INDIANA. PART I.[45]
Although Indiana was one of the first States in the Union to form a
suffrage association in 1851 there were long periods when it was
inactive but there were others when it flourished. In 1851 a
constitution was adopted whose provisions for women were probably more
liberal than existed in any other State and they did not feel a
pressure of unjust laws; co-education prevailed from an early date and
all occupations were open to them. Thus they were not impelled by
personal grievances to keep up a continued fight for the suffrage.
After 1900 there was a period of depression which the National
American Suffrage Association tried unsuccessfully to relieve. Finally
in May, 1906, it called a convention to meet in Kokomo, where one of
the old societies had continued to maintain an organization, and
delegates were present from societies in Indianapolis, Logansport,
Tipton and Montpelier. Mrs. Harriet Taylor Upton, treasurer of the
National Association, presided and a good deal of interest was shown.
The following officers were elected: President, Mrs. Sarah Davis;
first vice-president, Mrs. Laura Schofield; secretary, Mrs. E. M.
Wood, all of Kokomo; second vice-president, Mrs. Anna Dunn Noland,
Logansport; treasurer, Mrs. Marion Harvey Barnard, Indianapolis;
auditors, Mrs. Jane Pond, Montpelier, Judge Samuel Artman, Lebanon.
The association affiliated with the National body and always remained
an auxiliary. Mrs. Davis left the State during this year and there
seems to be no record of anything done by this board.
In April, 1908, Mrs. Upton wrote to Mrs. Noland begging her to call a
convention. Acting as president, secretary and treasurer and supplying
the funds from her own purse, Mrs. Noland sent hundreds of letters
over the State asking for names of people interested in suffrage and
from the names she formed committees to interest others. Her only
assistant was her husband, Dr. J. F. Noland, who helped in leisure
hours. In October the work of organization began by Mrs. Noland and
Miss Pearl Penfield. A convention was called to meet in Logansport,
March 16-17, 1909. Fifteen clubs had paid small dues but only seven
sent delegates. It was welcomed by Mayor George P. McKee. Much
interest and a great deal of publicity resulted. The _Reporter_, a
Logansport daily paper, published a suffrage edition March 17, one
page edited by a committee from the association. Mrs. Ella S. Stewart
of Chicago, Miss Harriet Noble of Indianapolis and Mrs. B. F. Perkins
of Fort Wayne were the speakers. The following officers were elected:
President, Mrs. Noland; first vice-president, Dr. Susan E. Collier,
Indianapolis; second, Mrs. Mary Mitchner, Kokomo; corresponding
secretary, Mrs. Bessie Hughes, Logansport; recording secretary, Mrs.
Wood; treasurer, Mrs. Barnard; auditors re-elected; member National
Executive Committee, Mrs. Perkins. During the year Sullivan, Terre
Haute, Amboy, Lafayette, Red Key and Ridgeville became auxiliaries.
Mrs. Antoinette D. Leach of Sullivan was made State organizer; Mrs.
Flora T. Neff of Logansport chairman of literature.
In 1911 a resolution to amend the State constitution by striking out
the word "male" was presented to the Legislature, drafted by Mrs.
Leach. It passed the House committee unanimously, went to third
reading and was shelved because of a proposed plan for a new
constitution brought out by Governor Thomas R. Marshall. The Municipal
League composed of the mayors and councilmen of all the cities in the
State invited the Equal Suffrage Association to provide speakers for
the annual meeting at Crawfordsville June 20 and Mrs. Noland, Miss
Noble and Mrs. Leach responded. They were courteously received and
heard with much applause. The convention was not interested in woman
suffrage but the press gave much publicity. A State suffrage
convention was held at this time. In August a monthly journal called
the _Woman Citizen_ was established in Indianapolis by the association
with Mrs. Leach as editor, its columns open to all suffrage
organizations, and published for two years. New Albany,
Jeffersonville, Markleville and Valparaiso clubs were added to the
State association. The New Albany society was large and active and
gave suffrage much prominence in southern Indiana. Mrs. Noland
reported 5,000 letters sent out in 1911.
