NAWSA General Correspondence Shaw, Anna Howard 1888-1914 Evanston, Ill., July 18 1888 My dear Mrs Stone This mornings mail brought your letter, and as there is so much that is undecided in regard to the month of October I cannot say positively for a few days just what time I will have to spare that month, but I will give you the dates I am now positive about, and it may be that they would suit you, and when I have definitely I will let you know of others. I go to Michigan August 8th and have a continuous succession of engagements until the 20th Sept. I could give you [that] the time until the 23d positively, and I think I can have the week beginning with the 23d. I am to be in Ohio at the State convention of the W.C.T.U. the 10th & 11th Oct. and am to be one of the speakers at the Ohio Centennial at Columbus Oct 12th which is the W.C.T.U. day and I have been asked to speak on woman Suffrage. It is expected to be one of the big days of the Centennial. General Fisk, Col. Baine, & Mrs. Woodbridge are to be there to talk on temperance. I was glad to have the invitation to talk on Suffrage. We are becoming so popular that they want Suffrage talked everywhere. The W.C.T.U. will hold their annual meeting at Columbus. Do you think it would be a good time to hold our annual Convention at Cincinnati immediately following the 12th Oct.? I could then go right from Columbus to Cincinnati. I will have from the 12th till the midnight of the 17th as July 23 / 88 [1888] 3 National Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Franchise Department. Supt., REV. ANNIE H. SHAW, Evanston, Ill. Sec., CORNELIA MARSH, 3 Park Street, Boston Mass. Lecturers, MRS. ZERELDA G. WALLACE, Cataract, Owen Co., Ind. MRS. ELIZABETH BOYNTON HARBERT, Evanston, Ill. Evanston, Ill., 188 we expect the Annual convention of the National W.C.T.U. to begin in New York Oct 19th. I could go right from Cincinnati to New York. That plan would be the best for me, but of course I want the best plan for you and the meeting. I now have those two dates, it may be I will have the first week in Oct, but do not know yet. I now have, then, from the 19th to the 23d Sept., and from the 12th to the 18th Oct. and you can have either I wish however you would let me know as soon as possible as the Ohio people will arrange for meetings for me for the October dates if I can give them to them. Women speakers are in great demand these days for great days. I had five invitations to deliver the 4th of July address at large public gatherings, I accepted he first one which was not so large an affair as others, but gave me a good chance to talk to 1200. country people at an out door meeting. I enjoyed it and like a country audience better than a city one, for they are far more thoughtful and have less to take their mind from the subject in hand. I spoke at an out door meeting here in Evanston last Sunday, on the shore of the great Lake in a beautiful grove. It was the opening of the meetings under the auspices of the W.C.T.U. Miss Welland presided and we had a good audience. Last week at Lake Bluff I had an hour and took the time to impress upon the temperance women who were gathered there, that further yielding on the part of women of their demand for suffrage, while some other reform was pressed to the front, was no longer a victory, but imbecile. One of the temperance women got up and asked if I intended to say that woman suffrage was of more importance than prohibition? I replied yes, a hundred times more. Oh she said some of us would do anything for prohibition would give life itself. I replied better keep your life and vote for it, and at the same time for a hundred other needed reforms, I was taken to task afterward as that is the great temperance place. but Frances Willard and Miss West said "you did just right and I am glad you made it so strong". I closed by saying ladies I have registered a vow that I will from this time forth never work for any political party, never give one dollar to any religious body, home or foreign, never listen Sunday after Sunday to the preaching of any man, never given one ounce of my strength of body, or purse, or mind, or heart to any cause which opposes the best interests of women. Now call me a lunatic, but whatever that makes me, such I shall from henceforth remain. Poor Miss Wilde is so alone now I am glad she has her sister to care for and take up her thought and time. I hope Miss Turner is better and stronger. With much love to your household I am sincerely yours. Annie H. Shaw. [Anna Shaw] April 18 1906 Dear Miss Blackwell We need an Alice Blackwell from this home to answer the articles which appear against us. I wish you could come Mrs. Gordon & Dr [Jeffrie?] agree with me and I feel you are needed every day. Mrs [Bruger?] is doing her part splendidly and will do it but one with a ready pen and quick knowledge of facts is greatly needed. If I telegraph will you not come at once? The papers are full of letters and we need you here on [*I am dead tired have been at work every day from 5 a.m. till nearly midnight.