COLORADO.[19]
In Colorado the period from 1900 to 1920 began and ended with a
victory for equal suffrage. In 1901 the woman suffrage law of 1893 was
by vote of the people made a part of the State constitution. In 1919 a
special session of the Legislature ratified the Federal Suffrage
Amendment. A half-century ago, Jan. 4, 1870, Governor Edward M. McCook
in his biennial report to the Territorial Legislature had urged it to
be a leader in this "movement of progressive civilization," but it was
twenty-three years later when the lone example of the sister State,
Wyoming, was followed and Colorado became the second State to
enfranchise woman.
When Colorado was admitted into the Union in 1876 a strong effort was
made to have its constitution provide for equal suffrage but it was
not successful. School suffrage was given and provision was made that
the Legislature might at any time submit a measure to the voters for
the complete franchise, which, if accepted by the majority, should
become law. This was done in 1877 and defeated. It was submitted again
in 1893 and adopted by a majority of 6,347. Women were thus entitled
to vote on the same terms as men but it was by law and not by
constitutional amendment. Aliens could vote on six months' residence
and on their "first papers," without completing their citizenship. In
1901 the Legislature submitted the following amendment: "Every person
over the age of twenty-one years, possessing the following
qualifications, shall be entitled to vote at all elections: He or she
shall be a citizen of the United States and shall have resided in the
State twelve months immediately preceding the election at which he or
she offers to vote." It is worthy of note that Casimero Barela, known
as the perpetual Senator who had opposed equal suffrage since the
question was first raised in Territorial days, esteemed it a privilege
to introduce the resolution for this amendment. The vote on Nov. 4,
1901, stood, ayes, 35,372; noes, 20,087; carried by a majority of
15,285, which was nearly 64 per cent. of the vote cast. After a trial
of eight years the voters, men and women, thus securely entrenched
woman suffrage in the State constitution.
The Equal Suffrage Association has continued its existence in order to
assist the women in other States to get the franchise and also to look
after legislative and civic affairs at home. It has not held annual
conventions but its regular monthly meetings have taken place for
years at the Adams Hotel in Denver where they could be attended by
members from all parts of the State and strangers within the gates
from this or other countries. The presidents after Mrs. John L. Routt
retired were, Mrs. Katherine T. Patterson, Mrs. Amy K. Cornwall,
Professor Theodosia G. Ammons, Mrs. Minerva C. Welch, Mrs. Harriet G.
R. Wright (8 years), Mrs. Dora Phelps Buell, Mrs. Honora McPhearson,
Mrs. Lucy I. Harrington, Mrs. Katherine Tipton Hosmer, 1918.
Three of these presidents have passed over the range, Mrs. Routt, wife
of the former Governor; Mrs. Patterson, wife of U. S. Senator Thomas
M. Patterson, and Professor Ammons, who established the department of
domestic science in the Colorado Agricultural College. Two eminent and
highly valued suffragists who have passed away are Mrs. Sarah Platt
Decker and the Hon. Isaac N. Stevens. Mrs. Decker, one of the most
accomplished and forceful of women, was president of the State Board
of Charities and Corrections and vice-president of the first State
Civil Service Commission from 1909 until her death July 7, 1912, in
California during the biennial of the General Federation of Women's
Clubs, of which she had been president. Mr. Stevens, editor for years
of the Colorado Springs _Gazette_ and later of the _Pueblo Chieftain_,
member of the Legislature and prominent in politics, was always an
ardent and influential supporter of woman suffrage. Among the pioneer
workers who are still living are Mrs. Ione T. Hanna, the first woman
elected member of a school board in the State; Mrs. Alma V. Lafferty
and Mrs. Harriet G. R. Wright, former members of the Legislature; Dr.
Mary Barker-Bates, Dr. Minnie C. T. Love, Mrs. William N. Byers, Mrs.
James B. Belford and Mrs. Celia Baldwin Whitehead.[20]
The State Association has been non-partisan but its members personally
have been connected with the various parties. This does not mean that
they always have voted a straight party ticket; they have not, neither
have men, and scratched tickets are common. Women do not necessarily
"vote just as their husbands do" but many a pair go amicably to the
polls and with perfect good feeling nullify each other's vote. It is a
noteworthy fact that during all the years no bill which the State
association actively opposed has been passed by the General Assembly
and every bill which it actively supported has been enacted into law.
