honor of Miss Anthony, with over 200 guests. Mrs. Mary Lewis Gannett
was toastmistress and Miss Anthony and Miss Shaw made interesting
addresses.
Mrs. Greenleaf, who had done such heroic work during the past six
years and sustained the association on so high a plane, felt obliged
to decline a re-election, and Mrs. Mariana Wright Chapman was
unanimously chosen for her place. Mrs. Greenleaf was appointed
fraternal delegate to the annual meeting of the State Grange, and Mrs.
Howell to the State Labor Convention, and both were cordially
received. The Grange had on several occasions declared for woman
suffrage.
Geneva extended a welcome to the convention Nov. 3-5, 1897, and
successful meetings were held in Collins Hall and the opera house. The
speakers from abroad and many delegates were entertained at the
handsome home of Mrs. Elizabeth Smith Miller, daughter of Gerrit
Smith. Added to the usual list were Miss Alice Stone Blackwell,
recording secretary of the National Association; the Rev. Annis Ford
Eastman, Mrs. Gannett, Mrs. Mary E. Craigie, and Miss M. F. Blaine,
Charles Hemiup, W. Smith O'Brien, the Rev. Remick and Dr. William H.
Jordan of Geneva. A pleasant event of the year had been the carving of
Miss Anthony's face on the stairway of the magnificent new Capitol
building at Albany, by order of George W. Aldridge, State
superintendent of public works.
On April 28, 29, 1898, the fortieth anniversary of the first Woman's
Rights Convention was held in Rochester. This city also had
entertained that convention which had adjourned in Seneca Falls to
hold a session here. The anniversary proceedings took place afternoons
and evenings in the Central Presbyterian church with a fine corps of
speakers.[378]
On Nov. 8-11, 1898, the annual meeting was held in the court house at
Hudson. It was welcomed by the mayor, Richard A. M. Deeley, for the
city and by Mrs. Mary Holsapple for the local suffrage club. An
address of greeting also was given by Judge Levi S. Longley, and the
Hudson Club extended its courtesies. A letter from Mrs. Stanton was
read by her daughter, Mrs. Harriot Stanton Blatch of England, who also
made an address. Many of the strong speakers were present who have
been frequently mentioned in connection with these State conventions.
The treasurer reported receipts for the year $3,220.
Chautauqua County invited the convention of 1899 to Dunkirk, November
1-3, and entertained it royally. There was a reception on the first
evening, and a luncheon was given every day to the delegates who
wished to remain at the hall between sessions. Both day and evening
meetings were large and enthusiastic, the former held at the Woman's
Union, the latter in Academy Hall. Mayor Alexander Williams welcomed
the convention for the city, and Mrs. Ellen Cheney for the county in a
witty poem, Mrs. Chapman responding. Stirring addresses were made by
the Hon. F. S. Nixon and Dr. J. T. Williams. Miss Anthony was present,
with many of the old speakers and several new ones, among them Mrs.
Carrie E. S. Twing.
The last annual meeting of the century convened at Glens Falls, Oct.
29-Nov. 1, 1900, in Ordway Hall. Addresses of welcome were made by the
Hon. Addison B. Colvin and the president of the Warren County
association, Mrs. Susie M. Bain. Mrs. Chapman Catt, Miss Shaw, Mrs.
Boole, president State Woman's Christian Temperance Union; Mrs.
Chapman, Mrs. Howell and Miss Harriet May Mills were among the
principal speakers. A notable feature was the presence of many bright
and enthusiastic young workers. Pledges of support were made for the
national bazar to be held the next month in New York.
Among the resolutions adopted was one congratulating Miss Anthony upon
her success in raising the last of the $50,000 fund which was to open
the doors of Rochester University to women.
In addition to this long array of conventions without a break, the
mid-year executive meetings in various cities have been of almost
equal interest. At nearly every one of these State conventions Miss
Anthony has assisted with her inspiring presence and strong words of
counsel. To many of them Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, not able to come
in person, has sent ringing letters of encouragement, for which the
affectionate greetings of the delegates have been returned. New York
has the largest membership of any State in the Union and pays the
largest amount of money into the national treasury each year, not
alone in auxiliary dues, but in private subscriptions.
The State association has had but three presidents in over twenty
years: Mrs. Lillie Devereux Blake, 1879-1890; Mrs. Jean Brooks
Greenleaf, 1890-1896; Mrs. Mariana W. Chapman, 1896 and still serving.
Mrs. Matilda Joslyn Gage was continuously in office from the time a
State association first existed.[379]
With active work in progress for so many years, and with suffrage
organizations in the counties and towns throughout all of this large
State, it would be impossible to make personal mention of even a small
fraction of those who have aided the movement. The hundreds who have
furnished the money and the thousands who have served in a quiet way
through all the years would require a separate chapter.[380]
It would be equally impossible to describe the efforts made from year
to year, the meetings held, the memorials presented to political
conventions, the debates, the parliamentary drills, the lecture
courses, the millions of pages of literature distributed, the
struggles to place women on the school boards, the special efforts of
the standing committees on legislation, press, industries, work among
children, etc. It is far more difficult to write the history of a
State where so much has been done than where the tale may be quickly
told. No State is better organized for suffrage work.[381] There is no
doubt that a strong sentiment exists outside of New York City in favor
of the enfranchisement of women. However, with the adverse influence
always exerted by a great metropolis, it is impossible to foretell
when this will be accomplished.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT: The history of the struggle of a
comparatively few women to secure a clause for equal suffrage in the
State constitution, when it was revised in 1894, told in the fewest
possible words, is as follows:[382]
As early as 1887 Gov. David B. Hill, at the earnest request of the
State Suffrage Association, had recommended that women should have a
representation in the convention which would frame this revision. Miss
Susan B. Anthony, Mrs. Lillie Devereux Blake, Mrs. Mary Seymour
Howell and Mrs. Caroline Gilkey Rogers addressed a joint committee of
the Legislature urging that women delegates should be permitted to sit
in this convention. Mrs. Blake also prepared a strong written appeal
which was sent to every member. Gov. Roswell P. Flower in his message
in 1892 made a similar recommendation. Again Miss Anthony, Mrs. Blake
and Mrs. Howell made a plea for women, this time before the Assembly
Judiciary Committee.
The original bill provided for a certain number of delegates to be
appointed by the Governor, among these four to represent the
Prohibitionists, three the Labor Party and three the Woman Suffrage
Association. The power of the Governor to appoint was afterwards
declared unconstitutional. A bill allowing three women delegates
passed the Assembly, but was defeated in the Senate. The act which
finally was secured provided that all the delegates should be elected,
and that there should be two representatives each for the Prohibition,
Labor and Socialist parties. None was granted to the Suffragists; but
the law said: "The electors may elect any citizen of the State above
the age of twenty-one years."
The following was then sent to each of the political party
conventions, through properly accredited delegates:
Among other duties incumbent upon the members of your honorable
body is that of nominating delegates-at-large to the convention
called for the revision of the State constitution. As women are
eligible to these positions we offer you the names of three who
have been selected by the executive board of the State W. S. A.
as their choice of delegates for that convention, with the hope
that you will accept them as candidates of your own.
The names presented were those of Miss Anthony, Mrs. Howell and Miss
Emily Howland, the last a large taxpayer and an excellent business
woman. The ladies were courteously listened to by the Democrats, and
refused an opportunity to speak by the Republicans. Similar efforts
were made in district conventions.
Both Republicans and Democrats, however, refused to nominate any
women, the compensation of $10 per day, in addition to the political
power conferred, making the positions entirely too valuable to give to
a disfranchised class. The name of even Susan B. Anthony was declined
by the Republicans of her district. The Democrats of that district,
who were in a hopeless minority, made the one exception in the whole
State and nominated Mrs. Jean Brooks Greenleaf, who ran some votes
ahead of the rest of the ticket.
[Illustration:
MARY S. ANTHONY.
Rochester, N. Y.
JEAN BROOKS GREENLEAF.
Rochester. N. Y.
MARIANA W. CHAPMAN.
Brooklyn, N. Y.
EMILY HOWLAND.
Sherwood, N. Y.
ELIZA WRIGHT OSBORNE.
Auburn, N. Y.
]
Every effort was now directed toward obtaining a clause in the new
constitution, as there was little doubt that if this could be done it
would be adopted with the rest of that instrument. An eloquent appeal
was issued to all the friends of liberty throughout the State, urging
them to assist in securing this measure of justice to women. A
campaign was carefully planned with an ability which would have been
creditable to experienced political managers, and $10,000 were raised
and expended with the most rigid economy.[383]
To save rent headquarters were established in Miss Anthony's own home
in Rochester, which soon became a beehive of industry, and the work
increased until practically every room was pressed into service. The
president of the State association and campaign committee, Mrs.
Greenleaf, and the corresponding secretary, Miss Mary S. Anthony, gave
practically every hour of their time for six months to this great
effort. The postoffice daily sent mail sacks to the house, which were
filled with petitions and other documents and set out on the porch for
collection.
Miss Anthony herself, at the age of seventy-four, spoke in every one
of the sixty counties of the State, contributing her services and
expenses. This series of mass meetings was managed by Miss Harriet May
Mills and Miss Mary G. Hay. The Rev. Anna Howard Shaw spoke at forty
of these, and Mrs. Howell at a large number. The entire management of
New York City was put into the hands of Mrs. Blake, while the campaign
for Brooklyn was conducted by Mrs. Mariana W. Chapman. Mrs. Carrie
Chapman Catt made thirty-eight speeches in these two cities and
vicinity. Mrs. Stanton, from her home in New York, sent many strong
articles to the metropolitan press, which were copied throughout the
State. Mrs. Martha R. Almy. State vice-president, was an active
worker.
Women of social influence in this city, who never had shown any public
interest in the question, opened headquarters at Sherry's, held
meetings and secured signatures to a suffrage petition. The leaders of
this branch were Mrs. Josephine Shaw Lowell, Mrs. Joseph H. Choate,
Dr. Mary Putnam Jacobi, Mrs. J. Warren Goddard, Mrs. Robert Abbe, Mrs.
Henry M. Sanders and Miss Adele M. Fielde. Among those who signed the
petition were Chauncey M. Depew, Russell Sage, Frederick Coudert, the
Rev. Heber Newton, the Rev. W. S. Rainsford, Bishop Henry C. Potter,
Rabbi Gustave Gottheil, John D. Rockefeller, Robert J. Ingersoll and
William Dean Howells.
One of the surprises of the campaign was the organization in Albany of
a small body of women calling themselves "remonstrants," under the
leadership of the Episcopal bishop, William Croswell Doane, and Mrs.
John V. L. Pruyn. Another branch was organized in New York City by
Mrs. Francis M. Scott, and one in Brooklyn with Mrs. Lyman Abbott at
the head and the support of her husband's paper, _The Outlook_.
The suffrage forces circulated 5,000 petitions and secured 332,148
individual signatures, about half of them women (including 36,000
collected by the W. C. T. U.) and memorials from labor organizations
and Granges, bringing the total, in round numbers, to 600,000.[384]
The "remonstrants" obtained only 15,000 signatures, yet at that time
and ever afterwards many of the newspapers insisted that the vast
preponderance of sentiment among men and women was opposed to equal
suffrage.
A part of the work was to collect statistics showing the amount of
property on which taxes were paid by women. It was impossible to
obtain these in New York City, but in three-fifths of the towns and
cities outside it was found to be $348,177,107. In Brooklyn women paid
one-fourth of all the taxes. The drudgery of preparing these tax lists
and recounting and labeling all the petitions was done chiefly by Miss
Isabel Howland.
During the convention an office and a reception room in the Capitol
were granted for the use of the women. On May 24 Miss Anthony and Mrs.
Greenleaf addressed the Suffrage Committee of the Constitutional
Convention in the Assembly Chamber of the Capitol at Albany. A large
crowd was present, including the committee and most of the delegates.
Mrs. Greenleaf's remarks were brief but forcible, and Miss Anthony
spoke earnestly for three-quarters of an hour, seeming to have the
full sympathy of her audience.
The women of New York City were accorded a hearing on May 31, and
strong arguments were made by Dr. Jacobi, Miss Margaret Livingstone
Chanler, Mrs. Blake and Miss Harriette A. Keyser. On June 7 the
Suffrage Committee was addressed by representative women, in
five-minute speeches, from all of the Senatorial districts outside of
New York City.[385] Mrs. Greenleaf presided at all these
meetings.[386]
The final hearing was accorded June 28, when U. S. Senator Joseph M.
Carey, who had come from Wyoming by invitation for this purpose, made
a most convincing argument based on the practical experience of his
own State for twenty-five years. He was followed by Mrs. Howell and
Mrs. Mary T. Burt, president of the State W. C. T. U.
All of these addresses in favor of recognizing woman's right to the
franchise were valueless except for the creation of public sentiment
and as a matter of history, for the chairman of the convention, the
Hon. Joseph H. Choate, had appointed a Suffrage Committee the large
majority of whom were known anti-suffragists, and he was reported to
have said before the convention met that the amendment should not be
placed in the constitution. The committee made an adverse report,
which was discussed by the convention on the evenings of August 8 and
15, with the Assembly Chamber crowded at each session.[387] The
advocates of adopting a woman suffrage plank were led by the Hon.
Edward Lauterbach and the opponents by Mr. Root and William P.
