The History of Woman Suffrage Volume VI Part 53

In 1905 there was increased activity to secure favorable action on the bill. A little paper called _The Woman Citizen_ was issued as a campaign doc.u.ment and a copy of it placed on the desk of every legislator.[160] The _Remonstrance_, a small paper published by the Ma.s.sachusetts Anti-Suffrage a.s.sociation followed, protesting against it. The merits of the bill were presented at a well attended hearing but no action was taken on it.

In 1906 a Senate hearing was given on the bill, addressed by Mr.

Blackwell. It was reported without recommendation and ably debated.

Senator Walter R. Stiness made a strong speech in its support and it pa.s.sed by 29 ayes, 7 noes. In the House the bill was referred to the Committee on Special Legislation. Long pet.i.tions from prominent voters were presented asking that it be reported but General Charles R.

Brayton, the Republican "boss" who for years controlled the Legislature, seeing the strong sentiment in its favor would not permit it to come to a vote. He admitted that he feared it would help the Democratic party.

In 1907 the battle for the bill was renewed and among the pet.i.tioners was Governor James H. Higgins. At two largely attended hearings nearly every person gave a rising vote in favor. Mrs. Charles Warren Lippitt and Mrs. Edward Johnson protested against women's being allowed to vote for President and Rowland Hazard supported them. The bill was defeated, though not by them but by political opposition.

In 1909 Mr. Blackwell appeared for the last time as the advocate of the measure. Like a seer he pleaded for it, the significance and potency of which he grasped far in advance of his contemporaries. Miss Yates was appointed his successor as the National a.s.sociation's chairman of Presidential suffrage, which position he had filled for many years.

In 1911 the Presidential suffrage bill was introduced in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Special Legislation, that limbo of lost causes. The suffragists rallied for a hearing and succeeded in getting it reported without recommendation. When taken from the calendar the Senators seemed to realize for the first time that they were dealing with a live issue. One of them demanded to know why that bill was permitted to waste their valuable time and threw it on the floor and stamped on it, saying: "I will kill woman suffrage." It was then buried by a vote of 29 noes and 3 ayes. The suffragists pa.s.sed out from the obsequies with full faith in the resurrection.

In 1913 a commission was appointed to revise the State const.i.tution and an appeal to it was made for a woman suffrage clause. A hearing was given; influential men supported the a.s.sociation; the women "antis" made a touching plea to be spared from the burden of the ballot, but the const.i.tution was not revised. This year the Legislature of Illinois pa.s.sed a bill for Presidential suffrage, which attracted wide attention. The Rhode Island a.s.sociation continued to present one every year. Sometimes zealous friends would introduce a resolution for a const.i.tutional amendment but it was not endorsed by the State a.s.sociation as it would require a three-fifths majority of the voters.

In 1915 Governor R. Livingston Beeckman recommended Presidential suffrage for women in his message and the use of the hall of the House of Representatives in the new State House was for the first time granted for a hearing. Mrs. Agnes M. Jenks, State president, secured Senator John D. Works of California and Representative Frank W.

Mondell of Wyoming to speak on the practical effects of woman suffrage in their States. Mrs. A. J. George came from Brookline, Ma.s.s., to voice the fears of the "antis." Notwithstanding the hearing surpa.s.sed in attendance and interest any that session the bill was indefinitely postponed by a House vote of 61 ayes and 31 noes. An active lobby was maintained and every available influence brought to bear to get the bill on the Senate calendar but it was killed in committee.

Between the close of this Legislature and the opening of the one of 1917 unforeseen events caused a marked change in the att.i.tude of Rhode Island politicians. Its delegates to the Democratic and Republican national conventions in 1916 had recognized the party expediency which compelled a plank in the national platforms in favor of woman suffrage and voted for it. At the Republican State convention in September U. S. Senator LeBaron B. Colt, who had been non-committal on the question, came out with a decisive p.r.o.nouncement in its favor. The Republicans saw the handwriting on the wall. They recognized that the votes of western women had re-elected President Wilson. For the first time since the Republican party was organized, a Democratic U. S.

