Charlotte De Hillier Barmore, Mary Schaffer Ward, Gertrude J. Denny,
Alice J. McArty, Ada Cornish Hertsche, Maria C. DeLashmutt, Cora
Parsons Duniway, Frances Moreland Harvey and Abigail Scott Duniway.
[410] Department superintendents chosen: Evangelical work, Mrs.
Charlotte De Hillier Barmore; press, Mrs. Eugenie M. Shearer; round
table, Mrs. Julia H. Bauer; music, Mrs. H. R. Duniway, Mrs. A. E.
Hackett; Cooper Medal contests, H. D. Harford and Mrs. S. M. Kern;
health and heredity. Dr. Mary A. Leonard; legislation and petitions,
Dr. Annice F. Jeffreys, Mrs. Duniway. Fifteen counties were
represented by Dr. Annie C. Reed and Mesdames F. M. Alfred, R. A.
Bensell, F. O. McCown, A. A. Cleveland, F. M. Lockhart, J. H. Upton,
J. L. Curry, A. R. Burbank, M. E. Thompson, J. W. Virtue, A. S.
Patterson, A. C. Hertsche and J. J. Murphy.
[411] The chairmen of the county committees were Miss Belle
Trullinger, now the wife of Gov. T. T. Geer, and Mesdames R. A.
Bensell, J. A. Blackaby, Thomas Cornelius, S. T. Child, C. H. Dye, W.
R. Ellis, J. B. Eaton, P. L. Fountain, J. B. Huntington, Almira
Hurley, T. B. Handley, Ellen Kuney, H. A. Laughary, Stephen A. Lowell,
A. E. Lockhart, M. Moore, James Muckle, J. J. Murphy, Jennie McCully,
Celia B. Olmstead, R. Pattison, A. S. Patterson, N. Rulison, Anna B.
Reed, E. L. Smith, Thomas Stewart, C. U. Snyder, C. R. Templeton, M.
E. Thompson, J. H. Upton, J. W. Virtue, Clara Zimmerman.
CHAPTER LXI.
PENNSYLVANIA.[412]
The thought of woman suffrage in Pennsylvania always brings with it
the recollection of Lucretia Mott of Philadelphia, one of the four
women who called the first Woman's Rights Convention, at Seneca Falls,
N. Y., July 19, 20, 1848, and among the ablest advocates of the
measure.[413]
The Pennsylvania Woman Suffrage Association was organized Dec. 22,
1869, with Mary Grew as president.[414] There have been annual
meetings in or near Philadelphia regularly since that time, and large
quantities of suffrage literature have been distributed.[415] In 1892
Miss Grew resigned, aged 80, and was succeeded in the presidency by
Mrs. Lucretia L. Blankenburg, who still holds this office.
The convention of 1900 took place in Philadelphia, November 1, 2, and
the other officers elected were vice-president, Mrs. Ellen H. E.
Price; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Mary B. Luckie; recording
secretary, Mrs. Anna R. Boyd; treasurer, Mrs. Margaret B. Stone;
auditors, Mrs. Mary F. Kenderdine and Mrs. Selina D. Holton. Miss Ida
Porter Boyer, superintendent of press work, reported that 326
newspapers in the State, exclusive of those in Philadelphia which were
supplied by a local chairman, were using regularly the suffrage matter
sent out by her bureau, and that the past year this consisted of
17,150 different articles.
A number of able speakers have addressed the Legislature or canvassed
the State from time to time, including Miss Susan B. Anthony and the
Rev. Anna Howard Shaw, president and vice-president of the National
Association; Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, chairman of the national
organization committee; Henry B. Blackwell, editor of the _Woman's
Journal_; Mrs. Charlotte Perkins Stetson of New York, Mrs. Mary C. C.
Bradford of Colorado, Miss Elizabeth Upham Yates of Maine, and Miss
Laura A. Gregg of Kansas; Judge William N. Ashman, Miss Matilda
Hindman, Miss Boyer, Mrs. Blankenburg and Miss Jane Campbell,
president of the Philadelphia society.[416]
The latter is the largest and most influential suffrage society in the
State. Previously to 1892 the Philadelphians who were identified with
the movement belonged to the Pennsylvania association. In the fall of
this year it was decided to make it a delegate body, and as that meant
barring out individual memberships, the Philadelphia members formed a
county organization. Miss Grew was invited to lead the new society,
but feeling unable to perform the necessary duties she accepted only
the honorary presidency. It was, however, largely owing to her counsel
and influence that so successful a beginning was made. After her death
in 1896 the office of honorary president was abolished.
The first president of this society was Miss Campbell, who has been
annually re-elected. The club has quadrupled its membership in the
eight years of its existence, counting only those who pay their yearly
dues, and has now 400 members. It has worked in many directions;
distributed large quantities of literature; has sent speakers to
organizations of women; fostered debates among the young people of
various churches and Young Men's Literary Societies by offering prizes
to those successful on the side of woman suffrage; held public
meetings in different parts of the city, which includes the whole
county; assisted largely in the national press work, and always lent a
generous hand to the enterprises of the National Association.[417]
In 1895 this society prepared a list of all the real and personal
property owned by women within the city limits, which amounted to
$153,757,566 real and $35,734,133 personal. These figures comprise 20
per cent. of the total city tax, and all of it is without
representation.
With the hope of arousing suffrage sentiment, classes were formed
under the auspices of the State association to study political
science; Mrs. Susan S. Fessenden of Massachusetts was employed to
organize clubs in the State; requests were sent to all the clergymen
of Philadelphia to preach a sermon or give an address on Woman
Suffrage; and prizes of $5, $10 and $15 were offered for the three
best essays on Political Equality for Women, fifty-six being received.
A Yellow Ribbon Bazar was held in Philadelphia in 1895, the net
proceeds amounting to over $1,000. Miss Mary G. Hay, Miss Yates and
Miss Gregg were then employed as organizers, and were very successful
in forming clubs. There are now sixteen active county societies.[418]
LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS AND LAWS: In 1885 Miss Matilda Hindman was sent to
Harrisburg to urge the Legislature to submit an amendment to the
voters striking out the word "male" from the suffrage clause of the
State constitution. As a preliminary, 249 letters were sent to members
asking their views on the subject; 89 replies were received, 53
non-committal, 20 favorable, 16 unfavorable. Miss Hindman and eleven
other women appeared before a Joint Committee of Senate and House to
present arguments in favor of submitting the amendment. A bill for
this purpose passed the House, but was lost in the Senate by a vote of
13 ayes, 19 noes. This was the first concerted action of the
Pennsylvania suffragists to influence legislation for women. A legacy
of $1,390 from Mrs. Mary H. Newbold aided their efforts to secure the
bill.
Political conditions have been such that it has been considered
useless to try to obtain any legislative action on woman suffrage, and
no further attempts have been made. To influence public sentiment,
however, mass meetings addressed by the best speakers were held in the
Hall of the House of Representatives during the sessions of 1893, '95,
'97 and '99.
In 1897 and 1899 the suffragists made strenuous attempts to secure a
bill to amend the Intestate Law, which greatly discriminates against
married women, but it was killed in committee.
Owing to a gradual advance in public sentiment laws have been enacted
from time to time protecting wage-earning women; also enlarging the
property rights of wives, enabling them to act as incorporators for
business of profit, and giving them freedom to testify in court
against their husbands under some circumstances.
In 1891 a number of influential women decided to form a corporation,
with a stock company, for the purpose of building a club house and
equipping the same to rent as a business of profit. The charter was
refused, because several of the women making application were married.
After some delay enough single women were found to take out the
letters patent. When incorporated the original number organized the
company and built the New Century Club House in Philadelphia, which
paid five per cent. to stockholders the first year. One of the members
of this board of directors, to save time and trouble, made application
to be appointed notary public, but she was refused because the law did
not permit a woman to serve. Public attention was thus called to the
injustice of these statutes and, after much legislative tinkering,
laws were passed in 1893 giving wives the same right as unmarried
women to "acquire property, own, possess, control, use, lease, etc."
The same year women were made eligible to act as notaries public.
Dower and curtesy both obtain. If there is issue living, the widow is
entitled to one-third of the real estate for her life and one-third of
the personal property absolutely. If no issue is living, but
collateral heirs, the widow is entitled to one-half of the real
estate, including the mansion house, for her life, and one-half of the
personal estate absolutely. If a wife die intestate, the widower,
whether there has been issue born alive or not, has a life interest in
all her real estate and all of her personal property absolutely. If
there is neither issue nor kindred and no will the surviving husband
or wife takes the whole estate.
A husband may mortgage real estate, including the homestead, without
the wife's consent, but she can not mortgage even her own separate
estate without his consent. Each can dispose of personal property as
if single.
As a rule a married woman can not make a contract, but there are some
exceptions. For instance, she can contract for the purchase of a
sewing-machine for her own use. The wife must sue and be sued jointly
with the husband.
A married woman must secure the privilege from the court of carrying
on business in her own name.
The law provides that the party found guilty of adultery can not marry
the co-respondent during the lifetime of the other party. If any
divorced woman, who shall have been found guilty of adultery, shall
afterward openly cohabit with the person proved to have been the
partaker of her crime, she is rendered incapable of alienating either
directly or indirectly any of her lands, tenements or hereditaments,
and all wills, deeds, and other instruments of conveyance therefor are
absolutely void, and after her death her property descends and is
subject to distribution according to law in like manner as if she had
died intestate. This latter clause does not apply to a divorced man.
In June, 1895, through the legislative committee of the State W. S.
A., Mrs. Lucretia L. Blankenburg, chairman, and with the co-operation
of other women's organizations, the following law, championed by
Representative Frank Riter, was secured:
A married woman who contributes by the efforts of her own labor
or otherwise toward the support, maintenance and education of her
minor child, shall have the same and equal power, control and
authority over her said child, and the same and equal right to
the custody and services, as are now possessed by her husband who
is the father of such minor child.
The best legal authorities are undecided as to whether labor within
the household entitles the mother to this equal guardianship or
whether it must be performed outside the home. The father is held to
be the only person entitled to sue for the earnings of a minor child,
and as no legal means are provided for enforcing the above law it is
practically of no effect.
The law says, "As her baron or lord, the husband is bound to provide
his wife with shelter, food, clothing and medicine;" also:
If any husband or father neglect to maintain his wife or
children, it is lawful for any alderman, justice of the peace or
magistrate, upon information made before him, under oath or
affirmation, by the wife or children, or by any other person, to
issue his warrant for the arrest of the man, and bind him over
with one sufficient surety to appear at the next Court of Quarter
Sessions, there to answer the said charge.
If he is found to be of sufficient ability to pay such sum as the
court thinks reasonable and proper, it makes an order for the
comfortable support of wife or children, or both, the sum not to
exceed the amount of $100 per month. The man is to be committed
to jail until he complies with the order of the court, or gives
security for the payment of the sum. After three months'
imprisonment, if the court find him unable to pay or give
security, it may discharge him.
In 1887 the "age of protection" for girls was raised from 10 to 16
years. The penalty is a fine not exceeding $1,000, and imprisonment by
separate and solitary confinement at labor, or simple imprisonment,
not exceeding fifteen years. No minimum penalty is named.
SUFFRAGE: Women possess no form of suffrage.
OFFICE HOLDING:[419] The State constitution of 1873 made women
eligible for all school offices, but they have had great difficulty in
securing any of these. Out of 16,094 school directors in the State
only thirty-two are women. In Philadelphia a Board of Public
Education, appointed by the courts, co-operates with the school
directors. This board consists of forty-one members, only three being
women. In the entire State, six women are reported to be now filling
the offices of county and city school superintendent and assistant
superintendent.
In seventeen years but sixty-seven women (in twelve counties) have
been appointed members of the Boards of Public Charities.
In 1899 a law was passed recognizing Accounting as a profession, and
Miss Mary B. Niles is now a Certified Public Accountant and Auditor.
There have been women on the Civil Service Examining Board for nurses,
matrons, etc., but there are none at present.
To Pennsylvania belongs the honor of appointing the first woman in a
hospital for the insane with exclusive charge--Dr. Alice Bennett,
Norristown Asylum, in 1880. Now all of the six State hospitals for the
insane employ women physicians. In Philadelphia there are five
hospitals under the exclusive control of women.
Women have entire charge of the female prisoners in the Philadelphia
County jail. Police matrons are on duty at many of the station houses
in cities of the first and second class, sixteen in Philadelphia.
Committees of women, officially appointed, visit all the public
institutions of Philadelphia and Montgomery counties.
Dr. Frances C. Van Gasken served several years as health inspector,
the only woman to fill such an office in Philadelphia.
Six women are employed as State factory inspectors and receive the
same salary as the men inspectors.
Within the past ten years a large number of women have become city
librarians through appointment by the Common Councils.
Mrs. Margaret Center Klingelsmith, LL.B., is librarian of the State
University Law School, but has been refused admission to the Academy
of Law (Bar Association) of Philadelphia, although there is a strong
sentiment in her favor led by George E. Nitzsche, registrar of the Law
School.