On June 28, 29, 1912, Logansport again entertained the State
convention. Mrs. Noland acted as publicity chairman. The Call was sent
broadcast; press notices in every daily and weekly paper; large
posters put up at the cross roads in every county; banners stretched
across Broadway announcing the date. On the Saturday before the
meeting circulars announcing it and a parade were dropped over the
city from an air ship. Every business house was beautifully dressed in
suffrage colors. Mayor D. D. Fickle gave an address of welcome. The
principal speaker was Dr. B. O. Aylesworth of Colorado. The parade was
viewed by more than 50,000 people and Pathé made films of it. The
convention was widely noticed by the press. Eleven new societies were
added to the State association. Mrs. Noland was re-elected. Other
officers were: Mrs. O. P. Smith, Logansport; Mrs. Anna Cassangese, New
Albany; Mrs. Margaret Williamson, Red Key; Dr. Emma G. Holloway, North
Manchester, vice-presidents; secretary-treasurer, Mrs. Katharine
Hoffman, Logansport; member National Executive Committee, Mrs. Leach;
standing committees, Legislation, Mrs. Leach; Church, Mrs. Alice Judah
Clark, Vincennes; Endorsement, Mrs. Harriet Houser; Press, Mrs. Neff,
both of Logansport.
A publicity campaign was begun. Billboards were covered with posters
and barns, fences and stones along the country roadways were decorated
with "Votes for Women." Free literature was distributed and handbills
were given out at every opportunity. Sunday afternoon meetings were
held in picture show halls in many towns. Booths were secured at
county and street fairs. Tents were placed on Chautauqua grounds with
speakers and all kinds of suffrage supplies. This program was kept up
until the World War called the women to other duties. The Gary Civic
Service League affiliated with the association and Mrs. Kate Wood Ray,
its president, was made press chairman.
On Oct. 12-14, 1914, the annual convention was held in Logansport,
welcomed by Mayor Guthrie. Among the speakers were Judge S. T.
McConnell of Logansport and O. P. Smith, a State and national labor
leader. Both had attended the meeting at Kokomo in 1906, since which
time Judge McConnell had been a legal adviser of the association. Mr.
Smith was a member of the legislative advisory committee. Miss Laura
Clay of Kentucky, Dr. Frank Stockton of Bloomington and Miss Florence
Wattles of Kokomo were the principal speakers. Miss Clay was made an
honorary member. Mrs. Mary P. Flannegan, secretary-treasurer, was the
only new officer; new committee chairmen, Mrs. McConnell, Mrs. L. E.
Sellars, Mrs. E. B. De Vault, Miss Wattles. The secretary's report
showed 28 affiliated societies. It was voted to cooperate with the
Legislative Council of Women and work for Presidential suffrage. Mrs.
Noland, as chairman of the committee, was in Indianapolis from the
time the bill was introduced until the Assembly adjourned.
In February, 1915, Mrs. Noland went before the national convention of
miners in Indianapolis and secured a unanimous resolution favoring
State and national woman suffrage from the 1,600 delegates. In the
summer the State association sent Miss Wattles for two months'
speaking in the New Jersey and Pennsylvania suffrage campaigns. In
July the Municipal League held its annual meeting in Logansport and
the association, again called upon for speakers, sent Mrs. Noland,
Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Sellars. The enthusiasm with which they were
received and the discussion by the delegates which followed showed a
marked change since the meeting at Crawfordsville in 1911. At the
State convention in the fall a committee was appointed for
interviewing candidates before the spring primaries, especially those
for Governor and members of the Legislature and Congress. Mrs. Ray,
Mrs. Leach and Mrs. Noland composed the committee.