*] The spat. Dear Miss Blackwell conditions in headquarters are fearful I have not written because it has been impossible to know what to say but I am blocking out a BC letter to send in a few days. If I telegraph can you not come If we miss we have a fearful fight beyond us. The Southern Pacific RR has joined with the Liquor men & money is pouring in. We have tried for THE PORTLAND Portland, Oregon M.C. Bowers Manager Judge Lindsey, [?] & Adams of Colorado & can get none of them. Mrs Bradford is here speaks tougher at Nina and so on into the state. The news from San Francisco is appaling I have wired our friends but can get no news. Do not wait a day after you get my telegram if you can come Mrs Bryer would welcome some help Faithfully Anna H Shaw will say this Miss Greg is neither physically nor mentally fitted for the place. By [una]the unan- imous vote of the four members of the B.C. Miss Mary Anthony acting for Miss Susan. Clay, Evedora[?] & Jeffries the office was placed in my hands on my arrival. I telegraphed for Lucy and she is a Godsend. Please do not say any thing to any one of this until we decide as a whole B.C. what to do. The thing I am anxious about now is for you to come and write letters for us all to sign. [?] [?] COPY National American Women Suffrage Association Moylan, Pa., May 28, 1908. Mrs. Maud Wood Park, 42 West Cedar Street, Boston, Mass. My dear Mrs. Park: -- My delay in looking over your suggestions for a circular letter colleges and branches is the rush of work which I have been obliged to do in order to be able to get away tomorrow. I am very sorry that my delay has caused you some uneasiness, because I know how anxious you must be to get the report out. I want to express my satisfaction of the fact that your plans which have compelled you to stay at home at least make it possible for you to do some organizing work in the Fall, for college leagues, and to be present at the Convention. It would be so much better for the college work if you can go back over as much of the ground as you followed coming East, because you know conditions and people, and will be better able to select the workers and those who should take charge, than any stranger would, and so I feel it is a great advantage to have you do this, and I hope you will be well enough to follow it out. Miss Thomas came to take dinner with me Sunday two weeks ago, and we talked over college work together, and while I have a great admiration for Miss Lexow, and think she is a most enthusiastic and excellent worker, still I do not think she is fitted to take hold of the work this Fall, which will need to be done in connection with securing a good representation of college women at the Buffalo Convention, nor do I think she is well enough informed in regard to the work of organizing, nor well enough acquainted with the suffragists and those who would be willing to help arrange meetings. Of course, at the Mrs. Maud Wood Park, 2 -- time that I talked with Miss Thomas it was expected that you would not remain in the country, and so I suggested Miss Millis, who has been organizing for years, a Cornell graduate and is perfectly familiar with the method of arranging meetings, knows the work and the workers, be associated with Miss Lexow in this work. Miss Thomas agreed to it, provided we were able to get Miss Mills to give up her New York work and take up the college work, but as the college work can only be done about six months of the year that would leave Miss Mills four or five months for work in New York State, if she wished to continue it. When I asked her about it she hesitated on the ground of not wishing to give up the work in New York State, as she had her hand on it, but I thought she could combine the two things, provided she could get a good worker in New York, and I am recommending to her the young woman whom Mrs. Fitzgerald recommended to me. I have read your circular letter over carefully, and the only point to which I would raise any objection is the one in which you say "The expenses of one delegate from each state west of New York, will probably be me by the National Suffrage Association, if beyond the means of the branch or delegate appointed." Now that would depend entirely on how many of these branches there are and how many states send delegates. If you mean by that the states only in which branches are now organized, I think it could be done, but I do not think the National could pay the expenses from every state West of New York, if a delegate should come. Miss Thomas is, as you may know, about to arrange the programme for the College evening and she expects to secure some speakers who will have to be paid. The National Association will pay the expenses of these speakers, and Miss Thomas seemed to feel that altogether the expenses would not exceed over $700.00. I think the National Association would not object to voting a thousand dollars for all expenses connected with the College meeting and the expenses of delegates, etc., Mrs. Maud Wood Park, 3 -- but it seems to me that would be as much as could be apportioned for that one meeting. Of course, it is intended by the National Association to pay the organizers and the organizers' secretaries salaries in addition to the expenses of the meeting. I have not made a copy of the circular which you sent me but have filled in the very slight detail in regard to the meeting in Buffalo, because, of course, our programme is not yet arranged. We are to have an excursion to Niagara Falls and several functions, the number and places for which has not yet been definitely settled. I regret so much to learn of your illness, but I do hope you are better by this time. To tell the truth, I am going away to hunt up some nerves? Mine are pretty much wrecked just now and I need the change. I hope to come back strong and well in the Fall. I need not