Senator was elected. Both parties were on the alert for any issue that might bring re-inforcements.

Once more Presidential suffrage was the objective and Governor Beeckman repeated his endors.e.m.e.nt. The bill was introduced in the Senate Feb. 8, 1917. The a.s.sociation's Legislative Committee worked without ceasing. The suffragists throughout the State were well organized and loyally backed the committee. Pet.i.tions, letters and telegrams showered the legislators. The endors.e.m.e.nt of the Republican State Committee was secured. Meanwhile the Legislatures in half a dozen States granted Presidential suffrage. The time had come for Rhode Island. On April 11 the bill pa.s.sed the Senate by 32 ayes, 3 noes. There was an organized attempt to defeat it in the House by one for a referendum to the voters but by the efforts of Richard W.

Jennings and Daniel E. Geary, Republican and Democratic floor leaders, it was defeated. On April 17, after four hours' debate in the presence of hundreds of women, the bill pa.s.sed by 71 ayes, 20 noes. This was the fifteenth time it had been before the Legislature. On April 18 it was signed by the Governor.

RATIFICATION. As soon as the Federal Amendment was submitted by Congress June 4, 1919, the suffrage organizations began to ask for a special session of the Legislature for ratification but it was deemed best by Governor Beeckman for various reasons to wait until the regular session in January, 1920. Several days before it met the chairman of the Republican State Committee, Joseph P. Burlingame, made the announcement that by a suspension of the rules and contrary to every precedent ratification would be accomplished on the first day.

The longed-for day, January 6, dawned clear and cold. Women thronged the Capitol and filled the galleries of the House, except the section which was occupied by the Governor's party, who had come to witness the final scene in a fifty years' drama. After summoning the Senate to meet with the House in Grand Committee, the Governor read his annual message in which he recommended immediate ratification of the amendment, "as an act of justice long delayed." The resolution was at once presented and the floor leaders of both parties, William R.

Fortin of Pawtucket, Republican, and William S. Flynn of Providence, Democrat, spoke in favor. It was pa.s.sed on roll call by 89 ayes, 3 noes--Speaker Arthur P. Sumner of Providence, William H. Thayer of Bristol and Albert R. Zurlinden of Lincoln. A rush was made by the audience across the corridors to the Senate Chamber, where action was even more rapid. Lieutenant Governor Emery J. San Souci, a friend of woman suffrage, was in the chair and within a few moments, with no speeches, the resolution was pa.s.sed by viva voce vote with but one dissenting voice, that of John H. McCabe of Burrillville. The following day it was signed by Governor Beeckman, not that this was necessary but he wished to give it his approval.

The great event was celebrated in the evening by a brilliant banquet given by the Providence League of Women Voters at which the work of the pioneers was especially featured. A handsome dinner given by the Woman Suffrage Party took place at which the Governor and other public officials spoke on the great victory. Miss Jeannette Rankin, the first woman member of Congress, was a speaker.[161]

On May 17, 1920, the Rhode Island Equal Suffrage a.s.sociation concluded its work and merged into the State League of Women Voters, Miss Mary B. Anthony, chairman. Then a procession of women marched through the streets of Providence carrying the records of the organization for fifty years, which were deposited in the archives of the State House with impressive ceremony.

Among the nerve centers of suffrage activity in Rhode Island the Newport County Woman Suffrage League had a definite place from its founding in 1908, by Miss Cora Mitch.e.l.l, its first president. The League's work was at first largely carried on by an active group of philanthropic women of Bristol Ferry, Miss Mitch.e.l.l's friends and neighbors, among whom were Miss Sarah J. Eddy, Mrs. John Eldredge and Mrs. Barton Ballou. Gradually the suffrage agitation spread over the entire island, which includes the three towns.h.i.+ps of Portsmouth, Middletown and Newport. In Middletown the league's work was ably carried on by Mrs. Eugene Sturtevant and her daughters. All rendered priceless service to what was then an unpopular and unfas.h.i.+onable cause.