Goodelle, chairman of the Suffrage Committee.[388]
While the ballot was being taken Mr. Choate went on the floor among
the delegates, and himself gave the last vote against the amendment.
The ballot resulted--in favor of the amendment, 58; opposed, 98.
Even though a defeat, this was a decided advance over the
Constitutional Convention of 1867, when there were but 19 ayes and 125
noes. Then less than one-seventh, this time more than one-third of the
members were in favor of the enfranchisement of women.
The following month Miss Anthony and Mr. Lauterbach addressed the
Committee on Resolutions of the State Republican Convention, and Miss
Anthony and Mrs. Blake that of the Democratic, asking for a
recognition of woman suffrage in their platforms, but both ignored the
request.
LEGISLATIVE ACTION: Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Miss Susan B.
Anthony were the pioneers in legislative work for woman suffrage, the
former making her first speech before a committee--in behalf of
property rights--as early as 1845, and continuing her appeals for the
various rights of women during twenty-five years, after which her
addresses were given usually before the committees of the United
States Congress. Miss Anthony made her first appearance in Albany in
1853, and her last one before a committee there in 1897. She devoted
her strongest efforts to the Legislature of her own State until the
demands of national work became so great as to absorb most of her
time, and then she, too, transferred her appeals to the legislative
body of the United States, although assisting always the work in New
York.
Meanwhile other competent laborers had come into the field. In 1873
Mrs. Lillie Devereux Blake began her legislative work, and for
twenty-five years there were few bills in the interests of women under
consideration at Albany which were not managed by her, with an able
corps of assistants, chief among whom was Mrs. Mary Seymour Howell.
For fifty years there is an almost unbroken record of the efforts of
women to secure equality of rights from the Legislature of New York,
and they have succeeded to the extent that now, with the exception of
the statute providing for dower and curtesy, but few serious
discriminations exist against women in the laws, although the
injustice of disfranchisement has been mitigated in only a slight
degree.
When the Legislature assembled on Jan. 1, 1884, Mrs. Blake and Mrs.
Howell were at hand to further the interests of the pending bill "to
prohibit disfranchisement on account of sex." On March 13 a hearing
was held in the Assembly Chamber before the Judiciary Committee and a
large audience. The speakers were Mrs. Abigail Scott Duniway of
Oregon, Mrs. Elizabeth Boynton Harbert of Illinois and Mrs. Helen M.
Gougar of Indiana, Mrs. Blake, Mrs. Howell and Mrs. Caroline Gilkey
Rogers. On May 8, after an exciting debate, the bill was defeated--57
ayes, 62 noes.
The bill of 1885 was drawn by Mrs. Blake and was accompanied by a
strong written argument, with many court decisions to show that it was
within the power of the Legislature itself to protect all citizens
from disfranchisement. This was presented by Gen. James W. Husted,
speaker of the House. Two hearings were given in the Assembly
Chamber, at which addresses were made by Mrs. Stanton, Mrs. Blake,
Mrs. Howell, Mrs. Rogers and Gov. John W. Hoyt of Wyoming.
The bill was debated April 7. General Husted, Mayor James Haggerty and
Dr. J. T. Williams spoke in favor; Gen. N. M. Curtis and Kidder Scott
in opposition. The vote stood 57 ayes, 56 noes, but a constitutional
majority was lacking.
During the summer Mrs. Blake spoke in almost every district whose
member had voted against the measure.
In 1886 a bill for Municipal Suffrage only was presented, drawn by
Augustus Levy and introduced in the Senate by George Z. Erwin, in the
House by Speaker Husted. On February 10 a hearing took place in the
Assembly Chamber. Mrs. Blake presided and the speakers were Mrs.
Matilda Joslyn Gage, Mrs. Howell, Mrs. Rogers and Mrs. Annie Jenness
Miller. On March 2 the Senate gave a hearing to Mr. Levy and James
Redpath. The campaign this winter was one of the most vigorous ever
made. Besides the executive officers of the State association, who
were in Albany some days of every week, much help was secured by the
occasional visits of prominent women and the numerous letters of
influential people from all parts of the State. On the night of the
final vote the Assembly Chamber was filled by friends of the measure
and many officials were present, including the Lieutenant-Governor and
the Attorney-General. As this bill would give women only the right to
vote in municipal affairs, it had many supporters who would not have
favored full suffrage. The debate was long and earnest, Mr. Erwin,
General Husted, Mr. Longley of Brooklyn, Mr. Freligh of Ulster and
others speaking in favor, and General Curtis, William F. Sheehan and
others in opposition. The roll-call was taken in great excitement, and
the ayes went up until their number reached 65, the constitutional
majority. A round of applause broke out, but in an instant two men
arose and changed their votes from the affirmative to the negative, so
that on the final call the vote stood, 63 ayes, 52 noes.
This winter another law was enacted to remove all doubts as to the
constitutionality of the one of 1880, which conferred School Suffrage
on women in villages and country districts. Representative Charles
Sprague introduced a bill making mothers and fathers joint guardians
of their children, but it was defeated.
In 1887 Mrs. Howell drew up the Municipal Suffrage Bill, which was
introduced by Senator Erwin. She spent ten days personally
interviewing every senator until she had the promise of the twenty
votes which were given the bill on its final passage, seventeen being
necessary. There were but nine noes.
After the clerk had read the bill in the Assembly, Speaker Husted
said: "If there is no objection this bill will go at once to the third
reading." Wm. F. Sheehan, the leading opponent of woman suffrage, was
asleep at the time and so it was thus ordered. Mrs. Howell continued
her efforts, but the measure was defeated--48 ayes, 68 noes--by a
moneyed influence from New York City, after nearly enough votes to
carry it had been promised.
A bill providing police matrons in cities, with the exception of New
York and Brooklyn, was secured from this Legislature. It had been
passed in 1882, but not signed by Gov. Alonzo B. Cornell; passed again
in the Assembly in 1883, but defeated in the Senate by the Police
Department of New York City. The bill was finally secured by the
Woman's Prison Association, but it was not made mandatory and no
attention was paid to it by the city authorities.
A bill was presented this year to relieve women from the death
penalty, on the ground that since they had not the full privileges of
men they should not suffer equal punishment. The measure was ably
supported, but failed to pass.
In 1888 the Municipal Suffrage Bill was presented in the Senate by
Charles Coggeshall, and in the Assembly by Danforth E. Ainsworth. A
hearing in the Senate Chamber on February 15 was addressed by Mrs.
Blake, Mrs. Rogers and the Rev. Anna Garlin Spencer of Rhode Island.
The bill was lost in the Senate by a tie vote, 15 ayes, 15 noes; in
the House by 48 ayes, 61 noes.
Laws were enacted at this session providing that there shall be women
physicians in all State insane asylums where women are patients; and
also that there shall be at least one woman trustee in all public
institutions where women are placed as patients, paupers or criminals.
In 1889 the Municipal Suffrage Bill was again presented in the
Assembly by Mr. Ainsworth, but it was lost by 56 ayes, 43 noes, not a
constitutional majority.
In 1890 the Municipal Suffrage Bill was presented by Speaker Husted,
but was defeated by 47 ayes, 52 noes.
In 1891 no legislative work was attempted beyond the efforts toward
securing a representation of women in the Constitutional Convention,
which it was supposed would be held at an early date.
In 1892 an act was passed to enable women to vote for County School
Commissioners, which received the signature of Gov. Roswell P. Flower.
This year a Police Matron Bill was obtained which was made mandatory
in cities of 100,000 and over. This bill had been passed several times
before and vetoed, but it finally obtained the Governor's signature.
Even then the Police Commissioners of New York refused to appoint
matrons until the matter was taken up by the Woman Suffrage League of
that city. This was the end of a ten years' struggle on the part of
women to secure police matrons in all cities. Most active among the
leaders were Mrs. Mary T. Burt, Mrs. Abby Hopper Gibbons and Mrs.
Josephine Shaw Lowell, backed by the W. C. T. U., the Prison Reform,
the Suffrage and various other philanthropic and religious societies.
In 1892 Hamilton Willcox, who had worked untiringly in the Legislature
for many years, had a bill introduced in the Assembly to give a vote
to self-supporting women. It was referred to the Judiciary Committee,
but met with general disfavor. Mrs. Howell being in the Assembly
Chamber with friends one evening, three of its members invited her to
go to their committee room and draw up a bill for Full Suffrage,
telling her they would report it favorably in place of the Working
Woman's Bill. This she did and the new bill was at once reported. The
next week she gave every moment to working with the members for it,
aided by General Husted, Mr. Willcox and William Sulzer. On Friday
morning, one week from the day the bill was reported, it came to the
final vote and passed by 70 ayes, only 65 being required for the
constitutional majority. Excitement ran high at this success and ten
minutes were given for congratulations to Mrs. Howell by friends and
foes alike. The Monday following she carried the bill from the
Engrossing Committee to the Senate. Only three days of the session
were left and the committee held no more meetings, so she saw
separately each member of the Judiciary Committee and all gave a
vote in favor of considering the bill. Mr. Sheehan was now
Lieutenant-Governor and presiding officer of the Senate and would
allow no courtesies to Mrs. Howell, but one senator, Charles E.
Walker, arranged for her to see every member, and she secured the
promise of 18 votes, 17 being required. On Thursday evening, although
Senator Cornelius R. Parsons made many attempts to secure recognition,
the bill was not allowed to come before the Senate. There was every
reason to believe Governor Flower would have signed it.[389]
In 1893 Mrs. Cornelia H. Cary worked for a bill providing that on all
boards of education one person out of five should be a woman, but it
failed to pass. The measure making fathers and mothers joint guardians
of their children, so often urged, became a law this year chiefly
through the efforts of the Women's Educational and Industrial Union of
Buffalo, which had been hampered constantly in its efforts to care for
helpless children by the interference of worthless fathers.[390]
A law also was enacted, championed by Col. George C. Webster, giving
to a married woman the right to make a valid will without her
husband's consent.
The season of 1894 was given wholly to the work of securing a woman
suffrage amendment in the revised State constitution.
In 1895 Mrs. Martha R. Almy, as chairman of the Legislative Committee,
began work in Albany early in January and was absent but one
legislative day from that time until May. She was assisted by Mrs.
Helen G. Ecob, and their effort was to secure a resolution to amend
the constitution by striking out the word "male." In order to submit
such an amendment in New York, a resolution must be passed by two
successive Legislatures.
Judge Charles Z. Lincoln, the legal adviser of Gov. Levi P. Morton,
drew up the resolution and it was introduced January 22 in the
Assembly by Fred S. Nixon, and in the Senate by Cuthbert W. Pound. It
was favorably reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee early in the
session. The chairman of the Assembly Committee, Aaron B. Gardenier,
was very hostile, and after every effort to get a report had been
exhausted, Mr. Nixon and Mrs. Almy made a personal appeal to the
committee and were successful. On March 14 six men brought in the
mammoth petition for woman suffrage which had been presented to the
Constitutional Convention the previous year. The resolution was passed
by 80 ayes, 31 noes. This was a remarkable action for the first
Legislature after the great defeat in the Constitutional Convention
only a few months before.
When the measure came to the Senate it was moved by Senator Pound to
substitute Mr. Nixon's resolution for his own, as they were identical.
But Amasa J. Parker[391] objected in order to make it run the gauntlet
of the Senate Committee again, and this gave the anti-suffragists an
opportunity to oppose it. He then asked for a hearing for Bishop
William Croswell Doane and others before the State Judiciary
Committee, of which he was a member, which Chairman Edmond O'Connor
granted. The committee met but once a week, and twice the hearing was
postponed to accommodate the opposition. The second time, as no one
appeared against the resolution, it was again reported favorably. Just
after this had been done Mr. Parker appeared and objected, and the
chairman agreed to recall it and give the opposition one more chance.
On April 10, the time appointed for the hearing, Bishop Doane sent a
letter declining the honor of appearing, but a delegation from New
York City came up, and Mrs. Francis M. Scott and Prof. Monroe Smith of
Columbia University addressed the committee opposing the measure.
Mrs. Almy and Mrs. Mary H. Hunt replied in its behalf. For the third
time the resolution was reported favorably by the Senate Committee,
and April 18 the vote was taken. Senators Pound, Coggeshall and
Bradley spoke in favor, and Jacob H. Cantor in opposition. It was
carried by 20 ayes, 5 noes.
When the resolution went to the Revision Committee it was found that
in one section there was a period where there should have been a
comma. Mrs. Almy was obliged to remain two weeks and get an amendment
through both Houses to correct this error. Finally the resolution was
declared perfect, and was ordered published throughout the State, etc.
Then it was discovered that the word "resident" was used instead of
"citizen," and the entire work of the winter was void. As it is not
required that copies of original bills shall be preserved, the
responsibility for the mistake never can be located.
The Senate of 1896, by a change in the term of office, was to sit
three years instead of two; and a concurrent resolution, in order to
pass two successive Legislatures, would have to be deferred still
another year, so no work was attempted.
On Jan. 4, 1897, when the Legislature assembled, every member found on
his desk a personally addressed letter appealing for the right of
women citizens to representation, signed by all the officers of the
State Suffrage Association and by the presidents of all the local
societies. The resolution asking for a suffrage amendment was
introduced in the Senate by Joseph Mullen, in the Assembly by W. W.
Armstrong, and was referred to the Judiciary Committees. Repeated
interviews by Mrs. Mariana W. Chapman, Mrs. Mary E. Craigie, chairman
of the legislative committee, and other members were not sufficient to
secure a favorable vote even from the committees, as they were
frightened by the action of the preceding Legislature.
