NAWSA GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE Shaw, Anna Howard July 1916-1917, undated NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION Branch of International Woman Suffrage Alliance and of National Council of Women President Dr. Anna Howard Shaw 505 Fifth Avenue, New York 1st Vice-President Mrs. Stanley McCormick 505 Fifth Avenue, New York 2nd Vice-President Mrs. Desha Breckinridge Lexington, Ky. NATIONAL AFFILIATED SOCIETIES College Equal Suffrage League Miss M. Carey Thomas, President Bryn Mawr, Pa. Men's League for Woman Suffrage James Lees Laidlaw, President 26 Broadway, New York NATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE PUBLISHING COMPANY, Inc. President, Mrs. Cyrus W. Field 505 Fifth Avenue, New York Telephone, 4818 Murray Hill 3rd Vice-President Miss Katharine Bement Davis 145 East 45th Street, New York Recording Secretary Mrs. Richard Y. FitzGerald 7 Greenough Ave., Jamaica Plain, Mass. Corresponding Secretary Mrs. Orten H. Clark Kalamazoo, Michigan 1913 Alaska WHITE STATES, FULL SUFFRAGE; SHADED STATES, PARTIAL SUFFRAGE; DOTTED STATE, PRESIDENTIAL, MUNICIPAL AND PARTIAL COUNTY SUFFRAGE; DARK STATES, NO SUFFRAGE. Treasurer Mrs. Henry Wade Rogers 505 Fifth Avenue, New York 1st Auditor Mrs. Walter McNab Miller Columbia, Missouri 2nd Auditor Mrs. Medill McCormick 500 Diversey Parkway, Chicago, Ill. CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE Chairman, Mrs. Medill McCormick Vice-Chairman, Mrs. Antoinette Funk Headquarters, Munsey Building, Washington, D.C. PUBLICITY DEPARTMENT Chairman, Charles T. Hallinan Press Bureau, Miss Clara Savage 505 Fifth Avenue, New York EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Mrs. Charles Forster Camp NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, 505 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK July I9, I9I6. [1915] My dear Mrs. Catt: I am sending you a circular letter which I have just received from Mrs. V an Winkle. I was quite sure when I heard about the letter which had been sent to the members of Mrs. Van Winkle's society in New Jersey that it, like many other letters which eminate from the Congressional Union, had no real authority back of it. I knew from what I had hear[e]d Mrs. Van Winkle say and especially what I had heard Mrs. Reynolds say, that the Political Union of New Jersey would not join bodily the Congressional Union, although I had no realevidence of it, but I was sure of it then, even as I am now. You will see from this circular letter Mrs. V an Winkle's plan. I know that they say that she has no clubs but I know better. She [already] had some last year when I was in the state speaking. I am very glad that she had taken this step for it is much better to have her society out of the way, and let those who will join the State Society and those who will, join the C ongressional Union. It will give a freer hand to the State S ociety at least and they will know where they are and so will we. I only hope that the State Society will meet these advances on the part of Mrs. Van Winkle in a pleasant manner and not sne[er]mingly crow over them as if they were not able to keep their organization together. I rather think Mrs. Van Winkle herself[f] has grown tired of the struggle and being now free from her home and the ties which bind her to New Jersey, I think she will be glad to go away for a time, at least. It depends upon our attitude toward her, I believe, whether she will remain with the National Association or give her entire allegiance to the Union. I am very sure that if I had been treated as she has by the State Society and the State People and many of the National people I should not feel very friendly toward the National Association unless I cared more about suffrage than I do about anything else, and everybody does not. I wish it were less muggy and I do hope it won' t be long before you are getting your desk sufficiently cleared to be able to start out on your vacation. With sincere regards, F aithfully yours, Anna H. Shaw COPY FOR MRS. ROGERS Washington, D. C. June 28, 1916. Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, Moylan, Pennsylvania. Dear Dr. Shaw:- This is just a hurried note to tell you the latest news. Miss Hay and I went to Atlantic City to look over the ground there. We found it would be impossible to have a convention in August -- there are no halls available, and the city is so crowded during that month that they could not do much for us. We therefore took the earliest available dates, which fall in Labor Day week. It does not give as much time to arrange for election work if the convention agreed to do that sort of thing, but on the other hand, it gives us more time to make plans for the convention, so altogether I am pleased with the date. It remains to be seen as to whether we shall get our western delegates in as large numbers as we ought to have them for so crucial a meeting as this will be. Our headquarters will be at the Marlborough-Blenheim. It is the largest and best hotel, but on the other hand, it is an expensive one. The proprietors are in sympathy with our movement and are giving us rooms for the meetings in the hotel and when we need executive sessions. I reserved two beds for you, thinking that Miss Anthony might come with you. The price is $12 per day, but it is on the American plan, so it is not so exorbitant as it sounds. Will you please let me know if this will be agreeable, for if not I must make a different reservation. The single reservation for the same room is $8 per day. Of course such a room has a bath. Dr. Shaw -2 6-28-16. I presume they have mailed you the copy of the letter I left behind to go to the presidents. Mrs. Rogers reminds me that it does not read right on account of the letter date, but we can make those details right in a later letter. Mrs. Roessing had arranged for a meeting of senators from the suffrage states immediately after my arrival. Of course Congress is running at a lively rate just now, and the sessions begin at 10:30 instead of 12. They sit continuously, and as the weather is hot and the men in a terrible hurry to get away, it is rather difficult to get at them. We were able to talk the matter over with about half of those from the enfranchised states. They promised to give us the vote in the Senate provided it can be put through without discussion. They do not want to take any time for the discussion of any question which is not imperative just now. We could not promise them that we would get the two-thirds vote, and so of course the question could not be regarded as of equal importance with the appropriation bills. We are now going to see the chairman of the Judiciary Committee to learn what can be done there. I have already seen men enough, and Mrs. Roessings's experience coincides with mine, to judge that the state rights planks will make no difference whatever with our western men -- they will vote for the federal amendment through thick and thin. What effect it may have upon the eastern men remains to be seen. Mrs. Upton writes that the Republicans put a plank in their platform willingly, and the treatment they received was so extremely different from that which they had had before that she feels the planks have done great good to Ohio. In Indiana, which is quite strongly Democratic, I was interested to observe that Democratic men and women regarded their plank as quite as good, if not a little better than the Republican plank. Everywhere people congratulate us upon the step forward, and seem to feel that a new impetus has been given the movement. I shall call a meeting of the Board for September 4 in Atlantic City, but that is only one day. We will have to have what we call a headquarters committee meeting to settle such small details as do not affect the larger questions, which of course must come before the whole Board. Will you be in New York at any time soon? If so, we will call that meeting when you are there. Most cordially yours, CCC-LA Form 1204 CLASS OF SERVICE SYMBOL Western Union CLASS OF SERVICE Day Message Day Message Day Letter Blue Day Letter Blue Night Message Nite Western Union Night Message Nite Night Letter N L Night Letter N L If none of these three symbols Telegram If none of these three symbols appears after the check (number of appears after the check (number of words) this is a day message. Otherwise words) this is a day message. Otherwise its character is indicated by the Newcomb Carlton, President its character is indicated by the symbol appearing after the check. symbol appearing after the check. George W. E. Atkins, Vice-President Belvidere Brooks, Vice President RECEIVED AT 821 SIXTH AVENUE, NEAR 46TH ST., NEW YORK ALWAYS OPEN B53NYJA 19 PAID MOYLAN PENNA JANUARY 4TH 1916. 325PM. MRS.CARRIE CHAPMAN, CATT. 505 FIFTH AVENUE NEWYORKCITY,. HAVE GREATEST CONFIDENCE IN YOU AND YOUR SPLENDID BOARD SHALL GLADLY TAKE ANY PART WHERE I CAN BEST SERVE,. ANNA.HOWARD.SHAW. 4PM NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION Branch of International Woman Suffrage Alliance and of National Council of Women President Dr. Anna Howard Shaw 505 Fifth Avenue, New York 1st Vice-President Mrs. Stanley McCormick 505 Fifth Avenue, New York 2nd Vice-President Mrs. Desha Breckinridge Lexington, Ky. 3rd Vice-President Miss Katharine Bement Davis 145 East 45th Street, New York Recording Secretary Mrs. Richard Y. FitzGerald 7 Greenough Ave., Jamaica Plain, Mass. Corresponding Secretary Mrs. Orten H. Clark Kalamazoo, Michigan Treasurer Mrs. Henry Wade Rogers 505 Fifth Avenue, New York 1st Auditor Mrs Walter McNab Miller Columbia, Missouri 2nd Auditor Mrs. Medill McCormick 500 Diversey Parkway, Chicago, Ill. NATIONAL AFFILIATED SOCIETIES College Equal Suffrage League Miss M. Carey Thomas, President Bryn Mawr, Pa. Men's League for Woman Suffrage James Lees Laidlaw, President 26 Broadway, New York NATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE PUBLISHING COMPANY, Inc. President, Mrs. Cyrus W. Field 505 Fifth Avenue, New York CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE Chairman, Mrs. Medill McCormick Vice-Chairman, Mrs. Antoinette Funk Headquarters, Munsey Building, Washington, D.C. PUBLICITY DEPARTMENT Chairman, Charles T. Hallinan Press Bureau, Miss Clara Savage 505 Fifth Avenue, New York EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Mrs. Charles Forster Camp Telephone, 4818 Murray Hill NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, 505 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK 1913 Alaska WHITE STATES, FULL SUFFRAGE; SHADED STATES, PARTIAL SUFFRAGE; DOTTED STATE, PRESIDENTIAL, MUNICIPAL AND PARTIAL COUNTY SUFFRAGE; DARK STATES, NO SUFFRAGE. 