thousands of girls, leading them toward the light, cultivating
unselfishness, a love of humanity, and a desire to help the world; it
has given to all its members a deeper, truer, purer education than
they could otherwise have obtained. While not strictly a beneficiary
organization, it disburses several thousand dollars a year. It owns
considerable property, including houses and libraries.
The association has 507 branches and 22,000 members in ten States and
Territories and a number of foreign countries. Mrs. Elmina Shepard
Taylor has been president since 1878.
THE NATIONAL KINDERGARTEN UNION was organized in July, 1892, to unite
kindergarten interests; to promote the establishment of kindergartens,
and to elevate the standard of their training and teaching. It has
instituted more friendly relations between kindergartners, bringing
together the conservative and radical elements upon a common platform.
A broader conception of the principles of Froebel and their relation
to education in general has been promoted, thus enlarging the scope of
the kindergarten idea and widening its influence. There are at present
seventy branches with 6,000 members.
THE WOMAN'S PRISON ASSOCIATION AND ISAAC T. HOPPER HOME was organized
by Mr. Hopper in 1845 in New York and incorporated in 1854. It was
afterwards sustained for many years by his daughter, Mrs. Abby Hopper
Gibbons. Its object is the amelioration of the condition of women
prisoners, the improvement of prison discipline and the government of
prisons in respect to women; also the support and encouragement of
women convicts after their release. The association has secured in New
York the searching of women prisoners by women; a law requiring police
matrons; one providing a Reformatory for Women and Girls, and others
of like import. The Home is in a large measure self-supporting. From
this first organization a number of similar ones have been established
and the condition of women prisoners has been much improved.
THE NATIONAL HOUSEHOLD ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION was organized in March,
1893, to promote a scientific knowledge of the care of children, and
of the economic and hygienic value of food, fuel and clothing; to
inculcate an intelligent knowledge of sanitary conditions in the home,
and to urge the recognition of housekeeping as a business or trade
which is worthy of highest thought and effort. This was the first
organization to present Household Economics in a comprehensive form as
an important and profound science. The existence of home departments
in nearly every woman's club may be directly or indirectly traced to
its influence. From Maine to California women have received from it
broader and better views of home and home life. It has vice-presidents
in twenty-nine States.
THE NATIONAL WOMAN'S KEELEY RESCUE LEAGUE was organized Sept. 18,
1893, to restore the victim of inebriety and drugs to health and
happiness and to aid the unfortunate inebriate to become a
self-supporting citizen instead of an object of charity; to visit the
families of inebriates and by every means possible aid them to a
higher and better life. It has brought sunshine and happiness into
more than one thousand desolate homes, and enabled the heads of these
homes to become self-supporting. Husbands and wives who have been
driven asunder by the curse of drink have been re-united. Thousands of
children who would have been thrown upon the world or into charitable
institutions have been saved and are now cared for in well-provided
homes. Many a family has been kept from becoming a charge upon
charity, and the current of many a human life has been turned in
wholesome channels.
The League pays for a man's treatment at the time he enters a Keeley
Institute, taking his note (properly secured by the indorsement of
some friend, when possible), and requiring him to pay back in monthly
installments or as his circumstances will permit. This creates a
revolving fund to be used over and over again. It has its friendly
visitors looking after the family while he is taking the treatment and
endeavors to have employment for him upon his return. Men who have
been sent to the work-house repeatedly have been permanently
reclaimed. The League has eighteen branches and 650 members.
THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF MUSICAL CLUBS was organized January, 1898,
to bring into communication the various musical societies that they
may compare methods of work and become mutually helpful; and to
arrange in different sections of the country Biennial Musical
Festivals. It works for the musical life of the nation by creating a
musical atmosphere, studying composers and their works and bringing
the best talent in various lines to interpret and illustrate these
studies. Large, strong clubs have been helpful in sending their
members to those smaller in numbers and weaker financially. Two
Musical Festivals have been held, national in character, one in St.
Louis in May, 1899, the other in Cleveland in May, 1901, with every
possible artistic advantage of the highest talent.
There are branches in thirty-two States and Canada; 160 clubs are
federated with 12,000 members.
THE NEEDLEWORK GUILD OF AMERICA was organized April, 1885, to collect
new garments and distribute them to hospitals, homes and other
charities, and to extend its usefulness by the organization of
branches. It has distributed to hospitals, homes and other charities
in the United States about 2,500,000 new garments. This includes the
results of two or three special collections for national disasters. It
has 308 branches in this country.
RELIGIOUS:
THE WOMAN'S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL
CHURCH was organized March 23, 1869. Its object is to engage and unite
the efforts of Christian women in sending missionaries to the women in
foreign mission fields of the church and in supporting them and the
native Christian teachers, and all forms of work carried on by the
society. It has collected and disbursed $5,454,700; sent to foreign
fields 365 missionaries, and established a great educational work for
women throughout the Orient. The first woman's college in Asia, at
Lucknow, India, was founded by this society. It sent the first fully
equipped medical woman to the mission fields of the East, and built
the first hospitals for women in India, China and Korea. Nineteen
hospitals and dispensaries are supported by the society, and 246
missionaries in Africa, Burmah, Bulgaria, China, India, Italy, Japan,
Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, South America and the Philippines, while
twenty-four medical women are now in the field. There are 18,000 girls
and women in its various schools.
The society has eleven branches, covering the whole United States,
5,410 auxiliaries, and 171,765 members. Mrs. Cyrus D. Foss is
president.
THE WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF THE M. E. CHURCH was organized
July 10, 1880, to enlist and organize the efforts of Christian women
in behalf of the needy and destitute women and children of all
sections of the United States, without distinction of race, and to
co-operate with the other societies and agencies of the church in
educational and missionary work. The total receipts from July, 1880,
to July, 1900, were $2,782,773; total value of property, $736,152.
This property consists of twenty industrial homes and schools, six
mission homes, two immigrant homes, three children's homes, six
centers of city mission work, five deaconess and missionary training
schools, twenty-eight deaconess homes, four rest homes for deaconesses
and missionaries.
The Society has eighty-nine conferences, 2,500 auxiliary societies,
59,000 adult members and 13,500 children. The Deaconess Department was
established in 1888. There are now (1901) 1,160 deaconesses with
$1,600,000 invested in real estate connected with their work. Mrs.
Clinton D. Fisk is president.
THE WOMEN'S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF THE METHODIST PROTESTANT
CHURCH was organized Feb. 14, 1879, to bring the heathen to Christ. It
has established schools, built churches and done a valuable work
especially among girls. It has twenty branches and about 3,000
members. Mrs. F. A. Brown of Cardington, O., is serving her
twenty-first year as president.
THE WOMAN'S BAPTIST FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY was organized April 3,
1871. The leading object is the Christianization of women in foreign
lands by furnishing support through the American Baptist Missionary
Union to Christian women employed by said Union as missionaries,
native teachers or Bible readers, together with the facilities needed
for their work. Its missionaries have been sent to Burmah, Assam,
India, China, Japan and Africa. The home constituency is found in the
Baptist churches of the New England and Middle Atlantic States.
The total number of American missionaries supported for a longer or
shorter time is 142. Of these seventy-eight are now connected with the
society, 112 native Bible women employed as visitors in homes, and 367
boarding and day schools with more than 14,000 pupils are maintained.
Many women who have been taught in these schools are exerting a strong
influence as Christian wives, mothers and teachers. The medical
missionaries have cared for souls and bodies alike. One of these
doctors reports 17,000 treatments at her dispensary during the last
year. Large sums of money have also been expended for mission work of
various kinds under the care of the wives of missionaries. The total
amount raised and expended in thirty years is over $2,000,000.
There are numerous auxiliary circles, including about 34,000 women,
besides 10,000 younger women organized in guilds.
THE WOMAN'S BAPTIST FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY of the West was
organized May 9, 1871, for the elevation and Christianization of the
women of foreign lands by furnishing support to Christian women
employed as missionaries, to native teachers and to Bible women,
together with the facilities needed for their work. It supports 177
schools, 5,337 pupils, 159 teachers and 94 Bible women. In the medical
department it has two hospitals, two dispensaries, twenty medical
students and three helpers; 597 patients were treated in the hospitals
during the past year and 6,130 outside patients. The amount raised
since organization is $885,279, and 105 missionaries have been sent
out. There are 1,530 auxiliaries.
THE WOMAN'S BAPTIST HOME MISSION SOCIETY was organized Feb. 1, 1877,
to aid in spreading the gospel and to Christianize homes by means of
house-to-house visitation and by missions and schools with special
reference to exceptional populations in the United States, and among
neighboring countries. The missionary training school was organized
Sept. 5, 1881, and located at the headquarters of the society, now in
Chicago. The same year records the first issue of the monthly organ,
_Tidings_, which has grown from a four-page circular to a
thirty-two-page magazine, with a monthly circulation of 13,500 copies.
The training school has enrolled 518 students. The Society supports
also two training schools for negro workers--Shaw University, Raleigh,
N. C., and the Caroline Bishop School in Dallas, Texas. It has
employed on its own fields 159 missionaries among foreign populations
in this country from Europe, Indians, Negroes, Chinese, Syrians (from
Asia), Mexicans, Cubans, Porto Ricans and Americans.
The missionaries report, for the year, besides work along many other
lines, 80,635 visits in homes. During the twenty-four years the visits
reported aggregate 1,152,950, and from the headquarters of the Society
have gone 6,478,544 pages of literature. The total cash receipts have
been $1,034,104. Besides providing for its own distinctive work, the
Society has aided the American Baptist Home Missionary Society from
1882 until 1901 to an extent represented by a total of $91,288.
Figures have a certain value, but the best fruit is seen in the
results of the work of the missionaries on the fields, through the
visits in homes, women's meetings, children's meetings, industrial
schools, parents' conferences, Bible bands, fireside schools, training
classes, and the circulation of pure, wholesome literature. Through
this womanly ministry uncounted lives have been transformed and a
multitude of abodes have become Christian homes. There are 2,807
auxiliaries and about 60,000 members.
THE WOMAN'S AMERICAN BAPTIST HOME MISSION SOCIETY was organized Nov.
14, 1878, for the evangelization of the women among the freed people,
the heathen, immigrants and the new settlements of the West, and for
evangelizing and educating the women and children in any part of North
America. The amount raised during the last year was $38,000;
fifty-seven teachers, missionaries and Bible women are supported among
colored people, Indians, Mexicans, Mormons, Chinese, Alaskans and
French Catholics.
THE FREE BAPTIST WOMAN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY was organized June 12,
1873, to conduct home and foreign missions. This is believed to be the
only Woman's Missionary Society (with possibly the exception of the
Christian and the Friends') which from the beginning has been entirely
independent and not an auxiliary organization. It has furnished eleven
women missionaries for India, one of whom is a professor in the
Theological School and two are physicians, and supports a large number
of schools, many native and Bible women and extensive zenana work.
Besides this it aids all other women missionaries of its
denominational conference board by annual appropriations for their
local work among women and children at the various stations occupied
by Free Baptists. The Rhode Island Kindergarten Hall, the Widows' Home
and the Sinclair Orphanage, all located at Benares, province of
Orissa, India, are the property of this society.
Its home missionary work is connected with Storer College, Harper's
Ferry, W. Va., to which it has furnished thirteen teachers, besides
contributing largely to the erection and equipment of two of the main
buildings. Its receipts have been about $200,000. It has a permanent
fund of about $42,000.
The society has twenty-five State organizations, others in Canada and
India, with between 8,000 and 9,000 members.