say how glad I am for the work you did last winter, and although you may not feel that you accomplished as much as you expected, you must remember that it is pioneer work and that it will count for more later than it does now. With sincere regards, Faithfully, (signed) ANNA H. SHAW National American Woman Suffrage Association (Member National Council of Women and International Woman Suffrage Alliance) NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS Warren, Ohio President, Rev. Anna Howard Shaw, Moylan, Pa. First Vice President, Rachel Foster Avery, Swarthmore, Pa. Second Vice President, Florence Kelley, 105 East 22nd Street, New York City. Corresponding Secretary, Kate M. Gordon, 1800 Prytania Street, New Orleans, La. Recording Secretary, Alice Stone Blackwell, 6 Beacon Street, Boston, Mass. Treasurer, Harriet Taylor Upton, Warren, Ohio. Auditors: { Laura Clay, 189 N. Mill St., Lexington, Ky. Ella S. Stewart, 5464 Jeffeson Ave., Chicago, Ill. Moylan, Penna., Jan. 6, 1909. Mr. Henry B. Blackwell, 6 Beacon St., Boston, Mass. My dear Mr. Blackwell:- I received your communication in regard to Presidential Suffrage sometime since, but have been so occupied with absolutely necessary correspondence that I have not had an opportunity to reply. Of course, I know it is unnecessary for me to tell you that I have never been in full sympathy with the plan to secure Presidential Suffrage. In the first place, I do not believe there is a Legislature in the United States which would grant it under any circumstances. In the second place, I believe if it were granted it would be the greatest stumbling block in the way of securing full suffrage, and it is the one question in which, to my mind, the women of this country, except on partisan lines, would be least interested in[struckthrough], and it would create more confusion and discord than any other form of suffrage. It is because I believe on the whole that Presidential Suffrage, if secured, would be injurious to our cause that I have never advocated it. I do not think the case you quote of Australia is a good one for our country, because is Australia all of the other States, except Victoria, had state and municipal suffrage as well as parliamentary suffrage, and there could not be the same objection raised against the extension of Parliamentary[crossed out] State[handwritten] suffrage in a State where Parliamentary[handwritten] State[crossed out] and municipal sufffrage[sic] already existed as there would be in a country where no form of suffrage existed 2-- H.B.B. in most States. However, although I have not advocated the measure and I do not believe it is a wise one, so long as our National Association continues to appoint a committee it is the right and duty of that committee to carry on its work. I only wish we had your interest and cooperation in some other lines of work which, to me, appear much more desirable than that of Presidential Suffrage. The part of your plan urging the election of members of the Legislature committed to woman suffrage is in line with the work of our Association, which is urged by all of its officers and practiced in many of the States and we cannot have too much help in this direction. I do not believe, however, that men will ever generally cooperate with us except through organizations of their own. However, everything helps and I am very glad whenever any plan is suggested to include the cooperation and genuine assistance of men, although I find even among those who are presumably the most loyal to our cause some who are ever ready to put us and our interests in the background while they advocate some measure of their own, promising us assistance in the future,- which future, however, is always postponed for some other needed measure which springs up in the mean time. Until women themselves make their cry loud enough to be heard, men will never do very much to help them. Still again I say, I am thankful that you are urging the cooperation of men in our work. Wishing you success, I am Sincerely, [signed] Anna H Shaw Dic. Anna H Shaw Anna H. Shaw D H B Blackwell (Presidential Suffrage) [?], [?] Jan 6, 1909. My Dear Mr. Blackwell I received you communication in re- gard to Presidential Suffrage sometime since, but have been so occupied with absolutely necessary correspondence that I have not had an opportunity to reply. Of course, I know it is not unnecessary for me to tell you that I have never been in full sympathy with the plan to secure Presidential Suffrage. In the first place, I do not believe there is a legislation in the United States which would grant in under any circumstances. In the second place, I believe if it were granted it would be the greatest stumbling block in the way of securing full suffrage, and it is the one question in which, to my mind, the women of this country, except on partisan lines, would be least interested, and it would create more confusion and discord than any other form of suffrage. It is because I believe on the whole that Presidential Suffrage, if secured, would be injurious to our cause that I have never ad- vocated it. I do not think the case you quote of Australia a good one for our country, because in Australia all of the other states, except Victoria had state and municipal suffrage as well as parliamentary suffrage, and there could not be the same objection raised against the extension of State suffrage in a State where Parliamentary and municipal suffrage already