Mrs. Julia Ward Howe was present at the first meeting and as long as she lived took great interest in its work. This interest was inherited by her daughters, Mrs. Maud Howe Elliott and Mrs. Florence Howe Hall.

The summer meetings were sometimes held at Oak Glen, Portsmouth, Mrs.

Howe's country home, and here on soft June afternoons the veteran suffrage workers and the young neophytes destined to carry on their work rejoiced in coming together. On one occasion a young stranger was noticed in the audience who followed the proceedings with breathless interest. Soon afterwards Mrs. Norman deR. Whitehouse of New York began her fine service for suffrage, which was continued until the victory was won in that State.

Many of the most distinguished speakers ever heard in Newport came under the auspices of this league. Among the active workers were Mrs.

Walter Wright, secretary and treasurer; Miss Elizabeth Peckham, Mrs.

Oscar Miller, Mrs. Bertram Storrs and many others, and among the faithful members Admiral and Mrs. Sims rendered "aid and comfort"

beyond belief in those days when it took some courage in fas.h.i.+onable Newport to "come out" for woman suffrage!

[The long and interesting account of this league must be omitted because s.p.a.ce can be given only to national and State organizations.]

FOOTNOTES:

[157] The History is indebted for this chapter to Miss Elizabeth Upham Yates, president of the State Woman Suffrage a.s.sociation 1909-1914, and honorary president until its work was finished in 1920.

[158] The presidents of the State Woman's Christian Temperance Union, Mrs. Susan Hammond Barney, Mrs. Emeline Burlingame Cheney, Mrs. Mary A. Babc.o.c.k, Mrs. Deborah Knox Livingston, Mrs. Jennie L. W. Rooke and Mrs. Ethelyn Roberts have all been active workers for woman suffrage.

[159] In addition to those already mentioned, the following have been officers or members of the State Executive Committees: Mrs. Ellen M.

Calder, Mrs. Elizabeth Ormsbee, Mrs. f.a.n.n.y Purdy Palmer, Mrs. Ora A.

Angell, Mrs. Sarah M. Aldrich, Mrs. Betsy A. Stearns, Miss Mary K.

Conington, Mrs. Annie B. Jackson, Mrs. Catherine G. Wilbur, Mrs. Clara F. Delaney, Mrs. Myra Phinney, Miss S. Arvilla Jewett, Mrs. Amy E.

Harris, Miss Katherine H. Austin, Mrs. Josephine Fry, Miss Eleanor B.

Green, Mrs. Margaret C. Edgren, Mrs. Victor Frazee, Mrs. Anna B.

Kroener, Miss Abby P. Gardiner, Mrs. William H. Adams, Mrs. Nathaniel Greene, Mrs. Job Manchester, Mrs. William A. H. Comstock, Miss Mabel Orgelman, Mrs. Edwin C. Smith, Mrs. Ava C. Minsher, Mrs. Fred S.

Fenner, Mrs. Clarence Fuller, Mrs. Frank A. Jackson, Miss Sarah E.

Doyle, Mrs. Alfred M. Coats, Miss Ellen G. Hunt and Mrs. Charles Remington.

To these should be added a list of men to whom the workers are deeply indebted.

[160] The _Woman Citizen_ was edited and published for ten years by Mrs. Jeannette French, and was a valuable contribution to the movement for woman suffrage.

[161] At the next Democratic State convention Miss Elizabeth Upham Yates received the nomination for Lieutenant Governor amid great enthusiasm. She was termed "a student of sociology, missionary leader, prophet and dreamer, whose dreams have come true."--Ed.

CHAPTER x.x.xIX.

SOUTH CAROLINA.[162]

For a number of years there had been a suffrage a.s.sociation in South Carolina with Mrs. Virginia Durant Young, editor of the Fairfax _Enterprise_, president. Evidence of advance in public sentiment was shown when in April, 1900, by invitation, Mrs. Young addressed 5,000 people at Rivers Bridges Memorial a.s.sociation; in June when Mrs.