THE WOMAN'S PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS OF THE SOUTHWEST
was organized at St. Louis in April, 1877; originally to create and
foster a practical and intelligent interest in the spiritual condition
of women and children in our own land and in heathen lands. Since the
close of its fourteenth year its work has been for foreign missions
only, being one of the seven woman's auxiliaries to the Board of
Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian church in the United States of
America. It has given to the cause of missions $249,618, and has had
missionaries, as teachers or physicians, in India, China, Japan,
Korea, Siam, Persia and South America. The record of their work has
been of a nature sufficiently encouraging to warrant continued and
larger support. The Board has 605 branches or auxiliary societies and
13,776 members.
THE WOMAN'S BOARD OF HOME MISSIONS OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH was
organized in December, 1878, to establish and maintain Christian
schools among those near home. It has eleven stations in Alaska,
eighteen among the Indians, twenty-seven among the Mexicans,
thirty-one among the Mormons, forty among the mountaineers, six among
the foreigners in this country, five among the Porto Ricans, making a
total of 138, with 425 missionaries and teachers and 9,337 pupils.
The Board has secured to the Presbyterian church $750,000 worth of
property and has expended about $3,500,000 since organization. Two
magazines are published, the _Home Mission Monthly_, and _Over Sea and
Land_ for the young, the latter jointly with the Foreign Societies. It
has about 5,000 auxiliary societies with about 100,000 members.
THE CHRISTIAN WOMAN'S BOARD OF MISSIONS was organized Oct. 22, 1874,
to maintain preachers and teachers for religious instruction; to
encourage and cultivate a missionary spirit and effort in the
churches; to disseminate missionary intelligence and secure systematic
contributions for such purposes; to establish and maintain schools for
the education of both sexes.
Fields: The United States, Jamaica, India, Mexico and Porto Rico.
Work: University Bible lectureships, Michigan, Virginia, Kansas,
Calcutta, India; eighteen schools, four orphanage schools, two
kindergartens, four orphanages with 500 children, one Chinese mission,
one hospital, three dispensaries, one leper mission, thirty mission
stations outside the United States; 135 missionaries, besides native
teachers, evangelists, Bible women and other helpers; $900,000 raised
during twenty-six years; income last year, $106,728. Its publications
are _Missionary Tidings_, circulation 13,500; _Junior Builders_, same
circulation; leaflets, calendars, manuals, song books, etc. Property
values: United States, $120,000; India, $60,300; Jamaica, $38,550;
Porto Rico, $10,000; total, $229,650; amount of endowment funds,
$85,000.
This is purely a woman's organization; funds are raised and disbursed,
fields entered and work outlined and managed without connection with
any "parent board," although relations with other organizations of the
church are most cordial. There are thirty-six State organizations,
1,750 auxiliaries, forty-five young ladies' circles, 374 mission
bands, 1,711 junior societies of Christian Endeavor, 177 intermediate
societies and 40,000 members of auxiliaries.
THE WOMAN'S STATE HOME MISSIONARY ORGANIZATION OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH represents a slow but steady growth during the past thirty
years. Branches exist now in forty-two States and Territories. The
last report available, that of 1897, showed $100,768 collected that
year and disbursed for the usual home missionary purposes.
THE WOMAN'S CENTENARY ASSOCIATION OF THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH was
organized in 1869 to assist weak parishes, foster Sunday-schools, help
educate women students for the ministry, endow professorships in
schools and colleges, relieve the wants of sick or disabled preachers,
ministers' widows and orphans, distribute denominational literature,
and do both home and foreign missionary work. Since its organization
it has raised and disbursed over $300,000 and has a permanent fund of
$20,500, the interest of which is annually expended for the purposes
for which the association was organized. Millions of pages of
denominational literature have been distributed. The association has
ten State societies and 100 mission (local) circles.
THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF UNITARIAN AND OTHER LIBERAL CHRISTIAN WOMEN
was organized in 1890. Its objects are primarily to quicken the
religious life of Unitarian churches and to bring the women into
closer acquaintance, co-operation and fellowship; to promote local
organizations of women for missionary and denominational work and to
bring the same into association; to collect and disseminate
information regarding all matters of interest to the church, viz.:
needs of local societies, facilities for meeting them, work to be
done, collection and distribution of money, etc.
The Alliance takes part in the missionary work of the denomination,
assisting small churches and starting new ones; supports one or more
students each year at the Meadville Theological School and maintains
several circuit ministers. It has lending and traveling libraries and
libraries for ministers, and has established and maintained three
permanent ones in places where there was no free library. Through its
well-known Post Office Mission it distributes annually about 300,000
sermons and tracts, and through its Cheerful Letter Exchange an untold
amount of miscellaneous literature. Money is not disbursed from a
central treasury, but is given by the branches which are independent
in such matters, an Executive Board making recommendations. The
expenditures of the past ten years have been $419,757. The Alliance
has 255 branches and nearly 11,000 members.
THE WOMAN'S MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST
was organized Oct. 21, 1875, to engage and unite the efforts of women
in sending missionaries into all the world; to support these and other
laborers in mission fields, and to secure by gift, bequest and
otherwise the funds necessary for these purposes. Valuable missionary
work is being done in West Africa, China and the Philippines. The
association in the last twenty-five years has raised $311,920. It has
forty branches and 13,232 members.
THE WOMAN'S FOREIGN UNION OF FRIENDS was organized May, 1890, to
increase the efficiency for spreading the Gospel of Christ among the
heathen, and to create an additional bond between the women of the
American Yearly Meetings. It has been the instrumentality of greatly
quickening the missionary zeal and activity in the denomination. It
established missions in Japan, China, India and in unoccupied parts of
Mexico, and rendered valuable assistance in planting missions in
Alaska, Jamaica and Palestine. It founded and has successfully managed
the _Friends' Missionary Advocate_. During the past ten years $300,000
have been raised and expended. It has ten branches and 4,000 members.
THE WOMAN'S HOME AND FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF THE GENERAL SYNOD
OF THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN THE U. S. A. was organized in
1879. Its object is to cultivate a missionary spirit, to create a
deeper interest in the spread of the Gospel, to disseminate missionary
intelligence, and to engage and unite the efforts of Christian women
in the Lutheran church in supporting missions and missionaries on home
and foreign fields, in co-operation with the Boards of Home and
Foreign Missions and Church Extension. In the Foreign field it is now
supporting eight women missionaries in India, two of whom are
physicians and one a trained nurse. The principal station is Guntur,
Madras Presidency. In Africa it is supporting two women missionaries
at Muhlenberg, Liberia. In the Home field it has helped support
eighteen missions and build churches for twelve of them. The amount
contributed by the societies for the year ending March 31, 1902, was
$27,286.
The Society has twenty-two Synodical Societies, 760 auxiliaries and
20,452 members, active and honorary and cradle roll, besides 489 life
members.
THE WOMAN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF THE GENERAL SYNOD OF THE REFORMED
CHURCH was organized in 1887, to aid in the advancement of the work of
Christian Missions in Home and Foreign Lands. Individual societies had
existed for ten years previous. The last report available is that of
1893, when 144 societies were reported and $10,000 collected during
the year. One-third was expended for foreign and two-thirds for home
missions. The society has published an official organ, the _Woman's
Journal_, since 1894. Women also belong and contribute to the general
missionary societies of the church.
THE INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF WOMEN'S AND YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN
ASSOCIATIONS had its beginning in 1871, when thirty of these
associations affiliated for biennial conferences. Later they organized
as the International Board which became incorporated. Its object is to
unite in one central organization these bodies of the United States,
Canada and other countries, and to promote the forming of similar
ones, to advance the mental, moral, temporal and above all the
spiritual welfare of young women.
The Ladies' Christian Union of New York, organized in 1858, was the
first work in this country for the welfare of young business women. A
home was the imperative need of the friendless young women employed in
cities then as it is now, since the small wages received make possible
for them only the poorest quarters amid demoralizing conditions. These
Christian Women opened a house and took into it as many as they could
reach, giving clean rooms, wholesome food, cheap rent, pure moral
atmosphere and religious influences. From this developed the Young
Women's Christian Association.
The federated associations now own property valued at over $5,000,000.
In the evolution of this work the Boarding Homes, now accommodating
over 3,000 at one time, have been supplemented as the need arose. The
Traveler's Aid Department seeks to reach the young, ignorant girls
before the agents of evil who haunt the railroad stations and steamer
landings. During 1900 over 10,000 were thus protected. The Employment
Bureau during this year assisted over 20,000 applicants. The
Educational Department, with day and evening classes, has 15,000
enrolled. There are Recreation Departments, Vacation Homes and many
other important features. Every phase of the life of a girl or woman
is touched by the association. Religion in its broad sense is its
fundamental and guiding principle.
Twenty-three States are represented in sixty associations in the
United States and Canada, with over 20,000 voting and contributing
members, over 500,000 associate members--self-supporting girls and
women--and 2,500 junior members.
THE WOMAN'S NATIONAL SABBATH ALLIANCE was organized in 1895, to
educate the women of America to an intelligent appreciation of the
relation of this one day in seven to the national life, and to
emphasize woman's responsibility and influence, especially in the home
and in society. The work is along educational lines--in creating
public sentiment in favor of better Sabbath observance. While placing
a wedge in every tiny opening, its members have prayed, protested,
proclaimed and practiced. Through this organization Christian women
have become more fearless in standing for their convictions. The
Alliance has twenty-two branches and over 1,000 members.
PATRIOTIC:
THE WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS, AUXILIARY TO THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC,
was organized July 25, 1883. Its object is specially to aid and assist
the Grand Army of the Republic and to perpetuate the memory of its
heroic dead; to assist such Union veterans as need help and
protection, and to extend needful aid to their widows and orphans; to
cherish and emulate the deeds of army nurses and of all loyal women
who rendered loving service to the country in her hour of peril; to
maintain true allegiance to the United States of America; to inculcate
lessons of patriotism and love of country among children and in the
communities; to encourage the spread of universal liberty and equal
rights to all.
General legislation is enacted by the annual national convention, the
supreme authority; States are governed by department conventions. The
association has educated women in an exact system of reports and
returns. There are no "benefits," as it is strictly philanthropic. It
supports a National Relief Corps Home for dependent army nurses and
relatives of veterans; has secured pension legislation from the
general Government for destitute army nurses; has influenced State
legislation in the founding of homes for Union veterans and their
dependent ones in Colorado, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin,
Indiana, California, New York and Kansas; has led to the establishment
of industrial education in the Ohio Orphans' Home; has been foremost
in financial aid in every national calamity; has unitedly furthered
patriotic teaching in schools and the flag in school rooms; and has
raised and expended for relief in the eighteen years of its existence,
$2,500,000. The corps has thirty-five departments, 3,174 subordinate
corps and 142,760 members.
LADIES OF THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC were organized Jan. 12, 1886,
to assist the G. A. R., encourage them in their noble work of charity,
extend needful aid to members in sickness and distress and look after
the Soldiers' Homes and the Homes of Soldiers' Widows and Orphans; to
obtain proper situations for the children when they leave the homes;
to watch the schools and see that children are properly instructed in
the history of our country and in patriotism; to honor the memory of
those fallen and to perpetuate and keep forever sacred Memorial Day.
Its departments and circles have spent for relief $16,685 and given to
the G. A. R. $2,658; to the Soldiers' Homes, $364; Soldiers' Widows'
Homes, $1,461; Soldiers' Orphans' Homes, $179.
The organization has twenty-three departments and 28,070
members--mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, granddaughters and nieces
of soldiers and sailors who served honorably in the Civil War.
THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF THE DAUGHTERS OF VETERANS OF THE U. S. A. was
organized and chartered in 1885, to perpetuate the memories of the
fathers and brothers, their loyalty to the Union and their unselfish
sacrifices for its perpetuity; to aid them and their widows and
orphans, when helpless and in distress; to inculcate a love of
country and patriotism among women; to promote equal rights and
universal liberty, and to acquire, by donation or otherwise, all
necessary property and funds to carry out the aforesaid objects; to
assist the G. A. R. to commemorate the deeds of their fallen comrades
on the 30th of May.