It has thus conclusively been proved that, while women must band
themselves together for bettering the condition of their sex and for
the general good of the State, yet having planned together they must
work out their problems through their political parties. The
association has consistently opposed the so-called National Woman's
Party with its "militant" methods, giving wide publicity to
resolutions adopted Oct. 2, 1917, which said: "We denounce the methods
and actions of the women 'picketing' the White House as unpatriotic
and not in accord with the principles of this association; we declare
they have impugned the good faith of the United States in the eyes of
Russia and other foreign nations ... and we request the Attorney
General of the United States to institute an investigation of the
association supporting the 'pickets' and the sources of its money
supply...."
Though actively engaged with serious problems of State government, of
city administration and of home economics, the association has never
overlooked the fact that social activities are essential to good
government and right living and has made its social affairs a
noteworthy feature during the past years.
There has never been any question among the people generally in
Colorado as to the benefit of woman suffrage. Sanitary conditions are
improved, beginning at everybody's back yard and extending through
every business place and every public domain in the State. Business
methods are different. Visiting women say they can tell when in the
large department stores, groceries, etc., that the women are voters.
Political campaigns are very differently conducted since women have a
part in them. Election methods have changed to make election day what
the men deem fitting since their wives, mothers and sisters are voters
and the polling places are unobjectionable. Not only has it been
conceded that the commonwealth has been blest by the votes of the
women but also that the women themselves have been benefited; their
lives have been enriched by their broadening experiences; their larger
vision has made possible greater culture; their wider opportunity for
doing has led to more deeds of kindness; their interest in State
government and civic economics has improved their ideas of home
government and domestic economy; their assistance in State and civic
"house-cleaning" has imbued them with a higher sense of duty to
society and their own homes.
From time to time wholly unwarranted attacks were made on the effects
of woman suffrage in Colorado in order to prevent its adoption in
other States. During 1908-9 the misrepresentations became so vicious
there was a general feeling that as the men voters largely outnumbered
the women they should not remain silent. Through the efforts of
Assistant District Attorney Omar E. Garwood the Equal Suffrage Aid
Association of men was formed with former Governor Alva Adams
president; Isaac N. Stevens, vice-president, and Mr. Garwood
secretary. Prominent men joined it and it rendered such excellent
service in giving authoritative information that in a few years the
attacks and misrepresentations almost wholly ceased. Mr. Garwood went
on to New York, where the National Men's League for Woman Suffrage was
organized with James Lees Laidlaw of New York City as president and
Mr. Garwood as secretary. He aided in forming similar leagues in other
States and for several years participated actively in the suffrage
campaigns of Kansas, Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South
Dakota, and lectured as far south as Mississippi, finding much
interest in Colorado's experiment. It was believed that the men's
organizations, actively taking the stand for the enfranchisement of
women, contributed substantially to the ultimate success of the
movement. In 1915 and following years an obscure lawyer employed by
certain vested interests in Colorado and elsewhere went into eastern
States where suffrage amendments were pending and scattered false
statements about the situation in this State. The newspapers of the
East were flooded with denials by Colorado men, women and
organizations and when they published these he filed suits for libel
but never allowed one of them to come to trial.
Again and again the Legislature has given official testimony in favor
of woman suffrage when it would be helpful. On Jan. 2, 1919, when the
U. S. Senate was about to vote on submitting the Federal Amendment,
Mrs. Hosmer, president of the State Association; Mrs. Anna M. Scott,
first vice-president, and Mrs. Sarah K. Walling, a member of the board
of directors, went before the Legislature at the opening of the
session, asking for a memorial to the Senate urging favorable action.
In less than an hour the rules had been suspended in both Houses and
the following resolution passed unanimously:
Whereas, Colorado has long enjoyed the help and counsel of its
women in all political matters of citizenship and by these years
of experience demonstrated the benefit to be derived from equal
suffrage; and whereas, there is now pending in the Senate of the
United States a constitutional amendment providing for national
woman suffrage; therefore be it
Resolved, that we urge the United States Senate to take up and
submit this amendment at the earliest possible date in order that
all the women of the nation may have the right of suffrage and
the nation may have the benefit of their citizenship.
