Margaret Sanger: an autobiography.Sanger, Margaret
History
Margaret Sanger: an autobiography.
Sanger, Margaret
Birth control -- United States -- Biography; Sanger, Margaret, 1879-1966
As the New York _Sun_ commented, “The Sanger case presents the anomaly
of a prosecutor loath to prosecute and a defendant anxious to be tried.”
The newspapers were taking ever-increasing notice. A photograph of
myself and my two young sons circulated widely and seemed to alter the
attitude of a heretofore cynical public. At that time I thought the
papers were against me, but looking over these old clippings today I
realize this was merely the impersonality of the news columns. Their
editorial hesitancy made them appear, like all other conservative and
reactionary forces, my opponents. But the rank and file of American
newspaperdom, though they must always have their little jokes, have
always been sympathetic.
They printed the letter to Woodrow Wilson, initiated by Marie Stopes. It
“begged to call the attention” of the President to the fact that I was
in danger of criminal prosecution for circulating a pamphlet on birth
control, which was allowed in every civilized country except the United
States; that England had passed through the phase of prohibiting this
subject a generation before; and that to suppress serious and
disinterested opinion on anything so important was detrimental to human
progress. It respectfully urged the President to exert his powerful
influence in behalf of free speech and the betterment of the race. This
letter was invaluable by reason of its signatories—Lena Ashwell, William
Archer, Percy Ames, Aylmer Maude, M. C. Stopes, Arnold Bennett, Edward
Carpenter, Gilbert Murray, and H. G. Wells, whose name was news. If a
group of such eminence in England could afford to stand by me, then the
same kind of people here might be less timorous.
As public sentiment grew, telegrams and letters showered upon Judge
Clayton demanding the dismissal of the charges against me. He piled them
in wastebaskets and remarked in a bored tone to Mr. Content, “Take these
Sanger letters away.” That I was preparing to go to court undefended by
counsel was making the matter harder for them.
My radical allies were, according to their habit, collecting money for
my defense, but this had no effect on my private financial status. My
sister, Ethel, who was living with me, thought I ought to be considering
the matter. One day she said, “I’ve a good case for you. Wouldn’t you
like to take it?”
“What kind?”
“Maternity. She expects to be delivered in a day or two—probably a
Caesarian. She asked for me, but I’d rather you had it.”
“I’m not interested, thank you. I’ve given up nursing.”
“Well, Mrs. Sanger,” she remarked ironically, “would you mind telling me
what you’re going to do to earn your living?”
“I’m not interested in earning my living. I’ve cast myself upon the
universe and it will take care of me.”
She looked at me sadly and with worried apprehension.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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