NAWSA Subject File Algeo, Sara M. R J Winter Program of Work Woman Suffrage Party THE SUFFRAGE PARTY DRAMATIC CLUB Meets every Friday evening at 8:15 at the Y. M. C. A., Broad Street. Membership is open to all. No due. Miss Enid M. Pierce, 166 Sixth Street, is Chairman. THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE WOMAN SUFFRAGE PARTY Will be held in connection with the regular meeting of the Dramatic Club Friday evening, November 2, at 8:15. Officers and committees will give their annual reports; election of officers and good speakers. THE PROVIDENCE CIVIC FORUM So successful last year, will be carried on from November 4 until March, Sunday afternoons at 3:30 in the Casino Theatre. Mathewson Street. On November 4th, Mrs. Frederick Bagley, Chairman of the Americanization Committee of the National Merican Woman Suffrage Association and member of the Labor Commission of the Counsel of National Defense, of which Samual Gompers is Chairman, will give an illustrated lecture on "Americanization Work of the Western Woman Voter." Mary Antin, author of "The Promised Land," will speak on "Citizenship." Mr. Edward E. Bohner will preside. This is a great opportunity. Bring your friends. THE SUFFRAGE PARTY BAZAAR Will be held for two days (two o'clock until ten) in the Parlors of the Narragansett Hotel, December 4th and 5th. Contributions are solicited for the Amry and Navy Table, also books, pictures, cards, cake, candy, preserves of all kinds, jellies, fancy articles. Bring anything you don't want for the White Elephant Table. Entertainment afternoon and evening. Alice Duer Miller's very clever play, "His Place is in the Armory," will be given by members of the Suffrage Party Dramatic Club both evenings. NATURALIZATION OF THE FOREIGN-BORN WOMAN Is the important work to which the Providence Woman Suffrage Party will devote its energy this winter. In order to vote for President of the United States in 1920, the foreign-born woman if single should take out her first paper for citizenship (Declaration of Intention) before February 1, 1918, in order that she may allow herself time to take other necessary steps for citizenship before the election in November, 1920. If married, she should insist that her husband take out his papers before the same date, as the woman takes her status from that of her husband. We need assistance in distributing our literature (printed in all languages) and opportunities to present the subject to foreign-born audiences. PLEASE CO-OPERATE, for the time is short and the need is urgent. FUNDS ARE NEEDED For the support of all this good work, and pledges or contributions will be gratefully received either by your Treasurer or by me. Yours cordially, SARA M. ALGEO Chairman Providence Woman Suffrage Party. 18 RHODE ISLAND SUFFRAGE PARTY "This government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free." ---Abraham Lincoln. "No democracy is safe for the world while a taint of the autocracy of sex remains in it." ---Anna Garlin Spencer. Rhode Island has passed many milestones in search of civil and religious liberty but the end is not yet. She cannot hope to attain the full measure of freedom until all women are permitted to enjoy life on the same terms as men with existing economic, industrial and political barriers removed. We are grateful to you, Mr. President, for recognition of this fundamental principal and for its support. To no President of these United States has it been given to wield a greater force in shaping the destiny of nations. That you have exercised this power with the vision of a seer, the wisdom of a statesman and the magnanimity of a Christian gentleman is the universal verdict. For your noble contribution to the cause of womanhood we thank you. Copy Sara M. Algeo, Chairman Enid M. Pierce -Chairman Louise F. Brooke, Secretary Mary Floyd [??], Treasurer J. Edith [??] Congressional Chairman Deborah [?] [?Livingston], Member-at-large How Rhode Island Laws Discriminate Against Women Mother do not have equal guardianship with fathers of their children. Mothers do not have equal rights with fathers to services and earnings of their children. A wife's services in the home belong to her husband. Women are forced to bear the brunt of burden of illegitimate parenthood. Women are excluded from jury service. Women teachers are discriminated against in regulations and customs of school boards. Women in industry are hampered by discriminatory legislation. National Women's Party Capitol Hill, Washington, D. C. FIVE CENTS A COPY Copyright , 1924, by National Woman's Party Grateful Acknowledgement is Made of the Generosity of MRS. F. R. HAZARD and MR. HENRY F. LIPPITT in Financing the Printing of this Leaflet This leaflet is a brief summary of discriminations which are shown in a digest covering all Rhode Island laws and court decisions in any way affecting women. The said digest, with similar digests for other states, was compiled by the Legal Research Department of the Woman's Party under the Legal Research Secretary, Burnita Shelton Matthews, LL.M., Member of the Bar of the U. S. Supreme Court and of the D. C. Bar. Rhode Island's laws are based upon the English Common Law which recognizes in every way the supremacy of the man and the subjection of the woman. Although Rhode Island has modified the harshness of the Common Law in many respects, even today women are denied many rights which men enjoy. For instance, a mother in Rhode Island does not have equal rights with the father over their children; a wife does not have the same rights over her labor and her property as her husband has over his; the woman citizen does not have all the civil rights which are granted to the man citizen. The Woman's Party is working to remove all forms of the subjection of the women--in the law, in custom, in the moral world, in the professions, in industry, in education, in elective and appointive positions, in the church and in the home. Its first object is the removal of discriminations in the law. It is endeavoring to obtain an Amendment to the National Constitution stating: "Men and women shall have equal rights throughout the United States and every place subject to its jurisdiction." The Woman's Party is also working to secure the passage of Equal Rights legislation by the state legislatures. In Rhode Island it is now urging the legislature to pass legislation removing all discriminations against women and placing men and women on an equal plane before the law. [[LEFT PAGE]] How Rhode Island Laws Discriminate Against Women Mothers Do Not Have Equal Guardianship With Fathers of Their Children The Common Law rule that the natural guardianship of minor children belongs primarily to the father [[superscript 1]] is unchanged in Rhode Island. By this rule, the father is entitled to superintend the nurture, education and employment of the children. [[superscript 2]] The mother, on the other hand, has little to no authority in this matter unless the father is dead or has deserted his family [[superscript 2]] or is a non-resident of the state. [[superscript 3]] As to the custody and control of a child in case of separation or divorce of the parents, the Rhode Island Supreme Court has held that "undoubtedly the right of the father should prevail unless it appears that the interests of the child will be subserved by a different course." [[superscript 4]] For example let us take the case of Mr. and Mrs. G, which was decided in 1920. [[suerscript 5]] The wife was obliged to leave her husband on account of his cruelty and took with her their two sons, one two years and a half old and the younger less than six weeks old. Although the husband was ordered by the court to make payments for the support of these children he paid no attention to the order and the mother alone supported them for more than five years. A reconciliation was effected, but as he acted worse than before, and did 4 [[RIGHT PAGE]] not keep his promise to do what was right by her, she again left him and took the two children with her. A third child- a girl- was born the following month. The wife was granted a divorce by the Superior Court of Providence and Birstol counties on the ground of extreme cruelty, but was permitted to retain the custody of only one of the children- the baby girl. The other two, aged seven and eight, were given to the father. The mother carried the case to the State Supreme Court but that court denied relief, stating that it could not say that the trial court was "clearly in error"; that if the husband should not properly care for the two children awarded to him, that the way would be open for her "to apply to the court and show that the circumstances of the case were such that the best interests and welfare of the children required a change of custody." [[superscript 5]] The Father Owns the Services and Earnings of Children The father is in the is state, as a general rule, entitled to the services of a minor child and to its wages if working for another. [[superscript 6]] He also has the power to bind the child as an apprentice. [[superscript 7]] Conversely the mother has no right to the services and earnings of a child or to bind it as an apprentice except when the father is dead or of unsound mind, or has abandoned his rights or has relinquished them to her. [[superscript 8]] The right to the child's labor and earnings is given the father as compensation for his services in supporting the child. [[superscript 9]] On the other hand, no compensation is provided the mother for her services rendered 5 in the care of the child even during the years of its entire helplessness. This law regards primarily the rights of the father and takes little account of the claims of the mother. Father Alone Entitled to Sue for Certain Injuries to Children Except in cases covered by the Workmen's Compensation Act, [[superscript 10]] when a minor child is injured through the negligence or wrongful act of another, the father alone usually has the right to sue for damages to cover any loss of the child's services and earnings for the period of its minority, which was occasioned by the injury. [[superscript 11]] Likewise when a minor daughter is seduced it is the father who is entitled to collect damages from her seducer. [[superscript 12]] Only when the father is dead or has forfeited his rights does the mother have the right to maintain such suits. [[superscript 13]] Mother Is Sole Guardian of Illegitimate Child When a child is legitimate and its existence sanctioned by society and law recognizes the father as the principal parent and bestows upon him superior authority, but when the child is illegitimate and its existence stigmatized with shame and reproach then the law establishes the mother as the only recognized parent, thrusts upon her the brunt of the burden and places the father safely in the background. The mother of the illegitimate child is its natural guardian and is alone charged with its care, custody 6 and welfare. [[superscript 14]] According to the law only the blood of the mother and "none of the father" runs in the veins of this unfortunate child and therefore it can inherit from her but not from him and has no kindred save hers. [[superscript 15]] The father has no responsibility whatever except that if he is found to be the child's father by court proceedings duly brought, he may be required to make payments to the overseer of the poor for the necessary support of the child. [[superscript 16]] The main element in this requirement however is to protect the public from having to support the child, and not to do justice to the child and its mother. [[superscript 17]] The Husband Owns the Wife's Services in the Home The Common Law vests practically all property rights in the husband and while this law has been changed in Rhode Island so as to permit a married woman to own and control property [[superscript 18]] still the first right of property which a free person enjoys, that is to say, the full ownership of his or her labor, is still denied the married woman. [[superscript 19]] Although she may collect wages for work performed outside the home, [superscript 20] the face is that the household work and other home service devolves upon her and this labor or service is not hers, but is legally the property of her husband. [superscript 21] Consequently when prosperity comes her labor and service does not entitle her to share as a partner in the gains nor is she entitled to any part of the family income besides her necessary support. 7 Husband Can Collect Damages When Wife Is Injured As stated by the Rhode Island Supreme Court, "the right of a husband to receive the services of his wife is considered a valuable property right, and for its loss in consequence of the negligent act of a third person the husband in entitled to pecuniary compensation." 21 For instance: Mrs. Carlo Larisa was injured due to a defect in one of the highways of the town of Barrington. Her husband brought suit against the town treasurer for damages for loss of his wife's services and judgement was rendered in his favor. In the course of its opinion the Court said: "The loss to a husband of the valuable services of his wife in his household does not differ in kind from her loss of wages, and in many cases may constitute a much greater pecuniary injury." 21 From time immemorial the husband has had a property interest in the labor of his wife. 21 On the other hand the wife has no such property interest in the labor of her husband. 22 When he is injured she can not recover anything for loss of his services or for loss of support, but he is entitled to all damages. 22 Husband's Domicile Controls That of Wife for Practically All Purposes Since under the Common Law theory of marriage the husband and wife are one, he being the one, it is a general rule, that they can not domiciled in different places, but the domicile of the husband is the domicile of the wife. This means that the 8 husband's domicile usually controls of the wife for even such purposes as voting, office holding, suing and being sued, poor relief, taxation and other relations with the government. 23 For instance: Mrs. Mary S. Howland from considerations of health and with the consent of her husband was living in Asheville, North Carolina, intending this place to be her permanent home. Her husband was living in the city of Providence. The city treasurer of Providence sought to require her to pay taxes on her personal property but she contended that as she was a resident of North Carolina her personal property was not subject to taxation in Rhode Island. The court held that the "unity of the marriage relation" being in existence, Mrs. Howland could not acquire a domicile in North Carolina and therefore that her personal estate was subject to taxation at the place of her husband's domicile in Rhode Island." The Law Presumes the Wife Irresponsible In Rhode Island "the Common Law presumes that when husband and wife are together, they have virtually but one will between them, the will of the husband." 24 And so if she commits certain criminal offenses in his presence it is likewise presumed that she acted by his command and he is held "prima facie responsible for it." 24 This law treats the wife as an irresponsible person subject to the back and call of "a husband's authority" even in the matter of committing crimes. 9 Wife's Share in Husband's Property Is Often Less Than Husband's Share in Wife's Property Where the wife is granted a divorce for fault on the part of the husband, she is entitled to a life interest in one-third of his real estate provided she makes no claim for alimony. 25 On the other hand, when the husband is granted a divorce for the wife's fault, he is entitled, provided a child was born alive during the marriage, to the use, enjoyment, rents and profits of all of her property as long as he lives. However, this property of the wife's is subject to such allowance for her support as the court may think proper. 26 When a husband dies, the wife is entitled to dower- that is, a life interest in one-third of the husband's real estate. 27 On the other hand, when the wife dies, the husband is entitled to a life interest in all of her real estate provided a child was born alive during the marriage. 28 However, in case a husband or wife dies leaving no will and no descendants, the surviving consort is entitled for his or her natural life to all the real estate of the deceased consort. 29 Women Excluded from Jury Service Rhode Island women are still denied one of the oldest of the rights accorded to freemen, that is the right of trial by a jury of their peers. After women were enfranchised the Rhode Island law on jurors was broad enough to justify an interpretation that women as well as men might legally serve on a jury but the legislature in 1921 changed this law so as to provide in express terms that jurors shall be 10 "male persons." 