existed as there would be in a country where no form of suffrage existed, as in most States. However, although I have no advocated the measure and I do not believ it is a wise one, so long as our National Association continues to appoint a committee it is the right and duty of that committee to carry on its work. I only wish I had your interest and cooperation in some other lines of work which, to me, appear much more desirable that that of Presidential suffrage. . . . . . . . Sincerely, Anna H. Shaw NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION MEMBER OF INTERNATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE ALLIANCE AND OF NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN PRESIDENT ANNA HOWARD SHAW, MOYLAN, PA. 1ST VICE PRESIDENT, CATHERINE WAUGH MCCULLOCH EVANSTON, ILLS. 2ND VICE PRESIDENT, KATE M. GORDON. 1800 PRYTANIA STREET, NEW ORLEANS, LA. CORRESPONDING SECRETARY, MARY WARE DENNETT. 505 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK CITY RECORDING SECRETARY, ELLA S. STEWART. 5464 JEFFERSON AVENUE, CHICAGO, ILLS. TREASURER, JESSIE ASHLEY. 505 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK CITY. AUDITORS} LAURA CLAY, 189 NORTH MILL STREET, LEXINGTON, KY. ALICE STONE BLACKWELL, 6 BEACON STREET, BOSTON, MA. CHAIRMAN PRESS COMMITTEE, IDA HUSTED HARPER. 505 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK CITY AUXILIARIES COLLEGE EQUAL SUFFRAGE LEAGUE PRESIDENT, MISS M. CAREY THOMAS, BRYN MAWR, PA. FRIENDS EQUAL RIGHTS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT, MARY BENTLY THOMAS, ENDOR, MARYLAND AFFILIATED SOCIETY THE EQUAL FRANCHISE SOCIETY PRESIDENT MRS. MACKAY, 1 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK TELEPHONE 4990 MURRAY HILL [handwritten] Please return MCS Maud C. Stockwell NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, 505 FIFTH AVE. NEW YORK December 1st. 1910. My dear State President:- On my return from the Campaign in South Dakota I found a communication purporting to be a resolution passed by the Convention of the Minnesota Woman Suffrage Association on October 25th, 1910. The statement that a copy was sent to each officer of the National Association, and to each State Association, prompts me to reply, although we are so busy in the active work of the new year that there is little time for anything which does not requite active up-building service. It is to be regretted that the Minnesota State Convention was not more correctly informed in regard to the action which took place at the National Convention, before sending its resolution had it been it would not have made the misstatements which appear in the document which lies before me. First permit me to call your attention to these several points of misstatement of facts and to show that the motion referred to as having been made by "a member from the floor" was in itself wholly out of order. The lady stated that she arose to a question of privilege and then proceeded to make a motion to bring up a special order of business. 1. To make a motion to bring up a special business is not a question of privilege. 2. The motion, which was not a question of privilege, was made in the midst of the correction of the minutes when a motion upon a point recording an incident which occurred at a public meeting of the previous day was under discussion. 3. The matter contained in the official minutes did not pertain to the subject under discussion, as stated by the Minnesota resolution, and it was distinctly point out at the time by the Chair that the question under discussion was whether or not a record should be made of a subject injected before an address at a public meeting the previous day, especially when the speaker stated that it was out of order and should not be presented at that meeting. The subject matter was not under discussion, the only point at issue -2- was whether or not a minute should be made of the incident. The Chair distinctly stated that the question had to do only with the record and not with the subject matter, and that there was nothing to prevent any member bringing the subject up at the proper time, but not while the minutes of the previous meeting were being corrected and adopted. 4. The meeting at which the discussion in regard to the adoption of the minutes took place was not a purely business meeting of the Association but at a public meeting of the Convention to which the general public had been previously invited. 5. While it may, under certain circumstances, be true that a particular action of the Official Board Meeting held five months previously might affect a question before a business session of the Convention, it could not be true that it could affect the question of recording an incident which occurred five months later, especially upon a point which the person who made it did not demand action, and which was not acted upon by the Convention at the time. 6. The Chair ruled that the minutes of the Official Board did not belong to a convention; but she stated later, in response to a question from the floor, that a report upon any action of the Official Board may be called for by a majority voted at a business session of the Convention. The ruling was made by the Chair at a public meeting of the Convention in Washington, in accordance with her best judgment of correct parliamentary procedure. If, however, any Delegate dissented from the Chair, it was her privilege and her duty to appeal from the Chair to the Convention. No