In the fall of 1916 the question of a new State constitution was
referred to the voters and the association placed women at all polling
places in the cities and large towns. In the small towns and country
the voters received literature and letters asking them to vote in
favor. It was lost but the work gave the women a new zeal and with the
enlightenment of the voters the effort seemed more than worth while.
At the State meeting in October it was decided again to join hands
with the Legislative Council to work for a partial suffrage bill and
to cooperate with the Woman's Franchise League in legislative work if
a mutual decision could be brought about. The association all over the
State was very zealous in behalf of the bill and Mrs. Ray, Mrs. Noland
and Mrs. Stimson worked continuously in the State House until the
Governor signed it on February 28.
To the Legislative Council of Women belongs much of the glory for the
final suffrage victories in Indiana. Formed in 1914 to work with the
Legislature it was composed of the following State organizations
representing 80,000 organized women: Federation of Women's Clubs,
Woman's Christian Temperance Union, Mothers' Congress, Woman's
Franchise League, Woman's Press Club, Association of Collegiate
Alumnae, Consumers' League, Woman's Relief Corps, Equal Suffrage
Association. These organizations represented an influence that could
not be ignored. The officers were as follows: President, Mrs. Felix T.
McWhirter (later Mrs. Edward F. White), Indianapolis; vice-presidents:
Miss Vida Newsom, Columbus; Mrs. Flora Millspaugh, Chesterfield; Mrs.
A. D. Moffett, Elwood; secretary-treasurer, Miss Dora Bosart,
Indianapolis. The Executive Committee was composed of the president
and one delegate from each organization and Mrs. S. C. Stimson of
Terre Haute was chairman. The Council was financed by these
organizations, assisted by churches, business men's clubs, ministers',
teachers' and farmers' associations and individual contributions.
The Act was ruled unconstitutional in October but the women had a
taste of citizenship, for all over the State they had registered and
in some places they had voted on prohibition and public improvements.
The Legislative Council sent out 75,000 registration cards. Municipal
authorities had appointed women to places of trust. The Suffrage Board
formulated a plan for the study of citizenship, of the United States
and State constitutions, methods of voting, etc., which has since been
on the program of study for the local societies.
In July, 1917, Mrs. Noland and Mrs. Ray were again asked to speak at
the annual meeting of the Municipal League and the following was
adopted with enthusiasm: "Resolved; That the Municipal League of
Indiana does hereby recommend full and equal suffrage for women in
both State and nation."
By a vote of the local societies it was decided not to call a
convention during the war, as every woman was engaged in war work, but
monthly board meetings were held in different towns in 1917 and 1918,
keeping the busy women in touch with suffrage work. During the
Legislature of 1919 other organizations seemed desirous of pushing the
suffrage work and the association voted to give them a free hand. It
assisted the effort for the ratification of the Federal Amendment by
sending letters and having resolutions passed by organizations. It has
at this time (1920) 29 affiliated societies, 500 dues-paying members
and over 6,000 non-dues-paying members.
INDIANA. PART II.[46]
During the early years of the present century there was no definite
campaign for suffrage in Indiana but the partial success of repeated
efforts to influence the General Assembly to pass various suffrage
bills showed a large body of interested if unorganized favorable
opinion. The State had never been entirely organized but there were
several centers where flourishing associations kept up interest. In
1901 the State Woman Suffrage Association under the presidency of Mrs.
Bertha G. Wade of Indianapolis engaged chiefly in legislative work but
it gradually ceased effort. There were attempts toward its
re-organization in the following years, assisted by the National
Association, but interest proved to be not sufficiently keen or
widespread.
The Indianapolis Equal Suffrage Society, organized in 1878 under the
direction of Mrs. May Wright Sewall, had never suspended activities.
Dr. Amelia R. Keller was its president in 1909 and in order to
stimulate interest and give an outlet for the energy of its members,
assisted by Mrs. Grace Julian Clarke, Mrs. Felix T. McWhirter, Mrs.