30 Rhode Island is one of the two states to take this particular step backward. Women Discriminated Against in Public School System There being no law in Rhode Island securing women teachers equal rights with men teachers, the custom of discriminating against the women in favor of the men flourishes in practically every part of the state. All the best positions go to the men and the principle of equal pay for equal work is apparently unknown in this profession even though it was among the earliest professions open to women. For instance, in Providence the salaries of men high school teachers range from $300 to $400 more per year than the salaries of the women high school teachers. 31 In Newport, Westerly and Warwick women are discriminated against in favor of men teachers to the extent of at least $200 per year in salary. 31 Moreover, in some parts of the state it is a rule that if a woman teacher marries she forfeits her position. For instance, a rule of the School Committee of Woonsocket provides: "Should a female teacher marry, her place shall thereupon become vacant." 32 In some places, as for example Central Falls and Providence, the school committee will not permit the employment of married women except as substitute teachers. 33 It is needless to say that marriage does not affect the employment of men teachers. 11 Women Discriminated Against in Industry Women are linked with children in the regulation of industry to the detriment of both groups. This identical legislation for children and women prevents the children from getting the needed protection and renders women less able to compete with men for employment. For instance, a law provides that no child under 16 and no woman shall work more than 54 hours per week in any factory, manufacturing, mechanical, business or mercantile establishment. 34 As the law does not apply to men, the men workers can, while the women workers can not, be employed overtime in case of necessity or emergency, a circumstance which makes women less valuable than men as employees. Laws Regarding Certain Appointive Offices Discriminate Against Women Although in 1920 the legislature passed a measure providing that all laws relating to the right to be nominated for or to hold office shall include women citizens, 35 laws passed since then tend to favor men for office. For instance, one law passed in 1922 provides that of the members of the Penal and Charitable Commission, "three . . . shall be women and six . . . . shall be men." 36 Another provides for a director of state institutions at a salary not exceeding $8,000 per year who "shall be a man." 37 There are requirements that certain offices be filled by women but they are not equivalent to those requiring men officers. 12 Legal Age for Marriage Differs for Boys and Girls Boys are of legal age to consent to marriage at 14 while a girl of only 12 is legally capable of marriage. This is the common law rule and it is still in force in Rhode Island. 38 Although the Rhode Island laws provide for the consent of the parent to the marriage of a minor, 39 the lack of such consent does not affect the validity of the marriage. 40 The age of consent to marriage is fixed as a protection to young persons and this protection surely ought to be extended to girls as long as it is to boys. References given are to the General Laws of Rhode Island, revision of 1923, decisions of the Rhode Island Supreme Court, and to other authorities. 1. Schouler's Domestic Relations, 6th ed. Sec. 811. 2. Schouler's Domestic Relations, 6th ed. Sec. 740. 3. G. L. Ch. 289, Secs. 1-4. 4. Vetterlein, Petitioner, 14 R. I. 378. 5. Grant v. Grant, 110 Atlantic 70. 6. McGarr v. Nat. & Prov. Worsted Mills, 24 R. I. 447. Galligan v. Woonsocket St. Ry. Co., 27 R. I. 363. 7. G. L. Ch. 91, Sec. 1. 8. McGarr v. Nat. & Prov. Worsted Mills, 24 R. I. 447. G. L. Ch. 290, Secs. 16-17. Ch. 91, Sec. 1. 9. McGarr v. Nat. & Prov. Worsted Mills, supra. 10. G. L. Ch. 92, Arts. 1-8. 11. Galligan v. Woonsocket St. Ry. Co., 27 R. I. 363. Dimitri et al. v. Peter Cienci & Son, 41 R. I. 393. 12. Tourgee v. Rose, 19 R. I. 432. Thiebault v. Prendergast, 69, Atlantic 922. 13. Schouler's Domestic Relations, 6th ed. Sec. 761. Simone v. The R. I. Co., 28 R. I. 186. 14. Hope, Petitioner, 19 R. I. 186. 15. Briggs v. Greene, 10 R. I. 495. Grundy v. Hadfield, 16 R. I. 579. G. L. Ch. 367, Sec. 7. 16. G. L. Ch. 107, Secs. 1-18. 17. State v. Bowen, 14 R. I. 165. Schouler's Domestic Relations, 6th ed. Sec. 709. 18. G. L. Ch. 290, Sec. 1. 19. Larisa v. Tiffany, 42 R. I. 148. 20. G. L. Ch. 290, Sec. 1. 21. Larisa v. Tiffany, supra. 22. Schouler's Domestic Relations, 6th ed. Sec. 668. 23. Howland v. Granger, 22 R. I. 1. G. L. Ch. 104, Sec. 1. 24. State v. Boyle, 13 R. I. 537. 25. G. L. Ch. 291, Sec. 5. 26. G. L. Ch. 291, Sec. 6. NOTE- The Supreme Court decided in 1894 in the case of Burgess v. Mulldoon, 18 R. I. 607, that a husband who divorces his wife for her fault has no interest in her estate but the country is believed to be the law now in view of the revision and reenactment covered by G. L. Ch. 291, Sec. 6. 27. G. L. Ch. 380, Sec. 1. 28. G. L. Ch. 290, Sec. 8. Ch. 367, Sec. 8. 29. G. L. Ch. 367, Sec. 4. 30. G. L. Ch. 329, Sec. 1. 31. Information secured in Nov. and Dec., 1923, from Supts. of Public Schools for these cities. 32. Rules, Ch. 5, Sec. 6. 33. Information secured in Nov. and Dec., 1923, from Supts. of Public Schools for these cities. 34. G. L. Ch. 91, Sec. 22. 35. G. L. Ch. 6, Sec. 26. 36. G. L. Ch. 413, Sec. 1. 37. G. L. Ch. 413, Sec. 7. 38. Capwell v. Capwell, 21, R. I. 101. 39. G. L. Ch. 287, Sec. 11. 40. G. L. Ch. 287, Sec. 22. NATIONAL WOMAN'S PARTY National Headquarters, Capitol Hill, Washington D. C. Rhode Island State Headquarters, Crown Hotel, Providence, Rhode Island. WILL YOU NOT HELP TO REMOVE DISCRIMINATIONS AGAINST THE WOMEN OF RHODE ISLAND AND OTHER STATES BY JOINING THE WOMAN'S PARTY AND SUPPORTING ITS CAMPAIGN FOR "EQUAL RIGHTS" LEGISLATION? YOU CAN DO THIS BY MAILING THE MEMBERSHIP BLANK BELOW WITH YOUR DUES. Annual Dues: $10.00, to be shared equally between State and National Headquarters. Associate Membership-$1.00, to be shared equally between State and National Headquarters. Special Classes of Membership: Founders-$90.00, in addition to annual dues of $10.00, payable before August 6, 1924, to National Headquarters. Life Membership-$1,000, no further dues, payable to National Headquarters. I enroll as a. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .member, enclosing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .dues. Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 National Council of the Woman's Party National Headquarters, Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. President, Mrs. O. H. P. Belmont, N. Y. Vice-President, Mrs. Anne Archbold, Me. Chairman National Council, Elsie Hill, Conn. First Vice-Chairman, Gail Laughlin, Me. Second Vice-Chairman, Agnes Morey, mass. Secretary, Anita Pollitzer, S. C. Treasurer, Edith Ainge, N. Y. Editor of "Equal Rights," Mrs. Dora Ogle, Md. Business Manager of "Equal Rights," Dora Ogle, Md. Advisory Council Chairman, Elizabeth Selden Rodgers, N. Y. Congressional Chairman, Maud Younger, Calif. National Headquarters House Chairman, Mrs. Richard Wainwright, D. C. Florence Brewer Boeckel, D. C. Mrs. R. J. Caldwell, N. Y. Lavinia Egan, La. Zona Gale, Wis. Sara P. Grogan, Ga. Inez Haynes Irwin, N. Y. Mrs. William Kent, Calif. Mrs. Lawrence Lewis, Pa. Lola Maverick Lloyd, Ill. Sophie G. Meredith, Va. Alice Paul, N. J. Mrs. Townsend Scott, Md. Lois Warren Shaw, N. H. Martha Souder, Pa. Dr. Caroline E. Spencer, Colo. Mrs. Robert Walker, Md. Mrs. Robert T. Whitehouse, Me. Sue White, Tenn. Margaret Whittemore, Mich. Mary Winsor, Pa. Rhode Island State Executive Committee State Headquarters, Crown Hotel, Providence, Rhode Island. Chairman, Mrs. James W. Algeo, Barrington. First Vice-Chairman, Mrs. Mary A. Van Buren, Newport. Second Vice-Chairman, Miss Althea L. Hall, 178 High St., Pawtucket. Secretary, Mrs. Rosa Adam Burgess, Crown Hotel, Providence. Assistant Secretary, Mrs. Bertha B. Ill, Crown Hotel, Providence. Treasurer, Miss Elizabeth M. Barr, 65 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. Legislative Chairman, Mrs. Fred S. Fenner, 65 Lexington Ave., Providence. 20 17 Allied Printing Trades Union Label Council Washington 17 EQUAL RIGHTS ASSOCIATION-Common Sense Series No. 20, 1923 WORKING ON A NIGHT SHIFT -is NOT tiresome, because of the absence of crowds, noise and tension -it is cooler in summer; -it is healthier, as one can retire to rest at the end of a working shift, when nature demands rest; -and one's leisure hours are spent out in the sunlight of afternoon. Working mothers and women with dependents ALWAYS PREFER A NIGHT SHIFT, as they can work while their children sleep and be with them in the daytime. GIVE A WOMAN A MAN'S CHANCE- Industrially EQUAL RIGHTS ASSOCIATION-Common Sense Series No. 21, 1923 Mrs. Sydney Webb of England says: "What the Community has to do for DANGEROUS OCCUPATIONS is to take care that ALL POSSIBLE MEANS ARE EMPLOYED TO REDUCE THE DANGER to a minimum and to provide full compensation for the victims- LEAVING THEN THE OCCUPATION OPEN SO FAR AS THE LAW IS CONCERNED TO SUCH INDIVIDUALS OF EITHER SEX AS CHOOSE TO ENGAGE IN IT." GIVE A WOMAN A MAN'S CHANCE- Industrially 5 [post mark] CITY HALL STA. N.Y. FEB 4 4 - PM 1923 THIS SIDE OF CARD IS FOR ADDRESS ADDRESS YOUR MAIL TO STREET AND NUMBER U.S. POSTAL CARD ONE CENT 1 JEFFERSON 1 Assemblyman Harry Hasonitz State Nominee Providence R.I. VARICK ST. STA. N.Y. 4 FEB 5 3 PM 1923 THIS SIDE OF CARD IS FOR ADDRESS REGISTER OR INSURE VALUABLE MAIL U.S. POSTAL CARD ONE CENT 1 JEFFERSON 1 Assemblyman Harry Hasonitz State House Providence R.I. [image] Mrs Carrie Chapman last mth her counsellors at the Congress of the International Suffrage Alliance, Geneva 1920 [*Legislation*] BRIEF OF 48-HOUR BILLS submitted by SARA M.ALGEO Chairman, Providence League of Women Voters. TEN POINTS FOR A 48-HOUR BILL FOR PERSONS By SARA M. ALGEO, Chairman Providence League of Women Voters February 7, 1923 TEN POINTS 1 - WE BELIEVE IN A 48-HOUR BILL: First we would make a clear statement of our position. We are not opposed to a 48-hour bill PROVIDED IT APPLIES TO ALL WORKERS WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION BASED UPON SEX. We believe in a 48-hour week in principle for mechanical labor in factories and workshops in spite of the many valid and serious objections arrayed against such limitation of the hours of work, BUT IT MUST BE FOR PERSONS. 2 - THE BARRY BILL: Women who approve of a 48-hour week can endorse the Act introduced by Senator Barry in the January session, 1922, with a clear conscience. It applies to PERSONS. 3 - 48-HOUR BILLS FOR WOMEN AND MINORS ONLY ARE UNJUST: Positions in industry should be open to all on equal terms regardless of race, sex or color. DR. ANNA HOWARD SHAW spoke on this point before the War Labor Board when the Cleveland conductorettes were being ousted from positions on demand of the Amalgamated Associations of Street and Electrical Employees. She said: "Let women be judged by their ability. It is time that justice decides such questions as this. If we fail, let us fail, not by the behest of men, but by our own act. We have fought a great war to secure liberty and justice - not for men, but for people - for women people as well as for men people. If one group of workers may say another group of workers shall not have certain work, just because they are women, then we have neither liberty or justice." 2 CHIEF JUSTICE WILLIAM H. TAFT SAYS: “It is quite possible for men to masquerade as protectors of women in the advocacy of such laws, (Labor Laws for Women Only) when their purpose is rather to prevent the competition of women with male labor. . . . “As one of the joint chairmen of the NAtional Labor Board . . . I BECAME CONVINCED THAT WOMEN NEEDED PROTECTION AGAINST SOME OF THEIR WOULD-BE PROTECTORS.” 4-A 48-HOUR BILL FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN IS NOT IN ACCORD WITH ECONOMIC OR INDUSTRIAL EQUALITY FOR WOMEN: “The framers of legislation intended to benefit women workers must not forget that women are now competing with men in many lines of business and industry, and that the only way in which they can compete successfully is to have a free hand. If a law binds them never to work overtime, and never to work before or after certain hours, no matter what the emergency, and imposes no such restrictions upon men, obviously men have the advantage over women in seeking employment, and what was meant for a kindness to women becomes a cruel handicap.” - Boston Herald. 5- WOMEN ARE NOW CITIZENS AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH: Women are no longer wards of the State and refuse to be treated as such. To quote from the Common Sense Series, No. 13, 1923, of the Equal Rights Association: “These Arguments of Forty Years Ago Have Been Disproved. “There is another reason why I think the proposal . . . is all wrong . . . The office and duty which nature has devolved upon women during all the active and vigorous portions of her life would often render it impossible, AND STILL MORE OFTEN INDELICATE, for her to appear and act in caucuses, conventions or elections, or to ACT AS A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE or as a JUROR or JUDGE.” - From adverse majority report of the House Judiciary Committee, in 1884, on granting suffrage. “Despite the fact that women now act in all the capacities mentioned, without injuring their health or morals, or causing inconvenience to their male associates, the same moss-grown objections are being used to pass laws that will handicap us in earning our livelihood and, incidentally, thus control our political power. A 3 WORD TO THE WISE WOMEN POLITICIAN SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT!” 6- LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN AND MINORS SHOULD BE KEPT ENTIRELY SEPARATE: Mr. Owen Lovejoy of the National Child Labor Committee, Miss Abbott of the National Child Welfare Bureau and practically all leaders in welfare work for children are agreed in this. 7- WE BELIEVE IN EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK: Women cannot get equal pay unless they perform equal work and they cannot get equal work unless they have the same conditions as men. If the 48-hour bill for women and children alone becomes a law, women will be ousted from many classes of work where the wage is high enough to attract men, and owing to State regulations will be ineligible for certain work open to men unregulated by such laws. Hence they will be forced into undesired drudgery. 8- MANY WOMEN WILL LOSE THEIR POSITIONS BY THE PASSAGE OF A 48-HOUR BILL FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN ONLY: It is difficult to give definite figures, but we find that many women would lose their jobs by the passage of such legislation. Such women would be quite justified in attacking such legislation as unconstitutional and bringing pressure to bear upon the Supreme Court to have it removed. Men workers who fear the adverse decision of the Supreme Court against laws regulating the hours of labor by such a law attempt to coerce women under the guise of health regulation to assume risks they are not willing to run themselves. To quote the American Bar Association Journal: P754, Dec., 1922: “In a recent address before the Cleveland Bar Association, former Secretary of War Baker has called attention to one of the causes of the unwillingness of labor leaders to submit wage controversies to judicial determination. He attributes it to the lack of any fixed standard for the determination of wage rates, so that each separate judge before whom such a question might come would be a law unto himself. Coupled with this is the state- ment of Mr. Justice Brandeis in the Duplex Printing Press Company case that labor is dissatisfied with the courts because, by virtue of their environment, the social and economic ideas of judges are considered to be prejudicial to equality between working man and employer." 9--MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY ARE NOT NECESSARILY PLEDGED TO 48-HOUR BIL FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN: Both kinds of bill s were before the Legislature for consideration last year. The impression is widely broadcast that the 48-hour bills were for all workers. 