such appeal was taken. The fact that the President of the Minnesota Suffrage Association and her Delegates were all present, and none of them made an appeal, lays the onus of the failure upon them, since they felt the ruling was wrong, and not upon the Chair who ruled according to her belief of what was and is correct. The President expects to preside at the next session of the National Convention and as at the last and at all precious Conventions over which she has the honor of presiding, she intends to follow, as far as she understands it, correct parliamentary procedure, and she begs the members of the Convention, that if, in their judgement, her rulings are incorrect, they will act up to their privilege and their duty to both the Chair and the Association, and at the time take their appeal to the Convention. This is the only correct and loyal action of Delegates to any Convention, and if any member fails of her duty she most hold herself, and not the Chair, responsible for her failure to act. Faithfully yours, [signed] Anna H. Shaw [handwritten, second page, lower left corner] See statement of Harriet Martin Jue, 1910 which she has had the honor of presiding, she intends to follow, as far as she April 29th. 1912 Mrs. Carolyn C. Holcombe, 21 Follen Street, Cambridge, Mass. My dear Mrs. Holcombe:- I see no reason why I should not send this letter to you because if this woman is trying to make trouble she ought to be stopped. I will send her a note stating that I have nothing to do with local affairs and certainly will not concern myself with local quarrels and that I have sent her letter on to you. Yes, I got along all right and reached Utica and had a splendid meeting there. I went home to Moylan on Saturday night and left this morning. I had a beautiful day there yesterday, everything is glorious. I don't see how it could well be otherwise, this wonderfully late spring is holding things back and when they come out they do so all at once. We have some apple and pear trees and a few peaches, all in bloom, and the strawberries are doing their best to look as if they were going to do something. I had a beautiful day of Sunday worship yesterday timing off my rose bushes and rejoicing in every evidence I saw of a flower. I wish you were going to be in the Parade. Come on and h(w)eel your baby carriage. By the way I cannot find the address of the women who wrote the letter so I won't be able to answer it. Affectionately, Anna H. Shaw (?) Encl. (COPY) Princeton University. March 4th, 1914. Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, New York City. Dear Madam:- On March 27 will be held the annual debate between Harvard and Princeton. The subject this year is Woman Suffrage. We of the Princeton team would appreciate very much your help in formulating our case. The situation that confronts us in this; we have plenty of material or the general subject, and on the general practical results. But we wish to carry the subject right into the enemy's camp by discussing the specific situation in Massachusetts. Unfortunately we are handicapped by not having access direct to the laws, court rulings, and general social and economic and educational situation in that state. Could we depend on you to direct us to the material for this part of the debate? We should appreciate ever so much your help in this matter. We feel the seriousness of our tack, as well as its difficulty: Harvard men are worthy foes, especially at home. We are conceited enough to feel that this debate is of vital importance to the women suffrage movement. Hence we would be very grateful indeed if the material were forwarded as soon as possible. Thanking you for your interest, and with best of wishes, I am Sincerely yours, (Signed) C. F. Taeusch, 53 N. Witherspoon Street, Princeton, N. J. Miss Rosamond Danielson, Putnam Heights, Putnam, Conn. My dear Miss Danielson:- In the multitude of letters which I have written since I have been lying prone with my broken ankle, I feel that I may not have answered yours of February 13th. I have it in mind that I have written to you, but I am not quite sure, an for fear I have not, I wish to speak of one or two points in your letter/ First, in regard to the admission of the Congressional Union into auxiliaryship of any so with the National Association. The responsibility for the admission of any society as an auxiliary member of the National Association, lies with the Executive Council of the National Association. The Executive Council is composed of two members from each state society; the president and one other, and two members of other affiliated associations. It requires a two-third vote of the Executive Council, to admit a society as an auxiliary. You state in your letter that "before the Executive Committee had voted on the re-admission of the Union, the National Board gave out statements to the effect that the Congressional Union was in no way connected with the National." It was absolutely essential that the National Board should make such a statement for, if the Congressional Union has affiliated with the National Association, then it could not be voted as an auxiliary member. It was never asked to withdraw by the National Association. Its withdrawal was a voluntary act. Between the time of its withdrawal was a voluntary act. Between the time of its withdrawal as an affiliated society, and the time of its acceptance or rejection by the Executive Council of the National