NAWSA GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE Stilson, S. L. E. Washington Square New York Dec. 10 '72 Eas. Woman's Journal I notice a disposition on the part of some of your correspondents to extol the course of the sixteen women who voted at Rochester. Now although I am as staunch a Woman Suffragist as they, I cannot but feel that such an act bring opprobrium upon the cause, and in so far, does damage, In such defiant and unlovely measures a few of the "New York suffragists" have made themselves conspicuous. The Boston party - though with shame we say it - have done far truer, higher service. I have written considerably for other publications but I believe that I have never before afflicted you. I enclose an article which is at your disposal. This [letter] note is not for publication, however. How can any pure woman wish to vote on the strength of Mrs. Woodhull's argument upon the 14th & 15th amendments? Mrs. Howe's dignified editorial quietus on the Woodhull-Claflin Scandal was in the issue of a few weeks since was truly acceptable. Those sisters receive no sympathy in New York from respectable people. Many are glad that they are in prison, not from any personal ill will, [to these creatures,] but because they have been a stumbling block to advancement, their sinful cousins having been the greatest of all obstacles to the Woman Suffrage movement, because unfortunately their names have been so associated with your cause; and they have brought thereon a curse. [Silently] "In dignified silence" ignoring them goes will help to show to the world that Equal Rights for Woman does not "mean free love and easy divorce." My true name not to be published. Very respectfully S. L. Stilson E. Washington Square New York Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.