MISSOURI.[102]
When the last volume of the history of woman suffrage was written in
1900 Missouri was one of the blackest spots on the suffrage map and
there was little to indicate that it would ever be lighter. The able
and courageous women who inaugurated the movement in 1867, Mrs.
Virginia L. Minor, Mrs. Beverly Allen, Mrs. Rebecca Hazzard, Miss
Phoebe Couzins and Mrs. Sarah Chandler Coates, were no longer living
or past the age for strenuous work. A few women kept up a semblance of
a State organization, met annually and in 1901 Mrs. Addie Johnson was
elected president; in 1902 Mrs. Louis Werth and in 1903 Mrs. Alice
Mulkley, but there was great apathy among women in general. From 1903
to 1910 no State convention was held. In St. Louis, which comprised
one-fourth of the inhabitants of the State, there was no visible
organization working for woman suffrage. The largest and most
influential woman's club refused to allow the subject on its programs.
During the decade to 1910 only one speaker of national prominence came
into the State--Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, the president of the
National American Woman Suffrage Association--and evidently at the
national headquarters Missouri was considered too hopeless to
consider.
The movement was only smoldering, however, and needed but a spark to
burst into flame and that spark came from afar--from the torch held
high by the "militant" suffragists of England. In no State perhaps was
there more bitter invective hurled at them than by the press and
people of Missouri but the conscience of the convinced suffragists was
aroused. Stirring addresses in St. Louis by Stanton Coit of London and
John Lovejoy Elliott of New York in defense of the English
"militants" brought matters to a crisis and a few bold spirits
decided to reorganize the scattered suffrage forces.
In March, 1910, Mrs. Florence Wyman Richardson, Miss Marie R. Garesche
and Miss Florence Richardson (later Mrs. Roland R. Usher) barely out
of her teens, renounced society and invited twenty or twenty-five
women, whom they thought might be interested, to meet in Miss
Garesche's home. Only five responded, Miss Bertha Rombauer, Miss
Jennie M. A. Jones, Mrs. Robert Atkinson, Miss Lillian Heltzell and
Mrs. Dan Knefler. Not at all daunted it was decided as a first step to
engage a prominent lecturer. Miss Ethel Arnold, the well-known
Englishwoman, a suffragist but not a "militant," was then touring this
country and before the meeting adjourned a telegram was sent to her
and the eight women present guaranteed the sum to cover her charge and
the rent of a hall. As her itinerary would bring her to St. Louis
about the middle of April it was thought best to organize immediately,
so that the publicity which would undoubtedly be given to Miss Arnold
would be shared by the infant society. A circular letter outlining the
project was sent broadcast and April 8 about fifty women gathered at
the residence of Mrs. Richardson and effected an organization. Thus
came into being the St. Louis Equal Suffrage League, which was
destined to play the principal part in winning the vote for the women
of the State. The following officers were elected: President, Mrs.
Richardson; first vice-president, Miss Garesche; second, Mrs.
Atkinson; corresponding secretary, Miss Rombauer; recording secretary,
Miss Heltzell; treasurer, Mrs. Knefler; auditor, Mrs. Leslie Thompson.
Miss Arnold's lecture took place April 11 and her charm, culture and
cogent reasoning won many friends to the cause and disarmed many of
its opponents. Branch organizations were soon formed in the northern
and southern parts of the city with Mrs. Atlanta Hecker and Miss
Cecilia Razovsky as presidents. Meetings were held in the Cabanne
Branch Library and before the end of the year the members had
increased to 275.[103] During the first year the league brought a
number of lecturers to the city, realizing that this was the most
valuable form of propaganda in a community so entrenched in
conservatism. Among them were Mr. and Mrs. Philip Snowden of England;
Professor Frances Squire Potter of the University of Minnesota; Mrs.
Lucia Ames Mead of Boston; Professor Nathaniel Schmidt of Cornell and
Professor Earl Barnes of Philadelphia.
On Nov. 3, 1911, Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst of England, at the invitation
of the league, lectured in the Odeon, the largest hall in the city, to
an audience that taxed its capacity. Her charming personality set at
rest all fears as to the ill effect of suffrage, even of the
"militant" variety, on feminine grace and refinement. Soon afterwards
the Mary Institute Alumnae Association invited Miss Sylvia Pankhurst
to lecture and the result was most gratifying to the friends of
suffrage.