John F. Barnhill, Mrs. W. T. Barnes, Mrs. Winfield Scott Johnson and
Dr. Rebecca Rogers George, she formed the Women's School League on
October 1, "to elect a woman to the school board and improve the
schools of Indianapolis." Dr. Keller was made president and the other
officers were, vice-presidents, Dr. George and Mrs. McWhirter;
secretary, Mrs. Julia C. Henderson; treasurer, Miss Harriet Noble;
directors, Mrs. Clarke, Mrs. Barnhill, Mrs. Arthur B. Grover, Mrs.
Johnson, Mrs. Linton A. Cox, Mrs. Laura Kregelo, Mrs. Edgar A.
Perkins, Dr. Mary A. Spink, Miss Belle O'Hair and Miss Tarquinia Voss.
Many of these names become familiar in the later records of suffrage
work.
The first part of the league's program succeeded and a woman was
elected to the school board of Indianapolis. At the same time the
women of Terre Haute, where under a new law the school board was
elective, made a like attempt through the Woman's Club and the local
suffrage society and were also successful. These were the only places
where school boards were elective. Many women showed themselves eager
to work for a woman on the school board who were indifferent to the
larger aspects of suffrage. It was soon clear, however, that the
schools could not stand alone in municipal affairs but where boards
were not elected it would be necessary to vote for Mayor and
councilmen to influence school conditions, therefore on April 21,
1911, the organization dropped the word "school" from its title and
became the Woman's Franchise League of Indiana. Dr. Keller continued
as president and associated with her as officers were Mrs. Meredith
Nicholson and Mrs. McWhirter, vice presidents; Mrs. Henderson,
secretary; Mrs. Barnhill, treasurer.
A State convention of the league was held in Indianapolis April 12,
1912, and one took place annually after that date, always in the
capital. At this convention Dr. Martha Griffiths of Crawfordsville and
Dr. Adah McMahon of Lafayette were added to the directors. This year
the league affiliated with the National American Woman Suffrage
Association.[47] By May, 1916, there were sixty branch leagues and
3,000 members; in May, 1919, there were 300 branches and 16,000
members. Dr. Keller continued as president until the convention of
1917, when Mrs. Richard E. Edwards of Peru was elected and served two
years. At the convention of 1919 Miss Helen Benbridge of Terre Haute
was chosen. The Franchise League was exceedingly fortunate in its
three presidents, who gave the most of their time, thought and effort
to its demands without salary. Dr. Keller organized it largely through
the force of her own personality and was able to gather around her
other strong and determined women through whom the idea of suffrage
was carried out into the State. Mrs. Edwards took up the work of more
intensive organization of the State outside of Indianapolis and
succeeded, with Miss Benbridge as State organizer, in multiplying the
branch leagues and the members by five. Miss Benbridge's work as
president was that of consolidating these gains and directing the
women in the use of the vote which they thought they had won. The list
is too long to be given of those who deserve special mention for years
of devoted service.
From the spring of 1917 to the autumn of 1918 the members of force and
character were drawn upon for war service and the league suffered the
temporary loss of some of its best workers, who were filling executive
positions in the many war agencies. Of the directorate Miss Adah Bush
worked first in Washington with the Woman's Council of National
Defense and later went to France with the Young Women's Christian
Association; Mrs. Fred McCulloch was State chairman of Liberty Loans;
Dr. McMahon went to France on the staff of the Women's Oversea
Hospitals; Mrs. Henderson was chairman of the "four minute speakers"
who at their own expense went over the State speaking for Liberty
Loans, Red Cross, etc.
