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
“You speak very well for yourself,” said the President, laughing.
“But not with authority,” said Dr. Shaw earnestly.
The deputation then left the President’s Office.
Editorially in the _Suffragist_ of December 13 appears:
The rule that President Wilson has so strictly set for himself, is a
rule not laid down in the Constitution nor in the practice of
preceding Presidents, nor in the President’s own acts, nor in his
own words.
Nevertheless, the statement of President Wilson to the President of
the National American Woman Suffrage Association is of great value
to the Suffrage movement. The President therein declares that he is
only the spokesman of his Party and that he will initiate only
legislation which has been endorsed by his Party. He puts the whole
question of Federal legislation for Woman Suffrage directly up to
the Democratic Party in Congress, and instructs Suffragists
throughout the country to hold that Party responsible for the fate
of the Constitutional Amendment enfranchising women. He has outlined
for us, therefore, the policy of bringing effective pressure to bear
on the national Democratic Party from all parts of the country, in
an effort to make them realize soon what they must recognize
finally, that it is more expedient for them as a Party to advocate
Suffrage than to ignore and resist it.
Nevertheless, the President’s education had progressed another step. For
the first time, he felt the necessity of explaining—and by
implication—of excusing himself.
This visit to the President completed the principal work of the year
1913 on the part of the Congressional Committee and the Congressional
Union.
Many things had been done in this year, in addition to what has already
been indicated. A district of Columbia Branch of the Men’s League for
Woman Suffrage was organized; this was composed largely of Congressmen.
Lectures, receptions, tableaux, benefits, teas had been given, and a
Suffrage School opened in Washington. Seven large mass-meetings,
exclusive of Convention meetings, were held at Washington. An
uninterrupted series of indoor and outdoor meetings, numbering
frequently from five to ten a day, constantly reminded Congress of the
Suffrage question. A summer campaign, carried on by Mabel Vernon and
Edith Marsden, covered the resort regions of New Jersey, Long Island,
and Rhode Island, and extended into the South.
Twenty-seven thousand dollars had been raised at the Washington
Headquarters, and spent. And there were results. The chief one was that
it focussed the attention—not only of Suffragists themselves—but of
politicians and the country at large on the Federal Amendment.
June, 1913, brought Presidential Suffrage to the women of Illinois. Only
Presidential Suffrage; but that was very important. Astute women
everywhere were watching the situation; drawing their own and
independent conclusions.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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