The old State organization having ceased to exist the St. Louis league
with its branches and the recently formed Webster Groves Suffrage
League, Mrs. Lee Roseborough, president, met in St. Louis Feb. 14,
1911, and organized a State Woman Suffrage Association, which
affiliated with the National American Association. The officers were:
President, Mrs. Atkinson; vice-president, Mrs. Morrison-Fuller;
corresponding secretary, Mrs. Boyd; recording secretary, Miss
Rombauer; treasurer, Miss Jane Thompson; auditor, Mrs. R. D. McArthur.
Owing to various causes this board was in a few months reduced to
three working members, Mrs. Atkinson, Mrs. Boyd and Miss Rombauer.
Realizing that it must enlist the support of the press they sent out
letters to a long list of the State editors and favorable replies were
received from twenty-six, who promised to give a weekly column in
their papers for suffrage news and propaganda. All the libraries were
written to and a number of them induced to procure the four large
volumes of the History of Woman Suffrage, generously offered by the
National Association. The librarians, who were often women, were asked
to keep on hand a supply of suffrage literature. The St. Louis public
library, at the suggestion of the board, made a special exhibit of
this literature, much of which was new. In the center of the exhibit
was a large picture of William T. Harris, former superintendent of
schools in St. Louis and later U. S. Commissioner of Education, with
his strong testimony in favor of woman suffrage.
Mrs. Atkinson was permitted to make an address on suffrage before the
State Federation of Women's Clubs at Sedalia but no action was taken.
She also addressed a large audience at the dedication of the Woman's
Building which had been erected by the Legislature on the State Fair
grounds near that city and Mrs. Walter McNab Miller of Columbia also
made an address. The board paid a lawyer to compile the State laws for
women under the direction of E. M. Grossman. Mrs. Atkinson, Mrs. Boyd
and Mrs. John L. Lowes of St. Louis and Mrs. Virginia Hedges of
Warrensburg went as delegates to the convention of the National
Association in 1911 at Louisville, where much satisfaction was
expressed that Missouri had at last come into the fold. The Kansas
City League was organized this year with Mrs. Henry N. Ess, president;
Miss Helen Osborn, secretary; and Mrs. Helena Cramer Leavens,
treasurer. The women of Warrensburg, under the leadership of Miss
Laura Runyon, organized a club of fifty members. There was the State
Normal School, to whose faculty Miss Runyon belonged, and through her
the support of the students was obtained and suffrage propaganda
extended gradually to every section of the State. Mrs. Knefler,
president of the St. Louis Women's Trades Union, organized a league
among its members, which, under the leadership of Mrs. Sarah Spraggon
and Miss Sallie Quick, did excellent work in the campaigns that
followed.
In 1912 a Business Woman's Suffrage League was formed in St. Louis
under the leadership of Miss Mary McGuire, a graduate of the St. Louis
University Law School, and Miss Jessie Lansing Moller, which starting
with 50 members, eventually numbered 250. The same year the Junior
Branch of the St. Louis League was organized, which included many of
the younger society girls and matrons. Miss Ann Drew (later Mrs. James
Platt) was president. In Kansas City in the autumn the Southside Equal
Suffrage League was formed with Mrs. Cora Kramer Leavens, president,
and Miss Cora Best Jewell, secretary. A Men's Equal Suffrage League
was also organized with D. H. Hoff president; J. H. Austin,
vice-president; David Proctor, secretary, which did a large work in
securing the big vote given to the suffrage amendment in Kansas City
and Jackson county in 1914.
In 1912 the first State convention was held in September at Sedalia,
where Mrs. George Gellhorn was elected president and Mrs. John W.
Barringer vice-president, both of St. Louis. They went to Jefferson
City in September and tried to get a suffrage plank into the platform
of the Democratic State convention. Though unsuccessful it was the
initial step in bringing the subject out of the parlor and
lecture-room into the sphere of politics, the arena where the battle
ultimately had to be fought. Twenty-eight leagues were formed this
year. Miss Amelia C. Fruchte, member of the St. Louis Central High
School faculty, went before the State Teachers' Association and
secured its endorsement of woman suffrage.
In 1913 at the State convention held at St. Louis in September, Mrs.
Walter McNab Miller, formerly of Ohio, was elected State president.
She had been the leading spirit in work for suffrage in Columbia, the
seat of the State University, where her husband was a professor, and
in November, 1912, an organization was formed with Dr. R. H. Jesse,
former president of the university, at its head. Though the State in
general was still apathetic the women in the large places, especially
in St. Louis and Kansas City, were alert and active. Mrs. Richardson,
after two strenuous years, had been succeeded by Mrs. David O'Neil as
president of the St. Louis League. She was followed in October by Mrs.
