Suffragists -- United States; Women -- Suffrage -- United States
By a stroke of good luck there were two senatorial contests—in New
Jersey and New Hampshire—for vacancies in the short term. That is, we
had an opportunity to elect two friends who would take their seats in
time to vote on the amendment before the end of this session. It so
happened that the Democratic candidates were pledged to vote for the
amendment if elected, and that the Republican candidates were opposed
to the amendment. We launched our campaign in this instance for the
election of the Democratic candidates. We went immediately to the
President to ask his assistance in our endeavor. We urged him
personally to appeal to the voters of New Jersey and New Hampshire on
behalf of his two candidates. As Party leader he was at the moment
paying no attention whatever to the success of these two suffragists.
Both of the Democratic candidates themselves appealed to President
Wilson for help in their contests, on the basis of their suffrage
advocacy. His speech to the Senate scarcely cold, the President refused
to lend any assistance in these contests, which with sufficient effort
might have produced the last two votes.
At the end of two weeks of such pressure upon the President we were
unable to interest him in this practical endeavor. It was clear that he
would move again only under attack. We went again, therefore, to the
women voters of the west and asked them to withhold their support from
the Democratic Senatorial candidates in the suffrage states in order to
compel the President to assist in the two Eastern contests. This
campaign made it clear to the President that we were still holding him
and his party to their responsibility.
And as has been pointed out, our policy was to oppose the Democratic
candidates at elections so long as their party was responsible for the
passage of the amendment and did not pass it. Since there is no
question between individuals in suffrage states—they are all
suffragists—this could not increase our numerical strength. It could,
however, and did demonstrate the growing and comprehensive power of the
women voters.
Shortly before election, when our campaign was in full swing in the
West, the President sent a letter appealing to the voters of New Jersey
to support Mr. Hennessey, the Democratic candidate for the Senate. He
subsequently appealed to the voters of New Hampshire to elect Mr.
Jameson, candidate for Democratic Senator in New Hampshire.
We continued our campaign in the West as a safeguard against relaxation
by the President after his appeal. There were seven senatorial contests
in the western suffrage states. In all but two of these
contests—Montana and Nevada—the Democratic Senatorial candidates were
defeated. In these two states the Democratic majority was greatly
reduced.
Republicans won in New Jersey and New Hampshire and a Republican
Congress was elected to power throughout the country.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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