It secured
State Traveling Libraries; and if the Palisades are preserved from
destruction, as now seems likely, this will be due to its earnest
efforts. It was influential, in 1899, in having the kindergarten made
a part of the public school system. It also has a town improvement
department, with numerous branches. Several of its auxiliary clubs
have founded public libraries, and some of them have conducted
campaigns to put women on the school board. Other clubs have supported
kindergartens and arranged free lectures for the public.
FOOTNOTES:
[366] The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Florence Howe
Hall of Plainfield, president of the State Woman Suffrage Association
for the past eight years, and to Dr. Mary D. Hussey of East Orange,
its founder and corresponding secretary.
[367] The others present were Mesdames Phebe C. Wright, Alice C.
Angell, Sarah A. McClees, Caroline Ross Graham, Katherine H. Browning,
Anna M. Warden, Mrs. Minola Graham Sexton, Mrs. Emma L. Blackwell.
[368] The sending of this yearly circular to the press, shortly before
the time of the annual school meeting, has been continued under the
special charge of the president.
[369] East Orange also had from 1894 to 1900 a school committee
consisting of ten women elected every year at the annual school
meeting--a sort of auxiliary association which did good work. In 1900
it became a city, and the school officers are now elected at the polls
where women can not vote.
[370] The remaining officers elected were: Vice-president, Mrs. W. J.
Pullen; corresponding secretary, Dr. Mary D. Hussey; recording
secretary, Miss J. H. Morris; treasurer, Mrs. Anna B. Jeffery;
auditor, Mrs. Mary C. Bassett.
The other officers who have served during the past ten years are:
Vice-presidents, Mrs. Katherine H. Browning, Mrs. Margaret C.
Campfield, Rev. Antoinette Brown Blackwell, Mrs. Harriet Lincoln
Coolidge; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Charlotte C. R. Smith;
recording secretaries, Miss Martha B. Haines, Mrs. Emma L. Blackwell,
Mrs. Alice C. Angell, Miss Mary Philbrook; treasurers, Mrs. Charlotte
N. Enslin, Dr. Mary D. Hussey, Mrs. Stephen R. Krom; auditors, Aaron
M. Powell, Miss Susan W. Lippincott, Mrs. J. M. Pullen; chairmen press
committee, Anna B. S. Pond, Dr. Florence de Hart.
[371] Among many others who have served faithfully as local presidents
and in other ways are Dr. Ella Prentiss Upham, Mrs. Maria H. Eaton,
Mrs. Samuel R. Huntington, Mrs. Madge S. MacClary, Mrs. Sarah S.
Culver, Miss M. Louise Watts.
CHAPTER LV.
NEW MEXICO.[372]
At the Constitutional Convention held in 1888 an effort was made to
secure equal political rights for women, but it received little
support. In September, 1893, Mrs. E. M. Marble visited Albuquerque and
organized a suffrage club with Mrs. G. W. Granger as president. In
December, 1895, Mrs. Laura M. Johns, president of the Kansas E. S. A.
and national organizer, spent a few days in New Mexico, on the way to
and from Arizona, and formed several clubs.
In 1896 Mrs. Julia B. Nelson, president of the Minnesota W. S. A.,
began work in the Territory under the auspices of the National
Association, her first address being delivered at Raton, April 1, and
her last May 12, at the same place. Her mission was to discover the
suffragists, make converts, arrange for a Territorial convention and
effect an organization auxiliary to the national.[373] As a result a
convention was held at Albuquerque, April 28, 29, conducted by Mrs.
Johns and Mrs. Nelson. A Territorial association was formed and the
following officers were elected: President, Mrs. J. D. Perkins;
corresponding secretary, Mrs. Alice P. Hadley; recording secretary,
Miss Clara Cummings; treasurer, Mrs. Martha C. Raynolds.
In 1897 and 1898 no conventions were held, on account of the absence
of several of the officers from the Territory. Through the efforts of
Mrs. Hadley (herself prevented by physical infirmity), H. B.
Fergusson, delegate to Congress for New Mexico, represented the
Territory and made a speech in the convention of the National
Association at Washington in 1898.