John L. Lowes, who had to resign from exhaustion and Mrs. O'Neil was
again elected.
The hard work that had been done was beginning to bear fruit and the
Farmers' Alliance, the Prohibitionists, the Single Taxers and other
organizations were seeking the cooperation of the suffrage societies.
The press was giving more and more space to suffrage news. Mrs. Emily
Newell Blair of Carthage was a powerful influence with country
editors. The St. Louis _Post Dispatch_ offered prizes amounting to
$100 for the best arguments in favor and often contained strong
editorials. Thanks largely to Miss Jane Winn, on the editorial staff
of the _Globe Democrat_, suffrage news was seldom refused by that
paper. The Kansas City _Star_ and the _Post_ gave strong support.
Best of all, the women were gaining in courage and confidence. In
September the managers of a Merchants' and Manufacturers' Street
Exposition in St. Louis invited the suffragists to conduct a parade
under their auspices and a large number of automobiles and auto-trucks
gaily decorated with white and yellow bunting and accompanied by
several bands of music went through the principal downtown streets.
The crowds were respectful and occasionally enthusiastic. The
enthusiasm of the paraders reached such a pitch that they left their
protecting cars and marched boldly down the middle of the street,
preceded by a band playing "Everybody's doing it." The details were
arranged by Mrs. W. W. Boyd, Jr.
The time was judged to be ripe for an organized effort to secure
action at the general election of 1914 and two plans presented
themselves: First, to ask the Legislature to submit to the voters an
amendment to the State constitution giving full suffrage to women;
second, to secure the necessary number of signatures under the newly
enacted initiative petition law to place the amendment on the ballot
regardless of action by the Legislature. The former method was tried
first but the latter was found to be necessary. A finance committee
was appointed by the league to raise funds for the campaign and at a
luncheon in St. Louis amid great enthusiasm $11,000 were pledged,
which were turned over to Mrs. B. B. Graham, campaign treasurer.
Headquarters were opened down town with Mrs. Knefler, campaign
manager, in charge. The interest aroused throughout the State by the
circulating of the petition was manifested at the State convention in
Columbia, in May, 1914, which was attended by a number of delegates
from the country districts. Mrs. Miller was re-elected president. On
"suffrage day," May 1, men and women addressed crowds between acts at
different theaters and on the steps of public buildings. Miss Fola
LaFollette was the speaker at a large evening meeting and addressed
the Men's City Club at luncheon the next day. The slogan was sent out
far and wide, "Suffrage for Missouri in 1914." After the heavy task of
obtaining 14,000 names to the petition and a strenuous campaign the
amendment was defeated at the polls.
In 1915 an offer was made by a newspaper man in Monet to publish a
suffrage magazine and eagerly accepted, the suffragists agreeing to
furnish the material and to work up the subscriptions. Mrs. Blair was
the first editor of the _Missouri Woman_ and all went well for a few
months, then the publisher failed. This was a keen disappointment but
through the efforts of Miss Mary Bulkley and Percy Werner of St.
Louis, Flint Garrison, president of the Garrison-Wagner Printing
Company, a prominent Democrat and an ardent suffragist, became
interested and agreed to publish the magazine. It was adopted as the
organ of the State Federation of Women's Clubs and was endorsed by the
State branch of the National Congress of Mothers and the State Parent
Teachers' Association. In March, 1916, Mrs. Blair, owing to the
difficulty of editing the magazine from her home in Carthage while it
was published in St. Louis, resigned as editor and was succeeded by
Miss Mary Semple Scott of St. Louis, who continued in that office
during the remaining three years of its useful existence, until the
women of the State had been partially enfranchised and the Federal
Suffrage Amendment had been ratified by the Legislature.
During 1916 the St. Louis Equal Suffrage League reorganized on
political lines with a Central Committee composed of a member from
each of the twenty-five wards. Mrs. William C. Fordyce, who for a long
time had urged this action, was unanimously elected chairman. At the
convention held in Springfield in May Mrs. John R. Leighty of Kansas
City succeeded Mrs. Miller, who had been elected first vice-president
of the National Association and would reside in Washington. At the
meeting of the board held in St. Louis in June the State association
also was reorganized on political lines and a Congressional Committee
of sixteen members representing the sixteen congressional districts
was appointed. The St. Louis League subscribed $500 to carry on the
work and Mrs. Charles Passmore was made chairman. The committees
appealed to the Republican State convention to put a plank for woman
suffrage in its platform but with no success. Later, after the two
national parties had adopted suffrage planks, an effort was made to
have the State committees adopt the same plank but they refused.