Association, it could have no connection whatever with the National Association, and whatever its acts, the National Association can be in no way held responsible for them any more than it is now held responsible for its recent acts. I agree with you that it is deplorable that there should be a split in the suffrage ranks, and had Miss Burns accepted the chairmanship of the Congressional Committee or Miss Paul and Miss Burns accepted a position on the antagonistic to and opposed to the established policy of the National Association, there would have been no split. You state that "it is no more inconsistent that the National Congressional Committee should seek votes for women by one plan and the Congressional Union by another, than that I should adopt the policy of passive resistance to the income tax, when many members of the National do not." In the first place, I have not adopted the policy of passive resistance to the income tax, nor have I ever written or asked anybody else to do so. In fact the income tax does not concern me one way or another. When a women holds the position of president of the National Suffrage Association which does not carry with it any salary, she need have very little fear of the income tax. In fact I should be very happy if my income required that I should pay an income tax. What I do as an individual is one thing. What the National Association does as an association is another thing, and anything which I may do individually, does not implicate the National Association as an association even if I passively resist the income tax; but what the Congressional Union might do as an organized part of the National Association would affect the National Association. If you and the other suffragists who have made claims of my refusing to pay an income tax or possibly resist an income tax, had read carefully what I stated, you would see that I had done nothing of the sort. All I did was to refuse to make out a list of my personal possessions for the purpose of being assessed a personal property tax. I simply said to the assessor. "Here is what I possess. I decline to assist the Government to lay a tax upon me." In doing that I violated no law because the law reads, "that if the person to be assessed declines to fill out a list of personal possessions, the assessor is entitles to make such a list." I did not in any way interfere with him in making out the list. Evidently I look prosperous since he has assessed me about ten times the amount I am worth. There is no more comparison between my declining to make out a list of my personal property in order that I might be taxed, so long as I am refused representation in the Government, and the partisan attitude of attacking suffrage friends or foes because of their partisanship, than there is between a person who says to the Government, 'you are unjust and unfair in compelling me to support a Government, and refusing to give me a voice in shaping the conditions under which I must live,' and another person who takes a gun and threatens to shoot the assessor if he comes on the premise to estimate the value of the property. I put nothing in the way of the Government making its own estimate. I only declined to assist the Government in defrauding me. If the Government insists on picking my pocket, I decline to put my hands into my pocket and hand out whatever happens to be there, for the benefit of the Government. It must do its own picking. Your communication of June 27th. is at hand, in regard to your protest against the chart appearing in the back of the Proceedings of the National Convention., for 1913. I agree with you fully that the information it contains, in no sense demonstrates the actual strength of the various suffrage organizations, etc. It is not a credit to the suffrage associations of our country. But, when the National Convention requires that the Minutes of the Association shall be printed and that reports from the various States shall be read at the Convention, it is not optional with the officers of the association to say whether or not these reports shall be given. Three years ago, the reports read at the Convention were, in no sense reports. They put us to shame when printed. The printing cost as great deal of money and what we learned was, who held the meeting, who offered the prayer, who gave tea, and who passed the cups - and yet we were requested by the Association to print the reports. The Constitution at that time forbade any -2- Mrs. Boyer, change of these reports. Now, in order that there might be a report which was a report of the actual things that people want to know, a questionnaire was sent out last year to every auxiliary and affiliated association. In many instances three letters were written to every State Association which did not respond. It took from two to three letters to get answers from every State society, When these answers came, it was not a question of whether they were credible or not, they were supposed to be the answers which the States themselves wished to have go into the Minutes. There was no change made in any one of them and, if the Association wants to print the reports from the States, and if an effort is made to condense these reports in a form which will be of real value, and answer the questions which are constantly asked and the States refuse to answer, those who refuse to give their statistics, those who make no effort whatever to help furnish the information which is