OCCUPATIONS: The only prohibited industry is mining. No professions
are legally forbidden to women.
In 1884 a graduate of the Law Department of the University of
Pennsylvania, Mrs. Carrie Burnham Kilgore, made the fight for the
admission of women to the bar and was herself finally admitted to
practice in the courts of Philadelphia. Judges William S. Pierce,
William N. Ashman and Thomas K. Finletter advocated this advanced
step.
There are 150 women physicians in Philadelphia alone.
EDUCATION: The Woman's Medical College of Philadelphia, Clara
Marshall, M. D., dean, was incorporated in 1850.[420] The idea of its
establishment originated with Dr. Bartholomew Fussell, a member of
the Society of Friends. Its foundation was made possible through the
effective work of Dr. Joseph S. Longshore in securing a charter from
the Legislature. Dr. Hannah Myers Longshore was a member of the first
graduating class, a pioneer among women physicians, and through her
skill and devotion won high rank in her profession.[421] In 1867 the
name was changed by decree of court from Female Medical College to
Woman's Medical College. It is the oldest and largest medical school
for women in the world, and has nearly 1,000 alumnae, including
students from nineteen foreign countries. The management is entirely
in the hands of women.
In 1861 the Woman's Hospital was founded, mainly through the efforts
of Dr. Ann Preston, to afford women the clinical opportunities denied
by practically all the existing hospitals. It is now one of the
largest in Philadelphia.
During the past twenty years a number of educational institutions have
been opened to women. Of the forty colleges and universities in the
State, just one-half are co-educational; three are for women alone;
two Catholic, one military and fourteen others are for men alone. Of
the sixteen theological seminaries, only one, the Unitarian at
Meadville, admits women. They have the full privileges of the Colleges
of Pharmacy and Dentistry in Philadelphia.
The principal institutions closed to women are the Jefferson Medical,
Hahnemann Medical, Medico-Chirurgical, Franklin and Marshall,
Haverford, Lafayette, Moravian, Muhlenberg, St. Vincent, Washington
and Jefferson, Waynesburg, Lehigh and most of the departments of the
Western University.
In the University of Pennsylvania (State) women are admitted on equal
terms with men to the post-graduate department; as candidates for the
Master of Arts degree; and to the four years' course in biology,
leading to the degree of B. S. They may take special courses in
pedagogy, music and interior decoration (in the Department of
Architecture) but no degree. The Medical, Dental and Veterinary
Departments are entirely closed to them. Of the large departments, Law
is the only one which is fully, freely and heartily open to women on
exactly the same terms as to men, and it confers the degree of LL. B.
upon both alike. There are no women on the faculty, but Prof. Sara
Yorke Stevenson, the distinguished archoaelogist, is secretary of the
Department of Archaeology and Paleontology and curator of the Egyptian
and Mediterranean Section.
The Drexel Institute, founded and endowed by Anthony J. Drexel, was
opened in December, 1891. Instruction is given in the arts, sciences
and industries. All the departments are open to women on the same
terms as to men. Booker T. Washington has a free scholarship for a
pupil, and one is held by the Carlisle Indian School.
Bryn Mawr, non-sectarian, but founded by Joseph W. Taylor, M. D., a
member of the Society of Friends, was opened in 1885. It stands at the
head of the women's colleges of the world, and ranks with the best
colleges for men. Miss M. Carey Thomas, Ph. D., LL. D., is president.
Notwithstanding these splendid educational advantages, as late as 1891
there was no opportunity in the Philadelphia public schools for a girl
to prepare for college or for a business office. In 1893 the present
superintendent, Edward Brooks, reorganized the Girls' High School,
arranging a four years' classical course and a three years' business
course.
There are in the public schools 9,360 men and 19,469 women teachers.
The average monthly salary of the men is $42.69; of the women, $38.45.
In Philadelphia the average for men is $121.93; for women, $67.61. In
this city, by decree of the board of education, the highest positions
are closed to women.
* * * * *
Pennsylvania is rich in women's clubs, 117 belonging to the State
Federation. The three largest are the New Century, with 600 members;
Civic, 500; New Century Guild (workingwomen), 400--all in
Philadelphia. Most of the clubs have civic departments. The suffrage
societies have full membership in the State Federation of Clubs. The
Civic and Legal Education Society of Philadelphia, composed of men and
women, has lecture courses on national, State and municipal government
and a practical knowledge of law. A study class of municipal law is
conducted by Mrs. Margaret Center Klingelsmith, the law librarian of
the State University.
FOOTNOTES:
[412] The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Lucretia
Longshore Blankenburg of Philadelphia, who has been president of the
State Suffrage Association since 1892.
[413] See History of Woman Suffrage, Vol. I, p. 67.
[414] Officers in 1884: President, Mary Grew, vice presidents, John K.
Wildman, Ellen M. Child, Passmore Williamson, corresponding secretary,
Florence A. Burleigh, recording secretary, Anna Shoemaker, treasurer,
Annie Heacock, executive committee, Mary S. Hillborn, Martha B. Earle,
Sarah H. Peirce, Gertrude K. Peirce, Joshua Peirce, Leslie Miller,
Maria P. Miller, Harriet Purvis, Caroline L. Broomall, Deborah
Pennock, J. E. Case, Matilda Hindman, Dr. Hiram Corson.
[415] These meetings have been held in Chester, West Chester,
Lancaster, Reading, Lewistown, Oxford, Kennett Square, Norristown,
Scranton, Pittsburg, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Chester and Columbia.
[416] For an account of the Citizens' Suffrage Association, Edward M.
Davis, president, see Vol. III, p. 461.
[417] At the annual meeting of October, 1900, the following were
elected: President, Miss Jane Campbell; vice-presidents, Miss Eliza
Heacock and Miss Elizabeth Dornan; corresponding secretary, Miss
Katherine J. Campbell; recording secretary, Mrs. Olive Pond Amies;
treasurer, Mrs. Mary F. Kenderdine. Sixteen delegates were elected to
represent the society at the State convention.
[418] Among the men and women who have been especially helpful to the
cause of woman suffrage since 1884, besides those already mentioned,
are Robert Purvis, John M. Broomall, Edward M. Davis, Drs. Hannah E.
Longshore, Jane V. Myers, Jane K. Garver; Mesdames Rachel Foster
Avery, Emma J. Bartol, Eliza Sproat Turner, Elizabeth B. Passmore, J.
L. Koethen, Jr., Helen Mosher James, Charlotte L. Peirce, Ellen C. H.
Ogden, Mary E. Mumford, Elizabeth Smith, J. M. Harsh, J. W. Scheel, H.
C. Perkins, Hanna M. Harlan, Misses Julia T. Foster, M. Adeline
Thomson, Susan G. Appleton, Julia A. Myers, L. M. Mather, Lucy E.
Anthony.
[419] William and Hannah Penn were both Proprietary Governors of the
colony, William from the time of its settlement in 1682 until 1712,
when he was stricken with illness. Hannah then took up the affairs and
administered as governor until William's death in 1717, and after that
time until her son became of age.
Sidney Fisher, in his account of the Pennsylvania colony, says that
this is the only instance in history where a woman has acted as
Proprietary Governor. Hannah Penn was skilful in her management and
retained the confidence of the people through financial and political
embarrassments.
[420] See History of Woman Suffrage, Vol. I, p. 389.
[421] Drs. Joseph and Hannah Myers Longshore were the uncle and mother
of Mrs. Lucretia L. Blankenburg. [Eds.
CHAPTER LXII.
RHODE ISLAND.[422]
Rhode Island was one of the pioneer States to form a woman suffrage
association. On Dec. 11, 1868, in answer to a call signed by a large
number of its most distinguished men and women, a successful meeting
was held in Roger Williams Hall, Providence, and Mrs. Paulina Wright
Davis was elected president of the new organization.[423] Many series
of conventions in different parts of the State were held between 1870
and 1884, at which the officers and special speakers presented
petitions for signatures and prepared for legislative appeals.
In 1884, by unanimous vote of the Assembly, the State House was
granted for the first time for a woman suffrage convention. Four
sessions were held in the Hall of the House of Representatives, and
Frederick Douglass, Susan B. Anthony, Lucy Stone, Henry B. Blackwell,
William Lloyd Garrison, Mary F. Eastman and others addressed great
throngs of people who filled the seats, occupied all the standing room
and overflowed into the lobbies.
Up to the present date this association has held an annual convention
in October, a special May Festival with social features in the spring,
and from one to four meetings each intervening month. These have been
rendered attractive by papers and addresses from the members and by
public speakers of ability from different parts of the United States
and from other lands. In addition to this active propaganda special
organizers have been secured from time to time to canvass the State
and win intelligent support for the cause.
The association has had but three presidents--Paulina Wright Davis for
the first two years, Elizabeth Buffum Chace from 1870 until her death
in 1899, aged ninety-two, and Ardelia C. Dewing, now serving. When
Mrs. Chace was unable longer to be actively the leader, Anna Garlin
Spencer, who returned in 1889 to reside in Rhode Island, as first
vice-president acted for her about seven years and Mrs. Dewing for the
remainder of the time. Mrs. Davis was an exquisite personality with
soul ever facing the light; Mrs. Chace, a woman of granite strength
and stability of character, with a keen mind always bent upon the
reason and the right of things, and with a single-hearted devotion to
the great principles of life.[424]
The vice-presidents of the association number "honorable names not a
few."[425] Among them was the Rev. Frederick A. Hinckley, who during
the eleven years of his ministry in Providence, 1878-1889, acted as
the first vice-president and did the greatest possible service to the
association in all ways, ever championing the principle of equality of
rights. The secretaries of the association always have been among the
leaders in the movement. At first Rhoda Anna Fairbanks (Peckham) was
the single officer in that capacity. In 1872 Anna C. Garlin (Spencer)
was added as corresponding secretary but resigned in 1878 when her
marriage required her removal from the State.[426] Mrs. Ellen M.
Bolles served from 1891 to 1900 when Mrs. Annie M. Griffin was
elected. There have been but three treasurers--Marcus T. Janes, Mrs.
Susan B. P. Martin and Mrs. Mary K. Wood.[427] The chairman of the
Executive Committee has always shared the heaviest burdens. Mrs.
Chace was the first chairman. Mrs. S. E. H. Doyle succeeded her and
continued in the office until her death in 1890. Mrs. Anna E. Aldrich
then served to the end of her life in 1898. The association has done a
great deal of active work through its organizers, the brilliant and
versatile Elizabeth Kittridge Churchill, Mrs. Margaret M. Campbell,
Mrs. Louise M. Tyler, and others. Mrs. Ellen M. Bolles, from 1890 to
1898, acted as organizer as well as secretary.
The State Society affiliated with the New England Woman Suffrage
Association from the first; with the American in 1870 and with the
National-American in 1891. It was incorporated in 1892 and has been
the recipient of legacies from James Eddy, Mrs. Rachel Fry, Mrs. Sarah
Wilbour, Mrs. Elizabeth B. Chace and others. It raised and expended
for the woman suffrage campaign of 1887 more than $5,000 and has had
some paid worker in the field during most of the years.
LEGISLATIVE ACTION: From the first year of its existence, 1869, the
State Association petitioned the Legislature for an amendment to the
constitution abolishing sex as a condition of suffrage, and hearings
were held before many committees.
In 1885, through the influence of Representative Edward L. Freeman, a
bill for such an amendment actually passed both Houses, but failed
through some technicality.
In 1886 it passed both Houses again by the constitutional majority of
two-thirds. It was necessary that it should pass two successive
Legislatures, and the vote in 1887 was, Senate, 28 ayes, 8 noes;
House, 57 ayes, 5 noes. The amendment having been published and read
at the annual town and ward meetings was then submitted to the voters.
It was as follows: "Women shall have the right to vote in the election
of all civil officers and on all questions in all legal town, district
or ward meetings, subject to the same qualifications, limitations and
conditions as men."
The story of this campaign can be compressed into a few sentences, but
it was a great struggle in which heroic qualities were displayed and
was led by the woman whose life has meant so much for Rhode Island,
Mrs. Elizabeth Buffum Chace, who had as her able lieutenant the Rev.
Frederick A. Hinckley, and as her body-guard all the faithful leaders
of the suffrage cause in the State and helpers from other
States.[428] Headquarters were established immediately in the business
center of Providence. These rooms were opened each morning before nine
o'clock and kept open until ten at night throughout the contest. The
campaign lasted twenty-nine days, during which ninety-two public
meetings were held, some in parlors but most in halls, vestries and
churches. Miss Cora Scott Pond came at once into the State to organize
the larger public meetings and Miss Sarah J. Eddy and Mrs. C. P.