The National Democratic Convention held in St. Louis in June, 1916,
offered a splendid opportunity which both State and city suffragists
eagerly seized. Some unique schemes were evolved, among them the
"golden lane," the idea of Mrs. Blair. It has been described as "a
walkless, talkless parade" and consisted of about 7,000 women arranged
in a double line on both sides of the street, the front row sitting,
the back row standing, all dressed in white with yellow sashes and
each one carrying a yellow parasol. They held their places on the
opening day of the convention, June 14, from 10 a. m. till noon, on
both sides of Locust Street for a distance of ten blocks, the route
the delegates had to take in going from their headquarters in the
Jefferson Hotel to the Coliseum, where the convention was held.
Another striking appeal was in the form of a beautiful and imposing
tableau staged on the steps of the old Art Museum, also on the route
of the delegates, which was given with an occasional interval of rest
for two long hours. The details were managed by Miss Virginia
Stevenson. Under a canopy of gold cloth, which cast a glow over the
group below, there stood at the top of the steps "Liberty," posed by
handsome Mrs. O'Neil. Grouped about her were thirteen women dressed in
white representing the twelve equal suffrage States and Alaska.
Farther down on the steps were the States in which only partial
suffrage had been granted, impersonated by women dressed in gray. At
the bottom were figures in black, representing the States where women
were wholly disfranchised, extending their manacled arms to Liberty. A
mass meeting was held later in the day in the auditorium of the
Museum, when Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, William Jennings Bryan, U. S.
Senator John F. Shafroth and Mrs. Miller addressed large and
enthusiastic audiences. The Town Club, an organization of women, gave
a dinner with covers laid for 300, which was followed by music and
speaking in front of the Jefferson Hotel. On the same night there was
street speaking on the principal down town corners for two hours, one
speaker relieving another as the crowds called for more. Miss Scott
brought out an impressive number of the _Missouri Woman_ during the
convention. William Burns, a well-known artist on the _Post Dispatch_,
designed an attractive and significant cover and Miss Marguerite
Martin illustrated a story by Mrs. Blair; editors of the St. Louis
dailies, Louis Ely, Casper Yost and Paul W. Brown, contributed
editorials and William Marion Reedy, editor of the St. Louis _Mirror_,
wrote a charming article. The edition of 10,000 was sold at the
bookstands and by volunteers who acted as "newsies." The business men
advertised generously.
The result partially of all the hard work and enthusiasm was a woman
suffrage plank in the platform according to the Democratic principle
of State's rights, which, though not entirely satisfactory to the
suffragists, was regarded as a decided victory.
The entrance of the United States in the World War in 1917 acted as a
deterrent of suffrage activities, as the various organizations threw
themselves whole-heartedly into war work. Mrs. Leighty, State
chairman, Mrs. Stix, chairman of the St. Louis League, and other heads
of suffrage societies throughout the State, had the difficult task of
directing their activities in war work and at the same time keeping at
the front the idea that, while working to make the world safe for
democracy abroad, the cause of democracy at home demanded the speedy
enfranchisement of the women of America. Missouri's quota for the
Oversea Hospitals organized by the National Suffrage Association was
$1,000. At a luncheon given by the St. Louis League May 8, where Mrs.
Charles L. Tiffany of New York was the speaker, $4,331 were subscribed
in fifteen minutes. Mrs. Miller was chairman of the Food Conservation
Committee of the National Association and Mrs. George Gellhorn
organized its work for Missouri. All demands of the Government were
fully met.
In May, 1917, the State convention was held at Kansas City and Mrs.
Miller having returned from Washington was again elected president.
This year a Men's Advisory Committee in St. Louis was formed composed
of 147 well-known residents organized under the following leaders:
Jackson Johnson, N. A. McMillan, Ernest W. Stix, Joseph Woracek,
Edward F. Goltra, E. N. Grossman, Benjamin Gratz, J. L. Babler. A
teachers' division including many thousand was formed, with Miss
Tillie Gecks as president. Largely through the efforts of the
executive secretary of the St. Louis league, Mrs. Lucille B.
Lowenstein, its membership in 1918 was increased to 8,000. Mrs. Stix,
resigning because of illness, Mrs. Gellhorn was elected.