10--BOTH FORMS OF A 48-HOUR BILL ARE EQUALLY CONSTITUTIONAL: Such is the opinion of Nathan W. Littlefield, prominent constitutional lawyer, and many other lawyers whom we have consulted. Thirty-two States have laws regulating persons now. Rhode Island is an example in connection with the law regulating carmen passed in 1902. (Chap. 218, Gen. Laws of R. I.) Possibly the best example is that of the State of Oregon which we present in full. This is the latest decision of the U. S. Supreme Court on the right of State to legislate hours of work for PERSONS. Page 426. Vol. 243, U. S. Reports, Oct. Term, 1916 (to be found in State Law Library): In re Bunting c. Oregon (243 U. S. 426, 37 Sup. Ct. 435) FACTS: The Defendant was indicted for the violation of a statue of the State of Oregon (Laws of 1913, chap 102, p. 169) section 2 of which provides as follows: "No person shall be employed in any mill, factory or manufacturing establishment in this State more than ten hours in any one day . . . . provided, however, employees may work overtime not to exceed three hours in any one day, conditioned that payment be made for such overtime at the rate of time and one-half of the regular wage." A violation of the act is made a misdemeanor. A demurrer was filed to the 5 indictment alleging against its sufficiency that the law upon which it is based is invalid because it violates the 14th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Oregon. The demurrer was overruled and a fine of $50 was imposed, the defendant having been found guilty after arraignment, please of not guilty and trial. Judgement was affirmed by the Supreme Court of Oregon and a writ of error was taken to the United States Supreme Court. DECISION: (3 Justices dissenting), Mr. Justice McKenna delivered opinion. Taking the law at its word, there can be no doubt as to its purpose, and the Supreme Court of the STate has added the confirmation of its decision by declaring that "the aim of the statue is to fix the maximum hours of service in certain industries." (71 Ore. 275, 139 Pac 731.) "We need not cast about for reasons for teh legislative judgement . . . It is enough for our decision if the legislation under review was passed in the exercise of an admitted power of government. "But passing general considerations and coming back to our immediate concern, which is the validity of the particular exertion of power in the Oregon law, our judgement of it is that IT DOES NOT TRANSCEND CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITS." THE QUESTION: The consonance of the Oregon law with the 14th Amendment is the question in the case, and this depends upon whether it is a proper exercise of the police power of the State, as the Supreme Court of the State decided that it is. Digest made by Miss Adelaide Stedman. 39 East 49th St., New York City. 6 Supplementary Statement to the Ten Points By Sara M. Algeo, Chairman, Providence League of Women Voters and Chairman, Rhode Island Woman's Party. The action of the National Woman's Party, the Equal Rights Association, and the Providence and Pawtucket League of Women Voters, in adopting a resolution on January 2nd, the opening day of the Legislature, advocating the substitution of the word "persons" for "women and children" in 48-hour bills was in no sense a hasty or ill-considered move on their part to bring their belief in industrial equality to the attention of the rhode Island Legislature and the public. To each of these organizations equality before the law as in all other departments of life is fundamental in their constitution, is in fact their main excuse for being. We would indeed be negligent in our duty in carrying our our chief purpose for existence should we permit a bill or bills to pass without protest and unchallenged which would deprive women of any of their constitutional rights, rights which men are plainly loathe to be deprived of and the loss of which renders women far less desirable workers in the everwidening fields of industrial competition. Working women like working men see the physical and spiritual advantages of shorter working hours, but if these are to be procured by state regulation, we have resolved that it must be thorugh the correlated efforts of all workers, who shall with the full cognizance and agreement of all concerned, realizing that for what seems to them the greater good to be derived from state control of the hours of service, waive their immediate contractual rights. Before women became voters they felt themselves powerless to stay the flood of so-called protective legislation which, while it has undoubtedly retarded the economic and industrial progress of women, has been by no means an unmitigated evil in that it has procured to a large percentage of men a "free ride" to shorter working hours, more over-time with time 7 and one-half pay, and many desirable jobs, of necessity vacated by women. It must not be forgotten, however, that women, now backed by votes, have ceased to be the helpless portion of the community of former times whose constitutional rights might be bartered and sold by cheap political hucksters for political jobs and political fame. They refuse longer to serve as the burnt offering on the altar of industrial competition. Plain and simple justice demands that the wishes of women workers be painstakingly considered and that they will be consulted before any action prejudicial to their industrial welfare and progress be taken. they should have full and adequate representation upon any committee or commission for the consideration of industrial conditions and it is our duty as patriotic citizens to fight for such representative powers. Do not, we beg of you, gentlemen, because we still happen to be in the minority, exercise your power as the great majority too harshly. Our burden of responsibility is already sufficiently grievous to be borne and we crave your sympathetic interpretation of the golden rule to do unto others as you yourselves would be done by in a similar position. In principle we believe in a forty-eight hour week. We believe that the 8-hour day is not an abnormal requirement and should be the right of every worker, man or woman. Especially do we believe in such limitation of service for those who are engaged at the automatic machine and in work where variety does not counteract the deadening effect of monotony. If you wish to be convinced of the need and the ultimate shortening of hours of labor for all workers, I would ask you to read with open mind Arthur Pound's "Iron Man in Industry." Starting with the premise that, "Employers may fight the tendency toward a shorter working day, but theirs is a losing fight," he shows how, "If the present highly effective organizations are slowly enlarged, it is difficult to see how the market, under normal conditions, can absorb more than eight hours' produce from day to day." To offset the physical and moral depreciation and general unrest resulting from the effects of monotonous labor upon the nervous system, he states truly, "The welfare of our people and the preser- 8 vation of our institutions depend upon our educating youth to use reasonably and gloriously the growing leisure which the common use of automatic machinery has in store fore humanity." We believe that the principle recommended by the Commission on International Labor Legislation for a "48-hour week as the standard to be aimed at where it has not already been attained" at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 was not only a shining ideal for future generations but a practical reality in the attainment of which, Rhode Island now and here can bear and important part. Again to quote the "Iron Man:" "The people of the earth look to governments to set up a moral control over machine use; and this instinctive turning to the State for relief is sound to the core, since States are the only groupings of humanity strong enough to harness the Iron Man to the chariot of well-being." Of even greater significance are the following words of Mr. Pound: "The automatic tool will be the force back of most of our legislation for the next fifty years, just as it will be the mainspring of our educational programme, once its significance is understood by educators still fumbling for the key to modern life. To lads who come as beardless boys into their greatest purchasing power, something must be taught, other than has been taught, if they are ever to use their leisure and their economic power aright. The army of homeless, wifeless men and foot-loose women is growing; the automatic tool has cut marriage-bands as well as steel bands. Let all who think in terms of public recreation, domestic relations, charity, religion, morals, child-welfare, and social science ponder those reactions of the automatic tool that daily proceed under their eyes." "America gave the automatic tool its chance. Its blessings are evident; but unless controlled by social conscience, it may develop curses equally potent. America's high duty is to guide the continuing evolution of the Iron Man intelligently." We can quote many authorities to prove our premise that a 48-hour law is necessary for men as for women if the race is to develop aright. Dr. George W. Webster in Bulletin 14, U.S. Department of Labor, in his treatise on the physiological basis for shorter hours of labor says, (Page 6): 9 "It is of paramount importance that the forward-looking among us go to work in a calm, orderly, large-minded, far-sighted, constructive manner to determine and establish a standard of working hours; but it is of infinitely greater importance that this standard shall be right, and that it be established on a strictly scientific foundation, a foundation, a standard, determined by the united efforts of the physiologist, the psychologist, the engineer. This standard should be for all who labor in industry, men and women alike." Professor Irving Fisher points our that, "Any successful life must satisfy six or seven of the great fundamental instincts-- self-preservation, self-expression, the instinct of workmanship, self-sacrifice, the home-making instinct, loyalty and the instinct of worship." He says: "In order that the laboring man may live his life he must satisfy more than the instinct of self-preservation ***. Their souls are hungry and thirsty to satisfy these great instincts*** while their employers assume they are only interested in wages. To use the working man's arms and legs, and to ignore that he has a brain is to ruin him as a craftsman and to degrade him as a man!" Mr. Louis D. Brandeis recognizes that, "It is the development of manhood to which an industrial and social system must be directed." Dr. Webster sums up his argument on fatigue with the following trenchant paragraphs: "Fatigue puts the worker in an abnormal frame of mind. The first striking effect of fatigue, whether of a muscle or of a man, is increased irritability. This leads him to attempt to deaden his fatigue by excesses of various kinds, such as tobacco, alcohol, exciting amusements: these again, in turn, lead to increased susceptibility to infection of all kinds, because his powers of resistance are diminished. "One of the powerful, important factors making directly for fatigue is the 'sense of economic insecurity.' This haunting fear is especially noticeable in the seasonable trades. What the worker needs is the stabilizing of employment rather than charity, and the shorter day is a step in this direction." All these arguments apply equally to men and women. Legislation, however, which might prove a blessing for both if applied equally might prove a serious detriment if applied but to one group. Women who are pushed into industry by the ever-present "sense of economic insecurity" should have no artificial handicaps placed upon them in the guise of protective legislation that are not placed upon their fellow workers as well. Again, I say, 10 gentlemen, that your right to limit the constitutional rights of women and not those of men will be challenged at the doors of the highest courts if need be. The time has come, we believe, when only general arguments relating to fatigue, character-building, and human welfare, arguments affecting all workers alike, will stand the testing process of court procedure. From surveys made under the Board of Health in our own State we learn the following interesting facts which personal observation verifies: that women in industry have more children than women not so engaged; that they have a smaller proportion of still-born babies and that a greater proportion of babies born to them survive the first month, the month marked by the largest percentage of infant mortality. Th real problem facing us at this time, gentlemen, is raising motherhood to the dignity of an occupation on a par with other professions. This, we maintain, cannot be done by depriving her of her right to work unless some substitute equally lucrative and conducive to self-respect is provided. Are you prepared, gentlemen, who are in favor of a 48-hour bill for women and children, to provide such a substitute? If so, we would be glad to be assured of its nature. We are frank to admit that none occurs to us at present. Again I would remind you of the arguments so eloquently presented by Mrs. Harriot Stanton Blatch proving that legislation for women and children should be kept entirely separate. Such legislation is fair to neither and works a cruel injustice upon children, and is a base denial of the joint responsibility of parenthood. If women could have their way, they would keep children out of the industrial maelstrom altogether until their sixteenth year, at least. Amid all the conflicting testimony presented at this hearing may we not all unite upon the passage of a law in behalf of our boys and girls that will be inferior to none but a standard for all? I would also respectfully call your attention once more to the sweeping effects of some of the bills under consideration upon the small business. So great an emphasis has been place upon the textile industries during the discussion that the drastic effects 11 of the present bills upon practically all business have been overlooked. "Factory, manufacturing, mechanical, business, or mercantile establishment" are very inclusive terms and might be construed to include practically all industrial enterprises. Applied to persons, such a bill would by one stroke put all businesses on a 48-hour basis and at least bring about a fair adjustment of competition: applied to women and children, it puts a premium upon the employment of men instead of women. It has been stated by one large manufacturer in this room since the hearing began that already in anticipation of the passage of a 48-hour law he was filling vacancies wherever possible with men, thus putting his establishment on a working basis for the future. How much more would this be true of the small and struggling business? That the small business is an important factor to deal with is proved by Babson's Report of January 23, 1923. "During the month of December 2000 business concerns in the United States and Canada went into bankruptcy; in the year 1922, 26,000 concerns went into bankruptcy. Out of this total of failures, probably at least 50 per cent. represent opportunities to buy in a business when it is at its worst and build it up to success. In our library are the names of about 44,000 concerns which have defaulted in the payment of their securities. These names actually exist and the number which I give is more than an estimate. After analysis of these names I have made certain deductions, but these figures are estimates. Out of every thousand new concerns entering business 800 fail, reorganize, or change management at least once. Out of every thousand concerns entering business 200 fil or reorganize at least twice, while out of every thousand concerns entering business 50 will fail or reorganize three or more times. "If the above estimates are correct these statistics show that 80 per cent. of the new concerns get into trouble, while only 25 per cent. of the reorganized concerns get into trouble." Mr. Babson goes on to say that every investor should plan to place part of his funds in his home town. Possibly our attempt to follow his advice makes us the more anxious that the small business should have a square deal. If we are to have a 48-hour law, we ask you in all fairness, should it not be one for workers which will affect all concerned in the same degree? No evidence has been brought forth at this hearing that a 48-hour law for persons suffers a greater risk of being declared un-constitutional 12 constitutional than one for women and children. On the contrary, the proponents of a law for persons have the last word of the Supreme Court of the United States on their side in the decision rendered in the Bunting case. Law is a progressive science. Is it not reasonable to suppose, gentlemen, that a law which satisfies the demands of the labor men for shorter working days, and one which women workers can accept as in no wise discriminatory toward them, will meet with the approval of our courts? Legislation should represent the wishes of a large portion of the people if it not to be stigmatized as class legislation. 