Norton arranged for parlor meetings. The regular speakers were Henry
B. Blackwell, William Lloyd Garrison, the Revs. C. B. Pitblado, Louis
A. Banks, Frederick A. Hinckley, Ada C. Bowles; Mesdames Mary A.
Livermore, J. Ellen Foster, Zerelda G. Wallace, Julia Ward Howe,
Katherine Lente Stevenson, E. S. Burlingame, Adelaide A. Claflin; Miss
Mary F. Eastman and Miss Huldah B. Loud.[429] Miss Susan B. Anthony
was invited to make the closing speech of the campaign but declined as
she considered the situation hopeless.
The cities and towns were as thoroughly canvassed by these speakers as
the short time permitted. A special paper, _The Amendment_, was edited
by Mrs. Lillie B. Chace Wyman, assisted by Miss Kate Austin and Col.
J. C. Wyman; the first number, issued March 16, an edition of 20,000,
and the second, March 28, an edition of 40,000. They contained
extracts from able articles on suffrage by leading men and women,
letters from Rhode Island citizens approving the proposed amendment,
and answers to the usual objections.
The principal newspapers of Providence, the _Journal_ and the
_Telegram_, both led the opposition to the amendment, the former
admitting in an editorial, published March 10, "the theoretic justice
of the proposed amendment to the constitution conferring suffrage upon
women," but hoping it would be rejected because "whatever may be said
for it, the measure has the fatal defect of being premature and
impolitic." The opposition of the _Telegram_ was more aggressive and
even of a scurrilous type. To offset this hostility if possible the
suffrage association hired a column of space in the _Journal_ and half
a column in the _Telegram_ and kept this daily filled with suffrage
arguments; toward the end of the campaign securing space also in the
_Daily Republican_. The papers of the State generally were opposed to
the measure, but the Woonsocket _Daily Reporter_, Newport _Daily
News_, Hope Valley _Sentinel-Advertiser_, Pawtuxet Valley _Gleaner_,
Providence _People_, Bristol _Phenix_, Central Falls _Visitor_ and a
few others gave effective assistance. The association distributed
about 39,000 packages of literature to the voters.
In the Providence _Journal_ of April 4 the names of over ninety
prominent voters were signed to this announcement: "We, the
undersigned, being opposed to the adoption of the proposed Woman
Suffrage Amendment to the Constitution, respectfully urge all citizens
(!) to vote against it at the coming election."
The next day the _Journal_ contained in the space paid for by the
association the signatures of about the same number of equally
prominent men appended to this statement: "We favor the passage of the
Woman Suffrage Amendment which has been submitted to the voters of
Rhode Island for action at the coming election." The same issue
contained a list of many of the most distinguished men and women in
this and other countries, beginning with Phillips Brooks and Clara
Barton, and headed, "Some Other People of Weight Who Have Indorsed
Woman Suffrage. Match This if You Can."
The election was held April 6, 1887, and at the sixty-two polling
places men and women were on hand to urge the electors to vote for the
amendment. The result was 6,889 ayes, 21,957 noes--the largest defeat
woman suffrage ever received.
Many of the ablest lawyers having decided that no extension of
franchise, not even a school vote, could be secured in Rhode Island
through the Legislature (except possibly Presidential Suffrage) and
the amendment to the constitution having been defeated by so heavy a
vote, it was deemed best not to ask for another submission of the
question for a term of years. Therefore other matters, involving
legal equality of the sexes, formed for a while the chief subjects for
legislative work.
In 1892 a special appeal was made to the General Assembly to confer
upon women by statute the right to vote for presidential electors.
Three hearings were had before the House committee but the bill was
not reported.
In 1895 a hearing, managed by Mrs. Jeanette S. French, was granted by
the Senate committee. A number of able women of the State made
addresses and the committee reported unanimously in favor of
submitting again an amendment for the Full Suffrage. It was too late,
however, for further action and was referred to the May session. At
that time it passed the Senate but was lost in the House by a small
majority.
In 1897 the Governor was empowered by the General Assembly to appoint
a commission to revise the State constitution. This was deemed by many
as opposed to the spirit of the basic law of the Commonwealth, in
substituting a small appointive body for the Constitutional Convention
of Electors previously considered necessary to revise the fundamental
law of the State, but the commission was appointed. The Woman Suffrage
Association early presented a claim for a hearing which was granted
for May 11. The Rev. Anna Garlin Spencer conducted it and introduced
the other speakers who were all citizens of the State and of influence
in their communities.[430] After interviews were held with the
commission, the association adopted resolutions which were afterwards
incorporated in a letter and read by Mrs. Bolles to the Committee on
Revision. It said in part:
We are informed that you consider it inadvisable to incorporate a
suffrage amendment in the revised constitution lest it endanger
the acceptance of other proposed and necessary changes. This view
may be correct, but surely it need not prevent you from advising
a provision by which the Legislature would be empowered to extend
suffrage to women at its discretion, and this we greatly desire.
A conservative measure of this nature could not call out a large
amount of antagonism from the voters, while it would be a great
help to women in their efforts to obtain a voice in such matters
of public concern as are of vital importance to their interests.
The constitution of Rhode Island is far behind the spirit of the
age in its treatment of women, as only one other State makes it
equally difficult for them to obtain even the simplest form of
political rights. In revising the fundamental law this fact ought
not to be overlooked and the instrument should be so constructed
as to bring it up to date in this respect.
These appeals were not responded to favorably by the Commission,
although great courtesy and willingness to consider the subject were
manifested, and a large minority vote was given in the Commission
itself to empower the Legislature to grant suffrage at discretion by
statute. The proposed revision was submitted to the electors and
during the campaign preceding their vote the association passed the
following resolution at its annual meeting of Oct. 20, 1898:
"Resolved, That we consider the proposed constitution unworthy the
intelligence and civilization of the age, for these reasons: First, It
does not give suffrage to women citizens and makes the obtaining of an
amendment for this purpose even more difficult than it is at present
by requiring a larger legislative majority to submit any question to
the voters. Second, It restricts the suffrage of men by a property
qualification."
The revised constitution was voted down by a large majority.
LAWS: The Suffrage Association from its first existence closely
watched legislation affecting women and children, and often appeared
by representative speakers before committees engaged in framing
changes in such laws; but in 1892 and '93 a special effort was made to
secure full legal equality for men and women. Miss Mary A. Greene, a
Rhode Island lawyer, educated for and admitted to the bar in
Massachusetts, was engaged to prepare a full statement of the existing
laws relating to women and children and to draw up a code for
suggestion to the Legislature which should embody the exact justice
for which the association stood. This step was taken at that time
because the Legislature had just appointed a Committee of Codification
to consider the statutes bearing on domestic relations, contract
powers, etc. The suggestions of the association, as prepared by Miss
Greene, were not acted upon in any formal way, still less with
completeness, but the changes made in the interest of equal rights for
women were marked and the association had a distinct share in them.
The property laws for women are now satisfactory except that of
inheritance which is as follows:
Dower and curtesy both obtain. If the husband die without a will,
leaving children, the widow is entitled to the life use of one-third
of the real estate, and to one-third of the personal property
absolutely, the remainder going to them. If there are no children or
descendants she takes one-half of the personal property and as much of
the real estate for life as is not required to pay the husband's
debts. The other half of the personal property goes to the husband's
relatives and, after her death, all of the real estate. The widower is
entitled to a life use of all the wife's real estate if there has been
issue born alive. If she die without a will he may take the whole of
her personal property without administration or accountability to the
children or to her kindred. The widow and minor children are entitled
to certain articles of apparel, furniture and household supplies and
to six months' support out of the estate. The widow has the prior
right as administrator.
The wife may dispose of her personal and real property by will, but
can not impair the husband's curtesy, or the life use of all her real
estate. The husband may do the same subject to the wife's dower, or
life use of one-third of the real estate.
If any person having neither wife nor children die without a will "the
property shall go to the father of such person if there be a father,
if not, then to the mother, brothers and sisters."
All the property of a married woman, whether acquired before or after
marriage, is absolutely secured to her sole and separate use, free
from liability for her husband's debts. Personal and real estate may
be conveyed by her as if unmarried, the latter subject to the
husband's curtesy. Her husband must present an order from her to
collect the rents and profits.
A married woman may make contracts, sue and be sued, and carry on any
trade or business, and her earnings are her sole and separate
property. She can not, however, enter into business partnership with
her husband.
Neither husband nor wife is liable for the torts of the other. The
wife's property is liable for her debts or torts.
A married woman may act as executor, administrator or guardian if
appointed to those offices by will, but she can not be appointed to
them by the court except to the guardianship of children.[431]
In case of divorce for fault of the husband the wife may have dower as
if he were dead. If alimony be claimed the dower is waived. If the
divorce is for the fault of the wife, the husband, if entitled to
curtesy, shall have a life estate in the lands of the wife, subject to
such allowance to her, chargeable on the life estate, as the court may
deem proper. In case of separation only, the petitioner may be
assigned a separate maintenance out of the property of the husband or
wife as the case may be.
The father is the legal guardian of the minor children. At his death
the mother is entitled to the guardianship and custody. The mother may
be appointed guardian by the court during the husband's lifetime. If
he is insane or has deserted or neglected his children she is entitled
to full custody.
If the wife is deserted by her husband unjustifiably and not supported
by him, she may receive authority from the court for the custody and
earnings of her minor children, and he may be imprisoned not less than
six months nor more than three years. If he abandon her and is absent
from the State one year or more or is condemned to prison for a year
or more, the court can order the income from his property applied to
the support of his family.
A law of 1896 provided that a wife owning property might contract in
writing for the support of her husband and children, but this was
repealed in three months. She is not required to support them by her
labor or property, as the husband is the legal head of the family.
The most of the above laws have been enacted since 1892.
Until 1889, 10 years was the age for the protection of girls, but then
it was made 14 years, with a penalty of not less than ten years'
imprisonment. In 1894 it was raised to 16 and the penalty made not
more than fifteen years with no minimum number specified. The former
penalty still holds, however, for actual rape.
SUFFRAGE: Women have no form of suffrage. The husband may vote as a
taxpayer by right of his wife's real estate.
OFFICE HOLDING: Eligibility to office is limited by the constitution
to electors. The article referring to school committee (trustees)
merely says, however, that they shall be "residents of the town." In
1872 and '73 the suffrage association procured by direct effort an Act
qualifying women to serve on school committees and many have done so
with distinction. There are sixteen now serving in the State. The city
charter of Pawtucket requires one of the three members to be a woman.
As far back as 1869 an appeal was made by the suffrage association
that women should be placed on all boards of management of
institutions in which women were confined as prisoners or cared for as
unfortunates. In partial response an Act was passed in 1870
establishing an Advisory Board of Female Visitors to the charitable,
penal and correctional institutions of the State. This board had no
powers of control, but had full rights of inspection at all times and
constituted an official channel for criticism and suggestions. It is
still in existence and is composed of seven representative women.
The association was not satisfied with a board of such limited powers
and in 1874 it memorialized the Legislature for an Act requiring that
women, in the proportion of at least three out of seven, should be
placed on the State Board of Charities and Correction, with equal
powers in all particulars. This petition was presented for three years
successively and special hearings granted to its advocates, but at
last was definitely refused. In 1891, however, two institutions, the
State Home and School for Dependent Children and the Rhode Island
School for the Deaf, were placed in charge of boards of control, to be
appointed by the Governor, to report to the Legislature and to
exercise full powers of supervision and management, "at least three of
whom shall be women."
In 1878 a meeting was held by the association to consider the need of
good and wise women in all places where unfortunate women are in
confinement, and the matter of placing police matrons in stations was
discussed. Agitation followed and the W. C. T. U., under the
enthusiastic lead of Mrs. J. K. Barney, adopted the matter as a
special work, the W. S. A. aiding in all possible ways. In March,
1881, the first police matron in the country (it is believed) was
appointed in Providence and installed as a regular officer. From this
beginning the movement spread until in 1893 an Act was passed by the
General Assembly, without a dissenting voice, requiring police matrons
in all cities, the nominations in each to be recommended by twenty
women residents in good standing.
The first agitation for women probation officers was started in a
meeting of the State Suffrage Association in 1892. The W. C. T. U. and
the leaders in rescue mission work in Providence continued the
movement, and in 1898 a woman was appointed in Providence to that
office, with equal powers of the man probation officer, to be
responsible for women who are released on parole.
In 1893 an Act was passed as the result of a determined movement
lasting several years, in which the suffrage association shared,
although the principal leaders were the labor reform organizations of
the State and the Council of Women of Rhode Island (to which body the
W. S. A. was auxiliary). It raised the legal age of the child-worker
from ten to twelve years, provided for sanitary conditions and moral
safeguards in shops and factories, and for the appointment of two
factory and shop inspectors, "one of whom shall be a woman," to secure
its enforcement. The man and woman inspector were made exactly equal
in power, responsibility and salary, instead of the woman being, as in
most States, a deputy or special inspector. Mrs. Fanny Purdy Palmer
was chosen for this position.
Appointive offices which women have held recently, or are holding, are
assistant clerk of the Supreme Court and Court of Common Pleas;
stenographer for same; clerk to State Commissioner of Public Schools;
clerk to State Auditor and Insurance Commissioner; as superintendent
of State Reform School for Girls, and as jailer in Kent county.