At the State convention held at Macon in May, 1918, Mrs. Miller was
re-elected. Owing to the splendid organization of the St. Louis League
it was able to invite the National Suffrage Association to hold its
Golden Jubilee in this city in 1919. It was held March 23-29 inclusive
at the Statler Hotel with two evening mass meetings at the Odeon, and
was declared by Mrs. Catt to have been "the best convention ever held
anywhere." A large group of women worked indefatigably for weeks in
advance to make it a success but to Mrs. Gellhorn, chairman of the
Local Arrangements Committee, must go the chief honor. Second must be
placed the name of Mrs. Stix, who had raised the funds to defray the
local expenses.
On the evening of March 28 was held one of the mass meetings. The
large auditorium of the Odeon, beautifully decorated for the occasion
under the supervision of Mrs. Fred Taussig and Mrs. Everett W.
Pattison, was filled to overflowing. On the stage were Mrs. Catt, Dr.
Shaw and the other national officers, also the speakers of the
evening, among whom were Governor Henry J. Allen of Kansas and Miss
Helen Frazier of England. Suddenly music was heard from the back. It
heralded the Missouri delegation, composed of Mrs. Miller, Mrs. David
O'Neil, Mrs. W. R. Haight and Miss Marie B. Ames, who had been in
Jefferson City for ninety-six days working in the interest of the
Presidential suffrage bill and had just returned with the joyful
tidings that it had passed both Houses! The delegation was met at the
door and escorted down the center aisle by Mrs. Gellhorn, holding
aloft a banner bearing the words, "Now we are voters." The large
audience rose spontaneously and amidst deafening cheers and wild
waving of handkerchiefs and hats the women ascended to the stage,
where they were individually presented to the audience by the
presiding officer, Dr. Shaw, who congratulated them and the rest of
the women of Missouri on the great victory. [Full account of
convention in Chapter XVIII, Volume V.]
To celebrate the success of this great convention and especially the
winning of Presidential suffrage, the St. Louis League at its annual
meeting in April gave a "victory tea" in the Statler Hotel. The guests
of honor were Senator James W. McKnight and Representative Walter E.
Bailey, who had so successfully led the suffrage forces in the Senate
and House. With music and the presentation to Mrs. O'Neil, in
acknowledgment of her long and faithful services, of an illuminated
testimonial, it was a delightful afternoon. Mrs. Fred English was
elected president of the league. At the State convention held at St.
Louis Mrs. Gellhorn was elected president, Mrs. Miller honorary
president, Mrs. David O'Neil honorary vice-president of the
association.
With Presidential suffrage won, the work before both State and city
association was obviously the organization and education of the new
voters. At a State meeting held in Kansas City May 3, a "budget"
system was adopted and a definite quota assigned to each county.
Kansas City raised $3,000 at a banquet in the Muehlbach Hotel, Mrs. J.
B. White presiding. St. Louis then raised its quota of $6,000 and
another $6,000 was pro-rated throughout the remainder of the State,
giving $15,000.
The next step in order was the establishment of Citizenship Schools
and the slogan "Every Missouri Woman an Intelligent Voter in 1920" was
adopted. Under the direction of Mrs. Olive B. Swan, executive
secretary of the State association, citizenship schools were arranged
for in every one of the sixteen congressional districts. Miss Ames and
Miss Lutie Stearns, two expert organizers, traveled through the State
holding meetings and conducting schools. Mrs. Leighty and Mrs. Alfred
Buschman assisted in this work. Mrs. English and Mrs. Clarke conducted
all those in St. Louis. The Young Women's Christian Association
allowed them the use of its auditorium for the first suffrage normal
school. Some mothers of families got up at five o'clock and did part
of their day's work in order to be able to attend; some women traveled
miles in order to do so; others came to night classes after a hard
day's work in office or school room. The St. Louis Board of Education
recognized the importance of this work and offered to incorporate the
citizenship schools in the night school system. It furnished the
building and paid the instructors, the St. Louis League managed the
schools. The response of the colored women to these opportunities was
especially noteworthy; in one school over 300 were in constant
attendance. Mrs. McBride, secretary of the Jackson county suffrage
league, conducted classes throughout the county. Kansas City secured
Professor Isador Loeb of the University of Missouri for a course of
lectures on government. All the women's clubs united into one school.
The course included principles of government, organization, publicity,
public speaking, suffrage history and argument, parliamentary law and
use of literature.
* * * * *
The submission of the Federal Suffrage Amendment by Congress in June,
1919, was celebrated with the greatest joy throughout the State.