In November, 1899, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, chairman of the national
organization committee, and Miss Mary G. Hay, secretary, spent one day
in Santa Fe with George H. and Mrs. Catherine P. Wallace. Mr. Wallace
was secretary of the Territory, and in their home, the historic old
Palacio, forty people gathered to hear Mrs. Chapman Catt lecture. She
made an hour's address, after which there was an interesting
discussion. As a result, a meeting was called for December 19, and the
Territorial association was reorganized with the following officers:
President, Mrs. Wallace; vice-president, Mrs. Hadley; corresponding
secretary, Mrs. Esther B. Thomas; recording secretary, Mrs. Anna Van
Schick; treasurer, Miss Mary Morrison; member national executive
committee, Mrs. Ellen J. Palen. Several vice-presidents were named and
twenty-five members enrolled.[374]
LEGISLATIVE ACTION AND LAWS: On Feb. 10, 1893, a bill was passed in
the Lower House declaring the right of female citizens to vote at
elections and hold offices relating to public schools and public
education. It was not acted upon by the Senate. In 1895 this bill was
defeated.
In 1899 a bill was introduced by Representative McIntosh of San Juan
County (near the Colorado line), on request of his constituents, for
the extension of School Suffrage to women. This received the favorable
votes of one-third of the Lower House, but did not reach the Senate.
A law was passed April 2, 1884, defining the rights of the married
woman. It secured to her the control of property owned by her at the
time of marriage and of wages earned afterward, made her not liable
for her husband's debts and gave her the same power to make contracts,
wills, etc., as was possessed by him. The law at present is as
follows:
Curtesy still obtains. One-half of the community property goes to
the wife whether the husband dies testate or intestate. In
addition to this she is entitled to one-fourth of the rest of his
estate, "provided this deduction shall only be made when said
property amounts to $5,000, and the heirs be not descendants;
although it may exceed this sum in the absence of the latter.
Also from the property of the wife the fourth shall be deducted
as the marital right of the husband, and upon the same
conditions, should the husband without this aid remain poor." If
there are no legitimate children surviving, the widow or widower
shall be heir to all the acquired property of the marriage
community.
By act of 1897, a mortgage not executed by the wife shall in no wise
affect the homestead rights of the wife or family.
By act of 1899: "The signature or consent of the wife shall not be
necessary or requisite in any conveyance, incumbrance or alienation of
real property owned by the husband, whether such property became his
before or during coverture; but the right to make such conveyance or
create such incumbrance shall exist in the husband to the same extent
as though he were unmarried."[375]
The father is the legal guardian of the minor children.
The husband is not required by law to support the family.
In 1887 the "age of protection" for girls was raised from 10 to 14
years, with penalty of imprisonment not less than five nor more than
twenty years.
SUFFRAGE: Women have no form of suffrage.
OFFICE HOLDING: In 1899 a bill passed for appropriations, etc., for
the Deaf and Dumb Asylum recommended the appointment of two women on
the Board of (five) Trustees. The appointments were duly made and
confirmed.
Women serve as members of county school examining boards.
The new office of supervising teacher of the Government Indian Pueblo
Schools has been filled by Miss Mary E. Dissett.
Women are special masters in court, notaries public, court and
legislative stenographers in Spanish and English and census
enumerators. In the last two administrations a woman has acted as
private secretary to the Governor.
A woman has been appointed commissioner for New Mexico to take
testimony in Indian depredation claims.
At a Territorial Irrigation Convention, in 1900, one woman was a duly
elected delegate, taking part in the discussions, etc.
OCCUPATIONS: All professions and occupations are open to women. They
conduct ranches and engage in mining. In Santa Fe the Woman's Board of
Trade, an incorporated body, has so ably conducted the work for
charities and for civic improvements as to arouse a sentiment that
women might well be intrusted with educational and more extended
municipal affairs. In Las Cruces an organization of women is doing a
similar work.
EDUCATION: All educational institutions are open to both sexes, and
degrees are conferred alike upon men and women. The Territorial
University at Albuquerque, the Las Vegas Normal University and others
have women on their faculties.
At the meeting of the Territorial Educational Association in December,
1899, a council was formed composed of twenty-five members, both women
and men. At its first meeting, in September, 1900, a resolution in
favor of School Suffrage for women was unanimously adopted.
In the public schools there are (approximately) 390 men and 316 women
teachers. The average salaries are not obtainable.