13 BRIEF AGAINST ANY 48-HOUR LAW FOR WOMEN AND FOR A BASIC EIGHT-HOUR LAW COVERING "PERSONS" Filed March 28, 1923, by ADA R. WOLFF, Chairman Equal Rights Association and Printer on The New York Tribune, New York City. Labor legislation linking women and children has never been based on a desire in the hearts of men to protect the twin subjects of such laws. In 1833 England placed restrictions on the employment of children, not for the protection of the children but to remove them from competition with adults. The child workers were discharged and their places taken by women. This substitution men wished to check, so women were linked with children in the Factory Act of 1844, and this coupling continues to this day, and for the same reason: Restricting a certain part of the working population protects the unrestricted part in the monopoly of jobs and high wage rates. Restriction on an industry as a whole, with strong laws for minors of both sexes, would not interfere with the law of supply and demand; discrimination against women as employees would cease, and a sexless wage for a sexless job would be the rule; and child labor would cease if its female parent (too often the one left to provide for a family) were able to sell her labor in the labor market on the same terms as men, and boys of 16 and up. Eighty-three years of experimenting with special labor legislation for women has resulted in the increasing exploitation of child labor, not always in factories; the forcing out and keeping out of women from all well-paid employment and their consequent crowding into the low-paid lines of work - thus creating a cheap labor class whose average wage is so low that minimum wage laws are constantly urged as a relief. But the evils resulting from a law-created labor glut cannot be remedied by a legal wage set by the State UNLESS that State has the concurrent power of setting the price of necessities to be bought by that legal minimum, and the power of prohibiting any person from under-bidding the legal minimum set. 14 Claims that women must have laws to regulate their employment because they are not so well organized as men workers are founded on the fallacy that all men are members of labor unions. The fact is that of the 30,000,000 male workers not more than 15 per cent. are organized into unions, and no union tries to organize all, or even a majority, of the workers in its particular field. Instead, the shorter work-shift and higher wage-rate obtained by the organized minority reflect their benefits to unorganized majority. Women prefer to obtain improved working conditions the way men obtain them: by direct action or by reflection. One proof or our contention is that legislation for women and children is detrimental to both lies in the fact that the highest-paid women in business and industry are those who are not touched by any State regulation because of their sex and who compete with men on equal terms in their respective occupations. Such condition harms neither sex: women neither crowd our nor underbid men: both being equal before the employer, he naturally chooses the one best fitted for the job. There is no foundation fro the assumption that legislative regulating the length of work-shifts for persons is unconstitutional. Women are people and the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution includes women, but the police power of the State includes men also. In 1898 a law regulating the hours of work of coal miners was declared constitutional. (Holding v. Hardy, 169 U.S. 366.) Railroad men's work-shifts are regulated by law; also bricklayers' and caisson workers.' All health measures such as sanitary provisions, lighting requirements, etc., and safeguards such as fire-escapes, machinery guards, fire-doors, etc., are for persons and no one has ever suggested that such laws are unconstitutional. And such regulation for persons has been declared constitutional by the highest court in the United States, sustaining the Supreme Court of Oregon, in the case of a man engaged in a non-hazardous occupation! In 1917 - six years ago - the decision sustaining the constitutionality of the work-shift regulation for persons was given by the United States Supreme Court in the case of Bunting v. Oregon, 243 U.S. 426. Oregon had a law prohibiting persons to work in "flour mills, factories and manufactories" more than ten hours in any twenty-four. One Bunting employed a man in a flour mill thirteen hours. He was haled to court ; the case finally came to the Supreme Court of the United States and the decision was that this exercise of the police power of the State for persons was constitutional. Justice McKenna, in giving the opinion of the court, said : "But passing general consideration and coming back to our immediate concern, which is the validity of the particular exertion of the power in the Oregon law, our judgement of it is that it does not transcend constitutional law." "Constitutionality" is but a reflection of public opinion. If the great mass of citizens in Rhode Island really want an eight-hour work-shift established by law, and such law is drawn for "persons," as are the bills before your honorable committee, such a law will be declared constitutional by your Supreme Court and by the United States Supreme Court, for Judges have their ears to the ground as well as lesser mortals. Can it be that the opponents of an eight-hour or forty-eight-hour bill for persons fear the adverse decision of the highest courts because they also know that the great mass of workers do not wish to submit their contractual rights to review by the State, knowing that such submission is but the prelude to feudal conditions? Equal Rights Association is in favor of any legislation for persons, if the persons to be affected by such legislation feel that is the only way to better themselves ; but we are flatly opposed to any legislation for "women and children" disguised as "protective" that places women at a disadvantage with men and boys in the labor market. Barrington, R. I., October 15, 1930 Men and Women Voters of Rhode Island: The referendum on the 18th Amendment in Rhode Island is an attempt to undermine prohibition and its enforcement in the United States. Do not let yourselves be fooled. Backed by brewers out of a job, bootleggers who hesitate at no crime, rich men whose cellars are becoming empty and weak politicians who forget their Christian up-bringing to gain popular favor, the liquor traffic again lifts its bold head and brazen tongue. Prohibition is our great protection against drunkenness, poverty and crime. The liquor traffic would bring back the dark days of the saloon on every corner, the grocer selling whiskey as freely as bread, and drunken men and women reeling on our streets. The propaganda put forth by the opponents of Prohibition is the product of short memories and long appetites. They forget the evil effects of strong drink as it once pursued its cruel way through our American life. Remember, we entreat you, the bitter struggle for its downfall in which brave men and women gave of their very heart’s blood to destroy the frightful monster. We urge you by our prayers, by all that you hold sacred to treasure the 18th Amendment as you would treasure a previous diamond given you for safe-keeping. It is our great bulwark against the enemy, the safe-guard of our children’s right to food, clothing, health, education, indeed all that makes life safe, happy and worth-while. Your vote YES will call a halt to the wets. Stop them now. Signed ELLA A. BOOLE SARA M. ALGEO P. S. The use of her signature to this letter, which we complied together, was graciously permitted to me by Mrs. Boole, President of the National W. C. T. U., on her recent visit to Rhode ISland. S. M. ALGEO (OVER) The 18th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States- Shall it be retained? YES X The 18th Amendment SHALL be retained! (Over) Woman Suffrage Party 602 Jackson Building Telephone Union 6474-M Providence, R. I. 2/15/15. Honorable Members of the Assembly: The ladies who so appropriately chose Lincoln's Birthday to present to the Legislators of Rhode Island red roses, emblems of American Womanhood, omitted to attach to them the word of the Great Liberator, "I believe all should share in the privileges of the Government who assist in bearing its burdens, by no means excluding women. Sec't. The Program Committee for this year has formed its general plan with a view to serving what seems to be four very desirable purposes: (1) the prompt and unimpeded transaction of business, (2) personal recreation, (3) an inspiring interest in some subject outside of "education," (4) the contribution to the larger public of some special intellectual opportunity. The plan includes four meetings. The first and the last are to be "business meetings" in the sense that no lecture or music is to be added to the necessary reports and discussions. But it is hoped that the meetings will offer satisfactory opportunities for informal pleasure. At the first meeting, on November 14, a luncheon will be served at Churchill House. The last meeting, in May, will probably be held at the country place of one of the members of the Association. The two intermediate meetings will be devoted to general interests. In January, Professor Camillo von Klenze of Brown University will give a lecture on "Modern German Folk Story." A luncheon will also be served. In February or March, Professor Henry Crosby Emery of Yale University will give a lecture on "What is Socialism?" The Committee wish to try the experiment of making this a more public meeting and of sending out cards of invitation. They feel that the Association is in a position not only to entertain itself but also from time to time to offer to the community a special lecture. The subject for this year has been chosen in response to the general demand for wider knowledge of an important and often misunderstood movement. Suggestions to the Women Voters of Rhode Island Rhode Island Suffrage Party "No American should forget that it was our country that carried the banner of democracy into the war and the armies, military and civilian, were organized under it, inspired and upheld by it an that logical consistency now points out that it is the obvious duty of the nation which mobilized its man power and its woman power to make the world safe for democracy, to mobilize them once more to make 'democracy safe for the world.'" CARRIE CHAPMAN CATT CONTENTS Page Foreword..........................................................................................3 Presidential Suffrage Bill............................................................4 PART I - WOMEN WHO ARE NOT CITIZENS Why You Need to be Citizens..................................................6 Who May Become Citizens.......................................................6 How to Become Citizens............................................................7 W here to Become Citizens.....................................................11 Preparation for Citizenship.....................................................12 Questions and Answers in Final Examination for Coming Citizens..........................................................................17 PART II - WOMEN WHO ARE CITIZENS How You Can Aid in the Work of Americanization 21 Registration....................................................................................26 Statistics on the Population of Rhode Island 28 Form of Ballot................................................................................14 Prepared by SARA M. ALGEO Rhode Island Chairman of Americanization of the National American Woman Suffrage Association Price, 15 Cents FOREWORD After a heroic struggle of more than fifty years the women of Rhode Island have become voters through the passage of the Presidential Suffrage Bill by the General Assembly of 1917 which gives them the right to vote for Electors of President and Vice-President of the United States in 1920. Judging from the rapidity with which suffrage has spread throughout the world the past year we are confident that all women in the United States will have full power of franchise by that time; therefore, it is the part of wisdom to anticipate it by preparation. For convenience I have divided "Suggestions to the Women Voters of Rhode Island" into two parts - the first for the women of foreign birth who have not yet taken out full citizenship papers; the second for those who are already American citizens by naturalization or who were so fortunate as to be born into it as a heritage. I would especially importune this second group to make the problems of our less fortunate sisters our own and lose no opportunity to assist them in overcoming the obstacles lying in their way to full citizenship. Friendly bonds of common interests, of a common language, and of mutual regard and understanding must be established among all nationalities of we are to advance the growth of the true American spirit. "A square deal" for the foreign-born woman whose lot has been unnecessarily difficult on account of existing conditions should be the primary consideration for the woman voter. SARA M. ALGEO The Presidential Suffrage Bill Passed by the General Assembly of 1917. AN ACT in Amendment of and in Addition to Chapter 17 of the General Laws, entitled, “Of the Election of Electors of President and Vice-President of the United States.” It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: Section 1. Section 1 of Chapter 17 of the General Laws, entitled, “Of the election of electors of the president and vice-president of the United States,” is hereby amended so as to read as follows: “Section 1. The people of this state qualified by law to vote for general officers, also every woman citizen of the United States, of the age of twenty-one years, who has had her residence and home in this state for two years, and in the town or city in which she may offer to vote six months, next preceding the time of her voting, and whose name shall be registered as hereinafter provided in the town or city where she resides on or before the last day of June next preceding the time of her voting, shall elect by ballot so many electors of the president and vice-president of the United States as the state is or shall be entitled to, at town, ward and district meetings, on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November, in every fourth year, commencing A. D. 1920, and the several candidates having a plurality of the legal votes given in at such election shall be electors: Provided, however, that no woman citizen of foreign birth shall be entitled to vote unless she has resided in the Untied States five years.” Sec. 2. Said Chapter 17 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections: “Sec. 9. The registration of women citizens entitled to vote under this act, and the preparation, canvassing and correction of the voting lists thereof, shall be had in the same manner and at the same time and places, and under the same liabilities and penalties as is provided by law for the registration, and for the preparation, canvassing and correction of the lists of voters, qualified to vote for general officers: Provided, that every woman of foreign birth so registering, who shall claim citizenship through some other person, either by marriage or parentage, shall state at the time of her registration, when and where such other person was born, and if such other person was naturalized, and she shall file proof of such naturalization as may be necessary to establish her citizenship with the town clerk or the clerk of the board of registration, as the case may be, at least five days before any meeting of the board of canvassers of the town or city in which she claims the right to vote, and such proof shall be subject to the approval of such board of canvassers; and provided, further, that in preparing the lists of voters entitled to vote at any election of electors 4 [page break] of president and vice-president of the United States, the names of all women citizens entitled to vote thereat shall be arranged on said lists separate and apart from the names of the other voters entitled to vote at such elections under a heading, ‘List of women voters entitled to vote for electors of president and vice-president of the United States.’ “Sec. 10. There shall be provided for the use of women citizens entitled to vote under this act a special ballot which shall be printed on paper of a color that will readily distinguish it from the ballots provided by the secretary of state for the use of voters entitled to vote for general officers. Such special ballot shall contain only the names of the several candidates for electors of president and vice-president of the United States and shall be endorsed in plain back type, ‘Special ballot for electors of president and vice-president only,’ but in all other respects said special ballot shall be similar in form and arrangement and the instructions and information printed thereon, to the ballots required to be provide by the secretary of state for the use of voters qualified to vote for the general officers, shall also apply to the preparation and furnishing of the special ballot herein provided for, and their delivery to the election officers of the several town and district meetings. “Sec. 11. Except as herein otherwise provided, the provisions of Chapter 20 of the General Laws, entitled, “General provisions concerning elections,’ and the provisions of all other laws relating to the conduct of elective meetings, and to the time and place of voting and to the manner and methods of marking, depositing and counting the ballots provided by the secretary of state for the use of voters entitled to vote for general officers, shall also apply to the time and place of voting, and to the manner of marking, depositing and counting the special ballots herein provided for the use of women citizens, and to the exercise or the attempt to exercise by women citizens of the elective franchise conferred by this act. “Sec. 12. Any moderator, warden, clerk or supervisor who shall furnish a woman claiming the right to vote under the provisions of this act with any ballot other than the ballot herein prescribed for her use, or shall permit her to deposit in the ballot box at any elective meeting at which she may claim the right to vote, any ballot other than the special ballot herein prescribed for her use, shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty dollars nor more than two hundred dollars, or be imprisoned for not more than three months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.” Sec. 3. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed, and this act shall take effect upon its passage. 5 PART I WOMEN WHO ARE NOT CITIZENS WHY YOU NEED TO BE CITIZENS Possibly becoming a citizen has not been suggested to you before as we admit the State has not wholly realized your importance in the past; but all that has now changed and in the future the woman with the vote will be quite as important as the man with the vote and the baby in the cradle will be most important of all, so we must all bestir ourselves to make ready for him or her whose sex will not matter at all but whose character will matter very much indeed in the conduct of the world. Now that women have become an integral part of the Commonwealth of Rhode Island we urge you, if you have not already done so, to become citizens at your earliest opportunity. It is not necessary to point out the advantages of citizenship; they are too obvious to mention. Suffice it to say that Rhode Island needs you and you need Rhode Island not alone but for the feeling of self-confidence and self-respect it affords to become a member of a family instead of remaining a mere outsider or visitor. You need to be a citizen for the sake of your own development and for the sake of the generations yet unborn of which you are the custodians. Motherhood is sacred; at its best, it becomes divine. WHO MAY BECOME CITIZENS The Married Woman The citizenship of a married woman depends upon that of her husband. His naturalization makes her a citizen as it foes also their children of foreign birth residing in this country at the time of his naturalization under twenty-one years of age. According to the Presidential Suffrage Bill in order to vote she must have been a resident of the United States for five years; and like other women citizens must have had her residence and home in this State for two years, and in the town 6 or city in which she may offer to vote six months next preceding the time of her voting. She also like other women voters must register. It would be well for her to note especially the clause in the Presidential Suffrage Bill which says, "Provided that every woman of foreign birth so registering, who shall claim citizenship through some other person, either by marriage or parentage, shall state at the time of her registration, when and where such other person was born, and if such other person was naturalized, when and by what court such other person was naturalized and she shall file proof of such naturalization as may be necessary to establish her citizenship with the town clerk or the clerk of the board of registration, as the case may be, at least five days before any meeting of the board of canvassers of the town or city in which she claims the right to vote, and such proof shall be subject to the approval of such board of canvassers." The Single Woman Any foreign-born woman who is unmarried may become naturalized by the same process which applies to men, according to the following extract from the Naturalization Regulations relating to the naturalization of women. "Naturalization papers may be legally filed by any unmarried woman who is otherwise qualified, or by the widow of a foreign- born person not naturalized, but not by a woman during the existence of the marital relation." The widow or children of a man who made his declaration of intention to become a citizen, but who died before completing the process, may be naturalized without making a new declaration for themselves. The widow or children of a man who became insane after making his declaration have a similar privilege. HOW TO BECOME CITIZENS There are two main steps in the process of becoming a naturalized citizen. We speak of them as getting the first and second papers. The first step is to make what is called a declaration of intention to become a citizen of the United States. The second step is to obtain the final certificate of 7 naturalization through filing a petition for admission to citizenship and satisfying the investigation made by the Bureau of Naturalization examiners and the examination made by the judge at a hearing in the open court. The Declaration of Intention In order to make her declaration of intention the applicant goes to the court and obtains from the clerk a blank form called, "Facts for Declaration of Intention," She may fill out the form there or take it home and fill it out at her leisure. The applicant must be eighteen years of age or over. There is a fee of one dollar. She may apply for this paper on her arrival in this country. BLANK FORM OF DECLARATION OF INTENTION Invalid for all Purposes Seven Years After the Date Hereof. ..................} In the........ Court ................... ss: .................... of .................. I,................., aged ........... years, occupation............ do declare on oath that my personal description is: Color......., complexion..........., height............feet............inches, weight......... pounds, color of hair.........., color of eyes.............., other visible distinctive marks..... I was born in ............... on the ..................day of .............., anno Domini I.............; I now reside at ................. I emigrated to the United States of America from ........................... on the vessel ..........................; my last foreign residence was ............................ It is my bona fide intention to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, and particularly to .................., of whom I am now a subject; I arrived at the port of ...................., in the State of ........................, on or about the ............ day of ............, anno Domini 1................... ; I am not an anarchist; I am not a polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy; and it is my intention in good faith to become a citizen of the United States of America and to permanently reside therein; SO HELP ME GOD. ................................. (Original signature of declarant.) Subscribed and sworn to me before this ....... [Seal] day of ..................., anno Domini 191....................... Clerk of the ........Court By...............Clerk. 8 Petition of Naturalization The second step in the process of naturalization is to File the Petition fro admission to full citizenship. There must elapse two years between the Declaration of Intention and the Filing of the Petition and not more than seven years. This second step also cannot be taken until the applicant has lived continuously in this country for five years next preceding her application and in the State in which the petition is filed at least one year. In filing her petition the applicant must present her Declaration of Intention and if she came to this country after June 29, 1906, her Certificate of Arrival, the form for which should be secured from the clerk of court prior to filing her petition. The affidavits of two witnesses must also accompany the petition. These two witnesses have to take oath that they personally know the applicant has lived in the United States for the five years immediately preceding her application, and in the State in which she applies for the last year; and that they know her to be of good character, attached to the principles of the Constitution and in every way qualified, in their mind, to be admitted as a citizen of the United States. These witnesses must be either native or naturalized citizens, and must appear with the petitioner at the time of filing the application and also at the final hearing in court. There is a fee of four dollars for filing the petition. BLANK FORM OF PETITION FOR NATURALIZATION To the Honorable the ................... Court of ..................... The petition of ....................... hereby filed, respectfully showeth: ...................... First. My place of residence is ............................. Second. My occupation is .................... Third. I was born on the .............. day of ......... anno Domini 1......... at ............... Fourth. I emigrated to the United States from .............., on or about the ....... day of ............ anno Domini 1.........., and arrived in the United States, at the port of .................., on the ............... day if ............. anno Domini 1........., on the vessel.................. Fifth. I declared my intention to become a citizen of the United States on the ............ day of ............, anno Domini 1.......... at ............, in the ........... Court of ................. 9 Sixth. I am . . . . . . . . married. My wife’s name is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . She was born in . . . . . . . . . . . . , and now resides at . . . . . . . . . . . . I have . . . . . . . . children, and the name, date and place of birth, and please of residence of each of said children is as follows: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seventh. I am not a disbeliever in or opposed to organized government or a member of or affiliated with any organization of body of persons teaching disbelief in or opposed to organized government. I am not a polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy. I am attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and it is my intention to become a citizen of the United States and to renounce absolutely and forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, and particularly to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of whom at this time I am a subject, and it is my intention to reside permanently in the United States. Eighth. I am able to speak the English language. Ninth. I have resided continuously in the United States of America for the term of five years at the least, immediately preceding the date of this petition, to whit, since the . . . . . . . . day of . . . . . . . . anno Domini 1. . . . and in the State of . . . . . . day of . . . . . . , anno Domini 1 . . . . , and in the State of . . . . . . , continuously next preceding the date of this petition, since the . . . . . . day of . . . . . . anno Domini 1 . . . . , being a resident within this Stated of at least one year next preceding the date of this petition. Tenth. I have not heretofore made petition for citizenship to any court. (I made petition for citizenship to the . . . . . . Court of . . . . . . . . at . . . . . . . . , on the . . . . . . day of . . . . . . , anno Domini 1 . . . . , and the said petition was denied by the said Court for the following reasons and causes, to wit, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , and the cause of such denial has since been cured or removed.) Attached hereto and made a part of this petition are my declaration of intention to become a citizen of the Untied States and the certificated from the Department of Labor, together with my affidavit and the affidavits of the two verifying witnesses thereto, required by law. Wherefore your petitioner prays that he may be admitted a citizen of the United States of America. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Complete and true signature of petitioner.) Declaration of Intention and Certificate of Arrival No. . . . . . . from Department of Labor filed this . . . . . . day of . . . . . . , 191 . . . . . Filing the Petition The clerk files the petition, with the certificate of arrival, the declaration of intention, and the affidavits of the two witnesses. He posts a notice of the application and also sends a copy of the petition to the Bureau of Naturalization in Washington within thirty days. 10 [page break] No action can be taken on the petition until at lease ninety days have gone by and during this period the examiners make all possible test into the applicant’s character and fitness for citizenship. Final Hearing The final action on the applicants petition consists of a final hearing in court at which the application and her witnesses must be examined under oath before the court. She recieves due notice of the time set for this hearing. If the witnesses the application named in filing the petition cannot be produced at this final hearing, she may summon other witnesses. However, substitute witnesses will not be accepted by the court unless the original witnesses are unable to appear because of death, sickness, absence from the city, or other reasons acceptable to the court. No person may be naturalized by any court within thirty days next preceding a general election, in the district over which the Court holds jurisdiction. Oath of Allegiance If the Judge is satisfied that the applicant is qualified to become a citizen of the United States the clerk of court administers the following oath of allegiance: I do hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, and particularly to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of whom I have heretofore been a subject; that I will support and defend the Constitution and Laws of the UNited States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, SO HELP ME GOD.” Change of Name The court may also, in its discretion and as part of the naturalization proceedings, make a decree changing the name of the applicant if the applicant so requests. After the judge has signed the order of admission, the clerk then issues a certificate of naturalization to the new citizen and the procedure of naturalization is ended. WHERE TO BECOME CITIZENS The courts in Rhode Island in which foreign born women may be naturalized are as follows: 11 The United States District Court, Federal Building, Exchange Place, Providence. The Superior Court of Rhode Island for the counties of Providence and Bristol, Providence County Court House, corner of College and Benefit Streets, Providence. The Superior Court of Rhode Island for the county of Kent, County Court House, East Greenwich. The Superior Court of Rhode Island for the county of Washington, County Court House, Kingston. There is also a court house for Washington County located in Westerly. The Superior Court of Rhode Island for the county of Newport, County Court House, Newport. The Federal Court has jurisdiction in naturalization for the entire state. An applicant seeking naturalization in the Superior Court must go to the court house in the county where he resides. Recommendations We earnestly recommend the establishment of night naturalization courts and also Saturday afternoon sessions both for the convenience of the applicant and for the sake of economy. We would also advocate the establishment of temporary courts of naturalization in those sections of the State which are not near the permanent courts. Bristol is sufficiently far away from Providence to render a temporary court there of value for a season each year and Woonsocket stands in need of a temporary court, at least, if not a permanent one to save the large expense entailed by the applicant coming to Providence with witnesses. We assert on good authority that this simple economy would insure a larger number of applicants for naturalization in the latter city. Preparation for Citizenship "One Language, One Country" Now you ask, "How are we to prepare for citizenship? It is not so easy as it might seem to you who were born into it as your natural heritage." That is true, but if you are young and single and already have a working knowledge of English, it is not difficult to acquire sufficient knowledge of the habits and customs, the history and laws of the country and state to pass the examinations 12 of the court, and you need not hesitate to apply for your citizenship papers as soon as the law allows. If you are married then you must use the gentle art of persuasion to have your husband take out his papers as soon as possible. When the law recognizes the identity of woman as an individual the naturalization laws will be modified and men and women will decide their own citizenship. If your knowledge of English is limited or none at all, you should extend it by all means, not only for the sake of citizenship but on account of your own personal welfare and that of your children. Opportunities are being opened to women in Rhode Island as elsewhere (Not so rapidly we admit as they should be) to study English and citizenship and we earnestly advise you to take advantage of them. There are evening schools throughout the State where women are as welcome as men. Then there are the Classes in Citizenship conducted in the Public Library of Providence, the People's Book Room, North Main and Meeting Streets, Federal Hill House, and classes in other sections of the state. Several manufacturing plants in Rhode Island have special instructors of classes in citizenship. If the babies prevent your going out to these, establish little community groups in your own home with the home teacher who has proved so valuable elsewhere. Do as an enterprising group of Portuguese women in Ward 1, Providence, did last summer. Establish a citizenship class in the basement of your church. In American be a Good American Try to make your foreign-born husbands and brothers realize that now you are in America you should have the same liberty, the same rights and the same joy in living that native-born American women have and that they should aid you in securing the new freedom that women are acquiring all over the world. Things Every Citizen Should Know The American Citizenship Campaign Committee of Rhode Island give as illustrations of the sort of things every future citizen should know about the history and laws of our country and state the following which apply to women as to men. "He should know who is President of the United States and who is Vice-President, and that they are elected every four years and that they must live in Washington. The President lives in the White House and has a Cabinet of Advisers. 