No woman has ever applied to serve as notary public, but doubtless it
would not be considered legal.
OCCUPATIONS: No occupation or profession is forbidden to women, but a
test is soon to be made as to whether they will be admitted to the
bar. Women are prohibited from contracting to work more than ten hours
a day. They can bind themselves to be apprentices till the age of
eighteen, men until twenty-one.
EDUCATION: Rhode Island contains only one university--Brown--founded
in 1764. In 1883 Miss Helen McGill and Miss Annie S. Peck, college
graduates, addressed a meeting at Providence on the higher education
of women. Arnold B. Chace was requested at this time to report at the
next regular meeting of the State Suffrage Association the prospects
for the admission of women to Brown University, as he was treasurer of
the university corporation. At a later meeting the Rev. Ezekiel Gilman
Robinson, then president of the university, by request addressed the
association and declared his views, saying in substance that he was
not in favor of their admission, especially in the undergraduate
departments, as the discipline required by young men and women was
quite different and all social questions would be complicated by the
presence of the latter.
After much discussion at other meetings it was decided to form a
committee, representing several organizations interested in the
advancement of women, to work more definitely in this direction. On
Feb. 20, 1886, a number of ladies assembled at the home of Mrs. Rachel
Fry, a prominent member of the suffrage association, and, after
discussion and advice from Mr. Chace, appointed a committee.[432]
Three days later it met at the home of Mrs. R. A. Peckham, organized
and elected Miss Sarah E. Doyle chairman and Mrs. Fanny Purdy Palmer
secretary. It met again March 14, to hear reports on the conferences
of the members with professors of the university, and the result
showed a considerable number of them in favor of the project. To
influence public opinion the committee published statistics showing
that thirty young women of Rhode Island were attending colleges
outside the State, and argued that most of these who now were "exiles"
would gladly receive the higher education at home.
The movement was accelerated by the act of four young girls, Elizabeth
Hoyt, Henrietta R. Palmer, Emma L. Meader and Helen Gregory, who took
by permission the classical course in the Providence High School, at
that time limited to boys; and in 1887 addressed a petition prepared
by David Hoyt, the principal, to the president of the university,
urging that when their preparation was complete they might be allowed
to share the educational privileges of Brown. They received a
discouraging response and all turned to other colleges.
Up to this time friends on the faculty and in the corporation of the
university were working up a scheme for the unofficial entrance of
women and their instruction in the class-rooms, and the committee had
engaged itself with the practical details connected with this plan.
On Feb. 4, 1889, this somewhat informal committee organized an
association and adopted a constitution which declared its object, "to
secure the educational privileges of Brown University for women on the
same terms offered to men." Of the thirty-two original signers to this
constitution eighteen were members of the State Suffrage Association
and the number included the president, two vice-presidents, secretary,
treasurer and four members of the executive committee. The same
officers were continued.
Prof. Benjamin Franklin Clarke was from the first an earnest supporter
of the claims of the women, and worked within the faculty as Arnold B.
Chace did in the corporation. When in 1889 Elisha Benjamin Andrews
(who as professor had in 1887 indorsed the woman suffrage amendment)
became the president of the university, the cause of the higher
education of women took a great leap forward. In October, 1891, the
Women's College connected with Brown University was established and a
small building hired for its home. Six young women, among them the now
distinguished president of Mount Holyoke College, Miss Mary Woolley,
entered the class rooms. The results of the next ten years are thus
summed up in the official year-book for 1901:
The Women's College was founded in October, 1891. At first only
the privileges of university examinations and certificates of
proficiency were granted. In June, 1892, all the university
degrees and the graduate courses were opened. In November, 1897,
the institution was accepted by the corporation and officially
designated the Women's College of Brown University. The immediate
charge, subject to the direction of the president, was placed in
the hands of a dean. All instruction was required to be given by
members of the university faculty. Pembroke Hall, which was built
by the Rhode Island Society for the Collegiate Education of
Women, was formally transferred to the university in October,
1897, and was accepted as the recitation hall of the Women's
College.
The record of the admission of women to this ancient university is
part of the history of the Woman Suffrage Association, because all the
initial movements were taken by that body, the society which continued
the work was separated from the association only for purposes of
practical efficiency, and the first principle on which the movement
proceeded was that of absolute equality in educational opportunity,
which is the corollary of political democracy. With its actual opening
to women, however, other elements of leadership assumed control and
have secured later results.
On Jan. 16, 1892, the original association having practically secured
its object, the money in the treasury was turned over to the Women's
Educational and Industrial Union, and from that body finally found its
way to a scholarship fund for the Women's College, and the association
disbanded. Later the need for raising funds to meet the requirement
for buildings and endowments led to the reorganization of the work,
and the present Rhode Island Society for the Collegiate Education of
Women was formed. Miss Doyle was elected the president of this new
association, as she had been of the old. At the dedication of Pembroke
Hall, which the efforts of this later society had secured, the early
history (especially the connection of the Woman Suffrage Association
with the work) was not dwelt upon, but the facts should have permanent
record to furnish one more proof that woman suffrage societies have
started great collateral movements, which, when they are fully
successful, often forget or do not know the "mother that bore
them."[433]
It was not until 1893 that the full classical course of the Providence
High School, preparatory for the university, was officially thrown
open to girls, although a few had previously attended. Now all
departments, including the manual training, are open alike to both
sexes, and there are no distinctions anywhere in the public schools.
In these there are 207 men and 1,706 women teachers. The average
monthly salary of the men is $103.74; of the women, $51. Only one
other State (Mass.) shows so great a discrepancy.
* * * * *
The Association of Collegiate Alumnae has an active branch in Rhode
Island. Seventeen clubs representing 1,436 members belong to the State
Federation. The Local Council of Women, which is auxiliary to the
National Council, has a membership, by delegate representation, of
thirty-two of the leading educational, church, philanthropic and
reformatory societies of Providence and of the State. About one-half
of these have men as well as women for members, but all are
represented in the Council by women. This body has done many important
things, having taken the most active part in securing Factory and Shop
Inspection; initiated the formation of the Providence Society for
Organizing Charity; started the movement for a Consumers' League and
launched that association; and is now at work to secure a State
institution for the care and training of the Feeble-Minded. The
Council holds from six to ten private meetings in the year, at least
two public meetings, and an annual public Peace Celebration in
conjunction with the Peace Committee of the International Council of
Women.
FOOTNOTES:
[422] The History is indebted for this chapter to the Rev. Anna Garlin
Spencer of Providence, vice-president-at-large of the State Woman
Suffrage Association.
[423] See History of Woman Suffrage, Vol. III, p. 340.
[424] The annual meeting in October, 1895, celebrated the completion
of a quarter of a century's service on the part of Mrs. Elizabeth
Buffum Chace as president of the Rhode Island Woman Suffrage
Association. Letters from absent friends were read expressing their
high appreciation of her life-long service in the cause of humankind
as well as womankind. Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, Mr. William Lloyd Garrison
and Miss Mary F. Eastman attended to speak for the cause, and to
testify their love for Mrs. Chace. The Hon. E. L. Freeman, ex-Gov.
John W. Davis and others of the State also spoke words of great
respect. The association honored itself by once more electing Mrs.
Chace its chief officer, although she had expressed a strong desire to
retire from the position as she felt that the burden of the work
should be borne by younger shoulders. [Annual Report to National
Suffrage Convention.
[425] Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Julia Ward Howe, Rowland Hazard,
Phebe Jackson, Susan Sisson, Sarah Helen Whitman, Elizabeth K.
Churchill, Abraham Payne, Sarah T. Wilbour, Charlotte A. Jenckes,
George L. Clarke, Francis C. Frost, Susan R. Harris, Augustus Woodbury
and many others of the best known and most useful citizens.
[426] Others were Mrs. M. M. Brewster, Mrs. Mary C. Peckham, Mrs.
Rowena P. B. Tingley, Miss Charlotte R. Hoswell, Mrs. Anna E. Aldrich
and Mrs. Martha Knowles.
[427] Present board: President Mrs. A. C. Dewing; first
vice-president, Mrs. Thomas W. Chase; second vice-president, Mrs.
Ellen M. Bolles; third vice-president, Mrs. Charlotte B. Wilbour;
secretary, Mrs. Annie M. Griffin; treasurer, Mrs. Mary K. Wood;
auditors, Mrs. O. I. Angell, Mrs. Elizabeth Ormsbee; honorary
vice-presidents, the Hon. H. B. Metcalf, Dr. L. F. C. Garvin and
Arnold B. Chace.
[428] The officers were: President, Mrs. Chace; vice-presidents, Mr.
Hinckley, Arnold B. Chace, Phebe Jackson, Mary O. Arnold and Julia
Ward Howe; acting secretary, Mrs. Anna E. Aldrich; treasurer, Mrs.
Mary K. Wood; executive committee, Mrs. S. E. H. Doyle, Miss Sarah J.
Eddy, Mesdames Aldrich, Fanny Purdy Palmer, C. P. Norton, Louisa A.
Bowen, Elizabeth C. Hinckley, Susan C. Kenyon, Mary E. Bliss, Frances
S. Bailey and S. R. Alexander, from whom the campaign committee was
selected.
[429] Occasional addresses were made by Gen. Thomas W. Chace, Col. J.
C. Wyman, Judge R. C. Pitman, Dr. L. F. C. Garvin, the Revs. H. C.
Westwood, Augustus Woodbury, H. I. Cushman, N. H. Harriman, Thomas R.
Slicer, O. H. Still, J. H. Larry; Messrs. Olney Arnold, Augustine
Jones, R. F. Trevellick, Ralph Beaumont, John O'Keefe and others.
[430] Dr. Helen C. Putnam represented the physicians, Mrs. Mary Frost
Evans the editors, Miss Sarah E. Doyle the teachers, Mrs. Mary A.
Babcock and Mrs. A. B. E. Jackson the W. C. T. U., Mrs. L. G. C.
Knickerbocker and Mrs. S. M. Aldrich women in private life, while the
W. S. A. contributed Mrs. J. S. French, Mrs. A. C. Dewing and Mrs.
Ellen M. Bolles. Edwin C. Pierce and Rabbi David Blaustein, members of
the association, also spoke in favor of suffrage for women.
[431] The right to be appointed by the court was given to married
women by Act of 1902.
[432] Mrs. Francis W. Goddard, Miss Sarah E. Doyle, principal of the
Girls' High School of Providence; Mrs. M. M. Brewster, president of
the Women's Educational and Industrial Union; Mrs. Fanny Purdy Palmer
and Mrs. R. A. Peckham, representing the State Suffrage Association;
Mrs. Augustine Jones, representing the Friends' School, and Mrs. M. E.
Tucker.
[433] The Suffrage Association has held one meeting in Pembroke Hall,
however, which was presided over by its acting president and at which
the daughter of Julia Ward Howe, Mrs. Florence Howe Hall, spoke upon
"The Political Position of Women in England," and the use of Sayles
Hall of Brown University was freely granted for a series of meetings
under the auspices of the W. S. A. devoted to a presentation of
"Woman's Contribution to the Progress of the World." These were
addressed by Abba Goold Woolson, Mary A. Livermore, Lillie Devereux
Blake, Lillie Chace Wyman, Alice Stone Blackwell, Mary F. Eastman,
Prof. Katherine Hanscom and the Rev. Anna Garlin Spencer.
In October, 1901, Miss Susan B. Anthony addressed the students and was
enthusiastically received.
CHAPTER LXIII.
SOUTH CAROLINA.[434]
In 1890 Mrs. Virginia Durant Young being on a visit to Mrs. Adelaide
Viola Neblett at Greenville, these two did so inspire each other that
then and there they held a suffrage conference with Mrs. S. Odie
Sirrene, Mrs. Mary Putnam Gridley and others, and pledged themselves
to work for woman's enfranchisement in South Carolina.
Mrs. Young made a suffrage address to the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union of Beaufort in 1891, and later spoke on the subject by
invitation at Lexington and in the Baptist church at Marion. She
eventually succeeded in forming a State association of 250 men and
women who believed in equal rights, and interested themselves in
circulating literature on this question. Its officers for 1900 are
Mrs. Young, president; Mrs. Mary P. Prentiss, vice-president; Miss
Harriet B. Manville, corresponding secretary; Mrs. Gridley, treasurer.
In 1895 Miss Susan B. Anthony, president of the National Association,
Mrs. Lillie Devereux Blake of New York, and Mrs. Ellen Battelle
Dietrick of Massachusetts, made addresses at various places, on their
way home from the national convention in Atlanta. In April of this
year Miss Laura Clay of Kentucky, Miss Helen Morris Lewis of North
Carolina, and Miss Elizabeth Upham Yates of Maine, with Mrs. Young and
Mrs. Neblett, began a suffrage campaign at Greenville. They went
thence to Spartanburg, Columbia and Charleston. Here the party
divided, Miss Clay and Mrs. Young going to Georgetown, Florence,
Marion, Latta, Darlington, Timmonsville and Sumter. Later Mrs.