The Alliance is composed of daughters and granddaughters of the
Northern soldiers who fought in the Civil War, 1861-1865, and has a
sufficient membership to assure the soldiers that their memory will
ever be preserved and their widows and orphans will not want. Over
$2,000 are spent yearly for relief. The value of donations other than
money is nearly double that amount. It has assisted in obtaining
pensions, erected monuments for unknown dead, furnished rooms in
Soldiers' and Soldiers' Widows' Homes, furnished transportation for
helpless soldiers, presented flags and banners, brightened sickrooms
with flowers and cheerful faces. At present it is interested in the
erection of Lincoln Memorial University at Mason City, Ia., where one
building is to be known as the Daughters of Veterans' Building. There
are "tents" scattered all over the Union and many State Departments.
THE MOUNT VERNON LADIES' ASSOCIATION OF THE UNION was organized in
1853. Its purpose was the purchase and preservation of the home and
tomb of General Washington with 200 acres of land. The sum of $200,000
was raised by voluntary contributions from the women of the United
States.
The Regent is elected by the Council and is a life officer. Mrs.
Justine V. R. Townsend of New York is serving at present. The Regent
appoints, and the council at its annual meeting ratifies by votes, one
lady in each State as vice-regent to represent the State. The
association is purely patriotic. The great annual increase of both
home and foreign visitors is gratifying, and testifies to the loving
veneration in which the memory of Washington is held. The entrance fee
of twenty-five cents is sufficient to keep the home and grounds in
perfect colonial order.
THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was
organized Aug. 9, 1890, to perpetuate the memory of the spirit of the
men and women who achieved American Independence, by the acquisition
and protection of historic spots and the erection of monuments; by the
encouragement of historical research in relation to the Revolution,
and the publication of its results; by the preservation of documents
and relics, and of the records of the individual services of
Revolutionary soldiers and patriots, and by the promotion of
celebrations of all patriotic anniversaries; to carry out the
injunction of Washington in his farewell address to the American
people, "to promote, as an object of primary importance, institutions
for the general diffusion of knowledge;" to cherish, maintain and
extend the institutions of American freedom, to foster true patriotism
and love of country, and to aid in securing for mankind all the
blessings of liberty.
The society has carried out its desired objects; brought together the
women of the North and South; caused many of them to study the
constitution of their country and parliamentary law; rescued from
oblivion the memory of many heroic women of the Revolution; examined
and certified to the 1,000 nurses sent by the Surgeon General's office
to the Spanish-American War; raised $300,000 in money and sent 56,000
garments to the hospitals during that war; contributed $85,000 for a
Memorial Hall in Washington, D. C. It has organized children's
societies and taught them love for the flag and all it means; made
foreign-born children realize what it is to be American citizens;
offered medals and scholarships for historical essays by pupils in
schools and colleges; helped erect the monuments to Lafayette and
Washington in Paris. By requiring careful investigation of claims to
membership the society has caused many families to become re-united
who had been separated by immigration to remote parts of the country,
and has stimulated a proper pride of birth--not descent from royalty
and nobility but from men and women who did their duty in their
generation and left their descendants the priceless heritage of pure
homes and honest government. The society has 600 chapters and over
36,000 members.
THE SOCIETY OF THE DAUGHTERS OF THE REVOLUTION was organized Aug. 20,
1891, to perpetuate the patriotic spirit of the men and women who
achieved American independence; to commemorate prominent events
connected with the War of the Revolution; to collect, publish and
preserve the rolls, records and historic documents relating to this
period and to encourage the study of the country's history.
Through its State organizations it has marked with tablets historic
places; promoted patriotism by gifts of historical pictures to public
schools; helped to bring about an observance of Flag Day through the
general society; given prizes to various women's colleges for essays
on topics connected with the War of the Revolution; raised $5,000 to
erect a monument at Valley Forge in memory of Washington's Army. The
present work is the establishment of a fund to be loaned in proper
sums to girls trying to make their way through college. It has
nineteen State societies and 3,200 members.
THE COLONIAL DAMES OF AMERICA were organized in New York City, May 23,
1890, to honor the brave men who in any important service contributed
to the achievement of American independence; to collect manuscripts,
traditions and relics and to foster a true spirit of patriotism. A
hereditary society was deemed the most effective for this purpose. It
has made a collection of valuable manuscripts, pedigrees, photographs
and books; effected restorations in the old Swedes' Church at
Wilmington, placed tablets in Baltimore, to Washington, and in
Kingston, N. Y., to Governor Clinton. Historic tableaux have been
given in the city of New York, with readings of original papers and
lectures by historians. The publication of the "Letters to Washington"
from the original manuscripts in the Department of State, has reached
its fourth and last volume. For the sick and wounded in the
Spanish-American War the society raised about $6,600, with a
contribution of hundreds of garments and hospital appliances, and
several of its members worked in hospitals and camps.
The society also has its valued social side. It has five chapters in
New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington and Paris (France), with
about 400 members.
THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF UNITED STATES DAUGHTERS OF 1812 was organized
Jan. 8, 1892. Its object is to publish memoirs of famous women of the
United States, especially those of the period included in the
eligibility of this society; to urge the Government, through an act of
Congress, to compile and publish authentic records of men in military
and naval service in the war of 1812, and of those in civil service
during the period embraced by this society; to secure and preserve
documents of the events for which each State was famous during this
period; to promote the erection of a home where the descendants of the
brave patriots of this war can be sheltered from the storms of life.
The work done in the various States is as follows: Two tablets, one
marking New York City defenses during the war and one for "those who
served," in the Post Chapel at West Point; Michigan, a monument to
General McComb in the heart of Detroit; Maryland, the restoration of
Fort McHenry (the inspiration of The Star Spangled Banner); Louisiana,
a monument on the field of Cholnette. Massachusetts has received
permission to restore the frigate Constitution and is raising $400,000
for this purpose; Pennsylvania is offering prizes in the public
schools for historical work, and many other enterprises are under way.
It has nineteen State societies with a membership of 776.
THE UNITED DAUGHTERS OF THE CONFEDERACY were organized Sept. 10, 1894.
The objects of the society are educational, memorial, literary and
benevolent; to collect and preserve material for a truthful history of
the War between the States; to honor the memory of those who fought
and those who fell in the service of the Confederacy; to cherish the
ties of friendship among the members of the society and to fulfil the
duties of sacred charity to the survivors of the war and those
dependent upon them. Much aid has been given to aged and indigent
Confederate soldiers. There are homes for these soldiers in every
Southern State and monuments have been erected to the Confederate dead
in nearly every city. The orphans of Confederate soldiers have been
educated and cared for, and in a number of States the society has seen
that correct and impartial histories are used in the public schools.
It has 500 branches and about 25,000 members.
LODGES:
THE SUPREME HIVE LADIES OF THE MACCABEES OF THE WORLD was organized
Oct. 1, 1892, to extend the benefits of life protection to women; to
unite fraternally the wives, mothers, daughters and sisters of the
Knights of the Maccabees, as well as other women who are acceptable;
to educate its members socially, morally and intellectually. Four
hundred and twenty-five death claims were paid in 1900, amounting to
$441,380; and twenty-two disability claims, amounting to $2,400. The
total amount paid in claims from organization to Jan. 1, 1901, is
$1,523,504.
The organization is composed of one supreme body, three subordinate
bodies, known as Great Hives, and 1,835 subordinate or local hives,
with a membership of 84,657, of whom 19,321 are social and 65,336
benefit members.
THE SUPREME TEMPLE RATHBONE SISTERS OF THE WORLD was organized Oct.
23, 1888, for promoting the moral, mental and social conditions of its
members; cultivating a spirit of fraternal love which shall permeate
and control their daily lives; ministering in all ways to the wants of
the sick and needy; watching at the bedside of the dying; paying the
last sad tribute of love and respect to the dead, comforting and
providing for the widow in her afflictions, and daily exemplifying in
every possible way the Golden Rule.
The Supreme Temple has general supervision of the Order throughout the
world and makes the general laws. The Grand Temples, or State
organizations, supervise the local Temples within their domain. The
latter, besides carrying out the principles peculiar to a fraternal
society, select some special work for the good of those outside their
ranks. Reading rooms have been established, funds donated for public
improvements, charity, etc. In order to care for the orphans of
Rathbone Sisters a Home is soon to be erected, the fund being already
set aside for this purpose. The local Temples care for their own poor
and sick. In such disasters as those at Galveston and Jacksonville,
the Temples send liberal donations to their members to relieve their
financial losses.
The Supreme Temple is composed of twenty-four State organizations and
1,124 local Temples, with a membership of 71,247. Four insurance
branches have just been established (1900).
THE ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR was organized in the latter part of the
eighteenth century--the exact date is not known. Its founders sought
to create a social tie between the families of Masons, but it early
reached a higher standard of usefulness. Among its objects are caring
for the widow and orphan and assisting the Masonic brother in all
deeds of mercy and love. It has founded Eastern Star Homes for widows
and orphans of Masons and has become a mighty impetus in the building
and support of Masonic Homes. Everywhere its members visit the sick,
relieve the distressed and speak words of cheer to the despairing. It
has been found helpful all over the land in carrying forward the
underlying principles of Masonry. It has taught woman to preside in
public meetings and to make herself conversant in parliamentary law.
Masonry unites the heads of families, whereas the Eastern Star unites
the entire families. Its ritualistic teachings are designed to
inculcate morals and to improve the social virtues. The Order
comprises 3,491 chapters with a membership of 218,238.
THE DAUGHTERS OF REBEKAH were organized in 1851 as a side degree of
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and chartered lodges were
authorized in 1868. The object is benevolent work. The order stands
very high among charitable organizations and pays out thousands of
dollars each year for the relief of widows and orphans. The report for
the present year shows that 6,212 families were assisted at an expense
of $141,646; and $50,540 were paid for the education of orphans. The
Indiana lodge erected a monument in Indianapolis to Vice-President of
the United States Schuyler Colfax, the principal founder of the order.
The Daughters of Rebekah usually exist wherever there is a lodge of
the I. O. O. F. Men may take the degree but the affairs of the lodges
are entirely in the hands of women. There are 125,300 men and 200,850
women members.
THE GRAND INTERNATIONAL AUXILIARY TO THE BROTHERHOOD OF LOCOMOTIVE
ENGINEERS IN THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AND MEXICO, was organized Oct.
16, 1887, to elevate the social standing of railroad people, to
promote a fraternal feeling between families of engineers and to
render assistance in time of trouble. The Voluntary Relief
Association, formed in 1890, has paid to needy families of engineers
over $100,000. It has no home for dependents, but helps widows to keep
a home and care for their own children. It secures homes for orphans
and assists in their education out of a special standing fund. There
are $15,000 in the general fund. The order is exclusively composed of
women, who manufacture all supplies and from this source realize a
considerable revenue. Study clubs for intellectual culture are
maintained in the various branches.
There are 255 subdivisions and about 10,000 members. It was founded by
Mrs. W. A. Murdock, who has served continuously as president.
THE LADIES' AUXILIARY TO THE ORDER OF RAILROAD CONDUCTORS OF AMERICA
was organized in 1888. The idea originally was merely social, but so
many objects claimed assistance that, in 1895, the Fraternal
Beneficiary Association was added to help the widows and children of
railway conductors. Assessments were levied and in five years $2,200
had been thus applied. Good speakers, parliamentarians and business
women have been developed and its members have become broader and more
enlightened in every direction. There are 156 local divisions, with a
membership of about 4,000.
MISCELLANEOUS: Various organizations are in existence which are
national in their aims and interests but scarcely have reached
national proportions in the number of auxiliaries and membership.