13 [image of eagle] For a Strait Ticket [image of circle] Make a Cross (X) Within the Circle. REPUBLICAN HUGES and FAIRBANKS FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS, 1 FREDERICK L. JENCKES 88 Cooke Street, Providence 2 ARAM J. POTHIER 172 Pond Street, Woonsocket 3 CHARLES DEAN KIMBALL Tower Hill Road, South Kingstown 4 DANIEL A. PEIRCE Cowesett, Warwick 5 PETER KING 10 Kay Street, Newport FOR UNITED STATES SENATOR, HENRY F. LIPPITT 389 Benefit Street, Providence For Representative in Congress, 3rd District, AMBROSE KENNEDY 179 OakleyRoad, Woonsocket FOR GOVERNOR, R. LIVINGSTON BEECKMAN Ledge Road, Newport FOR LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR, EMERY J. SAN SOUCI 176 Webster Avenue, Providence FOR SECRETARY OF STATE, J. FRED PARKER 432 Wayland Avenue, Providence FOR ATTORNEY-GENERAL, HERBERT A. RICE 158 Medway Street, Providence FOR GENERAL TREASURER, WALTER A. READ Chepachet, Glocester For Senator in General Assembly, ALEXANDER LESLIE 1113 Smithfield Avenue, Saylesville For Representative in General Assemble, WILLIAM T. TONER Main Street, Londale [column break] [image of star] For a Strait Ticket [image of circle] Make a Cross (X) Within the Circle. DEMOCRAT WILSON and MARSHALL FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS, 1 EDWIN C. PIERCE 146 Arnold Avenue, Cranston 2 JAMES H. HIGGINS 84 Walcott Street, Pawtucket 3 ALBERT M. STEINERT 366 Olney Street, Providence 4 PATRICK J. MURPHY 169 Broadway, Newport 5 ADELARD ARCHAMBAULT 23 Carrington, Street, Woonsocket FOR UNITED STATES SENATOR, PETER G. GERRY Warwick For Representative in Congress, 3rd District, JOSEPH McDONALD 147 East Avenue, Pawtucket FOR GOVERNOR, ADDISON P. MUNROE 66 Paterson Street, Providence FOR LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR, ARTHUR P. JOHNSON 234 Mauran Avenue, East Providence FOR SECRETARY OF STATE, GEORGE HURLEY 43 East Manning Street, Providence FOR ATTORNEY-GENREAL, EDWARD M. SULLIVAN 1921 Cranston Street, Cranston FOR GENERAL TREASURER, JOHN W. BOWEN, JR. Foster For Senator in General Assembly, HERBERT HARRIS Lousiquissett For Representative in General Assemble, THOMAS F. GILBANE Louisquissett Pike [column break] [image of torch] For a Straight Ticket [image of circle] Make a Cross (X) Within the Circle. SOCIALIST BENSON and KIRKPATRICK FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS, 1 STANLEY CURTIS East Providence 2 SARAH WINDSOR Coventry 3 GEORGE H. THORNTON Albion, Lincoln 4 JABEZ GAMMON Johnston 5 JOHN B. LANGLOIS Rear 226 South Main Street, Woonsocket FOR UNITED STATES SENATOR, FREDERICK W. A. HURST Cranston For Representative in Congress, 3rd District, THOMAS L. JONES 439 Central Avenue, Pawtucket FOR GOVERNOR, JOHN H. HOLLOWAY Long Meadow, Warwick FOR LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR, SAMUEL FASSEL Johnston FOR SECRETARY OF STATE, HELEN DOUGHERTY 185 Morris Avenue, Providence FOR ATTORNEY-GENERAL, PIERRE LE COMTE Warwick FOR GENERAL TREASURER, NELS P. NEWBERG 282 Broad Street, Providence [column break] [image of a fountain] For.a Straight Ticket [image of circle] Make a Cross (X) Within the Circle. PROHIBITION NOM. PAPER. HANLY and LANDRITH FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS, 1 FRANK B. SMITH Coventry 2 IRUS ALBRO 6L Wilson Street, Providence 3 EDWARD O RIGGS 6 Gould Street, Newport 4 ARCHIBALD RANKIN 87 Centre Street, Pawtucket 5 FREDERIC T. JENCKS Barrington FOR UNITED STATES SENATOR, FRANK J. SIBLEY Richmond FOR GOVERNOR, ROSCOE W. PHILLIPS 40 Eighth Street, Providence FOR LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR, WILLIAM W. ESTES 245 Waterman Street, Providence FOR SECRETARY OF STATE, WALTER A WILLIAMSON 3200 Pawtucket Avenue, East Providence FOR ATTORNEY-GENERAL, THOMAS H. PEABODY 29 Pleasant Street, Westerly FOR GENERAL TREASURER, LEONARD M. ROBINSON 77 Arlington Avenue, Providence [column break] FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS, 1 2 3 4 5 FOR UNITED STATES SENATOR. For Representative in Congress, 3rd District, FOR GOVERNOR, FOR LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR, FOR SECRETARY OF STATE, FOR ATTORNEY-GENERAL, FOR GENERAL TREASURER, For Senator to General Assembly, For Representative in General Assembly, [break] Constitutional Amendment. To vote in favor of the Proposition mark a Cross X in the square at the right of the word “Approve.” To vote agains the Proposition mark a Cross X in the square at the right of the word “Reject.” “ARTICLE XVII. Section 1. The general assembly may authorize the acquiring or taking in fee by the state, or by any cities or towns, of more land and property than is needed for actual construction in the establishing, laying out, widening, extending or relocating of public highways, streets, places, parks or parkways: Provided, however, that the additional land and property so authorized to be acquired or taken shall be no more in extent than would be sufficient to form suitable building sites abutting on such public highway, street, place, park or parkway. After so much of the land and person or persons from whom such remainder was taken shall have the first right to purchase or lease the same upon such terms as the state or city or town is willing to sell or least the same.” APPROVE, REJECT, Charitable and Penal Institutions Loan. To vote in favor of the Proposition mark a Cross X in the square at the right of the word “Approve.” To vote agains the Proposition mark a Cross X in the square at the right of the word “Reject.” “Shall the general assembly be authorized and directed to provide for the issue of state bonds, not to exceed the amount of eight hundred fifty thousand dollars, the proceeds of which bonds are to be expended for the construction of new buildings for a house of correction and Providence county jail for state farm and county jail prisoners, the reconstruction of the present house of correction for use as an almshouse and for resanitation and reconstruction of the present state prison, and to provide for construction of other new buildings, reconstruction, equipment, including industrial machinery, furnishings and permanent improvements at the state prison, Providence county jail, almshouse, state farm and house of corrections, in the city of Cranston? These bonds to be issued from time to time in such amounts and upon such terms as the general assembly may hereafter determine.” APPROVE, REJECT, Armory of Mounted Commands Loan. To vote in favor of the Proposition mark a Cross X in the square at the right of the word “Approve.” To vote agains the Proposition mark a Cross X in the square at the right of the word “Reject.” “Shall the general assembly be authorized and directed to provide for the issue of state bonds not to exceed the amount of one hundred thirty thousand dollars for the completing, furnishing and equipping of the armory of mounted commands, Rhode Island National Guard, and for the acquisition, if necessary, of additional land for the said armory, these bonds to be issued from time to time in such amounts and upon such terms as general assembly may hereafter determine?“ APPROVE, REJECT, Bridge Construction Loan. To vote in favor of the Proposition mark a Cross X in the square at the right of the word “Approve.” To vote agains the Proposition mark a Cross X in the square at the right of the word “Reject.” “Shall the general assembly be authorized and directed to provide for the issue of state bonds not to exceed the amount of three hundred thousand dollars, for construction, reparation and reconstruction of bridges, in accordance with Chapter 846 of the Public Laws, passed at the January session, A. D. 1912, these bonds to be issued from time to time, in such amounts and upon such terms as the general assembly may hereafter determine?” APPROVE, REJECT, NOTE- This is a fac-simile of the State Ballot of 1916 with one exception- the present emblem of the Socialist Party is substituted in place of the one in use in 1916. A close study of this ballot may save many mistakes in 1920. "He should know that Congress makes all the laws for the Nation, and that Congress is made up of two bodies, one called the Senate and the other the House of Representatives. Senators are elected for six years and Representatives in Congress for two years. Each State has two Senators and a number of Representatives corresponding to its size. For Rhode Island there are three Representatives. He should know the names of all these. "He should know the name of the Governor of Rhode Island and the Mayor of his city; that the Governor's office is in the State House in Providence and that the Mayor's office is in the City Hall of his city. He should know that the General Assembly meets in the State House and makes the laws for the State; and that it is also composed of a Senate, one Senator from each city and town, and a House of Representatives, one from each election district. "If the applicant lives in a city like Providence he should know that the local laws, sometimes called "ordinances", are made by the City Council with the consent of the Mayor, and that the Council is also composed of two bodies, the Board of Aldermen and the Common Council, and that the schools are directed by a School Committee of thirty members, three from each of the ten wards and that they are elected by the people. In other cities there are similar provisions. "The man expecting to be a citizen should know something about the United States District Court in this State and the various State courts, and in general, the meaning of these different courts, all of which are independent of the President and Governor and Mayor, and of those who make the laws. "There is little else absolutely essential for an applicant to know. "He may be asked what form of Government we have in this country. He will know that this country is a Republic, so called because the people themselves elect their own representatives to make the laws and their own officials to execute these laws, and that our form of Government is a Democracy, that is government by the people. "Finally, the constitution of the United States and that of each State is always a written document. The constitutions are the fundamental laws which protect the law-abiding citizen in his life and property and happiness and give him certain guarantees of liberty. No laws can be passed by Congress or any State which violate the United States Constitution; and no laws can be passed by any State which violate the State Constitution. "The applicant should know something of our history; that George Washington was the first President and that before he was President he was the Commander-in-Chief of the army which established the freedom of this country; and that Abraham Lincoln was President during the Civil War, fought to keep the country united, and that he made the colored people free and that he was shot and killed after the war. He should know that the living ex-president is Mr. Taft, and that the present President is Woodrow Wilson, who is our leader in the present war to defend this country's freedom." 16 Questions and Answers for Coming Citizens Selected from a list of questions which have been asked in the United States District Court for Rhode Island. Prepared by E. E. Bohner. Personal 1. What is your name? 2. Where do you live? 3. Where were you born? 4. Have you ever been back to [blank] since you first came? 5. How long have you been in the United States? 6. How long have you lived in Rhode Island? 7. What work do you do? 8. Where do you work? 10. Do you have a bank account? 11. Do you have any personal property? 12. Can you read English? 13. Have you been to school in this country? How long? 14. Are you married? 15. Does you wife live in this country? 16. How many children have you? 17. Is your father a citizen of the United States? 18. What relatives have you i the United States? 19. Why do you wish to become a citizen of the United States? City of Providence. 20. Who is the Mayor of Providence? Joseph H. Gainer. 21. Where is the Mayor's office? In the City Hall. 22. What does the Mayor do? He signs or vetoes ordinances, sends messages to the City Council, approves all expenditures, executes all contracts, appoints Police Commissioners and a few other officers, presides over the Board of Aldermen. 23. for how long is the Mayor elected? Two years. 24. Who makes the laws for the City of Providence? The City Council, composed of the Board of Aldermen (ten men) and the Common Council (forty men). 25. Where does the City Council meet? In the City Hall. 26. How are cities divided? Into wards; Providence has ten wards. 27. What is the City Charter? The City Charter is granted by the State and defines the limits of power of the city government. 28. What courts are conducted by the city? The Police Court, with sessions in the Police Headquarters; Probate Court, with sessions in the City Hall. 17 [left page] 29. What other officers are in the City Hall? City Registrar for births, marriages and deaths; Superintendent of Health; Superintendent Works; City Engineer; Assessors of Taxes; Board of Canvassers and Registration of Voters; City Treasurer; City Auditor; City Clerk; Inspector of Buildings; Inspector of Plumbing, etc. 30. Who has charge of the Public Schools? The School Committee composed of thirty members, three elected from each ward. The State of Rhode Island. 31. Who is the Chief Executive or Governor of Rhode Island? R. Livingston Beeckman. 32. What are the chief duties of the Governor? The Governor represents the State on all occasions; sends messages to the General Assembly; signs or vetoes all bills; is Commander-in-Chief of the State Militia, and Chairman of the Board of Pardons and Parole. 33. Who was Governor before Mr. Beeckman? Aram J. Pothier. 34. In case of disability, who takes the Governor's place? The Lieutenant-Governor, Emery J. San Souci. 35. What body makes the laws for Rhode Island? The General Assembly. 36. Where does the General Assembly meet? In the State House, Providence. 37. What parts compose the General Assembly? The Senate (39 members) and the House of Representatives (100 members). 38. Why are there 39 members in the State Senate? There is one from each city and town. 39. Why are there 100 men in the House of Representatives? These men are elected according to population. 40. How many representatives are elected from Providence? Twenty-five. 41. Who is the State Senator from Providence? Daniel E. Geary. 42. Who is the State Senator from your town? 43. What is the term of office for the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor and members of the General Assembly? Two years. 44. Who elects these officers? The voters of the State. 45. What is the State Constitution? The State Constitution is the fundamental law adopted by the people of the State in 1842. 