Neblett, Miss Clay and Mrs. Young spoke at Allendale, Barnwell,
Hampton and Beaufort.
Miss Clay, auditor of the National Association, worked four months in
South Carolina this year at her own expense. Half of the time was
spent in Columbia, assisting Mrs. Young and others in the effort to
have an amendment giving suffrage to taxpaying women incorporated in
the new constitution then being framed. They had hearings before two
committees in September, and presented their arguments to the entire
Constitutional Convention in the State House, with a large number of
citizens present. The amendment failed by a vote of 26 yeas, 121 nays.
President D. B. Johnston, of the Girls' Industrial and Normal College,
and John J. McMahan, State superintendent of instruction, have done
much to advance the educational status of women, and both believe in
perfect equality of rights. Among other advocates may be mentioned the
Hon. Walter Hazard, Dr. William J. Young, McDonald Furman, B. Odell
Duncan, George Sirrene, Col. John J. Dargan, Col. Ellison Keith, the
Rev. Sidi H. Brown, Col. V. P. Clayton, the Rev. John T. Morrison,
Samuel G. Lawton, J. Gordon Coogler and William D. Evans, president of
the State Agricultural Society.
Miss Martha Schofield, superintendent of the Colored Industrial School
at Aiken, regularly enters a protest against paying taxes without
representation. Other women who have been devoted workers in the cause
of suffrage are Miss Mary I. Hemphill, editor with her father of the
Abbeville _Medium_; Mesdames Marion Morgan Buckner, Daisy P. Bailey,
Florence Durant Evans, Lillian D. Clayton, Gertrude D. Lido, Cora S.
Lott, Abbie Christensen, Martha Corley and Mary P. Screven; Dr. Sarah
Allen; Misses Claudia G. Tharin, Iva Youmans, Annie Durant, Kate Lily
Blue and Floride Cunningham.
LEGISLATIVE ACTION AND LAWS: In 1892 Mrs. Virginia Durant Young
petitioned the Legislature for her personal enfranchisement, adopting
this method of presenting the arguments in a nutshell, and as "news"
they were widely published and commented on. At this session Gen.
Robert R. Hemphill, a stanch advocate, presented a bill in the Senate
to give women the franchise and the right of holding office, and
brought it to a vote on December 17; yeas, 14, nays, 21.
In 1895 numerously signed petitions for suffrage were sent to the
Legislature by the women of Fairfax, Lexington and Marion. The right
of petition was also frequently used by the members of the State W. C.
T. U.
In 1896 Mrs. Young addressed the Legislature in behalf of Presidential
Suffrage for women.
In 1892, '93, '95 and '98 the laws were improved in regard to married
women's property rights, allowing them to hold real estate
independently of their husbands, restraining husbands from collecting
debts or wages owing to their wives, and making the wife's signature
necessary to the legality of mortgage.
In 1895 was enacted by the Constitutional Convention that, "The real
and personal property of a woman, held at the time of her marriage, or
that which she may thereafter acquire, either by gift, grant,
inheritance, devise or otherwise, shall be her separate property, and
she shall have all the rights incident to the same, to which an
unmarried woman or a man is entitled. She shall have the power to
contract and be contracted with, in the same manner as if she were
unmarried."
Dower prevails but not curtesy. If either husband or wife die without
a will the other has an equal claim on the property. Should there be
one or more children, the survivor receives one-third of the real and
the personal estate. If there are no lineal descendants, but
collateral heirs, the survivor takes one-half of the entire estate. If
there are no lineal descendants, father, mother, brother, sister,
child of such brother or sister, brother of the half-blood or lineal
ancestor, the survivor receives two-thirds of the estate and the other
third goes to the next of kin. If there is no kin, the survivor takes
the whole estate.
A homestead to the value of $1,000 is exempted to "the head of the
family."
South Carolina is the only State which does not allow divorce.
The father is the legal guardian of the children, and may appoint a
guardian of their persons and property by will.
The law requires the husband to support the family, but there is no
effective way for its enforcement. Any one may sell the wife
necessaries and subject the husband's property to the payment of the
bills, if he does not furnish a suitable support, but he can claim his
homestead against such a debt and in many ways render this remedy
unavailing.
In 1895 the "age of protection for girls" was raised from 10 to 14
years. The penalty is "death, with privilege of the jury to recommend
to mercy, whereupon the penalty may be reduced to imprisonment in the
penitentiary at hard labor during the whole lifetime of the prisoner."
Seduction under promise of marriage is punished by a fine of not less
than $500 nor more than $5,000, or imprisonment for not less than six
months nor more than five years.
SUFFRAGE: Women possess no form of suffrage.
OFFICE HOLDING: In the early '90's Gov. Benjamin R. Tillman secured
the election of the first woman State librarian. Ever since this
office has been filled by a woman, elected annually by the
Legislature. No other elective office is open to women.
A number of the engrossing clerks in the Senate are women.
Through the efforts of the W. C. T. U. there is a police matron at
Charleston.
Dr. Sarah Allen was appointed physician in the State hospital for the
insane in 1896, and still holds the position.
There are women directors on the board of the Columbia Library
Association.
Women do not serve on the board of any State institution.
They can not be notaries public.
OCCUPATIONS: Women are not permitted to practice law. No other
profession or occupation is legally forbidden to them.
EDUCATION: In 1894 the State University at Columbia opened its doors
to women. In the same year the Medical College of Charleston admitted
them, and still later Furman University (Baptist) at Greenville. These
were direct results of the agitation for equal rights. Charleston
College and Clemson Agricultural College are closed to women, but they
may enter the other educational institutions. Gov. Benjamin R. Tillman
was largely instrumental in securing the Girls' Industrial and Normal
College at Rock Hill, in 1894.
In the public schools there are 2,245 men and 2,728 women teachers.
The average monthly salary of the men is $25.18; of the women,
$24.29.
FOOTNOTES:
[434] The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Virginia D.
Young of Fairfax, owner and editor of the _Enterprise_ and president
of the State Woman Suffrage Association.
CHAPTER LXIV.
TENNESSEE.[435]
No organized work for woman suffrage had been done in Tennessee up to
1885, when Mrs. Elizabeth Lyle Saxon was appointed president of the
State by the National Association. In 1886 she removed to Washington
Territory and Mrs. Lida A. Meriwether was made her successor. As the
best means of obtaining a hearing from people who would not attend a
suffrage meeting, Mrs. Meriwether decided to begin her work in the
ranks of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. After three years of
quiet effort in this organization (of which she was State president)
she succeeded in adding the "franchise" to its departments and having
a solid suffrage plank nailed into its platform by unanimous vote. In
May, 1889, she formed in Memphis the first local suffrage club, with a
membership of fifty.
In January, 1895, Miss Susan B. Anthony, president of the National
Association, and Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, chairman of its
organization committee, came to Memphis and were welcomed not only by
the suffrage society, but also by the Local Council of Women, the
Woman's Club and the Nineteenth Century Club. They addressed a fine
audience in the Young Men's Hebrew Association Hall.
The following June Mrs. Meriwether was employed by the National
Association to lecture and organize for two weeks, and visited the
most important towns in the State.
In May, 1897, Miss Frances A. Griffin of Alabama made a six weeks'
lecture and organizing tour under the auspices of the association,
during which she spoke in every available town of any size, Mrs.
Nellie E. Bergen acting as advance agent. No other organizing work
ever has been done in Tennessee.
The first State suffrage convention was held at Nashville in May,
1897, an association formed and Mrs. Meriwether unanimously elected
president. This was in fact an interstate convention, being held
during the Tennessee Centennial Exposition at the invitation of the
managing committee, who offered the suffragists the use of the Woman's
Building for three days to give reasons for the faith that was in
them. Delegates were present from Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama,
Mississippi and Illinois. Addresses were given by Miss Laura Clay and
Mrs. Lida Calvert Obenchain of Kentucky, Mrs. Virginia Clay Clopton
and Miss Griffin of Alabama, Miss Josephine E. Locke of Illinois, Mrs.
Flora C. Huntington and Mrs. Meriwether.
The second convention took place at Memphis, April 22, 1900, Mrs.
Chapman Catt and Miss Mary G. Hay, national organizer, in attendance.
Mrs. Meriwether was elected honorary president for life; Mrs. Elise M.
Selden was made president and Miss Margaret E. Henry, corresponding
secretary. On Sunday evening Mrs. Chapman Catt addressed a mass
meeting in the Grand Opera House, and the next evening spoke in the
audience hall of the Nineteenth Century Club, both given free of
charge.
One incident will further show the growth of public sentiment in this
direction. In 1895 a prominent Memphis woman sent to the _Arena_ an
article entitled The Attitude of Southern Women on the Suffrage
Question, which she claimed to be that of uncompromising opposition.
In conclusion she said: "The views presented have been strengthened by
opinions from women all over the South, from the Atlantic Coast to
Texas, from the Ohio to the Gulf. More than one hundred of the
home-makers, the teachers and the writers have been consulted, all of
them recognized in their own communities for earnestness and ability.
Of these, only thirteen declared themselves outright for woman
suffrage; four believed that women should vote upon property and
school questions; while nine declined to express themselves. All the
others were opposed to woman suffrage in any form." She then gave
short extracts from the letters of eighteen women, four in favor and
fourteen opposed.
The editor wrote to Mrs. Josephine K. Henry of Kentucky asking for an
article from the other side. She sent one entitled The New Woman of
the New South, and the two were published in the _Arena_ of February,
1895. Mrs. Henry gave extracts from the letters of seventy-two
prominent women in various parts of the South--all uncompromising
suffragists. She had written to Mrs. Meriwether that, as her opponent
was from Tennessee, she wanted a distinct voice from that State, and
requested her to give a few reasons for desiring the suffrage and
obtain the signatures of women to the same. Mrs. Meriwether supplied
the following:
We, the undersigned women of Tennessee, do and should want the
ballot because--
1. Being 21 years old, we object to being classed with minors.
2. Born in America and loyal to her institutions, we protest
against being made perpetual aliens.
3. Costing the treasuries of our counties nothing, we protest
against acknowledging the male pauper as our political superior.
4. Being obedient to law, we protest against the statute which
classes us with the convict and makes the pardoned criminal our
political superior.
5. Being sane, we object to being classed with the lunatic.
6. Possessing an average amount of intelligence, we protest
against legal classification with the idiot.
7. We taxpayers claim the right to representation.
8. We married women want to own our clothes.
9. We married breadwinners want to own our earnings.
10. We mothers want an equal partnership in our children.
11. We educated women want the power to offset the illiterate
vote of our State.
Mrs. Meriwether sent this "confession of faith" to the presidents of
every suffrage club and W. C. T. U. in Tennessee, giving them a
fortnight to obtain signatures and adding, "The King's business
requires haste." In two weeks it was returned with the names of 535
women, while several presidents wrote: "If you could only give us two
weeks more we could double the number."[436]
LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS AND LAWS: Dower and curtesy both obtain. The widow
receives one-third of the real estate, unless there are neither
descendants nor heirs-at-law, when she takes it all in fee-simple. Of
the personal property she takes a child's share, unless there are no
lineal descendants, when she takes it all. The widower is entitled to
a life interest in the wife's real estate, if there has been issue
born alive, and to all of her personal estate whether there are
children or not. The law provides that a homestead to the value of
$1,000 shall inure to the widow.
The wife can neither sue nor be sued nor make contracts in her own
name, unless the husband has deserted her or is insane. The husband is
entitled to her earnings and savings.
Meigs' Digest says: "The general principle of the law is that marriage
amounts to an absolute gift to the husband of all personal goods of
which the wife is actually or beneficially possessed at the time, or
which come to her during coverture. So that if it be money in her
pocket or personal property in the hands of a third party, the title
vests at once in the husband.
"By right of his marriage the husband takes an interest in his wife's
real estate, and during their joint lives the law gives him a right to
the crops, profits and products of her lands. He has the usufruct of
all her freehold estate. The husband is entitled to the profits of all
lands held by the wife for her life, or for the life of another.
"When a marriage is dissolved at the suit of the husband, and the
defendant is owner in her own right of lands, his right to and
interest therein and to the rents and profits of the same, shall not
be taken away or impaired, but the same shall remain to him as though
the marriage had continued. And he shall also be entitled to her
personal estate, in possession or in action, and may sue for and
recover the same in his own name.
"When the wife is forced to separate from her husband, by reason of
cruel and inhuman treatment from him, she may, by a bill in equity,
have a suitable provision made for her support, out of the rents and
profits _of her land_."
The code says: "A father, whether under the age of twenty-one years,
or of full age, may by deed executed in his lifetime or by last will
and testament in writing, from time to time and in such manner and
form as he thinks fit, dispose of the custody and tuition of any
legitimate child under the age of twenty-one years and unmarried,
whether born at the time of his death or afterwards, during the
minority of such child, or for a less time." If the father abandon the
family the mother becomes guardian, but she can not appoint one by
will.