Prominent suffragists in St. Louis waited upon Mayor Keil, the board
of aldermen and other city officials and escorted them in gaily
decorated automobiles to the steps of the Post Office, where the
Mayor, an old friend of woman suffrage, made a rousing speech. Mrs.
Miller and Mrs. Gellhorn also spoke and Charles M. Hay closed the
meeting with an eloquent address. In Kansas City a similar meeting was
held in one of the large theaters.
RATIFICATION. Steps were at once taken to secure the ratification of
the amendment by the Legislature. Edward F. Goltra, National
Democratic Committeeman, a proved friend, and Ben Neals, State
Democratic chairman, were often asked for advice and other help. Jacob
Babler, Republican National Committeeman, and W. L. Cole, Republican
State chairman, Mayor Keil and many others of both political parties
assisted the suffrage associations in placing before Governor Gardner
the urgency of calling a special session. He was not slow in
responding and one was called for July 2, 1919. All the suffrage
organizations in the State, with the Federated Clubs and the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union, started to work immediately to make sure
of a large majority. Legislators were visited by their constituents
and letters and telegrams were showered on them by prominent men and
women from other sections of the State.
On July 1 the suffragists gathered in Jefferson City and opened a
State board meeting with a luncheon and speeches at the New Central
Hotel to which every one was welcome. At 7 o'clock the ratification
dinner took place, with members of the Legislature as the invited
guests of the State association. Every foot of space in the
dining-room, ante-room and lobby of the hotel was filled with tables.
The Governor and Lieutenant Governor were escorted to the hall by
prominent suffragists and both made stirring appeals.
At 10 o'clock the morning of July 3, a procession of women wended its
way from the hotel to the beautiful new Capitol. The yellow parasols,
which had figured in every suffrage celebration since the time of the
historic Golden Lane in 1916, were everywhere in evidence and yellow
banners, ribbons and flowers gave the dominant note of color to the
scene. The galleries in both Senate and House were filled. The
resolution passed the House by a vote of 125 to 4; the Senate by a
vote of 29 to 3.
A great sorrow came in the midst of the rejoicing, as the news was
received that Dr. Anna Howard Shaw died the evening before the
ratification. She had addressed the Legislature in other years and
both Houses passed resolutions of regret.
Missouri women will forever remember gratefully the 50th General
Assembly, as it did all possible for it to do toward their
enfranchisement. It memorialized Congress urging the passage of the
Federal Suffrage Amendment; it passed the Presidential suffrage bill
and it promptly ratified the Amendment.
A called convention of the State association was held October 16-18,
at the Hotel Statler in St. Louis and the name was changed to the
Missouri League of Women Voters. Mrs. Gellhorn was elected chairman.
Every district was represented by the 122 delegates present.
LEGISLATIVE ACTION. 1913. A petition signed by 14,000 voters of the
State, of whom 8,000 were from St. Louis, was presented to the
Legislature asking it to submit an amendment for woman suffrage at the
election of 1914. The women who had had charge of the petition were
Mrs. David O'Neil, president, Miss Mary Bulkley, Miss Charlotte
Rumbold and Mrs. William C. Fordyce of the St. Louis Equal Suffrage
League and Mrs. St. Clair Moss and Mrs. Rose Ingels of Columbia. A
letter had been sent to every legislator saying that all he was asked
to do was to help get the amendment before the voters. The resolution
was introduced by Representative Thomas J. Roney and Senator Anderson
Craig. It was referred to the House and Senate Committees on
Constitutional Amendment and a joint hearing was set for February 6.
A number of women from different parts of the State appeared before
these committees and Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, president of the National
Suffrage Association, disarmed all prejudice. There was a unanimous
favorable report from the Senate Committee and only one adverse vote
in the House Committee. A week later the resolution was sent to
engrossment by both Houses with but five dissenting votes in the
Senate while in the House the "ayes" were so overwhelming that the
"noes" were not counted. The women went home feeling that the fight
was won but the last week of the session the resolution was taken off
the calendar, referred back to the committees and pigeon-holed.