Among these may be mentioned the SOCIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA,
organized in New York in 1883, to disseminate the principles of Social
and Industrial Co-operation; the NATIONAL WOMEN'S REPUBLICAN
ASSOCIATION, founded in 1888; the PRO RE NATA, started in Washington
in 1889, to perfect its members in the art of extemporaneous speaking;
WIMODAUGHSIS, organized in Washington in 1890 for the improvement of
women along all educational lines; the ASSOCIATION OPPOSED TO THE
FURTHER EXTENSION OF SUFFRAGE TO WOMEN; the NATIONAL FLORAL EMBLEM
SOCIETY, formed at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, 1893, to gain
an expression from the people which shall lead to the adoption of a
national flower and also the selection of State flowers, which have
been chosen in nineteen States and the choice ratified by the
Legislature; the NATIONAL SOCIETY OF NEW ENGLAND WOMEN, founded in New
York in 1895, to promote acquaintance among New England women in
various localities throughout the country for purposes of mutual
helpfulness; the NATIONAL LEAGUE OF AMERICAN PEN WOMEN, started in
Washington City in 1896, to band together women journalists, authors
and illustrators; the WOMEN'S PRESS ASSOCIATION, organized earlier and
with branches in various States; the GEORGE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL
ASSOCIATION, incorporated in 1898, to raise $250,000 toward an
Administration Building to be a part of the university as set forth in
the will of George Washington--$25,000 of this amount being now on
hand and as much more guaranteed; the WOMAN'S LEAGUE OF THE GEORGE
JUNIOR REPUBLIC, formed in 1899 to promote interest in the National
Republic and establish branches; the NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE LEAGUE,
founded in 1900 to obtain for women equality of legal, municipal and
industrial rights through action by the National Congress and the
State Legislatures; WOMAN'S EDUCATIONAL AND INDUSTRIAL UNION; various
associations for improving cities and villages by means of parks,
shade trees, good streets, sanitary appliances, etc.; and countless
others of a social, educational or philanthropic nature.
There are also a number of large national organizations composed of
both men and women, with the latter very greatly predominating. Of
these the most prominent are the UNIVERSAL PEACE UNION, founded in
1866 and chartered in 1888, with forty branches in the United States
and sixty in Europe; the SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO
ANIMALS; the NATIONAL CONSUMERS' LEAGUE; the CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR
SOCIETY; the EPWORTH LEAGUE; the YOUNG PEOPLE'S UNION; the KING'S
DAUGHTERS AND SONS; the ANTI-VIVISECTION SOCIETY.
The above list shows that women are organized for carrying forward
practically every department of the world's work, and that their
associations have been steadily increasing in number, size and scope
during the past half century. In the early years the Woman Suffrage
Association not only stood alone in its advocacy of enfranchisement
but was regarded with the most strenuous disapproval by all other
organizations of women. In 1881, the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union, principally through the influence of its president, Miss
Frances E. Willard, established a department of franchise, but it was
many years afterwards before the idea of the ballot was received with
favor by any large number of its members. The sentiment is not now
unanimous, but considered as a body there are no more active workers
for woman suffrage. The National Council of Women has no platform, but
its leaders and also those of the International Council are prominent
advocates of the franchise. These are now found in greater or less
numbers in all the organizations but not one of them includes the
suffrage among the specific objects for which it works. As these
broaden the associations frequently find it necessary to appeal to
Legislative bodies, and the result is usually a significant lesson in
the disadvantage of being without political influence. The Federation
of Clubs, organized in 1890, in its endeavor to secure the passage of
bills for various purposes, has applied to more Legislatures, during
the past few years, than has the Suffrage Association. It is indeed a
most interesting study to watch the evolution of the so-called women's
clubs. Formed at first merely for a superficial literary culture, they
widened by degrees into a study of practical matters related to law
and economics. From these it was but a step into civics, where they
are to-day, struggling to improve municipal, and indirectly national
conditions and gradually having revealed to them the narrow
limitations of woman's power in public affairs.
With the exception possibly of the church missionary societies and the
various lodges, there is not one of these associations of women which
does not depend in a greater or less measure on City Councils, State
Legislatures or the National Congress for assistance in securing its
objects. No other means could be so effective in convincing women that
politics, which they have heretofore believed did not directly concern
them, in reality touches them at every point. They are learning that
the mere personal influence which usually was sufficient to gain their
ends in the household, society and the church--the three spheres of
action to which they were confined in the past--must be supplemented
by political influence now that they have entered the field of public
work. Women have been so long flattered by the power which they have
possessed over men in social life that they are surprised and
bewildered to discover that this is wholly ineffectual when brought to
bear upon men in legislative assemblies. They find that it is not
sufficient to have personal attractions or family position--not even
to be a good wife, mother and worker in church and charities--they
must be also constituents. This is a new word which was not in the
lexicon of woman in past generations. They investigate and they see
that whatever may be the private opinion of these legislators, their
public acts are governed by their constituents, and women alone of all
classes in the community are not constituents.
This knowledge could come to the average woman only through
experience, and that which as an individual she might not get in ages
she is gaining rapidly through organization. A summary of the
preceding list shows about 2,000,000 women enrolled in the various
associations. The number which may be duplicated by a membership in
several, is probably balanced by the number in those which do not
state the membership. This list includes only national associations
and it is reasonable to assume that not more than one-half of the
local societies are auxiliary to national bodies. This is known
positively to be the case in the General Federation of Clubs, which
includes less than half of those in the different States. It would be
a decided underestimate to say that 4,000,000 women in the United
States are members of one or more organizations, and it is clearly
evident that this number is increasing. The scope of these
associations is constantly broadening as women themselves are emerging
from their narrow environment and seeing the needs of the world in
wider perspective. They are slowly but certainly learning to devote
their time and energy to larger objects, and they are awakening to a
perception, above all else, of the strength that lies in combination,
a knowledge which was a sealed book to the isolated and undeveloped
women of past generations. No other influence has been so powerful in
enabling woman to discover herself and her possibilities.
There will be no more important element to be reckoned with during the
coming years of the new century than these great associations of
women, constantly gaining strength and momentum, not alone by the
increase of membership but also by its personnel, for now they are
beginning to be composed of college graduates, of property owners, of
women with business experience. More and more they are directing their
attention to public questions, and when brains, wealth, executive
ability, enthusiasm and a strong desire for an honest and moral
government are thoroughly organized in the effort to obtain it, they
must necessarily become a powerful factor in State and national
affairs, and one which inevitably will refuse to be held in a
disfranchised condition after it shall realize the supreme power which
inheres in the suffrage.
There is still another and a more important point of view from which
this subject should be studied. Here are more than 4,000,000 women,
about one-third of all in the country, banded into active, working
organizations. The figures given above show that they are raising and
expending millions of dollars and every dollar for some worthy object.
The list demonstrates beyond question that every one of these great
associations exists for the purpose of improving the conditions of
society and helping and bettering humanity. They represent the highest
form of effort for education, morality, temperance, religion, justice,
patriotism and co-operation. Are not these the very qualities most
needed in our electorate? Is not the nation suffering because of the
lack of them since it has placed the ballot in the hands of ignorance,
immorality, intemperance and lawlessness? Does not an emergency exist
for a political influence which shall counterbalance these and tip the
scale the other way? Can the Government afford much longer to delay
the summons for this great, well-organized, finely-equipped force--if
it is to perfect and make permanent the institutions of the
republic?
FOOTNOTES:
[498] The National Suffrage Association is not included in the list,
as twenty-one chapters of this volume are devoted to its work. It was
the intention to give the name of the president of each organization,
but as this officer is so frequently changed it seemed best to abandon
this plan save in special instances. The figures given are for 1900
with but few exceptions.
The church missionary societies not mentioned here, and some other
national bodies, were appealed to several times for statistics without
response. The list, however, includes all of any considerable size and
importance. It did not seem that it would represent the true
proportions of these associations if arranged alphabetically or
according to date of organization, therefore the editors have used
their individual judgment in placing them.
APPENDIX
EMINENT ADVOCATES OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
The following list is so incomplete as to make the advisability of
using it a matter of grave doubt. No name is given except upon what is
believed to be unimpeachable authority, but it is unavoidable that
scores should be omitted which are entitled to a place. The list will
indicate, however, the character of those who have espoused the cause
of woman suffrage, and it is published with the request that readers
will forward to the editors additional names which can be used, and
mention any which should be omitted, in the second edition of this
volume. There has been no attempt to give all in any profession, but
only a few of those who may fairly be considered representative. The
names, for instance, of clergymen alone who are in favor of the
enfranchisement of women would fill many pages, while those of
prominent lawyers in every community would require almost unlimited
space, as it is a question which appeals especially to the sense of
equity. The following list will indicate sufficiently that this is not
a movement of ultra-radical and irresponsible extremists.
The only President of the United States who declared himself publicly
and unequivocally for woman suffrage was Abraham Lincoln, who said as
early as 1836, "I go for all sharing the privileges of the Government
who assist in bearing its burdens--by no means excluding women," and
later utterances indicated that he did not change his position.
Rutherford B. Hayes never hesitated to express his approval in private
conversation, and in 1872 he assisted materially in placing in the
Republican National Platform the nearest approach to an indorsement
which the movement ever has received from that party. James A.
Garfield said: "Laugh as we may, put it aside as a jest if we will,
keep it out of Congress and political campaigns, still the woman
question is rising on our horizon larger than a man's hand; and some
solution ere long that question must find." Theodore Roosevelt, when a
member of the New York Legislature, voted for a woman suffrage bill,
saying he had been converted by seeing how much the women accomplished
with their school ballot at Oyster Bay, his home. When Governor he
said in his message to the Legislature of 1899: "I call your attention
to the desirability of gradually enlarging the sphere in which the
suffrage can be extended to women." There is reason to believe other
Presidents would have expressed themselves favorably had political
exigencies permitted.
The only Vice-Presidents on record as advocating and voting for woman
suffrage are Hannibal Hamlin, Schuyler Colfax, Henry Wilson and
William A. Wheeler. Such action is likely to mean the personal loss of
votes and injury to one's party, with no compensation other than the
consciousness of having done right, as women can give no reward.
Under these conditions it is surprising that so large a number in the
Congress and State Legislatures have sustained the measures for the
enfranchisement of women.[499]
CHIEF JUSTICES OF THE U. S. SUPREME COURT.
Chase, Salmon P.
Wake, Morrison R.
Practically all of the State Supreme Court Justices of Colorado,
Idaho, Utah and Wyoming, where women have exercised the suffrage for a
number of years, and of Kansas where they have had a municipal vote
for fifteen years, are strong advocates of woman suffrage.
UNITED STATES SENATORS.
Allen, John B. Wash.
Allison, William B. Iowa.
Anthony, Henry B. R. I.
Baker, Edward D. Ore.
Baker, Lucien Kas.
Banks, Nathaniel P. Mass.
Beveridge, Albert J. Ind.
Blair, Henry W. N. H.
Bowen, Thomas B. Col.
Brice, Calvin S. Ohio.
Brown, B. Gratz Mo.
Bruce, Blanche K. Miss.
Burnside, Ambrose R. I.
Burrows, Julius C. Mich.
Cameron, Angus Wis.
Cannon, Frank J. Utah.
Carey, Joseph M. Wy.
Carpenter, Matthew H. Mich.
Chace, Jonathan R. I.
Chandler, Zach. Mich.
Cheney, P. C. N. H.
Clark, Clarence D. Wy.
Clark, William A. Mont.
Conger, Omar D. Mich.
Conover, Simon B. (1874) Fla.
Cullom, Shelby M. Ills.
Davis, Cushman K. Minn.
Dawes, Henry L. Mass.
Depew, Chauncey M. N. Y.
Dillingham, William P. Vt.
Dolliver, J. P. Iowa.
Dolph, Joseph N. Ore.
Dubois, Fred T. Ida.
Farwell, Charles B. Ills.
Ferry, Thomas W. Mich.
Flanagan, J. W. (1871) Texas.