No law requires the husband to support wife or children.
The legal age for marriage is fourteen years for boys and twelve for
girls.
By earnest pleading and continual petitioning during the past ten
years women have secured the following: 1. The passage of a bill
making women eligible as superintendents of county schools. 2. Police
matrons in two cities--Memphis and Knoxville. 3. A law raising the
"age of protection" for girls from 10 to 16 years (1893), but if over
12 the crime is only a misdemeanor. The penalty is, if under 12,
"death by hanging, or, in the discretion of the jury, imprisonment in
the penitentiary for life or for a period not less than ten years;" if
over 12, "imprisonment in the penitentiary not less than three months
nor more than ten years; provided no conviction shall be had on the
unsupported testimony of the female ... or if the female is a bawd,
lewd or kept female." (1895.)
SUFFRAGE: Women possess no form of suffrage.
OFFICE HOLDING: Women are not eligible to any elective office except
that of county superintendent of schools, which was provided for by
special statute about 1890. They can not serve as school trustees.
For a number of years all the librarians and engrossing clerks of both
Senate and House have been women. They can not act as notaries public.
OCCUPATIONS: Women have engaged in the practice of law, but this was
forbidden by a recent decision of the Supreme Court (1901). It was
based on the ground that an attorney is a public officer, and as women
are not legally entitled to hold public office they can not practice
law.
EDUCATION: Degrees in law have been conferred upon several women at
Vanderbilt University, for white students, and at Fiske University,
for colored. All institutions of learning, except a few of a sectarian
nature, are coeducational.
In the public schools there are 5,019 men and 4,195 women teachers.
The average monthly salary of the men (estimated) is $31.88; of the
women, $26.18.
FOOTNOTES:
[435] The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Lida A.
Meriwether of Memphis, honorary president of the State Woman Suffrage
Association.
[436] Among prominent men who have aided in protective and progressive
work for women are Legislators W. H. Milburn, Thomas A. Baker and
Joseph Babb; Editors G. W. Armistead of the _Issue_, Gideon Baskette
of the Nashville _Banner_ and J. M. Keating of the Memphis _Appeal_;
the Revs. H. S. Williams, W. B. Evans, C. H. Wilson and T. B. Putnam;
Judges E. H. East and Arthur Simpson. Among women may be mentioned
Mesdames E. J. Roach, Georgia Mizelle, Bettie M. Donaldson, Margaret
Gardner, Emily Settle, Ida T. East, Caroline Goodlett, S. E. Dosser,
A. A. Gibson, Mary T. McTeer and Kate M. Simpson; Misses Louise and
Mary Drouillard, J. E. Baillett, M. L. Patterson and S. E. Hoyt. Lo!
all these are of the faithful--and yet "the half hath not been told."
CHAPTER LXV.
TEXAS.[437]
The first addresses in favor of woman suffrage in Texas are believed
to have been given by Mrs. Mariana T. Folsom in 1885. The first
attempt at organization was made on May 10, 1893, when Mrs. Rebecca
Henry Hayes called a meeting in the parlors of the Grand Windsor Hotel
at Dallas for the purpose of forming a State association. Fifty-two
names were enrolled; Mrs. Hayes was made president, Dr. Lawson Dabbs
corresponding secretary, and Margaret L. Watrous, recording
secretary.[438] Mrs. Sarah S. Trumbull was elected State organizer and
auxiliary associations were formed in various towns. Mrs. Hayes
traveled 9,000 miles in the interest of this cause during the next two
years, but as Texas has 360 counties and a scattered and widely
separated population, organized work is very difficult.
In 1896 Mrs. Elizabeth Good Houston became president. Mrs. Alice
McAnulty served a number of years most efficiently as corresponding
secretary. Dr. Grace Danforth also did effective work. Mrs. L. A.
Craig presented the question to the Democratic State Convention of
1894, but without any practical result. Mrs. McAnulty and Mrs.
Elizabeth Fry attended the Populist State Convention the same year,
but no action was taken.
Since 1887 the State W. C. T. U. has been pledged to woman suffrage.
The president, Mrs. S. C. Acheson, under whose management it was
adopted, was an enthusiast upon the subject. Mrs. Fry was the first
State superintendent of franchise, and, through both the W. C. T. U.
and the W. S. A., has rendered valuable service. Later, Mrs. Mary E.
Prendergast filled this position, distributing much literature and
speaking in many cities. Judge Davis McGee Prendergast became a
convert before his wife and convinced her of the righteousness of
woman suffrage. These two ladies are southern-born and life-long
Texans.
LEGISLATIVE ACTION AND LAWS: In 1891, through the efforts of the W. C.
T. U., the "age of protection" for girls was raised from 10 to 12
years. In 1895 it was raised to 15 years. The penalty is death or
imprisonment in the penitentiary from not less than five years to
life.
No attempt ever has been made to secure the franchise, but at this
time (1895) the women learned that thirty of the legislators believed
in woman suffrage, one of them declaring: "If some of these seats were
occupied by women, we men would do better work."
Neither dower nor curtesy obtains. If there are any lineal descendants
a surviving husband or wife is entitled to a life interest in
one-third of the real estate and to one-third of the personal estate
absolutely; if none, to all the personal property and a life interest
in one-half the real estate. If there are neither father, mother,
brothers, sisters nor their descendants, the surviving husband or wife
is entitled to the whole estate, both real and personal, as to
separate property.
In addition to such provision, one-half of the community property
passes to the widow or widower if there are one or more children and
the whole of such property if there are no lineal descendants. A widow
or widower is also entitled to retain a homestead not exceeding $5,000
in value. If either husband or wife die without a will or become
insane, and there are no living descendants, and the other party to
the marriage has no separate estate, the community property passes to
the survivor without an administration, unless there is a guardianship
by the State of the insane spouse. If, however, there are descendants,
the survivor has the exclusive management of the community property. A
woman loses this right if she contract another marriage. In the event
of the insane person being restored to a sound mental condition, an
accounting of such property must be rendered.
The property which a woman owns at marriage, or acquires by gift,
devise or descent afterward, remains her separate estate, but passes
under the absolute control of the husband, except that he can not sell
it without her consent.
The wife can not sell her separate property without the husband's
consent. He may sell his separate property without hers.
He may also sell the community property, except the homestead, without
her consent.
The wife must sue and be sued jointly with her husband in regard to
her separate property, and all other matters.
The wages of the wife belong to the husband as part of the community
property, whether she is living with him or separate from him.
Divorce is granted to the husband if the wife commit a single act of
adultery; to the wife, only if the husband has abandoned her and lived
in adultery with another. The law places the division of the property
entirely in the hands of the judge, but provides that "nothing herein
contained shall be construed to compel either party to divest himself
or herself of real estate." Supreme Court decisions have laid down the
general rule that separate property shall be restored to its owner.
Where there are no children the community property may be divided as
in case of death. The court, however, may make such provision as it
deems essential for the support of wife or children or an invalid
husband. If necessary it may place separate or community property in
the hands of trustees, the rents and profits to be applied to the
maintenance and education of the children or the support of the wife.
The judge assigns the children for their best interests. In general
practice the mother, unless disqualified morally, retains the custody
of female children of any age and of males to the age of eight, when
they are usually given to the father. There is no absolute rule, and
in case of children or property an appeal may be taken to a higher
court.
The father is the natural guardian of the persons and education of the
minor children, and is entitled to be appointed guardian of their
estates.
The law of support, revised in 1895, provides that "if the husband
fail to support the wife or children from the proceeds of the land
_she_ may have or fail to educate the children as the fortune of the
_wife_ would justify, she may in either case complain to the County
Court, which upon satisfactory proof shall decree that so much of
_her_ proceeds shall be paid to the wife for the support of herself
and the education of the children as the court may deem
necessary."[439]
SUFFRAGE: Women possess no form of suffrage.
OFFICE HOLDING: Most of the public offices have some women on their
clerical force, that of the comptroller having seven. They are paid
the same as men for the same work.
Women were postmasters of both Senate and House in the Legislature of
1900, and acted as clerks of committees.
They can serve as notaries public.
OCCUPATIONS: No profession or occupation is legally forbidden to
women. They practice law and medicine, are managers of many kinds of
business and proprietors of hotels, and two have been presidents of
banks.
Mrs. Henrietta King is widely known as "the Cattle Queen of the
World." Her ranch covers a million acres, and the net proceeds of her
sales of horses and cattle are estimated at $500,000 a year. A number
of women own and manage ranches.
EDUCATION: Most of the leading institutions of learning are open to
both sexes. Among these are the State University, Baylor University
(Baptist), Southwestern University (Methodist South), Fort Worth
Polytechnic (Methodist Episcopal), Trinity University (Cumberland
Presbyterian) and Wiley University (colored). Austin College and the
State Agricultural and Mechanical College are restricted to male
students.
The State Industrial College for Girls (white) was established by the
Legislature of 1900, with an appropriation of $60,000. All of the
industries will be taught, from domestic science to draughting. The W.
C. T. U. and others had been petitioning for this ten years.[440]
The Prairie View State Normal School for colored youth of both sexes
has had an Industrial Department from its beginning years ago. A
movement is now on foot to establish such a department as a portion of
the public school system. Austin already has one, made possible by
legacy, and its fine results have greatly inspired the law-makers.
One woman has served as superintendent of schools at Waco, and there
are many women principals of High Schools.
There are in the public schools 7,347 men and 7,672 women teachers.
The average monthly salary of the men is $49.20; of the women, $35.50.
* * * * *
Practically all of the progressive steps enumerated above have been
taken since 1883. When it is remembered that less than twenty years
ago women were virtually ostracized if they attempted any kind of
occupation outside the home, even teaching being looked upon askance,
the changes seem almost miraculous.
Texas has 130 Woman's Clubs with a membership of about 3,500. With
other good works they have distributed great quantities of reading
matter among isolated families. They also have established forty
public libraries and four traveling libraries.
FOOTNOTES:
[437] The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Helen M.
Stoddard of Fort Worth, president of the State Woman's Christian
Temperance Union.
[438] Under the direction of Dr. Dabbs a Congress of Women was held in
connection with the State Fair, and a Texas Woman's Council was
formed, not committed to suffrage but progressive in its views.
[439] The lawyer who was consulted as to the accuracy of these
statements said, after a careful examination: "There are so many other
laws bearing upon each of these that all this is necessarily
imperfect, but there is enough else, that is likewise true, to fill a
book."
[440] In 1901 Mrs. Helen M. Stoddard was appointed by Gov. Joseph D.
Sayers a member of the committee to locate this school. The
appointment was confirmed by the Senate, and the committee of twelve
men elected her secretary. She received, of course, the same pay as
the other members. Later three women were placed on the Board of
Regents, herself among the number. [Eds.
CHAPTER LXVI.
UTAH.[441]
To write the history of woman suffrage in Utah one must turn backward
to 1870, when the Legislature of the Territory passed a bill
conferring the franchise upon women, to which acting-Governor S. A.
Mann affixed his signature February 12. From that time women voted at
all elections, while some of them took a practical interest in public
matters and acted as delegates to political conventions and members of
Territorial and county committees.
The first attempt to elect a woman to any important office was made in
Salt Lake City at the county convention of 1878, when Mrs. Emmeline B.
Wells was nominated for treasurer. She received the vote of the entire
delegation, but the statute including the word "male" was held to
debar women from holding political offices. A bill was presented to
the next Legislature with petitions numerously signed asking that this
word be erased from the statutes, which was passed. Gov. George W.
Emory, however, refused to sign it, and though other Legislatures
passed similar bills by unanimous vote, none ever received his
signature or that of any succeeding governor.
In June, 1871, Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Miss Susan B. Anthony,
the president and vice-president-at-large of the National Woman
Suffrage Association, stopped at Salt Lake City on their way to the
Pacific Coast and met many of the prominent men and women.
In 1872 the _Woman's Exponent_ was established, and it is impossible
to estimate the advantage this little paper gave to the women of this
far western Territory. From its first issue it was the champion of the
suffrage cause, and by exchanging with women's papers of the United
States and England it brought news of women in all parts of the world
to those of Utah. They also were thoroughly organized in the National
Woman's Relief Society, a charitable and philanthropic body which
stood for reform and progress in all directions. Through such an
organization it was always comparatively easy to promote any specific
object or work. The Hon. George Q. Cannon, Utah's delegate in the
'70's, coming from a Territory where women had the ballot, interested
himself in the suffrage question before Congress. He thus became
acquainted with the prominent leaders of the movement, who went to
Washington every winter and who manifested much interest in the women
afar off in possession of the rights which they themselves had been so
long and zealously advocating without apparent results. Among these
were Mrs. Stanton, Miss Anthony, Mrs. Isabella Beecher Hooker and
others of national reputation.