The New York Society Opposed to the Further Extension of Suffrage to
Women was at work on the spot, and every legislator received a letter
urging him not to consider any kind of a bill for woman suffrage.
Finally a hearing was appointed by the Senate Committee for March 24.
In the midst of a snowstorm, all the way from Rochester came the
National president, Miss Anthony; from New York City, the State
president, Mrs. Chapman; the chairman of the national organization
committee, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt; Dr. Mary Putnam Jacobi and Miss
Elizabeth Burrill Curtis; from Syracuse, Miss Harriet May Mills; and
in Albany already were Mrs. Blake, Mrs. Almy, Mrs. Julia D. Sheppard
and a number of local suffragists. Miss Anthony, Mrs. Chapman Catt and
Miss Mills addressed the committee. As the delegation withdrew one
senator said to another: "I do not know what is to become of us men
when such women as these come up to the Legislature." Nevertheless the
resolution was not reported by the committee.
Under the auspices of a Civic Union of all the boroughs of the
proposed "Greater New York," an active campaign was carried on during
this winter to secure various advantages for women under the new
charter, but it met with no especial success.
In 1898 Mrs. Mary Hilliard Loines was chairman of the legislative
committee, and Mrs. Florence Dangerfield Potter, a graduate of Cornell
and of the New York University Law School, acted as attorney. The
Suffrage Amendment Resolution was introduced the first week of the
session by Representative Otto Kelsey, a steadfast friend of woman
suffrage. The usual number of letters was sent throughout the State to
secure co-operation and a hearing was given March 2 in the Assembly
library. The speakers introduced by Mrs. Loines were Mrs. Chapman,
Miss Mills, Mrs. Craigie, Miss Margaret Livingstone Chanler and Mrs.
Martha A. B. Conine, a member of the Colorado Legislature. The Rev.
William Brundage of Albany spoke forcibly in favor of the amendment.
No opponents were present. Although the chairman and some members of
the committee were in favor, it was learned that the majority were
opposed, so a vote was not pressed. The Senate committee being the
same as the previous year, it was thought not worth while to introduce
the resolution into that body.
In 1899 the legislative work differed from that of the years directly
preceding, the executive committee having decided that it might be
wiser to ask for some form of suffrage which the Legislature itself
could grant without submitting the question to the voters. The
following bills were authorized:
1: To make it obligatory to appoint at least one woman on school
boards in those cities, about forty-six in all, where the office
is appointive.
2: To amend the village law, making it obligatory that in all
charters where a special vote of tax-payers is required on
municipal improvements or the raising or distribution of taxes,
women properly qualified shall vote on the same basis as men.
A great many letters had been sent to Gov. Theodore Roosevelt, then
newly elected, asking him to recognize the rights of women in his
inaugural address, which he did by calling the attention of the
Legislature to "the desirability of gradually extending the sphere in
which the suffrage can be exercised by women." These two bills,
therefore, were sent to him for approval and he appointed an interview
at Albany with a committee from the State association. Mrs. Loines,
Mrs. Blake, Miss Mills, Miss Mary Lyman Storrs and Mrs. Nellie F.
Matheson went with the State president to this interview, and the
Governor cordially indorsed the bills.
Letters were sent to the legislators and also to the presidents of the
county suffrage societies, asking them to influence their
representatives. The bill for the Taxpayers' Suffrage was introduced
into the Assembly by Mr. Kelsey. That good work was done was evident
by the vote--98 ayes, 9 noes.
But the battle was with the Senate, where the bill was introduced by
W. W. Armstrong. On February 22 a hearing was given in the Senate
Chamber before the Judiciary Committee. Suffragists and opponents were
there in force. The latter were represented by Mesdames Arthur M.
Dodge, W. Winslow Crannell and Rossiter Johnson. The State president
introduced the suffrage speakers, Miss Chanler, Mrs. Blake and Mrs.
Harriot Stanton Blatch, the last being qualified from residence to
testify to the good effect of this kind of suffrage in England. Mrs.
Elizabeth Smith Miller, Miss Anne Fitzhugh Miller and others were
present. Owing largely to the influence of Elon R. Brown the committee
brought in an adverse report.[392] Senator Armstrong moved to disagree
and the vote, thus called for, in the Senate stood 21 ayes, 24 noes--a
vote on the report, not on the bill, but it put the Senate on record.
The Bill for Women on Appointed Boards of Education, which had been
changed under protest of the suffragists to "one-third of the members
of the board" from "at least one woman," was voted on April 19. In the
Assembly it received 59 ayes, 23 noes; but 76 was the constitutional
majority, so Senate action was useless. It was bitterly opposed by
many prominent school officers.
In 1900 the Legislature made a glaring exhibition of the position in
which a non-voting class can be placed. Early in the session a
resolution was offered on the motion of Senator Thomas F. Grady of New
York City, "that it is not expedient or advisable to attempt at this
session any changes in the constitution in regard to woman suffrage."
It passed by 26 ayes, 17 noes. Let it be said, for the honor of the
State, that there were senators who protested indignantly against such
trampling upon the rights of the people. Several who voted in favor of
this resolution afterwards voted for the suffrage bill.
The Bill for Woman Suffrage on Tax Questions was introduced the very
next day by Senator Armstrong. Soon afterward it was presented in the
Assembly by Mr. Kelsey. On March 22 it passed with only two negative
votes--John Hill Morgan of Brooklyn and James B. McEwan of Albany.
When this bill came to the Senate there were so many before it that
April 4 its friends moved to take it up out of order by suspension of
rules. Senators Armstrong, Coggeshall and Lester H. Humphrey spoke in
favor, Senator Grady against. The vote in favor was 23 ayes, 19 noes
(nine of these from New York City), but twenty-six votes were
necessary to suspend. The situation, however, was more encouraging
than the year before. The legislative committee of the State W. S. A.
this year consisted of Mesdames Loines, Blake, Matheson, Priscilla D.
Hackstaff and Ella Hawley Crossett.
In 1901 the committee was composed of Mesdames Loines, Hackstaff,
Craigie, Jean Brooks Greenleaf and Lucy P. Allen. All efforts were
centered on the bill to give taxpaying women the right to vote on
questions of taxation. A conference with Governor Odell showed his
friendliness to the bill and disclosed the fact that he had used his
influence to amend the charter of his own city of Newburg to give this
privilege to women.
Speaker Nixon, in his opening address, referred to the bill as a
measure of justice which he hoped would be introduced every year until
it became a law. Mr. Kelsey for the third time constituted himself its
champion, and worked earnestly for its success. Letters poured in from
all parts of the State, the W. C. T. U. co-operated cordially, and
hearings were granted by House and Senate committees. The bill passed
the Assembly February 26 by 83 ayes, 29 noes. Of the latter 18 were
from New York City. Of the 38 absent or not voting 22 were from that
city.
In the Senate the bill was referred to the Judiciary Committee as
usual. On March 20 a hearing before this committee was arranged for
those in favor and opposed. It was conducted by Mrs. Loines for the
suffragists, who were represented by Mrs. Chapman, Miss Chanler, a
large taxpayer in Dutchess County, and Miss Alice Stone Blackwell of
Boston, but a taxpayer in New York. Mrs. Arthur M. Dodge was at the
head of the eighteen women who came from the anti-suffrage society to
protest against taxpaying women being granted a representation on
questions of taxation. The other speakers were Mrs. Rossiter Johnson
of New York City, Mrs. Crannell of Albany, and Mrs. William Putnam of
Groton who read a paper written by Mrs. Charles Wetmore. The first
took the ground that the bill was unconstitutional. The second
protested against the attempt "to force widows, spinsters and married
women to vote against their will." The third begged the members of the
Senate Committee "not to be hoodwinked into believing this was not a
suffrage measure," and assured them that "many of the members had
pledged themselves to vote for it without recognizing that it was a
suffrage bill." She also said: "For the last fifty years, while the
suffragists have been wasting their strength in the effort to get the
ballot, we, and women like us, have been quietly going ahead and
gaining for women the rights they now enjoy in regard to education,
property and the professions. The suffragists had nothing to do with
it."
The friends of the bill in the Senate tried in vain to obtain a report
from the Judiciary Committee, the chairman, Edgar Truman Brackett,
being opposed to the bill. Finally, on April 11, Senator Humphrey
moved "to discharge the committee from further consideration," which
was carried by 22 ayes, 20 noes. On April 19 it was brought to a vote
and passed by 27 ayes, 14 noes, 8 of the latter from New York City.
Mr. Grady was absent.
The bill was signed by Gov. Benjamin F. Odell, April 24, 1901. It was
generally understood that U. S. Senator Thomas C. Platt was in favor
of the measure. Judge Charles Z. Lincoln, chairman of the Statutory
Revision Committee, gave most valuable assistance.
The effect of this bill was far greater than had been anticipated,
because of the importance of New York as a State. Before six months
had passed women in considerable numbers had voted in a dozen
different places. Although it applied only to towns and villages,
these numbered about 1,800. What was of more importance, the principle
had been recognized. There was scarcely a newspaper in the United
States that did not contain an editorial upon the subject, which in
the vast majority of cases declared the law to be just.
LAWS: Dower and curtesy obtain. If the husband die without a will the
widow is entitled to the life use of one-third of the real estate and,
after the payment of the debts, to one-third of the personal estate
absolutely. If there are no children she may have one-half of the
latter--stocks, cash, furniture, pictures, silver, clothing, etc.--and
the other half goes to the husband's relatives, even down to nephews
and nieces. The widow may, however, have the whole if it does not
exceed $2,000. If it exceed that amount, $2,000 may be added to her
half. If there are no relatives of the husband she may have all the
personal property. If there has been a living child the widower has a
life interest in all the wife's estate. If there have been no children
he takes all the personal property absolutely, and her real estate
goes to her next of kin. If there is a child living he has one-third
of the personal property absolutely.
The husband is liable for the wife's debts before marriage to the
extent of any property acquired from her by ante-nuptial agreement.
She holds her separate property, however acquired, free from any
control of the husband and from all liability for his debts. She can
live on her own real estate, and forbid her husband entering upon it.
Either husband or wife can make a will without the knowledge or
consent of the other, the latter disposing of all her separate
property, the former of all but the wife's life interest in one-third
of the real estate. The law provides, however, that no person having
husband, wife, child or parent can bequeath over one-half of his
property, after payment of debts, to any institution, association or
corporation.
The wife can mortgage or convey her real and personal estate without
the husband's signature. He may do this with his personal property but
not with his real estate.
A married woman may carry on any trade or business and perform any
labor or services on her own account, and her earnings are her sole
and separate property. She may sue and be sued as if unmarried, and
may maintain an action in her own name and the proceeds of such action
will be her separate property.[393]
She may contract as if unmarried and she and her separate estate are
liable. A woman engaged in business can not be arrested for a debt
fraudulently contracted. All women enjoy certain exemptions from the
sale of their property under execution which in the case of men are
granted only to householders--that is, a man who provides for a
family.
The husband's creditors have no claim to a life insurance unless the
annual premiums have exceeded $500; and it is also exempt from
execution for the wife's debts.
Common Law marriages are legal, requiring neither license nor
ceremony, and 14 years is the legal age for the girl.[394]
Absolute divorce is granted only for adultery. In case of either
absolute or limited divorce the husband may be required to pay alimony
to the wife during her life, even if she should marry again.
Every married woman is joint guardian of her children with her
husband, having equal powers, rights and duties in regard to them, and
on the death of either parent the survivor continues guardian. (1893.)
A husband is required to support his wife commensurately with his
means and her station in the community, without regard to the extent
of her individual property. If he fail to do this or if he abandon his
family he may be arrested and compelled to give security that he will
provide for them and will indemnify the town, city or county against
their becoming a charge upon the public within one year. Failing, he
may be sent to prison or penitentiary for not less than six months'
hard labor, or until he gives such bond, but none of this is
obligatory on the court.
In 1887 the "age of protection" for girls was raised from 10 to 16
years, and it was made optional with the court to impose less than the
existing penalty of ten years' imprisonment. A few years afterward it
was proposed to reduce the age to 12 years. Mrs. Mary H. Hunt, in
behalf of the W. C. T. U., went before the Judiciary Committee and
said: "I represent 21,000 women and any man who dares to vote for this
measure will be marked and held up to scorn. We are terribly in
earnest." The matter was dropped. In 1895 the age was raised from 16
to 18, with a penalty for first degree of not more than twenty years'
imprisonment; for second degree, not more than ten. No minimum penalty
is named. Trials may be held privately, and it is the testimony of the
various protective associations of women that it is almost impossible
to secure convictions.
The laws contain many provisions for the benefit of female employes;
among them one that if any employer in New York City fail to pay wages
due up to $50, none of his property is exempt from execution and he
may be imprisoned without bail.
SUFFRAGE: In 1880 a law was enacted by the Legislature declaring that
"no person shall be deemed ineligible to serve as any school officer,
or to vote at any school meeting, by reason of sex, who has the other
qualifications now required by law."
It was the undoubted intention to give School Suffrage to all women by
this law, but at once Attorney-General Hamilton Ward rendered a
decision that it did not apply to cities but only to places where
separate "school meetings" were held, mainly country districts and
villages.