Under the able direction of Miss Benbridge the league continued to
increase until there were but four counties in which it had no
representation. The changed status of members from suffrage workers
to voters necessitated a different sort of activity. Organizers were
still employed to some extent and suffrage propaganda used in the more
remote counties but the stress was laid upon teaching women to use the
vote intelligently and appreciate the power it gives. A Citizenship
School of the nature of a Normal School was held in Indianapolis in
October and women from all over the State attended a five days'
session and heard talks on the nature and various functions of the
government and the duties of citizens, by men and women who were
experts in their various lines. They took back to their own towns the
inspiration received and these schools were carried on quite
generally. The State Superintendent of Education sent out a bulletin
asking the teachers to give their aid and recommending that the public
schools be used for this work. A monograph entitled An Aid to the
Citizen in Indiana was prepared by Miss Martha Block of Terre Haute
and published by the league. This movement to train the new voters
commanded the respect of educators and several professors in
educational institutions offered their services as teachers in the
schools of citizenship.
The convention of April, 1920, was the end of the Franchise League.
With the near ratification of the Federal Amendment work for suffrage
seemed to be finished in Indiana. As a Presidential suffrage bill had
been passed by the General Assembly the women of the State were
already partial voters, so the league disbanded and in its place was
formed the State League of Women Voters, with Mrs. A. H. Beardsley of
Elkhart as president. The branches became auxiliaries and the
leaders realized that the task of getting the vote was nearly
accomplished--that of using it had just begun.
LEGISLATIVE ACTION. 1901. Through the efforts of the Equal Suffrage
Association a resolution for an amendment to the State constitution to
strike out the word "male" in the suffrage section was introduced. In
the Senate it was buried in committee. In the House it received a vote
of 49 ayes, 33 noes--a two-thirds majority being necessary. Later it
was reconsidered and passed by a vote of 52 to 32. This vote was also
reconsidered and the amendment laid on the table.
1907. Municipal suffrage bill was defeated by the Senate.
1911. A similar measure was reported favorably out of committees but
lost in the Lower House by 41 ayes, 48 noes, and no action was taken
by the Senate.
1913. A resolution to submit a woman suffrage amendment was held up in
committees. The Senate passed a School suffrage bill by 27 ayes, 10
noes, but there was no action in the House.
1915. A Presidential suffrage bill passed in the Senate by 37 ayes, 3
noes, was held up in the House.
1917. This year will long be remembered by suffrage workers as one of
triumphs and defeats. The legislative session was a continued triumph
and showed that public opinion was in favor of granting political
rights to women. A great help was the agitation for a new
constitution. The present constitution was adopted in 1851. An early
court decision that an amendment in order to carry must have a
majority of all the votes cast at the election made amending it a
practical impossibility and for a long time there had been a
widespread demand for a new one for the sake of many needed reforms.
The suffragists joined the agitation for it, as this seemed the only
way to get the vote by State action.
The General Assembly of 1917 was carefully selected to pass the
Prohibition Amendment and was known to be favorable to the calling of
a constitutional convention. While the suffragists placed their hope
in a new constitution yet in order to leave no means untried the
Legislative Council of Women was formed at the suggestion of Mrs.
Grace Julian Clarke, composed of representatives of eight or ten State
organizations, of which the Women's Franchise League was one. Mrs.
Felix T. McWhirter was made president and it was decided to present a
Presidential and Municipal suffrage bill similar to the one passed by
the Illinois Legislature in 1913 and sustained by the courts.
The Council had quarters in the State House granted by the Governor;
the Women's Franchise League immediately established a bureau there by
his consent with Mrs. John F. Barnhill and Miss Alma Sickler in charge
and all the women labored diligently for the success of the measure.
The work over the State was necessarily done largely by the Franchise
League, as it had the local societies necessary. The Council secured
the aid of Mrs. Catharine Waugh McCulloch, a lawyer of Chicago, who
had been closely identified with the Illinois law. For the first time
in the history of Indiana's struggle for equal suffrage there was
active opposition by women. Nineteen, all of Indianapolis, appealed to
the Senate Committee on Rights and Privileges, which had the bill in
charge, for a hearing in order to protest.[48] This was granted but it
resulted in an enthusiastic suffrage meeting. The "nineteen," who
asserted that they spoke for 90 per cent. of unorganized women in
Indiana, were represented by Mrs. Lucius B. Swift, Miss Minnie
Bronson, secretary of the National Anti-Suffrage Association, and
Charles McLean of Iowa, who was in its employ. Mrs. McCulloch,
Meredith Nicholson, Mrs. Edward Franklin White, now president of the
Council, former Mayor Charles A. Bookwalter and a number of others
spoke for the bill.