Women were appointed as representatives from Utah by the National
Suffrage Association, and the correspondence between its officers and
Mrs. Wells, who had been made a member of their Advisory Committee and
vice-president for the Territory, as well as the fact that the women
of Utah were so progressive on the suffrage question and had sent
large petitions asking for the passage of a Sixteenth Amendment to the
Federal Constitution to enfranchise all women, resulted in an
invitation for her to attend its annual convention at Washington, in
January, 1879. Mrs. Wells was accompanied by Mrs. Zina Young Williams
and they were cordially welcomed by Mrs. Stanton and Miss Anthony.
This was a valuable experience for these women, as, even though they
had the right of suffrage, there was much to learn from the great
leaders who had been laboring in the cause of woman's enfranchisement
for more than thirty years. They were invited to address the
convention, and selected with others to go before Congressional
committees and the President of the United States, as well as to
present important matters to the Lady of the White House. The kindness
which they received from Mrs. Hayes and other noted women always will
remain a pleasant memory of that first visit to the national capitol.
On their return home they took up the subject of the ballot more
energetically in its general sense than ever before through public
speaking and writing.
During the seventeen years, from 1870 to 1887, that the women of Utah
enjoyed the privilege of the ballot several attempts were made to
deprive them of it. In 1880 a case came before the Supreme Court of
the Territory on a mandamus requiring the assessor and registrar to
erase the names of Emmeline B. Wells, Maria M. Blythe and Cornelia
Paddock from the registration list, also the names of all other women
before a certain specified date, but the court decided in favor of the
defendants.
In the spring of 1882 a convention was held to prepare a constitution
and urge Congress to admit Utah as a State. Three women were
elected--Mrs. Sarah M. Kimball, Mrs. Elizabeth Howard and Mrs.
Wells--and took part in framing this constitution, and their work was
as satisfactory as that of the male members. Although this was a new
departure, it caused no friction whatever and was good political
discipline for the women, especially in parliamentary law and usage.
This year another case was brought, before the Third District Court,
to test the validity of the statute conferring the elective franchise
upon the women of the Territory. A registrar of Salt Lake City refused
to place the names of women upon the list of voters, and Mrs. Florence
L. Westcott asked for a writ compelling him to administer the oath,
enter her name, etc. The case was called for argument Sept. 14, 1882,
Chief Justice James A. Hunter on the bench, and able lawyers were
employed on both sides of the question. The decision sustained the
Legislative Act of 1870 under which women voted. Associate Justice
Emerson agreed with Judge Hunter, and Associate Justice Twiss
acknowledged the validity of the law, but insisted that women should
be taxpayers to entitle them to the right. This test case decided all
others and women continued to vote until the passage of the
Edmunds-Tucker Law, in March, 1887. During this period women gained
much political experience in practical matters, and their association
with men acquainted with affairs of State, in council and on
committees gave them a still wider knowledge of the manipulation of
public affairs.
In September, 1882, the National W. S. A. held a conference in Omaha,
Neb., and Mrs. Wells and Mrs. Zina D. H. Young attended. Miss Anthony,
Mrs. May Wright Sewall, chairman of the Executive Committee, and many
other distinguished women were in attendance. Mrs. Wells, as
vice-president for Utah, presented an exhaustive report of the
suffrage work in the Territory, which was received with a great deal
of enthusiasm.
At the national convention in Washington the previous January the
proposed disfranchisement of Utah women by the Edmunds Bill had been
very fully discussed and a resolution adopted, that "the proposition
to disfranchise the women of Utah for no cause whatever is a cruel
display of the power which lies in might alone, and that this Congress
has no more right to disfranchise the women of Utah than the men of
Wyoming."[442] This sympathy was gratefully acknowledged by the women
of the Territory.
The suffrage women throughout the various States made vigorous
protests against the injustice of this pending measure. A committee
appointed at the convention in Washington, in the winter of 1887,
presented a memorial to the President of the United States requesting
him not to sign the bills, but to veto any measure for the
disfranchisement of the women of Utah.[443] Mrs. Belva A. Lockwood
made an able speech before the convention on this question. There were
at that time several bills before Congress to deprive Utah women of
the elective franchise.
During the subsequent years of this agitation every issue of the
_Woman's Exponent_ contained burning articles, letters and editorials
upon this uncalled-for and unwarranted interference with the affairs
of the women of this Territory. The advocates of the rights of all
women stood up boldly for those of Utah, notwithstanding the scoffs
and obloquy cast upon them. It was a fierce battle of opinions and the
weaker had to succumb. The strong power of Congress conquered at last,
and the Edmunds-Tucker Act of 1887 wrested from all the women, Gentile
and Mormon alike, the suffrage which they had exercised for seventeen
years. Naturally they were very indignant at being arbitrarily
deprived of a vested right, but were obliged to submit. They were
determined, however, not to do so tamely but to teach their sons,
brothers and all others the value of equal suffrage, and to use every
effort in their power toward securing it whenever Statehood should be
conferred.
Mrs. Arthur Brown and Mrs. Emily S. Richards were appointed to
represent the Territory at the National Suffrage Convention in
Washington in 1888, and were there authorized to form an association
uniform with those in various States and Territories. Heretofore it
had not been considered necessary to organize, as women were already
in possession of the ballot.
Mrs. Elizabeth Lyle Saxon and Mrs. Clara Bewick Colby, who had been
lecturing on suffrage in Oregon and Washington, visited Salt Lake in
September, 1888. They spoke in the theater, and on the following day a
reception was tendered them in the Gardo House, where they had the
opportunity of meeting socially between five and six hundred people,
both Gentiles and Mormons, men and women. The same evening another
large audience in the theater greeted them, and on the day succeeding
at 10 A. M. there was a meeting for women only in the Assembly Hall.
These meetings were held under the auspices of the Woman's Relief
Society, Mrs. Zina D. H. Young, president. Though they occurred at a
time when the people were suffering from indignities heaped upon them
because of unjust legislation, yet a strong impression was made on
those (mostly Gentiles) who never previously had been converted to
suffrage.
After careful deliberation and several preliminary meetings in the
office of the _Woman's Exponent_, a public call was made through the
daily papers, signed by the most influential women of Salt Lake City,
for a meeting in the Assembly Hall, Jan. 10, 1889, to organize a
Territorial Suffrage Association. Mrs. Richards occupied the chair and
Mrs. Lydia D. Alder was elected secretary _pro tem_. Prayer was
offered and the old-fashioned hymn, "Know this that every soul is
free," was sung by the congregation.[444] One hundred names were
enrolled and Mrs. Caine and Mrs. Richards were elected delegates to
the National Convention. Mrs. Caine was already at the Capital with
her husband, the Hon. John T. Caine, Utah's delegate in the House of
Representatives. Mrs. Richards arrived in time to give a report of the
new society, which was heard with much interest.
Within a few months fourteen counties had auxiliary societies.
Possibly because of the former experience of the women there was very
little necessity of urging these to keep up their enthusiasm. Towns
and villages were soon organized auxiliary to the counties, and much
good work was done in an educational way to arouse the new members to
an appreciation of the ballot, and also to convince men of the
benefits to be derived by all the people when women stood side by side
with them and made common cause.
On April 11, three months after the Territorial Association was
organized, a rousing meeting was held in the Assembly Hall, in Salt
Lake City, Mrs. Alder, vice-president, in the chair. Eloquent
addresses were made by Bishop O. F. Whitney, the Hon. C. W. Penrose,
the Hon. George Q. Cannon, Dr. Martha P. Hughes (Cannon), Mrs. Zina D.
H. Young, Mrs. Richards, Ida Snow Gibbs and Nellie R. Webber.
A largely attended meeting took place in the County Court House, Ogden
City, in June, the local president, Elizabeth Stanford, in the chair.
Besides brief addresses from members eloquent speeches were made by C.
W. Penrose and the Hon. Lorin Farr, a veteran legislator. The women
speakers of Salt Lake who had been thoroughly identified with the
suffrage cause traveled through the Territory in 1889, making speeches
and promoting local interests, and strong addresses were given also by
distinguished men--the Hons. John T. Caine, John E. Booth, William H.
King (delegate to Congress), bishops and legislators. The fact can not
be controverted that the sentiment of the majority of the people of
Utah always has been in favor of equal suffrage.
At the annual meeting, held in the Social Hall, Salt Lake City, in
1890, Mrs. Sarah M. Kimball, a woman of great executive ability, was
elected president.[445]
In 1890 Mrs. Kimball and Maria Y. Dougall went as delegates to the
National Convention and reached Washington in time to be present at
the banquet given in honor of Miss Anthony's seventieth birthday. In
Mrs. Kimball's report she stated that there were 300 paid-up members
of the Territorial Association exclusive of the sixteen county
organizations.
During 1890 the women worked unceasingly, obtaining new members and
keeping up a vigorous campaign all the year round. Meetings were held
in the most remote towns, and even the farmer's wife far away in some
mountain nook did her part toward securing the suffrage.
On July 23, 1890, the day Wyoming celebrated her Statehood, the
Suffrage Association of Utah assembled in Liberty Park, Salt Lake
City, to rejoice in the good fortune of Wyoming women. The fine old
trees were decorated with flags and bunting and martial music
resounded through the park; speeches rich with independent thought
were made by the foremost ladies, and a telegram of greeting was sent
to Mrs. Amalia Post at Cheyenne.
Conventions were held yearly in Salt Lake City, with the best speakers
among men and women, and the counties represented by delegates. Many
classes in civil government also were formed throughout the Territory.
At the National Convention in Washington, in February, 1891, there
were present from Utah ten representatives, and the number of paid-up
members entitled the delegates to twenty votes, the largest number of
any State except New York.
On Feb. 15, 1892, the association celebrated Susan B. Anthony's
birthday in one of the largest halls in Salt Lake City, handsomely
decorated and the Stars and Stripes waving over the pictures of Mrs.
Stanton and Miss Anthony. Several members of the Legislature took part
in the exercises, which were entirely of a suffrage character. A
telegram was received from Miss Anthony which said, "Greetings, dear
friends: that your citizens' right to vote may soon be secured is the
prayer of your co-worker." A message of love and appreciation was
returned.
On July 29, 1892, a grand rally in the interest of suffrage was held
in American Fork, attended by the leaders from Salt Lake City and
other parts of the Territory. Ladies wore the yellow ribbon and many
gentlemen the sunflower; the visitors were met at the station with
carriages and horses decorated in yellow, and bands of music were in
attendance. Mrs. Hannah Lapish, the local president, had charge, a
fine banquet was spread, and the entire day was a grand feast of
suffrage sentiment. C. W. Penrose was the orator.
During 1892 Mrs. Wells traveled in California and Idaho, and wherever
she went, in season and out of season, spoke a good word for the
cause, often where women never had given the subject a thought, or had
considered it brazen and unwomanly. The annual convention in October
was an enthusiastic one, but the real work of the women during that
year was for the Columbian Exposition, though a suffrage song book was
published and much literature circulated, not only in Utah but
broadcast throughout the West; and Mrs. Richards did some work in
Southern Idaho.
In some striking respects 1893 was a woman's year, and much was done
to advance the suffrage cause indirectly. The association gave a large
garden party in Salt Lake, with addresses by Mrs. Minnie J. Snow, Mrs.
Julia P. M. Farnsworth and the Hon. George Q. Cannon.
At the annual convention Mrs. Wells was elected president, Mrs.
Richards vice-president, and they continued in office during the time
of the struggle to obtain an equal suffrage clause in the State
constitution. Mrs. Wells made personal visits throughout the
Territory, urging the women to stand firm for the franchise and
encourage the men who were likely to take part in the work toward
Statehood to uphold the rights of the women who had helped to build up
the country, as well as those who since then had been born in this
goodly land, reminding them that their fathers had given women
suffrage a quarter of a century before.
In February, 1894, Mrs. Wells called an assembly of citizens for the
purpose of arousing a greater interest in a Statehood which should
include equal rights for women as well as men. The audience was a
large one of representative people. They sang Julia Ward Howe's
Battle Hymn of the Republic and also America, and brilliant addresses
were made by the Hon. John E. Booth, the Hon. Samuel W. Richards, Dr.
Richard A. Hasbrouck, a famous orator formerly of Ohio, Dr. Martha
Hughes Cannon, Mrs. Zina D. H. Young and Mrs. Lucy A. Clark. As a
result of this gathering parlor meetings were held in various parts of
the city, arousing much serious thought upon the question, as the
Territory was now on the verge of Statehood.
On July 16 President Grover Cleveland signed the enabling act and the
_Woman's Exponent_ chronicled the event with words of patriotic ardor,
urging the women to stand by their guns and not allow the framers of
the constitution to take any action whereby they might be defrauded of
their sacred rights to equality. Miss Anthony's message was quoted,
"Let it be the best basis for a State ever engrossed on parchment;"
and never did the faith of its editor waver in the belief that this
would be done.
From this time unremitting work was carried on by the women in all
directions; every effort possible was made to secure a convention of
men who would frame a constitution without sex distinction, and to
provide that the woman suffrage article should be included in the
document itself and not be submitted separately.