* * * * *
The call to arms for the Spanish-American War brought men to the
different recruiting posts in New Mexico, but no provision for them
had been made by the government. The women of Santa Fe, Albuquerque,
Las Cruces, Las Vegas and other towns quickly organized Soldiers' Aid
Societies and raised funds to feed and care for them, till the
companies were mustered in and came under Uncle Sam's charge.
At the Territorial Democratic Convention in Albuquerque, April, 1900,
the following was included in the platform: "It is our belief that
women should be granted an equal voice and position with men in all
matters pertaining to our public schools."
The native Spanish-Americans have great reverence for their elders.
Among a few of the old Don families where the eldest member living is
a senora, so greatly are her wishes and opinions respected that the
entire community will vote as she dictates; the politician has only to
secure her allegiance and he is sure of the vote in her precinct. The
suffrage bills which have been presented to the Legislature have not
been opposed by the Spanish-American members, but by the
Anglo-Saxons.
FOOTNOTES:
[372] The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Catherine P.
Wallace of Santa Fe, president of the Territorial Suffrage
Association. While Mr. Wallace was consul-general to Australia, in
1890, she visited New Zealand and assisted the women there in their
successful effort for the franchise. When this subject was before the
Australian Parliament at Melbourne, she furnished the Premier with the
debate in the United States Congress on the admission of Wyoming, and
with other documents.
[373] Mrs. Nelson visited Raton, Blossburg, Albuquerque, Santa Fe,
Springer, Las Vegas, Watrous, Wagon Mound, Socorro, San Marcial, Las
Cruces, Deming, Silver City, Hillsboro and Kingston, giving two or
three lectures at each place and leaving a club in many.
[374] Among the best known of the advocates are Mrs. M. J. Borden,
Professor and Mrs. Hiram Hadley of the Agricultural College, President
and Mrs. C. L. Herrick and Miss Catherine Fields, all of the
Territorial University; Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson Raynolds, Judge and
Mrs. McFie, Col. and Mrs. I. H. Elliott and Secretary George H.
Wallace.
[375] This law was repealed by the Legislature of 1901, and it was
made impossible for either husband or wife to convey real property
without the signature of the other.
CHAPTER LVI.
NEW YORK.[376]
The State of New York, home of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B.
Anthony, may be justly described as the great battle-ground for the
rights of women, a title which will not be denied by any who have read
the preceding three volumes of this History. The first Woman's Rights
Convention in the world was called at Seneca Falls in 1848.[377] New
York was also a pioneer in beginning a reform of the old English
Common Law, so barbarous in its treatment of women. And yet, with all
the splendid work which has been done, the State has been slow indeed
in granting absolute justice. At the commencement of the new century,
however, the legal and educational rights of women are very generally
conceded, but their political rights are still largely denied. Except
during the Civil War, there has not been a year since 1851 when one or
more conventions have not been held to demand these rights, and when a
committee of women has not visited the Legislature to secure the
necessary action. A State association was formed in 1869.
The convention of 1884 met in the Common Council Chamber at Albany,
March 11, 12, with the usual large attendance of delegates from all
parts of the State, and the evening sessions so crowded that an
overflow meeting was held in Geological Hall. Mrs. Lillie Devereux
Blake, the president, was in the chair and addresses were made by
Mesdames Matilda Joslyn Gage, Mary Seymour Howell, Caroline Gilkey
Rogers and Henrica Iliohan; and by Mrs. Abigail Scott Duniway of
Oregon, Mrs. Elizabeth Boynton Harbert of Illinois and Mrs. Helen M.
Gougar of Indiana, who had come from the national convention in
Washington. On the way to Albany a large reception had been tendered
to them at the Hoffman House in New York. On March 13 a hearing was
held in the Assembly Chamber before the Judiciary Committee on the
bill for Full Suffrage for women. The room was filled and strong
speeches were made by all of the above women. Gov. Grover Cleveland
gave a courteous reception to the delegates.
In 1885 the convention took place in Steinway Hall, New York, February
12, 13, all the counties being represented by delegate or letter. The
speakers were Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Mrs. Gage, Mrs. Howell,
Mrs. Rogers and the Rev. Dr. Charles H. Eaton and Mrs. Delia S.
Parnell (mother of Charles Stewart Parnell). On the evening of the
12th a large reception to Mrs. Stanton was given at the Murray Hill
Hotel.
