Suffragists -- United States; Women -- Suffrage -- United States
I may say it was one of the best speeches I ever made. I recited the
long history and struggle of the suffrage movement from its early
beginning and narrated the political theory’ of our activities up to
the present moment, outlining the status of the suffrage amendment in
Congress at that time. In short, I told him everything. He listened
attentively, interrupting only occasionally to say, “But, has not
President Wilson treated you women very badly?” Whereupon, I, still
unaware that I was being examined, launched forth into an explanation
of Mr. Wilson’s political situation and the difficulties he had
confronting him. I continued to explain why we felt our relief lay with
him; I cited his extraordinary power, his influence over his party, his
undisputed leadership in the country, always painstakingly explaining
that we opposed President Wilson merely because he happened to be
President, not because he was President Wilson. Again came an
interruption from Dr. White, “But isn’t President Wilson directly
responsible for the abuses anal indignities which have been heaped upon
you? You are suffering now as a result of his brutality, are you not?”
Again I explained that it was impossible for us to know whether
President Wilson was personally acquainted in any detail with the facts
of our present condition, even though we knew that he had concurred in
the early decision to arrest our women.
Presently Dr. White took out a small light and held it up to my eyes.
Suddenly it dawned upon me that he was examining me personally; that
his interest in the suffrage agitation and the jail conditions did not
exist, and that he was merely interested in my reactions to the
agitation and to jail. Even then I was reluctant to believe that I was
the subject of mental investigation and I continued to talk.
But he continued in what I realized with a sudden shock, was an attempt
to discover in me symptoms of the persecution mania. How simple he had
apparently thought it would be, to prove that I had an obsession on the
subject of President Wilson!
The day following he came again, this time bringing with him the
District Commissioner, Mr. Gardner, to whom he asked me to repeat
everything that had been said the day before. For the second time we
went through the history of the suffrage movement, and again his
inquiry suggested his persecution mania clue? When the narrative
touched upon the President and his responsibility for the obstruction
of the suffrage amendment, Dr. White would turn to his associate with
the remark: “Note the reaction.”
Then came another alienist , Dr. Hickling, attached to the psychopathic
ward in the District Jail, with more threats and suggestions, if the
hunger strike continued. Finally they departed, and I was left to
wonder what would happen next. Doubtless my sense of humor helped me,
but I confess A was not without fear of this mysterious place which
they continued to threaten.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account