Malvina A. Waring made the commencement address at Limestone College and again when Mrs. Young responded to a toast at the banquet of the State Press a.s.sociation. That same year there was lively effort to decide which one of twenty women candidates should be elected State librarian. Miss Lucy Barron was elected and a large number of women engrossing clerks were appointed to share her work.

In 1902 during the Exposition a woman suffrage convention was held in Charleston through the courtesy of the chairman of Promotion and Publicity, Major J. C. Hemphill. Although opposed to woman suffrage he induced the officials in charge to grant the use of the German Artillery Hall for two nights and one meeting was held in the exposition grounds, where Henry B. and Miss Alice Stone Blackwell, Mrs. Mamie Folsom Wynn, Miss Koch, Miss Helen Morris Lewis, Miss Claudia G. Tharin, Mrs. T. M. Prentiss and Mrs. Young made addresses.

A reception was given in the Woman's Building. In May, 1903, Mrs.

Young made a suffrage speech at the meeting of the State Press a.s.sociation at Georgetown. With her death in 1906 the organization lapsed but there was a small group of suffragists in Columbia with Dr.

Jane Bruce Guignard president.

It was not until May 15, 1914, when Miss Lavinia Engle, one of the organizers sent by the National American Woman Suffrage a.s.sociation, called together a representative group of clubwomen, that the State Equal Suffrage League was organized in the Kennedy Library at Spartanburg. Mrs. M. T. Coleman of Abbeville, retiring president of the State Federation of Women's Clubs, was elected president; Mrs.

John Gary Evans, Spartanburg, first and Mrs. J. L. c.o.ker, Hartsville, second, vice-president; Mrs. Henry Martin, Columbia, secretary; Mrs.

F. T. Kicklin, Chester, treasurer. Dr. Rosa H. Gannt, Spartanburg, was appointed legislative chairman. Three organized leagues--Columbia, Charleston and Spartanburg--with a members.h.i.+p of about 450, joined at this time. In twenty months the number of local leagues increased to eight and the members.h.i.+p to 1,514.

Three speakers were brought to the State during the winter of 1915, Mrs. Lila Meade Valentine, president of the Virginia League; Mrs.

Desha Breckinridge, president of the Kentucky a.s.sociation, and Miss Kate M. Gordon of Louisiana. The league supplied literature for school and club debates and distributed it at many county fairs. On October 17 a State convention was held in Columbia. Mrs. Coleman and Dr. Gannt resigned; Mrs. Harriet P. Lynch, Cheraw, was elected president and Mrs. W. C. Cathcart of Columbia was appointed legislative chairman.

This year for the first time suffrage was represented in a parade of women, which took place during the State Fair with a suffrage float in the evening display.

In 1916 the annual convention met in Charlestown. During the year Mrs.

Lynch had stressed organization and chairmen had been appointed in sixteen counties to work along political lines, the unit of organization being the wards in cities and towns.h.i.+ps in counties. A plank in the Democratic platform to refer a woman suffrage amendment to the voters was secured at the State convention in the spring and State and national candidates were canva.s.sed as to their views on woman suffrage.

When the convention of 1917 was held in Columbia in October there were twenty-five leagues in the State with a members.h.i.+p of about 3,000. The Federal Suffrage Amendment, the Prohibition Amendment, Food Administration as outlined by Mr. Hoover and a Minimum Wage for Women were endorsed. Protests were made against any attempt to lower educational standards or to weaken the laws safeguarding women and children. The Legislative Committee reported that before the Legislature convened its members had been completely canva.s.sed as to their views on woman suffrage; these were cla.s.sified and only a few were tagged impossible. A "suffrage school" was held in Columbia in December under the auspices of the National a.s.sociation with one hundred pupils. During the year woman suffrage had been endorsed by the State Federation of Labor, Federation of Women's Clubs and Woman's Christian Temperance Union.