The convention of 1886 met in Masonic Hall, New York, March 23, 24.
Addresses were made by Miss Susan B. Anthony, James Redpath, Mesdames
Blake, Howell, Rogers and Iliohan, Gov. John W. Hoyt of Wyoming and
Mrs. Margaret Moore of Ireland. A reception was tendered to Dr.
Clemence S. Lozier at the Park Avenue Hotel.
In the fall an interesting observance was arranged by the State
Suffrage Association when the statue of Liberty Enlightening the
World, given to the American nation by France, was unveiled on October
28. There was a great excursion down the bay to witness this ceremony
and the association chartered a boat which was filled with friends of
the cause. A place was secured in the line between two of the great
warships, and, while the cannon thundered a salute to the majestic
female figure which embodied Freedom, speeches were made on the
suffrage boat by Mrs. Blake, Mrs. Margaret Parker of England, Mrs.
Harriette R. Shattuck of Massachusetts, Mrs. Gage, Mrs. Howell and
others.
The convention met again in New York at Masonic Hall, April 21, 22,
1887, and was addressed by Madame Clara Neymann, Rabbi Gustave
Gottheil, Mrs. Florence McCabe, Mrs. Gage, Mrs. Howell, Dr. Lozier and
others.
In 1888 the annual meeting assembled at the same place, March 22, 23.
It was attended by the many delegates who had come from European
countries to the International Congress of Women about to be held in
Washington, D. C. Among the speakers were Baroness Alexandra
Gripenberg of Finland and Mrs. Ashton Dilke, Mrs. Alice Scatcherd and
Mrs. Zadel Barnes Gustafson of England. On the evening preceding the
opening of the convention a large reception was given to these foreign
ladies at the Park Avenue Hotel.
The State convention was held in Rochester, Dec. 16, 17, 1890, in the
First Universalist Church. Its distinguishing feature was the
reception given in the Chamber of Commerce to Miss Susan B. Anthony by
her fellow townsmen, as a welcome home from her long and hard campaign
in South Dakota. The large rooms were handsomely decorated and over
600 people were present during the evening, including President David
Jayne Hill and a number of the faculty of Rochester University,
several members of Congress and many men of prominence.
The speakers at the convention were Miss Mary F. Eastman of Boston,
the Rev. Anna Howard Shaw, Mrs. Greenleaf, Mrs. Blake, Mrs. Howell and
Miss Anthony. Mrs. Blake positively declined a re-election, having
served eleven consecutive years, and Mrs. Jean Brooks Greenleaf was
elected president. During Mrs. Blake's presidency she had many times
canvassed New York and had extended her lecture tours into various
other States, going as far west as California.
Henceforth, in addition to annual conventions, the association adopted
the plan of holding mid-year executive meetings in various cities for
the transaction of business, with public sessions in the evenings
addressed by the best speakers.
In 1891 the convention met in Auburn, November 10, 11, the audiences
crowding the opera house on both evenings. Miss Anthony, Mrs.
Greenleaf, Mrs. Blake, Mrs. Howell and Miss Shaw were the speakers,
with an address of welcome from Mrs. J. Mary Pearson. Reports showed
that the membership had doubled in the last year, and that Woman's Day
had been observed at many fairs, resulting in the forming of county
organizations. A resolution was adopted urging the Legislature to
appoint some women on the State Board of Managers for the Columbian
Exposition in 1893. The convention closed with a reception at the
elegant home of Mrs. Eliza Wright Osborne, niece of Lucretia Mott and
daughter of Martha C. Wright, two of those who called the first
Woman's Rights Convention.
Syracuse was selected for the annual meeting of 1892, November 15-17.
Miss Anthony, president of the National Association, was in
attendance, and the opera house was filled at all the sessions. Mrs.
Martha T. Henderson, vice-president-at-large, who had been appointed
to represent the State, was delegated to arrange for the noon-day
suffrage meetings during the Columbian Exposition. Mrs. Greenleaf's
address reviewed the great debate which had taken place at the New
York Chautauqua Assembly the preceding August, between the Rev. Anna
Howard Shaw and the Rev. J. M. Buckley, editor of the _Christian
Advocate_, and emphasized the evident sympathy of the immense audience
with the side of the question presented by the former. Suffrage Day
had been observed at the Cassadaga Lake Assembly with an address by
Miss Anthony, and also at the State Fair. The association was
congratulated on the fact that there had been a further extension of
School Suffrage during the year.