Gallinger, Jacob H. N. H.
Gamble, Robert J. S. D.
Gilbert, Abijah (1874) Fla.
Hamlin, Hannibal Me.
Hansbrough, Henry C. N. D.
Harvey, James M. Kan.
Heitfield, Henry Ida.
Henderson, John B. Mo.
Hoar, George F. Mass.
Jones, John P. Nev.
Kyle, James H. S. D.
Lapham, Elbridge G. N. Y.
Logan, John A. Ills.
Manderson, Charles F. Neb.
Mason, William E. Ills.
Matthews, Stanley Ohio
McDonald, Joseph E. Ind.
Mitchell, John H. Ore.
Mitchell, John I. Penn.
Morton, Oliver P. Ind.
Nye, James W. Neb.
Paddock, Algernon S. Neb.
Palmer, John M. Ills.
Palmer, Thomas W. Mich.
Patterson, John J. (1874) S. C.
Patterson, Thomas M. Col.
Peffer, William A. Kas.
Perkins, George C. Cal.
Pettigrew, Richard F. S. D.
Platt, Thomas C. N. Y.
Plumb, P. B. Kas.
Pomeroy, S. C. Kas.
Pratt, Daniel D. Ind.
Quay, Matthew S. Penn.
Revels, Hiram P. Miss.
Roach, W. N. N. D.
Ross, Jonathan Vt.
Sanders, Wilbur F. Mont.
Sargent, Aaron A. Cal.
Minister to Germany.
Sawyer, Philetus S. Wis.
Sherman, John Ohio.
Shoup, George L. Ida.
Sprague, William R. I.
Stanford, Leland Cal.
Stevens, Thaddeus Penn.
Stewart, William M. Nev.
Summer, Charles Mass.
Teller, Henry M. Col.
Tipton, Thomas W. Neb.
Wade, Benjamin F. Ohio.
Warner, Willard (1869) Ala.
Warren, Francis E. Wy.
West, J. Rodman (1874) La.
White, Stephen M. Cal.
Wilson, Henry Mass.
Wilson, James F. Iowa.
Windom, William Minn.
Sec'y of the Treasury.
Yates, Richard, Sr. Ills.
SPEAKERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Banks, Nathaniel P. Mass.
Henderson, David B. Iowa.
Keifer, J. Warren Ohio.
Reed, Thomas B. Me.
REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS.[500]
Allen, C. E. Utah.
Baker, Charles S. N. Y.
Baker, William Kas.
Barrows, Samuel J. Mass.
Belford, James B. Col.
Bell, John C. Col.
Blue, Richard W. Kas.
Broderick, Case Kas.
Broomall, John M. Penn.
Browne, Thomas M. Ind.
Butler, Benjamin F. Mass.
Caine, John T. Utah.
Cannon, George Q. Utah.
Caswell, Lucien B. Iowa.
Clapp, Moses E. Minn.
Coffeen, Henry Wy.
Crump, Rousseau O. Mich.
Cumback, William Ind.
Curtis, Charles Kas.
Cutcheon, Byron M. Mich.
Davis, John Kas.
Davis, Thomas R. I.
Dingley, Nelson Me.
Douglas, William H. N. Y.
Featherstone, L. P. Ark.
Fergusson, H. B. N. M.
Fisher, Spencer O. Mich.
Fletcher, Lorin Minn.
Giddings, Joshua R. Ohio.
Glenn, Thomas L. Ida.
Greenleaf, Halbert S. N. Y.
Gunn, James Ida.
Handy, L. G. Del.
Haskins, Kittridge Vt.
Hepburn, W. P. Iowa.
Hitt, Robert R. Ills.
Julian, George W. Ind.
Kahn, Julius Cal.
Kasson, John A. Iowa.
Minister to Germany
Kelley, Harrison B. Kan.
Kelley, William D. Penn.
Kerr, Daniel Iowa.
King, William H. Utah.
Loring, George B. Mass.
Loughridge, William Iowa.
Lucas, W. B. S. D.
Maguire, James G. Cal.
Martin, E. W. S. D.
McCall, Samuel Walker Mass.
McCoid, Moses A. Iowa.
Miers, Robert W. Ind.
Milnes, Alfred Mich.
Mondell, Frank W. Wy.
Morey, Henry L. Ohio.
Morse, Elijah Mass.
Mott, Richard Ohio.
Neville, William Neb.
Northway, S. A. Ohio.
O'Donnell, James Mich.
Orth, Godlove S. Ind.
Payne, Sereno E. N. Y.
Peelle, Stanton J. Ind.
Judge of the U.S. Court of Claims.
Peirce, R. B. F. Ind.
Pence, Lafayette Col.
Pickler, J. A. S. D.
Powers, Henry H. Vt.
Ranney, A. A. Mass.
Ray, George W. N. Y.
Riddle, Albert G. Ohio.
Shafroth, John F. Col.
Simpson, Jerry Kas.
Smith, Henry C. Mich.
Smith, William Alden Mich.
Steele, George W. Ind.
Struble, I. S. Iowa.
Sulzer, William N. Y.
Sutherland, George Utah.
Taylor, Ezra B. Ohio.
Taylor, Robert W. Ohio.
Tongue, Thomas H. Ore.
Topp, Robertson Tenn.
Van Voorhis, John N. Y.
Walker, James A. Va.
Walker, Joseph H. Mass.
Weadock, Thomas A. E. Mich.
White, John D. Ky.
Wilson, Edgar Ida.
Woods, S. D. Cal.
GOVERNORS OF STATES. (Incomplete list.)
Governor Adams, Col.
" Altgeld, Ills.
" Ames, Mass.
" Andrews, Conn.
" Barber, Wy.
" Bates, Mass.
" Begole, Mich.
" Bliss, Mich.
" Brackett, Mass.
" Budd, Cal.
" Burke, N. D.
" Butler, Mass.
" Butler, Neb.
" Campbell, Wy.
" Carpenter, Iowa.
" Chamberlain, Ore.
" Claflin, Mass.
" Clough, Minn.
" Colcord, Nev.
" Davis, R. I.
" Fifer, Ills.
" Folger, N. Y.
Sec'y of the Treasury.
" Fuller, Vt.
" Greenhalge, Mass.
" Hale, Wy.
" Hoyt, Wy.
" Hughes, Ariz.
" Humphrey, Kas.
Governor Hunt, Col.
" Hunt, Ida.
" Jewell, Conn.
U.S. Postmaster General.
" Jones, Nev.
" Knapp, Alaska.
" La Follette, Wis.
" Long, Mass.
Sec'y of the Navy.
" Lord, Ore.
" Luce, Mich.
" McDonald, Ind.
" McIntire, Col.
" Mellette, S. D.
" Morrill, Kas.
" Morton, Ind.
" Murphy, Ariz.
" Newell, Wash.
" Odell, N. Y.
" Osborn, Wy.
" Pattison, Penn.
" Pingree, Mich.
" Porter, Ind.
" Rich, Mich.
" Richards, Wy.
" Rickards, Mont.
" Rogers, Wash.
" Roosevelt, N. Y.
" Routt, Col.
Governor Sadler, Nev.
" Saunders, Nev.
" Savage, Nev.
" Semple, Wash.
" Sprague, R. I.
" Squire, Wash.
" Steunenberg, Ida.
" St. John, Kas.
" Talbot, Mass.
" Thayer, Wy.
" Thomas, Col.
Governor Thomas, Utah.
" Van Sant, Minn.
" Voorhees, N. J.
" Waite, Col.
" Warren, Wy.
" Washburn, Mass.
" Wells, Utah.
" West, Utah.
" Winans, Mich.
" Yates, Sr., Ills.
" Young, Utah.
PRESIDENTS OF UNIVERSITIES. (Incomplete list.)
Andrews, E. Benjamin Brown and Neb.
Aylesworth, Barton O. Pres. Col. Agr. Coll.
Baker, James H. Colorado.
Bascom, John Wisconsin.
Bashford, J. W. Ohio Wesleyan.
Beardshear, Wm. Iowa Agr. College.
Capen, Elmer F. Tuft's College.
Dickinson, Frances E. Harvey Medical (Chicago).
Evans, J. G. Hedding (Ills.).
Hale, Horace M. Colorado.
Hawley, J. H. Willamette (Ore.).
Gates, George A. Iowa College.
Gunnison, Almon St. Lawrence.
Gunsaulus, Frank W. Armour Institute.
Henderson, L. F. Idaho.
Herrick, C. L. New Mexico.
Hill, Walter B. Georgia.
Hurst, John F. American University, D. C.
Irvine, Julia J. Wellesley College.
Jordan, David Starr Leland Stanford.
Kellogg, Martin V. California.
Kingsbury, J. T. Utah.
Knox, Martin Van Buren Red River Valley, N. D.
Latimore, S. A. Acting President Rochester.
Lyons, S. R. Monmouth (Ills.).
MacLean, James Idaho.
Marvin, James Kansas.
Northrop, Cyrus W. Minnesota.
Palmer, Alice Freeman Wellesley College.
Park, John R. Utah.
Purnell, W. H. Delaware College.
Rogers, Henry Wade Northwestern.
Shafer, Helen A. Wellesley College.
Sharpless, Isaac Haverford College.
Slocum, W. F. Colorado College.
Smiley, Elmer E. Wyoming.
Snow, F. H. Kansas.
Stephens, D. S. Kansas City.
Sutliff, Phoebe I. Rockford (Ills.).
Swain, Joseph Indiana and Swarthmore.
Thomas, Martha Carey Bryn Mawr College.
Thwing, Charles F. Western Reserve.
Warren, William F. Boston.
Washington, Booker T. Tuskeegee Institute.
Wells, Daniel H. Utah.
White, Andrew D. Cornell.
Whitney, Orson F. Utah.
CLERGYMEN.
Archbishop Ireland Catholic.
Bishop Bowman, Thomas Meth. Epis.
" Brooks, Phillips Prot. Epis.
" Hamilton, John Wm. Meth. Epis.
" Haven, Gilbert "
" Hurst, John F. "
" Huntington, Fred'k D. Prot. Epis.
" Joyce, Isaac W. Meth. Epis.
" McQuaid of Rochester Catholic
" Moore, David H. Meth. Epis.
" Newman, John P. "
Bishop Potter, Henry C. Prot. Epis.
" Sessums, Davis "
" Simpson, Matthew Meth. Epis.
" Spalding of Peoria Catholic.
" Turner, Henry McN. Meth. Epis.
" Walters, A. "
" Warren, Henry W. "
Ames, Charles G. Unit.
Beecher, Henry Ward Cong'l.
Boardman, George W. Bapt.
Bristol, Frank M. Meth. Epis.
Chadwick, John W. Unit.
Channing, William Henry "
Cheever, George B. Cong'l.
Clarke, James Freeman Unit.
Collyer, Robert Unit.
Conway, Moncure D. "
Cook, Joseph Presb.
Dalton, W. J. Catholic
Duryea, Joseph T. Cong'l.
Eaton, Charles H. Univ.
Eggleston, Edward (author) Meth. Epis.
Foss, Herbert "
Gannett, William C. Unit.
Gladden, Washington Cong'l.
Gottheil, Rabbi Gustave.
Gregg, David Presb.
Hall, Frank O. Univ.
Hillis, Newell Dwight Cong'l.
Hinckley, Frederick A. Unit.
Jones, Jenkyn Lloyd "
Kent, Alexander Liberal.
King, Thomas Starr Unit.
Longfellow, Samuel "
Lorimer, George C. Bapt.
May, Samuel J. Unit.
McGlynn, Edward Cath.
Mills, B. Fay Evang.
Moody, Dwight L. "
Newton, Heber Epis.
Parker, Theodore Unit.
Perin, George H. Univ.
Pierpont, John Unit.
Pullman, James M. Univ.
Rainsford, M. S. Epis.
Reed, Myron W. Liberal.