Both Democratic and Republican parties, and the Populist and
Progressive parties when they existed, have stood for equal suffrage
and unequivocally endorsed it in their platforms. The appointment of
vice-chairwomen of the political State Committees is a foregone
conclusion. During the memorable campaign of 1914, Mrs. Steele, wife
of the late Chief Justice Robert W. Steele, successfully filled this
place in the Democratic party during a time fraught with difficulties,
as the then Congressional Union opened headquarters in Denver to
oppose every Democratic candidate for Congress under the excuse of
holding the party in federal power responsible. The injection of such
a movement in a State where equal suffrage had long been in force and
the women had allied themselves with the parties of their choice,
created among them a keen resentment and acrimonious controversy. The
Democratic Senator, Charles S. Thomas, and Democratic Representatives
who had always been friends of woman suffrage, were re-elected.
Beginning with 1908 the following women were sent as delegates or
alternates to the presidential nominating conventions: Mary C. C.
Bradford, Katherine Cook, Anna H. Pitzer, Eugenia Kelley, Nancy
Kirkland, Helen L. Grenfell, Alice B. Clark, Mary Nichols and Anna M.
Scott. The following have served as presidential electors: Gertrude A.
Lee, Sarah K. Walling, Adella Bailey, Julie Penrose, Anna Wolcott
Vaile.
On Jan. 1, 1919, one of the most important receptions in Denver was
given by the State Equal Suffrage Association to the new Governor,
Oliver H. Shoup (Republican) and his wife, and the retiring Governor,
Julius C. Gunter (Democrat) and his wife. Both were on the board of
directors of the association. It was held in the roof ballroom of the
Adams Hotel and was a most democratic affair, all classes being
represented, as all had found a common interest in public welfare. A
few months later the association gave a handsomely appointed luncheon
at the Adams with Senator Agnes Riddle as guest of honor. Its purpose
was to show appreciation of her heroic stand for women when she voted
against the male appointee of the Governor of her own party to take
the place of a woman expert (a member of the other party) on the Board
of Charities and Correction.
In May, 1919, when it was known that the Federal Suffrage Amendment
was certain to be submitted in a short time, the State Association
requested Governor Shoup to be in readiness to call a special session
of the Legislature so quickly that Colorado might be the first State
to ratify. It offered to supply without salary or compensation of any
kind all necessary clerks, stenographers, pages and sergeants-at-arms
in order that the State should be put to no expense except for the
mileage of the legislators, whose salaries are paid by the year. When
the amendment was finally submitted on June 4 the newspapers, which
had been loyal to the cause all these years, and the men and women
whose interest and support had never flagged, were overjoyed with
thanksgiving and jubilation. The _Rocky Mountain Herald_ of Denver was
one of the first papers to support the Equal Suffrage Association in
asking for an immediate ratification by a special session of the
Legislature. The Governor promised to call one eventually but would
not consent to do it at once, claiming that legislators from the
farming districts asked for delay. Every possible influence was
brought to bear on him but the situation remained unchanged. "For
reasons" the party in power (Republican) decreed that, while of course
the special session must be held, this could not be done until fall or
winter. The members of the association, knowing the futility of
further effort, proceeded to arrange for a public jubilee.
The meeting was held in the City Park of Denver on the night of June
25 in connection with a concert by the city band. Mrs. Hosmer presided
and prayer was offered by Mrs. Almira Frost Hudson. Jubilant speeches
were made by Mrs. Harrington, State Senator E. V. Dunkley and Captain
Morrison Shafroth to an audience of about 1,500. Governor Shoup was
out of the city but sent a letter to be read. The Mayor was
represented by Commissioner J. W. Sharpley. At the Fourth of July
celebration held under the auspices of the Colorado Patriotic League
at the same place, the president of the State suffrage association was
one of the speakers. Her subject was "Woman's First Fourth of July"
and so this celebration also took on the nature of a rejoicing over
the new women electorate of the nation.
RATIFICATION. The Legislature met in special session Dec. 8, 1919, and
a resolution for ratification was introduced in Senate and House, in
the latter bearing the names of the two women Representatives, Dr. May
T. Bigelow and Miss Mable Ruth Baker, and that of the Senate the name
of the one woman member, Senator Agnes Riddle, and as passed it bore
all three names. It requires three days for action on a resolution and
the ratification was completed on the 12th, both Houses voting
unanimously in favor. The day of the final passage was made a great
occasion for the Equal Suffrage Association. Legislators referred to
it in their speeches and Mrs. Walling, one of its board of directors,
was escorted to a seat beside Speaker Allyn Cole. Mrs. Hosmer was out
of the city. A short recess was taken that the first vice-president,
Mrs. Anna M. Scott, might be heard, who made a brief but eloquent
speech. When the time came for the final vote Speaker Cole surrendered
his place to Representative Bigelow, so that a woman might wield the
gavel when the result was announced.[21] The bill went immediately to
the Governor, who signed it on the 15th. Colorado had by this
ratification placed the seal of her approval on the twenty-six years
of woman suffrage in the State.