In 1881 another attempt was made by the Legislature to confer School
Suffrage on all women by striking out the word "male" in an old
statute of 1864, but as it failed to amend the very portion of the law
which referred to School Commissioners, this left the condition
unchanged.
In 1886 the Legislature tried it again by enlarging the qualifications
of voters, but as the words "school district" were used it did not
succeed in giving the suffrage to any women except those who already
possessed it.
In 1892 the Legislature once more came boldly to the rescue, and
undertook to enact that women should have a vote for _District_ School
Commissioners, which would bring under its provisions all the women of
the State. The Act read: "All persons without regard to sex, who are
eligible to the office of School Commissioner, and have the other
qualifications required by law, shall have the right to vote for
School Commissioner."
As the Act of 1880 had said specifically that "no person shall be
deemed ineligible to serve as any school officer by reason of sex,"
this seemed to settle the question. The Act further provided that "All
persons so entitled to vote for School Commissioner shall be
registered as provided by law for those who vote for county officers,
and whenever School Commissioners are to be elected it shall be the
duty of the county clerk to prepare a ballot to be used exclusively by
those who, by reason of sex, can vote only for School Commissioner."
This Act went into effect in April, 1893, and in the autumn Mrs.
Matilda Joslyn Gage registered in Manlius, Onondaga County.
Immediately the board of inspectors were requested to remove her name
from the registry. They refused and application was made to the
Supreme Court to strike off her name, on the sole contention that she
was not a lawful voter on account of her sex. The application was
granted on the ground that the Act conferring upon women the right to
vote for School Commissioner was unconstitutional. The inspectors
obeyed the order. Mrs. Gage appealed to the General Term, where the
order was affirmed, and then she carried her case to the Court of
Appeals. The decision here was in brief that a School Commissioner is
a _county officer_, and that by the State constitution only male
citizens may vote for such officers. The decision closed by saying: "A
Constitutional Convention may take away the barrier which excludes the
claimed right of the appellant, but until that is done we must enforce
the law as it stands."[395]
Thus after twenty years of time, four acts of the Legislature and
three decisions of the highest courts, the School Suffrage for women
is still confined exclusively to those of the villages and country
districts. The law condensed reads as follows:
Every person of full age residing in any school district, etc.,
who owns or hires real property in such district liable to
taxation for school purposes; and every such resident who is the
parent of a child who shall have attended the school in said
district for a period of at least eight weeks within one year
preceding such school meeting; and every such person, not being
the parent, who shall have permanently residing with him or her a
child of school age, etc.; and every such resident and citizen as
aforesaid, who owns any personal property, assessed on the last
preceding assessment-roll of the town, exceeding $50 in value,
exclusive of such as is exempt from execution, and no other,
shall be entitled to vote at any school meeting held in such
district, for all school district officers and upon all matters
which may be brought before said meeting. No person shall be
deemed ineligible to vote at any such school district meeting, by
reason of sex, who has one or more of the other qualifications
required by this section.[396]
This was the only suffrage granted to women until 1901, when the
following was enacted by the Legislature:
A woman who possesses the qualifications to vote for village or
town officers, except the qualification of sex, and who is the
owner of property in the town or village assessed upon the last
preceding assessment-roll thereof, is entitled to vote upon a
proposition to raise money by tax or assessment.
This law is believed to include about 1,800 places. The bill for it
was managed by a committee of the State Suffrage Association in three
successive Legislatures.
By the city charters of eleven of the thirty-six third-class
cities--Amsterdam, Cohoes, Corning, Geneva, Ithaca, Jamestown,
Newburg, Niagara Falls, North Tonawanda, Oswego and Watertown,
taxpaying women have a vote on special appropriations. Hornellsville
also conferred this privilege but it was declared illegal by the
corporation council, because the word "resident" was used instead of
"citizen."
OFFICE HOLDING: By a statute of 1880 women are eligible for any school
office. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction is elected by
the Legislature. Instead of county superintendents, as in most States,
New York has District Commissioners. A district may comprise either a
part or the whole of a county, but no city may form any part of it. At
present ten women are serving as District Commissioners. A
considerable number sit on the school boards of cities and villages
but no exact record is kept. In Greater New York thirty women serve as
school inspectors; there are also four supervisors in the departments
of sewing, cooking, kitchen-garden and physical culture, at salaries
ranging from $2,000 to $2,500.
The same law which enables women to serve as District School
Commissioners makes them eligible to all district offices, including
those of trustee, collector, treasurer and librarian, as the law in
prescribing qualification, omits the word "male."[397]
Women also are eligible to the office of village clerk. They serve as
notaries public, clerks of the Surrogate Court and deputy tax
collectors. Miss Christine Ross of New York City is a certified public
accountant and auditor.
Most cities have police matrons. Sixty fill this position in Greater
New York at a salary of $1,000 per annum.
Women are employed as city physicians in several places. The law
requires one woman physician in each State hospital for the insane and
eleven are at present employed, leaving only the State Homeopathic
Hospital at Gowanda[398] and the Manhattan Hospital on Long Island
without one.
One woman trustee is required on the board of every State institution
where women are placed as patients, paupers or criminals, but this is
not strictly obeyed. A list of the boards of eleven hospitals shows
twelve women and sixty-five men, but four have no women members. Two
women are on the board of Craig Colony of Epileptics; three on that of
the Custodial Asylum for Feeble-Minded.
The following are serving as State officials: On State Board of
Charities of twelve commissioners, one woman, with thirteen employed
in different departments at from $480 to $1,400 per annum; State
Superintendent Woman's Relief Corps, at $1,500; two State hospital
accountants at $1,400, three at $700; principal of House of Refuge for
Women at Hudson, $1,200; superintendent Western House of Refuge,
$1,200; five in Commission of Lunacy Department, $700 to $1,400;
fourteen in the State Library, $50 to $175 per month; seven in
Administrative Department of the Board of Regents of the University of
New York, and thirteen in the College and High School Departments (not
teachers), $720 to $1,200 per annum; ten in Home Education Department,
$50 to $150 per month; in the Department of Public Instruction, five
confidential clerks at from $900 to $2,000; in Bureau of Examinations
seven women at $900 (men in same positions receive $1,800); in State
Museum one woman at $600; in Training Class Bureau two women clerks at
$900; three women in office of Secretary of State at $900; one index
clerk in Bureau of Charitable Institutions at $1,050; one in State
Comptroller's office at $1,050; one examiner for Civil Service
Commission at $900 (men receive $1,400 for same work), and three
stenographers at $600 to $900; two State's prison stenographers at
$1,000; a Bertillon indexer, $1,200; one clerk for Commission of
Labor, $1,200; one for Free Employment Bureau, $900; under
Superintendent of Insurance, five women, $1,200 to $1,400; in office
of State Architect three, $626 to $900; in Bureau of Records two
clerks, $1,200; thirteen women are Factory Inspectors or employes in
that department, $600 to $1,500; twelve in the service of Commissioner
of Excise, $720 to $1,080.
OCCUPATIONS: No profession or occupation is legally forbidden to
women. Several are presidents of banks, a number are brokers, many are
directors of corporations and there are women managers of countless
enterprises.
EDUCATION: The two great universities, Cornell at Ithaca and Columbia
in New York City, admit women to all departments and grant them the
full degrees. In Cornell they recite in the same classes with the men
students, and have the additional advantage of a residential hall on
the campus. There are no women on the faculty. Dr. M. Carey Thomas,
president of Bryn Mawr College, has been a member of the board of
trustees for several years. The women undergraduates of Columbia have
class-rooms and residence in Barnard, an independent corporation but
an affiliated college, its dean having the same relation to Columbia
as the heads of all the other colleges. The faculty is composed partly
of the regular Columbia staff and partly of special professors, among
whom are a number of women. The seniors attend certain courses in
philosophy and science in the regular university classes, and all of
these are open to post graduates. The University of New York, situated
in and near the city, is co-educational in its post-graduate courses
and in its Departments of Law, Pedagogy and Commerce. Its Law
Department is celebrated for the prominent women it has graduated.
Pratt Institute of Brooklyn is open to both sexes alike.
The Universities of Syracuse and Rochester are co-educational. The
latter was opened in 1900 through the efforts of the women of the city
in raising a fund of $50,000. The project would have failed, however,
had it not been for the assistance of Miss Anthony. On the morning of
the day when the limit would expire which had been fixed by the
trustees for the raising of this sum, $8,000 were still lacking.
Every possible source had been exhausted and in despair the women
appealed to Miss Anthony, who already had collected and turned over a
considerable amount. She set out with the wonderful determination
which always has characterized her, and at 4 o'clock in the afternoon
she went before the board of trustees with the full quota in checks
and pledges, making herself responsible for the last $2,500.
Union Theological Seminary of New York City (Presbyterian) is one of
the very few orthodox institutions of this kind which admit women.
The State is distinguished by having in Vassar the first of the great
colleges for women which offer a course of study approximating that of
the best universities. It was founded in 1861. Over 700 students are
in attendance.
Besides seven large co-educational institutions there are eight or ten
smaller ones for boys alone and several for girls alone.
In the public schools there are 5,405 men and 28,587 women teachers;
in New York City 1,263 men and 10,949 women. The average annual salary
for teachers in the cities outside of New York is $597; in that city,
which employs one-third of the whole number, $1,035. The average
annual salary in the commissioner districts is $322.49. There are
women in Greater New York receiving $2,500; there are hundreds in the
State receiving one-tenth of that sum. So far as it has been possible
to secure an estimate there is fully as much discrepancy between men's
and women's salaries for the same work as in other States.
* * * * *
The women of Greater New York take a prominent part in political
campaigns. There are seven or eight Women's Republican Clubs, a Health
Protective Association and a Woman's Municipal League which were
active in 1897 when Seth Low, president of Columbia College, was
candidate for mayor on the Reform ticket.[399] There is also a
flourishing Ladies' Democratic Club.
A unique observance is the annual Pilgrim Mothers' Dinner at the
renowned Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. This was instituted in December, 1892,
by the New York City Suffrage League, Mrs. Lillie Devereux Blake,
president, in memory of those noble women, who are apt to be
overlooked at the celebrations in honor of the Pilgrim Fathers.
New York divides with Massachusetts the honor of forming the first
Woman's Club--Sorosis, in 1868--and it continues foremost among the
States in the size and influence of its organizations of women. Over
200, part of them suffrage societies, belong to the Federation of
Clubs, and these represent only a portion of the whole number. There
are eighty auxiliaries to the State Suffrage Association.
FOOTNOTES:
[376] The History is indebted for the material for this chapter to
Mrs. Mariana Wright Chapman of Brooklyn, Mrs. Jean Brooks Greenleaf of
Rochester, and Mrs. Lillie Devereux Blake of New York, the presidents
of the State Woman Suffrage Association during the past twenty years.
[377] See History of Woman Suffrage, Vol. I, p. 67.
[378] Those making addresses were Miss Anthony, Miss Shaw, Mrs.
Chapman Catt, Mrs. Gannett, Mrs. Searing, Rabbi Max Landsberg, the
Hon. Charles S. Baker, the Hon. John Van Voorhis, the Rev. H. Clay
Peeples, the Rev. Ward Platt, the Rev. H. H. Stebbins, the Rev. J. W.
A. Stewart and Prof. S. A. Lattimore, acting president of the
Rochester University.
Addresses of welcome: Miss Mary S. Anthony for the City Political
Equality Club, the Rev. W. C. Gannett for the church that welcomed the
first convention, Mrs. Jean Brooks Greenleaf for the State
association.
The committee of arrangements were Mesdames S. A. West, Amy E. T.
Searing, J. G. Maurer, S. C. Blackall, Florence D. Alexander, Mary L.
Gannett, D. L. Kittredge, Emma B. Sweet, A. B. Taylor, D. L. Johnson,
F. B. Van Hoesen; Misses Jessie Post, Frances Alexander; Messrs. C. G.
Alexander and Joseph Bloss.
[379] The others who have held office since 1883 are as follows: Mary
S. Anthony, Martha R. Almy, Elnora Monroe Babcock, Henrietta M.
Banker, Ella Hawley Crossett, Hannah B. Clark, Elizabeth Burrell
Curtis, Everline R. Clark, Charlotte F. Daley, Margaret H. Esselstyne,
Mrs. Hannah L. Howland, Emily Howland, Isabel Howland, Cornelia K.
Hood, Maude S. Humphrey, Mary Seymour Howell, Priscilla Dudley
Hackstaff, Ada M. Hall, Martha H. Henderson, Helen M. Loder, Anne F.
Miller, Jennie McAdams, Harriet May Mills, Clara Neymann, Eliza Wright
Osborne, Mary J. Pearson, Helen C. Peckham, Mary Thayer Sanford, Kate
Stoneman, Kate S. Thompson, Emily S. Van Biele, Emilie J. Wakeman.
[380] Aside from those elsewhere mentioned, the names which seem to
occur most often in looking over the records are those of Dr. Sarah L.
Cushing, Dr. Cordelia A. Greene, Zobedia Alleman, Abigail A. Allen,
Kornelia T. Andrews, Amanda Alley, Mary E. Bagg, Charlotte A.
Cleveland, Ida K. Church, Susan Dixwell, Eliza B. Gifford, Esther
Herman, Ella S. Hammond, Mary Bush Hitchcock, Belle S. Holden, Mary H.
Hallowell, Emeline Hicks, Mary N. Hubbard, Marie R. Jenney, Rhody J.
