NAWSA Subject File Congressional Union Jenks, Agnes M. 1914. New Hampshire Equal Suffrage Association. Concord, N.J., Feb. I0!I4 Women's Journal:- I want to add a word to what has been already ably said by Mrs. Hepburn of Conn. I acted as a member of the executive board from New Hampshire and consider that the Convention overwhelingly endorsed the work of Miss Paul and Miss Burns and their plans for the future. It would seem obvious that what may not be good or expedient suffrage policy in out State work is the very best sort of policy in our National work. Our National suffrage strength is in our Western voting sisters, our natural weapon is their combined vote and if we could organize it into a forceful protest at the polls against the present government, which has treated us and our plea for a Federal amendment with no show of courtesy, it would be the greatest work for National suffrage that could be done. It would take comparitively few votes to throw the democrats out of power, provided that the political situation in the country remains about as it is, and while I am a strong democrat and think that the present government under President Wilson has done wonderful work, I should unhesitatingly advise working against the democrats,--if they work against us or do not give us fair treatment. Either let us confess that the time is not ripe to try for a Federal amendment and that wisdom lies in bringing all our strength into purely State work, or let us face facts and take up the tool that lies ready to our hand, --namely our western woman vote. Most sincerely yours, Agnes M. Jenks Rhode Island Woman Suffrage Association Directors, MISS HELEN EMERSON, MRS. JOHN S. HOLBROOK, MISS MARY ADA MARCH, MISS EDITH D. HARRIS, MRS. FRANK E. DURFEE, MRS. CHARLES GROSSMAN. Honorary President, MRS. ARDELIA COOK DEWING, 92 Keene Street, Providence. Honorary President, MISS ELIZABETH UPHAM YATES 209 Butler Avenue, Providence. Honorary Vice-President, MISS MARY M. ANGELL., 1 Congdon Street, Providence. 18 President, MRS. BARTON P. JENKS, 199 Angell Street, Providence. First Vice-President, MRS. GEORGE D. GLADDING, 92 Keene Street, Providence. Second Vice-President, MRS. GEORGE W. PARKS 123 Waterman Street, Providence. Third Vice-President, MRS. CARL BARUS, 30 Elmgrove Avenue, Providence. Recording Secretary, MISS MARY M. ANGELL 1 Congdon Street, Providence. Corresponding Secretary, MRS. JEROME M. FITTZ, 197 Longfellow Street, Providence. Treasurer, MRS ALICE F. PORTER 596 Smith Street, Providence. Auditors, MRS. BARTON A. BALLOU, 61 Congdon Street, Providence. MRS. GERALD COOPER, 90 Congdon Street, Providence. Providence, R.I., June 6th. 15 191... My dear Mrs. McCormick:- I have received your letter. Apparently in my letter to you I did not succeed in making myself entirely clear and I concede that it is difficult to take the time or space necessary to a complete explanation of a complicated situation, in a letter. In reply to your communication I wish to point out that you are mistaken in supposing that I have introduced the Cong. Union into Rhode Island. They were strongly intrenched long before I came into the State through the activities of Mrs. Belmont, who has a summer home here, and through Miss Doris Stevens, Mrs. Marsden Perry and many others. Mrs. James Algeo, the late chairman of the Woman Suffrage Party, had intended, so I understand, in the event of certain [?] conditions developing, to bring the Union in here in full force. We have had a difficult situation here to face with no less than five or six State associations organized for suffrage. It seemed the wisest course, to those persons most intimately acquainted with our politics, that these associations should be welded into one. Under these circumstances we could not afford to have the time or money of our too few workers with-drawn by irresponsible persons, even within our own borders. The Cong. Union has the same right of other American citizens to come here and organize and it would be perfectly natural that their appeal for support should be made through such organizations or persons as would assist them. [?] In full consideration of all these facts it seemed to me the better part of wisdom to allow my name to go on their call. Not as State president, but as a private individual who had joined their association in Washington several years ago, together, with I believe, many hundreds of other perfectly loyal members of the National Association. I may say at once that our State association thoroughly approved my course. As State President I cannot organize for them unless authorized to do so by the association, which is not now likely. 2. However, I may say at once, that so far as I know, none of our members look with apprehension at their entrance into this State and many of us see ways in which they could be helpful. Speaking for the State at large and not specially for Newport, the workers whom they sent here some two years and a year ago, made a favorable impression. As to my own feeling about them and their policies I want to be perfectly understood. I believe that the policy of trying to weld together all our women voters to act as one for suffrage (putting the principle above political consideration) is perfectly sound, theoretically. Whether or not the time is ripe for that action taken politically or whether the present leaders of the Union are the wisest ones to carry out so large a scheme, are quite two different questions. Is it not true that we have to work with the tool at hand,--our voting women is our natural tool,--also we have to work with the best that, at the time, we can command. In this matter the Union had to work with those persons who were willing to work with them. To strike at the party in power, when that party officially caucus against us and our Federal amendment, is a proper method,--- providing only that our strength is sufficient to hurt them,--providing that our tool is sufficiently strong and sharp and so wisely wielded as to do the work we desire. The principle of equal suffrage is a high ideal of justice,--politics are a different affair and we unfortunately have to wade through politics to come by our ultimate goal. I cannot think of anyone who would have a greater right to make the appeal to the women voters than Dr. Shaw since they must feel under far greater obligation to her than to any other living worker. As I say, there seem to be several questions involved all of which should receive careful consideration. It would also seem that as conditions, politics, policies change so rapidly in these days it cannot be wise to lay down any hard and fast rules as to plan of action. Theories, like constitutions are very fine, but plans of work and action are different and have to be adjusted to the occasion. I hope sincerely that the convention will bind itself to no definite plan of action,--without a loop-hole of retreat,---for much beyond a period of six months. With the war conditions and five campaign States to consider I hope the convention will keep its work and promise plan, so elastic that they can be easily changed. You probably believe as I do, that if we win one campaign State, we shall be in a very different position to dictate terms 3. than if we lose all, which is not unlikely. There is but one thing more to which I wish to refer,--- you speak of women with and without political knowledge,--it is not safe to assume that those who do much talking about politics have the most political knowledge and quite as unsafe to assume, in this day of a very large understanding that is carried through our daily press to many thousands,--that many persons have not a very sagacious political knowledge and wisdom,--if we could get at it. Hoping that you will have a successful convention, that you, personally are in better health and with regards to our National board I remain, Very sincerely yours, Agnes M. Jenks Speaking of the confusion that arises from having two associations it may interest you to know that not more than eight weeks ago Mrs. Algeo, when presiding at a meeting, made the astounding statement that Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt did not wish the Woman Suffrage Party to join with the State Association as they should keep themselves free to join with the Cong. Union. She further emphasized her statement by saying that Mrs. Catt had promised and would write a letter to this effect. The whole room-ful of people not only believed her but thought I was unpleasant, to say the least, when I arose and openly questioned her statement. I had no way to know that it was definitely untrue but afterwards learned from Miss Yates, that it was not a statement of fact at all. I think Miss Yates came by her information through a letter received from Mrs. Catt. We are a little State although we contribute five members to Congress, but if confusion can come in here,--isn't it quite possible that it enters into larger and more important States? I do not believe that the wise way to clear up this confusion is by public statements, either in the press or in official circulars, but by cooperation and by working out a basic plan that shall allow both National associations, or all National associations, to make themselves entirely useful along their own lines. 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