1915 July 20, 1916. Moylan, Penn. Dear Mrs. Catt, Your letter in regard to meetings has just been received, and I am not quite [sure] clear as to the kind of meetings you are planning. When I stated tat I would give the National some time this year, I had in mind that you were intending to arrange a series of conventions such as you planned for last Spring, but which were postponed. I also thought of West Virginia and South Dakota if the National had planned to help in thes[d]e States, and that I would give ten dates to each of them and one series of conferences to the National Association. In each case contributing my services, the National to pay my expenses; if however your plan is to charge for the meetings, I would in no case be willing for the National to ask less than fifty dollars for my services. If this is the plan you have in mind and if I am to be associated with Mrs. McClung in a definite series of meetings, I must know the dates arranged at once as I have some thirty requests f[r]or lectures which I must decide regarding time as soon as possible. The time I had planned for West Virginia was from September 15 t 24 inclusive as Miss Ruutz Rees who will accompany me cannot go later on account of her school. I have also promised the Penn. State to speak at their Convention November 22 or 23. I speak for Columbia University December 11. These are all the dates I have fixed for 1916 except that yesterday I promised Mrs. Brown in response to a telegram that I would speak at the New York State Fair September 12. Mrs. Miller of Pittsburg is waiting to hear as to a block of my time--so will you please let me know the plans at once. Faithfully yours, Anna H. Shaw, Dates Taken New York State Fair - Sept 12 West Va. Sept 15-24 inc Penn. Nov 22 or 23 Columbia University - Dec 11 NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION Branch of International Woman Suffrage Alliance and of National Council of Women President Dr. Anna Howard Shaw 505 Fifth Avenue, New York 1st Vice-President Mrs. Stanley McCormick 505 Fifth Avenue, New York 2nd Vice-President Mrs. Desha Breckinridge Lexington, Ky. 3rd Vice-President Miss Katharine Bement Davis 145 East 45th Street, New York Recording Secretary Mrs. Richard Y. FitzGerald 7 Greenough Ave., Jamaica Plain, Mass. Corresponding Secretary Mrs. Orten H. Clark Kalamazoo, Michigan Treasurer Mrs. Henry Wade Rogers 505 Fifth Avenue, New York 1st Auditor Mrs Walter McNab Miller Columbia, Missouri 2nd Auditor Mrs. Medill McCormick 500 Diversey Parkway, Chicago, Ill. NATIONAL AFFILIATED SOCIETIES College Equal Suffrage League Miss M. Carey Thomas, President Bryn Mawr, Pa. Men's League for Woman Suffrage James Lees Laidlaw, President 26 Broadway, New York NATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE PUBLISHING COMPANY, Inc. President, Mrs. Cyrus W. Field 505 Fifth Avenue, New York CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE Chairman, Mrs. Medill McCormick Vice-Chairman, Mrs. Antoinette Funk Headquarters, Munsey Building, Washington, D.C. PUBLICITY DEPARTMENT Chairman, Charles T. Hallinan Press Bureau, Miss Clara Savage 505 Fifth Avenue, New York EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Mrs. Charles Forster Camp Telephone, 4818 Murray Hill NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, 505 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK 1913 Alaska WHITE STATES, FULL SUFFRAGE; SHADED STATES, PARTIAL SUFFRAGE; DOTTED STATE, PRESIDENTIAL, MUNICIPAL AND PARTIAL COUNTY SUFFRAGE; DARK STATES, NO SUFFRAGE. [1915] July 22, I9I6 My dear Mrs. Catt: I do not know just how to answer your letter in regard to meetings. First I will say, however, that if you prefer that I should give the time to West Virginia for the series of meetings which you suggest in October rather than in September I am perfectly willing to do so. It may be that if Miss Ruutz-Rees is particularly anxious to go there for a week I would also give them a week in September, but I would wait and see about that later. I am also perfectly willing to give a block of time for another series of meetings which the National may wish to make in the fall or in the southern states next winter. I think it would be better to take the southern states in the winter as I want to be away in the winter any way but I cannot go before the twentieth of January as I have made some engagements up to that time in January. Also, if you send out those troops which you are thinking of I will be willing to go with them for a time but in regard to the single engagements I should have to make different arrangements. Now I am perfectly willing to have my name on the Lecture Bureau if you think it will be any benefit to the Bureau or help it in any way but personally I declared years ago that I would never go to the best lecture bureau again and let them make engagements for me. I feel that way particularly now because I don't want to take any kind of engagement simply because it pays me the money for going. I want to be able to select the places I want to go to, where I can be of the best service and accomplish the best results for our cause rather than to go to any specified state for any number of meetings whether they are of an particular value to the work or not, so that in making single engagements I would be perfectly willing to accept any that the National makes for me but first I would like to have the places and dates submitted to me, because I have been making engagements and to tell the truth, I have as many calls as I really want to fill so that in putting my name on the Bureau it would not be in order to get meetings for me because I can get enough without that but it might be of service to have the names of some of us on the Bureau to help to get others to give their time to it. I have already accepted a block of two weeks with Mrs. Miller in Pennsylvania and have been waiting to hear from you before I gave her the time. S he wants dates in October and November also, but I judge from your letter that you are not particular to take me for [South Dakota] W Va before the last week in October. If that is your plan, then I can give her a week earlier in October and a week in November. I have already promised the State of Pennsylvania to speak at their State Convention on the twenty-second of November and I have also promised Mrs. Brown a date for Long Island + for the State Fair on September twelfth. If you plan one of those flying squadron trips [in New York], I suppose you will not take the first week of November, at least, on account of election, and perhaps it would be well to wait until later in the month but Thanksgiving comes on just then so that November is badly cut up. If you have any particular calls for [w]me which you think are of importance in October and November and will let me know at once, I will tell you whether or not I can fill them, that is aside from the trip in West Virginia. I do not want to work all the time even in October and November, in fact I believe I am getting lazy. Now this letter is rather muddled, I am sure, but my proposition is in simple words that I am perfectly willing to have my [?]name go on the Lecture Bureau if it will be of any advantage to the Bureau. I am willing to give the time to West Virginia and also a month during the winter of any other time you wish to the National Association for conferences and I am willing to take indivi[e]dual engagements whenever they are of a kind that I think is of importance or whenever I am able to go and have not already made engagements. I would like to have all separate engagements submitted to me before they are made because I do not want to go flying back and forth from one end of the country to another, which is apt to be the way when Bureaus make engagements for one. I am charging the suffragists fifty dollars but where the travel costs me more than ten dollars I expect them t pay the additional expenses. I know very well this plan is not agreeable to lecture bureaus but it is the only plan I can follow now, for the reason, as I told you, that I don't want to work all the time and I only want to take particular lectures. Whether my name is on the Bureau or not will make no difference to my giving my time to the National and to to the [nominations.] Campaign, With sincere regards, Faithfully yours, Anna H Shaw Have a new Stenographer and she makes my sentences longer even than I do NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION BRANCH OF INTERNATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE ALLIANCE AND OF NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN HONORARY PRESIDENT DR. ANNA HOWARD SHAW, 171 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK PRESIDENT MRS. CARRIE CHAPMAN CATT 171 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK 1ST VICE-PRESIDENT MRS. FRANK M. ROESSING MUNSEY BUILDING, WASHINGTON, D. C. 2ND VICE-PRESIDENT MRS. STANLEY MCCORMICK 171 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK 3RD VICE-PRESIDENT MISS ESTHER G. OGDEN 171 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK TREASURER MRS. HENRY WADE ROGERS 171 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK CORRESPONDING SECRETARY MISS HANNAH J. PATTERSON 171 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK RECORDING SECRETARY MRS. JAMES W. MORRISSON 719 RUSH STREET, CHICAGO, ILL. 1ST AUDITOR MRS. WALTER