The History of Woman Suffrage Volume IV Part 113

[366] The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Florence Howe Hall of Plainfield, president of the State Woman Suffrage a.s.sociation for the past eight years, and to Dr. Mary D. Hussey of East Orange, its founder and corresponding secretary.

[367] The others present were Mesdames Phebe C. Wright, Alice C.

Angell, Sarah A. McClees, Caroline Ross Graham, Katherine H. Browning, Anna M. Warden, Mrs. Minola Graham s.e.xton, Mrs. Emma L. Blackwell.

[368] The sending of this yearly circular to the press, shortly before the time of the annual school meeting, has been continued under the special charge of the president.

[369] East Orange also had from 1894 to 1900 a school committee consisting of ten women elected every year at the annual school meeting--a sort of auxiliary a.s.sociation which did good work. In 1900 it became a city, and the school officers are now elected at the polls where women can not vote.

[370] The remaining officers elected were: Vice-president, Mrs. W. J.

Pullen; corresponding secretary, Dr. Mary D. Hussey; recording secretary, Miss J. H. Morris; treasurer, Mrs. Anna B. Jeffery; auditor, Mrs. Mary C. Ba.s.sett.

The other officers who have served during the past ten years are: Vice-presidents, Mrs. Katherine H. Browning, Mrs. Margaret C.

Campfield, Rev. Antoinette Brown Blackwell, Mrs. Harriet Lincoln Coolidge; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Charlotte C. R. Smith; recording secretaries, Miss Martha B. Haines, Mrs. Emma L. Blackwell, Mrs. Alice C. Angell, Miss Mary Philbrook; treasurers, Mrs. Charlotte N. Enslin, Dr. Mary D. Hussey, Mrs. Stephen R. Krom; auditors, Aaron M. Powell, Miss Susan W. Lippincott, Mrs. J. M. Pullen; chairmen press committee, Anna B. S. Pond, Dr. Florence de Hart.

[371] Among many others who have served faithfully as local presidents and in other ways are Dr. Ella Prentiss Upham, Mrs. Maria H. Eaton, Mrs. Samuel R. Huntington, Mrs. Madge S. MacClary, Mrs. Sarah S.

Culver, Miss M. Louise Watts.

CHAPTER LV.

NEW MEXICO.[372]

At the Const.i.tutional Convention held in 1888 an effort was made to secure equal political rights for women, but it received little support. In September, 1893, Mrs. E. M. Marble visited Albuquerque and organized a suffrage club with Mrs. G. W. Granger as president. In December, 1895, Mrs. Laura M. Johns, president of the Kansas E. S. A.

and national organizer, spent a few days in New Mexico, on the way to and from Arizona, and formed several clubs.

In 1896 Mrs. Julia B. Nelson, president of the Minnesota W. S. A., began work in the Territory under the auspices of the National a.s.sociation, her first address being delivered at Raton, April 1, and her last May 12, at the same place. Her mission was to discover the suffragists, make converts, arrange for a Territorial convention and effect an organization auxiliary to the national.[373] As a result a convention was held at Albuquerque, April 28, 29, conducted by Mrs.

Johns and Mrs. Nelson. A Territorial a.s.sociation was formed and the following officers were elected: President, Mrs. J. D. Perkins; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Alice P. Hadley; recording secretary, Miss Clara c.u.mmings; treasurer, Mrs. Martha C. Raynolds.

In 1897 and 1898 no conventions were held, on account of the absence of several of the officers from the Territory. Through the efforts of Mrs. Hadley (herself prevented by physical infirmity), H. B.

Fergusson, delegate to Congress for New Mexico, represented the Territory and made a speech in the convention of the National a.s.sociation at Was.h.i.+ngton in 1898.

In November, 1899, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, chairman of the national organization committee, and Miss Mary G. Hay, secretary, spent one day in Santa Fe with George H. and Mrs. Catherine P. Wallace. Mr. Wallace was secretary of the Territory, and in their home, the historic old Palacio, forty people gathered to hear Mrs. Chapman Catt lecture. She made an hour's address, after which there was an interesting discussion. As a result, a meeting was called for December 19, and the Territorial a.s.sociation was reorganized with the following officers: President, Mrs. Wallace; vice-president, Mrs. Hadley; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Esther B. Thomas; recording secretary, Mrs. Anna Van Schick; treasurer, Miss Mary Morrison; member national executive committee, Mrs. Ellen J. Palen. Several vice-presidents were named and twenty-five members enrolled.[374]

LEGISLATIVE ACTION AND LAWS: On Feb. 10, 1893, a bill was pa.s.sed in the Lower House declaring the right of female citizens to vote at elections and hold offices relating to public schools and public education. It was not acted upon by the Senate. In 1895 this bill was defeated.

In 1899 a bill was introduced by Representative McIntosh of San Juan County (near the Colorado line), on request of his const.i.tuents, for the extension of School Suffrage to women. This received the favorable votes of one-third of the Lower House, but did not reach the Senate.