necessary, are hardly in a position to criticize either the statistics or the publication. If to advertise the real truth in regard to our organizations, which you say is to show our weakness numerically or financially or in activity or the result of our work, is of doubtful advantage, then just exactly what are we to publish in the minutes, if we can neither publish the numerical or financial condition of our societies, or their activities, or the result of their year's work, what will the minutes contain! Now the fault is not in publishing the chart in the Minutes, the fault is in the State officials, who either send in careless answers or who are too indifferent to send in any answers at all. Personally, I think it would be better not to publish any of these things in the Minutes but, since the Convention orders it done, and since these are the returns sent in, if the Minutes are to be published, they must be published according to the returns. I am not criticizing you criticism. I fully agree with you in the main points, that they are a discredit to our Association, but they are a discredit because of the inertia and the indifference of the very people who wish to have the Minutes published and who are not willing to give the information that is necessary to make them worth published. I hope the Southern Conference work is progressing and that you are gathering the thread ends together. At our Hearing last Saturday, arranged by Mrs. Medill McCormick, the chairman of our Congressional Committee, at which time Miss Addams, Mrs. Breckinridge and I appeared before the Vice-President of the United States, and before Mr. Champ Clark, the Speaker of the House, and members of the different committees, we, at least, accomplished one thing, and that was in getting the statement from Mr. Clark that "suffrage is coming very soon in the United States, as sure as the sun would rise tomorrow", also that he would vote for the amendment -3- Mrs. Boyer, when it came up in his State, although he is opposed to the Federal Amendment, but, when the question came up in the State of Missouri, he would vote for it. Now it happens that on last Saturday, the women of Missouri were filing with the Secretary of State the initiative petition, as they had secured a sufficient number of names, a telegram to which effect had be received by me the day before. After Mr. Clark made that statement I said "This is a very opportune moment for you to make your pledge, because at this very hour the women of Missouri are filing with the Secretary of State and initiative petition and the amendment will be voted upon this year, when you will have an opportunity to keep your pledge to the women of the State". He was very surprised and asked if they had secured the names and then said that he was very glad. Just as I am dictating this, our press secretary comes in with the announcement that the morning papers state that the Louisiana bill got a majority in the House, and although you need a two-thirds majority and it failed to carry, nevertheless a majority is a good step beyond anything you have yet had. Please convey my congratulations to Miss Gordon. Faithfully yours, [signed] Anna Howard Shaw NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION Branch of International Woman Suffrage Alliance and National Council of Women President 3rd Vice-President Treasurer Anna Howard Shaw Caroline Ruutz-Rees Katharine Dexter McCormick Moylan, Pa. Greenwich, Conn. 505 Fifth Avenue, New York 1st Vice-President Recording Secretary 1st Auditor Jane Addams Susan W. FitzGerald Mrs. James Lees Laidlaw Hull House, Chicago, Ill. 7 Greenough Ave., Jamaica Plain, Mass. 6 E 66th St, NY 2nd Vice-President Corresponding Secretary 2nd Auditor Mrs. Desha Breckinridge Mary Ware Dennett Mrs. Joseph Tilton Bowen Lexington, Ky. 505 Fifth Avenue, New York 1430 Astor Street, Chicago, Ill. ___________ ___________ NATIONAL AFFILIATED SOCIETIES Publishing and Sales Department College Equal Suffrage League Press and Information Bureau M. Carey Thomas, President 505 Fifth Avenue, New York ___________ The Equal Franchise Society CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE Mrs. Howard Mansfield, President 535 Park Avenue, New York Chairman, Mrs. Medill McCormick Friends Equal Rights Association Headquarters, Mrs. Ellen H.E. Price, President Munsey Building, Washington, D.C. 3316 Arch St., Philadelphia, Pa. NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS Telephone, 4818 Murray Hill 505 FIFTH AVENUE, New York My dear Mrs. McCormick: Your telegram has just come. A copy of the Board Minutes was mailed to you about a couple of hours before your telegram arrived. Unfortunately, it did not have a special delivery stamp, but I hope will reach you all right. Mrs. Stanley McCormick wrote to several women, among whom is Mrs. Kellogg Fairbanks, of Lake Geneva, Wisc., asking them to become members of the Campaign Fund Finance Committee. Mrs. McCormick gave the list to her secretary, Mrs. Murray, to whom the replies were to come, and I do not know who have or who have not accepted. I will write Mrs. Murray and ask her to send at once to you the list of those to whom Mrs. Stanley McCormick wrote, and also the names of any who may have accepted. I am enclosing a copy of my letter to the President. I thought I sent you one at the time I wrote it, but evidently I sent it to Mrs. Funk in Washington. It appeared in all the New York papers, several of the