Kenyon, Lucy S. Pierce, Harriet M. Rathbun, Martha J. H. Stebbins,
Julia D. Sheppard, Chloe A. Sisson, Delia C. Taylor.
[381] Much of the credit for the excellent organization is due to Miss
Harriet May Mills, State organizer, daughter of C. D. B. Mills of
anti-slavery record. Miss Mills is a graduate of Cornell University,
and is devoting her youth and education entirely to the cause of woman
suffrage.
[382] The story of this canvass, the largest and most systematic which
ever has been made for such a purpose, is given in full in "Record of
the New York Campaign of 1894," a pamphlet of 250 pages, issued by the
State association in 1895, and placed in many libraries throughout the
country. It is given also, with many personal touches, in the Life and
Work of Susan B. Anthony, Chap. XLII.
[383] From treasurer's report: Emily Howland generously contributed
$1,200. That staunch friend, Sarah L. Willis of Rochester gave $720.
Abby L. Pettengill of Chautauqua County, $220. Mr. and Mrs. H. S.
Greenleaf of Rochester, $200. General C. T. Christiansen of Brooklyn
began the contributions of $100, of which there were eight others from
our own State--Semantha V. Lapham, Ebenezer Butterick, Mrs. H. S.
Holden, Marian Skidmore, Hannah L. Howland, Cornelia H. Cary, Mr. and
Mrs. James Sargent; Mrs. Louisa Southworth of Ohio.
[384] One who was a witness gives this description:
"There were no more dramatic scenes during the convention than those
afforded by the presenting of the petitions. The names were enrolled
on pages of uniform size and arranged in volumes, each labeled and
tied with a wide yellow ribbon and bearing the card of the member who
was to present it. At the opening of the sessions, when memorials were
called for, he would rise and say: 'Mr. President, I have the honor to
present a memorial from Mary Smith and 17,117 others (for example),
residents of ---- county, asking that the word 'male' be stricken from
the Constitution.' Often one after another would present a bundle of
petitions until it would seem as though the entire morning would be
thus consumed. They were all taken by pages and heaped up on the
secretary's table, where they made an imposing appearance. Later they
were stacked on shelves in a large committee room.
"Mrs. Burt, the president of the W. C. T. U., brought in the petitions
of her society all at once, many great rolls of paper tied with white
ribbon. A colored porter took them down the aisle on a wheelbarrow."
[385] Mesdames Cornelia K. Hood, Cornelia H. Cary, Mariana W. Chapman,
Mary E. Craigie, Cora Sebury, Martha R. Almy, A. E. P. Searing, Elinor
Ecob Morse, Marcia C. Powell, Helen G. Ecob, Susie M. Bain, Carrie E.
S. Twing, Clara Neymann, Selina S. Merchant, Henrietta M. Banker,
Maude S. Humphrey, Mary Lewis Gannett; Dr. Sarah H. Morris; Misses
Arria S. Huntington, Emily Howland, Elizabeth Burrill Curtis.
[386] A hearing, on June 14, was given to the "Antis," as the press
dubbed the remonstrants. Their petition against being allowed the
suffrage was presented by the Hon. Elihu Root, and the speeches were
made by Francis M. Scott, the Rev. Clarence A. Walworth, the Hon.
Matthew Hale and J. Newton Fiero. Letters were read from the Hon.
Abram S. Hewitt and Austin Abbott.
[387] Among the earnest advocates of the suffrage article were Judges
Titus and Blake of New York, Judge Towns of Brooklyn, Judge Moore of
Plattsburg, Messrs. Lincoln, Church and McKinstry of Chautauqua,
Maybee of Sullivan, Cornwall of Yates, Powell of Kings, Cassidy of
Schuyler, Kerwin of Albany, Phipps of Queens, Fraser of Washington,
Arnold of Dutchess, Bigelow and Campbell of New York, Roche of Troy.
Speeches in opposition were made by Messrs. McClure, Goeller and
Platzek of New York, Fuller of Chenango, Griswold of Greene, Mereness
of Lewis, Sullivan of Erie, Lester of Saratoga, Hirshberg of Newburg,
Kellogg of Oneonta, Mantanye of Cortland, Cookinham of Utica.
[388] Members of committee in favor of woman suffrage clause: Edward
Lauterbach, Mirabeau Lamar Towns, Vasco P. Abbott, John Bigelow,
Gideon J. Tucker. Opposed: William P. Goodelle, Henry J. Cookinham,
John F. Parkhurst, Henry W. Hill, D. Gerry Wellington, John W.
O'Brien, Henry W. Wiggins, Thomas G. Alvord, David McClure, De Lancy
Nicoll, John A. Deady, William H. Cochran.
[389] In the work for other bills Mrs. Howell was assisted by Miss
Kate Stoneman, New York's first woman lawyer, Mrs. Sarah A. Le Boeuf,
Mrs. Joan Cole and Miss Winnie, all of Albany. George Rogers Howell,
assistant and also State librarian, aided his wife in every way. As a
State officer for many years he had strong influence and it always was
used for woman's political freedom. During these years Mrs. Howell, as
president of the Albany Political Equality Club, conducted many public
meetings in the Senate Chamber of the historic old Capitol building
until it was torn down. Legislators and State officers came each
Tuesday night to hear the suffrage speeches.
[390] In 1860, after ten years of persistent effort by Mrs. Stanton,
Miss Anthony and other pioneer workers, who had gathered up thousands
of petitions and besieged the Legislature, session after session, a
law was secured giving father and mother joint guardianship. In 1862,
so quietly that the women were not aware of it, the Legislature
repealed this law and again vested the guardianship solely in the
father. Although repeated efforts were afterwards made to have the
mother's right restored, this was not done for thirty years.
[391] Senator Parker is a brother of Mrs. J. V. L. Pruyn, who
organized the first anti-suffrage society in the State, at Albany.
[392] In Senator Brown's own city of Watertown, over 50 per cent. of
the women had just voted to bond the city for a new High School, the
press giving them full credit for it, but he persistently opposed this
bill.
[393] It was not supposed that this right could be questioned, but in
1901, in New York City, a woman who was supporting her children by
washing while her husband was in the hospital, was thrown from a
trolley car with her baby in her arms and injured so that she could
not work. She brought suit against the Street Railway Company before a
municipal court, and was awarded $147.50. The company appealed to the
Supreme Court and Justice David Leaventritt reversed the decision,
saying in his opinion, "At Common Law the husband was absolutely
entitled to the earnings of his wife, and neither the Enabling Act of
1860 nor the broader one of 1864 has affected the right, unless the
service and earnings were rendered and received expressly upon her
sole and separate account." Afterwards in explanation he said that the
woman had not made it clear in her suit that she was working for
herself and not performing service for her husband.
In 1902 a law was passed securing absolutely to married women their
own earnings and the right to sue for damages by loss of wages in case
of personal injury.
[394] In 1901 an attempt was made to correct this evil, and a
ridiculous law was passed and duly signed by Governor Odell providing
that a couple may become husband and wife by signing an agreement
before witnesses, but in order to make this legal it must be recorded
within six months. If at the end of this time it has not been recorded
both are free to marry somebody else. If the fourteen year old wife
should not know of this legal requirement she may find herself
abandoned without redress.
[395] This decision covers many pages with hair-splitting definitions,
tracing the laws governing School Commissioners back to 1843, and
summing up with the following unintentional satire.
"The Constitution, in Article 2, Section 1, prescribes the
qualifications of voters 'for all officers that now are or hereafter
may be elected by _the people_,' and confines the franchise
specifically to 'male citizens.' The office of School Commissioner was
one thereafter made 'elective by _the people_,' through the operation
of the alternative given by Article 10, Section 2, which provides that
'all officers whose offices may hereafter be created by law shall be
elected by _the people_ or appointed as the Legislature may direct.'
That is, in such cases, it may choose between election and appointment
and in the latter event may dictate the authority and mode of
appointment. The Legislature chose that the office should be elective,
and, becoming such, it fell within the scope and terms of the
constitutional provisions applicable to elections by _the people_."
[396] By the charters of the third class cities of Auburn, Geneva,
Hornellsville, Jamestown, Norwich, Union Springs and Watertown women
have School Suffrage on the same terms as men. The city of Kingston is
divided into several common and union free school districts and women
are authorized to vote.
[397] For legal opinion see Appendix for New York.
[398] In 1902 the hospital at Gowanda, the largest of the kind in the
State, placed a woman on its staff as specialist in gynecology.
[399] In 1901, when Mr. Low was again a candidate and was elected,
these clubs were a prominent factor in the campaign. They arranged
meetings, addressed large audiences, raised $30,000 and circulated
1,000,000 pieces of literature. Their work was commended by the press
of the whole United States and much credit was given them for the
success of the Reform ticket. When the Board of Education of forty-six
members was appointed by Mayor Low, various societies petitioned him
to give women a representation upon it, but he declined to do so.
CHAPTER LVII.
NORTH CAROLINA.[400]
The only attempt at suffrage organization in North Carolina was made
by Miss Helen Morris Lewis, Nov. 21, 1894. A meeting was called at the
court house in Asheville and attended by a large audience, which was
addressed by Miss Lewis and Miss Floride Cunningham. Thomas W. Patton,
mayor of the city, made a stirring speech in favor of giving the
ballot to women. At his residence the next day a society was formed
with a membership of forty-five men and women; president, Miss Morris;
vice-president, T. C. Westall; secretary, Mrs. Eleanor Johnstone
Coffin; treasurer, Mayor Patton. The next mayor of Asheville, Theodore
F. Davidson, also advocated woman suffrage.
In 1895 addresses were made in various cities by Miss Laura Clay of
Kentucky and Miss Elizabeth Upham Yates of Maine, who had been
attending the national convention in Atlanta.
Later on Miss Frances E. Willard, president of the National Woman's
Christian Temperance Union, and Miss Belle Kearney, a noted lecturer
from Mississippi, aroused considerable enthusiasm in various places by
pleas for woman suffrage in their temperance addresses. Miss Lewis has
spoken in a number of towns and at the State Normal School. No
organized work has been done, however, and but little public interest
is felt.
LEGISLATIVE ACTION AND LAWS: Early in February, 1895, as a result of
the suffrage meeting held in Asheville, a bill was presented in the
Legislature to place women on school boards. Mrs. Lillie Devereux
Blake of New York, a native of North Carolina, addressed the
legislators in its behalf and upon the rights of women. The bill
provoked a hot discussion but was defeated. It is impossible to obtain
a record of the vote.
In 1897 a bill to permit women to serve as notaries public
was defeated in the House on the ground that it would be
unconstitutional, as this is a State office. The same year a bill
providing for the appointment of women physicians in the State insane
asylums was referred to a committee and never reported.
Bills also have been presented for full suffrage and suffrage for
tax-paying women, but none has been acted upon. Several Acts have been
passed prohibiting employers from working women in the chain gangs on
the public roads in different counties.[401]
The most unjust discriminations against women in the property laws
were removed by the Constitutional Convention of 1868. Since then a
married woman may acquire and hold real estate and have the enjoyment
of its income and profits in her own separate right, and she may
dispose of it by will subject to the husband's curtesy (the life use
of the whole); but she can not sell any of it without his consent. The
husband can not sell his real estate so as to cut off the dower of the
wife (the life use of one-third) without her consent.
The code of 1883 stipulates that if the husband receives the income of
the wife's separate property and she offers no objection, he can not
be made liable to account for his use of it for more than one year
previous to the date of the complaint or of her death. By an act of
1889, the husband is required to list the property of the wife "in his
control."
Both dower and curtesy obtain. If there are neither descendants nor
kindred the widow is heir of the entire estate. If there are not more
than two children, and the husband die without a will, one-third of
the personal property goes to the widow; if there are more than two
children, she shares equally with them; if there be no child or legal
representative of a deceased child, one-half goes to the widow, the
other half to the kindred of the husband. If a wife die without a
will, the widower has a life estate in her real property, if there has
been issue born alive, and all of her personal property absolutely,
subject to her debts.
A homestead to the value of $1,000 is exempt from sale during
widowhood unless the widow have one in her own right.
The wife is not bound by contract unless the husband joins in writing.
In actions against her he must be served with the suit.
The wife can not be a sole trader without the husband's written and
recorded consent, unless living apart from him under legal divorce or
separation, or unless he is an idiot or a lunatic, or has abandoned
her or maliciously turned her out of doors. She controls even her
wages only under these circumstances.
The divorce laws make the discrimination against women that while the
husband can secure a divorce for one act of adultery on the part of
the wife, she can secure one from him on this ground only if he
separates from her and lives openly in adultery.
The father is the legal guardian of the persons and education of the
minor children, and may appoint a guardian by will even for one
unborn. The court appoints the guardian for the estate.
Wilful neglect by the husband to provide adequate support for the wife
and children is a misdemeanor.
The "age of protection" for girls still remains 10 years, with a
penalty of death. Over 10 and under 14 the crime is a misdemeanor,
punishable with fine or imprisonment in the penitentiary at discretion
of the court, if the child has been previously chaste.
SUFFRAGE: Women possess no form of suffrage.
OFFICE HOLDING: By the State constitution only those entitled to vote
are eligible to office. Women are thus barred from every elective and
appointive office, even that of notary public.
OCCUPATIONS: No profession or occupation is legally forbidden to
women. They are admitted to the State Medical Society and made
chairmen of various sections. There has been a revolution of public
sentiment during the past twenty years in regard to women in
wage-earning occupations. What formerly would have caused ostracism is
now regarded as proper and commendable.