A law was pa.s.sed April 2, 1884, defining the rights of the married woman. It secured to her the control of property owned by her at the time of marriage and of wages earned afterward, made her not liable for her husband's debts and gave her the same power to make contracts, wills, etc., as was possessed by him. The law at present is as follows:

Curtesy still obtains. One-half of the community property goes to the wife whether the husband dies testate or intestate. In addition to this she is ent.i.tled to one-fourth of the rest of his estate, "provided this deduction shall only be made when said property amounts to $5,000, and the heirs be not descendants; although it may exceed this sum in the absence of the latter.

Also from the property of the wife the fourth shall be deducted as the marital right of the husband, and upon the same conditions, should the husband without this aid remain poor." If there are no legitimate children surviving, the widow or widower shall be heir to all the acquired property of the marriage community.

By act of 1897, a mortgage not executed by the wife shall in no wise affect the homestead rights of the wife or family.

By act of 1899: "The signature or consent of the wife shall not be necessary or requisite in any conveyance, inc.u.mbrance or alienation of real property owned by the husband, whether such property became his before or during coverture; but the right to make such conveyance or create such inc.u.mbrance shall exist in the husband to the same extent as though he were unmarried."[375]

The father is the legal guardian of the minor children.

The husband is not required by law to support the family.

In 1887 the "age of protection" for girls was raised from 10 to 14 years, with penalty of imprisonment not less than five nor more than twenty years.

SUFFRAGE: Women have no form of suffrage.

OFFICE HOLDING: In 1899 a bill pa.s.sed for appropriations, etc., for the Deaf and Dumb Asylum recommended the appointment of two women on the Board of (five) Trustees. The appointments were duly made and confirmed.

Women serve as members of county school examining boards.

The new office of supervising teacher of the Government Indian Pueblo Schools has been filled by Miss Mary E. Dissett.

Women are special masters in court, notaries public, court and legislative stenographers in Spanish and English and census enumerators. In the last two administrations a woman has acted as private secretary to the Governor.

A woman has been appointed commissioner for New Mexico to take testimony in Indian depredation claims.

At a Territorial Irrigation Convention, in 1900, one woman was a duly elected delegate, taking part in the discussions, etc.

OCCUPATIONS: All professions and occupations are open to women. They conduct ranches and engage in mining. In Santa Fe the Woman's Board of Trade, an incorporated body, has so ably conducted the work for charities and for civic improvements as to arouse a sentiment that women might well be intrusted with educational and more extended munic.i.p.al affairs. In Las Cruces an organization of women is doing a similar work.

EDUCATION: All educational inst.i.tutions are open to both s.e.xes, and degrees are conferred alike upon men and women. The Territorial University at Albuquerque, the Las Vegas Normal University and others have women on their faculties.

At the meeting of the Territorial Educational a.s.sociation in December, 1899, a council was formed composed of twenty-five members, both women and men. At its first meeting, in September, 1900, a resolution in favor of School Suffrage for women was unanimously adopted.

In the public schools there are (approximately) 390 men and 316 women teachers. The average salaries are not obtainable.

The call to arms for the Spanish-American War brought men to the different recruiting posts in New Mexico, but no provision for them had been made by the government. The women of Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Las Vegas and other towns quickly organized Soldiers' Aid Societies and raised funds to feed and care for them, till the companies were mustered in and came under Uncle Sam's charge.

At the Territorial Democratic Convention in Albuquerque, April, 1900, the following was included in the platform: "It is our belief that women should be granted an equal voice and position with men in all matters pertaining to our public schools."

The native Spanish-Americans have great reverence for their elders.

Among a few of the old Don families where the eldest member living is a senora, so greatly are her wishes and opinions respected that the entire community will vote as she dictates; the politician has only to secure her allegiance and he is sure of the vote in her precinct. The suffrage bills which have been presented to the Legislature have not been opposed by the Spanish-American members, but by the Anglo-Saxons.

FOOTNOTES:

[372] The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Catherine P.

Wallace of Santa Fe, president of the Territorial Suffrage a.s.sociation. While Mr. Wallace was consul-general to Australia, in 1890, she visited New Zealand and a.s.sisted the women there in their successful effort for the franchise. When this subject was before the Australian Parliament at Melbourne, she furnished the Premier with the debate in the United States Congress on the admission of Wyoming, and with other doc.u.ments.

[373] Mrs. Nelson visited Raton, Blossburg, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Springer, Las Vegas, Watrous, Wagon Mound, Socorro, San Marcial, Las Cruces, Deming, Silver City, Hillsboro and Kingston, giving two or three lectures at each place and leaving a club in many.

[374] Among the best known of the advocates are Mrs. M. J. Borden, Professor and Mrs. Hiram Hadley of the Agricultural College, President and Mrs. C. L. Herrick and Miss Catherine Fields, all of the Territorial University; Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson Raynolds, Judge and Mrs. McFie, Col. and Mrs. I. H. Elliott and Secretary George H.

Wallace.

[375] This law was repealed by the Legislature of 1901, and it was made impossible for either husband or wife to convey real property without the signature of the other.