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
After six months of work occurred the first political triumph of the
Congressional Union. On May 13, the Senate Committee voted to make a
favorable report upon the Suffrage resolution. There, however, matters
rested—with a favorable vote, but still in the Committee. The
Suffragists, however, besieged the Committee with requests to make the
report and finally, on June 13, the report was made to the Senate—the
first favorable one in twenty-one years. This put the measure on the
Senate Calendar.
Immediately the Congressional Union turned its attention to proving to
the Senate how widespread was the support of this measure in the United
States.
A petition was circulated in every State in the Union. It asked for the
passage of the Amendment, and was addressed to the Senate. Thousands of
signatures were obtained. During June and July, these petitions were
collected and brought to Washington. Their arrival at the Capitol on
July 31 was the occasion of the third great demonstration. The
petitioners came from every State, and they came in every possible way.
They came by train, by motor, by caravan. They held meetings and
collected signatures to the great petition in the districts through
which they passed. All the delegations converged in the little town of
Hyattsville, outside Washington. There—at the village grandstand, they
were met by members of the Congressional Union and of the Woman Suffrage
Committee of the Senate. The reading clerk of the House of
Representatives announced the members of the delegations as they arrived
in their several motors. Members of the Senate Committee addressed them
on behalf of the Congressional Committee of the Congressional Union. The
Mayor of Hyattsville delivered to them the key of the town. Mary Ware
Dennett replied for the delegates, and accepted the key of the town from
the Mayor. The automobiles then formed into a procession, of which the
first motor carried the members of the Senate Committee. The long line
of cars, fluttering flags, and pennants, and each bearing the banner of
its State delegation, proceeded from Hyattsville along the old Bunker
Hill Road to the Capitol. There, the petitions were handed to the
various Senators. Three Senators spoke against Suffrage, but twenty-two
in presenting the petitions spoke in favor of it.
This was the second triumph of the Congressional Union. Suffrage was
debated in Congress—the first time since 1887.
* * * * *
The Congressional Committee now turned its attention to the work of
convincing Congress of the interest in the Amendment of the women voters
of the West. A Convention of the National Council of Women Voters was
held in Washington on August 13, 14, and 15. Emma Smith Devoe, National
President of the Council, and Jane Addams, National Vice-President,
presided. Upon a motion by Jane Addams, the Council passed the following
Resolution, strongly indorsing the Amendment:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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