EDUCATION: In 1897 the post-graduate work of the State University was
opened to women. The undergraduate departments are still closed to
them. Other institutions are about equally divided among
co-educational, for boys only and for girls only. The State Normal and
Industrial School for Girls (white) and the Agricultural and
Mechanical College for Boys (colored), both at Greensborough, offer
excellent opportunities. There are four other universities and
colleges for colored students.
In the public schools there are 4,127 men and 4,077 women teachers.
The average monthly salary of the men is $25.07; of the women,
$22.24.
FOOTNOTES:
[400] The History is indebted for most of the information in this
chapter to Mrs. Sarah A. Russell of Wilmington, the wife of Gov.
Daniel L. Russell.
[401] In 1901 a bill, supported by a petition largely signed by women,
which provided for a reformatory for youthful criminals where they
might be separated from the old and hardened, was introduced in the
Legislature but never was brought to a vote.
CHAPTER LVIII.
OHIO.[402]
The second Woman's Rights Convention ever held took place at Salem,
Ohio, in April, 1850, and such meetings were continued at intervals
until the beginning of the Civil War. After the war a State
association was formed, but the records of its existence are not
available. In the early summer of 1884 Mrs. Rachel S. A. Janney, whose
husband was president of the State Agricultural College (now the State
University), called a convention in Columbus, at which Mrs. Rosa L.
Segur, Mrs. Ellen Sully Fray, Mr. and Mrs. O. G. Peters, Mrs.
Elizabeth Coit and family, Mrs. Ammon of Cleveland, and other
well-known advocates were present. So few were in attendance, however,
that it was thought best not to organize permanently, but Judge Ezra
B. Taylor of Warren was chosen president and Mrs. Frances M. Casement,
vice-president. Judge Taylor, in declining because of Congressional
duties, expressed sympathy and interest in the movement. He was a
member of the Judiciary Committee of the U. S. House of
Representatives for thirteen years, and through his influence when
chairman, in 1890, a majority report in favor of a Sixteenth Amendment
to the Constitution to enfranchise women was submitted to the House
for the first and last time.
Mrs. Casement did very efficient work, especially in the northern part
of the State, and as a result a large and enthusiastic meeting was
held at Painesville, her home, in May, 1885, and a State association
regularly organized. On the list of officers were placed three persons
who through all these years have made the enfranchisement of women
their paramount work--Mrs. Casement, Mrs. Segur of Toledo and Mrs.
Coit of Columbus. Mrs. Casement, who was made president, always has
given generously of time and money and is still a member of the
executive committee. Mrs. Segur, who was elected corresponding
secretary, also continues her activity. She does much press work and
is one of the main supports of the Toledo W. S. A., which has held
regular monthly meetings since its organization in 1869. Mrs. Coit was
chosen treasurer and held the office fourteen years, during which she
seldom missed a convention or an executive meeting. In 1900 she was
made honorary president without one dissenting vote.[403]
In addition to the State conventions from two to five executive
committee meetings have been held yearly since 1885. Before the
adoption of the biennial sessions of the Legislature, there were
usually conferences at Columbus in midwinter to influence legislation,
and different members remained there for weeks. Mrs. Sarah C.
Schrader, Mrs. Martha H. Elwell and Mrs. Louisa Southworth rendered
especially valuable service in such matters.
Mrs. Southworth, in her home at Cleveland, also had charge of the
systematic enrollment of persons indorsing woman suffrage, which has
been very effective in answering the objection that women do not want
to vote. This was begun in 1888, when she was made national
superintendent of enrollment, as she was a thorough advocate of this
method of petition. Bills for woman suffrage introduced into the
Legislature need the backing of many names, and in this way more can
be added each year. The blanks are headed: "We believe that women
should vote on equal terms with men;" and an effort is made to keep
the names of men and women separate. The original lists are carefully
preserved, but typewritten copies for reference are made and
classified according to towns, counties and Congressional districts,
pains being taken each year not to register duplicates. The entire
expenses, amounting to several thousand dollars, have been borne by
Mrs. Southworth. All of the canvassers have contributed their
services.[404]
Good educational work has been done through Woman's Day at colleges,
camp meetings and county fairs. A memorable occasion was that of the
Centennial Celebration of the city of Cleveland in 1896. One day was
devoted to the consideration of the advancement of woman in
philanthropy, education, domestic science, etc. Although the speakers
had been requested not to touch upon the question of her political
enfranchisement, three women indirectly mentioned it and these
received the heartiest applause of any brought out in the course of a
whole day of able speechmaking. One of them was not permitted to
retire until she acknowledged in a graceful word or two the enthusiasm
of the audience. The committee having charge of this celebration asked
a woman in each township on the Western Reserve to gather facts in
regard to its early women, and over 200 granted the request. These
papers when published made four volumes of valuable information
respecting the pioneer women of this famous section of Ohio.
In 1896 the Rev. Henrietta G. Moore, a Universalist minister of
Springfield, and Miss Laura A. Gregg of Kansas, visited seventeen
towns and cities in the interest of the State W. S. A. and formed
numerous organizations.
A conference of national and State officers, with several public
meetings, was held at Toledo in the autumn of 1897, Mrs. Fray,
president of Lucas County, making the arrangements. The following
spring Mrs. Harriet Brown Stanton of Cincinnati did the preparatory
work for a two days' meeting in that city, the Rev. Anna Howard Shaw,
vice-president-at-large, and Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, chairman of the
organization committee of the National Association, being the
speakers.
In the spring of 1900 Mrs. Harriet Taylor Upton, president of the
State association, visited fifteen principal towns preparing the way
for organization, while in others plans were made by correspondence.
Five persons participated in the campaign made later: Miss Shaw and
Mrs. Chapman Catt as speakers, each contributing two weeks of time;
Miss Harriet May Mills and Miss Mary G. Hay, of New York, national
organizers; Mrs. Upton accompanying the party. The object was to
ascertain suffrage sentiment and to organize the northwestern part of
the State. The next work was done in the southern part, Ohio women
making the arrangements and Dr. Frances Woods of Iowa acting as
speaker and organizer. At the close of 1900 the State had twice as
many members as the year before, with vastly increased interest and
activity. This growth was due to many causes, not least among them
being the work and inspiration of Miss Elizabeth J. Hauser, who was
corresponding secretary for five years, and for ten has scarcely
missed a convention.
LEGISLATIVE ACTION: In 1888 the Legislature was asked to submit to the
voters an amendment giving Full Suffrage to women. This measure was
lost, and a Municipal Suffrage Bill met a like fate.
In 1889 a bill for Full Suffrage was defeated in the Senate by 19
ayes, 9 noes, a three-fifths majority being required.
In 1890 a similar bill was introduced in the House and discussed at
length. It received 54 ayes, 47 noes, but not a constitutional
majority.
In 1891 the Legislature was petitioned without result, and in 1892 and
1893 School Suffrage Bills were defeated by small majorities.
It was enacted in 1893 that mayors in cities of 10,000 inhabitants and
upward shall furnish proper quarters for women and female children
under arrest, and that these shall be out of sight of the rooms and
cells where male prisoners are confined. The law further provides for
the appointment of police matrons.
In 1894 a Municipal Suffrage Bill was introduced but was not reported
from committee. This year, however, School Suffrage was granted to
women.
To Mrs. Caroline McCullough Everhard and Mrs. Katherine B. Claypole,
president and recording secretary of the State W. S. A., women are
largely indebted for this law. Like all reform measures, it was
preceded by many discouraging defeats. In 1892 a bill was introduced
into the House by E. W. Doty, providing that women should vote for and
serve as members of school boards. It was lost by seven votes,
reconsidered in the adjourned session of 1893 and lost again by six
votes. Another bill was introduced into the House in January, 1894, by
Gustavus A. Wood, but was defeated by 47 ayes, 43 noes. Mrs. Everhard
then made an earnest appeal to Senator William T. Clark to introduce
the same bill. He promptly acceded and it passed the Senate on April
10 by 20 ayes, 6 noes. It was returned to the House and passed April
24 by 55 ayes, 26 noes, 11 not voting. Mr. Clark at once sent a
telegram to the president of the association: "Woman suffrage bill a
law; truth is mighty yet."
In 1894 the Legislature was asked to enact a law making women eligible
as trustees of homes and asylums for women and children. The request
was refused on the ground that the law would be declared
unconstitutional because such trustees must be electors.
In 1896 Free Traveling Libraries were established.
In 1898 the Legislature provided that a woman could be a notary
public. Two months later the law was declared unconstitutional, as
notaries must be electors.
LAWS: In 1884 a law was enacted giving a married woman the right to
sue and be sued and to proceed in various other matters as if
unmarried. Her personal property and real estate were liable to
judgment, but she was entitled to the benefits of all exemptions to
heads of families.
In 1887 married women obtained absolute control of their own property.
This act gave a wife the right to enter into any engagements or
transactions with her husband, or any other person, to hold and
dispose of real and personal property and to make contracts.
Dower was retained but curtesy abolished, except for a man married
before 1887 and regarding property owned by his wife before that date.
Either husband or wife on the death of the other is now entitled to
one-third of the real estate for life. If either die without a will,
and there are no children or their legal representatives living, all
the real estate passes to the survivor, and the personal property
subject to the debts. If there are children, or their legal
representatives, the widow or widower is entitled to one-half of the
first $400, and to one-third of the remainder subject to distribution.
A homestead not exceeding $1,000 in value may be reserved for the
widow.
In 1893 it was made legal for a married woman to act as guardian; and
in 1894 as executor or administrator.
By the code of 1892 the father is legal guardian of the children and
may appoint a guardian by will, even of one unborn. If he has
abandoned the mother, she has custody.
The husband must support his wife and minor children by his property
or labor, but if he is unable to do so, the wife must assist as far as
she is able. The father or, when charged with maintenance thereof, the
mother of a legitimate or illegitimate child under sixteen, who being
able, either by reason of having means or by labor or earnings, shall
neglect or refuse to provide such child with proper home, care, food
and clothing; or, if said child is a legal inmate of the county or
district children's home, shall refuse to pay the reasonable cost of
its keeping, shall upon conviction be guilty of felony and punished by
imprisonment in the penitentiary for not more than three years nor
less than one, or in a county jail or workhouse at hard labor for not
more than one year nor less than three months.
In 1887 the "age of protection" for girls was raised from 10 to 12
years; in 1894 from 12 to 14; in 1896 from 14 to 16. The penalty is
imprisonment not more than twenty nor less than three years.
SUFFRAGE: The law of 1894 permits women, on the same terms as men, to
vote for members of the boards of education (trustees), but not for
State Commissioner (superintendent) nor on any question of bonds or
appropriations. There are no county commissioners in Ohio.
The history of this law, after it passed into the Revised Statutes, is
as follows: In December, 1894, Mrs. Ida M. Earnhart of Columbus, whose
husband, Senator M. B. Earnhart, had championed the bill, was one of
the first women to register for voting at the school election to be
held the next April. For the purpose of a test case a written request
was made of the board of elections to strike her name from the list;
they refused and suit was brought in the name of the State of Ohio
against the board and Mrs. Earnhart. The case was argued in the
Circuit Court of Franklin County in January, 1895. Mrs. Caroline
McCullough Everhard, president of the State W. S. A., attended the
hearing. Senators William T. Clark and M. B. Earnhart ably defended
the law. On February 1 the decision was rendered by Judge J. G.
Shauck, Judges Charles G. Shearer and Gilbert H. Stewart concurring in
the opinion, which declared the law to be constitutional. The case was
appealed to the Supreme Court, where the decision of the lower court
was sustained. This completed the victory which the State suffrage
association had worked so hard to win. More than 30,000 women voted at
the first election following. In the spring of 1902, 14,800 women
registered in Cleveland and 80 per cent. voted.
Everything was quiet until the winter of 1898, when the activity of
the suffragists was again called out by the introduction into the
House of a bill by A. J. Hazlett to repeal the School Suffrage law.
The board of elections of Cleveland had asked for this. Forthwith
letters were sent to all the suffrage clubs by Mrs. Everhard, and
requests were made to many prominent persons to use their influence
against it. Protesting petitions were circulated and, with more than
40,000 names, were sent to the Legislature in a very short time. On
Feb. 10, 1898, members of the legislative committee of the State W. S.
A. appeared before the House Committee on Elections and spoke against
the bill. Through courtesy to Mr. Hazlett, who was a member of this
committee, it was reported back, but without recommendation, and when
brought to a vote in the House it was overwhelmingly defeated--76
against repeal, 22 in favor.
OFFICE HOLDING: No woman can be elected or appointed to any office,
with the exception of that of school trustee, as the statutes provide
that all incumbents must be electors. The same law applies to the
boards of all State institutions. It also prevents women from serving
as notaries public.
They can act as deputies, since these are considered merely as clerks.
The law specifies that women can be Probate Court deputies because
minors are eligible to that office.
Women can not be State School Commissioners, and there is no office of
county commissioner. They are serving acceptably on the school boards
of various towns and cities, but no official record is anywhere kept
of the exact number.[405]
A law of 1892 says: "In all asylums for the insane there shall be
employed at least one female physician." There are eight such
institutions in the State and at present only four have women
physicians.
