NAWSA Congressional union Subject File McKee, Sue M. Copy Detroit. Mich. , Oct. 1, 1915. Dear Mrs. Clark: Have just returned from an all-day session with the "Unionists" and I still belong to the state Association. I was urged to join but extracted myself from that situation. One woman, Mrs. Perry, asked my name and when I told her, I was not challenged as a spy. Mrs. Whittemore presided and as you say is very charming. Mrs. Ainsworth acted as temporary secretary. About thirty ladies were presented when I arrived this morning and perhaps ten more drifted in. This afternoon the maximum was sixty. Mrs. Hunt Hill Weed of Connecticut came in place of Miss Lucy Burns who was ill and will be unable to speak here at all, Mrs. Weed spoke of the harmony of the Congressional Union and the state work in Connecticut. She said that the Connecticut women believed in both, that they heartily favored the Susan B. Anthony and were concentrating their interests on that amendment, altho' also keeping up the propaganda end. A constitution had been previously drafted and adopted. Mrs. Cushman and Mrs. Alexander McDonald wanted to know why a second organization for suffrage should be formed in the state. They thought it a duplication of machinery with a division of forces and money. Then quite a discussion ensued between those two woman, who argued against the formation of a second organization, and Mrs. Hunt H. weed, Mrs. Hardy and Miss Whittemore who reasoned that the National Association only has the Susan B. Anthony Amendment as an ideal, while really pushing the Palmer Amendment--that the congressional union is working solely for the Susan B. Anthony because they believed it to be a quicker method. They stated further that the State Association have so much other work that they couldn't give the proper time and attention to an amendment. They stated also that they wanted to work in harmony with and through the State Association when ever it was possible to do so. Mrs. Weed plead for harmony. She went over the whole history of the Congressional Union from the beginning and if all that she says is true it looks as tho' the National had not taken the right attitude and has dealt harshly with them. The ladies seemed to feel this. Mrs. Weed said that should the fact of a division in the ranks be broadcast each would fail to to accomplish the end. She was very fair, I think. Mrs. McDonald asked as to the difference in policy of the two organizations when it was explained that the only thing that held them apart was the Shafroth amendment, it was thought by some that perhaps the National would withdraw it. Mrs. weed said that Mrs. Henry W. Rogers had recently said that there was a division on the National Board on that question and that if the majority wished it withdrawn she felt that it would be done. Mrs. McDonald said that perhaps the State Association in the Saginaw Convention would endorse the Susan B. Anthony Amendment and she thought no action ought to be taken until then. In case this was done all would be very harmonious and there would be no need of a separate organization. But an organization was formed with Mrs. Breitung of Marquette as chairman Mrs. Shippen as 1st Vice, Miss Whittemore as 3rd Vice, Mrs. Ainsworth Secretary, Mrs. Jennison Treasurer and Mrs. Hardy and Mrs. C.B. Hamilton as directors. All were present but Mrs. Breitung and sat on the platform this P.M. Mrs. Shippen has gone over entirely. Mrs. Brotherton is a voting member and encores at times, but the impression is that she is a little opposed. She attempts to straighten out misstatements and seems defensive, Very sincerely, Sue M. McKee. [*(Executive Secy see Nellie Sawyer Clark letter)*] [*file Michican*] Copy Detroit, Mich., Oct. 2, 1915. Dear Mrs. Clark: While the attendance at this convention is small and the meetings are not what I should consider enthusiastic; still this convention is of great import. These women maintain that the sentiment of the working suffragists is in favor of pushing the federal amendment rather than state campaigns. Mrs. Hardy in her talk yesterday made a great point of the fact that New Jersey women all over the state said "This is the only opportunity you men of New Jersey will ever have to give us the ballot. If you refuse how we shall never come to you again but will get a federal amendment". She and Mrs. Weed both re-iterated this statement several times and claimed that the same feeling was prevalent in the other states now in campaign. Mrs. Brotherton spoke this morning on "State and Federal Work". Mrs. Brotherton has been on the fence between the two but has dropped to congressional union. She acts a little sheepish, I think. She gets quite bothered and very red in the face even before these Union women. I haven't disclosed myself to her. There is really no need for I am assured of her feeling in the matter. The action of Mrs. Shippen, Mrs. Brotherton and the other prominent Detroit wo women will have its effect on the organization already previously established here. It will not necessarily disintegrate it but the situation is ticklish. A wrong act may force an open break. Mrs. Brotherton said this morning that she heartily favored the Anthony Amendment, that she thought the bulk of effort should be put on the federal work, that all state work should be done with the idea of a federal amendment and not a state campaign. She said she did not want a campaign in1916 and hoped none would be inaugurated at the Saginaw convention. She said that if after three of four years the amendment failed to pass then she would favor a state campaign. Mrs. Shippen made a great point of the embarrassment entailed in being obliged to appeal to janitors and furnace men for the privilege of the ballot and then be refused. Miss Chittenden said she had favored the amendment plan for a long time, that she believed that the state and National Granges would let the Congressional Union use their machinery to get the bill through. She advised that the Union endeavor to do this and also to appeal to the Cleaners and other similar organizations. Mrs. Brotherton made a great point (as did others) of the fact that all of the countries (except U.S.) now enjoying suffrage received it thru parliamentary law--also that the old soldiers, negroes, etc in U. S. had received their franchise thru that method rather than by going first to the people. Mrs. Weed of Conn. seems broader than all of the rest put together. She of course favors the amendment most heartily but she also lays great stress on the state work--showing value of it and the great need. She believes in only one or two states in campaign at same time and to focus all of the strength of all of the suffragists on those two states. She spoke again of working handi in hand. She said "We do not want one cent of money or one ounce of strength that belongs to the State Association". I think her intentions are of the best. If they were all as impersonal as she there would be no trouble. She said the wedge has been entered by non-suffragists who are laughing in their sleeves over the harm they have done. She said "We want the women to have the ballot--what difference about the method pursued. The only way we shall ever succedd is by the co-operation of all suffragists." Mrs. Hamilton told of the organization of Kent and Ottawa Counties this week, said the organizations were splendid. She then [?ttbayd] no names and her speech was very short. Copy #2. There is much more to tell that is too lengthy to beeput on paper. It has been a privilege to attend this convention. It has really been invaluable to me and I can see how important it was to have some one on the ground here. Newspapersreports and reports from many "suffragists" are both unreliable. Don't be uneasy. Things will right themselves and the situation is not alarming but ought to be carefully handled. Very sincerely, Sue M. McKee. Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.