The women then decided to resort to the newly created device of the
"initiative petition," by which the amendment could be submitted
without legislative action. Mrs. Walter McNab Miller was urged to take
charge of the work, the St. Louis Suffrage League agreeing to look
after the three most difficult congressional districts. She began the
latter part of August to canvass a State that has 114 counties, in
many of which there are no railroads and the other roads are almost
impassable. After six weeks of constant travel and hard work she
obtained only 1,000 names. The cooperation of Mrs. Nellie Burger,
president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, the only woman's
organization in the State outside of the regular suffrage societies
which had endorsed suffrage, was then secured. The St. Louis and
Kansas City leagues took the most thickly populated districts and the
others were apportioned among little bands of suffragists, who, under
the leadership of Mrs. Miller, worked steadily for the next six
months. At last the required 14,000 signatures were obtained and
representatives from each district went to Jefferson City to present
the petitions to Secretary of State Cornelius Roach. He received them
in a most friendly manner, saying that he hoped this work, which had
been done at such great cost, would bring the desired reward.
It had only begun and the task during the next six months was to
induce the men to vote for the amendment, which now had an assured
place on the ballot. Help came from the outside, as well as within the
State. Ruth Hanna (Mrs. Medill) McCormick of Chicago, chairman of the
Congressional Committee of the National Association, sent an organizer
and paid her expenses for four months. From friends outside $3,264
were sent and about $1,800 were raised in various ways in the State.
Dr. Shaw and Miss Jane Addams spoke in several cities and other
prominent speakers were Mrs. Desha Breckinridge of Kentucky, Miss
Helen Todd of California, Mrs. McCormick and "General" Rosalie Jones
of New York. The State and county fairs were utilized. Headquarters
were rented in a big downtown building in St. Louis with Miss Rumbold
as director of publicity, Miss Genevieve Tierney and Mrs. R. L.
Sanford in charge of the business part, Mrs. Alice Curtis Moyer-Wing
head of the speakers' bureau and Miss Bulkley treasurer. Mrs. Blair
had charge of the press work for the State, Miss Clara Sommerville for
St. Louis.[104] The St. Louis _Times_, the Kansas City _Post_ and the
Warrensburg _Daily Star_ allowed the women to get out a special
suffrage edition.
All the hard work of a year and a half was in vain. On Nov. 3, 1914,
the woman suffrage amendment went down to defeat with fourteen other
amendments on the ballot. More votes were cast on this one than on any
other--182,257 ayes; 322,463 noes; lost by 140,206. In Kansas City the
adverse majority was only 1,000. Thirteen counties were carried.
1915. It had been decided at the first State board meeting after the
defeat to attempt again to have an amendment submitted by the
Legislature. Mrs. Miller took charge of the work and remained six
weeks in Jefferson City. The resolution was written by Judge Robert
Franklin Walker, now Chief Justice of Missouri, and was introduced by
Senator Craig and Representative Roney, as before. A joint hearing was
arranged at which twelve Missouri women, representing various
professions and occupations, spoke five minutes each. It passed the
House by 88 ayes to 42 noes. Through the efforts of Senator William
Phelps, who was showered with letters and telegrams from his
constituents, the committee, a majority of whom were violently
opposed to woman suffrage, was persuaded to report it favorably but it
did not come to a vote in the Senate.
1916. As the Federal Amendment was now well advanced and the bad
effect on it of the loss of a State campaign was clearly recognized,
the National Board asked the officers of each State association to
refrain from entering into one. Therefore it was agreed at the State
convention in May, 1916, to give up the projected campaign.
1917. A bill for Presidential suffrage, which was approved by the
national officers, was introduced. Headquarters were opened in the
Capitol with Miss Geraldine Buchanan of California, Mo., in charge and
a strong lobby of State women remained there during the session--Mrs.
Leighty, Mrs. Fordyce, Mrs. O'Neil, Mrs. Passmore and Mrs. Grossman of
St. Louis. Mrs. Katherine Smith, daughter of Judge Walker, and Miss
Matilda Dahlmeyer of Jefferson City gave effective aid. Percy Werner,
a lawyer of St. Louis, agreed to defend its legal status before the
Legislature if necessary and in January it was introduced by Senator
Robert J. Mitchell of Aurora and Representative Nick Cave of Fulton.
It was reported favorably by the House Committee but when it came to a
hearing before the Senate committee there appeared Miss Minnie Bronson
from New York, secretary of the National Anti-Suffrage Association.
The speaker in favor was Mrs. Fordyce, a granddaughter of the pioneer
suffragist, Mrs. Beverly Allen. The House passed it by 87 to 37 but
the Senate defeated it.
Missouri women now turned their attention to furthering the Federal
Suffrage Amendment. The Congressional Committee appointed for this
purpose worked indefatigably and early in January, armed with two
large bundles of petitions for it, one from the State and one from St.