The calendar of suffrage events in the Legislature of 1917 was as
follows: On January 23 the bill for a constitutional convention passed
the House by 87 ayes, 10 noes; on the 31st it passed the Senate by 34
ayes, 14 noes, and on February 1 was signed by Governor James P.
Goodrich. On February 8 the Presidential-Municipal suffrage bill
passed the Senate by 32 ayes, 16 noes. It also provided that women
could vote for delegates to the constitutional convention, were
eligible to election as delegates and could vote on the adoption of
the proposed new constitution. On the 22nd it passed the House by 67
ayes, 24 noes, and was signed by the Governor. The Legislature also
voted to submit a full suffrage amendment to the electors.
Although it was early apparent that these laws would be carried into
the courts preparations were at once made by the women for
registering. The Franchise League opened booths in the shopping
districts in the cities and urged the women in the country to go to
the court house and register when in town. They sent out women
notaries with blanks to register the women.[49] In Vigo county, of
which Terre Haute is the county seat, 12,000 registered, more than the
average number of men who usually voted at elections. In all parts of
the State the registration of women was very large and the women were
studying political questions and showing much interest in their new
duties.
Meanwhile the action of the Legislature was taken into the courts. On
June 25 Judge W. W. Thornton of the Marion County (Indianapolis)
Superior Court gave a decision that the Legislature had no authority
to call for an election of delegates to a constitutional convention
and no right to grant to women the privilege of voting for such
delegates or any constitution which might be submitted to the voters.
The case was at once appealed to the State Supreme Court, which on
July 13 sustained the decision. Chief Justice Erwin wrote the opinion
and Justices Spencer, Harvey and Myers concurred. Justice M. B. Lairy
filed a dissenting opinion. There was a wide difference of opinion
among the lawyers of the State.
This decision did not affect the limited suffrage law, which gave
women the right to vote for (1) Presidential electors; (2) all State
officers not expressly named in the constitution, including Attorney
General and Judges of the Appellate, Superior, Criminal, Probate and
Juvenile Courts; (3) all city, township and county officers not named
in the constitution. The law was referred to as nine-tenths suffrage.
Action was brought in the Superior Court of Marion county for a
decision on this law. The Court gave an adverse decision but it
embraced definitely only the Municipal suffrage. On October 26 the
Supreme Court upheld this decision concerning Municipal suffrage and
implied that the entire Act was invalid. The counsel for the
suffragists, including some of the foremost lawyers in the State,
with Eli Stansbury, Attorney General, and Mrs. McCulloch, presented
masterly arguments. The decision of the Supreme Court was condemned by
many besides the suffragists. The hearing was not held before a full
bench and the decision was not unanimous, Judge Lawson J. Harvey
handing down a dissenting opinion, so that two men virtually decided
this momentous question.
By Jan. 1, 1919 the Federal Suffrage Amendment had passed the Lower
House of Congress and was pending in the Senate and the first act of
this year's Legislature, convened in joint session before either House
had organized, was to adopt a resolution with but one opposing vote
calling on the U. S. Senate to submit the amendment, which was signed
by the Governor and forwarded to Washington.
There still remained from the legislation of 1917 the amendment to the
State constitution, which in order to be submitted to the voters had
to be passed also by the Assembly of 1919. The result of the election
of 1918 in the State had been an overwhelmingly Republican victory.
