Women -- Suffrage -- History; Women -- Suffrage -- United States -- History; Women's rights -- History; Women's rights -- United States -- History
State officers not named otherwise were Mrs. William L. Duggin, Mrs.
Alfred D. Warner, Mrs. Willard Morse, Mrs. Mary H. Thatcher, Miss
Elizabeth S. Gawthorp, Mrs. Mary Price Phillips, Mrs. Frederick L.
Steinlein, Mrs. R. Barclay Spicer, Mrs. Harry Hayward, Mrs. George
Newcombe, Miss Willabelle Shurter.
LEGISLATIVE ACTION, 1913. A bill to strike from the suffrage clause of
the State constitution the word "male" was for the first time
presented to the Legislature. It was introduced in the Senate January
7, by David J. Reinhardt; in the House by Albert I. Swan. The members
had been previously circularized by the corresponding secretary, Miss
Mary R. de Vou, announcing this action in the spirit of the age, in
the name of justice and democracy and for the credit of the State. On
February 26 a hearing was granted at a joint session, with the House
chamber crowded. Mrs. Cranston introduced the speakers, headed by Dr.
Anna Howard Shaw, national president. Miss Jeannette Rankin of
Montana, a field worker sent by the National Association, spent two
weeks in Dover, canvassing the legislators, assisted by members of the
State association. At the Senate hearing March 14 strong speeches were
made by Senators Reinhardt, John M. Walker, and a number of leading
women. Senators Zachary T. Harris and Dr. George W. Marshall worked
for the bill, which was endorsed by the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union, Ministerial Union, State Grange, Central Labor Union and
Socialist Party, but it was lost the same day by 11 noes, 6 ayes. The
bill was reported favorably by the House committee and Dr. John H.
Hammond declared that it was time to quit playing politics with it and
pass it but on March 19 it was defeated without debate by 23 noes, 8
ayes.
1915. A full suffrage bill was presented jointly by the State
association and the Congressional Union, introduced by Senator Harris
and Representative Frank M. Saulsbury. The Campaign Committee
representing the two associations and headed by Mrs. Florence Bayard
Hilles opened headquarters at Dover with Miss Mabel Vernon in charge.
Expenses of maintenance were paid by Mrs. George Day of Connecticut, a
member of the advisory council of the Union. A suffrage procession
headed by Mrs. Hilles and Mrs. Victor du Pont, Jr., marched to strains
of martial music from the station to headquarters on its opening day
early in January and gave the stately old capital a decided
innovation. Speaking followed from a gaily decorated automobile.
"Suffrage fliers" (motor cars) carrying able speakers and workers,
made whirlwind trips throughout the State. The anti-suffragists
organized as a committee, with Mrs. Henry B. Thompson chairman and
Mrs. David J. Reinhardt secretary.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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