Louis, aggregating 75,000 names, a delegation went to Washington. Mrs.
Miller, vice-president of the National Association, arranged, with the
assistance of Miss Mabel Stone, daughter of the Missouri Senator,
William R. Stone, for a meeting in his office between them and the
State's members of Congress. They presented their petitions and made
earnest appeals for the amendment.
Suffragists throughout the State kept up a constant stream of
telegrams and letters to the Missouri members and Governor Gardner
used his influence. Senator Stone, and after his death Senator
Xenophon P. Wilfley, were pledged to the amendment, and Senator Selden
P. Spencer, who later was elected, could positively be depended upon.
All possible efforts were concentrated upon Senator James A. Reed but
to no avail. To disprove his statements that his constituents were not
in favor of woman suffrage, the Jackson county campaign committee,
with Mrs. J. B. White of Kansas City chairman, sent him the signatures
of 47,382 women and 12,583 men from his district, asking for it. When
the amendment came to a vote in 1918, Senator Wilfley and all the
Representatives voted in the affirmative except Meeker of St. Louis,
who died soon afterwards. In 1919 Senator Spencer and the entire
delegation in the House voted in favor. Senator Reed fought it every
time it came before the Senate.
Delegations of women appeared before the State conventions of both
parties on the same day in August, 1918, and asked for a suffrage
plank. Mrs. Miller, Mrs. O'Neil and Mrs. Stix attended the Democratic
convention in Jefferson City; Mrs. Gellhorn and Mrs. Grossman,
assisted by others, looked after the Republican convention in St.
Louis. They were invited to speak and each party put a very good
suffrage plank in its platform.
1919. Work for Presidential suffrage was continued. Extra pressure was
brought to bear on the Senate. Two national organizers, Miss Ames and
Miss Alma Sasse, were sent into various senatorial districts to enlist
the help of influential people and when the time came for a vote it
undoubtedly was favorable pressure from home that kept some of the
Senators in line. When the General Assembly convened Jan. 8, 1919,
Governor Gardner recommended such suffrage legislation as the women
might desire. Through the courtesy of Lieutenant Governor Crossley,
President of the Senate, and S. F. O'Fallon, Speaker of the House, it
was the first bill introduced.
On February 6 the Presidential bill was put on the calendar over the
adverse report of the Election Committee, an action almost without
precedent. On the 11th the Speaker left the chair and delivered a
powerful address urging its passage. Representative Frank Farris also
made a strong speech in its favor and the final vote was 122 ayes, 8
noes. The opposition used every device to prevent it from being
brought up for the final reading in the Senate but finally the time
was set for March 28. On that date two of the Senators favoring it
were absent and their votes were absolutely necessary. Senator David
W. Stark was at his home in Westline and Senator Howard Gray had been
called on important business to Caruthersville. On the 27th Mrs.
Miller, Mrs. O'Neil, Mrs. Haight and Miss Ames, who had been in
Jefferson City for over three months, met for final consultation.
Senator Stark responded to a telephone call and promised to be in his
seat the next morning. It was found it would be impossible for Senator
Gray to arrive on time. They were in despair but a savior was at hand.
Democratic National Committeeman Edward F. Goltra offered to charter a
special train to bring Senator Gray, a Republican, to Jefferson City
in time to cast his vote. This offer was gladly and gratefully
accepted and the Senator left Caruthersville that night. The next
morning all the other Senators were in their seats, the opposition
complacent and confident that the bill could not pass. While Senator
McKnight was reading a telegram from the National Suffrage Convention
in session at St. Louis urging the immediate passage of the
Presidential suffrage bill Senator Gray quietly walked in and took his
seat! The opposition, out-witted and out-generaled, threw up their
hands and the bill was passed by a vote of 21 to 12, some of its
former opponents voting for it. On April 5 in the presence of the
board of the State association it was signed by Governor Gardner.
FOOTNOTES:
[102] The History is indebted for this chapter to Miss Marie R.
Garesche, a founder and first vice-president of the St. Louis Equal
Suffrage League.
[103] Thirteen men were enrolled this year, Eugene Angert, George
Blackman, R. W. Boysselier, Dr. W. W. Boyd, Mr. Chauvenet, E. M.
Grossman, Charles Haanel, Stephen Hart, Charles Van Dyke Hill, Dr.
John C. Morfit, H. J. Peifer, Judge R. E. Rombauer and Percy Werner.
[104] Because of lack of space it has been impossible to include the
long lists of names prepared of women who worked all over the State.