Savage, Minot J. Unit.
Scully, Thomas Cath.
Shippen, Rush Unit.
Swing, David Liberal.
Thomas, Hiram W. "
Tyng, Stephen H. Epis.
WOMEN MINISTERS.
Blackwell, Antoinette Brown Unit.
Booth, Maud Ballington Vols. of Am.
Brown, Olympia Univ.
Buck, Florence Unit.
Chapin, Augusta, D. D. Univ.
Crane, Caroline Bartlett Unit.
Crooker, Florence Kollock Univ.
Deyo, Amanda "
Eastman, Annis F. Cong'l.
Hanaford, Phebe A. Univ.
Hultin, Ida C. Unit.
Moore, Henrietta G. Univ.
Murdock, Marian Unit.
Safford, Mary J. "
Shaw, Anna Howard Prot. Meth.
Spencer, Anna Garlin Liberal.
Tucker, Emma Booth Salv. Army.
Whitney, Mary Traffern Unit.
Wilkes, Eliza Tupper "
Woolley, Celia P. "
ENGLISH CLERGYMEN.
Archbishop of Canterbury 1901.
" " York "
Archdeacon of Manchester.
Bishop of Edinburgh 1895.
" " Exeter "
" " Hereford "
" " London "
" " Southwell "
Canon Charles Kingsley of Westmin'r.
" Wilberforce " "
Archbishop Cardinal Vaughn Cath.
Archbishop Moran of Australia
Archbishop Nozaleda of the
Philippines Cath.
Hugh Price Hughes.
James Martineau, D. D.
Most Rev. Gordon Cowie, Bishop of
Auckland and Primate of New Zealand.
Newman Hall, LL. B., D. D.
AMERICAN MEN.
Alcott, A. Bronson.
Atkinson, Edward.
Bidwell, Gen. John.
Bigelow, John, Minister to France.
Birney, James G.
Blackwell, Henry B.
Booth, Judge Henry, Dean Union Col. of Law, Chicago.
Bowles, Samuel.
Bradwell, Judge James B.
Brooks, John Graham, Pres. National Consumers' League.
Bryant, William Cullen.
Burdette, Robert J.
Cable, George W.
Childs, George W.
Clark, Francis E., Pres. National Christian Endeavor.
Clemens, Samuel R. (Mark Twain).
Curtis, George William.
Debs, Eugene V.
Dole, Sanford B., Governor of Hawaii.
Donnelly, Ignatius.
Douglass, Frederick.
Dow, Neal.
Emerson, Ralph Waldo
Field, Eugene.
Fields, James T.
Fisk, Clinton B.
Ford, Paul Leicester.
Forney, John W.
Foss, Sam Walter.
Foulke, William Dudley.
Garrison, William Lloyd, Sr. and Jr.
Gompers, Samuel.
Griggs, Edward Howard.
Hale, Gen. Irving.
Harris, William T., U. S. Commissioner of Education.
Hattan, Frank, U. S. Postmaster-General.
Higginson, Thomas Wentworth.
Hooker, John.
Howe, Dr. Samuel G.
Howells, William Dean.
Hurd, Judge Harvey B., Dean Northwestern Univ. Law Col.
Husted, James W., Speaker of New York Legislature.
Hutchinson, John.
Ingersoll, Robert G.
Jackson, Francis.
Jackson, James C., Dansville Sanitorium.
Johnson, Thomas L.
Jones, Samuel M., Mayor of Toledo, O.
Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth.
McCulloch, Hugh, Secretary of the Treasury.
Miles, Nelson A., Lieutenant-General U. S. A.
Morton, J. Sterling, Secretary of Agriculture.
Nye, Edgar Wilson (Bill).
Owen, Robert Dale.
Phillips, Wendell.
Pillsbury, Parker.
Powderly, Terence V.
Purvis, Robert.
Quincy, Josiah.
Ridpath, John Clark.
Rogers, Nathaniel P.
Sage, Russell.
Sargent, Frank P., Com'r of Immigration.
Saxton, Gen. Rufus.
Smith, Gerrit.
Tilton, Theodore.
Tourgee, Albion W.
Tyler, Moses Coit.
Ward, Lester F., Smithsonian Institute.
Washington, Booker T.
Whittier, John G.
Woolley, John G.
Wright, Carroll D., Pres. U. S. Labor Commission.
AMERICAN WOMEN.
Addams, Jane, Hull House, Chicago.
Alcott, Louisa M.
Alden, Cynthia Westover, Pres. Int'l Sunshine Society.
Anthony, Susan B.
Avery, Rachel Foster, Sec'y Nat'l Suff. Ass'n, 21 years.
Barrows, Isabel C.
Barry (Lake), Leonora M., Grand Organizer Knights of Labor.
Barton, Clara, Pres. American Red Cross Ass'n.
Blackwell, Alice Stone, Editor of _The Woman's Journal_.
Blackwell, Dr. Elizabeth,
Blackwell, Dr. Emily, Founders of Woman's Medical College of
New York Infirmary.
Blake, Lillie Devereux, Pres. Nat'l Legislative League.
Booth, Mary L., Editor of _Harper's Bazar_.
Bradwell, Myra, Founder and editor of _Legal News_.
Byrd, Mary E., Director Smith Coll. Observatory.
Campbell, Helen.
Carr, Mary L., Ex-President W. R. C.
Cary, Alice.
Cary, Phoebe.
Catt, Carrie Chapman, Pres. Nat'l Wom. Suff. Ass'n.
Child, Lydia Maria.
Clay, Laura, Aud. Nat'l Wom. Suff. Ass'n.
Clemmer, Mary.
Colby, Clara B., Editor of _The Woman's Tribune_.
Cooper, Sarah B., Pres. Golden Gate Kinder. Ass'n.
Crowe, Martha Foote, Dean Northwestern University.
Decker, Sarah Platt.
Demorest, Mme. Louise, Editor _Demorest's Magazine_.
Diaz, Abby Morton.
Dickinson, Anna E.
Dickinson, Mary Lowe, Hon. Pres. Nat. Council of Women.
Diggs, Annie L., State Librarian, Kansas.
Edson, Susan A., Physician to Garfield.
Fairbanks, Cornelia C., Pres. Gen. Daughters Am. Rev.
Field, Kate.
Field, Martha R. (Catherine Cole), Ex-Pres. Wom. Int'l Press Ass'n.
Fletcher, Alice, Special Indian Agent (Harv. Univ.)
Foster, J. Ellen, Pres. Nat'l Wom. Rep. Ass'n.
Gage, Matilda Joslyn.
Gardiner, Helen H.
Garrett, Mary E.
Gibbons, Abby Hopper, Pres. Woman's Prison Ass'n.
Gougar, Helen M.
Grannis, Elizabeth B., Pres. Nat'l Social Purity League.
Guiney, Louise Imogen.
Hall, Florence Howe.
Harbert, Elizabeth Boynton.
Haskell, Ella Knowles, Ass't Att'y-Gen. of Montana.
Helmuth, Mrs. William Tod, Pres. Nat'l Council of Women.
Henrotin, Ellen M., Ex-Pres. Gen. Fed. of Clubs.
Holley, Marietta, (Josiah Allen's Wife).
Hollister, Lillian M., Sup. Com. Ladies of Maccabees.
Hooker, Isabella Beecher.
Hosmer, Harriet.
Howe, Julia Ward.
Jacobi, Dr. Mary Putnam.
Kelley, Florence, Ex-Chief State Factory Insp., Ills.
Krout, Mary H.
Leslie, Mrs. Frank.
Lippincott, Sarah J., (Grace Greenwood).
Livermore, Mary A.
Lockwood, Mary S., Editor _Am. Mag._ (D. A. R.).
Logan, Olive.
Lowell, Josephine Shaw, Pres. Wom. Munic. L., New York.
Lozier, Dr. Clemence, Founder Woman's Homeopathic College, New York.
Marshall, Dr. Clara, Dean Wom. Med. Coll., Phila.
McCulloch, Catharine Waugh.
McGee, Dr. Anita Newcomb, Ass't Surgeon U. S. A. in Spanish-American War.
Miller, Flo Jamison, Ex-Pres. Woman's Relief Corps.
Mitchell, Maria.
Mussey, Ellen Spencer, Dean Woman's Law College, Washington, D. C.
Nathan, Mrs. Frederick, Pres. N. Y. Consumers' League.
Palmer, Bertha Honore, Pres. Board Lady Managers, World's Fair.
Parton, Mrs. James (Fanny Fern).
Patton, Abby Hutchinson.
Paul, A. Emmagene, Sup't of Street Cleaning Dep't, 1st Ward, Chicago.
Peabody, Elizabeth, Educator and philanthropist.
Preston, Dr. Ann, Dean of Med. Coll. and founder of Wom. Hosp.,
Philadelphia.
Sewall, May Wright, Pres. Int'l Council of Women.
Seymour, Mary F., Ed. of _Business Woman's Journal_.
Smith, Dr. Julia Holmes, Dean Nat'l Med. Coll., Chicago.
Solomon, Hannah G., Pres. Nat'l Council of Jewish Wom.
Southworth, Mrs. E. D. E. N.
Spofford, Harriet Prescott.
Stanford, Jane Lathrop (Leland).
Stanton, Elizabeth Cady.
Stetson, Charlotte Perkins.
Stevens, Lillian M. N., Pres. National W. C. T. U.
Stevenson, Dr. Sarah Hackett.
Stockham, Dr. Alice B.
Stone, Lucinda Hinsdale.
Stone, Lucy.
Stowe, Harriet Beecher.
Taylor, Elmina Shepard, Pres. Young Woman's Nat'l Improvement Ass'n.
Terrill, Mary Church, Pres. Nat'l Ass'n of Col. Wom.
Upton, Harriet Taylor, Treas. Nat'l Wom. Suff. Ass'n.
Wallace, Mrs. Lew.
Wallace, Zerelda G.
Ward, Elizabeth Stuart Phelps.
Wells, Emmeline B.
Wells, Ida B.
White, Sallie Joy, Ex.-Pres. N. E. Wom. Press Ass'n.
Whiting, Lilian.
Whitney, Anne, Sculptor.
Willard, Frances E.
Willing, Jennie Fowler.
Winslow, Dr. Caroline B.
Winslow, Helen M., Editor of _Club Woman_.
Young, Zina D. H., Pres. Nat'l Woman's Relief Ass'n.
Zakrzewska, Dr. Marie E., Founder New Eng. Hospital for Women and
Children.
GREAT BRITAIN.
Aberdeen, Countess of, Vice-President-at-Large International Council
of Women.
Aberdeen, Earl of, Gov.-Gen. of Canada.
Anderson, Mrs. Garrett, M. D.
Balfour, A. J., Prime Minister.
Balfour, Lady Frances.
Battersea, Lady.
Becker, Lydia, Editor _Women's Suffrage Journal_.
Begg, Faithfull, M. P.
Benson (Archbishop of Canterbury), Mrs.
Besant, Annie.
Besant, Walter.
Biggs, Caroline Ashurst,
Blackburn, Helen, Editors _Englishwoman's Review_.
Blake, Dr. Sophia Jex.
Blatch, Harriet Stanton.
Bright, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob.
Browning, Elizabeth Barrett.
Butler, Josephine E., Pres. Social Purity League.
Carlisle, Lady, Pres. Woman's Liberal Federation.
Chant, Laura Ormiston.
Cobbe, Frances Power.
Cobden, Richard.
Coleridge, Lord Chief Justice.
Courtney, Leonard H., M. P.
Crawford, Emily.
Davies, Emily, Mistress of Girton.
D'Israeli, Benjamin, Prime Minister.
Edwards, Amelia B.
Fawcett, Henry, M. P. and Postmaster-General.
Fawcett, Mrs. Millicent Garrett, Pres. Wom. Suff. Ass'n Great Brit.