McNAB MILLER COLUMBIA, MISSOURI 2ND AUDITOR MRS. PATTIE RUFFNER JACOBS ALTAMONT ROAD, BIRMINGHAM, ALA. 171 MADISON AVENUE NEW YORK TELEPHONE, 4818 MURRAY HILL NATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC. PRESIDENT MISS ESTHER G. OGDEN 171 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN MRS. FRANK M. ROESSING HEADQUARTERS MUNSEY BUILDING, WASHINGTON, D. C. July 27, I9I6. My dear Mrs. Catt: I am sending you letters from New Mexico, North Dakota, S outh Dakota and Hawiia, not because they are of any special importance but they may be suggestive to you as names of persons with whom you might wish to correspond in these states. Mrs. Anderson of North Dakota is president of the W.C.T.U., but she is a splendid little worker and I think the best one I found in the state, except Mrs. Darrow, the former state president, who died soon after the close of the campaign. I think she was one of the strongest women that I have seen in any of the western states and her death was a tremenduous loss. No Dat. Replying to your letter of July twenty-fourth in regard to the National Council, I am perfectly willing to accept the appointment of[c]delegate in general to the National Councils wherever they may meet. Natl Council of Women Yes, I know Miss May is entirely with the Congressional Union; in fact, almost fanatically with them and I am rather sorry that she has been appointed by the National Council as Chairman of the Committee on Suffrage and Rights of Citizenship, although probably it is my fault because three years ago I nominated her for that Committee. She was then a member of the New York State Association and has since been secretary of its organization committee, and worked with you during the campaign. I had no knowledge of her tendency to the C ongressional Union but she was made permanent chairman of that committee by the newly organized C council when Mrs. Moore was elected president of the Council. Marion May S he keeps in touch with me, however, on all the Council matters and does not take any step without first consulting me so that I feel that I practically hold the situation and as she is doing splendid work on the Commit[?]tee, I think very probably her Union tendencies will not affect her work there since the Union is not a member of the National C ouncil, although the Anti-Su[u]ffrage Society is. I think your short terse answer to the man who wants your help in political campaigns just exactly what he should have and what we should give out generally. I have had at least four men seek my cooperation in Support of Men the present campaign, wanting me to go to their states and give them my time. It is very amusing that a group of men who say just one word in favor of our cause expect us to fall down humbly to the ground and put our faces in the dust in our appreciation of it. [*who have endorsed suffrage*] That King George call is great and I would like to send it out to some people. I will give you a list of names in a day or two to whom to send them. Unfortunately before I received your letter that you wanted me to go to West Virginia in October I had written Hannah Paterson and Mrs. Yost that I would go in September. Now I do not feel that I can go both in September and October and probably the October time would be preferable, so until a little later I shall make no further arrangements for September and will you kindly tell Miss Paterson so. I will write to Mrs. Yost to-day. It may be that I could go both times but I do not want to promise too much until I am a little surer of myself. I received all your letters sent out to the state presidents, a package of which came this morning. May I speak of just one point which in some future letters you might wish to change: Under the paragraph "money" in your letter of July twenty-fifth to the presidents, you say: "The National Association has no direct constituency and it can only get money when somebody in some state gives it". Do you not think it would be well to say: "The National Association has no direct personal constituency and must depend upon the pledges of its affiliated associations and the money which it can secure when somebody in the state gives it". [*State financial responsibility*] I think it would be well to put the clause in which ties the state association to its responsibility as well as the individual subscriptions in the states. For instance, when Massachusetts pledged five thousand dollars last year, one woman practically [the] gave the pledge and there was no actual obligation upon the state to raise any money outside of one or two pledges. Now I think the state should not feel that when one woman makes a pledge from the state it relieves the state of all financial obligation to the National Association. I was very much interested in your point that your letter to the state presidents had been printed. Last year some of the most personal letters to state presidents got into the press. They don't seem to be able to distinguish between what is personal and what is for the public. I glory in your million dollar budget but if the New York method of raising funds were recognized throughout the country I am sure you could do it. [*million budget*] I hope you are not melting away. I have had to go into the city every day this week to the dentist and dressmaker and all the rest of the time I have been going over my letter files and destroying hundreds and hundreds of letters which are of no importance whatever, but I have not done it for years. As I have kept pretty closely at it for over a week, my eyes have at last gone back on me and I must begin with the occulist. With sincerest regards, believe me Faithfully yours, Anna H. Shaw [*July 1916*] Hotel McAlpin New York Dear Mrs Catt That address to the Ex Council, much of it should be given to the convention. They all need it, and it is timely, There never was a time when it could have been done before. The Congressional Situation, the plank in the party platforms. His organization of the Womans Party, the activities of it's Cu. and the fact of the women we already have make it possible for the women to see the justice of your position. If they don't see it and can't see it when there is no hope for them. It is a big plan well thought out and clearly stated and you have a Board who will support you in it. I shall be great to do anything I can to back it up in every pa[?] except moving the head quarters to Washington I am not sure of the wisdom of that yet, It may be, but I do not just see it. I most fear we will not be able to man or woman it there, and it is such an awful place in which to live. However I shall not take side on that point. I am glad you have prepared the address It is timely and I am glad you have the organizing mind to develop such an elaborate plan. Now let us push it. With affectionate regards Anna H Shaw I am almost asleep. July 1916 Dear Mrs Catt. I have just received your letter with their enclosures and am breaking all wills or if it is not a will it ought to be and am sending them back to your house for fear you may be following your usual bad habit of working at home on Sunday and may need it. I think the statement is absolutely correct, for if as Mrs Lewis stated they rendered an account as that conference held at my house. I do not remember that it was done, it was not a board meeting, simply a conference which I do not think was in any sense official. However it was not a written report to the Board. I will write you later about the speaking as soon as I think it over. Hastily yours Anna H Shaw NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, 171 Madison [505 FIFTH]AVENUE, NEW YORK Moylan Aug 22 1916 Dear Mrs Catt I am sorry to impose a pen letter on you but I cannot get a stenographer for love or money, and when I got home yesterday I got a stack of letters a foot high. Several people are writing complaining of the announcement made by Miss Hay as Chairman of local arrangements because of the clause which says, "No badges will be issued except upon surrender of the Hotel Certificate" The question is asked when did the states [*badges*] turn over to the hotels of the community the right to say who should or should not have badges issued to them, and by what right does the National Association compell delegates to go to special expensive place if they do not wish to. I met two women on that train yesterday who said they intended to go to the convention until they read that clause and had engaged rooms some where where it was not expensive but they could not go to an expensive hotel and contribute any thing to the National and they would rather give their money to suffrage than to a hotel manager. A letter today says it is a high handed piece of business to compell people to go to a hotel, they may have friends in Atlantic City as the writer has but she will not be compelled to go to a hotel. I was afraid when I saw that in the announcement that it would be misconstrued, and that some would understand that they could not get their delegates badges except through the hotels. Which is of course so unreasonable that if they so understand it, it is no wonder they are upset by it. I presume it is too late to correct the statement. I am sending you a letter from Mrs Andrews [*Mrs Andrews for work in W. Va*] the leader in the district in which Jamestown is located who did such good work and earned her county last year. She is a very nice woman and I have no doubt would do good work in W. Va. I spoke at Lily Hall last week and stopped in their hotel and found her a most pleasant person, and deeply interested. If you could arrange to send her to W. Va for three or four weeks I would arrange to raise her salary if the National or W Va would raise her expenses. Will you correspond with her in regard to it. I am also sending the address of a woman in Indiana of whom I have heard a good deal. If you need some one for So Dakota and are sending any one there she might go. She was recommended by the principle of one of the High Schools in Terre Haute, Ind. I hope your week away from the fearful heat of the city did you a lot of good. The meetings at Lily Dale and the immense one at Chautauqua, with the two receptions and heat have made me more tired than a weeks campaigning. I expect to be in the Headquarters for a few hours Monday on my way to Connecticut where I speak next week. Yesterday was awful thank heaven for a breeze today. It is good to be at home when you can dispense with clothes. With affectionate regard Anna H. Shaw [*Pa*] August 24th, 1 9 1 6. Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, Moylan, Pennsylvania. My dear Dr. Shaw:- I have just received your letter and I am glad you are coming into the office Monday; it will be easier to tell you some things than to take time to write them now. I remember Mrs. Andrews but you give her too much credit when you say she carried Chautauqua County; she came into the leadership there very late in the campaign. She is a nice woman and I have no doubt would do good work in West Virginia. West Virginia, unfortunately, is clear down on its uppers. We are helping with the organizers and I do not think they could undertake to pay a cent more at present. I will write Mrs. Andrews and will enclose a copy so that you may know what I have said. Thanks for the name from Indiana. We will investigate. If I remember correctly, I saw that lady in Indianapolis but am nore sure, however, that I have the right name. Concerning the dissatisfaction relating to the announcement in regard to the hotels in Atlantic City, let me say that the exact wording is that which is sent out in the announcement of all conventions in Atlantic City and it has to be so. The hotels give us our theatre but they do it on a percent of the hotel bills of the delegates who come; each hotel pays into a common fund 10% of each bill. They want, of course, to drive the people into the hotels which are in the general compact but no one is barred out from the Convention who goes elsewhere. I suggest that instead of telling us that the complaints are made, you either ask those people to write us for explanation or give us their names so that the explanation can be made. Miss Hay has written a good many such explanations and so far, as we know, there is no further complains when the understanding is made complete. -2- I sent you a letter to Geneva in reference to Mrs. Wood and her complaint. It is absolutely necessary that we have some understanding about that matter. It is sure to come up in the Convention and I see no way to bar it out; of course, as chairman, I could say it was out of order but I do not really think it is and it would result in criticisms and charge of unfairness which I do not think our association ought to invite. It is not necessary to write me about it now but let us not forget to talk it over on Monday. [I can] I can well understand that you went home tired after campaigning in the hea[d]t. I think Chautauqua is about the hottest place in all the world. I think that my vacation did me some good but it was hot, too and there wasn't enough of it. Have you thought of anyone for any office whatsoever? Most cordially yours, [F.] President. P. S. I want to tell you that Mrs. De Voe is in South Dakota and she is very enthusiastic about the prospects there. I do not think there could be any person better suited to South Dakota than Mrs. De Voe. She was astonish[ly]ingly well liked in New York although she did not please Pennsylvania. They wanted her for outdoor meetings however, and they did not think her voice was sufficiently strong. I heard no criticism, whatever, in New York although I thought it doubtful if she would please. She has a very sweet spirit toward men which is really very effective on the platform. The rest of us are inclined to think that men are our enemies when we make suffrage speeches, I fear. She is going to stay there until Election, with the exception of a detour to Atlantic City. I have asked her to bring us a full report of conditions there and, of course, this will be a private report. I think her judgment will be good on the situation. I am writing, therefore, to you now because, originally, you had intended to give some time to South Dakota. It may be advisable that you do so if you can still save a block of time for that State. Will you please think it over and let me know on Monday whether or not you could do so. I would not advise that this time be actually offered to South Dakota at this time but that you reserve it until you can hear from Mrs. De Voe. [*So Dak & Mrs DeVoe*] Another woman is likely to come from that State and may give us further information. COPY 505 Fifth Avenue, New York Sept. 14th,1916 Dear Mrs. Catt: I hope you enjoyed your ride home that beautiful day. The air and change was good for you even if the trip wearied your body. You needed physical fatigue but mental rest and there was no way you could have gotten it better than by your trip home. I want to tell you, dear friend, how happy I am over the outcome of the convention, that there was a long stride taken toward victory there and that when the convention closed we were a good deal nearer it than we were when it began. There is no reason now why we may not forge ahead and sweep out of the way the very dangerous obstacles which have been disrupting us for the past fewyears. Yet we are going to have to face a bitterly vindictive foe if the Democrats are defeated in the suffrage states. Try to disclaim it as we may and even prove it as doubtless we can that the women voters didn't do it we will always be held responsible by the Demo[n]crats in Congress. Have you seen the Congressional Record of August 21st in which Senator Thomas introduces W.S. (woman suffrage) in the discussion of the immigration bill. It begins on page 15087 and with a lot of fine print goes over to page 15095 inc. It is rich but certainly not helpful to suffrage. I think Senator Thomas is as obsessed against the Union as some of its members are for it. But I did not write you to talk of this but to tell you how splendid you were all the way through the convention and to assure you that I stand ready to do anything I can on the Board or in the field to help carry out the convention plans. I want to beg of you to take a vacation away where no one can find you and sleep and recite poetry and watch the fading summer and get the rest from the hills or sea, whichever will give your body and mind and soul the quiet and calm you must have to meet the work of the year. May the good God bless and keepyou. With affectionate regard, (signed) Anna H. Shaw 505 FIFTH AVENUE New York Sept 14" 1916 Dear Mrs Catt, I hope you enjoyed your ride home that beautiful day. The air and change was good for you even if the trip wearied your body. You needed physical fatigue but mental rest and there was no way you could have gotten it better than by your trip home. I want to tell you dear friend how happy I am over the outcome of the convention. That there was a long stride taken toward victory there and that when the convention closed we were a good deal nearer it than we were when it began. There is no reason now why we may not forge ahead and sweep out of the way the very dangerous obstacles which have been disrupting us for the past few years. Yet we are going to have to face a bitterly vindictive foe if the Democrats are defeated in the suffrage states. Try to disclame it as we may and even prove it as doubtless we can that the women voters didn't do it we will always be held responsible by the Democrats in Congress and the State legislatures. Have you seen the Congressional Congressional Record of Aug 21st in which Senator Thomas introduces W.S in the discussion of the immigration bill. It begins on page 15087 and with a lot of fine print goes over to page 15095 inc. It is rich but certainly not helpful to suffrage I think Senator Thomas is as obsessed against the Union as some of its members are for it. But I did not write you to talk of this but to tell you how splendid you were all the way through the convention 505 FIFTH AVENUE NEW YORK and to assure you that I stand ready to do any thing I can on the Board or in the field to help carry out the Convention plans. I want to beg of you to take a vacation away where no one can find you and sleep and recite poetry and watch the fading summer and get the rest from the hills or sea whichever will give your body and mind and soul the quiet and calm you must have to meet the work of the year. May the good God bless and keep you, With affectionate regard, Anna H Shaw COPY 505 Fifth Avenue, New York Sept. 14th,1916 Dear Mrs. Catt: I hope you enjoyed your ride home that beautiful day. The air and change was good for you even if the trip wearied your body. You needed physical fatigue but mental rest and there was no way you could have gotten it better than by your trip home. I want to tell you, dear friend, how happy I am over the outcome of the convention, that there was a long stride taken toward victory there and that when the convention closed we were a good deal nearer it than we were when it began. There is no reason now why we may not forge ahead and sweep out of the way the very dangerous obstacles which have been disrupting us for the past fewyears. Yet we are going to have to face a bitterly vindictive foe if the Democrats are defeated in the suffrage states. Try to disclaim it as we may and even prove is as doubtless we can that the women voters didn't do it we will always be held responsible by the Demo crats in Congress. Have you seen the Congressional Record of August 21st in which Senator Thomas introduces W.S. (woman suffrage) in the discussion of the immigration bill. It begins on page 15087 and with a lot of fine print goes over to page 15095 inc. It is rich but certainly not helpful to suffrage. I think Senator Thomas is as obsessed against the Union as some of its members are for it. But I did not write you to talk of this but to tell you how splendid