During the war, the Woman's State Council of Defense was a most
efficient organization, Governor Gunter saying that he ascribed its
remarkable work to the experience which the women had gained by their
quarter-of-a-century of active citizenship. On June 17, 1920, the
State Equal Suffrage Association became incorporated under the name of
the League of Women Voters with Mrs. Scott as chairman. A number of
prominent eastern women en route to the Democratic national convention
in San Francisco stopped at Denver and were guests at the banquet in
celebration of the new league.
The legislative council of the State Federation of Women's Clubs holds
weekly meetings during the sessions of the Legislature and takes up
bills for consideration, particularly those relating to women and
children, education and public health. After discussion and study
these bills are approved or not approved and the legislators, the club
women and the general public are informed as to their action.
There is no law prohibiting women from filling any offices in the
State and it has been said that a really determined effort could place
a woman even in that of chief executive. The office of State
Superintendent of Public Instruction has been filled by a woman since
1894 and no man has been nominated for it. Those who have held this
important office are Antoinette J. Peavey, Grace Espey Patton, Helen
L. Grenfell (three terms), Katharine Craig, Katharine Cook, Helen M.
Wixson (two terms), Mary C. C. Bradford from 1915 to the present time.
During her second term she was elected president of the National
Education Association. Mrs. Walling succeeded Mrs. Sarah Platt Decker
as vice-president of the Civil Service Commission and served six
years. In 1913 Mrs. Alice Adams Fulton became secretary and chief
examiner of the commission. Mrs. Mary Wolfe Dargin was appointed
register of the U. S. Land Office in 1915 and Miss Clara Ruth Mozzer
to the office of Assistant Attorney General in 1917. There have been
women clerks, auditors, recorders and treasurers in seventy-five
cities and towns, including Denver, and several aldermen. Mrs. Lydia
Tague was elected judge in Eagle county. A few years ago 600 women
were serving on school boards.
Prior to the year 1900 nine women had sat in the House of
Representatives--three in each Legislature after the passage of the
equal suffrage law, and there have been nine or ten since then, a
number of them re-elected. In 1913 Colorado's first woman Senator,
Mrs. Helen Ring Robinson, was elected. She was the second in the equal
suffrage States, Mrs. Martha Hughes Cannno of Utah the first. In 1917
Mrs. Agnes Riddle was elected.
FOOTNOTES:
[19] The History is indebted for this chapter to Katherine Tipton
(Mrs. George E.) Hosmer, president of the State Equal Suffrage
Association. Mrs. Hosmer wishes to express her obligation for
assistance in securing data to the past presidents and executive
officers of the association.
[20] Among those who worked in the first decade of this century were:
Helen L. Grenfell, Mary C. C. Bradford, Ellis Meredith, Hattie E.
Westover, Mrs. John F. Shafroth, Minnie J. Reynolds, Gail Laughlin,
Drs. Elizabeth Cassady, Jean Gale, Mary Long, Mary E. Bates, Rose Kidd
Beere and Sarah Townsend; Lillian C. Kerns, Martha A. Pease, Alice
Polk Hill, Mrs. A. C. Sisk, Mrs. A. L. Cooper, Bessie Lee Pogue, Helen
Wixson, Anna M. Scott, Carrie Marshall, Nora B. Wright, Laura
Holtzschneider, Hattie Howard, Rosetta Webb, Sarah Purchase, Helen
Bedford, Inez Johnson Lewis, Eva Rinkle, Evangeline Heartz, Louisa M.
Tyler, Mary Nichols, Helen Miller, Louise Blanchard, Margaret Keating,
Lillian Hartman Johnson.
[21] The day before a joint session of the two Houses had been held
that they might listen to the reading of a poem written for the
occasion by one of the oldest members of the association, Mrs. Alice
Polk Hill.