Fry, Elizabeth.
Glenesk, Lord.
Grey, Sir George, K. C. B.
Harberton, Lady.
Haslem, Anna Maria. (Ireland.)
Huxley, Thomas H.
Lucas, Margaret Bright.
Martineau, Harriet.
McLaren, Duncan, M. P.
McLaren, Mrs. Priscilla Bright.
Mill, John Stuart, Mr. and Mrs.
Nightingale, Florence.
Proctor, Adelaide A.
Ritchie, Anne Thackeray.
Rollitt, Sir Albert, Earl of Selborne.
Salisbury, Marquis of. Prime Minister.
Selborne, Earl of.
Sidgwick, Mrs. Henry, Princ. of Newnham.
Somerset, Lady Henry, Pres. World's W. C. T. U.
Somerville, Mary, Astronomer.
Stead, Wm. T.
Tallon, Daniel. Lord Mayor of Dublin.
Taylor, Peter A., M. P., and Mrs.
Thomson (Archbish. of York), Mrs.
Todd, Isabella M. S. (Ireland).
Unwin, Jane Cobden.
Wigham, Eliza.
Wollstonecraft, Mary, Author of Rights of Woman (1792).
Woodall, William, M. P.
Wyndham, Hon. George.
FRANCE.
Dumas, Alexandre (fils).
Hugo, Victor.
AUSTRALIA.
Barton, Edmund, Premier.
Cockburn, Sir John, K. C. W. G.,
Kingston, Hon. C. C., Premier S. Aus.
Lyne, Sir William, Premier N. S. W.
Onslow, Lady.
Parkes, Sir Henry, Premier N. S. W.
Reid, Sir G. H., Premier N. S. W.
Turner, Sir George, Premier Victoria.
Windeyer, Lady.
NEW ZEALAND.
Hall, Sir John.
Seddon, H. J., Premier.
Stout, Sir Robert, Premier.
Vogel, Sir Julius, Colonial Treas.
CANADA.
Hall, Sir John, M. P.
MacDonald, Sir John, Premier.
SOUTH AFRICA.
Schreiner, Olive.
TESTIMONY FROM WOMAN SUFFRAGE STATES.[501]
No attempt is made to give here the mass of testimony which is easily
available from the States where women vote, but only enough is
presented to show its nature and the character of those who offer it.
In the four States where women have exercised the full franchise for
from six to thirty-three years, not half a dozen reputable persons
have said over their own names that any of the evils which were so
freely predicted have come to pass or that its effect upon men, women
or the community has been other than good. The small amount of
criticism which has been openly made has been anonymous or from those
whose word was entitled to no weight. There is not another public
question on which the testimony is so uniformly one-sided, and similar
evidence on any other would be accepted as sufficiently conclusive to
demand a unanimous verdict in its favor.
In 1901 Amos R. Wells, editor of the _Christian Endeavor World_, wrote
to twenty-five ministers of several different denominations, choosing
their names at random among his subscribers in the equal suffrage
States, and asking them whether equal suffrage was working well,
fairly well or badly. One answered that it worked badly, three that it
worked fairly well, and the twenty-one others were all positive and
explicit in saying that it worked well. One point upon which they laid
stress was the increased intelligence and breadth of mind of the
women, and the good influence of this upon their children. Mr. Wells
said in summing up: "Woman suffrage makes elections more expensive,
but it is a grand school for the mothers of the republic."
COLORADO.
In 1898, in answer to the continued misrepresentations of the Eastern
press, the friends of woman suffrage issued the following:
We, citizens of the State of Colorado, desire, as lovers of truth
and justice, to give our testimony to the value of equal
suffrage. We believe that the greatest good of the home, the
State and the nation is advanced through the operation of equal
suffrage. The evils predicted have not come to pass. The benefits
claimed for it have been secured, or are in progress of
development. A very large proportion of Colorado women have
conscientiously accepted their responsibility as citizens. In
1894 more than half the total vote for Governor was cast by
women. Between 85 and 90 per cent. of the women of the State
voted at that time. The exact vote of the last election has not
yet been estimated, but there is reason to believe that the
proportional vote of women was as large as in previous years. The
vote of good women, like that of good men, is involved in the
evils resulting from the abuse of our present political system;
but the vote of women is noticeably more conscientious than that
of men, and will be an important factor in bringing about a
better order.
This was signed by the governor, three ex-governors, both senators,
both members of Congress and ex-senators, the chief justice and two
associate justices of the supreme court, three judges of the court of
appeals, four judges of the district court, the secretary of State,
the State treasurer, State auditor, attorney-general, the mayor of
Denver, the president of the State University, the president of
Colorado College, the representative of the General Federation of
Women's Clubs, the vice-regent of the Mount Vernon Association, and
the presidents of thirteen women's clubs.
* * * * *
I am confident that recognition of woman suffrage in the constitution
of proposed States will not in any way hinder, delay or endanger their
admission. That question is one belonging to the State and not to the
general government, and the opponents of woman suffrage will not, I am
sure, deny to the new States the right to settle that question for
themselves.
HENRY M. TELLER (Rep.), _U. S. Senator_. (1889.)
* * * * *
Instead of rough or vicious men, or even drunken men, treating women
with disrespect, the presence of a single good woman at the polls
seems to make the whole crowd of men as respectful and quiet as at the
theater or church. For the credit of American men be it said that the
presence of one woman or girl at the polls, the wife or daughter of
the humblest mechanic, has as good an effect on the crowd as the
presence of the grandest dame or the most fashionable belle. The
American woman is clearly as much of a queen at the polls, in her own
bearing and the deference paid her, as in the drawing-room or at the
opera. I feel more pride than ever in American manhood and American
womanhood since seeing these gatherings on Tuesday, where men and
women of all classes and conditions met in their own neighborhood to
perform with duty and dignity the selection of their own rulers, and
to give their approval to the principles to guide such officials when
chosen. No woman was less in dignity and sweetness of womanhood after
such participation in public duties, and I do not believe there is a
man of sensibility in Colorado to-day who does not love his wife,
daughter, sister or mother the more for the womanly and gracious
manner in which she helped so loyally and intelligently in this
election.
Indeed, Colorado in this election has left very little of good
argument for its sincere opponents to urge against suffrage. So nearly
all of everything having any good sense in it has been disproved here,
that the opposition is left with very few weapons in its armory, and
all of them weak.
JAMES S. CLARKSON (Rep.),
_U. S. Ass't P. M. General_. (1894.)
* * * * *
When the question was submitted in Colorado, I supported and voted for
the proposition as a matter of abstract right; as every fair man must
admit, when the question comes to him, that a woman has the same right
of suffrage as a man. In advocating suffrage you need no platform but
right and justice; those who will not accept it upon that ground would
not be persuaded though one rose from the dead. I will add, however,
that even the most virulent enemy of woman suffrage can not prove that
any harm has come from the experiment. The test in Colorado is still
too new to expect a unanimous verdict, yet all fair-minded observers
are justified in predicting a higher standard of morals and of
political life as a result of woman suffrage.
ALVA ADAMS (Dem.), _Governor_. (1898.)
* * * * *
I supported the cause of woman suffrage, not because I thought it
would work the political regeneration of the country, but because I
believed it was a woman's due to vote, if she desired to do so. I have
also said, and I reiterate, that the enfranchisement of Colorado women
has in many ways benefited the State, that it was a decided advance,
and that I trusted that other States, in emulation of our example,
would soon give the right to women throughout the land.
CHARLES S. THOMAS (Dem.), _Governor_. (1899.)
* * * * *
There is not a political party in the State that will ever dare to
insert in its platform an anti-suffrage plank; for it must not be
forgotten that upon this question the voting power of the women would
equal that of the men. It is no more likely that the women of Colorado
will ever be disfranchised than that the men will be.
HORACE M. HALE, _former President State University_. (1901.)
* * * * *
Few are so unjust or bold as to argue seriously against the abstract
right of women to vote; and experience in Colorado and other Western
States has done much to dispel the various theoretical and sentimental
objections that have been raised against the extension of this
manifest right.
The largest majorities for woman suffrage were given in the most
intelligent cities, and in the best precincts of each city, while the
heavy majorities against it were in the precincts controlled by the
debased and lawless classes, and the lowest grade of machine
politicians, who rely on herding the depraved vote--showing that these
elements dreaded the effect of woman suffrage, and realized the
falsity of the argument that it would increase the immoral and
controllable vote.
So far as I have been able to judge by observation of elections and
analysis of returns, more women vote in the better districts than in
the slums, and the proportion of intelligent and refined voters to the
ignorant and depraved is larger among women than among men. The
average result, therefore, has been beneficial.
No true, refined woman is any less womanly for studying questions of
public interest and expressing her opinions thereon by means of the
ballot.... The general effect has been decidedly beneficial.
Especially does it act as a governor on the political machines of all
parties to regulate the character of nominees and platforms.
Woman suffrage is accepted as an established fact, and is very little
discussed. I certainly have no reason to think that the general
sentiment in its favor has decreased, or that the measure would fail
to pass with as large or a larger majority than before, if again
submitted to the vote of either the men or women of the State. I have
no hesitation whatever in stating as my own positive conviction that
woman suffrage is both right and beneficial, and that it should not
and never will be repealed in Colorado.
IRVING HALE (of Col.), _General in the Army of the Philippines_.
(1902.)
It is said that equal suffrage would make family discord. In Colorado
our divorce laws are rather easy, though stricter than in the
neighboring States, but since 1893, when suffrage was granted, I have
never heard of a case where political differences were alleged as a
cause for divorce or as the provoking cause of family discord. Equal
suffrage, in my judgment, broadens the minds of both men and women. It
has certainly given us in Colorado candidates of better character and
a higher class of officials. It is very true that husband and wife
frequently vote alike--as the magnet draws the needle they go to the
polls together. But women are not coerced. If a man were known to
coerce his wife's vote I believe he would be ridden out of town on a
rail with a coat of tar and feathers. Women's legal rights have been
improved in Colorado since they obtained the ballot, and there are now
no civil distinctions. Equal suffrage tends to make political affairs
better, purer and more desirable for all who take part in them.
THOMAS M. PATTERSON (Dem.), _U. S. Senator_. (1902.)
* * * * *
IDAHO.
It gives me pleasure to say briefly that the extension of the
franchise to the women of Idaho has positively purified its politics.
It has compelled not only State conventions, but, more particularly,
county conventions, of both parties, to select the cleanest and best
material for public office. Many conventions have turned down their
strongest local politicians for the simple reason that their moral
habits were such that the women would unite against them, regardless
of politics. It has also taken politics out of the saloon to a great
extent, and has elevated local politics especially to a higher plane.
Every woman is interested in good government, in good officers, in the
utmost economy of administration, and a low rate of taxation.
FRANK W. HUNT (Dem.), _Governor_. (1900.)
* * * * *
Woman suffrage has been in operation in Idaho for over four years and
there have been no alarming or disastrous results. I think most people
in the State, looking over the past objections to the extension of the
right of suffrage, are now somewhat surprised that any were ever made.
As to advantages--it is, as in all matters of this kind, difficult to
measure them exactly, because the benefit is largely indirect. I
think, however, that it has exercised a good and considerable
influence over conventions, resulting in the nomination of better men
for office, and that it has been of considerable weight in securing
the enactment of good laws.
S. H. HAYS (Fus.), _Ex-Attorney-General_. (1901.)
* * * * *
The adoption of equal suffrage has resulted in much good in Idaho. The
system is working well, and the best result therefrom is the selection
for public positions, State, county and municipal. Our politics in the
past has been manipulated by political adventurers, more or less,
without regard to the best interests of the people, but principally in
the interests of a small coterie of politicians of the different
parties, who have depended upon the public treasury for subsistence.