you were all the way through the convention and to assure you that I stand ready to do anything I can on the Board or in the field to help you carry out the convention plans. I want to beg of you to take a vacation away where no one can find you and sleep and recite poetry and watch the fading summer and get the rest from the hills or the sea, whichever will give your body and mind and soul the quiet and calm you must have to meet the work of the year. May the good God bless and keepyou. With affectionate regard, (signed) Anna H. Shaw NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION BRANCH OF INTERNATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE ALLIANCE AND OF NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN HONORARY PRESIDENT DR. ANNA HOWARD SHAW, 171 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK PRESIDENT MRS. CARRIE CHAPMAN CATT 171 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK 1ST VICE-PRESIDENT MRS. FRANK M. ROESSING MUNSEY BUILDING, WASHINGTON, D. C. 2ND VICE-PRESIDENT MRS. STANLEY McCORMICK 171 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK NATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE PUBLISHING COMPANY, Inc. PRESIDENT MISS ESTHER G. OGDEN 171 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK 3RD VICE-PRESIDENT MISS ESTHER G. OGDEN 171 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK TREASURER MRS. HENRY WADE ROGERS 171 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK CORRESPONDING SECRETARY MISS HANNAH J. PATTERSON 171 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS 171 MADISON AVENUE NEW YORK TELEPHONE, 4818 MURRAY HILL RECORDING SECRETARY MRS. JAMES W. MORRISSON 719 RUSH STREET, CHICAGO, ILL. 1ST AUDITOR MRS. WALTER MCNAB MILLER COLUMBIA, MISSOURI 2ND AUDITOR MRS. PATTIE RUFFNER JACOBS ALTAMONT ROAD, BIRMINGHAM, ALA CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN MRS. FRANK M. ROESSING HEADQUARTERS MUNSEY BUILDING, WASHINGTON, D. C. Moylan, Penna., September 24, 1916. My dear Mrs. Catt, I have a letter from Miss Severence received on Saturday, saying that [*per Catt papers*] she had not received the power-of-attorney for which she had asked in order to change the deed. I think it will be best to enclose her letter as perhaps it will be well for you to keep it on file at the office. I do not know whether from the last paragraph she thinks it is the National Association which is gallivanting around fighting the Democrats or not, but I have answered that part of the letter. Still it might not be a bad thing for you to repeat the same thing to her as she is rather sensitive and may be rather easily influenced either for or against the National Association. I am receiving and reading with interest all your many documents to the women. I am particularly interested in the one which came in this morning's mail urging the enfranchised women to register and try to vote in the different States where they happen to live. If we could only get the right women to do it, I know of nothing that will give us greater publicity and although I am not very hopeful of favorable decisions in the courts, nevertheless it will put some punch into our work and show that we are watching every avenue. One thing I am hoping for in this present campaign is that if we come very near carrying West Virginia and we can prove any election frauds, our case will be taken to the courts. If Michigan had only followed my advice, as I urged them so strongly to do, I believe we would have had a decision in that State and would now have it in the enfranchised column. I think this is the line on which we will get President Wilson. If we can get good testimony of fraud from West Virginia, and I hope the women there are watching out for it, I think that we shall have a great deal of influence over the President by proving to him that while his theory of States rights may be all right in honest elections, it is not all right where we are not able to guard the polls ourselves and where we cannot get an honest count. I am rather hoping that we will be able to get President Wilson along this line. I do not think we will get him by attacking the S tates rights theory directly, but I do think that he was much impressed by our Convention, and certainly it was an impressive body to look upon, and by the whole management of it, and that if he can get round his States rights theory he will be willing to help us, that is, if the foolish Woman's Party does not so antagonize Congress that it is impossible to do anything with them. Faithfully, Anna H. Shaw [*Wilson – states rights & fraud*] NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION Branch of International Woman Suffrage Alliance and of National Council of Women Honorary President Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, 171 Madison Avenue, New York President Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt 171 Madison Avenue, New York 1st Vice-President Mrs. Frank M. Roessing Munsey Building, Washington, D.C. 2nd Vice-President Mrs. Stanley McCormick 171 Madison Avenue, New York __________ NATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE PUBLISHING COMPANY, Inc. President Miss Esther G. Ogden 171 Madison Avenue, New York 3rd Vice-President Miss Esther G. Ogden 171 Madison Avenue, New York Treasurer Mrs. Henry Wade Rogers 171 Madison Avenue, New York Corresponding Secretary Miss Hannah J. Patterson 171 Madison Avenue, New York __________ NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS 171 MADISON AVENUE NEW YORK Telephone, 4818 Murray Hill Recording Secretary Mrs. James W. Morrisson 719 Rush Street, Chicago, Ill. 1st Auditor Mrs. Walter McNab Miller Columbia, Missouri 2nd Auditor Mrs. Pattie Ruffner Jacobs Altamont Road, Birmingham, Ala __________ CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE Chairman Mrs. Frank M. Roessing Headquarters Munsey Building, Washington, D.C. Moylan, Penna., September 27, 1916. My dear Mrs. Catt, I have just received your letter of September 26th. I am very sorry that you did not let me know that you wished to call a meeting of the Headquarters Committee, because I could just as well have gone up for it and done some other things at the same time. I wish hereafter that you would just drop me a line whenever you want a meeting of that sort and I shall be very glad to go. [* Expense Election Returns *] I cannot understand why that sixty dollars for private wire election returns should be charged to my campaign fund. I did not order it paid out of that fund and had no thought of doing so. When Mr. Hallinan asked me about having election returns for the National Headquarters, I felt it would be a perfectly proper thing to do and so told him that we would have it, but it belongs to the Publicity Department and not to my campaign fund and I certainly decline to pay that bill out of my campaign fund as I never authorized it. I would not use that fund for that purpose under any circumstances and think it should be credited to me on the West Virginia campaign. I am writing this same message to Mrs. Rogers. Of course, I have no idea what the campaign expense will be, but whatever they should be over the sixty dollars I shall be very glad to have come out of the campaign fund as you suggest, but I certainly shall insist that that sixty dollars shall not be charged to that campaign fund. I am very glad that you are going away for a while and shall be sorry not to see you as I expect to be in New York some day next week. I could just as well have come this week if I had known about the Headquarters meeting. [* Pa Break *] I sincerely trust that there will be no break between the National and the Pennsylvania State Board. It would be a pretty serious thing to have that happen just now. As far as I can see, it is only a personal quarrel between Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Roessing and it does seem a very unwise thing for the National Board to enter into this trouble and estrange the entire State of Pennsylvania, for that is practically what it will do for neither the Pittsburg district nor the Philadelphia district will give their support to the National if the National imposes Mrs. Roessing upon them, and the Pittsburg and the Philadelphia districts are practically the financial support of the suffrage movement throughout the National as far as Pennsylvania is concerned. I do hope something will be done and if there is any question to settle between the National and Pennsylvania that it 2 may be Mrs. Miller our First Vice-President and not Mrs. Roessing who shall adjust it because the feeling against Mrs. Roessing is so strong that I am very sure that she will be misunderstood and she will probably equally misunderstand them. I think Mrs. Miller would be the best one to handle any Pennsylvania situation which may come up. With sincere regards, I am Faithfully yours, Anna H. Shaw to Alice Blackwell Good morning The mail did not go out last night so saved this till this morning to say, "howdy". I measured my hot little room last evening and it is just 8 x 8 feet with one small window opening upon the roof of a shed, the sun pouring down on it fairly dazzles your eyes out, oh but campaigning is fun. I thought of your den and your outlook over the ocean [*AH Shaw*] the very thought of it rested me, as I thought you had its comforts. I am so thankful you have such a beautiful home dear, and I take so much comfort myself in the thought that you dear people have it. That your mother, God bless her, can pass the twilight of her useful and helpful life in the rest of it. It is almost as good as having it ones self. Dear dear friend I am so grateful for your unselfish devotion. Faithfully A.H.S NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION BRANCH OF INTERNATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE ALLIANCE AND OF NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN HONORARY PRESIDENT DR. ANNA HOWARD SHAW, 171 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK Moylan, Penna., October 2, 1916. My dear Mrs. Catt, I am sorry if my letter gave the impression that I felt there was anything out of the way in not being informed about the Board meeting. That was not what I intended at all. Your statement in your letter that you could wait no longer for me to come to the city in order to hold the Board meeting made me feel that you had been expecting me and wanted me there at the time of the meeting, and what I wanted to convey was that even if I were not in the city any time that you wanted me if you would let me know I would be very glad to go. I had no intention at all of finding fault because you had not let me know on the other hand, it was to tell you that I could easily come if I were wanted. I have travelled that route so frequently between here and New York that it does not seem much more to me than going from the McAlpin up to your house. I am returning the letter from Holyoke which you sent me as it is impossible for me to go there. I am not at present making any dates in January. In fact I am changing all the dates that I had at that time. I might be here in January or I might not. My going South will depend largely upon your plans for the Southern Conference, and that is the one thing that I wanted very much to consult you about in New York this week, but you are going away, as I understand, so that I shall probably not see you Thursday when I go to the city. It is quite possible [*South & Meetings*] possible that Mrs. Shuler may know at what time you have planned to have these conferences. They are writing me from several places in the South for lectures and I could fill a whole month with the requests that have already come in, but I want to hold off any engagements so as to adapt them to our plans for the Southern Conferences. To-day I have received the funniest invitation that I have ever had yet. It is from the Thomas County Fair Association, Thomasville, Georgia. As an entertainment at the Fair on November 1st, they are going to have a joint convention of bachelors and maidens at the Court House, and they want me to address them giving me liberty to select my own theme. I think this so far is the limit in invitations that I have had. I greatly regret that I shall be unable to be present as I am speaking in West Virginia on the night of the 31st of October. By the way, I have not yet learned whether we are to have a flying [*WVa*] squadron, or an automobile squadron, or no squadron at all the last weeks of the campaign in West Virginia, but whatever we have I shall be there and shall put in the time from the 22nd to the 31st in the campaign. I wish I could go with hope, but I fear I cannot. I hope you are going to get a good rest this week. Affectionately yours, Anna Howard Shaw NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION BRANCH OF INTERNATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE ALLIANCE AND OF NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN HONORARY PRESIDENT DR. ANNA HOWARD SHAW, 171 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK Moylan, Penna., October 9, 1916. My dear Mrs. Catt, When I learned that you were to be away during the entire week and that Mrs. Miller was also away, I did not think it was worth while to go to New York as what I wanted to see you about principally was the West Virginia work. I am leaving to-day (Saturday afternoon) and will be in West Virginia until the 13th when I go to Pennsylvania for a week and then return to West Virginia until the first of November. I am wondering when you are intending to call an official board meeting as I should like very much to be present. You know, in making lecture engagements, I have to make them quite a while ahead, so I would like to know as soon as possible when you plan to have the Board meet. In November, I attend three State Conventions, beginning with Virginia on the 9th at Norfolk; then to Lexington, Ky., for the 15th and the Kentucky State Convention in Louisville for the 16th; then to Anderson, Ind., for the 17th. I have an engagement in Montclair for the 20th; and in Lewisburg, Williamsport and Pottsville, Pa., for the 21st, 22nd and 24th; in Philadelphia on the 26th; South Manchester, Conn., on the 27th; New Haven on the 28th. It seems to me that it would be a very good plan if it suits all around to have our official board meeting at the time of the election since none of our 3 members are in campaign States after the first of November and if we could have it any time between the 2nd and the 8th I could fit it in very well; or between the 10th and 13th. I had to make these dates, of course, when the State Conventions were placed. I was sorry not to be able to go to Michigan, but had to telegraph them this morning on receiving their invitation that it was impossible. It is very funny that people will wait until the last minute to ask you to speak for them as if you had nothing to do but wait until they make up their minds and then start off on a moment's notice. I am very glad that so many of our board have been able to attend State Conventions this year. The more of that sort of thing we can do the better. I had to refuse one or two of the Eastern States because they all come together which seems to be the fate of Conventions. I suppose any communication you may want to send to me will reach me in West Virginia if addressed in care of Mrs. Yost; and in Pennsylvania if addressed in care of the State Headquarters at Harrisburg. I hope you had a good trip West and that Mrs. Miller thinks things are a little more hopeful in South and North Dakota. I wish I could go to West Virginia with a feeling that when the November election is over we would have started the wedge toward the solid South, but I shall do my level best to help drive it in the days that I am there. If there is anything that you want me to do or any particular instructions that you would like to have me give, send the word along. With affectionate regards, I am Faithfully yours, Anna Howard Shaw Dictated October 7. NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION BRANCH OF INTERNATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE ALLIANCE AND OF NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN Honorary President Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, 171 Madison Avenue, New York President Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt 171 Madison Avenue, New York 1st Vice-President Mrs. Frank M. Roessing Munsey Building, Washington, D.C. 2nd Vice-President Mrs. Stanley McCormick 171 Madison Avenue, New York 3rd Vice-President Miss Esther G. Ogden 171 Madison Avenue, New York Treasurer Mrs. Henry Wade Rogers 171 Madison Avenue, New York Corresponding Secretary Miss Hannah J. Patterson 171 Madison Avenue, New York Recording Secretary Mrs. James W. Morrisson 719 Rush Street, Chicago, Ill. 1st Auditor Mrs. Walter McNab Miller Columbia, Missouri 2nd Auditor Mrs. Pattie Ruffner Jacobs Altamont Road, Birmingham, Ala NATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC. President Miss Esther G. Ogden 171 Madison Avenue, New York NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS 171 MADISON AVENUE NEW YORK Telephone, 4818 Murray Hill CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE Chairman Mrs. Frank M. Roessing Headquarters Munsey Building, Washington, D.C. Pittsburg, Oct 14th 1916 My dear Mis Catt Your letter of Oct 11th must have been dictated some days before your stenographer got to mailing it, for you must have received my letter telling you that I would be engaged up to Nov. in Penn and W. Va. I shall be very sorry not to be present at the Board meeting when the subject of Washington headquarters is discussed. I am becoming more and more convinced that it would be the gravest possible mistake to move our general Headquarters to Washington. That suitable and even if necessary [head] expensive headquarters should be in Washington, but they should be congressional Headquarters, or rather sub-headquarters. To make the movement this year would be especially disastrous, and I hope it will not be done. My vote if I am allowed to cast it not being present would be against removing our general headquarters this year, but in favor of providing adequate Headquarters in Washington. If it is desired to have national offices there and I can be of service I will gladly spend part of my winter there or spring or any other time, and I have no doubt but enough of our Official Board would do so to give the Headquarters a national tone. but for years to come if that fool Woman's Party keeps on its destructive policy we will need general headquarters and Washington will not be the place from which our work can be done for we have not and because of the changing character of the population never will have local backing for national work in Washington, and we will never get an efficient Board of Officers to live there the year round or any considerable part of it. I do hope however you may go with Miss Myer and select with her and Mrs Miller or Mrs Stanley McCormick for the Board a first class location with room and use money enough to get what is needed. If the Democrats are defeated this year, the C.U. and Womans Party will claim the credit and the Democrats though they do not believe they had anything to do with it will blame them for their defeat, and if democratic human nature is like any other human nature, the come back on suffrage will be the worst [*Woman's Party vs Democrats*] [*Washington Hdqtrs*] asking for $5.00 contributions to defeat Wilson and the Dem. Party. The paper had always been friendly. Had even refused to print anti articals of any kind, but it has now come out against us, calling attention to the fact that the money asked for by "suffragests" is not to win suffrage for women but to use the womans votes where they have it to defeat the democratic party, and he appeals to the democrats of W. Va not to put that power into the hands of the women of W. Va. He has printed anti articles since. The