Since the party had the Governor and a majority of both branches of
the Assembly, it wished to put through a program of legislation that
called for amending the constitution and the leaders requested the
women to withdraw the suffrage amendment, as while one was pending
another could not be introduced. Feeling that withdrawal with a
friendly majority was better than defeat and enmity, the board of the
Franchise League consented. One of the rewards for this sacrifice,
which meant a delay of two years in presenting a State amendment to
the voters, was the Presidential suffrage bill, which passed on
February 6 with six dissenting votes out of a membership of 150. Three
of these were in the Senate, Erskine of Evansville, Haggerty of South
Bend and Kline of Huntington; three in the House, Sambor, Bidaman and
O'Neal, the last two from Terre Haute, Sambor from Indiana Harbor. The
vote to submit an amendment was unanimous in both Houses.
RATIFICATION. When the U. S. Senate finally voted on June 4 to submit
the Federal Suffrage Amendment the Legislature of 1919 had adjourned.
The question of ratification was of course uppermost in the minds of
the leaders of the Franchise League and there would be no regular
session until 1921. Governor Goodrich came to the rescue by promising
to call a special session, probably in August or September of the
present year, and sent out an invitation to other Governors of States
similarly situated to join him in securing enough special sessions to
ratify the amendment at an early date. The Governor of Indiana has
power to call a special session but can not restrict its action. Owing
to internal affairs of the State which developed the Governor
postponed indefinitely calling the session, assuring the suffragists,
however, that it should be held in time for them to vote at the
general election of 1920. Finally after repeated importunities he
announced on December 30 that he would call the special session for
Jan. 15, 1920, if a two-thirds majority of the Legislature would agree
to consider only ratification.
Although both political parties had declared in favor of ratifying the
amendment yet the women were expected to secure these pledges and it
was no small task but it seemed to be the only way. The suffragists
looked to the Franchise League for action and it assumed the burden.
Miss Helen Benbridge, its efficient president, soon made the
politicians see the wisdom of a special session. Under her skillful
management letters from the Governor were sent immediately to all the
legislators enclosing this agreement: "I hereby pledge myself to
attend a special session of the General Assembly limited to the
ratification of the Federal Suffrage Amendment and to vote for
adjournment immediately afterwards."
The Franchise League opened headquarters in Indianapolis and every
pressure, political and other kinds, was brought to bear on the
members and answers began to come in as early as January 4. It
certainly was a surprise to the politicians when on the afternoon of
January 13 Miss Benbridge was able to take to Governor Goodrich signed
pledges from 35 Senators and 67 Representatives, a two-thirds majority
in each House. The Governor at once issued a call for a special
session on January 16, allowing two days for members to reach
Indianapolis. That so many legislators were willing to lay aside party
prejudice and meet for a non-partisan purpose speaks volumes for the
personnel of the General Assembly of 1919. Recognition is due
especially to the Democratic members, as the Republicans were obeying
the call of their chief but the Democrats, on the summons of a
Republican Governor, laid aside their convictions and acted solely in
the interest of the women of their State.
The Assembly convened at 10 a. m. on Jan. 16, 1920, and more than a
hundred suffrage workers from all parts of the State were present to
see the fruition of their hopes. Miss Benbridge, president, and Mrs.
Edwards, past president of the league, sat on the rostrum in the
Senate Chamber beside Lieutenant Governor Edgar D. Bush, and in the
House beside Speaker Jesse Eschbach, while the vote was being taken.
The Senators enjoyed what was termed "the last wail" of the three
anti-suffragists who voted no--Kline, Haggerty and Franklin McCray of
Indianapolis. Forty-three votes were cast in favor. The resolution was
then taken to the House, which had organized and was waiting, and,
after suspension of the rules so that the three necessary readings
might be had in one day, it was passed by the unanimous vote of the 93
members present. It was signed at once by the presiding officers and
at half past four of the same afternoon by Governor Goodrich, who
wished in this way to show his agreement, though his signature was not
legally necessary. Mrs. Goodrich, Miss Benbridge, many officers of the
Franchise League and other interested suffragists witnessed the
signing. With this act the long struggle for political rights for
women which began in Indiana in the middle of the nineteenth century
was finished.