46. Have you read the Constitution of the State of Rhode Island? United States District Court for Rhode Island, United States Commissioners for Rhode Island, Supreme Court, Superior Court, District Courts, (Juvenile Courts) and Courts of Probate. United States Government. 48. What is the form of government of the United States? A Republic. 49. What is a Republic? A Republic is a government in which the people elect their own President and representatives. 18 [right page] 50. Into what branches is the government divided? (a) Legislative (Congress) (b) Executive (President) (c) Judicial (Courts). 51. What is the Capitol of the United States? Washington, D. C. 52. Who makes the laws for the United States? Washington D. C. 53. Into what parts is Congress divided? Senate (96 members); House of Representatives (440 members). 54. How many men are in the United States Senate from Rhode Island? Two. LaBaron B. Colt (term expires 1925); Peter G. Gerry (term expires 1923). 55. Why are there 96 Senators? There are two from each State and we have 48 states. 56. How are United States Senators elected? By the voters, for a term of six years. 57. How many representatives are in Congress from Rhode Island? Three. Clark Burdick, first district; Walter R. Stiness, second district; Ambrose Kennedy, third district. 58. For how long are representatives elected? Two years. 59. How does Congress make laws? A bill is presented by a member of the Senate or House, and becomes a law when it passes both Houses and is signed by the President. 60. Who is President of the United States? Woodrow Wilson. (Term expires March 4, 1921). 61. For how long is the President elected? Four years. 62. What are the chief duties of the President? He sends messages to Congress; signs or vetoes bills; appoints many officials; he is Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, and is Chairman of the Board of Pardons. 63. Where is his office? In the White House, Washington, D. C. (The District of Columbia is the home of the United States Government.) 64. How is the President elected? By the people through presidential electors. 65. Who was President before Mr. Wilson? William Howard Taft. 66. Who was President before Mr. Taft? Theodore Roosevelt. 67. Who was the first President of the United States? George Washington, (1789-1797). 68. Who is Vice-President and what does he do? Thomas R. Marshall. He takes the place of the President in case of death or disability, and presides over the United States Senate. 69. What is the President's Cabinet? The President appoints a Cabinet to be his advisors in special departments, such as State, Treasury, War, etc. 70. What are the United States Courts? (a) Supreme Court; (b) Circuit Courts of Appeal; (c) United States Court of Claims; (d) District Courts. 71. How many States are there in the United States? Forty-eight. 72. How many Territories are there in the United States? Forty-eight. 72. How many Territories belong to the United States? Five. Alaska, Hawaii, Philippine Islands, Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands of the U. S. 19 73. What were the original colonies of the United States? There were 13. New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. 74. What is the Constitution of the United States? The Constitution of the United States is the fundamental law of the country adopted by the people in 1787. 75. Have you read the Constitution? 76. What was the Revolutionary War about? The Revolutionary War was fought in 1775 - 1783 against England for the freedom of America. 77. Why do we celebrate the Fourth of July? The Declaration of Independence was adopted July 4, 1776, by which the original colonies declared themselves free from Great Britain. 78. Have you read the Declaration of Independence? (Ask Miss Morgan of the Foreign Department of the Providence Public Library for a book containing the Declaration of Independence). 79. When did the Civil War occur and what caused it? 1861-1865. It was fought to preserve the Union and settle the question of human slavery. 20 PART II WOMEN WHO ARE CITIZENS HOW YOU CAN AID IN THE WORK OF AMERICANIZATION "After the battles are won and man's work of conquest is done, women's war work will only have begun." - Mabel Potter Daggett The World War has taught us many things. Perhaps the most important is that we must respect and conserve the womanhood of our nation, and by womanhood I refer to all womanhood with especial emphasis upon the stranger within our gates. Upon her has fallen an unjust and heavy burden in the treatment accorded her in America. Owing to her duties as mother and homemaker she has spent the greater portion of her time within the confines of her tenement unable to participate in the advantages of evening school and enjoy other opportunities to mingle with American people, and her contact with the world at large has been through her family and her own nationality, the only medium of communication being her native tongue. The masculine mind has not always comprehended this fact. I was talking to a prominent school official in our city of the necessity of making provision for educating our foreign-born women in sufficient knowledge of the English language, at least, for them to secure their citizenship papers and he replied, "Let them attend our evening schools." When I explained how difficult it is for a wife to leave her home and children in the evening he promptly agreed that other facilities should be provided for her. May I then as my first suggestion ask you to mobilize again the splendid force which Rhode Island women put into the war for the work on Americanization, a problem the vastness of which is but beginning to be realized. First let us speak about one solution of this problem in regard to the women of foreign birth. The Home-Teacher We find that in many states, notably California and Illinois, where women have the vote and desire that the standard of 21 citizenship be raised, the non-English speaking women who owing to their household cares are unable to attend night schools are formed into little community groups in the day-time, in their own kitchens if need be, for the purpose of studying English under a teacher connected with the school system and bearing the title of the home-teacher. She by friendly intercourse comes to occupy a warm place in the hearts of the mothers. Accommodation for the babies is provided in another room during the lesson which sometimes takes the simple form of the explanation of a Butterick pattern or the exchange of the latest ideas in cooking or food conservation. Mrs. Frederick P. Bagley of Boston, Chairman of Americanization for the National American Woman Suffrage Association, tells many an interesting story of the home classes which were carried on successfully last year in Boston. Any woman of good education, of big heart and an earnest desire to do her "bit" in making for her beloved country a united people loyal to America can help in this way. She can perfect herself in the art of teaching English by attending some of the classes established by the State Board of Education for the purpose of training teachers and can apply the knowledge in her immediate neighborhood. Try it, and after enough women show that it is worth while then the State and City Fathers will want the home-teacher connected with the public school system as a necessary part. We women voters want it that way now but must show these gentlemen from Missouri. Read Omnivorously If the foreign born and the native American women would reach a mutual understanding there must be an intimate knowledge on the part of both of each other's good qualities. After close study of racial characteristics we are usually willing to agree that "There is so much good in the worst of us And so much bad in the best of us That it doesn't behoove any of us To talk about the rest of us." For a clearer comprehension of what has been done and what may be done in Americanization, read extensively. From all points of view, historical, ethnological, economic or industrial, 22 you will find the story of the immigrant from Roger Williams and John Clarke down to the recent newcomers on the Fabre Line a fascinating tale of adventure and wanderlust, of poverty in search of the pot of gold, of dreams and of dreams fulfilled, of romance and glamour and sometimes alas, of cold disillusionment. Co-operate with our Public Libraries Our libraries have been among the first to comprehend the needs both of the American who needs to become Americanized and the non-English speaking peoples. There you can always obtain a choice list of books so it is not necessary to give any bibliography here. Picking from my study table at random I find the following which have made an especial appeal to me: "The Promised Land" by Mart Antin, delightful and inspiring and worthy of re-reading; Edward Steiner's books, always good; "Women Wanted" by Mable Potter Daggett, invigorating and renewing faith in our sex as well as showing us the value of conserving our woman force; "The New Voter," by Thompson giving us good advice on our new responsibilities; Edward Everett Hale's "Man Without a Country" inspiring true patriotism. "The Art of Teaching and Studying Languages," by Gouin, is perhaps the best to suggest the more modern methods of teaching English. These hints can be amplified with profit to any extent by your individual taste. A long step toward making our libraries accessible to all has been by the establishment of branch libraries and travelling libraries by women's clubs. There are in our libraries books for non-English speaking peoples in their own languages, but men, we are told, not women, are the applicants for these. This will not be true it is to be hoped when women are awakened to the responsibilities of citizenship. When the women of Chicago obtained the vote, books on economics were in as great demand as novels. Let us work for the same transformation here. What Women's Clubs Can Do Under the Federal-State Program for Immigrant Education we find the following suggestions: 23 "Organize a campaign appealing to foreign women to learn English. "Act as recruiting agents for English classes already conducted by the local school organization. "Where local school facilities are not available, organize classes under the direction of school authorities, taught by teachers paid by the women's organization, or by volunteers trained for the purpose. "Pledge each club member to induce one non-English speaking immigrant woman to learn English. "Publish handbills and leaflets in English and foreign languages, urging immigrant women to attend adult classes. "Organize neighborhood meetings and entertainments to bring together native and foreign-born women, and so promote better understanding and establish friendly relations." Economy and Convenience You can be of service in making the process of naturalization more convenient and less expensive for the foreign born in the following ways: Bring public sentiment to bear upon our courts of naturalization to hold sessions in the evening and also on Saturday afternoons. You can readily see the necessity of such sessions for working people. Bring pressure to bear for the establishment of temporary courts each year in sections of the State not in close proximity to the present courts. Such a court proved of value in Bristol last year and we hope it will sit there again this year. In Woonsocket there is a crying need of a temporary court for at least a portion of the year to save the expense of applicant and witness coming to Providence. These immediate reforms would bring about a distinct economy in our present system of naturalization. Legislation You can study and support Americanization legislation. Throughout the country laws are being enacted providing better evening school facilities, compulsory learning of the English language by adults, for the home-teacher in connection with the public schools, and for the improvement of our present naturalization laws. 24 Our legislative chairman has under consideration a program of necessary legislation for Rhode Island and we ask you to extend to her your hearty co-operation and support. Educational Institutions can Promote Good Citizenship. Under no circumstances must we forget that in the final analysis our future citizenship depends upon the public schools and other institutions of learning. In no grade should the teaching of our duties and privileges as citizens be omitted. From the kindergarten where "Billie Brad" was taught that "Frift Stamps" would win the war to our Universities where the nation's leaders are being trained, the study of the civics of citizenship should be taught by experienced teachers. It is interesting to note that our great Universities are beginning to realize the importance of Americanization. President Murlin of Boston University kindly gave me a copy of the letter written by a prominent Boston lawyer to that institution in presenting a gift of 460,000 for the purpose of founding a chair which he wisely prefers to have called, "the Chair of United States Citizenship." This good citizen says in part: "It is of paramount importance that the heterogeneous elements of this United States shall be united into a homogeneous whole through an intelligent understanding and appreciation of the rights, duties, inheritances and possibilities of our citizenship. the need for this is by no means confined to the foreign-born, as I believe there is urgent need of the same among our native-born. "My idea is to develop a body of leaders especially trained in United States Citizenship who will go out through this country as educators, statesmen, financiers, business men, etc,. to upbuild the foundations and bulwarks of our citizenship intelligently and patriotically so that the masses of people may come to have a generally disseminated knowledge of the value, importance and distinctiveness of their United States Citizenship. The proposed Chair would set in motion an educational force and leadership that owuld direct and assist in the making of intelligently loyal citizens of all Americans. It would give a solid foundation of intelligent understanding for the more emotional or passionate loyalty we now see in our 25 fellow citizens. Both qualities are commendable and desirable and I plead and work for not less of either but for more of both these qualities that unite in our best Americans." Dr. McElroy, the Director of the Lawrence Plan says: "We must have definite, leisurely experimentation in the method of teaching those things which are the basis of intelligent patriotism." As women voters we can support and co-operate with the work being done in Rhode Island by our State Board of Education in the attempt to develop a better citizenship and we can encourage our young women to fit themselves as teachers of the English language and the civics of naturalization especially for the women among our foreign-born population who, as I have stated before, have been almost completely neglected by the present educational systems. REGISTRATION Women who are qualified to vote for Presidential Electors must register before July, 1920 before the Board of Canvassers or the Town Clerk where no Board of Canvassers has been created. They will be required to answer the following questions which have been prepared especially for women of all cities and towns by the Secretary of State and Boards of Registration. Date of Registry? Name? Number of Street? Residence at Time of Registering? (Name of Street) Place of Birth? Date of Birth? If Born or Has Resided Without the State, when She Last Came to Reside Within the State? If Born or Has Resided Without the City, When She Last Came to Reside Within the City? If of Foreign Birth or Parentage Date When She Came to U.S.? Place Where She Landed in U.S.? If Naturalized When Naturalized? Where Naturalized? By What Court Naturalized? 