Women -- Suffrage -- History; Women -- Suffrage -- United States -- History; Women's rights -- History; Women's rights -- United States -- History
Press work was again under the direction of Mrs. Boyer who was the
adviser and right hand of Mrs. Farrell, giving unstintedly of her
large experience. Mrs. Henry G. Sherrard was chairman of literature
and Mrs. Myron B. Vorce of political work. Dr. Haines supervised
eleven counties, which gave 15,000 majority. Mrs. Boyer said of Mrs.
Brotherton: "Her faith, devotion and work extended through three
campaigns and she was one of those who could remain steadfast through
the sowing until the reaping time." Mrs. Russell, the State
vice-president, was a recognized force. Mrs. E. L. Caulkins, president
of the W. C. T. U., devoted its full organization to the amendment,
especially to the petitions and at the polls on election day. The most
telling feature of the campaign was the petition under the direction
of Mrs. Emerson B. Davis of Detroit, signed by more than 202,000 women
over twenty-one years old and addressed to voters, urging them to vote
"yes" on the referendum. The work was finished in October and
interesting uses were made of the names. Those in Grand Rapids were
published in the daily papers of that city from day to day; in Saginaw
they were hung as a frieze on the walls of the woman's section at the
State Fair; in other places they were exhibited in store windows. Mrs.
Catt had stipulated for this petition because of its educational value
and its influence on the voters and the public. The work was done by
volunteers.
Few campaigns ever had so much help from organizations outside of
those for suffrage, among them were the W. C. T. U., Federation of
Women's Clubs, State Grange, State Farmers' Clubs, Gleaners, American
Federation of Labor, Anti-Saloon League, and Woman's Committee of the
Council of National Defense. The Men's League was an important factor.
The clergy almost as a unit gave generous endorsement and constant
help. The support of the press was nearly unanimous, many papers
refusing pay for space from the "antis."
Most valuable assistance came from the two great fraternal insurance
organizations of women, Ladies of the Maccabees and the Women's
Benefit Association of the Maccabees, Miss Bina M. West supreme
commander, which had had the experience of having to defeat two
referenda aimed at crippling their form of insurance. Partly for this
reason they were especially interested in securing the franchise for
women. The Ladies of the Maccabees confined their work mainly to the
women in their own large organization. The Women's Benefit Association
assumed the responsibility of organizing six congressional districts.
They financed their own work entirely, using their own skilled
organizers whenever it was necessary, especially in the Upper
Peninsula, where no other workers were sent. The story of Mrs. Locke
and Mrs. Droelle reads like that of the pioneers in the far western
countries. This contribution, if measured in dollars, would have
represented many thousands.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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