A large and enthusiastic meeting of the board of the Franchise League
was then held and there was general congratulation. Miss Benbridge,
who presided, said: "The work that assured the special session and the
result achieved was done, not by the little group of women in the
Indianapolis headquarters, although their work was well done, but by
the women over the State. Much credit for the success belongs to the
Franchise League members everywhere, who have won the sentiment of
their localities for woman suffrage."
FOOTNOTES:
[45] The History is indebted for this part of the chapter to Mrs. Anna
Dunn Noland, president of the Stale Equal Suffrage Association.
[46] The History is indebted for this part of the chapter to Mrs.
Lenore Hanna Cox, an officer of the Woman's Franchise League from its
beginning in 1911 until its work was finished in 1920.
[47] From 1912-1919 the following women served as vice presidents,
some for several terms: Mrs. Meredith Nicholson, Mrs. Felix T.
McWhirter, Mrs. Ovid B. Jameson, Mrs. John F. Barnhill, Mrs. Julia
Fried Walker, Mrs. Isaac Born, all of Indianapolis; Mrs. Lenore Hanna
Cox, Mrs. C. M. Curry, Miss Helen Benbridge, Mrs. Leon Stern, of Terre
Haute; Mrs. Fred McCulloch, Mrs. Olaf Guldlin, of Fort Wayne; Mrs.
Horace Stilwell, Anderson; Mrs. R. M. Johnson, Franklin; Mrs. A. D.
Moffett, Elwood; Miss Adah E. Bush, Kentland; Mrs. A. H. Beardsley,
Elkhart; Mrs. Charles J. Gill, Muncie; Mrs. Chester Evans,
Bloomington; Miss Betsy Jewett Edwards, Shelbyville.
Mrs. Julia C. Henderson, secretary from 1912 to 1917, was succeeded by
Miss Dora Bosart, both of Indianapolis; Mrs. John C. Morrison of
Lafayette, and Mrs. Richard E. Edwards, of Peru.
Miss Harriet Noble, the first treasurer, was succeeded by Misses
Eldena and Sara Lauter, both of Indianapolis; Miss Adah E. Bush; Mrs.
Mindwell Crampton Wilson, Delphi; Mrs. Charles J. Gill.
[48] Mesdames Lucius B. Swift, William Watson Woollen, George C. Hitt,
L. H. Levey, S. A. Fletcher, Harry Murphy, Edward Daniels, Samuel
Reid, H. H. Harrison, William H. H. Miller, S. B. Sutphin, F. G.
Darlington, Philamon A. Watson, Henry Scott Fraser, E. C. Atkins, A.
Bennett Gates, Evans Woollen; Misses Caroline Harrison Howland and
Josephine Hershall.
[49] Issued by the Campaign Organization Committee of the Woman's
Franchise League and circulated by the thousands.
This is a Statewide campaign drive, so do your part by fully carrying
out the following program: 1. On Saturday June 30, an auto tour must
be made in each county. Start these tours in every town where there is
an organized league and proceed through the county, distributing
flyers, posting bills and making ten minute speeches in every town and
village. 2. Sunday, July 1, is Woman Citizen's Sunday throughout the
State. Ask that forceful appeal be made from all pulpits urging every
woman to recognize and discharge her new citizenship duty. The clergy
of all denominations feel the importance of this step--you will find
them ready and willing to cooperate. 3. Push registration of women
during the week of July 4 as a patriotic measure. Secure favorable
mention of woman suffrage in all speeches. 4. Close the week's
campaign by a mass meeting of all local women's organizations,
including clubs, lodges and church societies. 5. Secure all the
newspaper space possible for this patriotic week. Publish this entire
program and report its progress daily to your local papers....