The same year it was made mandatory on every Judge of Common Pleas to
appoint in his county a board of visitors consisting of three men and
three women, whose duty it is to make periodical visits to the
correctional and charitable institutions of the county and to act as
guardians _ad litem_ to delinquent children.
A law of 1893 requires police matrons in all cities of 10,000
inhabitants and over. They must be more than thirty years old, of good
moral character and sound physical health, and must have the
indorsement of at least ten women residents of good standing. Their
salary is fixed at not less than two-thirds of the minimum salary paid
to patrolmen in the same city, and they may serve for life unless they
are discharged.
OCCUPATIONS: No profession or occupation is legally forbidden to
women.
EDUCATION: Oberlin was the first co-educational college in the United
States (1833). Antioch was the second (1853). The State University and
all other State institutions of learning always have been open to both
sexes alike. Of the thirty-four colleges and universities twenty-seven
are co-educational, five are for men and two for women. There are
seventy-nine higher educational institutions other than colleges, such
as academies, normal and business schools, theological seminaries,
etc. Of these eight are for men, ten for women, fifty-nine
co-educational and two without statistics.
In the public schools there are 10,556 men and 15,156 women teachers.
The average monthly salary of the men is $50; of the women, $40.
* * * * *
Ohio is one of the leading States in the number of women's clubs--289,
with a membership of 10,300, being enrolled in the General Federation.
It was principally through the efforts of this large body of women
that a bill was passed in 1896 providing for Traveling Free Libraries
and 900 are now in circulation, more than in any other State. It also
was instrumental in securing a bill for the establishment of State
Normal Schools in connection with Ohio and Miami Universities.
The Rookwood Pottery of Cincinnati, which has more than a national
reputation, is the result of the intelligence and well directed
efforts of a woman--Mrs. Maria Longworth Nichols (now Mrs. Bellamy
Storer). Inspired by the Japanese display at the Centennial Exposition
in Philadelphia, in 1876, she began experimenting with the clays of
the Ohio valley and eventually developed the exquisite pottery which
is found in every art museum and large private collection in the
country, and whose manufacture employs a number of skilled artists.
FOOTNOTES:
[402] The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Harriet Taylor
Upton of Warren, treasurer of the National-American Woman Suffrage
Association since 1892 and president of the State association.
[403] Presidents of the State association: Frances M. Casement,
1885-1888, Martha H. Elwell, 1888-1891, Caroline McCullough Everhard,
1891-1898, Harriet Brown Stanton, 1898-1899, Harriet Taylor Upton,
1899 and now serving.
State Conventions: Painesville, 1885, Toledo, 1886, Cleveland, 1887;
Chillicothe, 1888, Akron, 1889, Massillon, 1890, Warren, 1891, Salem,
1892, Delaware, 1893, Cincinnati, 1894, Ashtabula, 1895, Alliance,
1897, Cincinnati, 1898, Akron, 1899, Athens, 1900. During the
Presidential campaign of 1896, when William McKinley, a resident of
Ohio, was a candidate, the excitement was so intense that it was
thought wise to abandon the convention, which was to have been held in
October at Springfield.
[404] When the State Suffrage Association decided to abandon this
work, Mrs. Southworth was elected State superintendent of franchise by
the W. C. T. U. and the enrollment was continued. At their national
convention, in 1901, it showed 50,000 names and aroused great
enthusiasm. Of these, 9,650 were collected in the four cities of
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo; during the year 7,500
names had been added to the list. The system has been adopted by the
unions in many States.
[405] Mrs. Harriet Taylor Upton, the author of this chapter, is now
serving her second term on the board of education in Warren, O. In the
spring of 1898 the local political equality club determined to have
some women in this position and selected Mrs. Upton and Mrs. Carrie P.
Harrington. Two vacancies having occurred, the board (which fills such
vacancies) was asked to appoint them but refused. Their names
therefore were presented to the Republican caucus in the spring of
1898. Instead of two candidates, as usual, there were four, as the two
vacancies were to be filled for the remainder of the term. The board
and the politicians still refused to recommend the women, so six names
went before the caucus. The women were asked whether they wanted to
run for the short term to fill the vacancies or for the full term of
three years. They refused to say, but simply asked that their names
should be considered. They had little hope of anything but to fill the
vacancies, as the president and treasurer of the present board were
candidates for the long term. The night of the caucus was very stormy,
but the women of the city turned out in force and, with the assistance
of the men, the two women were nominated for the long term. A
Republican nomination is equivalent to an election in Warren.
The board was magnanimous, both ladies were placed on committees and
most courteously treated. The next year Mrs. Upton was made chairman
of the most important committee, that on supplies, buildings and
grounds, which expends nine tenths of all the money used by the board.
The other woman member was added to this committee when the new
grammar school was begun in 1899. It is considered one of the best
ventilated and best planned buildings in that part of the State.
In the spring of 1901 both were triumphantly re-elected. Mrs. Upton
was continued as chairman of her committee, and Mrs. Harrington was
made chairman of the next in importance, that on text books. [Eds.
CHAPTER LIX.
OKLAHOMA.[406]
Oklahoma Territory was opened to settlement April 22, 1889, and its
first woman's organization was the Woman's Christian Temperance Union,
founded in Guthrie, March 10, 1890, by Mrs. Margaret O. Rhodes, under
the direction of Miss Frances E. Willard. In the following April a
convention was called at Oklahoma City, delegates coming from ten
societies, and Mrs. Rhodes was elected president. In October, 1890,
the first annual convention was held in Guthrie, the capital, Mrs.
Alice Williams of Missouri being the principal speaker. The first
Legislature was in session and she also addressed this body making a
strong plea for legislation in favor of temperance and woman suffrage.
In 1895 Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, chairman of the organization
committee of the National Suffrage Association, arranged for a
lecturer to visit all the principal towns on the Rock Island and Santa
Fe Railroads, and Miss Laura A. Gregg of Kansas was selected for this
pioneer work. She came into the Territory the first week in October
and lectured in twelve places, forming clubs. Her campaign closed at
Guthrie where the first suffrage convention was held, November 11, 12,
and an association organized. Miss Margaret Rees was elected
president,[407] Mrs. J. R. Keaton, secretary, and Mrs. R. W. Southard,
delegate to the national convention.
Mrs. Julia B. Nelson of Minnesota was sent into the Territory by the
National Association for three months in May, 1896. She spoke in
twenty-three towns, organizing a number of clubs, and on June 7, 8,
closed her work with a mass meeting in Guthrie.
The third convention was held in Perry, Nov. 13, 14, 1897, Mrs. Laura
M. Johns of Kansas being present as the chief speaker. Mrs. Celia Z.
Titus was elected president; Margaret Rees, corresponding secretary;
Sarah L. Bosworth, recording secretary; Eva A. Crosby, treasurer.
In September, 1898, Miss Mary G. Hay, organizer for the National
Suffrage Association, arranged for a campaign, preparatory to asking
the Legislature to grant woman suffrage, as in a Territory full
suffrage can be given by legislative enactment. In October Mrs.
Chapman Catt came on and meetings were held in the chief towns, where
committees were appointed to look after petitions and other necessary
work. This series of meetings closed November 6, 7, with the annual
convention in Oklahoma City. Mrs. Rhodes was elected president, Mrs.
Della Jenkins, vice-president, Miss Rees continued as secretary, Mrs.
Minnie D. Storm made treasurer.
LEGISLATIVE ACTION: In the first Legislature, in 1890, specific work
was begun for woman suffrage. When the law regarding the franchise was
under discussion a petition was presented praying that it should read,
"Every citizen of the age of 21 shall have a right to vote," instead
of "every male citizen." A proposition for this was lost by three
votes in the House and was not considered by the Council. School
Suffrage was granted to women.
In 1897 a bill asking for the enfranchisement of women was prepared by
Miss Margaret Rees and introduced in the House, where it was carried
by a vote of 13 yeas, 9 nays, but was killed in the Council. Mrs.
Johns, who had been sent by the National Association, labored most
earnestly for the bill and won hundreds of friends for the cause by
her wise council and able management.
After the suffrage convention in 1898, described above, Miss Hay
returned to New York and Miss Laura A. Gregg was appointed by the
National Association to co-operate with the Oklahoma women in securing
the franchise from the Legislature of 1899. Their efforts and the
results were thus related in the report to the National Suffrage
Convention at Grand Rapids, Mich., in April, by Mrs. Chapman Catt, who
had remained in Guthrie most of the winter looking after the interests
of the bill with the discretion and ability for which she is
distinguished:
Last November headquarters were opened in a business block at
Guthrie, in charge of Miss Gregg, from which an active
correspondence was conducted, resulting in a large petition and a
constant accession of new recruits. There was a most thorough
system of press work, nearly every newspaper in the Territory
aiding the movement. The strongest and best men espoused our
cause and the outlook seemed propitious. The Legislature convened
the first week in January, but an unfortunate quarrel arose
between it and the Governor which hindered legislation and
compelled our campaign to drag throughout the entire sixty days'
session. Miss Gregg continued her work at headquarters during the
winter, and Miss Hay spent a month in Guthrie looking after the
interests of our bill. It finally passed the house, 14 yeas, 10
nays, the week before the session was to close, and immediately
the opposition concentrated its efforts on the Council. However,
a majority were pledged to support our measure, and we felt
little fear.
As soon as the news spread that the bill was through the House, a
telegram was received by each member of the Council from the
Albany (N. Y.) women remonstrants. These were not all phrased
alike, but each asked the recipient: "What can be done to defeat
the woman suffrage bill? Answer at our expense." At nearly the
same moment, the chief agent of the Saloonkeepers' League, an
association recently organized, as they claimed, "to protect our
interests from unjust legislation," appeared upon the scene. Only
a week remained of the legislative session. Whether this agent of
the Oklahoma saloons came at the invitation of the Albany
remonstrants, or the Albany remonstrants sent their telegrams
offering assistance at the instigation of the Saloonkeepers'
League, or whether their simultaneous appearance was by chance, I
am unable to say. That they appeared together seems significant.
If they work as distinct forces, a study in the vagaries of the
human reason is presented in the motives offered to the public by
these two organizations. The Albany remonstrants would protect
the sweet womanly dignity of Oklahoma women from the debasing
influence of politics. The Saloonkeepers' League would save the
debasing influence of politics from the sweet womanly dignity of
Oklahoma women. So these Albany women, who never fail to inform
the public of their devotion to the church, join hands with the
Oklahoma saloonkeepers, who never fail to declare that the church
is a fanatical obstacle to personal liberty. A queer union it is,
but some day the world will discover the mystery which has
consummated it!
It so happened that in this Legislature there was a member who
for thirty years, in a neighboring State, had been an avowed
friend of suffrage. This was known to all Oklahoma, and even the
enemies expected him to lead our forces in the Council. This man
not only betrayed us, but headed the opposition in a
filibustering effort to keep the bill from coming to a final vote
and succeeded. Now, why did he fail us? Did he renounce the faith
of a lifetime? No. Did the suffragists offend him? No; but even
if they had done so a man of character does not change his views
in a moment for a personal whim. Why, then, this change? Any
member of the Legislature, for or against suffrage, if he would
speak as frankly to others as he did to us, would tell you it was
for money. Rumor was plentiful stating the amount and the donor.
The saloons all over Oklahoma, with a remarkable unanimity of
knowledge, boasted beforehand that the bill was killed and that
this man was the instrument which they had used, and while they
were boasting he was conferring with us and promising us his
faithful support, hoping to conduct the filibustering so adroitly
that we could not detect his hand in it....
To come to the main point, we had won the victory but a crime
robbed us of it. Suffragists know how to bear defeats with
fortitude, for each one is only a milestone showing the progress
made on a journey, but a defeat by the defection of a friend is a
new thing in the history of our movement.
Dr. Delos Walker of Oklahoma City was one of those who assisted in
every way possible to give the ballot to the women of the Territory.
Dr. C. F. McElwrath of Enid championed the bill in the House and
secured its passage over the head of every opponent. The efforts of
the women were supplemented also by those of Senator I. A. Gandey and
Representative William H. Merten, both of Guthrie, and T. F. Hensley
of El Reno, editor of the _Democrat_.
LAWS: Dower and curtesy do not obtain. If either husband or wife die
without a will, leaving only one child or the lawful issue of one
child, the survivor receives one-half of both real and personal
property. If there is more than one child or one child and descendants
of one or more deceased children, the widow or widower receives
one-third of the estate. If there is no issue living the survivor
receives one-half; and if there is neither issue, father, mother,
brother nor sister, the survivor takes the whole estate. A homestead
may be occupied by the widow or widower until otherwise disposed of
according to law.
Husband or wife may mortgage or convey separate property without the
consent of the other.
A married woman may sue and be sued and make contracts in her own
name. She may carry on business as a sole trader and her earnings and
wages are her sole and separate property.
The usual causes for divorce exist but only a 90 days' residence is
required. A wife may sue for alimony without divorce. In cases where
both parties are equally at fault the court may refuse divorce but
provide for the custody and maintenance of children and equitable
division of property.
The father is the legal guardian of the children. At his death the
mother becomes the guardian, if a suitable person, but if she
remarries the guardianship passes to the second husband.
The husband is expected to furnish a suitable support for the family,
but no punishment is prescribed for a failure to do this.
No law existed for the protection of girls until 1890 when the age was
made 14 years. In 1895 it was raised to 16 years. The penalty is first
degree (under 14), imprisonment not less than ten years; second degree
(under 16), not less than five years. In both cases the girl must have
been "of previous chaste character."