26 If Her Father or Husband Was Naturalized Which? When Born? Where Born? When Naturalized? Where Naturalized? By What Court Naturalized? I hereby certify that the facts stated under the foregoing heads opposite my name are ture. Witness to Signature. Important Facts about Registration Women are earnestly urged by the Board of Canvassers and those having the Registration in charge throughout the state to register early, i.e., just as soon after the first of July, 1919 as possible. the office of the Board of Canvassers in Providence opens at nine o'clock and closes at five o'clock. Personally I intend to be at City Hall at nine A.M., July first and be the very first one to subscribe my "John Hancock" on the registration books. As this is probably the exact intention of other hard-working suffragists I suggest that we make July first a gala day for the women and that the honor of being first be given by lot or some other equitable method and that many of us strive for the honor of registering on the first day. All the cities and towns of Rhode Island might do well to organize registration committees among the women and vie with each other in bringing about prompt registration. Foreign-born women may register on their first papers provided they can present proof of full citizenship to the Board of Canvassers or the clerk in charge of registration ten days before election. If after registering a change in residence is made, notify the Board of Canvassers of such change before the final meeting of the board held for the purpose of canvassing and correcting the voting lists. This meeting occurs shortly before election. No one is permitted to vote unless her name is exactly as it is printed on the checking list so it is well for women to acquaint themselves with the following provision for women who change their names by marriage. Upon application to the Board of Canvassers or to those having the matter in charge she will be provided with the following certificate: 27 Providence, R. I..... To the Moderator of Ward....... District........: This is to certify that the name appearing on your Voting List as ........ should read ........... (the party having married since her registration). You are hereby authorized to change the name accordingly and allow the bearer to vote. BOARD OF CANVASSERS AND REGISTRATION Further information may be obtained from the Board of Canvassers, City Hall or the town clerks or by application to the writer, 394 Angell St., Providence, R.I., Telephone Angell 2607. STATISTICS POPULATION OF RHODE ISLAND Total population 1915-595,986. Foreign born: Africa........................37 Italy...................33,802 Asia, N.S...................27 Japan...................31 Australia...................90 Norway...................589 Austria.................1,930 Austrian Poles.........5,7 49 Belgium................1,069 German Poles..........142 Canada, French........29,376 Russian Poles.........4,208 Canada, others.......7,064 Portugal...............10,049 China....................204 Roumania.................464 Cuba and other Islands..193 Russia, N.S.........7,715 Denmark...............359 Scotland.....................6,618 England..............28,983 South America.............240 Finland........................283 Spain.................68 France.......................1,976 Sweden.................7,519 Germany.................4,227 Switzerland................306 Greece....................1,136 Turkey in Asia..........3,896 Holland....................223 Turkey in Europe........399 Hungary.................219 Wales.......................271 India.......................42 Other Countries..........540 Ireland...................27,044 At Sea............56 Total foreign-born population 1915- 186,344. Seven and seven-tenths per cent of population is illiterate, i.e., those over ten years of age who cannot read or write in any language. Foreign-born males, naturalized (of voting age), 74,899. Foreign-born males, not naturalized (of voting age) 31,996. As the statistics from the census of women of 1917 have not been complied according to nationalities we can quote none but simply take it for granted that the proportionate numbers are slightly in excess of the men as the number of women in the State is somewhat in excess of that of the men. 28 "The safety and permanence of a Republic rests on the education of its citizens and their intelligent interest in public affairs. One of the lessons that the war has taught us is the importance of disseminating among our prospective citizens American ideals and knowledge of American institutions. The hyphen must cease to be a distinguishing mark in American citizenship and the understanding and use of the English language must be universal among our citizens." Annual Message of R. LIVINGSTON BEECKMAN Governor of Rhode Island RHODE ISLAND WOMEN'S INDEPENDENCE DAY, JULY 1, 1919 CITY HALL, PROVIDENCE LIBERTY Rhode Island, the Spirit of Liberty stands Welcoming Thee with outstretched hands; Saying, to Thee is given to share The greatest gift her arms can bear: An equal gift to women and men To share in life's work with tongue and pen; To carry into the public mart The father's strength and the mother's heart. Take it, this precious ballot for both, Use it in future, nothing loth To prove to our neighbors, East and West, That Rhode Island Women can stand the test. RHODE ISLAND Rhody, youngest of the old thirteen, Takes thy gift with shining mien. The battle's fought, the victory's won; Sons and daughters now are one. Heaven shall bless in freedom's cause Equal rights with equal laws. [*Sara M Algeo*] [*Mrs. Algeo Feb 11 1914 *] THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL WEDNESDAY SUFFRAGE ADVOCATES AND SENATORS AT STATE HOUSE Sara M. Algeo SIGNING THE RATIFICATION MEASURE Rhode Island Thank You THANK YOU, Mr. Man, for the use of your automobile in campaigning. It's a lot more stylish and comfortable than a soap box! THANK YOU, Mr. Contributor, for that dollar. The Lord loveth a cheerful giver--in Suffrage work especially. THANK YOU, Mr. Worker, for that last chore which we couldn't afford to pay for but which we couldn't afford to do without. THANK YOU Mr. Candidate, for talking up Woman Suffrage from the stump. A word in time saves nine words of explanation about why you became a Suffragist after our bill is passed. THANK YOU, Mr. Business Man, for your advertisement. May orders for your goods be multiplied. THANK YOU, ONE AND ALL, for your generous support to the cause of VOTES FOR WOMEN. To borrow the words of Tiny Tim-- God Bless Us, Every One. Sara M. Algeo Chairman Woman Suffrage Party Arrangements are being made by the Rhode Island Woman Suffrage Association for the presentation of the great moving picture Suffrage play, "Your Girl and Mine," during the coming winter. [image of editorial cartoon] Rhode Island is amazed when Mrs. Pankhurst comes to town. CREDENTIAL OF ALTERNATE DELEGATE This is to certify that Sarah Algeo has been appointed alternate delegate to represent the National American Woman Suffrage Association at the MEETING of the INTERNATIONAL SUFFRAGE ALLIANCE held in Geneva, Switzerland Signed Carrie Chapman Catt PRESIDENT [ineligible] H. Wilson SECRETARY Reproduced by Courtesy of the Brooklyn Woman Suffrage Party 4 German Gardens American Embassey Victoria Station - Nice, France 1) French Visee 2) 5 & 7 Gosser St. N. Central Windsor Castle - Rail from Paddington 10 a.m. Strand Office 2:15 378 Strand Trafalgar Side 33. or 9- 7.6 The Political Situation ADDRESS BY MR. WINSTON CHURCHILL Tuesday, October twenty-second, three-thirty p.m. CHURCHILL HOUSE TICKETS, ONE DOLLAR CONCERT "Men's Orchestra" OF THE PROVIDENCE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION Thirty Piece Orchestra Conductor CHARLES E. McCLOSKEY Solos, Duets, Trios, Readings Tuesday, April 27, 8.15 p. m. Tickets on sale at the Y.M.C.A. Phone orders "Union 7300" Mock Court Trial "Breach of Promise Case" Under the Auspices of The Providence Young Men's Christian Association Tuesday, March 23, 1915 Door open 7.30 P. M. Court Called 8.15 P. M. CAST OF CHARACTERS Judge - - JOHN R. RATHOM Clerk of Court - Judge CHARLES C. REMINGTON Court Officer - BENJAMIN P. MOULTON Court Crier - - EDWARD BIXBY Plaintiff: Mrs. JAMES W. ALGEO Defendent: HOWARD J. GREENE Plaintiff's Att'y.: Col. A. V. NEWTON Defendent's Att'y.: JOHN J. FITZGERALD, Esq. (Ex-Mayor of Pawtucket) WITNESSES 1. Miss ALICE W. HUNT 2. Miss ELLEN LEGARDE CLAUDE R. BRANCH, Esq. 4. Dr. J. W. LEECH 5. WILLIAM H. CONGDON, Jr. JURORS 1. MATTHEW S. DWYER (Foreman) 2. FRANCIS O. ALLEN 3. GEORGE L. GROSS 4. GEORGE H. HOLMES 5. GEORGE L. MINER 6. Col. HARRY CUTLER 7. WILLIAM S. CHERRY 8. Mrs. JOSEPH SAMUELS 9. J. PALMER BARSTOW 10. Judge RICHARD E. LYMAN 11. Mrs. DANIEL WEBSTER 12. ARTHUR L. ALDRED 13. WALTER R. CALLENDER COMMITTEE CHARLES H. LEE, Chairman E. TUDOR GROSS A. E. BRECKENRIDGE CARRIE CHAPMAN CATT MARY GRAY PECK Sara M. Algeo R.I. Illustrations from CARRIE CHAPMAN CATT A BIOGRAPHY 495 pages 44 illustrations $3. postpaid CHRONOLOGY 1859: Born in Ripon, Wis. 1973: Rode horseback to high school in Charles City, Ia. 1887: Dedicated life to Equal Rights 1900: Elected President National American Woman Suffrage Assm. 1904: Commenced 10 years of global campaigning 1918: Said women should be represented at peace conference, warned against isolation, worked for League of Nations. . . 1920: Saw U.S. become the 22nd nation to adopt woman suffrage 1924: Organized Conference on Cause and Cure of War 1933: Declared new government in Germany "an international outlaw" 1938: Bitterly denounced Munich appeasement 1944: Addressed Woman's Action Committee for Victory and Permanent Peace Dates are unemotional and Miss Peck does not stress them. Hers is the absorbing story of a great leader fighting the tremendous odds of vested interests, tradition and laissez fair. For advancing ideas ahead of her time, Mrs. Catt was bitterly denounced and villified. "Even the sun hid its head in shame over the nature of the Catt convention," was proclaimed by a speaker in a woman's patriotic society. Hers is the story of other great women, here and abroad; the story of campaigning across the continent from flag stop to flag stop; of success and reverses, and of the never failing conviction that there "is nothing mightier than the power of an idea when its time has come to move." Mrs. Catt firmly believes that if the women of the world want a permanent peace - and will work for it - it will be theirs. Her biography is both a chart and an inspiration. FIRST OFFICERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE ALLIANCE BERLIN, 1904 Left to Right - Adela Stanton Coit, Treasurer ; Martina Kraemers, Recording Secretary ; Mrs. Catt, President ; Rachel Foster Avery, Corresponding Secretary ; Milicent Garrett Fawcett, Vice-President MRS. FANG, MISS WANG AND MISS SHENG Leading Chinese Feminists, 1912 WOMAN SUFFRAGE MEETING, SHANGHAI 1912 Mrs. Catt and Dr. Aletta Jacobs, Center of Front Row Officers of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance, Budapest 1913 Left to Right - Seated - Mrs. Fawcett, Mrs. Catt and Mme. Schlumberger Standing - Mrs. Stanley McCormick, Mrs. Stanton Coit, Mrs. Lindemann, Annie Furuhjelm, Signe Bergman, Chrystal Macmillan, and Rosika Schwimmer INTERNATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE ALLIANCE CONGRESS Budapest 1913 Mrs. Catt presiding MRS. CATT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN MARCO, Peru 1923 "International" DEPARTURE FOR THE GENEVA CONGRESS OF THE ALLIANCE 1920 Left to Right - Front Row - Helen Ring Robinson, Mrs. Catt, Mrs. Josephus Daniels, Mrs. James W. Alger Rear - Jane Manners, A. Robinson, Constance Drexel, Marjorie Shuler and Emma Nast Ledger Photo Co. Service Phila. LADY ASTOR AND MRS. CATT [left-hand page] [top photo] INTERNATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE ALLIANCE, ROME 1923 Left to Right - Seated - Unknown; Maud Wood Park; Miss Qvam; Mrs. F. M. Qvam; Unknown; Mme Hoda Charaoui; next two unknown. Standing - Annie Furuhjelm; Unknown; Mme Girardet-Vielle; Chrystal Macmillan; Mrs. Anna Lindemann; Mme DeWitt Schlumberger; Mrs. Catt; Rosa Manus; Mrs. Corbett Ashby; Mrs. Anna Wicksell; Mrs. Adele Schreiber Krieger; Bertha Lutz [bottom left photo] ROSA MANUS (HOLLAND) AND MRS. CATT Rome 1923 [bottom right photo] MRS. CORBETT ASHBY Elected President of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance, Rome 1923 [right-hand page] Quoted from the Foreword: Mrs. Catt was the first international leader of the political phase of the feminist movement, visiting every continent and bringing the women of all races into a common front in the International Woman Suffrage Alliance. The fact that she fully looked the part of a great leader helped her in appealing across the barriers of race and language, firing the imagination of youth, inspiring confidence in the sound judgment of the mature. She considered the emancipation of women essential to the establishment of a peaceful world order. When at the close of the First World War the leading nations of the world enfranchised women, and the League of Nations was organized, she believed that an age of enlightenment had dawned. She was profoundly shocked when the United States did not enter the League. She was then sixty-five years old, but she set about organizing American women for international cooperation, peace and disarmament, as she had organized them for suffrage. Eleven national women's organizations at her invitation united in the Conference on the Cause and Cure of War. The educational campaign carried on for fifteen years by these organizations played a major part in changing the mind of this nation about the "isolationist policy." Mrs. Catt grew up in the days when the theory of evolution was conferring vast antiquity on the human race and changing all our notions about the development of social institutions. She made the theory of evolution her religion. She did not expect uninterrupted progress and she was not dismayed by recurring disaster. One recalls a glimpse of her at eighty years of age, standing in a badly lighted auditorium between Sir George Paish and Dr. Harry Gideonse, who held candles for her to see her notes by as she hauled the audience out of the Slough of Despond into which the two economists had just plunged them. The economists were obsessed with the debacle of the first attempt at collective security. She was thinking that this failure had destined the mind of man inexorably to the sublime task of building a world system that could stand the stresses that were bound to come. With her to live was to go forward, to act and move other people to act. The dynamic forces she set going are a living monument to her memory. MARY GRAY PECK Quoted from p. 407 Mrs. Catt with suffrage an accomplished fact, at the age of 62, suddenly threw herself into another crusade. It happened at a mass meeting in 1921 when she became thoroughly aroused over a war address delivered by Will Irwin. Scarcely waiting for the presiding officer to introduce her, throwing aside her prepared speech (on politics), she spoke extemporaneously and with great feeling: ... There isn't an audience in this country or any other country where an appeal for peace does not stir the hearts of the people as our hearts have just been stirred. there isn't anybody in all the world who would say he wants another war. There isn't anybody who does not want peace on earth. But how are we going to get it? We won't settle that question by having a million points of view while we sit around waiting for somebody else to act!... It is a curious kind of psychology that is upon our nation in the matter of international cooperation. This country I believe signed the first recorded arbitration treaty. We were leaders in it. Well then, we should be leaders today! But our nation today won't lead and won't follow. Today, there isn't anybody in the world who knows what we are going to do-- least of all do we ourselves know! And I ask you-- is there anybody, anywhere, at this moment with an earnest crusading spirit who is campaigning to arouse America to leadership? Oh, no! We are as stolid and indifferent and inactive as though there were not facing us the greatest question that ever confronted the nations of the earth... It is difficult for anyone here to believe what has been the result of the war on the other side. It is not possible to comprehend it without seeing it for oneself. Over there they are trying to pull their ruins together, trying to build up their old life on their bad money, bad feelings, bad economic conditions. Compared with them, we here are living in paradise!... There isn't anything that can't be done in this country as the result of popular demand, for popular opinion is the real government. The people in this room tonight could put an end to war if they would set themselves to it! Let us put an end to this aloofness, this deadly silence! We can do it! This is an infinitely greater call than any of us ever will hear again. I say to you women in particular: You know that war is in the blood of men, they can't help it. They have been fighting since the days of the cave men, and to them there is a sort of honor about it. god is calling to the women of the world to come forward and stay the hands of men, and to say to them, "No! You shall no longer kill your fellow men!" Also available a limited number of copies of VICTORY: How Women Won It 190 pages, 8 illustrations $1.25 postpaid A SYMPOSIUM BY: MARY FOULKE MORRISSON MAUD WOOD PARK MARY GRAY PECK GERTRUDE FOSTER BROWN MILDRED ADAMAS PENELOPE P.B. HUSE CARRIE CHAPMAN CATT Also Chronological Tables Order From: THE H.W. WILSON COMPANY 950 University Avenue New York 52 6-44-6M-(7036)JCE Sara M. Algeo Jan 20 1914 The Evening Tribune- Providence R.I. The Rounding Up for the Woman Suffrage Party Banquet Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.