At the annual convention in October, 1894, a cordial resolution was
unanimously adopted thanking the two political parties for having
inserted in their platforms a plank approving suffrage for women.
The November election was most exciting. Women all over the Territory
worked energetically to elect such delegates to the convention as
would place equal suffrage in the constitution.
After the election, when the battle was in progress, women labored
tactfully and industriously; they tried by every means to educate and
convert the general public, circulated suffrage literature among
neighbors and friends and in the most remote corners, for they knew
well that even after the constitution was adopted by the convention it
must be voted on by all the men of the Territory.
In January, 1895, the president, Mrs. Wells, went to Atlanta to the
National Convention, accompanied by Mrs. Marilla M. Daniels and Mrs.
Aurelia S. Rogers. In her report she stated that the women of Utah had
not allied themselves with either party but labored assiduously with
both Republicans and Democrats. In closing she said: "There are two
good reasons why our women should have the ballot apart from the
general reasons why all women should have it--first, because the
franchise was given to them by the Territorial Legislature and they
exercised it seventeen years, never abusing the privilege, and it was
taken away from them by Congress without any cause assigned except
that it was a political measure; second, there are undoubtedly more
women in Utah who own their homes and pay taxes than in any other
State with the same number of inhabitants, and Congress has, by its
enactments in the past, virtually made many of these women heads of
families."
A convention was held February 18 in the Probate Court room of the
Salt Lake City and County building. Delegates came from far and near.
Mrs. Wells presided, and vice-presidents were Mrs. Richards, Mrs. C.
W. Bennett; secretary, Mrs. Nellie Little; assistant secretary, Mrs.
Augusta W. Grant; chaplain, Mrs. Zina D. H. Young. A committee was
appointed by the Chair to prepare a memorial for the convention,[446]
and stirring speeches were made by delegates from the various
counties.
In the afternoon as many of the ladies as could gain admittance went
into another hall in the same building, where the Constitutional
Convention was in session, and where already some members had begun to
oppose woman suffrage in the constitution proper and to suggest it as
an amendment to be voted upon separately. The Hon. F. S. Richards, a
prominent member, presented their memorial, which closed with the
following paragraph: "We therefore ask you to provide in the
constitution that the rights of citizens of the State of Utah to vote
and hold office shall not be denied or abridged on account of sex, but
that male and female citizens of the State shall equally enjoy all
civil, political and religious rights and privileges." This was signed
by Emeline B. Wells, president Woman Suffrage Association; Emily S.
Richards, vice-president; Zina D. H. Young, president National
Woman's Relief Society; Jane S. Richards, vice-president, and all the
county presidents.
The next morning a hearing was granted to the ladies before the
Suffrage Committee. Carefully prepared papers were read by Mesdames
Richards, Carlton, Cannon, Milton, Pardee and Pratt. Mrs. Wells spoke
last, without notes, stating pertinent facts and appealing for
justice.
There was much debate, pro and con, in the convention after this time,
and open and fair discussions of the question in Committee of the
Whole. The majority report was as follows:
_Resolved_, That the rights of citizens of the State of Utah to
vote and hold office shall not be denied or abridged on account
of sex. Both male and female citizens of this State shall equally
enjoy all civil, political and religious rights and privileges.
The minority report submitted later was too weak and flimsy to be
considered.
The women addressed a cordial letter of appreciation and thanks to the
committee who had so nobly stood by their cause.[447] Having secured
this favorable report the women had not supposed it would be necessary
to continue their efforts, and it would not have been except for a
faction led by Brigham H. Roberts who actively worked against the
adoption of this article by the delegates.[448] Numerously signed
petitions for woman suffrage from all parts of the Territory were at
once sent to the convention.
On the morning of April 8 the section on equal suffrage which had
passed its third reading was brought up for consideration, as had been
previously decided. The hall was crowded to suffocation, but as the
debate was limited to fifteen minutes it was soon disposed of without
much argument from either side. The vote of the convention was 75
ayes, 6 noes, 12 absent. Every member afterwards signed the
constitution.
On May 12, Miss Anthony and the Rev. Anna Howard Shaw, president and
vice-president-at-large of the National Association, arrived, as
promised, to hold a suffrage conference. They were accompanied by Mrs.
Mary C. C. Bradford and Mrs. Ellis Meredith of Colorado. The
conference met in the hall where the Constitutional Convention had
adjourned a few days before. Mrs. Wells presided and Gov. Caleb W.
West introduced Miss Anthony, assuring his audience it was a
distinguished honor, and declaring that the new State constitution
which included woman suffrage would be carried at the coming election
by an overwhelming majority. Miss Anthony responded in a most
acceptable manner. Governor West also introduced Miss Shaw who made an
eloquent address. Mrs. Bradford and Mrs. Meredith were formally
presented and welcome was extended by Mesdames Zina D. H. Young, W.
Ferry, B. W. Smith, J. Milton, C. E. Allen, M. I. Home, E. B. Ferguson
and the Hon. J. R. Murdock, a pioneer suffragist and member of the
late convention.
The same afternoon a reception was given in honor of the ladies at the
handsome residence of the Hon. F. S. and Mrs. Richards, attended by
over three hundred guests, including State officials, officers and
ladies from the military post, and many people of distinction. The
conference lasted two days, with large audiences, and the newspapers
published glowing accounts of the proceedings and the enthusiasm. Many
social courtesies were extended.
Miss Anthony and her party held meetings in Ogden and were honored in
every possible way, the Hon. Franklin D. Richards and his wife and the
Hon. D. H. Peery being among the entertainers there.
The question soon arose whether women should vote on the adoption of
the constitution at the coming November election. The commission which
had been appointed by the U. S. Government to superintend affairs in
Utah, decided at their June meeting to submit the matter to the
Attorney-General. There was considerable agitation by the public
press; some newspapers favored the women's voting and others thought
its legality would be questioned and thus the admission to Statehood
would be hindered. The women generally were willing to abide by the
highest judicial authority.
A test case was brought before the District Court in Ogden, August 10.
The court room was crowded with attorneys and prominent citizens to
hear the decision of Judge H. W. Smith, which was that women should
register and vote. The case was then carried to the Supreme Court of
the Territory and the decision given August 31. Chief Justice Samuel
A. Merritt stated that Judge G. W. Bartch and himself had reached the
conclusion that the Edmunds-Tucker Law had not been repealed and would
remain effective till Statehood was achieved, and that he would file a
written opinion reversing the judgment of the lower court. Judge
William H. King, the other member, dissented and declared that "the
disfranchisement of the women at this election he regarded as a wrong
and an outrage."
The opinion of the Supreme Court could not be ignored and therefore
the women citizens acquiesced with the best grace possible.
Unremitting and effective work continued to be done by the suffrage
association, although the foremost women soon affiliated with the
respective parties and began regular duty in election matters. The
leaders went through the Territory urging women everywhere to look
after the interests of the election and see that men voted right on
the constitution, which was not only of great importance to them and
their posterity but to all women throughout the land.
Women attended conventions, were members of political committees and
worked faithfully for the election of the men who had been nominated
at the Territorial Convention. A few women also had been placed on the
tickets--Mrs. Emma McVicker for Superintendent of Public Instruction,
Mrs. Lillie Pardee for the Senate, and Mrs. E. B. Wells for the House
of Representatives, on the Republican ticket, and it was held that
although women were not allowed to vote, they might be voted for by
men. But finally, so many fears were entertained lest the success of
the ticket should be imperiled that the women were induced to
withdraw. Mrs. Wells' name remained until the last, but the party
continuing to insist, she very reluctantly yielded, informing the
committee that she did it under protest. On Nov. 5, 1895, the
Republican party carried the election by a large majority; the
constitution was adopted by 28,618 ayes, 2,687 noes, and Full Suffrage
was conferred on women.
[Illustration:
LAURA M. JOHNS.
Salina, Kan.
MARY J. COGGESHALL.
Des Moines, Iowa.
EMMELINE S. WELLS,
Salt Lake City, Utah.
MARY SMITH HAYWARD.
Chadron, Neb.
JULIA B. NELSON.
Red Wing, Minn.
]
President Cleveland signed the constitution of Utah, Jan. 4, 1896, and
the inaugural ceremonies were held in the great tabernacle in Salt
Lake City, January 6, "Utah completing the trinity of true Republics
at the summit of the Rockies." Gov. Heber M. Wells took the oath
administered by Chief Justice Charles S. Zane, and at a given
signal the booming of artillery was heard from Capitol Hill.
Secretary-of-State Hammond read the Governor's first proclamation
convening the Legislature at 3 o'clock that day. Mrs. Pardee was
elected clerk of the Senate and entered upon the duties of the office
at the opening session, signing the credentials of the U. S.
Senators--the first case of the kind on record. C. E. Allen had been
elected representative to Congress, and the Legislature at once
selected Frank J. Cannon and Arthur Brown as United States Senators.
At the National Suffrage Convention in Washington, the evening of
January 27 was devoted to welcoming Utah. Representative Allen and
wife were on the platform. The Rev. Miss Shaw tendered the welcome of
the association. Senator Cannon, who had just arrived in the city,
responded declaring that woman was the power needed to reform
politics. Mrs. Allen and Mrs. S. A. Boyer spoke of the courage and
persistence of the women, and Mrs. Richards gave a graphic account of
the faithful work done by the Utah Suffrage Association.
In January, 1897, Mrs. Wells attended the National Convention in Des
Moines, Iowa, and described the first year's accomplishments to an
appreciative audience.
On Oct. 30, 1899, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, chairman of the National
organization committee, and Miss Mary G. Hay, secretary, came to Salt
Lake City on the homeward way from Montana, and a meeting was held in
the office of the _Woman's Exponent_, Mrs. Wells in the chair and
about twenty-five ladies present, all ardent suffragists. After due
deliberation a committee was appointed, Mrs. Richards, chairman, Mrs.
J. Fewson Smith, secretary, to work for suffrage in other States,
especially Arizona. Subsequently this committee organized properly,
adopted the name Utah Council of Women, and did all in their power to
raise means and carry on the proposed work, and dues were sent to the
national treasury.
In February, 1900, Mrs. Richards, president, and Mrs. Lucy A. Clark,
delegate, went to Washington and took part in the National Convention
and the celebration of Miss Anthony's eightieth birthday. On this
occasion the Utah Silk Commission presented to her a handsome black
silk dress pattern, which possessed an especial value from the fact
that the raising of the silk worms, the spinning of the thread and all
the work connected with its manufacture except the weaving was done by
women.
During this year the Council of Women worked assiduously to make a
creditable exhibit at the national suffrage bazar, Mrs. Mary T. Gilmer
having personal charge of it in New York City.
LAWS: Dower and curtesy are abolished. The law reserves for the widow
one-third of all the real property possessed by the husband free from
his debts, but the value of such portion of the homestead as is set
apart for her shall be deducted from this share. If either husband or
wife die without a will leaving only one child or the lawful issue of
one, the survivor takes one-half the real estate; if there are more
than one or issue of one living, then one-third. If there is issue the
survivor has one-half the personal estate. If none he or she is
entitled to all the real and personal estate if not over $5,000 in
value, exclusive of debts and expenses. Of all over that amount the
survivor receives one-half and the parents of the deceased the other
half in equal shares; if not living it goes to the brothers and
sisters and their heirs.
Also the widow or widower is entitled to one-half the community
property subject to community debts, and if there is no will, to the
other half provided there are no children living.
A homestead not exceeding $2,000 in value and $250 additional for each
minor child, together with all the personal property exempt from
execution, shall be wholly exempt from the payment of the debts of
decedent, and shall be the absolute property of the surviving husband
or wife and minor children. This section shall not be construed to
prevent the disposition by will of the homestead and exempt personal
property.
A married woman has absolute control over her separate property and
may mortgage or convey it or dispose of it by will without the
husband's consent. The husband has the same right, but in conveying
real estate which is community property, the wife's signature is
necessary.
A married woman may engage in business in her own name and "her
earnings, wages and savings become her separate estate without any
express gift or contract of the husband, when she is permitted to
receive and retain them and to loan and invest them in her own name
and for her own benefit, and they are exempt from execution for her
husband's debts." (1894.)
A married woman may make contracts, sue and be sued in her own name.
The father is the legal guardian of the children, and at his death the
mother. The survivor may appoint a guardian.
Support for the wife may be granted by the court the same as alimony
in divorce, if the husband have property in the State. If not there is
no punishment for non-support. (1896.)
The "age of protection" for girls was raised from 10 to 13 years in
1888, and to 18 years in 1896. The penalty is imprisonment in the
penitentiary not less than five years.
SUFFRAGE: The Territorial Legislature conferred the Full Suffrage on
women in 1870, and they exercised it very generally until 1887 when
they were deprived of it by Congress through what is known as the
Edmunds-Tucker Act. Utah entered the Union in 1896 with Full Suffrage
for women as an article of the State constitution.