anties are sending Mrs B's letter and the comments to every democratic voter in the state. With that to meet what hope is there for us. Could the anties beat that. My meetings were very good. Had all the halls would hold every place and twice overflow meetings. I never had a more enthusiastic meeting that at Clarksburg & Wheeling. Hundreds could not get into the building and as many stood as sat throughout. They nearly pulled my clothes off getting into the hall. It was a pity the women had not the money or faith that they could get it so that they dared get the theatres as some of the largest buildings. I am speaking in Petersburg yesterday today and tomorrow, Lebanon Pa & Mrs Chas E Bager. Monday Bellefont Pa Mrs Robert Mills Beach Tuesday17th Coudersport Mrs Marshall Berm. 18th Lock Haven Mrs Mable Kittredge Dun 19th. I get back to Moylan 20th for the night and start the 21st for W. Va again Mrs Yost has not yet given me my dates. Will be in New York early in Nov, perhaps 1st or 2d. There is a long hard pull ahead yet. At the great exposition here last night had a great crowd for half hour between concert and dancers, but I had a crowd. Faithfully, Anna H Shaw. NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION BRANCH OF INTERNATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE ALLIANCE AND OF NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN Honorary President Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, 171 Madison Avenue, New York President Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt 171 Madison Avenue, New York 1st Vice-President Mrs. Frank M. Roessing Munsey Building, Washington, D.C. 2nd Vice-President Mrs. Stanley McCormick 171 Madison Avenue, New York 3rd Vice-President Miss Esther G. Ogden 171 Madison Avenue, New York Treasurer Mrs. Henry Wade Rogers 171 Madison Avenue, New York Corresponding Secretary Miss Hannah J. Patterson 171 Madison Avenue, New York Recording Secretary Mrs. James W. Morrisson 719 Rush Street, Chicago, Ill. 1st Auditor Mrs. Walter McNab Miller Columbia, Missouri 2nd Auditor Mrs. Pattie Ruffner Jacobs Altamont Road, Birmingham, Ala NATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC. President Miss Esther G. Ogden 171 Madison Avenue, New York NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS 171 Madison Avenue New York Telephone, 4818 Murray Hill CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE Chairman Mrs. Frank M. Roessing Headquarters Munsey Building, Washington, D.C. below me have ever had. If by any chance they would let the Federal amendment pass Congress, it would only be with the intention of killing it in the legislatures, and they would see that it was done. We will need headquarters for a long time to come if the Democrats are defeated. I suppose Mrs. Yost has written you of the splendid move of the Anti's in W. Va? In all their years of seeking an issue they have not gotten so effective an one as the Womans Party in Miss Belamonts begging letter has given them. Poor Mrs Yost held up one of their leading papers Monday morning, and I did not wonder there were tears in her tired eyes and discouragement in her soul, when she showed me an editorial in one of the leading papers in the southern part of the state, in which was a long editorial with a facsimile of Mrs. Belmont's letter sent to W Va NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION Honorary President Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, 171 Madison Avenue, New York NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS 171 Madison Avenue New York Moylan, Penna., October 21, 1916. My dear Mrs. Catt, The morning's mail brought me the material you are sending out to the various organizations and which I will read on my way to West Virginia. I found that I could reach my first meeting in West Virginia easier by coming home than by going the other way through Pittsburgh, so I got home than by going the other way through Pittsburgh, so I got home yesterday and am leaving today for my first appointment which is at Salem. I am sending a list of my dates to Mrs. Shuler so that if you want to reach me quickly for any reason you will have the dates on hand. I have received also the Minutes of the Official Board Meeting and the notice of the general Board Meeting in November. I shall be in New York City, if all goes well, to speak for the Educational Section of the New York State Woman Suffrage Party on November 1st. I have had a week's meetings in Pennsylvania which were very successful and a portion of the time Mrs. Miller accompanied me. She certainly is doing splendid work so far as building up her Woman Suffrage Party is concerned. She makes a most effective and helpful talk in forcing home upon the women their personal responsibility. [*Pa WS Party*] I have also received several letters from Miss Meredith in regard to the duty of the National to work for the Democratic party since the other people are working for the Republican Party. All these women who are in politics fail to realize, although they repeat over and over again that their first desire is for suffrage, that in order to get it we must be non-partisan, and are all saying that it is our duty to work for their political party. They wrote me some time ago and urged me to go West and speak in the enfranchised States, not for the Democratic Party, but against the organization of suffragists along partisan lines, and, while I think it would have been a very good plan if we could have had a good strong corps out there to urge the woman not to take sides but to push suffrage by supporting men of all political parties who were friendly, still I do not think it wise for me to undertake any task of that sort personally while I am a member of the Board, and I wrote a letter in which I stated my reasons for thinking the Woman's Party unwise. They telegraphed to know if they might use some extracts from it, and I, in reply, stated that they were perfectly welcome to do so provided they did not separate them from the context so that the thought should appear just as I had expressed it. I now hear that they have made a leaflet and sent it out throughout the West. I do not think they should have done this, but it has already gone out. I have not seen it so I do not know what they said. certainly hope that they have not involved me in any partisan section for I should resent it. I have come to the conclusion that it is not safe to trust politicians, male or female. The fact is that I wrote my letter by hand and have no copy of it, so I do not know exactly what I wrote and do not know what sort of a leaflet they have made up. I have written to find out. I shall be glad to get to New York and see you again and get a little in touch with the work there once more. Still I think I am doing the best service now in going to West Virginia although I have no hope of favorable results. Affectionately yours, Anna Howard Shaw [*nm- Partisan conle??h suffrage*] NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION Branch of international woman suffrage alliance and of national council of women Honorary President Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, 171 Madison Avenue, New York President Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt 171 Madison Avenue, New York 1st Vice-President Mrs. Frank M. Roessing Munsey Building, Washington D.C. 2nd Vice-President Mrs. Stanley McCormick 171 Madison Avenue, New York 3rd Vice-President Miss Esther G. Ogden 171 Madison Avenue, New York Treasurer Mrs. Henry Wade Rogers 171 Madison Avenue, New York Corresponding Secretary Miss Hannah J. Patterson 171 Madison Avenue, New York Recording Secretary Mrs. James W. Morrisson 719 Rush Street, Chicago, Ill. 1st Auditor Mrs. Walter McNab Miller Columbia, Missouri 2nd Auditor Mrs. Pattie Ruffner Jacobs Altamont Road, Birmingham, Ala NATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC. President Miss Esther G. Ogden 171 Madison Avenue, New York NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS 171 Madison Avenue New York Telephone, 4818 Murray Hill CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE Chairman Mrs. Frank M. Roessing Headquarters Munsey Building, Washington, D.C. Parkersburg, W. Va Oct 25th 1916 Dear Mrs Catt, Your letter of the 23d reached me on my arrival here. Thank you for returning the clipping. I too wish we did not have to refer to the C. U. on Womans Party in order to make our position clear but they favor us to it. I have been so filled with discouragement since I came into this state not alone with the normal stupidity of women but with the weapon the Womans Party has placed in the hands of the Antis who had no issue of their own with abuse under the W.V. gave their the best and they could possibly have. We have to meet it whether we want to or not. The ladies here are very much depressed because a hard storm has just set in [*woman's Party methods*] and they say nothing can get the people out in a rain. If we do not have a good audience here it will be the first time since I have been here. The audiences are all right as to size, but oh my, we will need the seventy five years of Ellis Meredith and [Smoot?] to put some intelligence into new born babes. I do not feel today that I am good for quite seventy five years more of it. I am to speak for the Equal Franchise Educational Section Wed. Nov 1st Mrs Mansfield. I expected to remain over until the 3d as I have been asked to speak for the N.J. State Teachers meeting that night in Newark. The invitation followed me about so long it may be they secured some one else, but whether I go there or not I will remain over to the luncheon. I have a good many dates next month as I am trying to put in as many as I can before cold weather. I fear some of Mrs McClurgs arrangements here were not well managed. We are now where we should have been at least six months ago. The thing I am convinced about is [*McClurg meeting*] NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION BRANCH OF INTERNATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE ALLIANCE AND OF NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN HONORARY PRESIDENT DR. ANNA HOWARD SHAW, 171 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK that most local people do not know how and ought not to be trusted to arrange mass meetings. Here they have no idea about collections. Last night no woman would sit on the platform and they forgot to speak to the man who presided about the collection. The loose way they have of taking and the fear of asking for collections is madning. I forgot to say if I go to the teachers meeting in New Jersey, I shall not be able to go to your home for dinner on [Wednesday] the night of the 3d I am sorry, if I do not go I shall be glad to accept. Hope all goes well at Headquarters with affectionate regards. Anna H Shaw [*mass meeting & money collections*] NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION BRANCH OF INTERNATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE ALLIANCE AND OF NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN HONORARY PRESIDENT DR. ANNA HOWARD SHAW PRESIDENT MRS. CARRIE CHAPMAN CATT Florence Villa Florida Feb 16th 1917 My dear Miss Danielson Referring to your letter of Feb 6th you state that Friday May 11th would be an acceptable date for Willimantic. That date falls in with the trip very well and I can set it apart for that city. The subject can be adjusted along the lines you think best a little later when we know whether or not we are at war with the world or not. I hope however suffrage and the injustice to women of inflicting the horrible result of war upon them without giving them any power to controll conditions may be a part of it. Faithfully yours Anna H. Shaw Please let me know as soon as possible if you accept the date. NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION BRANCH OF INTERNATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE ALLIANCE AND OF NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN ANNA HOWARD SHAW PRESIDENT MOYLAN, PA. Aug 14th My dear Miss Blackwell I have just this moment received the enclosed and send it an to you, thinking there may be something you would like to use for the Journal Faithfully Anna H Shaw COPY NATIONAL AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION CONGRESS CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE 1626 Rhode Island Avenue Washington, D.C. June 11, 1919 Dear Ladee: Well, we had our first victory celebration last night, inviting the men in both houses who voted for us, together with their wives and families, and it was really a fine affair. The very first thing on the program was myself being called upon to read your telegram, which was received with the greatest applause. Then I was asked to read the one we were sending to you, and it was accepted by a rising vote, applause growing greater all the time. I felt quite a heroine - no, I mean a star. Was all dressed up in my new gown. Some class. I wish you could have seen Mrs. Catt. I never saw her looking so beautiful. She was queenly. Wore an exquisite white lace gown - a most Frenchy creation which fitted her as a mould - a large bunch of pink rosebuds at her wrist, and the expression of her face was one of pleasure, content, happiness, in fact, real cozy. She spoke easily and pleasantly, no oratory, and in a heart-to-heart way as though we were all one family and she was taking everybody into her heart. I have never seen Mrs. Catt in that attitude before. Doesn't it show what the passage of that Amendment means to the workers? Our party was beautiful and simple - had sweet low music by an orchestra of three, refreshments served by a caterer and the table was a joy to behold. Of course it was buffet - ices, cakes, coffee, etc. The whole thing was refined and elegant and successful. I really believe everybody had a good time. Our friend Tumulty was here, and asked me about you with great concern. Tonight we are to have the suffragists, and that ends the celebration. Mrs. Catt was pretty happy to get the news that Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, had ratified before we began to celebrate last night, and during the evening word came that Kansas is calling an extra session, the members of the Legislature expressing themselves as willing to waive their per diem so as to make it easier for the State to proceed to ratify, a message from New York that the Governor had issued a call for an extra session June 16th to ratify, that Ohio's Legislature will reconvene June 16 to ratify, and all of this while we were rejoicing over the passage of the Amendment. I cannot tell you how many times your name was mentioned, and regret expressed that you were unable to be here. Mrs. Catt tells me that according to some action taken in Europe, it may be necessary for her to call a gathering of the Suffrage Alliance in September, but was not sure until she could refer to the minutes. Said it would be Holland. However, she is hoping that nothing will take her away from America this year because she is having so much fun with the ratification business. She is corresponding with all the Governors of all the states and pitting them against each other--stirring up a whole lot of competition--and it seems to be working successfully. We have a fac simile of the Amendment as printed, on parchmont, and the real signatures of the V.P. and Speaker attached to the copy, and this is for you. Mrs. Catt has one also. Mrs. Gardener attended to it from beginning to end, and she certainly accomplished a lot for COPY National American Woman Suffrage Association Congressional Committee 1626 Rhode Island Avenue, Washington, D.C. June 11, 1919 Dear Ladee: - (Anna Howard Shaw) Well, we had our first victory celebration last night, inviting the men in both houses who voted for us, together with their wives and families, and it really was a fine affair. The very first thing on the program was myself being called upon to read your telegram, which was received with the greatest applause. Then I was asked to read the one we were sending to you, and it was accepted by a rising vote, applause growing greater all the time. I felt quite a heroine--no, I mean a star. Was all dressed up in my new gown. Some class. I wish you could have seen Mrs. Catt. I never saw her looking so beautiful. She was queenly. Wore an exquisite white lace gown-- a most Frenchy creation which fitted her as a mould? - a large bunch of pink rosebuds at her wrist, and the expression of her face was one of pleasure, content, happiness, in fact, real cozy. She spoke easily and pleasantly, no oratory, and in a heart-to-heart way as though we were all one family and she was taking everybody into her heart. I have never seen Mrs. Catt in that attitude before. Doesn't it show what passage of that Amendment means to the workers? Our party was beautiful and simple - had a sweet low music by an orchestra of three, refreshments served by a caterer and the table was a joy to behold. Of course it was a buffet -ices, cakes, coffee, etc. The whole thing was refined and elegant and successful. I really believe everybody had a good time. Our friend Tumulty was here, and asked me about you with great concern. Tonight we are to have the suffragists, and that ends the celebration. Mrs. Catt was pretty happy to get the news that Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, had ratified before we began to celebrate last night, and during the evening word came that Kansas is calling an extra session, the members of the Legislature expressing themselves as willing to waive their per diem so as to make it easier for the State to proceed to ratify, a message from New York that the Governor had issued a call for an extra session June 16th to ratify, that Ohio's Legislature will reconvene June 16 to ratify, and all of this while we were rejoicing over the passage of the Amendment. I cannot tell you how many times your name was mentioned, and regret expressed that you were unable to be here. page 2 - Caroline Reilly to Anna Howard Shaw Mrs. Catt tells me that according to some action taken in Europe, it may be necessary for her to call a gathering of the Suffrage Alliance in September, but was not sure until she could refer to the minutes. Said it would be Holland. However, she is hoping that nothing will take her away from America this year because she is having so much fun with the ratification business. She is corresponding with all the Governors of all the States and pitting them against each other -- stirring up a whole lot of competition -- and it seems to be working successfully. We have a facsimile of the Amendment as printed, on parchment, and the real signatures of the V. P. and Speaker attached to the copy, and this is for you. Mrs. Catt has one also. Mrs. Gardener attended to it from beginning to end, and she certainly accomplished a lot for the National in the Government's recognition of the Association by having only a National group present when the signing was done in both the Speaker's and the V.P.'s offices and in each case the pen handed to Mrs. Park. It is a beautiful gold pen which Mrs. G. purchased and had ready for them to use, and it will be a nice thing to keep with the other treasures. My, I will have much to tell you later on when I go to visit you at Moylan about July 1st. Tell Miss Lucy to telegraph me if you leave Springfield, which I hope you will be able to do very soon. How I wish you were at Moylan. I think it would cure you immejut. I do hate to see the house closed, although it is a great relief to be able to get away in the heat this summer. Still I should be able to get away in the heat this summer. Still, I should like to know the house was occupied by our friends. They are asking Mrs. Hemmick to take it back July 1st, and I guess she will. Houses are in great demand here. This is all for today. Good-bye and love to you both. Come home soon. (signed) Caroline I. Reilly Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.