The participation of our women in the conventions of our various
political parties and in elections has a tendency to relegate the
professional politicians, at least the worst element, and bring forth
in their stead a better class of people. This tendency is of vast
importance to the State. It compels leaders of political parties to be
more careful in the selection of candidates for different offices of
trust and profit. RALPH P. QUARLES, _Justice of the Supreme Court_.
(1902.)
* * * * *
The Chief Justice and all the Judges of the Supreme Court have
published a statement saying in part: "Woman suffrage in this State is
a success; none of the evils predicted have come to pass, and it has
gained much in popularity since its adoption by our people."
* * * * *
UTAH.
The lawmakers seem to be afraid of enfranchising women because of the
deteriorating effect which politics might have on womankind. If this
be true let the experience of Utah speak. For six years women in this
State have had the right to vote and hold office. Have the wheels of
progress stopped? Instead we have bounded forward with seven-league
boots. Have the fears and predictions of the local opponents of woman
suffrage been verified? Have women degenerated into low politicians,
neglecting their homes and stifling the noblest emotions of womanhood?
On the contrary women are respected quite as much as they were before
Statehood; loved as rapturously as ever, and are led to the altar with
the same beatific strains of music and the same unspeakable joy that
invested ceremonials before their enfranchisement.
The plain facts are that in this State the influence of woman in
politics has been distinctly elevating. In the primary, in the
convention and at the polls her very presence inspires respect for law
and order. Few men are so base that they will not be gentlemen in the
presence of ladies. Experience has shown that women have voted their
intelligent convictions. They understand the questions at issue and
they vote conscientiously and fearlessly. While we do not claim to
have the purest politics in the world in Utah, it will be readily
conceded that the woman-vote is a terror to evildoers, and our course
is, therefore, upward and onward.
One of the bugaboos of the opposition was that women would be
compelled to sit on juries. Not a single instance of the kind has
happened in the State, for the reason that women are never summoned;
the law simply exempts them, but does not exclude them. Another
favorite idiocy of the anti-suffragists is that if the women vote they
ought to be compelled to fight. In the same manner the law exempts
them from military service.
For one I am proud of Utah's record in dealing with her female
citizens. I take the same pride in it that a good husband would who
had treated his wife well, and I look forward with eager hope to the
day when woman suffrage shall become universal.
HEBER M. WELLS (Rep.), _Governor_. (1902.)
There is literally no end to the favorable testimony from Utah, given
by Mormons and Gentiles alike.
* * * * *
WYOMING.
Gov. John A. Campbell was in office when the woman suffrage law was
passed. In 1871 he said in his message to the Territorial Legislature:
There is upon our statute book "an Act granting to the women of
Wyoming Territory the right of suffrage," which has now been in
force two years. It is simple justice to say that the women
entering, for the first time in the history of the country, upon
these new and untried duties, have conducted themselves in every
respect with as much tact, sound judgment, and good sense, as
men.
In 1873 he said: "Two years more of observation of the practical
working of the system have only served to deepen my conviction that
what we, in this Territory, have done, has been well done; and that
our system of impartial suffrage is an unqualified success."
Governor Thayer, who succeeded Campbell, said in his message:
Woman suffrage has now been in practical operation in our
Territory for six years, and has, during the time, increased in
popularity and in the confidence of the people. In my judgment
the results have been beneficial, and its influence favorable to
the best interests of the community.
Governor Hoyt, who succeeded Thayer, said in 1882:
Under woman suffrage we have better laws, better officers, better
institutions, better morals, and a higher social condition in
general, than could otherwise exist. Not one of the predicted
evils, such as loss of native delicacy and disturbance of home
relations, has followed in its train.
Later he said in a public address: "The great body of our women, and
the best of them, have accepted the elective franchise as a precious
boon and exercise it as a patriotic duty--in a word, after many years
of happy experience, woman suffrage is so thoroughly rooted and
established in the minds and hearts of the people that, among them
all, no voice is ever uplifted in protest against or in question of
it."
Governor Hale, who was next in this office, expressed himself
repeatedly to the same effect.
Governor Warren, who succeeded Hale, said in a letter to Horace G.
Wadlin, Esq., of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, in 1885:
Our women consider much more carefully than our men the character
of candidates, and both political parties have found themselves
obliged to nominate their best men in order to obtain the support
of the women. As a business man, as a city, county, and
territorial officer, and now as Governor of Wyoming Territory, I
have seen much of the workings of woman suffrage, but I have yet
to hear of the first case of domestic discord growing out of it.
Our women nearly all vote, and since in Wyoming as elsewhere the
majority of women are good and not bad, the result is good and
not evil.
Territorial Governors are appointed, not elected. As U. S. Senator,
Mr. Warren has up to the present time (1902) repeatedly given similar
testimony. In various chapters of the present volume may be found the
strong approval of ex-U. S. Senator Joseph M. Carey.
Most of these Governors were Republicans. Hon. N. L. Andrews
(Democrat), Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives, said in
1879:
I came to this Territory in the fall of 1871, with the strongest
prejudice possible against woman suffrage. The more I have seen
of it, the less my objections have been realized, and the more it
has commended itself to my judgment and good opinion. Under all
my observations it has worked well, and has been productive of
much good. The women use the ballot with more independence and
discrimination in regard to the qualifications of candidates than
men do. If the ballot in the hand of woman compels political
parties to place their best men in nomination, this, in and of
itself, is a sufficient reason for sustaining woman suffrage.
Ex-Chief Justice Fisher, of Cheyenne, said in 1883:
I wish I could show the people who are so wonderfully exercised
on the subject of female suffrage just how it works. The women
watch the nominating conventions, and if the Republicans put a
bad man on their ticket and the Democrats a good one, the
Republican women do not hesitate a moment in scratching off the
bad and substituting the good. It is just so with the Democratic
women. I have seen the effects of female suffrage, and instead of
being a means of encouragement to fraud and corruption, it tends
greatly to purify elections and give better government.
In 1884 Attorney-General M. C. Brown said in a public letter:
My prejudices were formerly all against woman suffrage, but they
have gradually given way since it became an established fact in
Wyoming. My observation, extending over a period of fifteen
years, satisfies me of its entire justice and propriety.
Impartial observation has also satisfied me that in the use of
the ballot women exercise fully as good judgment as men, and in
some particulars are more discriminating, as, for instance, on
questions of morals.
At another time he said:
I have been asked if women make good jurors, and I answer by
saying, that so far as I have observed their conduct on juries,
as a lawyer, I find but little fault with them.... They do not
reason like men upon the evidence, but, being possessed of a
higher quality of intellectuality, i. e., keen perceptions, they
see the truth of the thing at a glance. Their minds once settled,
neither sophistry, logic, rhetoric, pleading nor tears will move
them from their purpose. A guilty person never escapes a just
punishment when tried by women juries.
The effect of woman suffrage upon the people of Wyoming has been
good. It has been said by one man that open, flagrant acts of
bribery are commonly practiced at the polls in Wyoming, and this
statement is made to show that the effect of woman suffrage has
not been good. The statement is not true. In the last election
there were in Cheyenne large sums of money expended to influence
the result, and votes were bought on the streets in an open and
shameless manner. As U. S. Attorney for the Territory, it became
my duty to investigate this matter before a grand jury composed
of men. The revelations before the jury were astonishing and many
cases of bribery were clearly proven; but while a majority of
those composing the jury were men of the highest integrity, there
were so many members who had probably taken part in the same
unlawful transactions that no indictment could be obtained. The
circumstances attending this election were phenomenal. It would
be unjust to the women, however, if I should fail to add that,
while it was clearly proven that many men sold their votes, it
was strikingly apparent that few if any women, even of the vilest
class, were guilty of the same misconduct.
The Hon. John W. Kingman, for four years a Judge of the U. S. Supreme
Court of Wyoming says:
Woman suffrage was inaugurated in 1869 without much discussion,
and without any general movement of men or women in its favor. At
that time few women voted. At each election since, they have
voted in larger numbers, and now nearly all go to the polls. Our
women do not attend the caucuses in any considerable numbers, but
they generally take an interest in the selection of candidates,
and it is very common, in considering the availability of an
aspirant for office, to ask, 'How does he stand with the ladies?'
Frequently the men set aside certain applicants for office,
because their characters would not stand the criticism of women.
The women manifest a great deal of independence in their
preference for candidates, and have frequently defeated bad
nominations. Our best and most cultivated women vote, and vote
understandingly and independently, and they can not be bought
with whiskey or blinded by party prejudice. They are making
themselves felt at the polls, as they do everywhere else in
society, by a quiet but effectual discountenancing of the bad,
and a helping hand for the good and the true. We have had no
trouble from the presence of bad women at the polls. It has been
said that the delicate and cultured women would shrink away, and
the bold and indelicate come to the front in public affairs. This
we feared; but nothing of the kind has happened. I do not believe
that suffrage causes women to neglect their domestic affairs.
Certainly, such has not been the case in Wyoming, and I never
heard a man complain that his wife was less interested in
domestic economy because she had the right to vote and took an
interest in making the community respectable. The opposition to
woman suffrage at first was pretty bitter. To-day I do not think
you could get a dozen respectable men in any locality to oppose
it.
In 1895 U. S. Senator Clarence D. Clark wrote as follows to the
Constitutional Convention of Utah which was considering a woman
suffrage plank:
So far as the operation of the law in this State is concerned, we
were so well satisfied, with twenty years' experience under the
Territorial government, that it went into our constitution with
but one dissenting vote, although many thought that such a
section might result in its rejection by Congress. If it does
nothing else it fulfils the theory of a true representative
government, and in this State, at least, has resulted in none of
the evils prophesied. It has not been the fruitful source of
family disagreements feared. It has not lowered womanhood. Women
do generally take advantage of the right to vote, and vote
intelligently. It has been years since we have had trouble at the
polls--quiet and order, in my opinion, being due to two causes,
the presence of women and our efficient election laws. One
important feature I might mention, and that is, in view of the
woman vote, no party dare nominate notoriously immoral men, for
fear of defeat by that vote. Regarding the adoption of the system
in other States I see no reason why its operation should not be
generally the same elsewhere as it is with us. It is surely true
that after many years' experience, Wyoming would not be content
to return to the old limits, as, in our opinion, the absence of
ill results is conclusive proof of the wisdom of the proposition.
In 1896 the Hon. H. V. S. Groesbeck, Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court, thus summed up the results of twenty-seven years' experience:
1. Woman suffrage has been weighed and not found wanting. Adopted
by a statute passed by the first legislative Assembly of the
Territory, in 1869, and approved by the Governor, it has
continued without interruption and with but one unsuccessful
demand for the repeal of the law. The constitutional convention
which assembled in 1889 adopted the equal suffrage provision and
refused to submit the question to a separate vote by a large
majority. The continuance of the measure for nearly a quarter of
a century, and the determination to incorporate it in the
fundamental law, even at the risk of failing to secure Statehood,
are the strongest arguments of its benefit and permanency.
2. It has tended to secure good nominations for the public
offices. The women as a class will not knowingly vote for
incompetent, immoral or inefficient candidates.
3. It has tended to make the women self-reliant and independent,
and to turn their attention to the study of the science of
government--an education that is needed by the mothers of the
race.
4. It has made our elections quiet and orderly. No rudeness,
brawling or disorder appears or would be tolerated at the polling
booths. There is no more difficulty or indelicacy in depositing a
ballot in the urn than in dropping a letter in the post office.
5. It has not marred domestic harmony. Husband and wife
frequently vote opposing tickets without disturbing the peace of
the home. Divorces are not as frequent here as in other
communities, even taking into consideration our small population.
Many applicants for divorces are from those who have a husband or
wife elsewhere, and the number of divorces granted for causes
arising in this State are comparatively few.
6. It has not resulted in unsexing women. They have not been
office-seekers. Women are generally selected for county
superintendents of the schools--offices for which they seem
particularly adapted, but they have not been applicants for other
positions.