All interest centered in the approaching convention to revise the
constitution of the State, through which it was hoped a woman suffrage
amendment would be obtained. Miss Anthony, Mrs. Blake and Mrs. Howell
had been appointed to address the Legislature, which they had done in
April of this year, for the purpose of securing women delegates to
this convention, that was to be held in 1893, but eventually was
deferred one year. Committees were appointed which visited the
political State conventions the following summer, asking a declaration
in their platforms for this amendment, but were unsuccessful.
The annual meeting of 1893 was held at Brooklyn, in Long Island
Historical Hall, Nov. 13-16. It was welcomed by Mrs. Mariana Wright
Chapman, president of the Brooklyn suffrage society. The plan of work
was perfected, which had been prepared by Miss Anthony and Mrs.
Stanton, for an active canvass of the State in behalf of a plank in
the approaching Constitutional Convention. Addresses were made by Mrs.
Julia Ward Howe and Henry B. Blackwell of Boston, Miss Anthony, the
Rev. Miss Shaw, national vice-president-at-large; Mrs. Ella A. Boole,
Aaron M. Powell, Gen. C. T. Christiansen, Mrs. Anna C. Field, Mrs.
Emma Bourne, Mrs. Blake and others. Among the resolutions adopted was
the following:
The thanks of this association are due to Gov. Roswell P. Flower
for his recognition of woman's ability in the appointment to a
State office of our national president, Susan B. Anthony, viz: as
one of the Board of Managers of the State Industrial School at
Rochester.
The great campaign of 1894, undertaken to secure a clause for woman
suffrage in the revised State constitution, will be considered further
on in this chapter.
The annual convention met in Ithaca, Nov. 12-14, 1894, the opera house
being filled with the usual large audiences. It was welcomed by Mayor
Clinton D. Bouton and President Jacob Gould Schurmann of Cornell
University. Miss Anthony was present and a galaxy of eloquent New York
women made addresses.
Newburgh entertained the convention Nov. 8-12, 1895. The speakers were
Miss Anthony, Dr. Edward McGlynn, Miss Elizabeth Burrill Curtis,
daughter of George William Curtis; Miss Arria S. Huntington, daughter
of Bishop Frederick D. Huntington; Miss Margaret Livingston Chanler,
Madame Neymann, Mrs. Maude S. Humphrey, Mrs. Chapman, Mrs. Cornelia K.
Hood, Miss Julie Jenney, Mrs. Boole, Mrs. Annie E. P. Searing, Mrs. M.
R. Almy, Miss Harriette A. Keyser, Mrs. Blake, Mrs. Howell, the Rev.
Miss Shaw and Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, chairman of the national
organization committee. Miss Anthony was especially stirred by a
previous speech which reflected on the dress, manners and social
standing of the pioneers in the movement for the rights of women, and
which felicitated the present advocates on their great superiority in
these respects. She named the pioneers, one by one, paid warm tribute
to their beautiful personality and commanding ability and asked where
a woman could be found in all the present generation to excel, if,
indeed, to equal them.
The delegates enjoyed visits to the many interesting places in the
neighborhood, including West Point and Vassar College. A beautiful
reception was given by Mrs. C. S. Jenkins. It was supposed that the
disappointment of the previous year in failing to secure an amendment
from the Constitutional Convention would result in a falling off in
membership, but instead this was found to be considerably augmented.
At the close of the convention the delegates went to New York to
attend Mrs. Stanton's eightieth birthday reception at the Metropolitan
Opera House.
The convention of 1896 was held in Rochester, November 18, 19, with
more delegates present than ever before. It was preceded by a
reception on the evening of the 17th, where the guests were delighted
to greet Miss Anthony and her little band, who had arrived that
morning from their arduous field of labor in the California amendment
campaign. The welcome for the city was extended by Mayor George
Warner. Many of the speakers of the previous year were present, with
the addition of the Rev. Antoinette Brown Blackwell, the first
ordained woman minister, and the noted colored woman of anti-slavery
days, Harriet Tubman. The press chairman, Mrs. Elnora Monroe Babcock,
reported that, instead of the 135 newspapers of the year before, 253
in the State were now using suffrage matter regularly furnished by her
committee.