The Story of the Woman's PartyGillmore, Inez Haynes
History
The Story of the Woman's Party
Gillmore, Inez Haynes
National Woman's Party; Paul, Alice, 1885-1977; Women -- Suffrage -- United States
The Congressional Committee gave him time to give the subject this
careful attention, and then a second deputation waited on the President
on March 28 to furnish him with the information he lacked. This
deputation was led by Elsie Hill, and it represented the College Equal
Suffrage League. The President replied to their remarks that this
session of Congress would be so occupied with the tariff and the
currency that the Suffrage measure could not be considered.
A third deputation waited on the President on March 31. It was led by
Dr. Cora Smith King, and it was composed of influential members of the
National Council of Women Voters. This delegation told the President
that the women voters, who numbered approximately two million, were much
interested in the proposed Suffrage Amendment. They also asked him to
recommend it in his message. His reply to them was the same as to the
college women: that this special session would be so occupied with the
tariff and currency that the Suffrage measure could not be considered.
In the meantime, the Congressional Committee had notified Suffragists
all over the United States that a Suffrage Amendment would be introduced
in this special session of Congress; asking them to urge the President
to indorse Suffrage in his forthcoming message; and to request their
Representative in Congress to support Suffrage when it was introduced.
Letters poured into Washington from the remotest corners of the country.
This was the beginning of that intimacy which the Congressional
Committee—afterwards the Congressional Union, afterwards the National
Woman’s Party—established with its sympathizers and members all over the
country. In the nature of things—the political situation being
changeable, and demanding always subtle, delicate, and often swift and
decisive handling—the actual work at Washington had to be planned and
executed by a limited number. But those few must be able, forceful, and
swiftly executive spirits. Their adherents all over the country were
however kept as closely and constantly as possible in touch with that
changing situation.
In addition, the Congressional Committee did all possible preliminary
work with the incoming members of this Congress. The result on the
Progressive members was encouraging. Although there was a Woman Suffrage
Committee in the Senate, there was none in the House. Thitherto, the
Suffrage question had been sent to the Judiciary Committee, the
graveyard of the House. As a result of the work of the Congressional
Committee, the Progressive Caucus, which met before the new Congress
assembled, gave its unqualified indorsement to the proposal to create a
Woman Suffrage Committee in the House. The Congressional Committee
canvassed the Democratic members of the House and urged them to take
similar action. The Democratic Caucus, however, entirely ignored the
question.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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