Philadelphia papers, and Mrs. Funk said in the Washington papers as well so I hope it got some notice. Before I sent it out, I telegraphed to Miss Addams and to Mrs. Bowen and got their consent; also the consent of Miss Ruutz-Dees, and Mrs. Laidlaw, so that I had a majority of the Board. I could not reach the others quickly enough. I am catching it on all sides from the Congressional Union for this letter, but I am very glad I sent it. Faithfully Yours, Encl. Anna H Shaw Mrs. Dedill McCormick. [*Wilson*] COPY July 2, 1914. Woodrow Wilson President of the United States Dear Mr. President : The officers of the National Woman Suffrage Association desire on its behalf to state that when you granted an audience to its representatives, who sought your aid in securing favorable Congressional action last November, to whom you stated your position as President of the United States, and as the highest representative of the political party which elected you, we accepted your statement, looking forward to the time when the political situation would presage a more favorable response, and your great influence might be given to aid in extending the principles of "The New Freedom" to women. To this end, through the National Congressional Committee, of which Mrs. Merill McCormick is Chairman, we have sought to secure favorable Congressional action; but at no time has any delegation from the National Suffrage Association endeavored to secure an audience with you upon this subject since November, 1913. We greatly deplore any act in the name of woman suffrage which mars the record of dignity, lawfulness, nad patriotism which has marked the conduct of the campaigns to obtain political justice for women in the United States. In the expectation that the time will come when we may secure your great influence in behalf of a true democracy I am, Sincerely yours, Anna H. Shaw On behalf of the officers of the National Woman Suffrage Association. July 2, 1914. Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States. Dear Mr. President, The officers of the National Woman Suffrage Association desire on its behalf to state that when you granted an audience to its representatives, who sought your aid in securing favorable congressional action last November, to whom you stated your position as President of the United States and as the highest representative of the political party which elected you, we accepted your statement, looking forward to the time when the political situation would presage a more favorable response, and your great influence might be given to aid in extending the principles of "The New Freedom" to women. To this end, through the National Congressional Committee of which Mrs. Medil McCormick is chairman, we have sought to secure favorable congressional action; but at no time has any delegation from the Nation Woman Suffrage Association endeavored to obtain an audience with you upon this subject since November 1913. We greatly deplore any act in the name of woman suffrage which NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION Branch of International Woman Suffrage Alliance and of National Council of Women President Anne Howard Shaw Moylan, Pa. 1st Vice-President Jane Addams Hull House, Chicago, Ill. 2nd Vice-President Charlotte Anita Whitney 2121 Webster Street, Oakland, Cal. Corresponding Secretary Mary Ware Dennett 505 Fifth Avenue, New York College Equal Suffrage League M. Carey Thomas, President Bryn Mawr, Pa. Telephone, 6855 Bryant WHITE STATES . . FULL SUFFRAGE SHADED '' . . PARTIAL '' DARK '' . . NO '' National Press Bureau, Elinor Byrns, Chairman 505 Fifth Avenue, New York NATIONAL AUXILIARIES: FRIENDS EQUAL RIGHTS ASSOCIATION MARY BENTLEY THOMAS, PRESIDENT EDNOR, MARYLAND Recording Secretary Susan W. FitzGerald 7 Greenough Ave., Jamaica Plain, Mass. Treasurer Katherine Dexter McCormick 505 Fifth Avenue, New York 1st Auditor Harriet Burton Laidlaw 6 East 66th Street, New York 2nd Auditor Louise De Koven Bowen 1430 Astor Street, Chicago Ill. The Equal Franchise Society Mrs. Howard Mansfield, President 535 Park Avenue, New York Headquarters, 505 Fifth Avenue, New York A H S 505 Fifth Avenue New York, September 3rd, 1914. My dear Miss Danielson: Remembering as I do the two letters which Mrs. McCormick and Mrs. Laidlaw sent you, I should hesitate to urge the matter further if I did not feel that the situation clearly calls me to do so. Generous pledges and contributions from a considerable number have provided for more than a third of the $9,000. deficit which we have to take care of in connection with the general campaign work of the National Board. They have been tremendously helpful, but there is still a most urgent need that is weighing heavily on my mind as I go out onto the field. Mrs. McCormick, remaining in Europe for a brief rest after the Congress at London, was trapped by this dreadful war and has only just succeeded in getting promise of passage home after a most distressing experience. It is my earnest hope that we may have provision made for this remaining deficit before she arrives. I know that conditions financially have not been good, but I am sure each of us by some act of self-denial can take at least a small share in meeting this need. Each dollar makes the burden lighter. Won't you make use of the slip which you will find with the return envelope - - it means so much to us just now? Faithfully yours, Anna H. Shaw Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.