SUFFRAGE: The first Territorial Legislature (1890) granted School
Suffrage to the extent of a vote for trustees.
OFFICE HOLDING: Women may hold all school offices. Eleven of the
twenty-three counties have women superintendents. They are not
eligible to State offices but are not prohibited by law from any
county offices. One woman is registrar of deeds and one is deputy U.
S. marshal. There are at the present time about one hundred women
notaries public.
OCCUPATIONS: No profession or occupation is legally forbidden to
women. Ten hours is made a legal working day.
EDUCATION: All educational institutions are open alike to both sexes.
In the public schools there are 914 men and 1,268 women teachers. The
average monthly salary of the men is $31.93; of the women, $26.20.
* * * * *
Thirty Federated Clubs in Oklahoma, with over 700 members, are taking
up successfully a great variety of public work. Guthrie contains eight
of these, with a membership of more than one hundred, and the library
committee has succeeded in starting a library, which has now seven
hundred volumes.
FOOTNOTES:
[406] The History is indebted for material for this chapter to Mrs.
Margaret Olive Rhodes of Guthrie, president of the Territorial Woman
Suffrage Association.
[407] Mrs. Rachel Rees Griffith and her two daughters are known as the
Mothers of Equal Suffrage in Oklahoma. Miss Margaret was the first
Territorial president, while no one has done more in the local club of
Guthrie than Miss Rachel. Mrs. Griffith is nearly eighty years of age,
but fully expects to live to see the women of Oklahoma enjoying the
full franchise.
CHAPTER LX.
OREGON.[408]
After the defeat of the woman suffrage amendment in 1884 no organized
effort was made for ten years, although quiet educational work was
done. On the Fourth of July, 1894, a meeting was called at the
residence of Mrs. Abigail Scott Duniway in Portland and a committee
formed which met every week for several months thereafter. Woman's Day
was celebrated at the convention of the State Horticultural
Association, in September, by invitation of its president, William
Salloway. Addresses were made by N. W. Kinney and Mrs. Duniway, and
Governor Lord and his wife were on the platform. On October 27 a mass
meeting was held at Marquam Grand Theater, at which a State
organization was effected and a constitution adopted which had been
prepared by the committee.[409]
In January, 1895, the association secured from the Legislature a bill
for the submission of a woman suffrage amendment, which it would be
necessary for a second Legislature to pass upon. The annual meeting of
the State Association was held at Portland in November as quietly as
possible, it being the aim to avoid arousing the two extremes of
society, consisting of the slum classes on the one hand and the
ultra-conservative on the other, who instinctively pull together
against all progress. Officers were elected as usual and the work went
on in persistent quietude.
The convention of 1896 met in Portland, November 16.[410] Mrs.
Duniway, the honorary president, was made acting president, that
officer having left the State; Mrs. H. A. Laughary, honorary
president; Dr. Annice F. Jeffreys, vice-president-at-large; Ada
Cornish Hertsche, vice-president; Frances E. Gotshall, corresponding
secretary; Mary Schaffer Ward, recording secretary; Mrs. A. E.
Hackett, assistant secretary; Jennie C. Pritchard, treasurer. These
State officers were re-elected without change until November, 1898,
when Mrs. W. H. Games was chosen recording secretary and Mrs. H. W.
Coe, treasurer. In 1899, and again in 1900, Mrs. Eunice Pond Athey,
formerly of Idaho, became assistant secretary.
The year 1896 was a period of continuous effort on the part of the
State officers to disseminate suffrage sentiment in more or less
indirect ways, so that other organizations of whatever name or nature
might look upon the proposed amendment with favor. Early in this year
the executive committee decided to organize a Woman's Congress and
secure the affiliation of all branches of women's patriotic,
philanthropic and literary work, to be managed by the suffrage
association. It was resolved also to obtain if possible the attendance
of Miss Susan B. Anthony, president of the National Association, who
was at that time in the midst of the amendment campaign in California.
Never has there been a more successful public function in Oregon than
this Congress of Women, which was held the first week in June, 1896,
with Miss Anthony as its bright particular star. The love of the
people for the great leader was universally expressed, socially as
well as publicly. The speakers represented all lines of woman's
work--education, art, science, medicine, sanitation, literature, the
duties of motherhood, philanthropy, reform--but sectarian and
political questions were excluded. It was most interesting to note the
clever manner in which almost all the speakers sandwiched their
speeches and papers with suffrage sentiments, and also the hearty
applause which followed every allusion to the proposed amendment from
the audiences that packed the spacious Taylor Street Church to
overflowing. Mrs. Sarah B. Cooper, the noted San Francisco
philanthropist, was a special attraction and made many converts to
woman suffrage by her beautiful presence and eloquent words.
For ten consecutive days in July commodious headquarters were
maintained at the Willamette Valley Chautauqua, under the supervision
of the State recording secretary, Mrs. Ward. The Rev. Anna Howard Shaw
Day was the most successful one of the assembly. Miss Shaw spoke as if
inspired, and afterward a large reception was held in her honor.
Thirty-six regular meetings and four mass meetings were held by the
suffrage association during the year.
The Woman's Club movement had by this time assumed important
proportions among society women, under the tactful management of that
staunch advocate of equal rights, Mrs. A. H. H. Stuart; and the
suffragists joined heartily in the new organization, which, in spite
of its non-political character, strengthened the current of public
opinion in behalf of the proposed amendment.
The Oregon Emergency Corps and Red Cross Society became another
tacitly acknowledged auxiliary. The Oregon Pioneer Association
approved the amendment by unanimous resolution, and the State Grange,
the Grand Army of the Republic, the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union, the Good Templars, the Knights of Labor, the Printers' Union,
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and other organizations were
recognized allies.
In 1898 the second Woman's Congress took place at Portland in April
under the auspices of the executive committee of the State E. S. A.,
forty affiliated societies of women participating.
The suffrage business for this year was all transacted in executive
sessions, and no convention held.
Woman's Day at the Willamette Valley Chautauqua in July, when forty
different organizations of men and women were represented, was a great
success. Suffrage addresses were given by Mrs. Alice Moore McComas of
California, Dr. Frances Woods of Iowa, and Mrs. Games. Col. R. A.
Miller, the president, himself an ardent suffragist, extended an
invitation for the following year.
In 1899 Mrs. Duniway was invited by the Legislature to take part in
the joint proceedings of the two Houses in honor of forty years of
Statehood.
This year, in preparation for the election at which the woman suffrage
amendment submitted by the Legislature of 1899 was to be voted on, 106
parlor meetings were held, 30,000 pieces of literature distributed,
and the names and addresses of 30,000 voters in fourteen counties
collected. Mrs. Duniway spoke by special invitation to a number of the
various orders and fraternities of men throughout the State, most of
whom indorsed the amendment. The usual headquarters were maintained
during the Fair, under the management of Dr. Jeffreys.
LEGISLATIVE ACTION: The Legislature, having changed its time of
meeting from September in the even years to January in the odd ones,
convened in 1895. Through the efforts of its leading members, a bill
passed both Houses in February to submit again a woman suffrage
amendment to the voters. The resolution proposing it was carried
without debate in the House by 41 ayes--including that of Speaker
Moore--11 noes. In the Senate the vote was 17 ayes, 11 noes. As
Mrs. Abigail Scott Duniway was lecturing in Idaho, the State
suffrage association was represented at this Legislature by its
vice-president-at-large, Dr. Annice F. Jeffreys.
The meeting of the Legislature of 1897 found the women ready and
waiting for the necessary ratification of the amendment; but the
Solons of the non-emotional sex fell to quarreling among themselves
over the United States senatorial plum and, being unable to agree on a
choice of candidates, refused to organize for any kind of business, so
another biennial period of public inactivity was enforced upon the
suffragists.
The Legislature convened in January, 1899, and with it came the
long-delayed opportunity. Mrs. Duniway and Dr. Jeffreys had charge of
the Suffrage Amendment Bill. They were recognized by prominent
members, and admitted by vote to the privileges of the floor in each
House. Senator C. W. Fulton, who had distinguished himself as the
champion of the amendment in 1880 and 1882, was requested by them to
carry their banner to victory once more. He assured them that
personally he was willing, but said so many bills on all sorts of
side issues had been insisted upon by women that the members were not
in a mood to listen to any more propositions from persons who had no
votes.
The ladies did not press the matter, but for days they furnished
short, pithy letters to the papers of the capital city, answering
fully all of the usual objections to woman suffrage. They also sent an
open letter to each member of the Legislature, explaining that this
plea for equal rights was based wholly upon the fundamental principle
of self-government, and not made in the interest of any one reform. In
this were enclosed to every Republican member Clarkson on Suffrage in
Colorado and Clara Barton's Appeal to Voters; to every Democrat her
Appeal and some other document, taking care to keep off of partisan
toes. At length Senators Fulton and Brownell, leaders in the Upper
House, considered the time ripe for calling up the amendment, which
was at once sent in regular order of business to the Lower House,
where it was referred to the Judiciary Committee and--buried.
Finally Senator Fulton secured a request from the Senate that the bill
be returned for further consideration, and a hearing was made a
special order of business. The room was filled with ladies and Mrs.
Duniway was asked to present the claims of the women of the State,
over half of whom, through their various societies, had asked for the
submission of the amendment. On the roll-call which followed the vote
stood 25 ayes, one no.
The measure was made a special order of business in the House the same
evening. The hall was crowded with spectators, Mrs. Duniway spoke ten
minutes from the Speaker's desk, and the roll-call resulted in 48
ayes, 6 noes.
A feature of the proceedings was the presentation by one of the
members, in a long speech, of a large collection of documents sent by
the Anti-Suffrage Association of Women in New York and Massachusetts.
The preceding autumn they had sent a salaried agent, Miss Emily P.
Bissell of Delaware, to canvass the State against the bill.
The succeeding campaign was very largely in the nature of a "still
hunt." Mrs. Ida Crouch Hazlett, of Colorado, held meetings for two
months in counties away from the railroads and did effective work
among the voters of the border. Miss Lena Morrow, of Illinois, also
did good service for some time preceding election, in visiting the
various fraternal associations of men in the city of Portland, by whom
she was generally accorded a gracious hearing. These ladies
represented the National Association.[411]
All went well until about two weeks before election day, June 6, 1900,
and the measure in all probability would have carried had it not been
for the slum vote of Portland and Astoria, which was stirred up and
called out by the _Oregonian_, edited by H. W. Scott, the most
influential newspaper in the State. It was the only paper, out of 229,
which opposed the amendment. But notwithstanding its terrible
onslaught, over 48 per cent. of all the votes which were cast upon the
amendment were in its favor. Twenty-one out of the thirty-three
counties gave handsome majorities; one county was lost by one vote,
one by 23 and one by 31.
The vote on the amendment in 1884 was 11,223 ayes; 28,176 noes. In
1900 it stood 26,265 ayes; 28,402 noes. Although the population had
more than doubled in the cities, where the slum vote is naturally the
heaviest and is always against woman suffrage, the total increase of
the "noes" of the State was only 226, while in the same time the
"ayes" had been augmented by 15,042.
LAWS: If either husband or wife die without a will and there are no
descendants living, all the real estate and personal property go to
the survivor. If there is issue living, the widow receives one-half of
the husband's real estate and one-half of his personal property. The
widower takes a life interest in all the wife's real estate, whether
there are children or not, and all of her personal property absolutely
if there are no living descendants, half of it if there are any.
All laws have been repealed that recognize civil disabilities of the
wife which are not recognized as existing against the husband, except
as to voting and holding office.
By registering as a sole trader a married woman can carry on business
in her own name.
In 1880 the Legislature enacted that "henceforth the rights and
responsibilities of the parents, in the absence of misconduct, shall
be equal, and the mother shall be as fully entitled to the custody and
control of the children and their earnings as the father, and in case
of the father's death the mother shall come into as full and complete
control of the children and their estate as the father does in case of
the mother's death."
If the husband does not support the family, the wife may apply to the
Circuit Court and the Judge may issue such decree as he thinks
equitable, generally conforming to that in divorce cases, and may have
power to enforce its orders as in other equity cases.
The "age of protection" for girls was raised from 10 to 14 in 1864 and
from 14 to 16 years in 1895. The penalty is imprisonment not less than
three nor more than twenty years. The fact that the victim was a
common prostitute or the defendant's mistress is no excuse.
SUFFRAGE: In 1878 an Act was passed entitling women to vote for school
trustees and for bonds and appropriations for school purposes, if they
have property of their own in the school district upon which they or
their husbands pay taxes.
OFFICE HOLDING: Women are not eligible to any elective office, except
that of school trustee.
An old law permitted women to fill the offices of State and county
superintendents of schools, but it was contested in 1896 by a defeated
male candidate and declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
Women can not sit on any State boards.
They are employed as court stenographers, and in various subordinate
appointive offices. They may serve as notaries.
OCCUPATIONS: No profession or occupation is legally forbidden to
women.
EDUCATION: All the large educational institutions are open to women.
In the public schools there are 1,250 men and 2,443 women teachers.
The average monthly salary of the men is $43; of the women, $34.81.
FOOTNOTES:
[408] The History is indebted for the material for this chapter to
Mrs. Abigail Scott Duniway of Portland, honorary president of the
State Equal Suffrage Association and always at the head of the
movement in Oregon.